MacBooks are typically thought to be prime quality and dependable computer systems, however they certain are dear machines. Whereas many individuals adore MacBooks and their design, there are some appreciable downsides that you must take into account earlier than shopping for one.
We’ve damaged these MacBook downsides down for you under, so you may resolve whether or not or not a brand new MacBook is best for you in spite of everything.
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8. Value
MacBooks have wonderful options, however as with most Apple merchandise, they are often overpriced. Apple’s least expensive MacBook, the MacBook Air, begins at $999, whereas the newest MacBook Professional fashions begin at $1999. Add-ons for further storage and RAM solely enhance the worth much more.
These hefty costs solely entice premium patrons and could be a large drawback should you’re on a finances. Trying purely on the specs, you will get much more to your cash with a Home windows machine.
7. Software program Help
Apple’s MacBooks run on macOS, which is vastly completely different from the more-common Home windows working software program. Whereas there are execs and cons to macOS and Home windows, an enormous drawback for macOS is the shortage of software program help.
Third-party app help has improved in recent times, and also you’ll discover that a variety of apps have a macOS model obtainable. Nevertheless, you’ll nonetheless discover occasional apps that solely run on Home windows, and in the event that they’re important to your workflow, you won’t be capable to use a Mac-friendly different.
6. Apple Silicon Macs Can’t Run Home windows
Apple’s older MacBooks used to run on Intel processors, which allowed you to put in Home windows utilizing Boot Camp. This was very helpful and allowed you to make the perfect of each working programs.
Nevertheless, newer MacBooks now run on Apple’s silicon chips, and whereas these are way more highly effective when working macOS, they don’t help Home windows. There are a couple of workarounds involving the set up of virtualization software program to run Home windows. Nevertheless, it isn’t as straightforward because it was once utilizing Boot Camp.
5. Restricted {Hardware} Upgrades
An enormous a part of Apple’s {hardware} philosophy is to have closed programs, and that’s mirrored in its all merchandise, virtually none of which permit person upgrades. MacBooks even have very restricted improve choices. The processor and reminiscence are built-in on a single circuit board, which implies there are just about no improve choices in any respect. Apple even makes use of particular screws to cease you moving into the within of a MacBook.
If you wish to enhance your storage or get extra reminiscence down the road, you’ll want to purchase a brand new MacBook—which, once more, may be very dear.
4. Restricted Storage Choices
In the event you’re somebody who must have a variety of pc storage, then you might wish to assume once more earlier than buying a MacBook—they aren’t constructed to accommodate large ammounts knowledge, and that is mirrored within the costs.
The bottom MacBook Air and MacBook Professional fashions characteristic solely 256GB of SSD storage, which is sort of small in comparison with different producers. If you wish to improve the storage on the time of buy, it’ll price you. Storage upgrades vary from $200 for 512GB to $800 for 2TB. As compared, most Home windows laptops include at the least 512GB SSD of storage as of late, with storage upgrades obtainable at a lot decrease costs.
A workaround for that is to spend money on cloud-based storage and use that to maintain all of your knowledge within the cloud. Nevertheless, this could show to be lower than good as you’ll want a relentless web connection to maintain your knowledge in sync.
3. Webcam High quality
Webcams on MacBooks have all the time been an space of concern. Till lately, all MacBook webcams solely supplied 720p resolutions, which didn’t look very spectacular in any respect, particularly after forking out a lot on a dear laptop computer. This turned much more essential after the COVID-19 pandemic, with lots of people switching to on-line video conferencing for work.
In the event you’re planning to purchase one of many newest MacBooks, you’ll be comfortable to listen to that the latest MacBook Professionals have a 1080p decision webcam, which appears to be like significantly better than earlier than. Nevertheless, if you’re shopping for an older model, or a MacBook Air, be ready to compromise on video high quality throughout your Zoom calls.
2. A Lack of Ports
Apple has all the time been a fan of lowering ports to optimize its gadgets. It was the primary to cast off the headphone jack on a serious smartphone, and the primary to take away all ports in favor of solely USB-C ports on a serious laptop computer. This precipitated furor when it was initially introduced, however since then, many people have develop into used to carrying round a MacBook Thunderbolt dock.
Ports are at present a mix-and-match scenario between completely different MacBook fashions. The MacBook Air and MacBook Professional (13-inch, 2020) solely provide 2 USB-C ports, which implies you’ll almost definitely want to purchase a dock. Nevertheless, Apple reintroduced the HDMI port and SD card slot on its newest MacBook Professional fashions (14-inch and 16-inch), making life so much simpler.
Sadly, there’s no saying which route Apple will probably be taking sooner or later—it’d maintain an ordinary USB-C port lineup throughout all its MacBook fashions and maintain the extra ports reserved for “premium” MacBook Professional fashions, or it’d re-introduce the ports on different variants as nicely.
1. Poor Gaming
Apple’s restricted ecosystem signifies that much less software program makes its means over to macOS. Whereas most huge producers like Adobe and Microsoft have launched macOS variations of their creativity suites, gaming stays an space when MacBooks nonetheless lag far behind.
A significant cause for that is {that a} restricted variety of avid gamers use a Mac, in comparison with what number of play on Home windows-based computer systems. Macs are extra oriented to workplace, productiveness, and artistic work fairly than gaming. What’s extra, whereas some video games do make their solution to Mac, they’re usually launched later than their PC and residential console counterparts.
You could possibly beforehand set up Home windows on a MacBook through Boot Camp and use it to run your video games, however as we beforehand talked about, Apple silicon Macs have shut down that route. In the event you’re trying to begin pc gaming anytime quickly, you’ll be significantly better off investing in a Home windows laptop computer or, even higher, a custom-made Home windows PC.
Ought to You Nonetheless Purchase a MacBook?
Switching to a MacBook, as with all the pieces else, is all about weighing up the professionals and cons. Though it does have its disadvantages, I personally imagine {that a} MacBook is an excellent machine to make use of. What it lacks in video games, it makes up for with artistic apps, ecosystem integration, lovely design, and reliability. As with all the pieces Apple, it merely works, and there’s a lot much less to fret about in comparison with a Home windows machine.
