Backstory/Context: My wife is an aspiring writer and wants to self-publish a novel that she’s been writing. Currently she’s typing on my old Asus ROG gaming laptop that I no longer use. It’s (barely) running Windows Vista, it was built with Crysis in mind (really shows you how old it is), it’s bulky & heavy, and the battery is completely dead (no longer charges)
Originally, I wanted to get her a MacBook because she can switch between MacOS and Windows (via Boot Camp) to get the best of both worlds, that’s until I found out Boot Camp no longer works/exists. I also felt sticking with the Apple ecosystem might be better in the long run, allowing her to sync her iPhone, use iMessage/FaceTime/iCloud etc… when she’s not near her phone, better laptop design & portability.
I’ve been using MacBooks since Leopard-era and have experience with Apple computers before (candy colored iMac and 5200LC) so I know my way around an Apple keyboard & the shortcuts.
She, on the other hand, has only used Windows.
Definitely looking for laptop recommendations in general. Sure, it might be bias to post this in an Apple community but as an Apple user, I’d like to hear other opinions. Maybe there’s a Windows laptop with a similar feel/design of a MacBook? Perhaps the MacBook is the better choice?
Might be worth mentioning that I’ve heard horror stories about people finding spyware on Windows laptops (I think Dell/Alienware was the big one) and I’m totally out of the laptop game.
Only one reply saying you should involve your wife in this decision. Not enough.
You need to involve your wife in this decision. Her use case is nothing for a modern laptop, either Windows or Mac. Anything new will run like a dream in comparison to what she’s got. Literally anything. Get her to a physical store to type on the keyboards and make sure she likes whatever models are in contention. This is highly personal and subjective so other opinions aren’t worth much.
I do think it worth mentioning that switching ecosystems isn’t something to do lightly. She needs to be involved in that decision. I’ve used both Windows and Mac. I’m comfortable with both, but generally prefer Windows. They are way too different to treat the possibility of switching flippantly.
This needs to be the top comment in my view.
Pretty much any new laptop running any operating system will be able to adequately do word processing but they will all feel different and they will be a range of price points. This is why involving your wife who will be the user for this device is critical. One of the key advantages with Apple is that you can try out every current model in person at an Apple store. I don’t know how easy it is for you to get to one, but if you have the option I would definitely recommend sending your wife to do that.
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Focusing on the tech instead of the writing itself is a mistake. You see this among wannabe photographers as well, who buys expensive cameras that they can’t fully utilise. Get her a manual typewriter.
I thought you would say a chisel and some stone.
Morse code button and an Arduino morse decoder with serial output. You can then connect an old dot matrix printer to the serial port.
I’d make sure she’s involved in the decision.
A MacBook Air would be more than adequate for a writer, and with her already being on an iPhone, there is a lot of benefits there. But you have to make sure she likes typing on the keyboard and is ok moving about the system. Some people are up for learning something new, while others simply get frustrated. Only she can help answer where her head would be with that.
On the Windows side, Thinkpads have the best keyboards hands down. Always have. That being said, she should still test out typing on any Windows laptop she might be looking at. There are so pretty bad ones out there. Test out the trackpad as well, those are usually pretty bad too, but I’ve heard some companies have finally started to figure it out, though Apple is still the gold standard for trackpads.
On the security side of things. That’s always something that concerns me with Windows laptops. Thinkpad is bad my Lenovo, and Lenovo has made several very questionable choice which have really destroyed my trust in them. I’m not sure I ever had much to begin with, but the Thinkpad brand was extremely strong when IBM sold it to them, which is the only reason I haven’t completely written them off.
Talk to her about her preferred places to write too. Right now it sounds like she’s tethered to the wall, but would she prefer to be out and about when using her laptop? If so, battery life, weight, and size all come into play. MacBooks have killer battery life, some Windows PCs are trying to catch up, but it’s something to pay more attention to there. Big screens can be nice, but they don’t fit as easily into as many bags, so that is something to be considered as well. Apple has a couple different sizes of the MacBook Air now, and of course PCs come in all sizes.
I’m not sure if she’d be up for it, but the iPad could be an option on the table as well. Of course, once the keyboard cover is added the size and weight become pretty comparable to a MacBook Air, so it’s more about workflow than portability.
You can connect external keyboards to a tablet. With a few adapters, even an IBM model M.
There’s pros and cons to both platforms and there’s plenty of people willing to argue each side. I wouldn’t necessarily focus on this as much as trying to find the laptop she’s most physically comfortable typing on. Also for an aspiring writer you may want to look into a screen that’s easy on the eyes over long periods.
Just get the cheapest M1 Air you can find.
Obviously my first point is take her to a Microcenter or something and test them out. Every keyboard has different travel distance and resistance.
I write in my m1 MacBook Pro. When I type very fast I sometimes worry I’m clipping under the keys. Other than that, I love it. Ive written way more since I got it, and the feel of the laptop is perfect. There are some solid windows laptops for typing too. Ultimately, for a writer, it’s going to come down to what keyboard she likes the feel of. It’s hard to write when it feels like a chore because I hate the keyboard (the old butterfly switches for example, I could NOT use.
Just reinstall Linux onto the Asus. It’ll run like new, free, and if she’s just using it for word processing, Bing bang boom.
Option 2(that I actually did for a writing laptop): buy a used Chromebook at a computer store(they have stacks of them) for 40 bucks, enable Linux(or stu ck with chromeos) and you have a lightweight little weird processor). My only issue was there keyboard was too small and I ended up using a Bluetooth keyboard anyway.
I’d love to extend the life of the Asus laptop, give it a new battery and install a better OS. But she’ll have to deal with the weight & bulkiness, especially going on trips. Need something more practical where she can take it wherever like a coffee shop or on a vacation trip.
Chromebook might a good idea. I’ve also thought about an iPad with the keyboard cover. Both are very practical.
Chromebook might a good idea
In fact, if her needs beyond writing are limited (eg no need to play games or run some proprietary software), then a Chromebook would probably be the best option. One thing I’d recommend though is to go for an ARM based Chromebook (eg using Snapdragon or a Mediatek chipset), as these tend to have a much better battery life compared to something with an Intel or AMD CPU. ARM Chromebooks also tend to be thinner and run cooler. Also, ideally I’d recommend getting at least 8GB RAM for better multitasking.
The problem with iPads on the other hand is that they can be quite expensive, and lack some of the flexibility a Chromebook might have (eg, say you wanna store your written documents locally and then copy it to a USB drive or something). Most importantly, keyboard covers are kinda meh - especially for a writer - and the lack of a proper hinge/support means you can only use your iPad whilst it’s propped up on a table, so you can’t use it say if you’re lying on the bed or couch etc.
Chromebook is only good when you’re online, and it will stop being supported ratger soon – unless you root it and install a modern lite Linux distro, which runs text editors and browsers decently even on 20 year old hardware.
I’m afraid your info is a bit out-of-date. Firstly, most Chromebook are pretty useful even offline these days - most importantly, you can create and edit documents offline, which is the primary use-case for OP’s partner. Second, you don’t need to root a Chromebook any more to install Linux - installing Linux is literally just 4 clicks (Settings > Advanced > Developers > Linux), which would then install Debian in less than 10 minutes.
Edit: Also, Google just announced that they’re extending the support for Chromebooks to 10 years now: https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-extends-chromebook-lifespan-to-ten-years/
iPadOS is rather half-assed. Smooth, yes, but despite all that processing power it lacks a lot of functionality that you get with a MacBook. It’ll also be way more comfortable typing on a MacBook than the portable keyboard.
Keyboard covers are miserable to type on. She’s mainly going to be typing on it right? Take her to a big box store and have her try laptop keyboards until she finds one she likes.
I’d stay away from the Mac unless she really likes the keyboard, but that’s just my bias.
macOS and Pages have long been many writer’s tools of choice. If you wife really wants windows or a windows app (or just a safety net while learning), Windows ARM can be downloaded for free and only has the following restrictions without a paid license:
- cannot set a custom background
- the occasional watermark appears telling you to activate windows
Everything else works fine.
You can install UTM or the free version of VMware Fusion (current Tech Preview supports 3D video acceleration and fast drag and drop file transfer), allowing your wife to have a fully-functional Windows environment.
And the new MacBooks are incredibly fast and energy efficient. If all she’s doing is living in a word processor a MacBook Air will be more than enough, and should go about a full day or more on a single charge. Obviously with a windows VM the battery life will be slightly worse, but nowhere near as bad as many flagship windows laptops.
If all she’s doing is living in a word processor, she can use a tablet with a keyboard, or any old laptop with Debian/Ubuntu and LibreOffice on it.
Writing is not hardware-intensive; a Chromebook would be much cheaper if that’s all she does. What else will she use this laptop for that makes you want a MacBook?
Chromebook has planned obsolescence built in. Don’t get a Chromebook.
And Macs don’t? 2018 is now the earliest Mac that still receives updates. 5 whole years.
Well, most PCs from the last 20 years can run up-to-date lite distros of Linux. If she only needs a text editor and browser, it may be a good option.
I think they’re just phasing out the Intel Macs. Completely talking out of my ass, but I think the Apple silicon Macs will receive updates for more than 5 years.
Yep, and there is end of support for Mac platforms as well. You can keep installing newer versions of Windows, but eventually you’ll reach the limitations of the hardware, or a new feature will have to be supported (looking at you TPM and Win 11) that will force you out of the hardware.
MacBook. Probably an M2 Air.
Obviously you should talk to your wife yada yada like everyone else said, but my opinion is that a MacBook would be best. Best battery life, screens etc plus the ecosystem stuff you mentioned with her iPhone.
My previous laptop was a MacBook. It lasted me 10 years and had barely any issues. I’ve never owned an iPhone, but I imagine the integration features are quite nice for those who do.
While MacBooks are overall reliable and the user experience is good, there’s no denying they’re pricey. If all she is doing with it is going to be writing, I would get (at the most) an entry-level MacBook Air, and maybe only with a discount if you can manage one.
Otherwise, something cost-efficient like a Chromebook would be more than sufficient, as basically anything can act as a good text editor. George R R Martin famously writes all of the A Song of Ice and Fire books using Wordstar on a DOS PC from 1987 (though given how long he takes between books, maybe that is a bad example after all).
With that in mind, the decision is ultimately dependent on your own situation. If it doesn’t break the bank to get the MacBook, sometimes getting something nice that costs a little bit more is better than getting just what you need. But for the situation you described, I’d say just about any laptop would do.
Already lots of good points here, but I’d add an additional thought: if the use case is writing plus lightweight computing (email, web browsing, messaging, etc.), you may also want to consider an iPad. It, too, plays in the Apple ecosystem along side her iPhone and provides a lightweight and portable device to work on.
They’re pretty dead simple to use and you aren’t stuck with a single, permanent keyboard. There’s multiple first and third-party options for keyboard cases/folios and you then have the option to use a nice desktop keyboard at her usual work location.
And, something that is much rarer on laptops, you also have the option of cellular. If connectivity and mobility are important, an iPad would provide both.
With the switch to Apple Silicon, it’s pretty much impossible to justify buying a Windows PC unless you have specific needs that absolutely require it; the Mac hardware is just that much better. Shop around for the best discounts on an M1 or M2 MacBook Air and just buy it. I suspect she’ll especially appreciate how much better Apple’s trackpads are, plus the super long battery life that comes from power-efficient chips.
Wanted to chime in again with this article I found that may give you some starting points.
