MacBook Quality

[Graham]

I have been researching MacBooks. My grand daughter wants one as she is off to University.
I was shocked by the feed back I found on Youtube.... Being a true-bluer since 1984 I was amazed at the slam dunk give to Apple.
Can someone tell what I researched is wrong..... I could not find a positive report....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdRpgWYWCZg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zqwu3YbEZM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK369-NU44g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gJ8mGFjeqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJjLwMUPJI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVAmnV65_zw

 

[chas_m]

YouTube is probably the worst possible place to find comments about products. Most YouTubers are highly motivated to invent controversy or be negative to gain viewers.

The MacBooks (not Pros) are perfectly fine and capable machines for all non-professional-level apps. My main issue with them at present is that the base-model MacBook Pro is the same price, not much heavier, and more powerful — so at the moment, it’s a better value.

That may possibly change before long, but Apple has dropped no hints about exactly when. If I were buying today, I would get a base MacBook Pro.

 

[Graham]

I was aware of the negativity on youtube.... but there was some validity to the number of ports on the Macbooks.
I was not able to convince my son to purchase an Apple for his daughter.... They decide on a unit that is made
in Hong Kong .... at just under $1000 They determined that the added features offered were worth the gamble.
I will be watching closely.

 

[chas_m]

I was aware of the negativity on youtube.... but there was some validity to the number of ports on the Macbooks.

Not really (in my opinion).

Yes, the non-Pro MacBook only has one port -- but it doesn't need any more than that. The battery lasts all day, so there's no need to keep charging it. The USB-C port on the MacBook (now becoming standard on newer Windows machines as well) can handle video/audio, data, and power ... so the only adapter one would need is a $10 "USB-C to USB-A" adapter, and even that only if you are using older peripherals that require USB-A.

Still, some people are convinced they need lots of ports, and about one percent of such people are correct -- their use case actually does require that. But it's not really true -- I know plenty of people with MacBook Pros (which have four such ports) and have yet to see one with more than a single attachment (either power or some other accessory) plugged into it "in the wild."

I note with interest that the Windows machine chosen is not far from the price of the MacBook, or for that matter a base-model MacBook Pro, and exactly the same price as the MacBook Air. Perhaps a Windows machine will work out well for her, but I would not be surprised if they're buying another machine in a couple of years.