Desires vs Needs
This story is about my journey picking new computer, the one thing that makes me takes time and thinking about whats really good for me.
How it’s begin
I am pc user since i was little, grow up using windows for basically everything. It change when i’m in high school, lots of things i’ve learned back then, one of them is linux. What a wonderful time when the first time i know something else can running your computer other than windows.
Also the mac world, i know there was 3rd player on the market out there and i found it so unique that not many people around me using it back then, almost like a luxury item to be honest. I don’t really getting into mac back then because it out of my reach and i saw really few people using it, atleast that what i saw.
Since then, i’m using linux along side windows on my machine. I’m not convinced enough to get rid of windows because the game i played only available on windows. I really enjoying using linux, trying many flavours as i want to with zero worry about what i do, if something goes wrong i just need to re installing it, what a nice playground.
Move into college, there’s nothing really i can do, i have no any motivation to using linux for daily use even though i really want to. Many of the software i use for collage only available on windows and i just want to enjoying my time. I realize i have nothing to prove, i’m here to finish my study and that’s it.
And finally i have made it, and lucky i got the job way before my graduation. One thing i realize after graduate is that no more windows on my machine and you know what i did right after, i get rid of it right away and become full time linux user for professional uses.
I got a job as a software engineer, what a time to be alive.
Deciding
There is a time in collage that got me something, something about my pov with mac. I realize that mac offers something pc laptop cannot have, not even close. When people who made the hardware also made the software, it can be really good in terms of optimization, and that what macbooks got you offers. Over the time, i begin to realize that what macbooks offer is what i really want.
With my job, i have my obligation to purchase what ever machine i want. But that was not the case, the hard part is choosing what the best among the list. Cause i don’t want to waste my money on something mad expensive.
I started to do some research about what i really want to have, cause there is no gray area it’s about me deciding things. Everythings going well for me to get new macbook instead of pcs. That thought stay in my mind for a while, yet still i cannot waste my money on something mad expensive. There is something in me that still want to use linux all the time.
Until i had problem with my current machine, i know i had to decide immediately. On that moment i’m on 78% convinced to buying new macbook, but i’m not doing it yet. One of my leader owns thinkpad x1 carbon, and damn its good. I don’t know exactly what type it is, but man i want to own thinkpad.
Latter on among my thought, i realize for all of this time i don’t really comparing anything, what i do is just uplifting what macbook offers. here’s the list :
- Very good screen
- Smooth hinge
- Very good trackpad
- Great battery live (m series)
That the things got me so convinced to purchase a macbook. Then i know that was not fair without comparing with pcs. I started to think about it, about what macbook got me offers vs thinkpad offers and endedup being me arguing all the list above.
1. Very good screen
i was planed to buy external monitor anyway.
2. Smooth hinge
macbook wins, and i really obsessed with smooth hinge.
3. Very good trackpad
once again, macbook wins, no question asked.
4. Great battery life
Macbook with m series chip is unbeaten. Without any doubt, macbook wins.
I had to be fair with the list, and here’s what thinkpad offers :
1.Very good keyboard
much better feelings than macbooks.
2. Trackpoint
man, it is so nice to have it.
3. Better upgradability
There is so many thinkpad offers far better upgrade capability, even it’s only the ssds.
4. Ports
Still has usb A.
5. Price tag
The only aspect really makes different.
6. Ecosystem
I can run what every linux i want.
Let’s talks about the price first, cause that point makes really different. I lived in indonesia, and in this country owning a apple devices can be such a gamble. There is no apple store, means there is no trust for any apple authorized service provider. On the other hand, thinkpad comunity really going mad proud with their second hand thinkpad. They talking about it like its a brand new one. Second hands stuff mean had no official support, but with the price tag, still a good deals.
Over all, thinkpad and macbook offers good thing and important thing for me, but for this time, i had to decide. The way i decided it to separate what i want and what i need. I need good battery life and macbook offers better compared with thinkpad, but i had to see from other side. Thinkpad did have good battery life just not as good as macbook, but with the price tag i think its a win for thinkpad.
One thing, the base model of macbook air M1 offers 8g of ram and with less than half the price i can get 16g of ram on 2021 model of thinkpad, yet it’s a second hands machine but with the concern about macbooks aftersales on my country, i think macbook did not offer better service after all compared with purchasing second hands thinkpad.
Finally
With that thing in mind, i decided to purchase a second hand thinkpad T14 G1 with amd chip inside. I spend less than a half the price of a base model macbook air M1 and yet still got twice ram, what a deal.
My takes maybe little bit overkill, for the long time i really want to own macbook but at the end of the day many things makes me realize something more important than just owning a macbook. Indeed macbook is such a beautiful yet powerful machine, but what i got here is makes me happy and i don’t regret anything. Beside, running linux and typing on a good keyboard was actually the things that makes me happy.
