"Apple's laptops are the sweet spot. I want them. The price is right."
Is it, though? After evaluating the 2016 13" (and having owned a 2012, 2014 and early 2015), I now have the Kaby Lake XPS 13".
$1799 for a _similarly_ (because yes, I know it doesn't have Touch ID, or the display - but build quality is similar, the display is better - 3200x1800, more connectivity options) specced model that costs $2499 from Apple.
$700 is a decent chunk of change, and yes, over the course of a couple of years life, for a developer, it's not earth shattering. But it is nearly 40% more expensive, for questionable value.
Oh, definitely true. Apple is always a higher price in general, just as a brand name. It's their intended marketing strategy.
Even within Apple's own product line though, compare what you get with the cylindrical desktop Mac Pro for the price, and stand it next to one of their own laptops.
Then stand the Mac Mini next to them. It's a lower price, but it's uncharismatic.
A game changer for the mac mini might be improved methods of environmental integration. Most of the time I think about better ways to hide it, out of sight, out of mind.
The only thing I want within immediate reach is a power button, and a wall switch (any variety of toggle) would be ideal. Hard wired. An actual button. I press button, it goes on. I press button, it goes off. Not an animated skeuomorphic 16 million color display depicting one. No wi-fi tether. No analytics. No GPS. No chipset. No thunderbolt. No USB. No IP address. No internet of things. Just a god damned switch. On/off. The end.
Is it, though? After evaluating the 2016 13" (and having owned a 2012, 2014 and early 2015), I now have the Kaby Lake XPS 13".
$1799 for a _similarly_ (because yes, I know it doesn't have Touch ID, or the display - but build quality is similar, the display is better - 3200x1800, more connectivity options) specced model that costs $2499 from Apple.
$700 is a decent chunk of change, and yes, over the course of a couple of years life, for a developer, it's not earth shattering. But it is nearly 40% more expensive, for questionable value.