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Ditch MBP and get cheap windows pc to use for syncing?

ryanwarsaw

ryanwarsaw

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Apr 7, 2007
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I have a MBP unibody and I love the thing. However, the problem is I think it's screen is on the way out. I had a new screen priced as my warranty has just expired and the price was around $700 to fix it.

I do not believe that the iPad is a stand alone device like some others seem to believe. So I was thinking of just getting a cheap windows laptop (read around $500 here) when this dies and an iPad. I never do anything serious on my MBP anyway I surf the net and consume media.

I obviously would rather just get an iPad and hope the MBP doesn't die for a long time.

Those two things can be done easily on an iPad from what I have read. I just need a notebook or even just a cheap desktop to use for syncing. I also have an iPhone, not that it matters but trying to give a better picture of my situation.

I just can't see any need to pay the Apple tax for their mainstream computing devices I just can't see ever again buying an Apple computer just to manage content. I am wondering if I am missing something in my thoughts on this though...

Don't get me wrong I love Apple computers but the price is just so steep. I am beginning to wonder if Apple is making a mistake with the iPad as their motive is money and if this plan works out I will save at least a thousand dollars a year as I upgrade often.

I see many other people saying the same thing and if the iPad isn't huge and people stop buying their notebooks Apple could be in a bit of trouble. I assume they make much more money on a notebook than an iPad.

With such devices coming out I am beginning to realize you don't need the latest 2.8 GHZ MBP to surf the net and do trivial things.(such as make mundane posts such as this on MacRumors)

I have a fairly powerful MBP and honestly I haven't noticed any difference in performance over the normal blackbook first rev. coreduo2 I bought 5 years ago. This of course is because I am not a power user. I have also done RAM upgrades in the past and found it didn't matter either.

If a program for over the air syncing is available then even the limited storage of the 64 GB model would not matter at all.

*shudders at the thought of going back to the dark side*
 
Thought of that because I love OS X but I don't have KB, monitor, mouse etc. So it is also expensive.
 
wilycoder said:
sell MBP, get mac mini and pocket some cash :)
Click to expand...
as a windows user I agree with this






ryanwarsaw said:
Thought of that because I love OS X but I don't have KB, monitor, mouse etc. So it is also expensive.
Click to expand...
but this means a trip to compusa/tiger direct lol



but I think the basic Mini with a basic display ($150) and basic kb/mse ($30) would do it.


you have internet and router already?
 
Yes I do have router and everything already. Maybe the whitebook is an alternative although I am somewhat loathe to buy it.

As far as selling the MBP goes I just can't do it as it is on it's way out. I will keep it until it dies but my conscience won't allow me to pass it off on ebay. It isn't so much a matter of money to buy another computer. It is a matter for me if the means justify the ends.

Also given how much I travel I just thought of how it would suck to not be able to sync on the road. So it is more or less a laptop that I have limited my choice to at this point.

Off topic but I am hating this decision because I had the MBP repaired under warranty (I had to travel to a neighboring country to do this and had to travel again to go pick it up a week later) for the screen issue before. I live in Laos so there is no service center with in at least 16 hours of my home. I got the MBP home and it had the same issue. The repair was carried out a few weeks before the warranty ran out.

I could not take time off to travel three days for service. So I am not too happy about that. I think with all of the Apple products I have bought i may write Apple and explain this to them and see what they can do. If that fails I will need to make a decision if this thing dies.

I really want to stay with Macs though.

I guess my last point is probably a very good reason to migrate back to windows.

*sigh*
 
Don't go to the darkside!!!! You will regret it when you have your first virus.
 
Was your repair done by an Apple certified repair center? The repair itself should be covered by its own warranty, right? For example, if I get a warranty repair, the warranty on the repair might come with a 90 day warranty, regardless of whether your original warranty expired or not. I would definitely check this out.
 
Maybe just buy an external display and hook your MBP into it? Just set it up to mirror the displays. You'll have your computer for $100 or less depending on what monitor you use.

This comment is not aimed at you, but when I hear this type of thing, $700 for a display, I think how much I need applecare on all my stuff.

Or Square trade on my yet to be delivered ipad 3g.
 
I bought an iMac 17" Intel Core2Duo in a pawn shop for $200. Have you checked locally, pawn shops, craigslist, etc to see what you can find used?
 
Yes, it was down by an authorized Apple shop. I have also a good track record and I am hoping they pay attention to that when people request service. For example I have never lied about water damage, incidental damage or whatever.

I understand I live in the sticks and this is in now way Apple's fault. I am hoping maybe they can meet me half way on this as they would go a long way in retaining a loyal customer.



I guess I will need to contact Apple directly because resellers in S.E. Asia are not as good service wise. I could only find a number for Apple that is toll free and it doesn't seem to work from abroad.

My best chance for replacement I guess is to be calm and rational with whoever I get from Apple talking to me. Explain myself and try to get them to pre-authorize the repair so when I do make it to the Apple reseller I don't have to fight with them about it.

Is there a number I can get somebody from Apple on the phone or an email? Sorry that I don't look these up better myself but my connection is GPRS and many times half the speed of dial up.

To the poster that mentioned pawn shops.... I live in the jungle in southern Laos. Nobody on the island I live on had ever seen a Mac or iPhone before I was here 3 years ago. There are no pawn shops.

Also thanks for your suggestions.
 
There is no such thing as a cheap PC. If you value your time at minimum wage ($7.25/hr) any PC will cost you THOUSANDS to troubleshoot and maintain... :rolleyes:
 
ZBoater said:
There is no such thing as a cheap PC. If you value your time at minimum wage ($7.25/hr) any PC will cost you THOUSANDS to troubleshoot and maintain... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I have all the time in the world as I don't work a typical job. Just for your information where I reside minimum wage is $25 a month.
 
ScottFitz said:
Maybe just buy an external display and hook your MBP into it? Just set it up to mirror the displays. You'll have your computer for $100 or less depending on what monitor you use.

This comment is not aimed at you, but when I hear this type of thing, $700 for a display, I think how much I need applecare on all my stuff.

Or Square trade on my yet to be delivered ipad 3g.
Click to expand...

This is a possibility concerning the display. What model 3G did you order? You are offering to trade even for my MBP? I would pay half the shipping.

The screen broke once and the backlighting went out. They fixed that but the screen intermittently flickers. So I am thinking it might not be that hard to fix. The upper half of the case is like two months old. There are many little bumps and abrasions on the case given my lifestyle and the places I have to lug it through.

It is a unibody late 08 2.4 Ghz Core 2 with 2 GB RAM. PM if you have any interest and I can send you pictures of everything right and wrong about the machine. I will however try to get a hold of apple prior to making a decision.

Anyway whatever happens to the MBP maybe we should go back to the original topic? LOL
 
I'd keep the MBP and get a cheap external monitor. If an iPad is going to become your primary portable device, it won't matter that your MBP is now deskbound. I'm thinking it might be more trouble than its worth to sell it and then obtain a cheap windows machine. When your MBP completely dies maybe then.

I wouldn't replace the MBP with another at this point either. The last few updates to the line have been pretty dull--nothing to make a person run out and get one.
 
It really depends on how much you use your ipad for computing. If its alot, yeah get the windows machine. Even if it goes out after like 2 years, you can buy a new one and still come under/close to what an mac would cost you. And they would probably have superior specs. Unless you keep a mac computer more than 4 years, it makes sense to do this because you will get way better specs for cheaper, and you will still have the awesome design of apple from your ipad.
 
How is iwork on an iPad can I make simple brochures such as this easily?
 
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