Technologies

10 Best MacBook Pro Alternatives for 2022

Think differently about your laptop options with these MacBook Pro alternatives.

Fortunately for Apple users, the company has made some much-needed changes to MacBook Pro in the latest generations. That means no more awful keyboard, annoying Touch Bar or overreliance on Thunderbolt/USB-C connections.

But the fact remains that there are far more designs, feature sets and display choices for Windows laptops and Chromebooks. Moreover, Windows remains the preferred platform for playing games locally. While cloud gaming lets Macs circumvent the gaming problem to a certain extent, only a fraction of the universe of games is playable via the cloud. Thankfully, there are MacBook Pro alternatives on the market.

This list is a great place to start to get an idea of what’s available. If you need advice on whether a particular type of laptop or two-in-one is right for you, jump to our laptop FAQ at the bottom of the list.

See Razer Blade 17 at Amazon

See Dell Inspiron 16 Plus at Dell

Commonly asked questions

Which is faster, a MacBook or a Windows laptop?

That’s an almost impossible question to answer.

For one thing, it’s a moving target. We’re starting to see Windows models featuring Intel’s new 12th-gen CPUs, which has the same hybrid core architecture as Apple’s M1 chips, as well as new mobile GPUs. We haven’t yet had a chance to test out many of these next-gen models, but it’s safe to assume that Apple’s M1 processors will be facing some stiff competition.

And thus far, Apple hasn’t even launched an M1 MacBook with a discrete GPU, though its integrated graphics seem to scale up to compete with current low-end Nvidia and AMD graphics up to about the RTX 3070 and Radeon RX 6800M, and definitely improves on previous Intel-based Macs though neither is really surprising. But it means that at the high end we’re still in sort of a MacBook holding pattern when it comes to comparisons with heavier Windows options.

Plus, differences in operating systems complicate things. Mac OS has long been more efficient than Windows and that’s only improved now that Apple owns its entire food chain. But it doesn’t need to worry about compatibility with partner systems and myriad different components. Then toss in difficulties getting repeatable, comparable, representative and broad-based benchmark results for cross-platform comparisons… well, I don’t feel like going down that rabbit hole right now.

Is a MacBook Pro better for content creation than a Windows laptop?

Once again, a difficult question to answer because there’s no sweeping generalizations you can make. If you’re basing the concern on Windows’ old reputation for being inferior for graphics work, it was accurate at the time but is no longer true.

Screens on Windows laptops have come a long way, and convertibles (aka two-in-ones) mean you can paint or sketch directly on the laptop screen. With a MacBook you’d need to buy an iPad as well.

Some graphics applications are only available on one platform or the other, so figuring out which ones you need and which you can switch away from is the first thing to decide before you choose between Windows and MacOS. Also consider that MacOS no longer supports 32-bit applications, so if you’ve got an old favorite that hasn’t been updated — this happens most with small utilities — but still exists on Windows, that’s something to think about.

Some applications may also be better optimized for one platform than the other, or rely on a specific GPU from AMD or Nvidia for their best acceleration. Since you can’t really use an Nvidia card with a Mac and none of the M1 MacBooks incorporate any discrete graphics, Windows is probably a better bet, especially for programs that rely on Nvidia’s CUDA programming interface. Think about any accessories you need, as well — the drivers and utilities you need to use them may not be available or be stripped down on one or the other.

MacBooks may run faster than equivalently configured Windows laptops simply because MacOS is a lot more tightly integrated with the hardware than Windows can ever be on its side of the fence. Microsoft simply has to support a much wider variety of hardware than Apple will ever need to, and that adds performance overhead; this can be especially important for activities sensitive to latency, like audio recording. Windows’ flexibility is both its strength and its weakness.

More computing recommendations

Technologies

I Just Discovered a Travel Hack That Can Save You Time and Money on International Trips — And It’s Completely Free

Don’t sweat roaming charges on your next trip abroad. GigSky and Visa are offering a 15-day free eSim trial so you can access the internet on your phone worry-free.

I’ve been traveling around the world for a year and a half, and one of my favorite money-saving travel hacks is using an eSIM.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of an eSIM, it’s a digital SIM installed onto your phone that lets you access a mobile network without a physical SIM card. Using an eSIM for all my mobile data abroad means I don’t have to worry about expensive roaming charges from my US mobile provider or buying a physical SIM for a local network every time I enter a new country.

When I learned that eSIM provider GigSky was offering eligible Visa cardholders a complimentary 15-day worldwide data plan, I was curious. I hadn’t seen this offer widely discussed in the credit card rewards sphere, nor had I heard of GigSky before. Maybe this would be a useful, free benefit that I’d be adding to my list of favorite credit card perks. Maybe it’d be a two-week disaster of no data and tech troubles.

There was only one way to find out.

Once my previous eSIM plan expired, I grabbed my trusty Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — the Visa Signature card that I’d be using to access this offer — and headed to GigSky’s website.

What to know about the GigSky Visa offer

From now until Nov. 15, 2027, eligible Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders can receive a complimentary global mobile data plan through GigSky that grants access to mobile data in more than 175 countries.

A Visa Signature card gives you a complimentary 1GB plan valid for 15 days, while a Visa Infinite card gives you a 3GB/15-day plan. After your complimentary plan expires, you’ll also get an ongoing discount on all paid plans: 20% off for Visa Signature cardholders and 30% off for Visa Infinite cardholders. You can redeem a complimentary plan once per calendar year.

To get the complimentary data plan and the discount, you must add your card as your default payment method in the GigSky app.

Eligible cards

All US Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards are eligible for this offer, along with select Visa cards issued in Canada and Latin America.

Popular Visa Signature cards include:

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card ($0 annual fee)
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card ($0 annual fee)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ($95 annual fee)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card ($0 annual fee)

Popular Visa Infinite cards include:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($795 annual fee)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee)

My experience claiming and using my free GigSky eSIM

Claiming the offer

I started off by heading to the official offer page to read through the details. I also noticed that GigSky was offering a free 100MB trial eSIM for everyone, no Visa card required. If you don’t qualify for the Visa offer, it’s worth checking this one out.

I read through the terms and conditions for the Visa offer. The terms were clear, and I didn’t see any red flags or hidden «gotchas.» Satisfied, I downloaded the GigSky app to claim the offer.

On the app’s home page, I immediately saw a link to check my eligibility for the Visa offer.

After clicking the link, I was prompted to enter my card number to check my eligibility. I entered my Chase Sapphire Preferred card number and was told I was eligible for a 1GB/15-day complimentary data plan and a 20% discount on all paid plans. I appreciated how they laid out the details up front so there was no confusion about what I was getting.

Following the app’s prompts, I created an account and added my Chase Sapphire Preferred as my default payment method. The app sent me back to the home page, where I now saw a link to redeem the offer tied to my specific card. I clicked it, selected the complimentary plan, made sure that the order total was $0, and checked out.

Setting up the eSIM

I’ve used a lot of different eSIMs, but GigSky was by far the easiest to set up.

I found my new eSIM under the «My Plans» tab on the GigSky app. It wasn’t activated yet. According to the terms, you have up to one year after redeeming your complimentary data plan before it’ll automatically activate.

I clicked on the «Install eSIM» link, then clicked «yes» on the confirmation pop-up. It took about a minute for the eSIM to download. My phone then prompted me to choose a new primary SIM card (because it’s a dual-SIM phone) and restart. I was pretty surprised, because my previous eSIMs from other companies had required some extra setup steps, but it seemed GigSky could be installed with a single download.

After restarting my phone, the new eSIM didn’t immediately have a signal, which was normal. In my experience, it usually takes a few minutes for a newly installed eSIM to connect to the network. My phone restarted again, then finally managed to connect to GigSky’s network. I checked that my primary eSIM for mobile data access was set to GigSky instead of my US service provider, turned on my data, and that was it — I was online.

Using the eSIM

I used the eSIM for the full 15 days of the complimentary plan, and I had a mostly positive experience despite a few hiccups.

I was in Hanoi, Vietnam, when I downloaded the eSIM, and it worked perfectly the first day.

Speeds were mostly 4G/LTE or 5G, and I could access mobile data whenever I needed without issue. Web pages, Google Maps and even the occasional video loaded quickly.

I could check how much time and data remained on the plan through the GigSky app. There, I also saw the option to purchase additional plans, with the 20% Visa Signature discount reflected in the prices.

But a few days later, my data suddenly stopped working. My phone showed that I was connected to some «H» network — which I later learned is a type of 3G network, about one step lower on the internet speed ladder than 4G/LTE. But even though I was technically connected to data, the web page I was trying to access just wouldn’t load. After returning to my hotel, I checked the GigSky app and confirmed that my plan was still active and I had plenty of data left.

My data connection was spotty for the next two days, sometimes working and sometimes not. I tried turning the eSIM on and off, restarting my phone, and turning airplane mode on and off, but I couldn’t find a reliable fix. This on-and-off situation went on for about two days before I was again able to consistently access data every time I tried. I never figured out what the exact problem was, but I’ve had other eSIMs randomly stop working too, so I don’t think it’s an issue exclusive to GigSky. Sometimes you just have to accept that technology isn’t perfect.

I traveled from Hanoi to Cat Ba, an island on the coast of Vietnam, during the second half of my 15-day plan. Since Cat Ba is a bit more remote, I was worried about my mobile signal there. I was pleasantly surprised that everything worked perfectly. I consistently had 4G/LTE or 5G data and never had trouble connecting to the internet when I needed to.

Offer’s end

I paid special attention when my complimentary plan expired, just in case this was one of those «free trial turning into auto-renewing subscription unless you cancel» situations. (The terms and conditions suggested nothing of this sort, but in a world of subscription creep, I’ve developed a healthy vigilance.)

I’m happy to report this was not the case. When my plan ended, that was it. I could no longer access data despite the eSIM remaining on my phone, and whenever I tried, I received a notification letting me know my plan had expired. I wasn’t automatically enrolled in a new, paid plan, and my credit card was never charged.

I could see my original plan details in the app, as well as purchase a new plan if I so desired.

My 1GB of data lasted me till the very end of the 15-day plan. I used data sparingly, keeping my mobile data off by default and only turning it on when I needed it for navigation, web searches, or checking messages or email on the go. I used Wi-Fi whenever I could and rarely watched videos or scrolled social media using mobile data. If your habits are similar to mine, the complimentary 1GB data plan should be enough for short vacations.

Would I recommend the GigSky eSim?

eSIMs are invaluable when you’re traveling abroad, and I’m glad Visa has partnered with GigSky to bring this benefit to cardholders. Although it’s probably not the most monetarily valuable perk from my Chase Sapphire Preferred — a 1GB worldwide data plan similar to the complimentary plan normally retails for $20 through GigSky — it’s definitely one of the more practical ones.

If you travel internationally, the complimentary plan can help you cut down on one extra cost while letting you conveniently access the internet wherever you go. GigSky’s service is as good as any other eSIM I’ve used, and I like how many options GigSky offers, including data plans in more than 175 countries and cruise packages.

But one downside of GigSky is the cost. GigSky’s prices are on the higher end of the eSIM market, and quite a bit more expensive than the eSIM provider I’d been using previously (EscapeSIM). Because of that, I ended up not renewing my GigSky plan. I would definitely recommend the complimentary plan to any eligible Visa cardholders heading abroad for a short vacation, but if your data needs or travel timeline call for buying a paid plan beyond the trial, I’d recommend comparing costs among multiple providers before committing to any one.

Technologies

Bright Fireballs in the Skies: Catch the Perseids Meteor Shower This Week

You may see as many as 100 meteors per hour if you’re in a place where it’s dark enough.

Skygazers have a lot to look forward to over the next month. A couple of dueling meteor showers are gracing the skies later this month, and they will be joined by perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year: the Perseids meteor shower.

Perseids are known for their bright fireballs and plentiful meteors. The show started on July 17, and will run through Aug. 23.

The reason the Perseids meteor shower is so popular is twofold. First, it takes place in the summer, so going outside and watching it is less uncomfortable than other large meteor showers like Quadrantids, which takes place in wintery January.

The other reason is that it’s one of the most active meteor showers of the year. During its peak, the meteor shower is known to spit as many as 100 meteors on average, according to the American Meteor Society. These not only include your typical shooting stars, but also a higher chance for fireballs, which are meteors that explode as they enter orbit. Per NASA, fireballs tend to last longer than standard shooting stars and can come in a variety of different colors.

Perseids come to Earth courtesy of the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet. Earth’s orbit around the sun brings it through Swift-Tuttle’s tail every year. The comet itself takes 133 years to orbit the sun. Its last perihelion — the point at which it’s the closest to the sun — was in 1992. It won’t be back until the year 2125. Until then, it leaves behind an excellent tail of dust and debris to feed us yearly meteor showers.

How to watch the Perseids meteor shower

The best time to view the Perseids is during its peak, which occurs on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13. During this time, the shower will produce anywhere from 25 to 100 meteors per hour on average. However, since the shower officially lasts for over a month, you have a chance to see a shooting star on any given evening, provided that you’re far enough away from light pollution.

Thus, if you’re planning on watching this year’s Perseids during their peak, you’ll want to get out of the city and suburbs as far as possible. According to Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office, folks in the city might see one or two meteors from the meteor shower per hour, which is pocket change compared to what those outside city limits might see.

Regardless, once you’ve arrived at wherever you want to watch the meteors, you’ll want to direct your attention to the radiant, or the point at which the meteors will appear to originate. Like all meteors, Perseids are named after the constellation from which they appear. In this case, it’s Perseus.

Per Stellarium’s free sky map, Perseus will rise from the northeastern horizon across the continental US on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13. It’ll then rise into the eastern sky, where it’ll remain until after sunrise. So, in short, point yourself due east and you should be OK. Binoculars may help, but we recommend against telescopes since they’ll restrict your view of the sky to a very small portion, which may hinder your meteor-sighting efforts.

The American Meteor Society also notes that the moon may give viewers some difficulty. Perseids’ peak occurs just three days after August’s full moon, so the moon will still be mostly full. Thus, it is highly probable that light pollution from the moon may reduce the number of visible meteors by a hefty margin, depending on how things go.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, July 21

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 21.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

My favorite Mini Crosswords are ones that take me on a little journey. Today, I learned something new about Hawaii and also basked in a nostalgic moment while thinking about a childhood board game. Need an assist with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.