off-topic - MacBook V PC Laptop

[blue matt]

another point of note, and ive been looking at them as my oldest is going to Uni in Sept, Im not really into Macbook's, so please let me know you opinion on the below if you are

people say the macbook pro goes on forever, so here we have a 2015, 8 gig, 128 gig SDD, 12 months warranty for £440 ( the price of a just above entry level Win Laptop

so this macbook pro will go forever, so shouldnt that be the one to purchase

[Citizen's Nephew]

another point of note, and ive been looking at them as my oldest is going to Uni in Sept, Im not really into Macbook's, so please let me know you opinion on the below if you are

people say the macbook pro goes on forever, so here we have a 2015, 8 gig, 128 gig SDD, 12 months warranty for £440 ( the price of a just above entry level Win Laptop

so this macbook pro will go forever, so shouldnt that be the one to purchase

I use Macs & PCs every day for game development projects so have a fair bit of experience using this kit. The Macbook Pro 2015 is a really good laptop at the spec you've just mentioned and is priced about right at £440 with a 12 month warranty. It's an intel chip so will run Windows 10 via Bootcamp (which means you can run MacOS and Windows dual boot from the same machine) effectively giving you 2 laptops for the price of one (be aware that will half your SSD capacity though - but you can also boot from an external SSD via Thunderbolt 2 which means you can up-spec the machine if needed).

It'll run Big Sur (latest MacOS) really well which makes it as good as a current 2020-21 model.

It will even run an external eGPU (Radeon graphics card) if you needed to run 3D software in the future (though Apple will say it can't but if you need to I can explain how it's done).

I've still got a 2015 and it's a real workhorse. I run Macs until they drop and I've yet to have one give out. All PC laptops I've ever owned and used eventually give up - compare that to a 2009 Macbook Pro I have that's still running (admittedly it's now a basic laptop but it still works).

As someone else has mentioned, low-end PC laptops are a waste of time IMO. I'd go with the Macbook Pro 2015 before a new Windows laptop.

To the OP, sounds like you don't need that kind of power so I'd return it and buy a refurbished Macbook Pro/Air (for a third of the price) as suggested by NYCBlue. It'll come with 12 months warranty and you can find them on Amazon (so you get Amazon's return policy too - I've had a Graphics Card recently refunded that gave up just before its 12-month warranty - so they can be really helpful).

Another thing that's worth noting is if you've bought the new MBP with the Apple chip it WON'T be able to dual-boot into Windows 10 - only the older Macs with intel chips will do this. This is important.

To anyone else considering a Mac - buy anything from 2020 but no older than 2015 (for lots of reasons but I really can't write anymore).

Hope this helps. I'm happy to answer any Qs if needed so feel free to ask.

[blue matt]

I use Macs & PCs every day for game development projects so have a fair bit of experience using this kit. The Macbook Pro 2015 is a really good laptop at the spec you've just mentioned and is priced about right at £440 with a 12 month warranty. It's an intel chip so will run Windows 10 via Bootcamp (which means you can run MacOS and Windows dual boot from the same machine) effectively giving you 2 laptops for the price of one (be aware that will half your SSD capacity though - but you can also boot from an external SSD via Thunderbolt 2 which means you can up-spec the machine if needed).

It'll run Big Sur (latest MacOS) really well which makes it as good as a current 2020-21 model.

It will even run an external eGPU (Radeon graphics card) if you needed to run 3D software in the future (though Apple will say it can't but if you need to I can explain how it's done).

I've still got a 2015 and it's a real workhorse. I run Macs until they drop and I've yet to have one give out. All PC laptops I've ever owned and used eventually give up - compare that to a 2009 Macbook Pro I have that's still running (admittedly it's now a basic laptop but it still works).

As someone else has mentioned, low-end PC laptops are a waste of time IMO. I'd go with the Macbook Pro 2015 before a new Windows laptop.

To the OP, sounds like you don't need that kind of power so I'd return it and buy a refurbished Macbook Pro/Air (for a third of the price) as suggested by NYCBlue. It'll come with 12 months warranty and you can find them on Amazon (so you get Amazon's return policy too - I've had a Graphics Card recently refunded that gave up just before its 12-month warranty - so they can be really helpful).

Another thing that's worth noting is if you've bought the new MBP with the Apple chip it WON'T be able to dual-boot into Windows 10 - only the older Macs with intel chips will do this. This is important.

To anyone else considering a Mac - buy anything from 2020 but no older than 2015 (for lots of reasons but I really can't write anymore).

Hope this helps. I'm happy to answer any Qs if needed so feel free to ask.

thanks

I love my Chromebook, its a great bit of kit, spending £1500 - £2300 on a new macbook pro just seems alot of money, imho the best option for my daughter ( going to uni ) looks like the 2015 macbook pro and maybe upgrade the SDD ( which i am comfortable with doing on a win Laptop, so i guess the MBP is similar ), she isnt really into having the " latest and greatest " tech stuff, she still has a iphone 7

Whats the score with External Screens ? ? ? ? as a nice 29" screen would be great to work with

Of course she could take her old Win10 HP stream laptop ( but it really does struggle with the 32 gig SDD and does slow right down when it updates win 10 ) , but thats not going to make doing course work / assignments much fun

[Bobby Dandruff]

thanks

I love my Chromebook, its a great bit of kit, spending £1500 - £2300 on a new macbook pro just seems alot of money, imho the best option for my daughter ( going to uni ) looks like the 2015 macbook pro and maybe upgrade the SDD ( which i am comfortable with doing on a win Laptop, so i guess the MBP is similar ), she isnt really into having the " latest and greatest " tech stuff, she still has a iphone 7

Whats the score with External Screens ? ? ? ? as a nice 29" screen would be great to work with

Of course she could take her old Win10 HP stream laptop ( but it really does struggle with the 32 gig SDD and does slow right down when it updates win 10 ) , but thats not going to make doing course work / assignments much fun

Chromebooks are cheaper for a reason....

My son had one before his Mac and I replaced the screen twice. I currently work for a very large US software company who is 'intimate' with the Chromebook ( ) and when you join they offer you the choice of Windows, Mac or Chromebook. So they don't even insist on you having to use a Chromebook

And most people choose Macs.....and they aren't £1,500 btw.

[Maurice Swan]

Macs take a lot of getting used to.
I have a high end DELL XPS at home...which is great.....but on my travels I bought the following:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am VERY pleased with it....and NO 'Bloatware' pre-installed either - unlike many laptops.

Another good model I have recommended is TECLAST - their only problem is lack of supply.

btw I paid the higher price!!!!

[Citizen's Nephew]

thanks

I love my Chromebook, its a great bit of kit, spending £1500 - £2300 on a new macbook pro just seems alot of money, imho the best option for my daughter ( going to uni ) looks like the 2015 macbook pro and maybe upgrade the SDD ( which i am comfortable with doing on a win Laptop, so i guess the MBP is similar ), she isnt really into having the " latest and greatest " tech stuff, she still has a iphone 7

Whats the score with External Screens ? ? ? ? as a nice 29" screen would be great to work with

Of course she could take her old Win10 HP stream laptop ( but it really does struggle with the 32 gig SDD and does slow right down when it updates win 10 ) , but thats not going to make doing course work / assignments much fun

Just to be sure - the Macbook Pro 2015 is this one with the Retina display? Assuming it is, for now, the SSD is not the 2.5 SATA fitting it's this kind but don't let that put you off. My wife's got the same model and I upgraded no problem. I would suggest the kit because that way you can utilise the current SSD as an external drive (which would be impossible without the caddy).

You can't upgrade the RAM on this model.

The 2105 MBP has an HDMI port and a 29" monitor will be no problem. If it's the Retina model you can run a 4K monitor as a second screen no problem (though a 1080p is good too) both at 60Hz (I run DELLs).

If she's got an iPhone then she'll love the Mac alongside. But please check the MBP is the early 2015 13" Retina (the 15 inch would likely be much more than £400ish).

If it's the one I think it is then to me it's a no-brainer over anything else.....IMO

[Citizen's Nephew]

The 2105 MBP

2015! Obviously