Hey buddies, focus of our today’s discussion is on Best Hackintosh Laptops 2017/2018. Every minor and major aspect of these technological helpers is gonna be covered here to enable you to get benefit from them in the true essence. The most thrilling benefit of these beauties is compatibility with. But running Mac on these kinds of hardware isn’t as simple as it seems to be.
Here, you’re gonna get the best guide ever for purchasing Hackintosh laptops. But how’re we gonna direct you? Keep reading for getting your answers in a flow, pals.
We’re gonna talk about 10 top-notch laptops on which running Hackintosh can be very simple and easy compared to other devices out there in the market. Remember guys, these laptops are the best laptops for Hackintosh 2017, don’t you dare to underestimate these beasts.The purpose of today’s discussion is to pave a path for you with which you’re able enough to purchase the best suitable Hakintosh laptop absolutely in accordance with your requirements. You have the leverage of having a deep look at every machine individually and you will see that the features of these laptops will speak themselves. So keep your eyes open for extracting the most out of it.
Would installing OS X El Capitan on a Dell XPS 15 9550 work? I'd love to get OS X! Jan 5, 2017 - I went from a late 2013 15' mbp to the Dell XPS 15. I like the way every time I plug in my MacBook Air into my external monitor I never know what screen resolution MacOS is going to display. The only thing keeping me on the Mac at this point is Handoff, and Preview for working with PDF's, thats all.
I will strongly recommend you to read our below before making a purchase. First look at the important table of these reviews before going into our actual discussion. Name Processor Ram Max Screen Resolution User Reviews Intel Core i7 4720HQ DDR3 8 GB 3840 x 2160 2.8/5 Intel i7-6700HQ 8 GB DDR3L FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 4.1/5 Intel Core i7/Core i5 8 GB DDR3L 1920×1080 3.8/5 Intel Core i7-6500U 8 GB DDR4 1920 x 1080 3.5/5 Intel Core i5-4210U 4 GB DDRL3 1366 x 768 3.6/5 Intel Core M 5Y10/5Y71 8 GB 1920 x 1080 4.0/5 Intel Core i7-4510U Processor 8.0 GB PC3-12800 DDR3L 1366×768 2.5/5 Intel Core i7-4510U Processor 8 GB 1366×768 3.7/5 4th Gen Intel core i7 4500U 8 GB DDR3L 1600 x 900 3.6/5 Intel Core i7-4712HQ 2 GB DDR 3840×2160 4/5 1. Lenovo Y50-70: Introduction: Number one that we will be talking about is Lenovo Y50-70. As you all are familiar with Lenovo Company, it is known to build some of the best laptops around and also within the price range that doesn’t bankrupt you. These have also got the perfect specs to get Hackintosh going on them.
Lenovo Y50-70 is one of the powerful machines buddies, compatible with Mac. Just keep one thing in mind that Hackintosh work for 4 th generation processors and above only. Features: Let’s discuss its features in detail. Hackintosh Support: This machine will easily support the Hackintosh to run OS X with all the features and functions incorporated like Ultra HD screen support, processor support and much more. Although some issues arise working with hackintosh laptops but those issues can be resolved by following the detailed guide on how to install it step by step on internet. Screen support: There are many screens and display issues whenever we talk about Hackintosh.
One thing though, this model comes in both FHD and UHD screens and fortunately Hackintosh supports both. Processor: Want a lightning fast processor? Don’t worry about pace of this one, it has an Intel Core i7 4720HQ processor that does things with the speed of light, not literally.
RAM: Its Random Access Memory is DDR3 8 gigs which is just exceptional. Screen Resolution: Want it to be big? Well its size is pretty decent with dimensions of 15.4 x 10.5 x 0.75 inches. It has also got a NVidia GeForce GTX 960M 2/4GB graphic card for the best possible display. Pros Cons • No temperature or noise issues. • Keyboard comfortable to use. • Understandable style.
• Smooth keyboard. • Fast performance. • Solid processor. • Display not too bright, rather dim. • Quickly heats up while gaming. • Battery life not so great. Conclusion: Making the long story short, if you want a machine that is fast and has a great display, and has a mid-range gaming power, I would say that go for this one.
Given the range of features, it is a good option. 2. Dell Inspiron 15 7559: Introduction: Dell is one of the leading companies in manufacturing tech products in the world currently. It surely has some great products. Most of its products are high end and Inspiron series contributes most of the Dell’s market share. Although these products look a bit old-ish but they have got all the best specs that one needs. Features: Let’s discuss its features in detail.
Quality and Hackintosh Support: Dell Inspiron 15 7559 is the talking point of this essay. What’s that say? Don’t judge a book by its cover.
It fits perfectly in this one’s case, don’t let the looks of it fool you. It may look humble but it is one of the most powerful machines around. OS X through Hackintosh will surely work on this one with all the features. One feature that lacks perfection is reading the card apart from that it is great. All the other main features like Facetime etc. Work perfectly fine.
Memory: Always run out of space? I am pretty sure one terabytes of memory space is hard to fill. Its hard disk is of 1tb though you can always attach external drives. Processor: Slow computers really annoy you don’t they? Well this one has got an Intel i7-6700HQ with Intel HD 530 processor that seems to work with the speed of Usain Bolt, imagine how fast it is. RAM: Its RAM is 8GB DDR3L. Good thing about it is that you can easily upgrade it to 16GB, pretty cool?
Screen Resolution: Don’t like small screens? With a screen of 15.6” and 1920×1080 screen resolution I say movies and games would look fun on this one. Pros Cons • Doesn’t get heat up even while gaming. • Multiple connectivity ports. • Good hard disk space. • Fast processor.
• Great display. • Screen brightness is below average.
• Not covers all of sRGB. Conclusion: Thing is if you are a gamer and want a fast machine that doesn’t get heat up easily you should definitely buy this one. But, its cost is a bit higher so you got to check your budget to consider buying this. Lenovo Z50-70: Introduction: Don’t confuse Lenovo Z50-70 with Lenovo Y50-70 both of them are different laptops with different capabilities. Now that it is clear let’s take a look at Lenovo Z50-70. This one is an older model and has older hardware.
But look at the bright side, OS X will work perfectly on this one and most of the errors will be omitted because of the older hardware. Features: Let’s discuss its features in detail. Hackintosh Support: Hackintosh support is a very obvious thing in the laptops we’re discussing but this one is more efficient because of its ability to support the latest versions of Mac OS. Now you might be wondering how to install Hackintosh OS X on this one, well go to a proper search engine and find a tutorial, there are tons of them online and you can easily find the one I believe in you.
But guys, with great facility comes a little problem. Wifi doesn’t work so simply with Hackintosh.
For making it happen, you need to replace the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 with the Broadcom BCM943602BAED. Processor: One of the most annoying things in the world of computers is slow processors, correct me if I am wrong.Don’t worry at all Lenovo Z50-70 has Intel Core i7/Core i5 (Haswell) which is super-fast, no more clicking and waiting. RAM: It has got 8GB DDR3L RAM and if you don’t find it good enough you can also upgrade it to 16GB. Hard drive space: Well it is a relative term right? I mean for some people even 1TB of space isn’t enough and some can’t even fill up 100GB. This one lies somewhere in between as it has 500GB of hard disk space.
Screen Resolution: Big screens are what most people want, that’s what I prefer to be honest. It has 15.6” Full HD display screen and 1920×1080 resolution which comes with an Intel HD 4400 graphic card installed in it.
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce is the incorporated in the device. Pros Cons • Protection against fingerprints. • Doesn’t get heat up quickly. • Maintainability is excellent. • Variety of configurations.
• No apparent flaws. • Lettering of certain keys is hard to see. • Screen isn’t great. Conclusion: Final word on this is that its battery works fine though it will drain quickly on certain games but overall it is a great machine at reasonable price. HP ProBook 450 G3: Introduction: If you are a tech lover then you will be knowing about the HP ProBook series very well which are considered as the best in the tech market.
HP ProBook 450 G3 has modified its series specs in a well manner and has taken the product to a next level. Features: Let’s discuss its features in detail. Hackintosh Support and Licensed Window: So, I hope you got the idea from the heading that it has already a licensed window and it’s Hackintosh supported of course, I don’t need to tell that. This thing makes it a perfect combo for a MAC lover, who doesn’t want to leave windows too. And this stuff will not cost you an arm and a leg as well. Well-designed processor with an upgraded RAM: Well, this spec will definitely attract the tech lovers and they will know about that stuff either. It comprises of Intel Core i7-6500U with the range of 2.50 GHz -3.10GHz processor and the RAM of 8GB DDR4.
4M cache memory is also integrated in it. SATA Storage of 1 TB 5400 rpm make it more eminent. Multiple Ports: If your laptop contains 2 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 headphone and 1 microphone combo, 1, 1 RJ-45, 1 AC power and 1 VGA port, will you ever complain for the number of ports again? You won’t dare to. That’s what you get in this machine.
Designed for mobility: So, it is designed for the mobility as its working style is with strong 15.6-inch HP ProBook 450 with a new gravity black cover. Well-displayed HD screen: This product comprises of 15.6-inch displayed screen which is having Intel HD Graphics 520 and HD webcam.
Intel HD Graphics 520 represents the images or image pixels in a modified form which is basically representing the screen in HD format which helps to prevent the pixel burst in the screen. Screen is Hackintosh supported too. Max resolution supported is 1920 x 1080. Pros Cons • Licensed upgraded window. • RAM can be upgraded. • Long Battery life.
• Thin structure. • Difficult to put server on work. • Older programs. Conclusion: In a nutshell, I would like to say that you guys should think about having this product as your previous one is simply unsuitable for your Hackintosh needs. As I have used this one so I would recommend this laptop. Acer Aspire E5-571P: Introduction: Acer Aspire E5-571P is a stupendous edition in the laptop machines of Acer, supporting Hackintosh pretty well. It’s a core i5 4210U machine.
It had wonderful features with a very low price which may lead you to purchase this product Features: Let’s have a look at some of the main features of this product. Hackintosh Support: So guys what is so extra ordinary in this laptop? The thing is you can conveniently shift to a Window or Mac in the matter of hours, without having to spend thousands of dollars for enjoying Mac.
Touch screen: What do you want if you are having a touching screen with a key board? It will work much efficiently as you don’t have to move the cursor here and there but simply touch that thing and it will get opened. Upgraded RAM and hard drive: If your laptop is giving a RAM of about 4 GB DDRL3 and 500 GB hard drive which can be upgraded then what else you need?
S trong battery life: You guys do not have to worry about its battery life. Its battery can remain up to two hours of intense working and without working. It may remain on for more time either.But, two hours is quote a lot of time. Good graphical representation: Its graphic representation may not be perfect but it is good enough to provide HD streaming of videos. It supports Intel HD 4400 graphics which will do a good job in representing HD videos and games with less intensity of graphics. Max supported screen resolution is 1366 x 768. Good and Strong Multi-tasker: The above word may attract you.
As, It is named as a good and strong multi-tasker which is basically means that: You can work in this laptop with a multiple windows open at a same time. As, I can stream videos of 720p without any hesitation with four tabs open in the window. Pros Cons • Continuous working does not make it warm. • Hard drive can be upgraded. • RAM can be upgraded. • Has a large hard drive. • Long battery life.
• Cheap in price. • Dim or very light displaying screen. • Magnet fingerprint on the display. • Wifi Connectivity problems. Conclusion: I want to tell you guys that you may find Acer Aspire E5-571P a bit older but its specs have proven that it is worth to purchase if you are searching for a laptop with good specs in average price and most importantly suitable for Macintosh. Asus Zenbook UX305FA: Introduction: The Asus Zenbook UX305FA is perhaps one of the most impressive laptops which also lies in the budget range for the budget oriented users.
ASUS Company has indeed some of the finest laptops in their ensemble. The laptop which we are talking about now is the ASUS Zenbook UX305FA which works rather well with the Hackintosh with good ability to run the OS X as well. Features: Let’s look in detail the specs of this laptop.
Processor: ASUS has now jumped into the game of upgrading its core processors and this laptop has also an Intel Core processor integrated in it. Intel Core M 5Y10/5Y71 processor will not fail to surprise you with its performance.
Memory: The upgradable 8GB RAM is a major benefit of having this laptop as most of the laptops in this price range have a 4GB RAM. Graphics: The clear and popping colors are another added benefit. The colors are vivid and will enhance your experience with Intel HD 5300 graphic card. In fact, it’s a fabulous match of colors and operating system buddies.
Anti-Glare HD display: The FHD and UHD display makes this laptop easy to use and doesn’t cause any inconvenience to the users. With HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel that offers wide viewing angles and good color, this is a great display. An anti-glare finish keeps the reflections to a minimum which is an added benefit.
Security Features: With an embedded Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, LoJack and Intel Anti-Theft technology very beneficial for tracking your system. That’s not all, it comes with a built-in case-lock slot alongwith a one-year warranty.One of the most secured laptops! Pros Cons • Thin and light aluminum construction. • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad. • Exceptional display. • Upgradable RAM.
• Long battery life. • Fanless design. • Wifi doesn’t work on OS X. • No built in dedicated GPU. • Disappointing speakers.
• No touch screen. Conclusion: To sum up, the specs of this laptop are good enough and this laptop has a notable performance.
The tutorials available on the internet have everything you need to perfectly and easily run the OS X on your laptop. As far as the issue of the Intel wireless not working is concerned, you can easily replace the chip with a Broadcom replacement or you can use an external adapter which is quite easy. This laptop is one of the best choices for you! Lenovo G50-70: Introduction: Lenovo has been a trend setter as far as the market of laptops is concerned. If you want a laptop which has everything in it and that too in a budget friendly way, then it’s the G50-70 you are looking for.
It’s a 4 th gen laptop with a well built and smoothly working hardware. What else are you looking for?
It’s incorporated in this machine as well guys. Features: Let’s look in detail the specs of this laptop. Processing Power: The impeccable working of this device is due to the genuine Intel Core i7 4500U processor.
There are also i5, and i3 models also available apart from i7. Cool, isn’t it? High Quality Graphics: Lenovo never fails to surprise you as far as graphics are concerned. This Lenovo laptop is no exception due to the exclusive Intel HD 4400 graphics. Battery Life: We are pleased to report that Lenovo chose to equip their notebook with a 31.7 Wh Lithium Ion battery that provides enough juice to keep the laptop running for long. System Performance: The notebook’s system performance scores are certainly influenced by its dedicated graphics card, as well as by its comparably abundant 8 GB of working memory.
Faster RAM: The fast 4GB RAM is another plus feature of this laptop which can be upgraded to 8GB which makes this laptop customizable for you. Storage Capacity: 1TB SSHD/500GB SSHD makes this laptop ultimately the best laptop in the economical price range. 6-inches Wide HD display: The wide High Quality display is something which makes this laptop stand out amongst the rest. Pros Cons • Built for Apple/Mac computers.
• Works great and syncs perfectly with Time Machine. • Easy to hook and easy to use even for the iMac. • Cable is not unnecessarily long or too short. • Transfer speed is very satisfying. • Slim, sleek, fast, light and easy to operate. • Adapter has some functionality problems.
• Security feature is lacking proper operation. • Data is not private and can be accessed by other entities. Conclusion: This laptop is overall a good laptop with some of the best features. Broadcom wireless module can always be used for taking care of wireless issues. Hence you don’t need to worry at all.
The laptop is worth every dime. HP Probook 450 G1: Introduction: Are you searching for a remarkable probook with phenomenal quality? Well this time, the HP Probook 450 G1 has stepped forward as a complete package with the reliable hardware and well-built body with all the required specs. Features: Let’s take a closer look at its features. Ease of Use: Don’t wanna use a complex laptop with a lot of integration issues?
450 is your friend guys. You can easily find the tutorials for this device and it might have some usual Hackintosh issues as almost all the other laptops available on the list, but every issue can be dealt with and has a, fix which works every time! Processing Power: High processor is the basic requirement for building Hackintosh. Its Intel Core i7 4702MQ, 2.5 GHz processor ensures the fast speed of this device with unhindered performance which won’t fail to impress you!
Memory: The amazing 8GB RAM makes sure you can use this probook for everything from gaming to watching movies. The best part is that 16GB upgrade is also possible. Impressive Graphics: The remarkable picture quality of this probook makes it all the more alluring to use due to the feature of Intel HD 4400 graphics.
Amazing, isn’t it? Maximum screen resolution of the device is 1366×768. Storage Capacity: 500 GB SSHD storage option makes this probook stand out amongst all the other probooks in the market! Wide and Clear Display: The wide 6-inch HD display makes the use of this device very facilitating. Pros Cons • High application performance.
• Alternative of Macbook. • Good battery runtime. • Decent input devices. • Quiet performance. • Upgradeable RAM.
• Issues with card reader. • Sleep feature problems. • Bugs with Hackintosh. Conclusion: This probook is an ideal laptop with everything in a single product.
Even though there are some bugs and glitches but all can be resolved. Before starting with this device you can easily watch the tutorial and you can easily install Hackintosh on your laptop. It’s a pretty economical laptop with all the required specs! 9. Lenovo Ideapad u430: Introduction: Lenovo, a renowned corporation in the realm of computers has launched a decent power machine, The Ideapad u430. The best thing about this laptop is its compatibility with the OS X. The model is not resource hungry at all and it works with the OS perfectly. The laptop is praised a lot for its Hackintosh achievements.
Features: Let’s take a closer look at its features. Processor: Processor is the backbone of every computer especially Hackintosh pcs. This is the reason Lenovo Ideapad comes with Intel core i7 4500U.
The Ideapad is also available in core i3 and core i5 variants as well. It is also available with 8GB DDR3L RAM along with Intel HD 4400 Graphics.
Storage and Display: There are different storage options including, and HDD. The Ideapad comes with 900p and 1080p display with standard 14-inch screen.
This laptop machine also has a fabulous display resolution of 1600 x 900. Ultra-book: The Ideapad is being branded as the ultra-book which means it would get all the best build qualities. The best build quality accompanied with the compliment of OS X makes the best match. The ultra-book provides the users an unforgettable experience. Easy to use: The best thing about the Ideapad is the Hackintosh.
The Hackintosh can be easily installed on the laptop. There are no complicated pre-requisites for the installation of the Hackintosh. This user friendly feature earns the rank of most liked laptop in the list of Hackintosh users. Best Build quality: The Ideapad u430 is branded and called as the ultra-book. There are some key features that this laptop gets because of this very name. The best quality production and finish is ensured so that the users can experience the best work on the best finished products.
The laptop is able to run Hackintosh effectively so it ought to have a nice quality finish. Pros Cons • Multiple model options. • Decent power house.
• Supports the OS X. • Long battery time.
• User friendly. • Easy to use. • Function keys lag. • Audio issues. Conclusion: The Ideapad is a nice choice. Let’s face it, I mean so many power and specification options along with good OS X performance. This is an offer that no one ought to have to turn down.
The ultra-book is made with precision and it provides a decent performance. The Hackintosh is a futuristic dimension that users can use effectively.
A recommended one from my side guys. 10. Dell XPS 15 9530: Introduction: Hey friends, as you all know Dell is a reputed brand. It has proved itself in building the efficient and quality machines and now Dell XPS 15 9530 is here with a mesmerizing device. The XPS is a powerful machine even for the present standards. The results of the Hackintosh on the XPS are surprising. Features: Let’s take a closer look at its features.
Processor: Strength of a machine is defined by its processor. The Dell XPS has Intel Core i7-4712HQ processor with 2GB DDR dedicated RAM.
The XPS provides an amazing graphic experience with the help of Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and NvidiaGeforce GT750M. The XPS has a fine resolution of 2160p on a 15.6 inch screen. It’s also equipped with a 512 GB SSD. There is another option of DDR3L 16GB RAM. Maximum screen resolution of the computer is 3840 x 2160. Hackintosh Support: You’re looking for Hackintosh supported laptop. Let’s give it a chance.
The Dell XPS had been tested for Hackintosh and the results were just amazing. The operating system works perfectly on the XPS, without any interference or problems. This makes the XPS an ideal choice for the use. Easy to use: The use and the installation related to the Dell XPS are very easy.
A normal user can easily get acquainted with it and hence can perform easily. The user friendly stance of this laptop is amazing which makes it unique. Newer models: The new models of the Dell XPS are available now. The size of the new model has reduced.
This rings a bell in the head of most users. The small size means ultimately less speed and performance. But in the case of XPS the opposite has happened. The smaller and newer models are much more capable and admirable than the predecessor. Pros Cons • Exceptional performance with Hacktintosh. • No integration issues. • Mesmerizing speed.
• Multiple options. • Extendable Ram. • Easy to use. • Bios to be unlocked for integrated graphics.
• Problematic SD card reader. • Wireless Card problems. Final Verdict from Author: So, that is it for. You’re pretty well aware of all the ins and out guys till now. So let me give you my expert opinion about all the discussed devices. Because going for a product without knowing it is a stupid decision indeed. Don’t make up your mind unless you know everything about the product, because it’s so hard to change a decision once you’ve made it.
So without waiting further, Dell Inspiron 15 7559 is the laptop on top buddies, let’s go for it offering tribute to its high end features and fabulous quality. Second device competing in the war of hackintosh compatible devices is Asus Zenbook UX305FA which has appealed many customers with its attractive features, long battery life and fast processing and that’s not all, consumer satisfaction level with the product is also just great. Lenovo Z50-70is another device you must look into guys. Its outstanding specifications and storage options are bound to impress you. Consumers who have used this specific laptop are also pretty well satisfied. Lenovo G50-70 is an example of “All that glitters is not gold”. Although the mentioned features are just outstanding but the quality is too low and it has happened to be anondurable laptop.
It’s up to you, go for the best one guys. Don’t fall into the pit of design and visual attractions. – Buying Guide What is Hackintosh? Don’t fret by the complicated name of Hackintosh, it’s basically a hacked or modified version of simple laptop. But why would somebody transform an ordinary hardware? The answer is quite simple, to run Mac OS and this kind of laptop is called Hackintosh. How’s it possible?
Well the question is quite legitimate pals. It wasn’t possible a few years back since Apple hardware were purely unique and different. Apple devices nowadays aren’t 100% different from simple hardware. But that doesn’t mean it’s a piece of cake, you do have to read and learn a lot. But what if you find a device in which customization needs are very minor? That surely can reduce the burden on your shoulders. Yes peeps, we’re gonna recommend some prolific laptops which can be transformed to make them support Mac OS.
Why Hackintosh instead of Apple device? That’s a childish question I’ll say dudes, who is unaware of the sky high prices of Apple devices?
You’re getting it right boys, cost is the reason behind the whole drama. Two high quality laptops with stupendous features can be bought in the price of one Macbook. So why not enjoy the charms and benefits of Mac OS for absolutely nothing? Is it just plug and play thing? Hey buddies, don’t think of it as a plug and play thing, be realistic and be ready for the bugs you’re gonna experience while running Mac OS on your beloved laptop. Wait, what if I give you some magical tips for the successful and unhindered execution of Mac OS on your personal machine? That does sound pretty soothing.
Open your eyes fellas and look at the things which must be associated to your laptop to make it able for Mackintosh kind of thing. • It must possess contemporary Intel processors, AMD processors are simply incompatible, so change your processor first to even think about a Hackintosh pc. Change Language Rome Total War Gold Edition here. • It must be able to work with OS X Yosemite and later. • Cost should be significantly less than Mac book, otherwise it’s a stupid act.
• A guide should be available for installation of Mac OS on that device with all the exceptions handled. • There should be open forum for the discussion of general issues which arise during the installation of Mac on that laptop Some Problems in Hackintosh: Nobody is perfect in the world guys and running behind perfection is like running behind delusion. Hackintosh isn’t also perfect. Even after satisfying all the things necessary in your pc to make it Mac compatible, you might have to bear the pain of your wifi card issue or Bluetooth or in some cases finger print scanner. What we’re gonna do here is discussing the best ever laptops on which running Mac can be easy and efficient. Don’t complain too much about the missing bits and pieces guys because you can’t get the whole assembly in a price 60 percent less than the original Macbook.
But one thing is for sure, if running Mac using Hackintosh is the last option you’ve got, then you can’t have more efficient and reliable laptops meeting the objective.
Dell XPS 15, launched earlier than Apple on October 18th and has a build quality that is not 'cheap' like other computers, and is priced pretty high compared to everyone but Apple. Besides the Operating System. Dell XPS 15 Pros - Ad: - Machined aluminum (like rMBP) with Carbon Fiber - Battery Saving HiRes IGZO 3200 x 1800 display, which the rMBPs do not have - 11 hour battery life, which rMBPs have only 7 at 15 inch - Touch Screen (Windows 8, 8.1 can be fail. But if future OS supports better functionality with Touchscreens, XPS 15's got it. Apple will most likely one day succeed in their goal of fusing more of the iOS experience with OSX.
But rMBP has no touchscreen, will have to replace someday if this ever happens) - Upgradable RAM and SSD (rMBP only can upgrade SSD, which for Apple is proprietary) - Brighter screen and display than rMBP at about 400 nits (rMBP can only go up to 300%, Anandtech studies have determined the screen to be around 20% dimmer,why its not 25%, don't ask me ask anandtech, but the point is. Its dimmer) - Lighter than rMBP at 4.44 pounds versus 4.46 (rMBP is heavier) - Thinner than rMBP at 0.70' versus 0.71' (rMBP is a smidge negligibly thicker, and the Dell XPS is upgradable and the rMBP is not?) - Cheaper SSDs for the future!
(even though they are slightly slower than the PCIe SSDs of the rMBP. No manufacturer has made an Apple compatible SSD yet, while there are plenty of options to choose from with the Dell. Dell can even use a Hard Drive and SSD Hybrid! Unlike rMBP.stuck with Apple proprietary.
Even the ~500GB OWC drives made to be compatible with the non-Haswell rMBPs are no longer compatible. Unless you used it as an external drive with a $150 enclosure? Really) Retina Macbook Pro Pros - 2012 Ad (sans 2013): - You get to pay the Apple premium? (as opposed to Dell, which is priced like a non-retina macbook pro. As an aside, i used to think how the Apple premium for the 2012 rMBPs definitely supported Apple exclusivity. But with this new release, theres no classic 15, the rMBP becomes the standard. This means practically every Apple user with a Pro in the near future is going to be a retina.
Not only that, as some forum users have pointed out, the pricing is 'cheaper', but forces you to pay more for a dedicated card, which is okay, but then again, the XPS 15's got a premium too, less of a premium. But better than rMBP in certain areas. Especially the retina part of its name) - Iris Pro (best integrated card, supposed to save battery, but funny enough, Dell did a better job in optimizing the battery life with discrete card only compared to Apple with both of them in the system. Your probably going to game or use 750m anyway more than Iris Pro as 750m beats out Iris Pro anyday, just 'less power', which is meaningless based on the aforementioned) - PCIe SSD (but Dell does have SSD) The rMBP might put less strain on the graphics card because of its lower resolution than the XPS 15, but really, all signs point to the XPS 15 as the best value, build quality, and more. People may say the Dell XPS 15 used to suck, and it did, being grossly overweight (5+ pounds. Ouch) and just a poor attempt to rip off parts of Apple design, but through multiple iterations, it looks like Dell's one, no, multi-upped Apple this time around and made a machine that is definitely made to compete and beat.
I am struggling to determine why I should get the Haswell Retina Macbook Pro, as much as I want to, but the research and the specs seems to want me to get the Dell XPS 15 instead. For me, Mac OS X is the main reason but the fact that the Dell XPS uses Windows is another. It has a lovely 3200 x 1800 screen but it uses Windows which doesn't use these ultra high resolution screens very well in desktop mode. It works great in Metro where I would spend 0% of my time.
So no mater how high res that screen is, it's useless if everything looks like junk and according to Anandtechs review of a 4K Asus display in Windows 8, most of the applications they used simply do not detect that the screen is ultra high resolution and the scaling built in to Windows only really works on Microsoft created UI elements like the task bar and the included Windows 8 apps. Not on 3rd party software because the developers have not done their part to update their software. Another concern I have with the Dell is its power brick and power cord, the silicone palm rests wearing over time etc I'm not an Apple elitist I know they don't make the best everything there are a lot of products I would never buy from Apple like a Desktop or a HTPC (AppleTV) or even a Router (Seriously Apple, still no MAC Address Cloning? Or Bandwidth graphs?) but their Notebooks are top notch I've yet to find a Windows notebook that has the complete package that Apples do.
Yes we compromise on certain aspects like removable RAM, user replaceable batteries but the whole package when you consider everything like the power cord and power brick it's just built better and we cannot underestimate that operating system. OS X is a joy to use, Windows 8 is a chore to use. Click to expand.Are you seriously expecting an unbiased opinion? Bottom line; you're paying $400 for OSX, nothing for Win8. I was going to get the M3800, or XPS15 with the 32GB mSATA + 1TB. Swap out the 32GB for a Samsung 512GB mSATA and the 1TD HDD for a 512GB SSD. With my Dell discounts it was ~$400 cheaper than the MBPr 15' I've ordered.
I doubt there will ever be any 16GB DDR3 modules. So I would have got 1TB SSD (+ spare 1TB HDD) for $400 less than the MBPr with 512SSD. OR $1000 cheaper than MBPr with 1TB SSD. All in Australian $. I'm a long-term Thinkpad (with Windows and Linux) user who has just ordered a Macbook Pro 13. I've been looking at a lot of different machines. Firstly, I love my Thinkpad and Thinkpads in general.
What I like about them: 1. Coherent design and range. I don't feel like I need to get used to new machines when swapping to another. If my X220 breaks it can be replaced by an X230 which is similar enough to satisfy my needs. Robust and well made. Customer service is great - onsite technician sometimes on the same day. Customer replaceable parts.
Committed to support hardware for 3-5 years. Continuous BIOS updates, drivers kept live and up-to-date, new OS supported. Windows 8 is fully supported on my X220.
I do however want a HD (or above) screen in a 12/13' laptop, along with 16GB of RAM. It doesn't look like they are going to be able to deliver this until next year. The Macbook Pro 13 can deliver now. Macs have the same pros: 1. Coherent design and range. They couldn't be more similar in design.
But again, there is nearly always going to be a small, fast laptop available. Very well made.
I'm not sure about robustness. I don't think the Macbook Pro will take the same abuse but we'll see. Customer services is great.
No onsite technician, no accidental damage cover. But I do know that most of the time, I can go to a retail store to sort a problem.
And when dealing with friends/family with broken Macs, they don't question or try to worm their way out of broken hardware. I regularly see older hardware being updated to new OS X, and it seems to work on the whole I've looked at a lot of other machines, including Dells. I'm not going with the Lenovo X240 because it only has one DIMM slot. I need 16GB of RAM (VMs, development - X220 has 16GB and going back to 8GB is painful). They also can't tell be when the HD screen will be available, or how much it will be. I think it will be too expensive.
I'm not going with Dell. I've had horrendous customer service over the last two years. We have had over 15 replacement power supplies over 6 machines. The centre pin that communicates information about the power of the power supply stops working. Dell seem a long way behind in batteries - they all seem to become useless after about 18 months. But above all I often have to argue with them to get replacement parts. No coherent design or range.
They don't always have a 13' ultrabook machine in their range. If I lose or break it, I might have to look elsewhere. We had a massive 19' mobile workstation machine that broke within it's 3 year warranty and they couldn't replace the main board when it broke. Alternative was a consumer laptop or partial refund. BIOS and drivers are only kept up to date for ~12 months tops.
They even sometimes don't fix serious BIOS issues in that period. HP largely suffer from the same issues, though they do tend to have a coherent range of laptops. You can't look at a lot of their high-end machines before ordering though, and sometimes they really miss the mark. Currently I also have an Acer Aspire S7 which I got very cheap. This has a lovely high-res screen. It's fast, and the build quality and design easily rivals a Macbook Pro.
The battery life is 3 hours. I'm selling it to fund the Macbook Pro. You've been all excited about the XPS 15 for a while now. Why on earth do you want people to convince you to get something else instead? Get the Dell already.
If I had to purchase a laptop right now I would still get the rMBP though. You know, the usual arguments. No reviews available yet: -we only know what Dell claims of battery life -we only know what Sharp claims of the displays performance So currently it's marketing buff vs.
Proven hardware. If possible, I'd wait a little while for reviews to come out.
Different ecosystem: -got Time Capsule? Extra MagSafe chargers? A huge amount of files created in iWork, thousands of photos in Aperture? -all files and backups on HFS+ formatted drives? Have jolly good time migrating, and prepare to purchase a few extra drives to do that.
-invested heavily in Final Cut Pro or logic Pro licenses and plugins? -have other Apple computers in the house?
Say good bye to convinient festures like AirDrop. If you haven't invested in hardware or software that is dependent on one platform, these are of course not problems you'd face. Included software: -rMBP: OS X Mavericks, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand -Dell: Windows 8.1 If you don't find any of those Apple apps useful, then no incentive to get the rMBP there. Dell offers what appears to be a fairly competitively priced product.
But that's it. If you ignore the marketing speech, you are left with a very similar device. And then it's up to reliability and customer service. Where I live, Dell has an appalling reputation, and for a good reason. So once again, if you find the Dell suits your needs and you are not dependent on one platform, why do you need to be convinced?
According to the title of this thread the decision should be easy, right? If the only factor you need to consider is the ~$200 savings in initial purchase prize then what is there to think about? Get the Dell. First, putting better specs together in a machine and calling it better can have terrible consequences. Apple laptops last, and they're well made to work with the chosen specs.
Others simply put the parts together and hope for the best. Defining factor, and the one that makes these machines be in completely different categories is the OS. You cannot be serious about having people choose one or the other, because one thing has nothing to do with the other. People on a Mac moving to a PC and vice versa have to by more than just the laptop, not to mention most people using this forum will not even bother with windows for nothing other than maybe, gaming.
Apples and oranges, it's the OS man, that's why they make it free now and have never bothered with cd keys or whatever, Apple has made this money from the hardware, not selling the OS, there's your Apple premium, and now you get OS major updates for free to balance that premium even more over the years. I can understand your dilemma Starfyre. On paper, the XPS 15 is a better deal then the rMBP. But for me it's clear: if I buy a new notebook, it's going to be the rMBP. It's hard to pun into words, but I will try. Warning: these are going to be more feelings then facts or something.
- First of all, Apple makes only a few devices that run OS X and so their focus is much higher. OS X is really made, optimized, to run on these few devices/product lines that Apple makes. In the end the software makes or breaks the entire experience.
I think OS X 'feels' better, because it is really optimized for just a few devices. It feels more modern. Remember that Apple knows on what hardware the software will run, Microsoft doesn't know on what kind of device Windows might end up. I really think this matters in the end. - Third party support, or 'attention/popularity'. The MacBook's are populair, there are only a few.
Since they don't change the design every year of the, there is a much larger market of accessorizes etc. If you would buy the XPS 15, no way that you would find as much stuff for it as for the rMBP (not to mention the MBA). I value this. I'm going to make it short.
There is not another laptop I find as beautiful as the rMBP. The XPS 15 is basically a larger version of my XPS 13 ultrabook, so I know how it looks and feels in real life. It just doesn't feel the same. You can see it's not as well made as a rMBP. It feels more like separate parts put together (put together well though), instead of one solid, premium thing. Small things, like light leaking from the LED on the front. The XPS metal cover on the bottom that hides the product info.
Good idea, but in the end it just sits there as a separate part. The XPS 15 doesn't seem to have the LED on the front from what I see in the screenshots, neither do I know if it still has that metal cover on the bottom. But it's more about Dell's 'building' skills and attention to detail. The XPS 15 is probably not going to be made/assembled with the same precision and therefor not going to have the same premium feel like the rMBP. (lol, I didn't make it short) In the end I'm just tired of Windows, I've heard so many good things about OS X and I think it looks much more beautiful then Windows. There is just an 'old feeling' that still hangs on to Windows, even 8.1. If you could run OS X as easy on a Windows device, as Windows on an OS X device, it might have been different.
Even then, the things I mentioned above would probably still have made me go for the RMBP.