Apple MacBook Pro Laptop w/ Retina Display (MD213LL/A): Intel Core i5 2.5GHz Dual Core, 8GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, 13.3" Retina LCD 2560x1600, WiFi N, OS X Lion + Parallels Desktop 8 $14

Isn't Mac OS X essentially a locked down Linux Distro?

Thinkpad 410s are a perfect example. They actually released in December of 2010, for $1320. Totally solid hardware for the time, and it holds up well now. They now sell for $350, a bit under two and a half years later. That's a depreciation of roughly $400/year.

Meanwhile, 13" MacBook Pros from 2010, which are just a few months older, sold for $1200 when new and now sell on ebay for around $850 - that's a depreciation of roughly $350, or about $140.

Someone who had $1500, bought the Thinkpad 410 for $1320, invested their $180 in a balanced portfolio, and then sold the Thinkpad today for $350, would now have $539.11 to buy a new laptop with.

Someone who had $1500, bought the MacBook Pro for $1200, invested their $300 in a balanced portfolio, and then sold the MacBook for $850, would now have $1165.18 to buy a new laptop with.

Pretty huge difference between $539.11 (buying the Windows latpop) and $1165.18 (buying the MacBook Pro), isn't there?

Note: I agree that it doesn't make a lot of sense that people would spend $850 on an old C2D MacBook and only $350 on a decent i5 laptop - but people don't always act rationally. And for some people, being able to run OS X is worth a $500 premium. Realistically, though, this means it is a much better deal to buy a Mac than a PC, even if the initial price is higher.

The problem with your analysis is the person who bought the mac really did pay $1200

I see thinkpad threads in 2010 for the 410 going for 700-800 at best and some in the 500-600 range so with your scenario, PC still comes out ahead...

BS. I have never paid retail for a mac. Looking in the archives just like you did, 2010 postings, what's this- 13" macbook pro new for $1049, another posting for $999.
I've sold my macbooks every 2-3 years since 2005 and have always gotten around 70% back (though I do take ridiculous care them, even keep the original wrapping inside the box).

Cheapest I saw for a T410 new (not refurb or end of 2010- making it a year old model ) was $650
So, Macbook bought $1050, sold in 3 years for 700, cost $350. Thinkpad, bought for $650, sold for $300. Cost $350. Seems even to me. And that's with a highly regarded thinkpad, try selling an Asus or Toshiba for 50%.
Which brings me to my final note.
Macbooks are just easier to resell too, simply cause there's less of them, both in quantity and models- Apple might have 4 different 13" in a year. PC maker, 12+, and that's just one manufacturer. There are sooo many pc laptops it makes reselling one a bear.

I'm ready to buy a Macbook, and was ready to get the Air 8gb 256gb 13" for $1470, until I came across this deal... Now I'm torn! I love the Air for it's form factor - so thin and light. But for $49 more, should I get the Pro Retina screen and sacrifice the .61 pounds? Am I missing anything? Someone push me in one direction or the other!

wow macmall CS is horrible, anyone get their order yet?

wow macmall CS is horrible, anyone get their order yet?

They originally promised to send mine on Saturday for a Monday delivery and the Parallels + $100 GC + MagSafe 2 adapter (addition on my part) shipped on Saturday, while the laptop did not. I called on Monday and they said the laptop was still at the warehouse but it would definitely ship Monday. So on Tuesday I talked with numerous reps who all told me "It was delivered on Monday" until I explained (over and over) that that was one of two packages. They then said that because the label had been printed obviously FedEx had the box and wasn't delivering it (which isn't true since one rep clearly told me the warehouse confirmed it was still there).

Ultimately, I told them to cancel the laptop portion of the order and I would just pay for Parallels and the adapter (they can have the card back if they ask for it - I don't care about that)

I took the "refurbished" laptop I bought from Apple and it was a good choice - it ended up being a new one in refurb packaging with a 2.9GHz i7 in it instead of the 2.5GHz i5.

Unfortunately, I now see that they didn't cancel the order and they put the charge through - if they don't reverse it immediately I'll be forced to file a complaint with Chase.