Mac vs. PC Laptops

[NotUrsula]

I work in an environment where some of us use PC's and others use Mac's; I administer several public-use machines so I have to manage both. Mostly it is all in what you are used to and comfortable with; people tend to love or hate Macs. I'm more a PC person myself.

The issue that I have with Macs that I just cannot get past hating is the file organization structure. I dislike a cluttered desktop and really prefer a file-folder-like organization plan. I also have real issues with the screen brightness in bright sunlight; I find it very difficult to balance the brightness and contrast to be able to see images properly when the sun is coming in full blast. (Mac screens are graphics-optimized to use a much broader color spectrum than PC's, but that can be a mixed blessing sometimes.)

DH uses Mac laptops at work and they all have issues with the keycaps constantly breaking off on laptops. I know this must be common, because every Mac store I've ever been in has a supply of spare laptop keycaps in every color, even if the store doesn't have a service counter. (I have not had any keycap loss issues on my Mac desktops.) They will give you the keycaps for free, but he finds it a real PITA to deal with so often.

 

[crcormier]

I work in an environment where some of us use PC's and others use Mac's; I administer several public-use machines so I have to manage both. Mostly it is all in what you are used to and comfortable with; people tend to love or hate Macs. I'm more a PC person myself.

The issue that I have with Macs that I just cannot get past hating is the file organization structure. I dislike a cluttered desktop and really prefer a file-folder-like organization plan. I also have real issues with the screen brightness in bright sunlight; I find it very difficult to balance the brightness and contrast to be able to see images properly when the sun is coming in full blast. (Mac screens are graphics-optimized to use a much broader color spectrum than PC's, but that can be a mixed blessing sometimes.)

DH uses Mac laptops at work and they all have issues with the keycaps constantly breaking off on laptops. I know this must be common, because every Mac store I've ever been in has a supply of spare laptop keycaps in every color, even if the store doesn't have a service counter. (I have not had any keycap loss issues on my Mac desktops.) They will give you the keycaps for free, but he finds it a real PITA to deal with so often.

That's weird about the keycaps issue. I've never had that problem.

As far as the file organization thingie, there are settings you can change so it's more Windows like, if that's what you're used to.

The new laptops (and desktops) are great because they use the built-in camera to determine the brightness of the room and adjust the screen brightness accordingly.

 

[GoofyJeff]

The issue that I have with Macs that I just cannot get past hating is the file organization structure. I dislike a cluttered desktop and really prefer a file-folder-like organization plan.

Huh? The Mac uses a files and folders structure, and has since 1984.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Apple does have arrangements with certain businesses for discounts. I worked at an Apple Store for about a year, and we often would discount items for people with the proper ID.

As for the website that has issues with Safari and Firefox, how often do you need it? That might be a good reason to use Parallels and Windows IE.

A LOT. I just got off of the site and was on it for about four hours. Of course, that time would have been shortened greatly, had I not been on here too!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Another thought. All the machines at the Apple Store are connected to the internet so you could try the sites you need there.

I do have a friend who is a realtor and he uses a Mac exclusively. I'm sure he'd answer any questions you have.

Great minds think alike! I'm going back up there tomorrow, or tonight if I can convince my husband, and I'm going to log on with a sales person there, so that they can see my issue.

So far, I don't think my MLS will be an issue. The only issues I've been hearing about lately are with Vista, and if I get a Mac, that won't be an issue for me!

 

[crcormier]

So far, I don't think my MLS will be an issue. The only issues I've been hearing about lately are with Vista, and if I get a Mac, that won't be an issue for me!

But if you're a glutton for punishment, you could always load it up with Boot Camp.

 

[RadioNate]

Huh? The Mac uses a files and folders structure, and has since 1984.

I was very confused by this too. Mac used a miles and folders structure. I only have 2 icons on my desktop - the HD and my external drive.

Are you talking about the Dock? the icons across the bottom of the desktop that has the stuff that would be hidden under a windows 'start' menu? You can configure that to show up all the time or be hidden until you mouse over it.

I will tell you the #1 Mac feature I LOVE...expose. I love my hot corners, I get very frustrated have to change windows on a PC.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Great thread to read!

After my exp with Dell (Inspirion POS 5100) and MY endless conversations with "John" and "Jennifer" in India (I've logged at least 40 hours on them already), I'm done and ready to move from PCs.

Every Mac owner I know LUVS their machine and never has a problem. The tech guy at my work says they are excellent machines and he never has to work on them. That's enough for me!

Wish I had listened to everyone before buying this POS... I hate it, I really do. Can't wait to save $ and buy myself a Mac!!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I will tell you the #1 Mac feature I LOVE...expose. I love my hot corners, I get very frustrated have to change windows on a PC.

What's a hot corner?

 

[RitaZ.]

For those of you that have spent time talking to "John" in India; go to Youtube.com and do a search for Foamy Tech Support.

 

[crcormier]

What's a hot corner?

You can turn on 'hot corners', which means if you move your mouse all the way into the designated corner of the screen, it will do an action such as turn on the screen saver, or use Expose, which brings up a miniature preview version of every window you have open (or every window of a certain application,) so you can click and switch.

 

[Tinijocaro]

The issue that I have with Macs that I just cannot get past hating is the file organization structure. I dislike a cluttered desktop and really prefer a file-folder-like organization plan.

The reason your desktop is cluttered is that you haven't set your preferences properly. Every time you save a file, macs ask you where you want it to go, then they show you the hierarchy of drives and folders. It's very simple. You must be just selecting "desktop" when asked. I always put a file in the proper folder- no cluttered desktop.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

You can turn on 'hot corners', which means if you move your mouse all the way into the designated corner of the screen, it will do an action such as turn on the screen saver, or use Expose, which brings up a miniature preview version of every window you have open (or every window of a certain application,) so you can click and switch.

That's so cool! I didn't realize just how much you can customize what you want this thing to do. Thanks!

 

[Carl]

The survey sites that I was referring to require IE to work, and as has been pointed out IE will not work with OS 10. The reason that was given to me for only allowing IE was that the newest version has a feature that prevents you from copying images from the browser window. The survey sites were worried about people using the images in the surveys. Some other sites I have visited say that they only work with PC machines and not Macs. Possibly those sites could be accessed with a new Mac running Windows and Bootcamp. I have a PowerPC Mac which will not run Windows unless you use some sort of emulator.
As long as you are sure the sites you have to use can be accessed with a Mac, you should be happy with it. I was upset that after updating to the G4 Powerbook, there were still sites that refused to allow me to access them. You will also find that almost any site that requires you to use software that they allow you to download will also only work on PCs. They very rarely have a Mac version of the software. For example, several of the music stores will not allow you to use them if you have a Mac. (Of course Itunes and the Apple Store DO work.)

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Great thread to read!

After my exp with Dell (Inspirion POS 5100) and MY endless conversations with "John" and "Jennifer" in India (I've logged at least 40 hours on them already), I'm done and ready to move from PCs.

I was going to say that I always end up with a bunch of "Johns", but somehow that just didn't sound right...

Every Mac owner I know LUVS their machine and never has a problem. The tech guy at my work says they are excellent machines and he never has to work on them. That's enough for me!

Wish I had listened to everyone before buying this POS... I hate it, I really do. Can't wait to save $ and buy myself a Mac!!

When I started this thread, I was half hoping someone would just answer me, and look at the hits it's gotten! And the responses have been incredibly helpful (even the negative ones!)!

Obviously a lot of people are interested in them! That says a lot. While I know several people have mentioned issues (and Carl's is the most concerning to me), there really haven't been that many. Maybe just a handful of negative responses.

What's scary, is most people have talked about switching over from Dell!

 

[mandy200587]

I was going to say that I always end up with a bunch of "Johns", but somehow that just didn't sound right...



When I started this thread, I was half hoping someone would just answer me, and look at the hits it's gotten! And the responses have been incredibly helpful (even the negative ones!)!

Obviously a lot of people are interested in them! That says a lot. While I know several people have mentioned issues (and Carl's is the most concerning to me), there really haven't been that many. Maybe just a handful of negative responses.

What's scary, is most people have talked about switching over from Dell!

My first computer was a dell desktop, dell crashed my computer when we were trying to fix something. Now I have a hp laptop with crappy customer service, problems on a computer not even a year old. I would love to get a MAC, that is my dream computer. I was advised aganist getting a dell laptop actually by an IT guy at my mom's work. The only time I use dells are at school at or at home when I have to print something off.

 

[GoofyJeff]

Obviously a lot of people are interested in them! That says a lot. While I know several people have mentioned issues (and Carl's is the most concerning to me), there really haven't been that many. Maybe just a handful of negative responses.

IMHO, don't be concerned. If there are sites that only work with IE, then run Windows on your new Mac when you need to. It'll work just fine.

You also mentioned Blackberry. You can sync it with pocketmac. From what I hear, it works quite well.

See? No worries!

 

[Demosthenes]

I go to a few websites (gotomeeting type sites) that don't work with Safari. Also, AgentNet has only recently started to work with Safari, so that is one of the reasons I felt like I had to have Parallels to allow me to run IE. When you do run Windows, there is no discernible drop in performance on the system. I would not be afraid of that at all. With the ability to now run Windows (always in the background if you want to) there is no reason to be afraid to purchase a Mac.

 

[Demosthenes]

New Blackberry's sync fine with OSX, but some of them will require you to get a third party app. I use Missing Sync (about $20) to sync my wife's Pocket PC and my Smartphone (Actually a Motorola Q, but very similar to a Blackberry). There are a few other 3rd party apps that get good reviews as well.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Now I need to decide if I want the matte screen, or the glossy screen. Any ideas, or advice?

I really, really appreciate all the advice I've gotten on here so far! You guys rock!

For $99, I can get one-on-one classes with an instructor at the Apple Store. I'm going to take advantage of that, at least at first. I'm pretty computer savvy and think I'll pick up the new system pretty easily, but I want to know all the little things too.

I spent a little too much time having fun last night (I saw a great comedian though!) and not enough time sleeping... and well, I feel like I was hit by a truck.

So... I think today will be better spent doing a little more research and taking a lot more Advil and tomorrow I'll go to the mall and pick up the laptop.