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.