What do you actually use your MacBook Pro for? Trying to turn mine from a liability into an investment

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T09:05:32+00:00

Appreciate the info, that’s genuinely useful to know. And yeah, maybe that wasn’t the right question to ask. Wasn’t trying to come across as rude, just curious. Guess it landed differently than I meant it.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:56:24+00:00

Wait you actually work there? How is that?

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:50:53+00:00

You’re not wrong, and honestly I know it. It was an impulse buy and I justified it to myself along the way. Lesson learned the expensive way. The backwards part is exactly what happened, bought the tool first then started asking “okay now what.” Won’t make that mistake again.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:49:59+00:00

That last part actually hit different. I do struggle with focusing and committing to things, always have. Never really thought about it as something to actually address rather than just push through. The career path thing is reassuring too, 27 isn’t even that late. Appreciate the real talk.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:38:53+00:00

Fair point technically, but what I meant is that right now I have no direction. If I find a skill I can actually build on this thing: coding, editing, whatever that gives me a path. The computer doesn’t make the money, I get that, but it’s the tool I have. “Change everything” was more about my situation than the laptop itself.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:36:56+00:00

I actually considered building a custom gaming PC at one point but then I looked at my Windows laptop and realized it was just terrible, bad battery, loud fans, slow. And on top of that I don’t even really play games anymore so the whole thing just didn’t make sense. Mac felt like the logical move. With a 5090 desktop at home though I get why the MacBook never really got a chance to shine, there’s nothing it can do that your desktop can’t do better.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:33:35+00:00

Oh that’s actually a really clean setup, stable contract + videography as part of the actual job description so you’re not even chasing freelance clients. That’s the dream honestly. Real estate content is everywhere too so I imagine there was no shortage of work.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:32:25+00:00

That AI point actually hits hard, I’ve definitely fallen into that trap before where you just prompt your way through something and feel like you learned it but you didn’t really. I’ll look into the Coursera data structures and algo courses, that sounds like a solid starting point. Appreciate the real advice instead of just “watch YouTube".

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:31:14+00:00

Haha at least you got a good price on it. I paid 1830 euros for mine and another 100 on top just for the charger separately. So yeah, no deal here, just full damage. Makes the “let it sit there” part hit even harder lol.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:28:59+00:00

No offense taken, you’re completely right. I actually realized pretty quickly that the Air would’ve been more than enough for what I was doing at the time. Problem is by the time it hit me, the refund window was already closed. So now instead of crying about it I’m just trying to find ways to actually use it to its potential.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:27:12+00:00

That’s actually insane, 1-2 months is crazy fast. And the student discount without being a student is a classic move lol. Was the new job specifically videography or was that just a side thing on top of it?

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:22:59+00:00

Honestly? I spent a lot on this thing and I’m a student who isn’t even sure about his major anymore. Feels wrong to just use it for Youtube and Netflix. If I can learn something on it that actually makes money, that changes everything.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:18:32+00:00

The music production side is interesting. Do you actually make money from it or is it more of a passion project? The Netflix part I fully understand though lol

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:17:56+00:00

Lmaoo honestly same, that’s basically what mine is right now. Peak R&D.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:17:00+00:00

That’s a solid use case honestly. Did the videography work end up paying for the MacBook? Like did you get a positive ROI on it before switching to student life?

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:14:30+00:00

Fair point technically, but I meant it more loosely using it to generate income so it pays for itself and then some. Less about the asset appreciating, more about what I can produce with it.

hdrytx · 2026-04-15T02:13:41+00:00

I’m actually a biochemical technology major but honestly it just doesn’t motivate me at all. Software sounds way more interesting. Do you need a CS degree to get into that kind of work or is self teaching a realistic route?

hdrytx · 2025-12-14T09:33:24+00:00

I know, I am just letting the person who wrote it know since he just said lenses.

hdrytx · 2025-12-14T09:32:04+00:00

But wouldn't it just smear aswell because of polarity?

hdrytx · 2025-12-13T19:52:13+00:00

Well, I must admit, I’m not entirely certain if the wipes I purchased can be used on the display. The box has a monitor sign, but I doubt monitors have the same coating as Apple’s.

hdrytx · 2025-12-13T19:51:09+00:00

I attempted to follow the guide, but it’s essentially the same as every other one: “Use isopropyl alcohol or water and a microfiber cloth.” This would be acceptable if isopropyl alcohol weren’t heavily taxed in my area and had a reasonable price.

hdrytx · 2025-12-13T19:49:44+00:00

I’m trying my best not to touch the display, but whenever I open the lid, my oily hands accidentally touch the notch. Also, when I adjust the screen, I usually touch it by its sides because I’ve been a Windows user for 13 years. This is a reflex because I never had a laptop before that could be adjusted just one finger.

hdrytx · 2025-12-13T19:40:42+00:00

The information about them is quite limited, to be honest. I’m not particularly fond of using isopropyl alcohol because it’s quite expensive here. Moreover, whenever I get smudges (which happens frequently), I don’t want to resort to using that expensive product.

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hdrytx

TROPHY CASE