I’m doing my part. I got a new work M1 MBP. Then, I was laid off, so I got a new personal M2 air. Then, I got a new job, which gave me a new M2 MBP. North of $10k in laptops.
Oh, and a new iPhone.
Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
191–200 of 367 posts
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#192Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've always joked that if you want a maxed-out model, it's cheaper to fly to the States, buy there, and fly back than to buy in Europe (especially in Sweden where I am right now)
That is if you don’t get caught at customs… you’ll have to pay at least the VAT on the value of your purchase and possible a duty as well. So if you want to do it legally you’ll have to add 20-25% to the price which no longer makes it very appealing.
The probability of getting caught is low. Unless you're bringing back several boxes.
Unpack, put it in your backpack, boom it's your personal item.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#193Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is if you don’t get caught at customs… you’ll have to pay at least the VAT on the value of your purchase and possible a duty as well. So if you want to do it legally you’ll have to add 20-25% to the price which no longer makes it very appealing.
> That is if you don’t get caught at customs Do you still have to pay if the Mac is out of the box and you have used it?
According to the the law yes.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#194Because the rents are too damn high! Duh.
I recently started a new job, and the boss asked me to buy myself a laptop. I without thinking much asked "what's the budget, about a thousand?" He said gently, "Uh try for 600... Check out Lenovo."
I've now got a kick-ass Lenovo upgraded with lots of RAM and SSD disk for 600.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#195Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is if you don’t get caught at customs… you’ll have to pay at least the VAT on the value of your purchase and possible a duty as well. So if you want to do it legally you’ll have to add 20-25% to the price which no longer makes it very appealing.
Just take it out of the box and put it in your carryon, making it your 'work laptop' right? How would you risk being caught at customs?
How to get past customs isn’t the problem, however it’s still tax evasion.
You can also buy a house much quicker in Europe if you find a way not to pay 50% of your income in tax… oh and that Porsche now looks quite affordable too..
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#196Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not sure what your definition of a power user is. But I have root access, can install every UNIX package under the sun with homebrew and can disable all security protections as needed. I also have a Linux workstation and I can't name anything it can do that my MacBook can't other than playing with niche technologies e.g. NVMEoF, Octane.
>can install every UNIX package under the sun with homebrew Even this one? https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/
Does it even use a nvidia chip?
Their stuff doesn’t work with my AMD APU and the oppression I feel is oppressive.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#197It's not just the pandemic shopping spree hangover, Apple's hardware pricing is completely out of the market. $1700-$2500 for a median spec computer? It's ridiculous.
People have been saying this for literal decades. That's not what's causing the drop.
The m1's were in line with the rest of the market, if not cheaper.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#198Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here's one under 1000e: https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/917297/asus-zenbook-14-um... If you spend 1250e you can get oled screens which are nicer then apple https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/904043/asus-zenbook-14-um...
> 1080p screen Not the same. 1080 would be unbearable compared to a MacBook pro screen at 14” (3024x1964). Edit: the oled one has acceptable resolution. I don’t see any specs on the ssd though so it may be SATA junk. The problem with other manufacturers is that they aggressively skimp in all the places people don’t look. Part of what you get for the Apple tax is some assurance that’s not happening.
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Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#199Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here's one under 1000e: https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/917297/asus-zenbook-14-um... If you spend 1250e you can get oled screens which are nicer then apple https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/904043/asus-zenbook-14-um...
> 1080p screen Not the same. 1080 would be unbearable compared to a MacBook pro screen at 14” (3024x1964). Edit: the oled one has acceptable resolution. I don’t see any specs on the ssd though so it may be SATA junk. The problem with other manufacturers is that they aggressively skimp in all the places people don’t look. Part of what you get for the Apple tax is some assurance that’s not happening.
> I don’t see any specs on the ssd though so it may be SATA junk.
PC OEMs stopped using SATA SSDs years ago. Entry-level NVMe SSDs are both cheaper and faster than SATA SSDs built around the same quantity and type of flash.
Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers
#200Earlier quoted context omitted.
Generally Apple users don't update their computers too often, and when they released the M1 models a lot of people had models pre-2016 that needed upgrading (since pos-2016 models sucked balls). So, part of that unusual demand was also customers finally upgrading their old MacBooks.
I have a 2017 model; other than replacing the keyboard (for free) I've been happy with it (also keyboard replacement ended up being a good thing as I got a whole new top-case with it for free). Would like to get an Mx but will probably wait until it does (I don't "need" to upgrade at this point, more like a "want").
I feel the same way about my 16' i7 from 2019... but I also have an 14' M1 Pro for work, and if I didn't already have that, I would have definitely upgraded. It's just a much better machine, if nothing else from a battery life perspective. Twice as better, and that counts a lot for me.