The common question, “Is a MacBook worth it?” seems a little unfair on the surface. It is like asking, “Is a Jaguar or Mercedes worth it?” And, where many people will come down on one side of the fence or the other about that fact, the argument isn’t really about worth, value, or even utility. The MacBook, like a luxury car, is not bought because it is the best value for money. It is bought because people want something smoother and a little more luxurious. In the world of laptops, a MacBook is a luxury car.
Is a MacBook Worth It? – Yes
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Apple products are well-built, they operate very efficiently, and the software behind them is often very impressive. Whether it is its ability to save battery power by toning down background operations, or whether it is its safeguards that stop crashes even when the processor is heavily burdened, the fact is that MacBooks are good and well-built devices.
If you are asking, “Is a MacBook worth it?” and your priority is that you want a device that is reliable, then yes, the MacBook is worth it for you. The only case where the MacBook wouldn’t be worth it is if you are spending this month’s rent on buying it. If you do not have the money for a MacBook, then it probably isn’t worth it. But, that is not to the device’s detriment. After all, if you cannot afford a luxury car, it doesn’t make the car a bad car.
Is a MacBook Worth It? – No
Apple as a whole can be accused of being a somewhat consumer-unfriendly company. They do things like bring out new-shaped headphones and accessory ports for each item so you cannot use your current accessories with your new products. In a world that has safely moved over to USB and HDMI, Apple still brings out its own odd-shaped portholes. These practices are just unfair to the consumer. When an entire continent is creating legislation to force Apple to move over to USB, you know there is a problem.
Plus, it is not just their consumer-unfriendly practices. Apple may make good products, but it overcharges for both technology and software. This is especially true when it comes to subscriptions. Even when you get a good price for your MacBook, you are not going to have fun with all the subscriptions that Apple wants you to take in order to get the most out of your device.
Plus, in terms of price alone, the “Is a MacBook worth it?” comes into its own for being overly expensive for even the most affluent of pocket. In an age where you can get a good gaming laptop for under $700, is it really fair that Apple charges double that for what is essentially a utility laptop, albeit a well-made one?
Should I Buy a MacBook?
What is the final verdict? Is a MacBook worth it? The answer seems to be that people who are already fans of Apple should continue to be fans of Apple. Those moving from Windows and Android to Apple are going to have a hard time. Those moving from Apple to elsewhere are going to find things very unintuitive.
We see a lot of cross-intuitive functionality these days. For example, we all know what three dots mean, or a cog icon, or a box with an X inside. However, the flow and function of an Apple device are different from that of Windows and Android. People who are used to using MacBooks and Apple products are going to feel like they are downgrading when they move to anything else. For that reason, people who are already fans of Apple should probably stick with Apple.
There is no need to make a cut-throat choice. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are not going anywhere any time soon. If you pick Apple, you don’t need to worry that their stuff will be forgotten in the future (like Zune, Compaq, AltaVista, AOL, Pebble, and Vertu). If you pick a MacBook, nobody is going to call you a fool.
Selling Your Older MacBook
Since technology moves so fast, it is difficult getting to resell older laptops for money. They depreciate way too fast. One very obvious advantage of Apple computers is that they hold a better resale value over time. So, if you are a MacBook owner, you have a better chance of reselling your older model or trading it in for a store credit.
And if you are looking for a quick turnaround to sell your used Mac, we at Gadget Salvation are happy to oblige. But it does not have to be us. There are plenty of other options to check out there. For example, we wrote about the pros and cons of selling a MacBook Pro online vs in person not so long ago, but this applies to pretty much any other Apple gadget.
In Conclusion
So is a MacBook worth the money? Ultimately, only you, the consumer, can decide. Any Apple fan will tell you that it absolutely is. We even know several long-term PC users who, after a long Mac vs PC debate have converted to Mac and never looked back. At the same time, for the price of a MacBook, you could get yourself a high-end Windows laptop with the latest hardware, touchscreen display, dedicated GPU, and plenty of other cool perks. It seems like in recent years, MacBooks became a sign of status more so than actual utility computers. At the same time, any Apple notebook will get the job done and more. So, if you want to get a quality portable device that looks good, we’d say go for it!
