Apple Macbook Pro - is it worth the $$$

[mrsxsparrow]

If you can get a mac notebook for under $1000, I would ove to know where.

On Apple's site the cheapest MacBook is $999.

OP, it doesn't sound like you need the Pro, but I'd go with Apple. I will NEVER buy anything but a Mac. They are incredibly intuitive and easy to use.

I'll be the first person to admit that I have actually had a few problems with my last two Macs, but the customer service at Apple is AMAZING. Far better than any other customer service I've experienced.

My current MacBook Pro didn't work right when I first got it. Something about RAM being loose or something... I don't really know the technical part of it. Took it to the Genius bar of my local Apple store. They had to mail it in somewhere to have it fixed, but two days later I was able to pick it up in the store and it was perfect.

Before that, I had a regular MacBook. Two years into it my battery stopped holding a charge. Took it in, and even though I didn't purchase the extended warranty, they replaced it for free (I believe the standard warranty is only a year). Two years after that my hard drive died. Took it into the store again. They replaced my hard drive FREE even though it was definitely past warranty. I also had a damaged case, which I admitted was my fault (slammed it closed too hard during a fight with my roommate) and they replaced that at the same time, also FREE. And it took maybe three days.

Since I am really not good at the tech stuff, it is super important to me that if something breaks, someone else will easily fix it (preferably for free), and Mac is the only computer company I know of that does so.

 

[mandypandy818]

On Apple's site the cheapest MacBook is $999.

OP, it doesn't sound like you need the Pro, but I'd go with Apple. I will NEVER buy anything but a Mac. They are incredibly intuitive and easy to use.

I completely agree. You might pay more, but it is worth it. I used to be an anti-Mac girl. My husband then convinced me to get a Macbook for our home. We then got iPhones. And we are going to buy the second gen iPad. Apple products are amazing and amazingly easy to use. So user friendly and WAY less trouble than a PC. We have both PCs and a Macbook and I would choose the Macbook any day.

 

[SunnieRN]

eh - my husband had one and he passed it off to our son. It's a fine computer but really the only thing it does better that my $800 Dell is some graphic stuff and photo and video editing in Photoshop.

DH has been using a MacAir for home use and travel most of the time now. He seems to like it better than the Mac Pro.

Ooooooh, Ahhhhhhhh, Ohhhhhhhhh, that is what I want, need, covet! Well, not need, but REALLY want! My daughter works for Apple, but I got my iPad prior to her getting a job with them. I am now totally sold on Apple products and their reliability!

Now I want to expand beyond the iPad and be able to make the wonderful movies, slide shows and and DVD's that are built in to the Mac Air!! I am saving my pennies, nickels, dimes and dollars! If I save the money for it, I can buy it guilt free!!

Lol, I really wont have a 'no buy' day when I purchase that.

 

[4orm]

For your use I'd recommend a regular Mac Book. No need for the pro.
We have a couple MBPs, an iMac and an Octo-core MacPro. We need the power for what we do professionally(animation/motion graphics). For everyday usage I think a MBP would be over kill. You'd be paying for processing power that you just wouldn't be using. The new MBPs just launched but I'm sure a great update to the regular ones isn't too far off. Get a mac, they're great, just don't pay for what you don't need.

 

[Kellyh123]

I just switched to the 13 inch Macbook pro. My first Mac and I simply LOVE IT. I also got the Iphone at the same time and it is so awesome and easy to have them both. I can't imagine ever going back.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I know I am in the minority but I can't stand my MacBook Pro. It is an overpriced computer and locks up constantly. I am so sick of the spinning pinwheel of death and having to reboot several times a day just to be able to do any basic work. I honestly miss my old Toshiba Satellite laptop!

Unless you are doing some high end photo or video editing then save your money and go get a good Sony or Toshiba PC laptop with a good virus protection program.

 

[amsafko]

OP here...thanks for all the feedback. After talking with my husband it seems he's going to use it as well but mainly for music composition (he's a musician/composer). With that being the case, I think we are going to go with the Pro. Otherwise I would have gone with simply the MacBook as many suggested. Thanks again everyone!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

If you can get a mac notebook for under $1000, I would ove to know where. I paid $400 for my curret toshiba notebook that I LOVE, so yes I could have more than purchased 2 for the price of the cheapest mac out there, and my toshiba is not even the entry level model. It is a pretty nice dual core which I would say is comparable with the baseline macbook, which my MIL has.

When we bought our Macbook it was on Black Friday in 2009. Got it at Best Buy and IIRC it was $999 with a $150 BB gift card. Making it $850 if you want to look at it that way.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I'd be very afraid of compatibility.

So many websites only work with IE, I run into this all the time because I use mozilla. I can't imagine if I didn't have a regular PC what would you do? If all you had was the macbook, then you just can't go to that website? It seems like the FAFSA website might be one of them that only uses IE, definitely can't skip that site.

So, tell me, do you run into a lot of compatibility issues?

 

[rynosmom]

I'd be very afraid of compatibility.

So many websites only work with IE, I run into this all the time because I use mozilla. I can't imagine if I didn't have a regular PC what would you do? If all you had was the macbook, then you just can't go to that website? It seems like the FAFSA website might be one of them that only uses IE, definitely can't skip that site.

So, tell me, do you run into a lot of compatibility issues?

I just complete our 3rd FAFSA on my Mac book and have not had any compatibility issues.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER NEVER EVER EVER.. go back to anything else. EVER! EVER ! EVER!

You know that little message that you get from a PC that says there has been an error? In all the years I have been using a MAC I have NEVER seen one.. EVER.


You know that viruses? Yep, never see those either. You know that "crash?" Nope, never had that happen either.

I LOVE my Macs. My daughters have Macs for school as well. Get them insured and make them be careful with them, but they have so many free and good features, it just doesn't make any sense to do anything else.

Everytime something goes down here at work, I remind my IT guys that it is because we need to switch to Macs.

People who like Macs... LOVE MACS. They also usually refuse to use anything else. So there is going to be a strong preference associated with Mac vs.. the other guy.

This. Macs are incredible. Mine has never crashed on me, I've never had a virus and I don't have any anti-virus installed on it.

I actually upgraded today and got the Macbook Pro 13 inch. I spent $1199. Not sure where someone got $2000+ from-sure you could spend that if you get an ultra-pimped out version, but the one I got is fast. My sister is inheriting my 13 inch Macbook, which I got in 2009. It still works like a dream.

I will never go back to a PC. Ever.

 

[MayzDisney4]

I LOVE my Macbook Pro (Mac's in general) and I could never go back to a PC.

 

[shan136]

I have been a mac girl since 1994 (ick I'm getting old) and I strongly recommend a macbook or macbook pro if you can afford it. I am currently typing on a first gen macbook that is awesome. I got it 5 1/2 years ago and I still love it. My DH and I haven't ever had a mac do us wrong.

The couple of times I have given in and bought a windows-based computer because they were cheaper, I was greatly disappointed. I don't think they lasted more than 18 months.

However:

this is a fallacy of the worst magnatude-most good computer security experts will tell you that the current MAC operating system has a vunerablity to securty threats 10 times that of windows-there are few VIRUSES written because the money in viruses is in taking down business-and most of them use windows. MACs have other security holes just like any computing system.

This is mostly true, macs can get viruses, trojans etc. However, the threat is lesser because there are less users overall. It is not necessary to overload your mac with tons of security software, but keep up with OS updates, don't download every link someone emails you, share media only with trusted sources etc. and if you partition your hard drive to install windows, be aware that there is a risk of getting viruses while running windows on a mac.

 

[honugirl]

I'm learning to love my Macbook pro. I have some programs that for some reason the pro doesn't like to play nice with, like chem draw (for chemists). And it only seems to be the pro. It's really weird. It works fine on my friend's Apple desktop (not sure what model). I do think I like pages better than word. I have to use office though for school because of compatibility issues. It is nice and light and fast and I love the backlit keyboard. It holds a decent charge.

 

[LisaR]

I wanted to love my Mac, I really did. In fairness, I never had any problems with any PC I have ever owned. But when it was time to replace my last PC, I REALLY wanted to get in on the Mac love.

I justified it because my son likes to make stop action movies and I was told the Mac was "SO much better than a PC" for stop motion.

The only thing I have ever purchased in my lifetime that I have buyers remorse over is my Mac. I hate it. I honestly do not see any reason why it is better than a PC. Like someone else mentioned, I could have bought at least two PC's for the price of this Mac.

The rubber cover on the bottom of the Mac warped off after less than a year. I have never had a PC do that. It was still under warranty but Apple wouldn't cover it because it is a cosmetic issue. The cover is literally hanging off now and looks like absolute crap. I was VERY disappointed in their customer service.

While you may not get the "error" message that can pop up with a PC, instead you get the beach ball of doom. I can't tell you how many people insisted to me that they never got any error messages with their Mac but they all knew what the "pretty ball" was that spins around and makes you force quit what you are doing. Somehow they don't see that as an error since there isn't an actual message that appears.

As for the stop motion feature, eh. My son can use a PC or a Mac. He doesn't have a preference and says both are easy to use.

I will never again buy a Mac. I do not think it is worth it in the slightest. Even if I didn't have any issues with it, I just don't see how it is anything special. I can search the internet, Skype, keep up my photo albums, and email with the same ease I could with a PC that I paid half the price for.

I do like all of our ipods (shuffle, touch and nano) and would continue to purchase those Apple products but I can not believe I let myself (a very budget conscious individual) get suckered into a Mac.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I have just a regular MacBook and I love it. I believe they are a bit overpriced, but I really like the features as opposed to a Windows computer. Once you start using a Mac you will be spoiled and not want to touch anything with Windows.

 

[DawnM]

I got my first Mac last January, 2010. I needed a new laptop and opted for the Macbook Pro.

Wow! I am sold on Apple now!

I got my first ipod this year and yesterday just got an ipad. We need a new desktop and I have been saving all year for an imac, which will get this summer when the educator deals start!

I really don't want another PC, ever! DH uses a PC for work, but he can have it. I will stick with my Apples.

Dawn

 

[McTyee]

Another vote for yes!!!