MAC users....compare Mac's to PC's!

[iggbees]

Go to the message boards macrumors.com...EVERY question you have will be answered by going though these boards. They are excellent.

that's hilarious, my boyfriend LOVES that site. he spends hours a day on there. kind of like me and the dis.

incase also has some sweet neoprene cases and backpacks for your ibook/powerbook/powermac.

i agree with that. i have an incase neoprene sleeve and it's wonderful. also i'm really anal with my computer, because i basically beat up my first ibook, that i got this soft insert to put between my keyboard and screen when it is closed. it's wonderful. they also have the case like that too. radtech.com.

 

[my3kids]

I got my new Powerbook in October. As soon as I turned it on, it asked me a few questions, asked me to name it and when I was done, it "told" me it had detected our wireless network and asked if I wanted to join it. Within 5 minutes of first turning on the computer, I was surfing the DIS.

That's what I want!!! I wrestled to get a network up and running for weeks. For the computer to do it for me would be heavenly!!

I saw the place to enter the correct university for the educator's discount on the Apple website. Seems easy enough. I am looking at a couple of different models trying to see what would be best.

 

[Edna E. Mode]

I forgot to mention my three calls to support the first two days I had my Gateway. No, it's not because I am a Mac user and don't know what I am doing. The second time I turned the darn thing on I had no icons, no desktop, nothing. I have to give props to the support people at Gateway they were very helpful and very fast. I have NEVER had to call Apple support (in 14 years)

 

[mainewmn]

That's what I want!!! I wrestled to get a network up and running for weeks. For the computer to do it for me would be heavenly!!

I saw the place to enter the correct university for the educator's discount on the Apple website. Seems easy enough. I am looking at a couple of different models trying to see what would be best.

No computer will set up a network for you, you have to do that, what a computer can do is detect a network and connect you to it if its open.

 

[my3kids]

No computer will set up a network for you, you have to do that, what a computer can do is detect a network and connect you to it if its open.

That was my problem! I had a network that my computers wouldn't detect.

 

[KilleriMac17]

That was my problem! I had a network that my computers wouldn't detect.

yeah, but even on a mac thats no big deal, if its wireless, just give it the name, type of encryption and pw and you are all set. macs are all around easier to setup(some IT people will tell you they are harder to intergrate on pc network, that is bunk. I am IT, macs are WAY easier, less issues. just remember, most IT depts are run by people who like their job security, thus gotta keep with microsloth.

 

[my3kids]

I'm a little confused by all this. It looks like the newest models are Intel processors, not made by Apple? I thought Intel was for PC/Windows? Isn't this a radical change?? Would it better to look at the lesser models that don't have Intel Inside? I'm just not understanding the differences yet.

 

[iggbees]

I'm a little confused by all this. It looks like the newest models are Intel processors, not made by Apple? I thought Intel was for PC/Windows? Isn't this a radical change?? Would it better to look at the lesser models that don't have Intel Inside? I'm just not understanding the differences yet.

they are intel processors, but that doesn't mean that they are anything like pcs. basically apple decided to go with intel because they would provide the speed that apple was looking for in their processors. my boyfriend bought the mac mini with the single core intel chip and it runs sooo fast it's wonderful. for a first mac, i'd go with either an ibook or a powerbook. the macbook is way too expensive for my tastes right now (plus i've got an isight already).

 

[runwad]

My gateway with the ME operating system just crashed today for the last time. It's time for a new computer and a friend was recommending a Mac. I have no clue about them. Can I just get a CPU and keep all my other hardware I have for my gateway for a Mac..ie printer, keyboard? Where can I go to find out more info on them. Basically we just use our computer for the internet so we don't really need anything fancy, what do you suggest?? TIA

 

[my3kids]

I know someone on here mentioned it comes with a lot of programs and a buyer doesn't have to invest a lot in additional stuff. Does it come with an anti virus program and firewall in the system, so are those extras I would have to buy and install?

runwad: You can look at the models on the apple.com website and someone mentioned a forum on an earler page with a lot of information resources.

 

[iggbees]

My gateway with the ME operating system just crashed today for the last time. It's time for a new computer and a friend was recommending a Mac. I have no clue about them. Can I just get a CPU and keep all my other hardware I have for my gateway for a Mac..ie printer, keyboard? Where can I go to find out more info on them. Basically we just use our computer for the internet so we don't really need anything fancy, what do you suggest?? TIA

you can get a mac mini, they are 599$ and very powerful machines. as long as your keyboard is a usb you can keep that and the mouse and the monitor as well. basically all you need to buy is the computer.

 

[iggbees]

I know someone on here mentioned it comes with a lot of programs and a buyer doesn't have to invest a lot in additional stuff. Does it come with an anti virus program and firewall in the system, so are those extras I would have to buy and install?

runwad: You can look at the models on the apple.com website and someone mentioned a forum on an earler page with a lot of information resources.

you will not need an anti virus (i've used a mac my whole life and never had a virus on any of my machines) and it comes with a firewall.

did you look at the programs that the computer comes with? if you want any of the office suite you will have to purchase that. it comes with a demo on the computer only. you can get the suite through the college section and it will be much cheaper.

 

[jazstar87]

I am iggbees sister, i love, love , love Macs. I had a strawberry imac, then i got a powerbook. I grew up on macs and such. Every thing is easy to understand and use. At my school in the library, they have pc's and i can't stand the things. They say about three times a month over the loud speaker that the system is down, and i sit and laugh and said they should have bought a mac. Sometimes i bring in my computer for power points or just to type during study hall and everyone ask me about it. The most surprising thing to them, that i tell them that there is no viruses. They are like this, .
I love how i never have to reboot the computer, no viruses, i can leave it on sleep all day and nothing happens to it. It quite fast( though it not fast with virtual magic kingdom, though) and when ever we go to my grandma's, my aunt, or panera bread, i can just open my computer and start using the internet with the wireless.

 

[KilleriMac17]

I'm a little confused by all this. It looks like the newest models are Intel processors, not made by Apple? I thought Intel was for PC/Windows? Isn't this a radical change?? Would it better to look at the lesser models that don't have Intel Inside? I'm just not understanding the differences yet.

basically up until recently macs used PowerPC processors made by motorola(now freescale) and IBM. Neither companies were really doing anything to improve those chips for regular computer usage(mainly they were designing them for embedded devices or servers). Thus apple had to go with someone else. BUT, OSX has always been a portable OS so it has been running all along on intel chips as well(OSX is based on next step wich started on motorola 680x0 chips and was ported to intel long ago). most new software coming out now runs on both cpus' older sofwtare that doesnt' runs via a translator at what is being reported at about 80% speed(which isnt that bad actually considering).

 

[KilleriMac17]

I know someone on here mentioned it comes with a lot of programs and a buyer doesn't have to invest a lot in additional stuff. Does it come with an anti virus program and firewall in the system, so are those extras I would have to buy and install?

runwad: You can look at the models on the apple.com website and someone mentioned a forum on an earler page with a lot of information resources.

Mac osx comes with firewall built in, and by default all ports are closed as well. also there arent really any malware issues on macs/osx, there is antivirus you can buy, and also free ones, but it doesnt come with them. mainly you would just use that to avoid being a 'typhoid mary' it will scan for fles with windows virus as well, so while they wouldnt hurt you, if someone sent you a file, it would be detected so you wouldnt send it to a windows user on your own.

 

[my3kids]

So if I was to check my email and there was a virus embedded in something(Norton occasionally says X message is infected with X virus and Norton takes care of it) On a Mac if I opened the message it wouldn't hurt the computer since it was designed to run on a PC? But anti virus would keep my email from sending it back out to others in my address book?

The mac rumors site says not to buy the, I think, imac, the lower priced of the 3 lap top models, since it is due to be updated. I can't remember the names but there seem to be 3 tiers....about $1000, about $1300 and about $1999. Any opinions from the experts on which is the best value for the price?

 

[SueM in MN]

So if I was to check my email and there was a virus embedded in something(Norton occasionally says X message is infected with X virus and Norton takes care of it) On a Mac if I opened the message it wouldn't hurt the computer since it was designed to run on a PC? But anti virus would keep my email from sending it back out to others in my address book?

The mac rumors site says not to buy the, I think, imac, the lower priced of the 3 lap top models, since it is due to be updated. I can't remember the names but there seem to be 3 tiers....about $1000, about $1300 and about $1999. Any opinions from the experts on which is the best value for the price?

ibook is the lowest price laptop. imac is a desktop machine.
We have 2 older imacs, and my older DD and I have Powerbooks. I have a smaller 12 inch screen Powerbook. She is an artist and has the next size bigger (I think 15 inch). The $1000 is for ibooks, the $1300 is the starting price for Powerbooks and the highest price is for the new Powerbooks with intel.

If you are not an artist or a "heavy" user, you can probably be very happy with an ibook. The Apple website has some refurbished ones at times for sale that are good deals.
One thing with Macs is that you don't necessarily need the newest or biggest to run what you want to run. The OS doesn't take up as much space as the Windows OS does and the ibook runs programs well for most users without spending too much money.

 

[HaleyB]

That's what I want!!! I wrestled to get a network up and running for weeks. For the computer to do it for me would be heavenly!!

I saw the place to enter the correct university for the educator's discount on the Apple website. Seems easy enough. I am looking at a couple of different models trying to see what would be best.

That is what Apple means when it says plug and play. It is really that easy. And same goes for updates, it will tell you there is one avaliable and ask you if you want to install it. Then it does it for you and prompts you to restart.

Another thing I like about the Mac is that the menus make sense. I don't go to the start menu to shut down. That one killed me the last time I was stuck on a PC. Actually pretty much the only time I ever restart my computer is when I need to install an update. Otherwise I just put it to sleep. It can run for weeks on end. My sister was freaked out by this, because she used a PC and thought it was crazy to not restart every day. It is a very stable platform.

My advice on which one to buy is to not overbuy. Buy the one you need. It is tempting to keep going up the ladder.

 

[HaleyB]

The intel chip is not going to effect you one way or another. Don't worry about it. If you had a Mac already and were upgrading, you would need new screen savers and possibly some saoftware might need an update, but nothing a use to surff and write papers and manage digital media type (home user) would need to worry about.

The ilife stuff is increadable, you are going to love it.

 

[HaleyB]

The mac rumors site says not to buy the, I think, imac, the lower priced of the 3 lap top models, since it is due to be updated. I can't remember the names but there seem to be 3 tiers....about $1000, about $1300 and about $1999. Any opinions from the experts on which is the best value for the price?

Mac Rumors is wrong about as often as it is right about these things. Truth be told there is ALWAYS a new, better, faster computer in the works. So waiting to buy because the next one will be better, cheaper, faster, whatever would be an endless cycle.