I have narrowed down the possibilities for my new computer — either a Lenovo ThinkPad T510 or a 15″ MacBook Pro. Given that I will still need to buy and install Parallels and Windows for some Windows-only applications I need (MAXQDA, SnagIt, Outlook 2010, EndNote, etc.) and the fact that the Mac is almost 2x the price of the Lenovo (which has a faster processor and more memory), I am leaning toward the Lenovo.
Is there anything I am overlooking that should make me again consider the Mac?
what you really buy with an Apple is club membership. Its status and service, and thats about it. Yes the systems are beautifully put together but they are expensive and not always the best out there spec-wise. Its a small, shiny Escalade for people trying to look like intellectuals or those with money to burn.
Apples service, both phone and in-store, is what you really pay for. I have had various major issues with my Mac (yes I own several as well as PC’s) and Apple has taken care of all of them under the extended warrantee.
The ability for me to walk into an Apple store store in NYC, 2500 miles from home in CA, with a broken laptop and walkout with a brand new computer and all of my files is why i buy apple products.
I run windows on all of them either in boot camp or parallels , I have too for work, so i could just as easily buy a cheap PC.
What picking up the Apple brand product buys you is solid design and a really nice safety blanket (assuming you buy the apple care extension) and nothing more.
So the real question you have to ask yourself is “Is paying 2x the price worth the security of owning a Mac?”
For me the answer was yes even though I despise the operating system… the safty net of an apple was worth it,
@jackgross-
Thank you very much for this comment; I found it very helpful in my decision-making. I am very interested in seeing this relationship you are mentioning as part of a critical-theoretical approach to how corporations want people to feel a certain way about their products as a useful technique to sell more items and establish a brand identity.
This was a factor I considered with my computer purchase, though decided to buy a Mac anyway for a few other reasons. That is my next blog post.
Jeffrey
Have you used thinkpad service before?
Why do you think that thinkpad after sales not as good as Apple?
@s s
I tried to use Thinkpad after sales, but found it frustrating as Lenovo wanted to service only my computer, but not the operating system or any of the software. It is nearly impossible for a non-techie to differentiate from one to another when there is a major tech problem.
While my Lenovo Thinkpad was the best computer I ever owned, it suddenly failed to fully start-up and load this past Friday; I have no idea if it is a Vista failure or a hard-drive failure, though I would have to fork over a chunk of money to even have that determined, before I decide if it will be worth it to do further troubleshooting (hardware = $ and software = free reloading of it).
I must say that I have already brought my Apple back in for Genius support twice, given there is an Apple store 4 blocks away. For my Lenovo, I would have to send it away or pay big bucks at Geek Squad. Alas, this is not easy to navigate . . .
Jeffrey