Most Mac-Like Windows Laptop

Lphil170258 on 28/10/2018 - 08:04

Hi,

my wife's Macbook Pro has crashed and burned so looking for replacement. Unfortunately can't afford to replace it with the new model and though I see refurbished MacBook Airs within her budget they just seem like really old technology to me. Apart from this, I'm a PC user myself and know my way around Windows so I would like her to join the party. But she loves the MacBook aesthetic so i was wondering which laptops (14 inch or 13 inch screen) sort of look like MacBooks but I could perhaps get for less than $800 refurbished or second hand. I'm aware it's a tough ask but I thought I might raise it up the flag anyway!

TIA Phil

Computing Apple Computer Laptop

Comments

  • hogwarts on 28/10/2018 - 08:21
    +3

    Most ultrabooks such as the Microsoft Surface Laptop, Mi Air, Asus Zenbook has the "Macbook Aluminium" aesthetic to it.

  • WreckTangle on 28/10/2018 - 08:49
    +1

    Doesn’t sound like much of a party.

  • smuggler on 28/10/2018 - 08:53
    +9

    What kind of nonsense is that title?

    Buy her a business laptop from HP, Lenovo or Dell.

    • CtrlAltSpoods on 29/10/2018 - 12:26
      +1

      I thought he summarised the question quite well in that title.

      • smuggler on 29/10/2018 - 18:37

        no such thing

  • Elppa8 on 28/10/2018 - 09:35
    +11

    Wife had a MacBook and wife likes MacBooks then buy another MacBook, you will be better off.

    • Quantumcat on 28/10/2018 - 15:58
      +3

      Happy wife happy life

      • pegaxs on 28/10/2018 - 19:40
        +1

        Not so much this, more like “I don’t want to listen to her entitled, 1st world problems…”

    • Solarlux on 29/10/2018 - 08:28

      Yeah, you can't change a sheep…Once a sheep always a sheep. I won't comment on your bedroom…bah bah!

  • MeesusEff on 28/10/2018 - 10:33
    +7

    Xiaomi laptop

    • websterp on 28/10/2018 - 15:04
      +1

      +1
      Currently using Xiaomi Air 13 2018 model. Looks exactly like a Macbook but running Windows.

  • claw225 on 28/10/2018 - 10:37
    +1

    The Macbook Air hasn't seen a hardware upgrade in ages (Mid 2017) and even then it was bad.

    I would be looking at older gen Surface Pro's or something like that if for aesthetic.

    • mskeggs on 28/10/2018 - 13:03
      +1

      New Air replacement is due this week.
      I agree with the comments saying you won't hear the end of it if you buy Windows.
      I would also start with the aim of fixing the current machine.
      Anything less than liquid immersion is likely to be cost effective.

  • hogwarts on 28/10/2018 - 10:53
    +2

    Forgot to mention but Macbook Air successors are expected next week at the Apple event.

  • pegaxs on 28/10/2018 - 11:25
    +5

    Just buy the MacBook. She will never be happy and will spend her spare time complaining about how her old MacBook was better and how this new "PC" is not even close…

    "OMG, I just can't find anything…"
    "Why are there no apps for this?"
    "This is so hard to use compared to my old MacBook."

    • holdenmg on 28/10/2018 - 11:31
      +5

      Was in Emergency the other day and overheard this gem…

      Person 1 "Happy Wife, happy life"
      Person 2 "It's either that or OMG, she's got a knife"

    • ozbjunkie on 29/10/2018 - 18:12
      +1

      This - bought my ex a $1k dell rather than a $2.5k laptop and never heard the end of it.

      Had to break up as she was a little simple minded - as evidenced by her having an iPhone.

      Lol, negs incoming.

  • AdamFury on 28/10/2018 - 11:27
    +4

    Dell XPS are some of the most premium ultra books you can get that don't lose that Mac asthetic.

  • Richardc on 28/10/2018 - 11:57
    +2

    MacOS and Windows are very different.

  • IdLikeToBeATree on 28/10/2018 - 12:10
    +2

    It's most likely about the operating system for her, not just that the laptop is aluminium and sleek. I use both but every single windows laptop I try I just can't stand so I think you'll have a tough time converting her

  • Randxyz123 on 28/10/2018 - 12:16
    +3

    She won't like learning new things.

    Wait till next week. There is an announcement on Wednesday I think which should include new Macbooks.

    Also have a look at the used/refurbished market.

  • atj on 28/10/2018 - 12:18
    +2

    There's an Apple event in New York on the 30th. I'd wait to see what pops out of that in case you can pickup a runout model at a better price. Also if she hasn't had a hands on with the new models it might be worth getting her to check them out as they can be pretty polarising.

  • Strahany on 28/10/2018 - 15:47
    +3

    In my experience, the premium price placed on Macs is justified from a longevity standpoint. I find that selling a secondhand MacBook yields a much, much greater return than selling any kind of Windows machine. But if you want to keep it long term, I find that they're far more useable with age than Windows machines, most likely due to Windows having to create an OS for hundreds of thousands of device variations, whereas OSX needs only be designed for a controlled selection.

    But, that point aside, I highly doubt that the desire for the MacBook is because it's made out of aluminium and has a big trackpad (after all, those are about the only "MacBook-like" features you can realistically get with a Windows laptop). I would suggest two things - firstly, wait for the October 30th announcement from Apple (as there should be new devices) and secondly, have your wife try using a Windows laptop that you already own and see how she likes it. I specifically note a laptop (and not a desktop) because the way that OSX handles use of a trackpad is something that I am yet to see replicated on a Windows machine with even slight success, and is usually the biggest complaint I hear from Apple users when trying to use a Windows laptop.

  • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 28/10/2018 - 16:53

    Make sure she's fine with trying windows first!

    Besides that, the closest in looks and feel I've seen is the Xiami laptop. Others have put it out.

  • atj on 28/10/2018 - 19:55
    +1

    What does "crashed and burned" mean and what model is the MBP? You might be lucky and just have to pop in a new SSD to get some more mileage out of it.

  • vinrocated on 28/10/2018 - 21:34

    Try looking at the HP Spectre laptop.

  • phil170258 on 29/10/2018 - 08:03
    +1

    Thanks everybody for your input! My wife, gorgeous as she is, is not a quick study with technology and it's probably better for her to stay with what she knows so I am going to see what's out there second hand. cheers.

    • PlasticSpaceman on 29/10/2018 - 09:19
      +1

      Definitely stick with what she is comfortable with. If you are considering a refurbished laptop, maybe consider taking the original laptop to a shop that specialises in repairing macbooks and getting a quote for fixing it. Many will give a 'no obligation' ie free quote. You don't say what happened, or exactly how old it is, but it could be bad ram, or hard drive, or power supply…. basically it could be something that won't cost much to fix. You can then decide if you want to repair and keep using it, or even sell it and use the proceeds combined with your budget (and maybe an eBay 20% off deal) to get a newer macbook…..

  • petitejam on 29/10/2018 - 12:05

    Xiaomi Mi Air, they look like Mac but run windows. And if she's a basic user (which sounds like) eg. internet word processing then it's perfect. Lightweight, good build, even looks the same. Also doesn't cost an arm and leg, much better specs.
    I had a MB and swapped. Haven't looked back since.

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