Buying a new work computer -- Thinkpad X1 vs M1 MacBook Pro (and Parallels)

[SHNXX]

I'm buying a new work computer which I'd like to use for personal use as well.
I currently have a 2020 13" Intel MacBook pro which i find aggravating to use and an old iMac which is ready to be retired.

At my last few workplaces, I've used Thinkpad X1's which I have been thoroughly underwhelmed by, and I thought it might be fine to just buy a 14" or a 16" M1 Pro MacBook Pro, or if I'm trying to be thrifty, an M1 Mac Mini.
I don't use Windows for a lot of stuff, as I only need it for excel and Bloomberg and maybe Outlook and prefer to use everything else on the Mac OS.

Which do you think is better?
Options
1) Buy a Thinkpad X1 as work computer and upgrade to MacBook Pro out of pocket
2) Buy an M1 pro MacBook pro as work computer and upgrade to iMac refresh later in 2022 out of pocket.
3) Buy an M1 Mac Mini as work computer, upgrade to M1 pro MacBook pro out of pocket.

 

[bobcomer]

1) is the best option given the state of running Windows on Arm in a VM in Parallels. (it's not licensable except for the Insider preview program)

But I might add installing Windows on one of your intel Mac's as an option to do the necessary Windows stuff, and using something like a KVM to switch between it and your new M1 Macbook Pro.

 

[SHNXX]

1) is the best option given the state of running Windows on Arm in a VM in Parallels. (it's not licensable except for the Insider preview program)

But I might add installing Windows on one of your intel Mac's as an option to do the necessary Windows stuff, and using something like a KVM to switch between it and your new M1 Macbook Pro.

Okay yeah that's true. I guess I could just buy an intel mac, probably an intel mac mini.

 

[ADGrant]

Okay yeah that's true. I guess I could just buy an intel mac, probably an intel mac mini.

Intel Mini has a really bad GPU. If you are open to a desktop as your work machine, just buy a 2020 27" Intel iMac. Plenty fast enough and a 27" 5k screen.

You can run Excel on the Mac of course but I am guessing you need Windows only features. They also have Outlook for the Mac but I would rather use the built in applications. I don't particularly like Outlook on Windows to be honest.

If you need to run Bloomberg software, you will need Windows I guess and if you need Windows and want MacOS, you should just buy an Intel Mac.

 

[SHNXX]

Intel Mini has a really bad GPU. If you are open to a desktop as your work machine, just buy a 2020 27" Intel iMac. Plenty fast enough and a 27" 5k screen.

You can run Excel on the Mac of course but I am guessing you need Windows only features. They also have Outlook for the Mac but I would rather use the built in applications. I don't particularly like Outlook on Windows to be honest.

If you need to run Bloomberg software, you will need Windows I guess and if you need Windows and want MacOS, you should just buy an Intel Mac.

I really don't want the 27" iMac because it will clutter up my workspace. I'm trying to have one large external monitor.
I didn't know that the mini had a bad GPU.

Is the MacBook pro or the mini's M1 chip fast enough to run Parallels at decent clip?

 

[ADGrant]

I really don't want the 27" iMac because it will clutter up my workspace. I'm trying to have one large external monitor.
I didn't know that the mini had a bad GPU.

Is the MacBook pro or the mini's M1 chip fast enough to run Parallels at decent clip?

To be honest the CPUs in the Intel Mac mini are weak compared to those in the 27" iMac. The GPU is worse than the GPU in the cheapest Intel laptops.

I would not use an M1 Mac to run Windows if my job depended on it. It would be fine for tinkering but Windows on M1 is not supported by either Apple or Microsoft.

 

[bobcomer]

I don't particularly like Outlook on Windows to be honest.

Neither do I!

 

[SHNXX]

Neither do I!

Well, it sure seems better than outlook on Mac.
I have no choice but to use it for work.

 

[alien3dx]

for me ipad enough unless it was work thinkpad company sponsor not own pocket

 

[Joelist]

Based on what you said you use, an M1 or M1 Pro MacBook Pro will be great for you. Just use Office for Mac which handles everything fine - I use it for work and it is fast, stable and does everything needed.

 

[SHNXX]

Based on what you said you use, an M1 or M1 Pro MacBook Pro will be great for you. Just use Office for Mac which handles everything fine - I use it for work and it is fast, stable and does everything needed.

I still want windows for bloomberg and excel.
Excel doesn't work well on Macs and shortcuts are all ****ed.

Outlook I guess is sort of okay.

 

[SHNXX]

for me ipad enough unless it was work thinkpad company sponsor not own pocket

it's company sponsored.

 

[bobcomer]

Well, it sure seems better than outlook on Mac.
I have no choice but to use it for work.

I've never tried the Mac version. And we all have things we need to run, whether we like them or not.

Our email is Lotus Domino, and while it's more stable and can handle bigger email files, it's not perfect by any means either!

 

[Joelist]

I still want windows for bloomberg and excel.
Excel doesn't work well on Macs and shortcuts are all ****ed.

Outlook I guess is sort of okay.

I use it every day and it is fast and works perfectly.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

In my opinion, Parallels is not an option on the M1. I set it up for one purpose and it doesn't work, because the app I tried to install would not install. Probably not compatible with arm64.

 

[Madhatter32]

Option 1 allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds in Windows and Mac and the Thinkpads are good laptops to work on. If you are ready to leave Windows altogether, I would go with option 3 as the mini would be a good cost effective device to work on in the office and the MBP would allow me to be portable for use at either the office and at home.

 

[SHNXX]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll just pay for the MBP out of pocket