West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
I’m in the market to buy a laptop to do real estate (i’m an agent) but i’m not sure which one to buy (I would prefer an Apple laptop but I’m open to other suggestions)? Thanks for your assistance.
I buy the cheapest computer I can find. The $349 special. When it's on the hood of my car and slides off, I don't cry as much. If I'm crawling through a HUD house I don't worry about putting it on a counter and using my phone for a hotspot. My Google accounts are linked with MS Office so it doesn't matter if I swap it every other week. Sometimes I have to leave it in the trunk while I head into a restaurant or go walk the back 40. I don't think about it much. If it was a $1800 piece of equipment, I may be more careful, but what good Is a tool I don't have access to when I need it?
@Lavaud Charlemagne I have Verizon. I am pretty sure you can get a data plan from any service provider. Just compare the costs. Just make sure you purchase the Ipad with WiFi and Data, not just the WiFi option.
RESPONSE: First computer I bought was a Apple 2 (???) little small screen, worked on "Floppy Disks" so if that dates me - I represent that! Upgraded & Updated Apple Computers several times. When MLS first became computerized - it only worked on Windows based machines, so I grudgingly switched to a Windows machine.
Currently uses Windows Desktop as primary computer. Also have Windows based Laptop, and Apple IPad 2 for remote MLS Access that I carried when actively showing properties.
Maybe other folks can do spreadsheets and other detailed work on their phone or tablet - but I prefer the bigger screen - everyone will as you get older. (:>) .
I run mortgage origination software that only works on Windows, so I decided to buy a Dell Inspiron instead of partitioning my Macbook Pro and putting windows on it. If I look at what I make per hour , I figure I have spent about $400 in the last two days just waiting for stuff to load, figuring out how to block pop ups,(about every 45 seconds) and switch the scroll button so that up means up instead of down. I am actually sitting here as we speak, trying to convince myself not to throw it out with the trash. The best part is knowing that in 2 years, i will need a new one, which still won't run as fast or flawlessly as my 6 year old Mac. I will absolutely positively never buy anything except a Macbook Pro ever again. Rant over :)
In my opinion, I would say it depends on the type of work you do. If you are constantly on the move or in less than desirable areas I would be hesitant to put my Macbook Air on a moldy/dusty/undesirable counter top but I would have no problem putting my $300-500 laptop on the same counter bc they are easily replaceable just in case something happens. If you are mainly in an office or meeting with clients I would go with Mac bc it is more prestigious and automatically gives you credibility. (No one questions why you have a mac in a meeting, they may look at you funny if you have a less than desireable pc in a meeting where everyone else has macs)
I personally use a Macbook Air, Ive upgraded from a normal Macbook after Ive used/abused it in college. It finally got to a point where I said "I know I need to upgrade but this thing wont break" I did upgrade but still use my older Macbook to download music because they just dont get viruses. I know its a hard decision but to make the cost a little more even you can get a slightly used MB off of C-List or refurbished or slightly used and have full confidence that it works/looks great.
I run mortgage origination software that only works on Windows, so I decided to buy a Dell Inspiron instead of partitioning my Macbook Pro and putting windows on it. If I look at what I make per hour , I figure I have spent about $400 in the last two days just waiting for stuff to load, figuring out how to block pop ups,(about every 45 seconds) and switch the scroll button so that up means up instead of down. I am actually sitting here as we speak, trying to convince myself not to throw it out with the trash. The best part is knowing that in 2 years, i will need a new one, which still won't run as fast or flawlessly as my 6 year old Mac. I will absolutely positively never buy anything except a Macbook Pro ever again. Rant over :)
Sorry to hear about your frustration Hunter, but the way you end the rant was priceless lol.
Only Apple Mac’s for me. Windows is absolutely the worst. In my business we only accept Apple computers. Windows computers don’t hold value and are essentially disposable. Heavily virus prone as well. Macs are much more resilient to all the spyware / viruses out there, hence that’s why most viruses are designed to attack Windows (macs security is much stronger). Macs will maintain there speed and performance for years and years.
I believe in buying quality, assuming you will take care of it. MacBook Pro 15” is the only laptop I will personally use. Screen provides just the right amt of real estate :-)
Only Apple Mac’s for me. Windows is absolutely the worst. In my business we only accept Apple computers. Windows computers don’t hold value and are essentially disposable. Heavily virus prone as well. Macs are much more resilient to all the spyware / viruses out there, hence that’s why most viruses are designed to attack Windows (macs security is much stronger). Macs will maintain there speed and performance for years and years.
I believe in buying quality, assuming you will take care of it. MacBook Pro 15” is the only laptop I will personally use. Screen provides just the right amt of real estate :-)
iPhone! I’m kind of kidding, but seriously barely use even a laptop anymore. 😃
You’re the second investor to say that makes me wonder do I even need to spend $1800 unnecessarily. Maybe I should just add an iPad Pro to my arsenal (along with my iPhone) and call it a day.
Back from the dead! For what it is worth, 2021 is likely the best time in a decade to buy an Apple laptop. The M1 chips are some of best battery life and performance you'll anywhere and the higher-priced MacBook Pros just saw a major update in 2021. While initial purchase price will always look higher, comparing a Mac to a Chromebook's an apples to oranges comparison (no pun intended). iPads are closer to Chromebooks and even that's hard to compare since a Chromebook with similar capability to an iPad is a $1k Google device not the the $400 device sold at Best Buy based off 5 year old chipsets.
Start with what you want to accomplish with the product, then narrow your search down to what you need:
iPads will do 90% of what the average person needs, with a form factor that's flexible enough to change from a laptop style with keyboard to a tablet form with digital writing/signatures.
Chromebooks are decent web and email devices, but local software's limited to blown up versions of Android apps that are inherently designed for smaller screens and less power. Given the limitations of even Google's own Gmail app, I often just find myself using the web version of Gmail and that's an app built by the same company that made the operating system!
Macs fit the need when you need that do-it-all device with massive local storage, anticipate tons of email/typing, and want top notch multimedia capabilities with best in class security. You can record a video walkthrough of a property with your phone, wirelessly send it to your Mac, and have an edited video walkthrough with subtitles in less time than it takes you to create your listing. That one video could easily pay for your Mac 5x over.