4 ms·

Oh yeah? Please link to a model, just one in the 500-600 range that is comparable to a 1K Apple model. I have owned half a dozen Windows laptops in the past,

Oh yeah? Please link to a model, just one in the 500-600 range that is comparable to a 1K Apple model. I have owned half a dozen Windows laptops in the past, in all kinds of price ranges, cheaper and far more expensive than a Macbook Air. None were even remotely comparable to the build quality and practicality of a Macbook Air. This was true even in the Intel CPU era. In the M processor era, the gap only increased. You cannot even do research on a good Windows laptop because the makers constantly change the model numbers to confuse the customer and hide the flaws of these systems. You buy a Windows laptop then either the screen, the battery life, the touchpad or the keyboard will suck ... maybe all four. The sole reason to buy a Windows laptop and put up with all these flaws is playing games. If you need that you will put up with all that crap.

rkangel 3y ago
The parent isn't saying that there are $500 laptops that are as good as $1k Air. They're saying that there are $500 laptops that are "good enough" for most people's use. Personally for home use I buy pre-owned Thinkpads and then put Linux on them. They're fine for normal use - Internet, Email and light to moderate SW Development. The screens are mediocre, but I pay £300-£400 (UK). Oh and I don't care about battery age because replacements are inexpensive and require sliding one catch to make the replacement. Yes, for work I want something more performant and I'm considering pushing work to get me a Macbook (instead of the high-spec Thinkpad I currently have), but that's a different use case.
- havaloc 3y ago
  $500 laptops are good enough until they have to call over a tech consultant (me) to work through some issues once every 3 months. At trip charge of $65 each, they aren't saving money with a $500 laptop - and then the battery gives out 2.5 years later. This isn't theoretical, it happens all the time. I worked with a person who had a 10 year old MacBook Air - it still worked and held a charge! They got their money's worth.
- DataDive 3y ago
  Good enough is not the correct term. The other day I bought a 30 dollar phone, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walmart-Family-Mobile-BLU-View-4-32GB-Black-Prepaid-Smartphone-Locked-to-Walmart-Famiy-Mobile/1171053786 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walmart-Family-Mobile-BLU-View-4-... it has all the functionality that you might need it has map, a browser, runs facebook and twitter apps, tiktok what else do you need can I use that as an argument that why buy an iPhone for 1K if you can get a great phone for $30 - no because when you talk about phones or laptop you are talking about comparable products what I was saying that you cannot buy the same value you get with a Macbook in any laptop product

rkangel 3y ago

The parent isn't saying that there are $500 laptops that are as good as $1k Air. They're saying that there are $500 laptops that are "good enough" for most people's use. Personally for home use I buy pre-owned Thinkpads and then put Linux on them. They're fine for normal use - Internet, Email and light to moderate SW Development. The screens are mediocre, but I pay £300-£400 (UK). Oh and I don't care about battery age because replacements are inexpensive and require sliding one catch to make the replacement. Yes, for work I want something more performant and I'm considering pushing work to get me a Macbook (instead of the high-spec Thinkpad I currently have), but that's a different use case.

havaloc 3y ago
$500 laptops are good enough until they have to call over a tech consultant (me) to work through some issues once every 3 months. At trip charge of $65 each, they aren't saving money with a $500 laptop - and then the battery gives out 2.5 years later. This isn't theoretical, it happens all the time. I worked with a person who had a 10 year old MacBook Air - it still worked and held a charge! They got their money's worth.
DataDive 3y ago
Good enough is not the correct term. The other day I bought a 30 dollar phone, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walmart-Family-Mobile-BLU-View-4-32GB-Black-Prepaid-Smartphone-Locked-to-Walmart-Famiy-Mobile/1171053786 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walmart-Family-Mobile-BLU-View-4-... it has all the functionality that you might need it has map, a browser, runs facebook and twitter apps, tiktok what else do you need can I use that as an argument that why buy an iPhone for 1K if you can get a great phone for $30 - no because when you talk about phones or laptop you are talking about comparable products what I was saying that you cannot buy the same value you get with a Macbook in any laptop product