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by djhworld 3599 days ago
I'd argue that the Macbook Pro has the right balance between a consumer and business device
3 comments

Don't you have to take them to an Apple store and stand in line to get it looked at if it's broken?
Whereas with a Dell it magically fixes itself, or you solder it yourself?
Dell has options. Apple has "option".

When the logic board in my current model MBP failed, I had to leave it with them for 6 days. When the graphics card had an issue in my previous MBP died, 4 days.

With a Dell, you can at least choose to pay for NBD repair. UPS guy shows up, it's repaired and back in your hands within 48 hours. And that's if they don't have a service contractor in your area that will come to your home/office.

Yes, you pay for it. But at least it's an option.

There are lots of shops that, for a fee, will give you a replacement Mac for the fixing period.

That said, moving my data and preferences and everything to the replacement box (and having to delete them afterwards, so nobody gets into them) is too much work. I'd rather have a spare laptop/desktop myself ready to go when the need arises.

As professional programmers, spending like $2-4K for 2 laptops every 4 years or so isn't that much to ask (which we can also reduce from taxes AND sell afterwards).

Heck, if we owned a taxi, we'd spend far more on its maintenance and operating expenses for the same period, and make far less.

You don't do regular disk clones as part of your backup process?!
As opposed to standing in line at another place?
With the right contract in place, support will come to your office to fix your laptop for you.
Usually it's not fixable in your office anyway, unless it's something very trivial.

Then, it becomes an issue of sending it off and waiting for it to come back. Hopefully they give you a temporary unit.

The same things (them coming it, sending it off) you can do with tons of Mac repair shops.

That said, whether Mac or PC, if you're doing business with your laptop, then get 2 laptops, or a laptop and some desktop machine.

Doesn't have to be equally expensive, but if you can't afford the downtime for repairs, replacements, etc, have something to fallback on.

It's might also come handy when some friend visits and doesn't have a laptop, etc.

I suspect for a similar amount of money you could find a local Apple-certified repair shop willing to do that for you.
A 3 year onsite warranty is ~$300. I doubt that over multiple incident you will be able to get a repair shop for that amount of money.
For small businesses, Apple's joint venture is great. Drop your Mac off and get a loaner. http://www.macworld.com/article/1158330/computers/joint-vent...

We use it. Super simple to get setup.

That's one of the reasons I've been recommending Apple computers to friends and family. It's nice having a store nearby they can make an appointment for service.

I used to also recommend Lenovo laptops with their onsite warranty plan, but after so many privacy missteps lately, I've stopped.

The privacy missteps were with Lenovo's consumer models. The ThinkPads only had the BIOS vulnerability.
Even so, the big problem for me is the lack of ethics at the company. I don't see the privacy of consumers as less valuable than the privacy of corporate users.
No you don't. They will overnight you a box. You pack it up, call for pickup, it then gets overnighted to Apple. They fix it that day then over night it back to you. All on their dime.

I was really really impressed with this.

I had my iMac serviced last year. I made an appointment online. After waiting 5 mins at the store, they checked me in and did some diagnostics. I was in and out in 15 mins
What's the last business laptop you have used ?
I'm coming to that conclusion too, at least in locations with easy access to Apple Stores. Moving back to the US so my next laptop will be a Mac; here in Indonesia the third party service centers are a joke (for most repairs they would have to place an order for replacement parts and that would take weeks, people resort to taking their laptop to Singapore and servicing them there).