I’m a Apple fanboi all the way. The only laptops my parents owned were windows laptops and they LOVE it. I tried convincing them to buy me a MacBook, but they said that MacBooks are too expensive. The windows laptop we all share is starting to get slow. There were alot of virus problems recently, and I saw many articles on how Macs are safer. I might sound selfish here, but being the only Apple person in my family’s tough. My mom had some hands-on experience with an MacBook, but she said the interface was too ‘complicated’. My school uses MacBook Airs and I’m very familiar with the interface. Enough with me rambling, please, some advice?
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How do you convince Windows-loving parents to buy me a MacBook?
- Thread starter ManiacMacWorm
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Perhaps look at used or refurbished MacBooks. Of course you have to be careful what you buy. If you get one in good condition even one from 2015 will work pretty well.
Unless you can find a very cheap second hand macbook, you will not convince your parents because they have used the magic words against you 'macbooks are expensive'. in my opinion this is the number one reason why windows users or those that enjoy using windows will never convert to macbooks because they are expensive and not every windows owner wants to buy a second hand macbook.
Pretend you’re an artist: you want to dive in music and use Logic Pro, then in video and use FCP... and you’ll keep a Win10 Pro in VirtualBox to show them you have a “real” computer. Good luck.
First things first, sort out why you are getting viruses.... I'll give you a hint, it's not a Windows issue. Also consider upgrading the PC with more RAM and an SSD to resolve the speed issues. I know you want a Mac, but it may not be the answer for you especially if someone else is paying.
Get a job, save your own money and buy it yourself ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Maflynn beat me to it, kid.
Your parents are paying, so unless they can be persuaded, you "get what you get".
Aside from that, go out and get a job, and use that money to "make up the difference", and they may be impressed with your effort.
I'd suggest looking at the Apple online refurbished store, to see if anything there is available that might be a possibility. Be ready to compromise with less drive space, slower CPU, etc.
Your parents are paying, so unless they can be persuaded, you "get what you get".
Aside from that, go out and get a job, and use that money to "make up the difference", and they may be impressed with your effort.
I'd suggest looking at the Apple online refurbished store, to see if anything there is available that might be a possibility. Be ready to compromise with less drive space, slower CPU, etc.
I am on board with saving up and buying a Mac yourself.
To the OP: would you mind me asking your age?
If you are younger and buying a Mac yourself is unrealistic, then maybe you should talk to your parents about getting a used, much older Mac.
By your explanation, it sounds like the price of the Mac is more of an issue than your parents "just hate Macs".
Five years ago, my then 11 year old was about to have his 12th birthday. He asked me for a $2000+ MacBook Pro.
I laughed and asked if he was serious, which then I found out he was. Not sure why he thought I would buy him such an expensive laptop.
To the OP: would you mind me asking your age?
If you are younger and buying a Mac yourself is unrealistic, then maybe you should talk to your parents about getting a used, much older Mac.
By your explanation, it sounds like the price of the Mac is more of an issue than your parents "just hate Macs".
Five years ago, my then 11 year old was about to have his 12th birthday. He asked me for a $2000+ MacBook Pro.
I laughed and asked if he was serious, which then I found out he was. Not sure why he thought I would buy him such an expensive laptop.
Your strongest argument will be that your school uses Macs.
You should be able to collect data about apps, connectivity, sharing, and so on. It may well be that there are serious obstacles facing a Windows-based student in a Mac-based learning environment -- but it's going to be up to you to demonstrate that.
You should be able to collect data about apps, connectivity, sharing, and so on. It may well be that there are serious obstacles facing a Windows-based student in a Mac-based learning environment -- but it's going to be up to you to demonstrate that.
Yeah. That’s what I’ve always done even when I was a kid. My folks never bought me expensive things, I always bought them myself.
This. All-round good advice.
Also, Macbooks would be the last laptops that I'd buy used. If the OP is considering a used laptop, for about $100 total, you can buy a ThinkPad T420 in excellent condition, SSD to replace the HDD, an additional battery, and additional RAM (if needed)... and for another $20 on top of that, a smartcard w/2 USB 3.0 ports.
Indeed. I did exactly that, and replaced the grubby keyboard with a new one for around £20. less than 5 mins to fit.
Good gawd, the kid asks how to convince his family to get him a MacBook and almost half the answers sound like "back in my day, we had to save up to buy **** ourselves."
How is that being helpful?
How is that being helpful?
Have you considered reinstalling Windows and dual booting Ubuntu? Unless you have a specific use for a Mac such as Xcode Windows or Ubuntu is fine for average users.
Without trying to kid yourself, is it realistic that they have the spare cash to spend on a MacBook?
If not, then respect the fact that they provide all that they can and accept that you're gonna have to wait a bit longer.
If you honestly think that it might be a possibility, you have a few options:
> Offer to pick up jobs at home in return for the extra cost of the MacBook. Cutting the lawn, doing the dishes etc. Do this before the laptop arrives to show you are serious and committed to keeping to your part of the deal. Start to slack after a few days and they'll know you are trying to kid them and you have no chance.
> As others have said, get a job and offer to pay the difference.
> Tell them how a MacBook will cost less in the long run. I have a 2008 iMac that still works fine, if that had been a PC, I'd be on my 4th machine by now
Aside from the above, find a family friend (a parent of one of your mates perhaps) who shares your enthusiasm and ask if they'll gently help your cause, without making it too obvious.
But back to first principals, don't put unfair pressure on them if an expensive laptop is beyond what they can afford. Reign yourself in if needs be, start saving now and they'll be super proud of you and your financial maturity if you do get to buy one yourself.
Good luck...
If not, then respect the fact that they provide all that they can and accept that you're gonna have to wait a bit longer.
If you honestly think that it might be a possibility, you have a few options:
> Offer to pick up jobs at home in return for the extra cost of the MacBook. Cutting the lawn, doing the dishes etc. Do this before the laptop arrives to show you are serious and committed to keeping to your part of the deal. Start to slack after a few days and they'll know you are trying to kid them and you have no chance.
> As others have said, get a job and offer to pay the difference.
> Tell them how a MacBook will cost less in the long run. I have a 2008 iMac that still works fine, if that had been a PC, I'd be on my 4th machine by now
Aside from the above, find a family friend (a parent of one of your mates perhaps) who shares your enthusiasm and ask if they'll gently help your cause, without making it too obvious.
But back to first principals, don't put unfair pressure on them if an expensive laptop is beyond what they can afford. Reign yourself in if needs be, start saving now and they'll be super proud of you and your financial maturity if you do get to buy one yourself.
Good luck...
Most people had to wait to start a career (Or take out student loans (BAD IDEA)) to get a Mac. I was rigging up laptops for a decade with Linux builds until I was a year out of college as a CS student. In the end it made me appreciate my MacBook pro more than anyone I know.
Somehow, that logic failed when I was a child. "Mom, our school uses Apple IIgs's. I want one of those since it's as easy as putting the game disk in, flipping the power on and go!"
What I ended up with was an IBM Personal Computer XT and they tossed that thick DOS manual in my lap and expected me to learn it myself. In hindsight, it really did help to learn exactly how a computer works and how to delve into development, etc. vs. wasting away hours playing The Oregon Trail on a IIgs.
Both my mom and stepfather are in the market for new laptops and they still can't understand the benefits of a Mac. They're blown away by mine, I've shown it to them. But the price still scares them away. My grandmother is worse--if it ain't Yahoo! Mail and Internet Explorer and a start menu, she can't figure it out.
I feel your pain. When I was about 13 (early 90s) I was begging my dad to get a Mac for our first computer.
He went and talked to his tech-savvy buddy and came back saying, no way I'm getting a Mac, the whole world uses something called "DOSE"? "DOSS"?
Fast forward 25 years and he got a $2000 grant from the state he lives in for a computer and still says "I'm not getting a Mac!"
Some people are just stubborn.
Get a part-time job and save up for your own.
He went and talked to his tech-savvy buddy and came back saying, no way I'm getting a Mac, the whole world uses something called "DOSE"? "DOSS"?
Fast forward 25 years and he got a $2000 grant from the state he lives in for a computer and still says "I'm not getting a Mac!"
Some people are just stubborn.
Get a part-time job and save up for your own.
I second that. My 2008 MacBook works well for daily tasks, just can't do anything serious on it. A 2015? still expensive compared to cheap windows laptops, but still more affordable to worthy windows laptops and better build quality. I'd personally try and find a 2012 MacBook Pro. Upgrade it to an SSD, and you'll have a cheap decent machine.
Here's a video of Luke giving his opinion on it.
They're the most helpful answers here. It's called reality folks. Macs are nice, but you can get a half-decent Windows laptop good enough for a lot more than school work for a fraction of the price.
...or should we be saying "oh dear, that's terrible, aren't your parents mean, here's some convincing technobabble that will help you emotionally blackmail them into ruining their credit..."? Frankly, even if they're rolling in it, it is sensible to make Junior at least flog all their nice stuff and mow a few lawns to drive home a few economic realities.
When I were a lad, the rule was always that if I wanted an expensive present, I had to save up half the cost myself. Very, very good principle (even if most of the money ultimately came from the same source).
Oh man, The Oregon Trail, definitely brings back memories for me, haha!
Also, does anyone remember the game Z-Bug?
Look for alternatives.
- If price is a factor. Look for used high quality business models. @sracer suggested a Thinkpad T420. I'd suggest something like a T460s or T470s for something more modern. They are quite cheap on eBay and within what your parents likely expect to pay. These have much higher quality screens, keyboards and overall build quality than something new in their price range. They should have similar or better performance too. Perform a clean install from a Windows 10 ISO downloaded from Microsoft. With Thinkpads the "T" series are the higher quality series. Those which end with an "s" are the most premium models of the T series. The next step up are the X series but generally too expensive and more luxury than anything major over the T series. If they are skeptical explain it as getting a used Rolex vs a new Timex or used Subzero vs a new Frigidaire.
- Experiment with Linux on your new laptop. You may find an distro you are happy with. Perhaps Elementary OS. There are some Mac like distros.
- If you want to experiment with macOS. Look through tonymacx86 for laptops with a high level of compatibility. Then you can learn more about macOS and troubleshooting Mac's than you would just using a regular Mac.
- This is an opportunity to experiment and learn more about computers. By making due with what hardware you can get. Then setting up the OS how you want.
- If price is a factor. Look for used high quality business models. @sracer suggested a Thinkpad T420. I'd suggest something like a T460s or T470s for something more modern. They are quite cheap on eBay and within what your parents likely expect to pay. These have much higher quality screens, keyboards and overall build quality than something new in their price range. They should have similar or better performance too. Perform a clean install from a Windows 10 ISO downloaded from Microsoft. With Thinkpads the "T" series are the higher quality series. Those which end with an "s" are the most premium models of the T series. The next step up are the X series but generally too expensive and more luxury than anything major over the T series. If they are skeptical explain it as getting a used Rolex vs a new Timex or used Subzero vs a new Frigidaire.
- Experiment with Linux on your new laptop. You may find an distro you are happy with. Perhaps Elementary OS. There are some Mac like distros.
- If you want to experiment with macOS. Look through tonymacx86 for laptops with a high level of compatibility. Then you can learn more about macOS and troubleshooting Mac's than you would just using a regular Mac.
- This is an opportunity to experiment and learn more about computers. By making due with what hardware you can get. Then setting up the OS how you want.
Oh man, The Oregon Trail, definitely brings back memories for me, haha!
Also, does anyone remember the game Z-Bug?
I was jet talking to my girlfriend the other day about dying from dysentery. All. The. Time.