laptop questions -- mac and pc

[MichelleB]

I am trying to decide on a laptop. I use excel, word, and internet the most. I do have LOTS of pics on an external hard drive so storing those isn't an issue. I do like to mess around with the files and edit them though. I'd like something small and light-weight so it's easy to carry yet does a good job. I am looking into the 11" macbook air, 13" macbook pro, or a similar size windows laptop.

Can anyone tell me if there's anything a pc can do that a mac can't? I've never had a mac but find them very user friendly and easy to use based on several visits to the apple store to "play" with them.

I don't watch many dvds or use cds for the most part and the macbook air doesn't have a drive. How important is that? I know they have an external one you can get if that becomes an issue.

I don't have a problem using USB drives to store my work on so I'm not sure how important it is to upgrade the memory.

I am just not sure that the portability of the macbook air offsets the amount of computer you get in the macbook pro.

Any suggestions?????

 

[bonoriffic]

What can Windows do that a Mac can't? The short answer is nothing that money can't fix. The main advantages Windows has can be "fixed" by running Windows itself on the Mac. Other problems can be solved with external devices and adapters, all at an additional cost.

Things like blu-ray, 3G wireless, and TV tuners don't exist as options on a mac. But you can overcome that with external devices. Not pretty, but will solve that.

Things such as remote access to your computer, automatic cloud backup of your data, and automatic sync of multiple computers are all free on Windows. Apple charges yearly for these services.

As to the Air vs. Macbook Pro, I don't think there is much to argue about. I think the Air is targeted at a very specific market, you get so much more with the Pro.

PC or Mac, it doesn't really matter. Both do the same basic stuff. It is the little things each does that annoy you to prefer one over the other. It is the little things Apple does that drive me crazy, which is why I gave up on Macs years ago and have been quite happy. I'm sure others will tell you the opposite. In fact I'm positive others will tell you the opposite. If there is one thing Macs can do that Windows can't, it is to create little propaganda drones. Based on this board alone, with all the Mac cheerleaders you would think Apple was running everywhere, and not just the 3% of the market they actually have.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would go with a pc. Much cheaper and easier to use the programs you already have. I don't see any benefit to using a Mac for the programs you mentioned.

There will probably be many posts here about how a Mac is better because it doesn't get viruses. Not true, and you can easily protect your PC with a good anti-virus program. I got my first PC (IBM) in 1983 and have never gotten a virus.

 

[timmac]

For what you want to do, you don't need anything super-premium top of the line, so the cost difference between PC and Mac will be rather large in your case.

There's no specific functionality you can do on either one that you can't do on the other, although some specific software packages (iWork and iLife suites come to mind) may only be available on one or the other. Some others, like Adobe Creative Suite or MS Office, are basically feature identical between the two.

As a PP mentioned, you'll likely get a rather vocal group of Mac fanboys telling you all sorts of abstract and generic reasons why you should get a Mac.

Note that you mentioned "upgrading the memory" and "using USB sticks"... if you're talking about RAM, these are two different things. if you're talking about Hard drive space, then indeed USB drives, or your external hard drive, would help make up for the diminutive size of SSD in the MacBook air.

I'll simply say that you should choose whichever one you like using better, at the price point with which you are comfortable. If you want to save money, go Windows. If you can afford the extra and feel the "easy to use" of the Mac is worth it, get the Macbook.

ETA: There's nothing specifically about your use case that would lead me to suggest one over the other.

 

[MichelleB]

Thank you all for your help!!! I need to check into what's available in a pc in the small size.

 

[Swimalie]

I personally wouldn't touch a PC if you want something to last. Macs have a much better reputation for the lack of "blue screen of death" and lasting longer. We currently have 5 Mac Deck tops in our house. The oldest one is from 1985 and it still works. Please show me a PC from that time that would still work. We also have one from 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2008 - all work really well. We just upgrade and keep the old ones.

I have the 13" Macbook and love it! It is from 2009 and has had ZERO issues. My dad is on his 2nd PC lap top since then.

Macs may cost more but you get what you pay for.

 

[timmac]

I personally wouldn't touch a PC if you want something to last. Macs have a much better reputation for the lack of "blue screen of death" and lasting longer. We currently have 5 Mac Deck tops in our house. The oldest one is from 1985 and it still works. Please show me a PC from that time that would still work. We also have one from 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2008 - all work really well. We just upgrade and keep the old ones.

I have the 13" Macbook and love it! It is from 2009 and has had ZERO issues. My dad is on his 2nd PC lap top since then.

Macs may cost more but you get what you pay for.

I don't disagree Apple makes good products, please don't get me wrong, but that doesn't necessarily mean a Windows-based PC can't be a good choice.

Plenty of people (myself included) have PCs that last 5 years or longer. In theory, the hardware still works fine much longer than that, but in reality, doesn't handle the latest and greatest software users might want to use. (Even then, it's still possible, I've got a few examples of 7 year old PC hardware running Windows 7)

Of your Macs you listed, most of them (except the 2008 and 2009 Macbook) cannot run 10.7 Lion, so there's a glass ceiling on the upgrade concept.

I'm glad it's your platform of choice and that you're happy with it, but listing the activities of a hobbyist who keeps older systems to play with, against an ordinary user who likely wouldn't, isn't really a relevant comparison.

 

[LilyWDW]

I personally wouldn't touch a PC if you want something to last. Macs have a much better reputation for the lack of "blue screen of death" and lasting longer. We currently have 5 Mac Deck tops in our house. The oldest one is from 1985 and it still works. Please show me a PC from that time that would still work. We also have one from 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2008 - all work really well. We just upgrade and keep the old ones.

I have the 13" Macbook and love it! It is from 2009 and has had ZERO issues. My dad is on his 2nd PC lap top since then.

Macs may cost more but you get what you pay for.

PCs can last JUST as long as Macs. Saying they don't is a complete and utter misleading comment.

I only use PCs, as does my boyfriend. Between us we have systems ranging from 9 years old to brand new (built it yesterday). None of them have ever had problems. The only reason we don't have anything older at the moment is due to lack of space (we have 5 desktops, 1 laptop, and a netbook set up atm).

Macs are ridiculously expensive. You are paying for the fact they are "Apple" products. You can get a similar PC for about half the price that will last just as long and do just as much, if not more. For what you pay for a Mac, you can get a much more powerful PC with the hardware made by some of the best companies out there.

 

[Squidgyness]

I don't disagree Apple makes good products, please don't get me wrong, but that doesn't necessarily mean a Windows-based PC can't be a good choice.

Plenty of people (myself included) have PCs that last 5 years or longer. In theory, the hardware still works fine much longer than that, but in reality, doesn't handle the latest and greatest software users might want to use. (Even then, it's still possible, I've got a few examples of 7 year old PC hardware running Windows 7)

Of your Macs you listed, most of them (except the 2008 and 2009 Macbook) cannot run 10.7 Lion, so there's a glass ceiling on the upgrade concept.

I'm glad it's your platform of choice and that you're happy with it, but listing the activities of a hobbyist who keeps older systems to play with, against an ordinary user who likely wouldn't, isn't really a relevant comparison.

Precisely! I have never had to sell a PC because it wouldnt work, ever. We sell our PC's on to good homes, often for around $100-150, and they have our number to call if it goes wrong. We never got that call - all PC's we sold worked fine, and to my knowledge continue to do so.

Apple make some good products, particularly in the Tablet and iPod ranges, but for PC's and Laptops they are overpriced and dont do anything that a PC cannot.

Not to mention, I am familiar with the latest technologies, so I couldnt put up with the fact that I paid well over the odds for sub-par hardware, which I would have if I got a Mac. My current PC has 3x the Memory and much better graphics and processing speed, for around 1/2 the price of a worse specification Mac.

 

[bonoriffic]

Macs may cost more but you get what you pay for.

Laptops in general have a short lifespan. 1 in 3 will fail by 3 years. As far as actual quality, the data shows Apple is middle of the pack. What the data also shows, the more expensive the laptop the less likely it is to break. So you do get what you pay for, to a certain degree.

Here is the problem though. Dell makes low end and high end laptops. Their failure rate is all lumped together as a company, not by product. Apple only makes high end products, so their middle of the pack showing is actually worse than it appears as they don't have to contend with the high failure rate of low end products.

So despite what Apple fanatics will tell you, actual market data shows Apple products are more expensive and definitely not better made.

 

[timmac]

Apple make some good products, particularly in the Tablet and iPod ranges, but for PC's and Laptops they are overpriced and dont do anything that a PC cannot.

As a technical nit, I'd say the one thing they can do is run MacOS. Which is why I say if someone really likes the look/feel/usability of it, and is ok with the price, then go for it.

Though Windows PC is my machine of choice, I certainly won't bash anyone who likes Mac, either. I will, however, occasionally call out when advice is offered that is (as I said in my very first post on this thread) abstract, generic, and just generally not specific to the user or the use case in question.

Going back to the OPs post, there's not much that screams a good case for one or the other... so generic arguments are just noise.

 

[timmac]

So despite what Apple fanatics will tell you, actual market data shows Apple products are more expensive and definitely not better made.

For some of the hardware, I'll definitely say there's a difference (the trackpad comes to mind, which is nicer, and justifiably more expensive) Many other things though are similar or identical components (HD, RAM, CPU, etc) to what's in a Windows PC. And, those components fail just as easily regardless of what logo is on the case.

 

[cats mom]

We've always been a PC family but my college age kid (did I just admit to being old enough to have one of those? ) is making noise about the new MacBook Air.

I stopped by the local Apple store and played with a few MacBooks the other day. Boy is that little 11 inch Air lightweight! Seems like it would be ideal if you need portability, although I wasn't thrilled with the 5 hr battery life.

Anyone know of a similarly equipped PC in that size/weight range?

 

[jwfla422]

MAC...would never go back to PC again.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I far prefer the Mac to the Windows computers. I can't think of anything you can do with Win that you can't do with Mac. If you need the MS Office stuff, they make that for Mac too.

It's hard to explain really, but I fell in love with Mac, and using one is just a lot more fun and makes me happy. I got an old one (old G4 iBook), and I liked it so much better than my Windows laptop I started using the old Mac ended and up giving the Windows laptop to my DH. I went ahead and got myself a new MacBook a couple years ago, and absolutely love it.

 

[kkacar]

I think its up to you, what you want to spend and what you are comfortable using. We are an Apple family. 4 iphones, 2 ipods, 1 ipod touch, 1 macbookpro, 1 ipad, and an older refurbished mac book. However yes I have had a PC and it worked ok for what we used it for and I have to use a PC at the office. So I go back and forth every single day to the point that my work phone is a driod. So since I deal with both I have to say I like my mac and my iphone better than I like my work PC and droid. But that is just me, it may not be best for you.

kelli

 

[Swimalie]

Plenty of people (myself included) have PCs that last 5 years or longer. In theory, the hardware still works fine much longer than that, but in reality, doesn't handle the latest and greatest software users might want to use. (Even then, it's still possible, I've got a few examples of 7 year old PC hardware running Windows 7)

Of your Macs you listed, most of them (except the 2008 and 2009 Macbook) cannot run 10.7 Lion, so there's a glass ceiling on the upgrade concept.

I'm glad it's your platform of choice and that you're happy with it, but listing the activities of a hobbyist who keeps older systems to play with, against an ordinary user who likely wouldn't, isn't really a relevant comparison.

Five years? Hm... we have one from 1985, that would be well over 5 years. In that time, my parents have gone through 5 PCs and 2 lap tops. And the last 4 Macs we have can be networked together so we can run newer programs on the older ones as well. Networking with an Apple is very easy to set up and doesn't take a lot of special knowledge. My husband learned all he knows about his Mac from the web and occasionally a magazine.

We are by far not hobbyist. My husband just won't give up his Macs. I use them because they are far simpler to use, manage and they last longer. Again, they are well worth the extra price. Plus, something not mentioned here, if you have an issue, you walk in to the nearest Apple store and they have people right there to help who work on nothing but Apple products - Genius Bar. No Windows machine has that unless you have a private person or go to a place that fixes all electronics (ie Best Buy).

 

[Bell30012]

My DD8 has been using a Mac since she was two. Her current MacBook is 4 years old and works just as well now as it did when I bought it for her. Yes, a Mac can run Windows 7 just as easily as OS-X. It can actually have both and be the best of both worlds. (Wait isn't that a Hannah... never mind.) On another note, the iMac that she had when she was two is still in her room and still works fine.

Look at the physical construction of a Mac versus a Dell, HP or other PC. Clamshell with no weak hinges.

 

[MichelleB]

Can you take a mac into the apple store if you have problems even if it wasn't bought there?

 

[Bell30012]

Yes... Yes you can. If you purchase a Mac or any Apple products the Apple Store will work on them. You can actually check the serial number to see if there is a warranty or Apple Care on the item. We bought an iPod once that had an earphone plug issue... The Apple Store swapped it out for free with no issues.