Making the Switch to PC

rbrowne11 · October 20, 2019

I am over halfway through college in the US and got have been using my 2017 MBP with Touchbar throughout my studies. I grew up only using Windows computers but now have an iPhone, Apple Watch, and an Apple TV, so the MBP seemed to be a good solution at the end of high school when I was looking for something for school. I don't have many complaints about the general use of the laptop, but as I am getting more into my mechanical engineering degree, I see having a laptop as very limiting.

I've had a programming class where a laptop was convenient, if not necessary, and there have been classes where I take notes on my laptop but nothing ever needing me to have a powerful machine while in a lecture. Looking around, I've seen people using tablets to take notes which seems like it could be nice having notes accessible online or whatever, but I've been perfectly fine taking notes on paper.

Lately, I have been just leaving my MBP docked with two external monitors, a keyboard, and mouse unless I want to sit on the couch and do homework online. I can't really see myself switching over to android, I like my iPhone-Apple Watch setup and the ease of connectivity is nice with having an apple computer as well but I know there are other options like Dropbox. What I am wondering is, with roughly the same budget (maybe 1,500USD?) what could another set up be? Would a custom PC build with some type of tablet or Chromebook provide the same usability with the increase in computing power? The PC would ideally be able to handle lightweight CAD with some 3D modeling as well as light gaming. Looking for opinions or other's experiences/setups.

Edit: I am thinking now if maybe a switch to an iPad along with a PC could work, keeping the features of Apple I like and decreasing power for on the go

kelvinhall05 · October 20, 2019

I would get a gaming PC and either:

1. Chromebook (if all you do can be done online or with basic apps like a generic text editor)

2. Used Thinkpad (if a Chromebook doesn't cut it)

JB25304 · October 20, 2019

I switched to an iMac years ago with a 2012 fully maxed out system for the time (in terms of Apple specs that is.) From there, got a MacBook as well. Used both for work (mainly database type stuff.) The iMac was definitely showing some age on it (got to the point where it wasn't able to run newer stuff.) I was thinking about getting a new iMac, but was biding my time until I couldn't stand it.

Long story short, my GPU burned out in the iMac. Went to find a replacement and (since Apple controls their supply chain) found out that a used replacement was going for $200-$300. While I like my Apple products, I really couldn't see spending that much money on 7 year old hardware just because Apple wanted to put a stranglehold on supplies. I went to PC. I do like the idea that I can replace and upgrade at will, and I also like the fact that I could take the same amount of money for a Mac and get a system that could run circles around the top of the line model. While it takes an extra step or two than I'm used to in order to synch iTunes, it really has not bothered me.

In the end, I think that I like the idea of ease of upgrade and cheaper prices to those upgrade just a little more than the what it is that appeals to me about a Mac. Don't get me wrong, I do like OS X a bit more than Windows, but I like the options I mentioned before a bit better.