I recently had one of the two fans in my old 15″ Apple MacBook Pro die, and rather than repair it (the third mechanical failure I’ve had on the MacBook in 4-5 years), I decided it was time to replace it… and I replaced it with a Windows machine. Why?
Cost.
I like Mac OS X. I really do. It’s very simply, easy to use, and of course is based on BSD which meant I could often put my Linux knowledge to use on day to day tasks. I loved the build of my old MacBook, with it’s solid aluminium case meaning that the motherboard isn’t subjected to stress anytime it’s picked up and should last a lifetime with care.
Unfortunately, the cost of doing business with Apple is extremely high, and I just can’t afford that anymore. The spec of the new machine versus what I’d be able to afford from Apple is as follows:
| Toshiba A660-11M | Apple MacBook | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £799 | £849 |
| CPU | 1.6/2.8Ghz Core i7-720QM | 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Memory | 4GB | 2GB |
| Hard-disk | 500GB 5400RPM | 250GB 5400RPM |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M 1GB | NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256MB |
| Display | 16″ Toshiba TruBrite® LED-backlit widescreen | 13.3″ LED-backlit glossy |
| Audio | Built-in Harman Kardon® stereo speakers and microphone | Stereo speakers and omnidirectional microphone |
| Keyboard & Mouse | 102 key “chicklet style” keyboard with full numeric pad and 2-button trackpad | 79 key “chicklet style” keyboard and 1-button trackpad |
I think the difference is pretty clear. The Toshiba might have a cheap plastic case, but it is both cheaper and better kitted, actually featuring technology from the last 6 months as opposed to tired old kit from 2 years ago (seriously, Core 2 Duo’s when everyone else is offering Core i3/5/7? And a 256MB graphics card? I haven’t seen a graphics card with less than 512MB, even in laptops, in about 18 months).
Sorry Apple, but as much as I like your hardware, your prices have gone far beyond my budget. It’s just no contest.
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