New Apple Computer

[john10001]

I am considering getting my first Apple computer. I got my first iPhone three years ago.

Besides the official Apple site can you advise any other places I can look?

I was hoping to find other places that have more flexible finance options. For example I might want to pay a bigger lump sum up front and then pay the rest off over 12, 24, 36 months. The official site does have a 0% interest deal through Barclays but it is just over 12 months and that puts the repayments quite high as these are Apple products.

I am open to new and nearly new products. I am ideally looking for a Core i7 or better. 16GB memory and 512GB SSD. I was thinking of the Mac Mini or Macbook Pro.

In the past I have had my own PC builds and am currently on Windows 7. I have Windows 10 at work and I absolutely hate it which is why I am probably going to Apple Mac as my next system.

Cheers.
John

[supremetwo]

Apple are so expensive.

Unless you are going onto Apple at work, would it not be better to get a Windows 10 machine to better familiarise yourself with it and make your work life easier?

If you wish to tell us why you hate Windows 10, feel free.

[JoyofBrex8889]

Try Linux. I am absolutely loving the switch from Windows 10 (little better than malware) to freedom enhancing Debian Linux.

It’s fast, free, and doesn’t try to sell me to advertisers. What have you got to lose?

[formoverfunction]

Hi John,
I've always bought from Apple or their registered network. Not sure if that's around any more.
I'm still using a desktop I bought in 1996, now with Linux, and this Macbook that I bought in 2011. Upgraded the RAM and swapped in SSD.
I have bought on one occasion from PC World and used their credit, but not for a very longtime.
Apple products are expensive, but in my experience they are solid builds.
I prefer the MacBook Pro, but the new MacBook Air is good for most everyday uses. Next time what I'm likely to buy.
The one thing I always do is max out the RAM and storage.
I've never used a mini, I prefer the Raspberry Pi for a smaller foot print, and I've been able to use that with my TV, set up AirPlay and a load of other stuff. I interact with the Pi everyday from the MacBook using VNC and ssh.
I'd bite the bullet and go with Apple direct. My experience has always been good and the after care support is great. I still call them from time to time for a product I bought 9 years ago!
Of course it will work well with your iPhone, unlike Windows and Linux. You'll wonder why you didn't change over years ago.
Linux works well with Mac's, but there's a bit of messing around. Especially creating a boot partition. I install Linux or BSD when the kit get's very old. After a decade or so.

[PhaseThree]

John Lewis sell Apple products so may be an option to look at. They are currently doing a 0% offer on MacBooks.

[AF62]

Try Linux. I am absolutely loving the switch from Windows 10 (little better than malware) to freedom enhancing Debian Linux.

It’s fast, free, and doesn’t try to sell me to advertisers. What have you got to lose?

What have you got to lose? - Your life. Linux is the most awful, unfriendly, system out there (and I speak as someone using Linux in a couple of installations - utterly, utterly, horrible). Personally don't see the hate for Windows 10 - cheap, easy to use, works well, everyone knows how to use it.

3 operating systems walk into a bar
The first says "I'm Windows. The most popular, everyone likes me and I don't mess about. I'll have a pint of lager."

The second says "I'm Mac OS. I'm the favourite of artists and hipsters, and I could never settle for a boring lager like Windows. Give me your hoppiest artisanal IPA!"

The third says "I'm Linux. I'll have some water, hops, barley and yeast please."

Anyway, back to the OP's question - have you looked at John Lewis. They seem to be giving 18 months interest free credit on some Apple Macbooks and they come with a three year warranty.

[Lanark]

Macbook Pros have had a lot of keyboard problems in the last year so I would either get a mini or an iMac, either of those will let you plug in your own keyboard.

I use a black Unicomp
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/SpacesaverM

Apple have the best OS but I really wish they would get over their obsession with making everything as thin as possible.

[vrdiver]

Mrs VRD uses an iMac and loves it. I on the other hand detest it; all the things that I know how to do in Windows seem to be hidden and counter-intuitive.

Before you sink your money into an Apple computer based on your iPhone experience, I strongly recommend popping into your nearest Apple store and trying to do the things you do on your current machine - or at least talking through those tasks with one of the Apple store gurus.

Apple seems to charge a premium for its products compared to the equivalent spec available for a Windows machine (or linux, should you be so inclined). Whether it's worth it will depend on your perception. What I've noticed over the last 5-6 years is that from a pure application viewpoint, IOS and Windows appear to be converging; perhaps it's because any half decent idea published by one ends up in the other pretty rapidly!

Lastly, your IT department may have configured (and locked down) W10 in a very different format from the way you would use it at home. I'd also recommend popping into a PC store and having a look at one that is not configured by corporate IT, or at least publishing any gripes you have with the way the W10 version you are using behaves. Hopefully you'll get a few suggestions as to how that could be changed to something a bit more palatable!

Like you, I have had custom PCs and prefer to spend my money on the components that are important to me; http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk have offered good service (and after-sales support) if you are too busy to self-build.

Incidentally, I switched from an iPhone to Android; the integration between it and the PC is (especially around google apps) is just as good as iphone/Mac but with more choice.

VRD

[Lanark]

Good advice above, the one thing that still drives me nuts with macOS is the lack of a Save As option, they have made it different in every application - export.., publish to.., share with.. for the love of god Apple just bring back Save As, it wasnt broken.

[Archtronics]

OP asks for recommendations on where to buy Apple products on more flexible finance, people start recommending Linux and windows.

My advice would be to get yourself a 0% credit card, In fact I think Barcley’s currently do a 27 month card.
That way you can pay as big a lump sum as you wish and put the rest on the credit card then repay as you wish.

I’ve bought several Apple products this way and it generally works out as a cheaper more flexible way of doing it.

[vrdiver]

OP asks for recommendations on where to buy Apple products on more flexible finance, people start recommending Linux and windows.

My advice would be to get yourself a 0% credit card

+1 for the cc idea, but the OP did say "considering" and also explained why they wanted to move away from Windows. I didn't think it too far off topic to address those issues (else why were they mentioned?)

Still, I'm sure the OP can sort the wheat from the chaff by themselves...