Geekbench can be a benchmark for comparable performance. You can look up benchmarks for Mac models and then find comparable performance PC parts under benchmark charts.
The pre built laptop should come with an operating system that supper sets the hardware well to be comparable, I would say.
Performance isn’t everything in a laptop. Screen quality, weight, and battery life also matters. To be comparable, an alternative laptop should be at least in the same class in these aspects.
Apple’s quality is mostly pretty good. Once in a while they have problems with certain models and establish a free service program even for machines out of warranty. The oldest device that still gets a service program is from 2008.
Apple’s repair policies have improved over the years.
Longevity is usually also typically pretty good for Apple devices, especially the higher end models. My iPad Pro from 2018 and iPhone 11 from 2019 still get software updates and perform just fine. Until last year I was still using my MacBook Pro 15 retina from 2014 until last year. It still works fine, I just needed something faster. I would say that’s good enough in terms of longevity.
Upgrading parts of machines is difficult to impossible depending on the device. The newer MacBooks are systems on a chip with memory integrated and SSD soldered to the board. That means you have to buy enough memory and storage now, that will last you for the next decade. That’s a higher expense now, than being able to upgrade these parts five years down the line.
Give me a model to compare to? Are all apple models the same? Or do you mean just pick any of them?
Geekbench can be a benchmark for comparable performance. You can look up benchmarks for Mac models and then find comparable performance PC parts under benchmark charts.
Does it count if I find a cheaper laptop that has better numbers than a macbook air that is more expensive?
I do think you might be right that building your own is more expensive now, not sure when that changed.
If I can find a comparable performing non apple device pre built for less, then the only sticking point is proprietary software?
The pre built laptop should come with an operating system that supper sets the hardware well to be comparable, I would say.
Performance isn’t everything in a laptop. Screen quality, weight, and battery life also matters. To be comparable, an alternative laptop should be at least in the same class in these aspects.
What would you say about this quality issue thats come up in this post? Longevity is important too.
Apple’s quality is mostly pretty good. Once in a while they have problems with certain models and establish a free service program even for machines out of warranty. The oldest device that still gets a service program is from 2008.
Apple’s repair policies have improved over the years.
Longevity is usually also typically pretty good for Apple devices, especially the higher end models. My iPad Pro from 2018 and iPhone 11 from 2019 still get software updates and perform just fine. Until last year I was still using my MacBook Pro 15 retina from 2014 until last year. It still works fine, I just needed something faster. I would say that’s good enough in terms of longevity.
Upgrading parts of machines is difficult to impossible depending on the device. The newer MacBooks are systems on a chip with memory integrated and SSD soldered to the board. That means you have to buy enough memory and storage now, that will last you for the next decade. That’s a higher expense now, than being able to upgrade these parts five years down the line.