Jim Rossman: Should you go all-in on Apple?

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This week a reader wrote in, “I am 74 and was always on top of most electronics as they evolved, but I have to say the rapid changes are hard to keep up with, and I find myself relying on a couple of my younger, more in-tune adult children when it gets to be too much!

"One of my major problems and 'strategies' has been to keep it simple for myself and my wife. Right or wrong, I 'capitulated' and moved to Apple tech because it seems to have an easier learning curve and less need for tech help. All of my phones are Apple, my wife’s table is Apple, and all of our TVs have Apple TV boxes.

"My latest decision to sort out is a 5-year-old Dell laptop. It is the only thing NOT Apple for everyday use, and I am torn regarding the next replacement purchase upgrade.

"1. It is my desktop daily unit used with an external monitor. Nothing fancy: I use Microsoft Office.

"2. Rarely do I take it portable. I would redeploy it to my garage workshop after replacement for backup and other hobby use.

"So, if I stay with my migration strategy to ALL Apple, what are my choices? Would the $599 Neo suffice, or will I need a more robust Mac to handle my daily needs?”

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You don’t absolutely need to update the Dell just yet. You might be OK with a Windows 11 update and riding it out for a while longer.

If you’re really ready for a new laptop, my advice is simple – stay with the Apple ecosystem and buy a MacBook Neo.

There is simply no better option for the price and compatibility with the Apple ecosystem. I’ll leave it up to you to pick the $599 or $699 option. Double the storage (256gb vs. 512gb) and a fingerprint reader are the only differences.

You will need to buy a Macintosh-compatible copy of Microsoft Office, which costs $179.

You will also need an adapter to go from the Neo’s USB-C port to your existing monitor.

PC-centric people will say a new Dell laptop would already have the needed ports, which is true.

The local Apple stores are Apple’s secret weapon. If you have any issues with the Mac, including setup advice, you can just walk in, and they’ll be happy to help. For new Mac users and people who need some MacOS tutoring, this advantage should not be overlooked.