[DataDive]

Oh yeah?

Please link to a model, just one in the 500-600 range that is comparable to a 1K Apple model.

I have owned half a dozen Windows laptops in the past, in all kinds of price ranges, cheaper and far more expensive than a Macbook Air.

None were even remotely comparable to the build quality and practicality of a Macbook Air. This was true even in the Intel CPU era. In the M processor era, the gap only increased.

You cannot even do research on a good Windows laptop because the makers constantly change the model numbers to confuse the customer and hide the flaws of these systems.

You buy a Windows laptop then either the screen, the battery life, the touchpad or the keyboard will suck ... maybe all four.

The sole reason to buy a Windows laptop and put up with all these flaws is playing games. If you need that you will put up with all that crap.

[rkangel]

The parent isn't saying that there are $500 laptops that are as good as $1k Air. They're saying that there are $500 laptops that are "good enough" for most people's use.

Personally for home use I buy pre-owned Thinkpads and then put Linux on them. They're fine for normal use - Internet, Email and light to moderate SW Development. The screens are mediocre, but I pay £300-£400 (UK). Oh and I don't care about battery age because replacements are inexpensive and require sliding one catch to make the replacement.

Yes, for work I want something more performant and I'm considering pushing work to get me a Macbook (instead of the high-spec Thinkpad I currently have), but that's a different use case.

[DataDive]

Good enough is not the correct term.

The other day I bought a 30 dollar phone,

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walmart-Family-Mobile-BLU-View-4-...

it has all the functionality that you might need it has map, a browser, runs facebook and twitter apps, tiktok what else do you need

can I use that as an argument that why buy an iPhone for 1K if you can get a great phone for $30 - no because when you talk about phones or laptop you are talking about comparable products

what I was saying that you cannot buy the same value you get with a Macbook in any laptop product

[havaloc]

$500 laptops are good enough until they have to call over a tech consultant (me) to work through some issues once every 3 months. At trip charge of $65 each, they aren't saving money with a $500 laptop - and then the battery gives out 2.5 years later.

This isn't theoretical, it happens all the time. I worked with a person who had a 10 year old MacBook Air - it still worked and held a charge! They got their money's worth.