Apple vs PC

[chrismiss56]

We have always had a PC in the house and have gotten aggravated over viruses, and other issues - will NEVER buy a Dell again.

Both DDs bought Apple laptops about a year ago and LOVE THEM!!!

DH and I are considering an Apple desktop - went last night to the store and I am always impressed by how much time they take with us and answer ????

My question to you is - Is there any reason NOT to buy an Apple?

We will be using it for the basics - email, web surfing, Iming etc. No gaming.....just the basics.

Thanks for your help

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

 

[WDWVillain]

there is not one reason NOT to buy an APPLE!!!! I just sold a brand new dell, and I have 3 Apples.....and never ever used the dell!!! I am SO happy with my macs, I could never go back! I also recommed if you do buy one, go for the 99 dollar one to one lessons!! I have owned macs now for 3 years and still have learned so much!

 

[dcentity2000]

Apple rule.

Pretty much EVERYTHING you can do on a PC you can do on a Mac better.



Rich::

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I started a thread just like this about six months ago. I ended up buying a MacBook Pro based off of the recommendations on here!

The only downside for me, is that some of my work-related websites don't support Mac, so I have to use Windows instead. I purchased Parallels for that, and do have problems with that.

Here is my old thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1427451

ETA: I also have two PC laptops in my house - both Dells and we also had issues with our router. We had the latest and greatest Linksys, but every time I logged onto the internet with my Mac, I kicked everyone else off. According to Apple and Linksys, they both know there is an issue, but there isn't a fix for it yet. We ended up having to buy an Airport Extreme from the Apple store and haven't had any problems since.

 

[chrismiss56]

I started a thread just like this about six months ago. I ended up buying a MacBook Pro based off of the recommendations on here!

The only downside for me, is that some of my work-related websites don't support Mac, so I have to use Windows instead. I purchased Parallels for that, and do have problems with that.

Here is my old thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1427451

ETA: I also have two PC laptops in my house - both Dells and we also had issues with our router. We had the latest and greatest Linksys, but every time I logged onto the internet with my Mac, I kicked everyone else off. According to Apple and Linksys, they both know there is an issue, but there isn't a fix for it yet. We ended up having to buy an Airport Extreme from the Apple store and haven't had any problems since.

Thanks!! I seem to be ok with Apple and Linksys - I have a dell pc and the girls have apple laptops. When they come home they bring them with and I don't have a problem with the router. Hope that stays that way

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

 

[elgerber]

I have a Macbook, 3 windows pc's and 1 windows laptop. We are all hooked up with the same linksys wireless router and we have no issues at all.

 

[dcentity2000]

I started a thread just like this about six months ago. I ended up buying a MacBook Pro based off of the recommendations on here!

I have one - they were very recently updated to have better quality screens and faster processors and mine RULES! I have the 15" 2.4GHz one and love it to bits

The only downside for me, is that some of my work-related websites don't support Mac, so I have to use Windows instead. I purchased Parallels for that, and do have problems with that.

Here is my old thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1427451

ETA: I also have two PC laptops in my house - both Dells and we also had issues with our router. We had the latest and greatest Linksys, but every time I logged onto the internet with my Mac, I kicked everyone else off. According to Apple and Linksys, they both know there is an issue, but there isn't a fix for it yet. We ended up having to buy an Airport Extreme from the Apple store and haven't had any problems since.

Parallels is a good compromise but isn't perfect - there's also VMWare, a competing product (Parallels and VMWare allow you to run Windows programs on your Mac at full speed - they can even allow you to view the applications on your Mac desktop).

The alternative is Boot Camp, which is far more feature complete but requires partitioning your hard disk, which I'm too lazy to do



Rich::

 

[Carl]

I have found many websites that do not work on Macs. That problem is solved with new Macs with the Intel chip, because you can still run Windows on them. On my PowerPC Mac, I am just out of luck on those sites. What has hurt me is that I belong to several survey sites which have kicked me off because they don't support the Mac anymore. They used to, but not now.

 

[tropical depression]

two MacBooks, a 24" iMac, and one PC in our house. the new Macs come shipped with an 802.11n wireless card, so make sure your router is also. if not, you won't get the higher speeds or the expanded coverage.

here's a good Mac newbie site:

http://www.myfirstmac.com/index.php/

 

[dcentity2000]

I have found many websites that do not work on Macs. That problem is solved with new Macs with the Intel chip, because you can still run Windows on them. On my PowerPC Mac, I am just out of luck on those sites. What has hurt me is that I belong to several survey sites which have kicked me off because they don't support the Mac anymore. They used to, but not now.

Ah, there are solutions

Safari 3 is far more compatible now, but not perfect.

Opera is a paid for browser (paying removes adverts) and is pretty much perfect, if a little ugly.

Firefox is the gold standard. It's highly compatible.

Camino is Firefox but more Mac like and prettier.

Flock is Firefox but with blogging and picture posting tools built in - I love this one!

I will also say that IE for Windows is the WORST hunk of **** to code for - it's buggy, non standard and gets a lot of stuff wrong. Professional grade websites have to be exhaustively tested on IE to assure they work, as what works in every other browser may not work in IE



Rich::

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thanks!! I seem to be ok with Apple and Linksys - I have a dell pc and the girls have apple laptops. When they come home they bring them with and I don't have a problem with the router. Hope that stays that way

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

I have a Macbook, 3 windows pc's and 1 windows laptop. We are all hooked up with the same linksys wireless router and we have no issues at all.

The problem was with this particular router, not a general Linksys problem. I have no idea what my husband did with it, so I don't know which Linksys it was, but it's been less than a year since he purchased it; it was the latest and greatest at the time. I did a google search on the router name and the issue I was having with my Mac, and there were lots of people experiencing the same thing.

If you're not having issues, you probably never will. It was an instant issue for us. It just took us awhile to pinpoint the problem. Needless to say, my husband was thrilled that it was my computer that caused his to have problems.

 

[tropical depression]

Flock is Firefox but with blogging and picture posting tools built in - I love this one!

I first heard about Flock from a TWIT podcast, it is very sweet. yet another reason to switch to Macs, we have the best third party software available.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ah, there are solutions

Safari 3 is far more compatible now, but not perfect.

Opera is a paid for browser (paying removes adverts) and is pretty much perfect, if a little ugly.

Firefox is the gold standard. It's highly compatible.

Camino is Firefox but more Mac like and prettier.

Flock is Firefox but with blogging and picture posting tools built in - I love this one!

I will also say that IE for Windows is the WORST hunk of **** to code for - it's buggy, non standard and gets a lot of stuff wrong. Professional grade websites have to be exhaustively tested on IE to assure they work, as what works in every other browser may not work in IE



Rich::

Unless you're me. For one website, I had to install Windows. IE is the only browser it works on.

 

[dcentity2000]

Unless you're me. For one website, I had to install Windows. IE is the only browser it works on.

There is that too, I must confess. All I can recommend is trying it in Opera - that usually does the trick. I guess you could download the old IE for Mac at a stretch, but I have no idea if that would work. Microsoft long ago abandoned IE for Mac because every Mac user binned it at the first possible opportunity.

If a website purposely blocks you because you're not using IE on Windows, you could always download CamiTools and fool it



Rich::

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I have one - they were very recently updated to have better quality screens and faster processors and mine RULES! I have the 15" 2.4GHz one and love it to bits



Parallels is a good compromise but isn't perfect - there's also VMWare, a competing product (Parallels and VMWare allow you to run Windows programs on your Mac at full speed - they can even allow you to view the applications on your Mac desktop).

The alternative is Boot Camp, which is far more feature complete but requires partitioning your hard disk, which I'm too lazy to do



Rich::

I think Boot Camp is supposed to come installed with Leopard, right? It sounded too intense for me. Parallels was just easier for me. I HATE their phone support though. I think it's ludicrous that you're expected to pay per call.

I have issues with it not recognizing anything I plug into a USB port, like my printer, camera and mouse. I have to click on each individual item and click "ok" when it gives me the message that it doesn't recognize it, and then restart Parallels. For some reason, then it'll recognize them. You can only imagine how long it took me to figure that one out.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

There is that too, I must confess. All I can recommend is trying it in Opera - that usually does the trick. I guess you could download the old IE for Mac at a stretch, but I have no idea if that would work. Microsoft long ago abandoned IE for Mac because every Mac user binned it at the first possible opportunity.

If a website purposely blocks you because you're not using IE on Windows, you could always download CamiTools and fool it



Rich::

I've gotten used to the routine now. I just open IE up and make it as narrow as I can (I use it to check for available work) and open up Safari next to it.

I still need to take some of the classes at the Apple Store. I paid for them, but haven't had the chance to go in for one yet. I'm sure they can help me with my issues if I'd quit procrastinating.

 

[dcentity2000]

I think Boot Camp is supposed to come installed with Leopard, right? It sounded too intense for me. Parallels was just easier for me. I HATE their phone support though. I think it's ludicrous that you're expected to pay per call.

I have issues with it not recognizing anything I plug into a USB port, like my printer, camera and mouse. I have to click on each individual item and click "ok" when it gives me the message that it doesn't recognize it, and then restart Parallels. For some reason, then it'll recognize them. You can only imagine how long it took me to figure that one out.

I use Parallels too and love it, but it's far from perfect.

You can get BootCamp free for the current OS, but even I am scared to install it - too much like hard work!



Rich::

 

[Green Tea]

Love my iMac desk top. Will never have a PC again!

 

[DISUNC]

Mac'ies! Apple Heads (whatever you are called)

Mac are just a sweet mystery to me. I never even seen one in action!...and I have been in the IT field for 29 years!

I have one big question....What do Mac's do that Windows PC can't?

Here is what I do know, Mac's are much nicer looking , more expensive and less software choices .

I honestly have noooooooooo problems with Windows & PC's...never even had a virus!

 

[Green Tea]

I have one big question....What do Mac's do that Windows PC can't?

:

Work!