New laptop for home Mac or PC

[nicholab]

Should I get a Mac or PC laptop for home use and what model would you get? I used to have a probook x360 14in from work loved it but very expensive.

 

I have currently remotely access my PC over vpn and then rdp, am I better getting a PC or Mac and what would give me the better experience? There always the possibility we get work laptop but no time frame.

[Rob_D]

Depends what you want to use it for and what you're used to.

Assuming the software/systems you need or want to use work fine on either, I'd say stick with what you're used to (especially for a work device). Or failing that, go for whatever offers the best value.

[Davit2005]

I've been buying refurbed Dell Latitude as a Laptop but I also have a Work PC (low consumption 20w, run VPN, RDP mainly) and an old Xeon based server (140w) for Video, Music production and CADCAM. As others have said, stick with what you know or ask what yourself what you need it for.

 

MAC is nearly always going to be more expensive and possibly limited upgradability once you pay for it.

 

I ran Linux for 1 year on both work and server used for Video/CADCAM but it jus did not get on with Teams, our VPN and was too much involved in learning new CADCAM application when I can get a Fusion free that does most of what I want.

[jthompson]

Recently splashed out on a MacBook Air M2. Yes, it's expensive and no, the hardware can't be upgraded, but I love it to bits. Very thin but still sturdy, great display, great sound, fanless (!) charging lead is actually good. No USB-A for the money, but it is an Air model after all. If you like Macs I think the current models are particularly good designs.

[HarryMonkey]

If I'm looking for a laptop for home use, that's exactly what I'm looking for .. HOME, not a single thought about work. If work want me to access stuff from home then they can jolly well buy me the kit to do it with.

[nicholab]

If I'm looking for a laptop for home use, that's exactly what I'm looking for .. HOME, not a single thought about work. If work want me to access stuff from home then they can jolly well buy me the kit to do it with.

 

Well that not going to happen ASAP so to work at home I need my own machine. I have a 2012 Mac at the moment with SSD most people can't believe it starts up so quick! I have worked with PC every day and Mac's some days. It annoys me when I somehow do a side swipe and the screen disappears to another desktop. I am also not sure if the RDP experience would be better on a PC.

 

I struggle with Mac as you spend a lot of money on something that can't be upgraded.

Edited May 16, 2023 by nicholab

[Aprice]

I'm still using a 2018 MacBook Pro 15" as my daily workhorse. Works great with the VPNs we have. Generally I prefer using a Mac for management. But I do keep a Surface Pro in my rucksack for the odd occasions I need Windows.

[Rob_D]

I struggle with Mac as you spend a lot of money on something that can't be upgraded.

It's not like windows laptops are hugely upgradeable either.

[jthompson]

It's not like windows laptops are hugely upgradeable either.

 

My previous Mac was a 2011 MBP. Doubling the RAM and then installing an SSD extended it's life considerably, although by the end the battery needed replacing.

 

That said, upgrading a laptop so that it still feels fast is of limited advantage if it's stuck running an out-of-date OS version. I wasn't able to run Google Drive for Desktop any more on the old Mac, because it stopped supporting the OS. I'm therefore not expecting as many years out of the non-upgradable MBA anyway.

[jmak]

If the main purpose is to allow rdp sessions to work (other than the obvious "don't unless work pay for it") is the cheapest device you can buy. I'd go Chromebook and the MS rdp app or use rdp via chrome browser

[2ilent8cho]

M1/M2 MacBook. Trackpads on MacBooks are best in class, battery life is amazing on the new M series chip MacBooks, performance is great, Air is fanless so no noisy fans because you have 2 chrome tabs open, even the Pro's you will struggle to get the fans loud. From an ARM perspective , the M1 MacBook Air, almost 3 years old now, can run ARM Windows in a VM faster than the fastest ARM non Apple laptop can run it natively.

[Chris_Cook]

Framework laptops are good. Pricey though. Refurbs from Dell, Lenovo etc are often good on a budget.

[nicholab]

Do Mac still have hinges that don't bend far enough. I want it to work on my Kensington stand on the highest slope setting.

[DGardiner]

Do Mac still have hinges that don't bend far enough. I want it to work on my Kensington stand on the highest slope setting.

my M2 12" looks to be able 135degrees before it stops?

[Sonic007]

I lovemy Macbook Air.

 

Remember you can get Teacher 10% discount.

[Dos_Box]

Framework laptops are good. Pricey though. Refurbs from Dell, Lenovo etc are often good on a budget.

 

I just got my dad a Dell Inspiron from their outlet. £360 inc vat. Not a bad spec either (well, once I added another 8GB RAM stick I had spare!

I do find though that my requirements for a laptop has changed very much over the years. It used to be I wanted (and had) beefy laptops with as near to top spec everything as could be had for the price.

Nowadays, with modern CPU's being quite handy for making devices last a lot longer before an upgrade is required, I'm happy with a mid-range device as long as it has all the connectivity options (HDMI, LAN, USB ports etc.) I need and is light!

My days of needing a very powerful laptop are now as good as over, replaced with usability and functionality.

Not to mention portability

[nicholab]

I just got my dad a Dell Inspiron from their outlet. £360 inc vat. Not a bad spec either (well, once I added another 8GB RAM stick I had spare!

I do find though that my requirements for a laptop has changed very much over the years. It used to be I wanted (and had) beefy laptops with as near to top spec everything as could be had for the price.

Nowadays, with modern CPU's being quite handy for making devices last a lot longer before an upgrade is required, I'm happy with a mid-range device as long as it has all the connectivity options (HDMI, LAN, USB ports etc.) I need and is light!

My days of needing a very powerful laptop are now as good as over, replaced with usability and functionality.

Not to mention portability

 

Defiantly in this category but I been spoiled by previous employers and I had a Surface book 2 and then a HP Spectre x360.

[nicholab]

Question is how wide do Mac’s open as I find that on a stand I want a couple of extra degrees hinge movement?

 

Also there is no two in one Mac or touchscreen model.

[DalekSec]

Question is how wide do Mac’s open as I find that on a stand I want a couple of extra degrees hinge movement?

 

Also there is no two in one Mac or touchscreen model.

 

Going to be honest, judging by your knowledge of mac hardware, go with a windows laptop. As a few of their quirks may annoy you or not what you expect.

 

Hinge movement is what you'd think from a normal laptop that doesnt go flat. There isnt a touchscreen mac and doubt there ever will, this is a space for the iPad that Apple dont want to blur.

 

You can use an iPad* as a second screen with sidecar though

 

Windows laptop i'd go for a surface laptop if you're only doing office work and no gaming.

 

*Need a M1 or above with the Mac, can't remember iPad requirements.

[nicholab]

I like the look of the HP ENVY x360 14 Convertible Laptop i7 16GB 512GB. I worked with Surface laptops and they are so non-repairable I would not buy one.

[Mako]

I like the look of the HP ENVY x360 14 Convertible Laptop i7 16GB 512GB. I worked with Surface laptops and they are so non-repairable I would not buy one.

 

We have 8 of these that we got on a pilot scheme for staff devices. They're nifty machines.

[nicholab]

Has anyone had issues with the new Mac and binary compatibility due to the change in chip?

 

Also if your using your machine for RDPing to work would you get a PC or Mac?

Edited September 19, 2023 by nicholab

[DGardiner]

Has anyone had issues with the new Mac and binary compatibility due to the change in chip?

 

ive never had any issues with rosetta, the first time i needed it it asked for install and ive never had anything not work?

[jthompson]

Has anyone had issues with the new Mac and binary compatibility due to the change in chip?

 

Also if your using your machine for RDPing to work would you get a PC or Mac?

 

Remote Desktop Manager Free is a fairly comprehensive RDP client that has both a Windows and a Mac version, so no real reason to choose Windows over Mac on RDP grounds.

[nicholab]

Remote Desktop Manager Free is a fairly comprehensive RDP client that has both a Windows and a Mac version, so no real reason to choose Windows over Mac on RDP grounds.

 

So will a brand new Mac be less lagged with the RDP experience than an old Mac? Or would you feel lag is down to RDP or the connection I only have 150/30mb FTTP services.