MAC or PC?

[RadioNate]

You mentioned school and that shouldn't be a concern. Most people find problems when they are using web based applications that require windows explorer or highly specialized professional software that is Windows only. Microsoft Office products like Word, Excel etc are all available in Mac versions.

The software my DH has to use on Windows is a remote desktop application. Funny thing is that is does NOT work on this Vista laptop but does on my the Windows side of my Mac. He despises his Vista laptop and is begging for a MacBook. This is his 3rd laptop in the time since we've had DS's Mac.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Our first Mac, a G3 lasted 9 years, and would still be in use if we hadn't been pining for one of the newer ones. It never died, got slower, but still works. Never a virus, pop-ups almost non-exisitant. I will always pay a bit more for something that has so much better quality.

 

[Barb D]

Our family now has 3 Macs and 1 PC. When the PC dies it will be replaced by another Mac. I'm the one who does the computer maintenance around here, and I've sworn that we'll never buy another PC.

And yes, TurboTax works fine on a Mac.

My son is about to be a computer science major at Maryland. They recommend Macs.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Based on many comparisons I've read...from Popular Mechanics to Consumer Reports to many computing magazines, a MAC cost pretty much the same as COMPARABLY equipped PC...and the MAC WORKS.

You've got to compare apples to apples...

LOL - there is a reason that almost every IT shop in the world uses PCs instead of MACs. Seriously...

 

[Rora]

I'm probably in the minority, but I love my PC and would never get a MAC.

 

[SydneyBristow]

Love Mac. I'm still using my old eMac and it's still going strong, outlasted my ibook.

 

[smschex]

LOL - there is a reason that almost every IT shop in the world uses PCs instead of MACs. Seriously...

I don't think the OP wants to work in an IT shop. She wants a reliable computer to use at home full of easy to use applications that is relatively environmentally friendly. That is a Mac.

And I know more than one "IT guy" who uses a PC at work, but has a Mac at home.

Get the Mac.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I don't think the OP wants to work in an IT shop. She wants a reliable computer to use at home full of easy to use applications that is relatively environmentally friendly. That is a Mac.

And I know more than one "IT guy" who uses a PC at work, but has a Mac at home...

I was speaking purely from a cost/benefit point of view. I have both a MAC and a PC (actually, 3 PCs) at home. The PC is a far better value, but the MAC has other advantages (especially if you are into graphic arts)...

I do not dislike MACs - I just see them as exorbitantly over-priced.

And, to the OP - MAC lovers are PC haters. They are simply not capable of offering an unbiased opinion in this area...

 

[smschex]

I don't hate PCs, just don't want to deal with them when there is an easier, more reliable alternative. I am NOT an IT person.

 

[JohnsPrincess]

I don't think the OP wants to work in an IT shop. She wants a reliable computer to use at home full of easy to use applications that is relatively environmentally friendly. That is a Mac.

And I know more than one "IT guy" who uses a PC at work, but has a Mac at home.

Get the Mac.

Yep - I'm one of those "IT guys" (well...girl!!) who uses a PC at work but has a Mac at home. I'm a reservist in the military and work for General Dynamics...and yes, both use PCs. Why? Because they cost less. Why? Because they put in the lowest bid. Yearly we do life cycle replacements of ALL the PCs. YEARLY.

I have my first Mac. I bought it last summer. I was completely, 100% fed up with PCs. I'm bitter that I even have to use them at work. My husband was against my buying one because of the cost...but once he saw all that I got vs. what a similar PC would cost, he calmed down. I will NEVER - EVER buy a PC again. I let my mom use my Mac and we talk about it...and as soon as her laptop puts her over the edge (she's about there...) she's going to get a Mac.

You can get the Mac version of Office which I imagine is what you need for school. I am getting my Masters and all I do is write papers - that have to be done in Word. I do them on my Mac and upload them just the same as I always did on the PC. No conversions or anything.

You will NOT be dissapointed if you get a Mac. There are a few differences that I had to figure out (like how to open a new page while on the internet...) but it's a world of difference. I Love my Macbook. I Really want to get the desktop but will wait until we're back home from Kuwait.

I'm also not a PC "hater"...but I'm certainly not going to keep buying PCs when the Mac works so much better for me. Mac lovers love Macs for a reason...not because of the name or the brand, but because of what they bring to the table. And a lot of us have used many many many PCs and don't see why we should have to deal with the hassle when there IS something better out there.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I don't hate PCs, just don't want to deal with them when there is an easier, more reliable alternative. I am NOT an IT person.

LOL - but MACs are neither easier, nor more reliable. Only MAC lovers think so, and they represent a tiny percentage of the personal computing world...

 

[yeartolate]

LOL - but MACs are neither easier, nor more reliable. Only MAC lovers think so, and they represent a tiny percentage of the personal computing world...

We have had both.

I think the MACs are clearly more reliable. I have never had a mechanical problem with a MAC, but I can tell you when my son has a technical issue (self induced software or download issue) they help him at the Genius Bar. Off warranty.The things they have taken time with him on wouldn't have been warranty covered anyway.

Maybe it is an illusion...but a good one.

My son has an easier time using his MAC than PC. I have difficulty transitoning - it is not easy for me, but I am not accustomed. I plan on getting accustomed this year.

 

[browneyes106]

I have a desktop and laptop PC's. But I will buying a Macbook sometime before I start law school. I will use it mainly for school.

 

[Bluestars]

I have had PCs in the past and now have a Mac. I think the Mac is more reliable. I did get a virus on it a month ago though, but after running Mac Scan it was eliminated. If it had happened on my PC, I am sure it would not have been that simple because nothing was ever simple on the PC.

I have actually had to reformat my PC hard drive because of a virus. It was not fun. Also, the customer service for the PC and the Mac are not even comparable. For my PC, I would be on the phone forever with someone who I couldn't even understand. If they couldn't help me figure out the problem, we would somehow get disconnected. It was miserable.

The help center at the Mac store is great. You speak with knowledgeable people who aren't asking questions off of a menu.

As far as using the Mac, it took awhile for me to get used to it. I had used PCs for so many years, it was hard learning a new system. I like it now though.

 

[tasha99]

Hmmm. . . . is it Vista that people hate? My current computer has XP on it, and I've never had a problem. I've used all the other Windows OS's up to XP*, as well as Red Hat Linux and Sun Microsystems Unix. And DOS, of course. My parents have a Mac, and I have no problem using it. However, if there were a problem, I would have no idea how to go about fixing it.

Despite my being pro pc, I do love my ipod nano. I think it's much better than any of the other mp3 players I've had, so maybe the mac/pc issue is like that.

*I will admit to thinking ME was a piece of carp.

 

[mickeyboat]

Love my Mac.

To open another window, two-finger click on the Safari icon and a menu will come up to choose new window. The new window will come up and the old one will be right behind it - with the edge showing so you can go back to it if you want.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Hmmm. . . . is it Vista that people hate? My current computer has XP on it, and I've never had a problem. I've used all the other Windows OS's up to XP*, as well as Red Hat Linux and Sun Microsystems Unix. And DOS, of course. My parents have a Mac, and I have no problem using it. However, if there were a problem, I would have no idea how to go about fixing it.

Despite my being pro pc, I do love my ipod nano. I think it's much better than any of the other mp3 players I've had, so maybe the mac/pc issue is like that.

*I will admit to thinking ME was a piece of carp.

See, that's the thing. 2 of my 3 PC are running Linux. It isn't the PCs that they hate, it is Microsoft. XP is very stable, but it is an anomoly for MS...

 

[MarkFL]

I have used a PC for more than 10 years and I've never had a virus.

I also think it's a little pretentious to say that a Mac just works...

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=235
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=158
http://forums.macnn.com/mac-os-x/

If it "just works" I don't understand why people on Mac forums have so much trouble with it.

 

[Tabetha]

We've gradually converted to a full on Mac family. I got one last year, and when my husband's computer was stolen this fall, I encouraged him to get a Mac. I was nervous, because he was frustrated with the differences when he was using my MacBook while we waited for his new MacBookPro to arrive, but those were mostly based on how I had my computer configured (HotCorners & Spaces, etc).

Now, he swears by his MacBookPro. He plays World of Warcraft online, and sees a huge improvement over using his old Dell.

I've got Microsoft Office for Mac, which behaves much like you'd expect from Microsoft software - crashy... I'm not a huge fan, it's the least reliable software on my computer. I've stopped using the Microsoft calendar and email program, and switched over to my iLife, since it's so much more intuitive and user friendly. My husband has the iWork suite, and it's awesome.

Personally, I love the service that's provided. I went to my first free tutorial on how to use iMovie this week, and found it very helpful, and will probably go back for more since I know that this machine can do a lot that I'm not used to/aware of coming from a PC.

My husband has an iPhone, and I have an iPod Touch, and we recently bought MobileMe to keep our lives easier to share and organize! Wireless syncing? Yes please!

We also just bought a 1TB Time Capsule to use to back up our computers, and it also operates as our modem, as well as allows us to do wireless printing. Beautiful!

Our next step will probably be AppleTV, once we get a flatscreen TV next year.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We went Mac about 6 months ago and cant believe we waited so long. What a difference. Love it!