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My Girlfriend insists on getting a macbook pro. What do I do?

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for some reason my girlfriend thinks that getting a macbook pro will solve her computer problems. She complains that desktops are inadequate, because it's not portable, and anything that isn't a mac isn't as good. She surfs the web, watches a lot of movies, and shows. She also likes to play Sims, and facebook games.

All that is fine with me, but she thinks spending over $1200 on a low spec macbook, will solve her problems. the only problem I see is the fact that intels integrated graphics, wont give her the ability to play pioneervile. She loves to play it on my desktop because it runs so smooth. but she doesn't understand the concept of graphics cards, and I told her if she's going to get one, get the one with a quad core, and a graphics chip, but she says it's too much money....

So, what the hell? You want to shell out over a grand for a dual core, but you wont spend the extra money for a quad core, and graphics chip that will provide the longevity. She wont even consider other laptops, that are much cheaper, and have much better specs.

I've tried to show her solutions from many different companies, particularly the ones ranging from 1k-1.5k that nearly double the specs of the apple. For our 6 year/ christmas present she wants me to put money towards it, but doesn't want the higher end choices.

What do I do?

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Pretty sure the intel integrated graphics can play a facebook flash game...HD 3000 can do a lot - include HD video.

I think you just smile and give her the money...I know she's just the girlfriend, but at 6 years I think the "happy wife, happy life" still applies.
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Dont get MacBook Pro, Their too over priced for simple spec, but if you do let us see spec because most MacBook are over priced... If i were you, i'd list the spec of what size, how quiet you want it, What resolution you want, and most importantly how much does she use it...

I think these is perfect if you can spend that 1.5k...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I wont be paying for all of it, just putting money towards it. I like apple products, don't get me wrong. I have an issue on overpaying for a product.

I also learned that Apple uses Foxconn for motherboards on a frequent basis... Aren't foxconn Motherboards lower end?

I'm not doubting the intel HD. I mean, it is a 32nm architecture, and sharing the L3 cache is nice, and all. She doesn't realize that having the quad core and the additional graphics power is really what she needs, she doesn't game that hard, but having that power when you need it, is worth it in my opinion.


I was configuring a MBP, and was alarmed to see over +200 usd for a ~100 mhz speed bump. and like 200 bucks for another 4gb of ram.


If she got a windows laptop, and wanted an upgrade, I could open it up for her and to it myself, but I don't think you can get into an Apple, without specialized tools?

Ok - so clearly several of these people don't have non-tech significant others. She wants it cause it's shiny, not because it's useful. Same reason girls like diamonds. Buy the Mac and save yourself the argument.

If you really think it won't run the facebook game, take her to an Apple store and let her try it.

legendkiller said:
Dont get MacBook Pro, Their too over priced for simple spec, but if you do let us see spec because most MacBook are over priced... If i were you, i'd list the spec of what size, how quiet you want it, What resolution you want, and most importantly how much does she use it...

I think these is perfect if you can spend that 1.5k...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...



Great minds think alike, I actually had looked at 2 out of those 3. The asus models, are probably faster than my current rig. (look in my profile, or under my post, wherever it lurks.) only I've got my phenom OC'd and my ram bumped up to 1600mhz, I don't know how much of an actual difference 1333mhz vs 1600 makes in day to day use.

aaronstyle said:
What do I do?

Tell her its your way or the highway. Time to put your foot down man! I wont let my wife install iTunes on my PC, let alone buy an apple computer. Anyone that buys a mac for general purpose use will regret it, because they are not designed for general use.

iam2thecrowe said:
Tell her its your way or the highway. Time to put your foot down man! I wont let my wife install iTunes on my PC, let alone buy an apple computer. Anyone that buys a mac for general purpose use will regret it, because they are not designed for general use.


Let her? This is 2011 not 1811... presumably she has her own money and will buy one if she wants. Again, if you're concerned about it just take her and let her try one at an Apple store.

And not designed for general use? They most certainly are - what else would they be designed for? I used to have both a MBP and Windows laptop for work (have always had all Windows and Linux home) and the MBP was actually the go to for basic email/web/etc. And that was the very first MBP with integrated graphics and a Core2.
Laptop Expert

For what she wants to do the Mac book is just right and they do a better job at video and music than a pc with all the other stuff mac books are good at she may forget about games and get into facebook and twitter and hd video and on and on..... and you will be her hero for helping her get one. Major points scored.

What exactly is the problem? Since when did you need a fancy GPU to play flash games or watch videos? She sounds like the perfect candidate for a 13" macbook pro; let her have one. That she made this decision on her own, she'll be happier with it than with something you try to force on her. If you want to help, take her to an Apple store and let her play around with one before buying.

1) Find a non-Aplle laptop with the specs you think are good for what she wants to do with it and have her try it out.
2) Find an Apple with the specs she wants and have her try it out.
3) If she still want the Apple and has the money, let her buy it.
4) You can not convince someone of something, if you do not prove you case (no matter who it is).

Dude the only way you can convince her otherwise is the find something that mimics that mac in appearance. Even if you do this, she probably just wants a mac. It is what it is and there is not a thing you can do about it.

Nothing wrong with it, buy it/ pay for it, in 2 years my dads mac book pro is still in great shape and has no issues. For her uses let her have one then if you are into pc's no arguments when its upgrade time. And the macbook will still be doing exactly what it did before... pretty much nothing a normal laptop can't do.
but it wont be slow with virus junk

6 years? congrats then. Just buy the macbook and you'll save time and energy from the ensuing arguments if you tell her to buy other types (also, she'll get the mac eventually, so why bother...). Another part is, it's her decision and if anything scew up, she can't lay the blame on you (nothing will, of course...considering she'll only use it for casual computing)

inanition02 said:
Ok - so clearly several of these people don't have non-tech significant others. She wants it cause it's shiny, not because it's useful. Same reason girls like diamonds. Buy the Mac and save yourself the argument.


I had to LOL when I read your reply. It brought back so many memories. I was in the same boat as the OP about 2 years back. My then GF, now wife also was adamant about the same thing and she loved those good looking Laptops. So I took her to a store where there were no Apple's and she found a nice and shiny black HP Compaq with all the bells and whistles that was cheaper than the Apple, had better specs and best of all she chose the HP by herself, so she was 120% happy with it and she is still using it today. :) 

Just something for the OP to think about. ;) 
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aaronstyle said:
I wont be paying for all of it, just putting money towards it.



What the hell man? If she wants it let her pay for it.

It's fine if she wants a MBP, but she needs to learn fiscal responsibilities. If she cannot afford one right now, then she needs to save up money for it.

Just gives her a gaming laptop and she wont be crying for the MAC...
Spec you should look forward too....
-LED
-1080p(1920x1080) or 720p(1366x768)
-GTx 540m(At least for 720p or 1080p if not gaming)
-Quad Core(Or Dual if Quad is expensive)
15-17"
6-8 Cell battery
Anti-Glare Screen
-4-8GB RAM @ 1333(8GB improves performance or better for software)
-500GB(If you format the computer every 3-4 years or so than 500GB is needed because photo and video ganna fill it up)
-Built in KeyBoard W/ Soft press(When hitting or pressing the keys) with or w/out LED Keyboard(Get steel series because they make good keyboards)
Note: Each of these gives prices above $500 so dont expect you get it lower than $700(US Dollars)

The MBP will be enough for pioneer trail (is this the game you are talking about?) It is more like a turn-based game so you don't need the responsiveness of say a fighting or shooting game.

I tested it on my hp 2710p with only core 2 duo ULV processor @1.2 GHz, 4GB ram and Mobile Intel GMA X3100 on win 7. It runs fine at 1280x800 resolution, only a bit slow to load at the beginning and when visiting friends lots.

If a MBP can't compare to a 4 year old laptop then... :sarcastic: 

I play a few of the facebook games on and off, works fine all of them just takes a seconds to load lager lots with more items. I just prefer using a mouse though because it is a lot of clicking.

Just get her the MBP, people who don't care how a computer works prefer the UI and simplicity. Also I don't wither it is the same around the world but over here the Macs don't depreciate as fast as windows notebooks.

If either of you are in college then get it from a apple education store, it is quite a discount.

Just get her an E-350 amd apu powered laptop. Promise her, if she tries it for a week, still doesnt like it, you will get her the MBP of her choice. ALWAYS works on girls. They have this obsession of proving their BFs wrong. When you get the E-350 lappy, after 4-5 days just go to an apple store and tell her some small useless things the MBP can do better. Then admit, MBP isnt bad and are willing to let the 400$ spent on current lappy be waste. Women just hate to let the money go waste(BY MEN). Also, you would have then made a case for MBP, so she will then jump to E-350s side. Game. Set.Match. :) 

The Intel HD 3000 on the 13" MacBook Pro should be good enough for most Flash games out there. So the laptop probably would manage for your Girlfriend's needs.

The main requirements of the Laptop are probably the SHINY silver Aluminium finish. If you are going to show another laptop to her make sure it is shiny and white too. This is relatively difficult to do in the Windows Laptop range.

As another person suggested, take a look at the MacBook Air, or one of the ASUS Ultrabooks when it comes out. These have the same HD 3000 Graphics as the larger MacBook Pros, but sport an SSD for really quick boot times. Plus they are shiny Aluminium. Sadly neither would be user upgradable I expect.

BTW: Apple use FOXCONN to make all their products. Foxconn makes low quality products for many companies (DELL, HP, ACER, ETC) but Apple seem to have some agreement with Foxconn as the Iphone seems to have a relatively low failure rate.

Well, it looks that she doesn't care about specs, she wants a MBP and that's it!
I liked the suggestion to have her try notebooks, make her try 3 notebooks:
- First, MBP
- Second, notebook that have same specs than MBP
- Third, notebook that have same price than MBP

Show to her, IF HER WANT, she can have a notebook within same specs for less money or a notebook that costs as much but is much beefier.

And don't question her choice ultimate choice.. you will never win.. lol

sergeyn nailed it. If a MBP is all it takes to make her happy (with repect to computers, at least), the price difference between the MBP she wants and the laptop that you think she should get is cheap at twice the price.

Remember, this is not about you. Smile and say, "Yes, dear." Save the fight for somethingthat really matters.

I don't understand the problem here. If she wants one, so what? Its not your concern at all. If you want to shell out a few bucks for the down payment, that's up to you, but after that, keep your mouth shut about it, and forget about it.

Don't end up on Judge Judy whining and sniveling about how you "loaned your ex-girlfriend" money for a computer and now you want that money back.

There are many ways you can deal with this:
A) Dump her, Reason: If she does not care about your opinion, and does not belive you know about this more (and you obviosly do), then that sort of GF will eventually do something more than spend your cash.

B)Tell her to buy it herself, and add the "idea" maybe then you will try to think it a bit more and listen to at least some of the reasons that i can offer to you.

C)Find a "womans way" to explain the problem of getting a macbook. This would require a lot of time, and there is no guarantee it will work.

D)Accept that women many times buy things for how they look, not for that they are usefull (flowers anyone? ok, dead flowers actually).

A) Is a stupid reason. What if your GF knew more about fashion than you, would you let her pick out your clothes? or if she knew more about nutrition would you let her plan/order your meals?

B) She is buying it herself she just wants money towards it as a xmas present, similar to a gift card if there was such a thing for the apple store.

C) lol

D) That is true looks also play a part but it is not only girls that do this.

I think some don't get B above

cats_Paw said:
There are many ways you can deal with this:
A) Dump her, Reason: If she does not care about your opinion, and does not belive you know about this more (and you obviosly do), then that sort of GF will eventually do something more than spend your cash.


LOL, 6 years together and then he dumps her because of a difference in opinions about christmas present.

Take her to a Apple store to try it out. Then get them to pack up one, with all the power cables etc. and make her tote it around for a while. I have a 17" workstation laptop for work and it is a pain to carry it around. She doesn't need a full spec gaming laptop, she needs something that can play HD movies. Also, make sure it is pink ;-)

Let her get the MacBook. Try and find the best bang for her buck, though. Take a good look at the refurbished products at the Apple Store (you can sometimes find a decent deal there) or look at some of the value-adds offered by third party retailers. You pay the same price for the hardware, but they will sometimes throw in extras like more memory, a printer, or extra battery, etc. PCMall/MacMall comes to mind for some of these deals.

For Pete's sake, don't push her into a PC just because you want her to buy a PC. You will regret it every time she complains about a virus or any kind of Windows wackiness.

Additionally, if she buys a Mac, and something should happen to go wacky, you don't have to support it. Instead, she can go down to your local Apple Store and flirt with one of the guys behind the counter to get him to fix her problem.

Of course, if you do happen to be able to fix her problem, then you're the hero, and heroes always get a reward for saving the princess, right?

Houndsteeth said:
Let her get the MacBook. Try and find the best bang for her buck, though. Take a good look at the Instead, she can go down to your local Apple Store and flirt with one of the guys behind the counter to get him to fix her problem.

nice one! Just don't forget to agree with your GF in advance when a flirt stops being just flirt so that she know how far she can go.

take her to an apple store and ask the "knowledgeable" employees to show her a laptop that will play all the games she wants. If she doesn't want to buy that one, because it is too much, then it is her problem.

Just let her buy it, if you talk her out of it and she gets something else and she does not like the computer you talked her into you lose. If you let her buy the Macbook and it does not work out for her and you keep from telling her I told you so. You win. Just get the best Macbook for the money. Do not look for an answer here, no matter, what everyone says you have to live with her.
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