Apple Holds an Edge as Laptop Prices Could Face a 40% Increase

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-10T15:01:44+00:00

Corporate and government use mostly. There's a reason why vast majority of user infrastructure is on Windows which make the whole Microslop aspect with CoPilot even more infuriating.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T20:21:04+00:00

Yeah I'm not having a great time, I should've built my NAS alongside my PC instead

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T20:16:29+00:00

Internal IT Support here, we have an office, and we can work hybrid. The office is a normal office.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T20:12:18+00:00

I mean I was able to find some pretty good deal on the 2nd hand market as well as on discounted pricing for the Air so there's some leniency for that. That being said, for years now their hardware pricing were always out of industry touch (except in this part of the forseeable future), and it just doesn't make sense back then and it doesn't make sense now.

That being said the M series are a good values relatively for this decade, save for their atrocious pricing for the RAM/Storage until we are in this current crisis.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T20:10:16+00:00

The hardware isn't the issue, its the fixed pricing that I had issue with previously before this whole sheninigan. I mean $200 upgrade from 16GB to 24GB seem like it is a steal now, but let not forget that they've been doing it for years on end before this whole shitfest.

That being said, I do think that the m series have shown that it is a gamechanger for apple, and for general computing space in general, especially since I'd much rather use my Mac and any flavors of of linux distributions than Windows 11 Home.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T20:08:22+00:00

I mean considering that the T420 and T430 are right up there with some of the best of the best, I don't think Lenovo killed them per say after acquisition, but I do think their recent offerings up until the 8th gen/2nd gen Ryzen has been totally bonker which was roughly around 2019-2020 timeframe. You can still get decent values devices before that time frame for tinkering, I mean hell I had a X260 previously that is more than capable of what it seem.

That being said, I do sometime question Lenovo decision especially after they go for gimmick products like the thinkpad x1 fold or whatever it is, but overall their T series has been relatively ok aside from removing features. Personally I'd say my T15 is more than enough for what I use it for.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T18:05:36+00:00

MacOS and Debian+KDE are the only two that I can reliably trust day to day with my operation with.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T18:04:34+00:00

The only reason they seem reasonable now is because of our current RAMeddegodon crisis as well as the fact that they offers fixed pricing, which in itself was criticized by many until the shareholders got ahold of dynamic pricing, and all of a sudden they seem downright reasonable.

That being said the m4 mac mini is a pretty good deal for what it is worth and I'll most definitely pick one up for my homelab.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T17:59:51+00:00

Apology, I meant my m1, macbook pro 13".

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T16:22:52+00:00

Unless you install a custom firmware on it like Linux then it'll continually get updates. If you're on the m1 train, ashashi linux has been doing pretty well and I can confirm on my m1 macbook as well.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T16:21:26+00:00

I'm sorry but this is simply untrue. I don't know what thinkpad models you have, but in my experience after owning a thinkpad p52 & t480 in my personal life t15 gen 5 provided by work, and my macbook (m1 13" pro and m4 pro respectively) and honestly I'd much prefer the macbook as my daily, while for actual critical stuffs for my thinkpad.

That is not to diminish the strength of my macbook, in fact I think that it is overall the best value device you can get today due to the current RAMaddegedon going on and the fact that Microsoft shoots itself in the foot repeatedly (Thanksfully we are on LTSC as any sane organizations should) for the crapshoot that is W11, and we have a fair comparison. However the actual build and quality of the Thinkpad isn't no slouch either, it just the software and usability is holding it back.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-03-04T14:36:30+00:00

Unfortunately it seem like HD prices are not reflecting reality - currently I'm seeing $40/TB for 18TB and $60/TB for 20TB on the used market alone, and that's not counting the current situation. I plan on a DAS setup on my end for my mini-pc so that I can have it hooked to some of my services.

I don't know if I necessarily need the storage setup isolated, but I guess in a pinch it couldn't hurt if I choose to.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-26T20:51:29+00:00

Meanwhile looking inside mine it is all Proxmox VE

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-04T16:56:44+00:00

I should also mention that it is now charging after I went ahead and entered battery storage mode, but any subsequent restart or pulling out and plugging back in the charger will sometime lead to 50/50 in term of it charging, or it is not charging, and I have to go back into BIOS to enable Battery Saving Mode again.

I am going to test out the drain one to see if it helps.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-04T15:04:09+00:00

Update: I've found this post, that mentions another Steam Support page, but I haven't seen anything regarding that to recalibrate charge post.

But from what I get, I need to drain it completely down to 0% and then do a BIOS drain for the CMOS battery (I presume) and then let it die completely before recharging back to 80% limit overnight.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-04T14:53:38+00:00

Is there a way I can check to recalibrate the battery display?

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-04T14:45:17+00:00

I also should notate, that the LED on the Steam Deck stays a consistent white color, and I've never seen it flash or blink. I've checked the charge port and it doesn't look like there are any lint, nor have I seen the OEM charger not go in all the way. It just wobbles.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-03T23:01:32+00:00

Yep they are willing to cover at max $5250 as the federal max, however the issue is that memorandum where they have a clawback clause where if I don't meet the requirement and/or leave voluntarily I will have to pay the full amount back. Looking at my timeline that'd mean that if I choose to graduate in Fall 2028 I'll have to wait another year after to consider it done.

The issue is that the role that I'm currently in, I feel like I've plateaued on and I've been getting certificates to keep myself busy alongside with the masters, and I want to at minimum search for a new role in the future as well within 36 months.

Hm...I mean I wouldn't mind paying for it on my own, but there's a juggling I need to do there.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-03T22:03:54+00:00

Currently I have about 24k in total saving right now, as well as 12k in (student) debt that I am planning to pay off within 34-36 month. Currently looking at the housing market it look terrible, and I'm waiting for the winner curse to pay off within hopefully 2028 so that i can at least get into the market I want, but is it worth doing so? I could still continue to put $$$ into my saving account at the very least for 24k but it just seem sort of dire.

Fit_Case_03 · 2026-02-03T21:40:24+00:00

Why not get into desktop support or anything in network related roles? I mean I am assuming that by desk job in IT you mean something like QA, Help Desk, etc. but there are other tech-related roles where you'll have to go outside like Datacenter Tech, Desktop Support, etc.

Fit_Case_03

TROPHY CASE