MacBook vs. Other Laptops???

[d96j97]

Can someone give me some of the pros and cons to owning a Mac Book? I have talked to several people that tell me once you own a Mac Book, you'll never want to go back to a PC laptop. What is the biggest differences besides the fact that Mac Books supposedly do not get viruses? Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[mrsxsparrow]

Can someone give me some of the pros and cons to owning a Mac Book? I have talked to several people that tell me once you own a Mac Book, you'll never want to go back to a PC laptop. What is the biggest differences besides the fact that Mac Books supposedly do not get viruses? Thanks so much for your help!!

I've only ever used a Mac, so I can't really tell you about the difference. I can, however, tell you that the customer service is amazing. I'm a college student and my laptop has been through a lot so I have a lot of experience. The last time something went wrong was when my hard drive died (sad story). My computer was four or five years old and definitely past the warranty but they replaced it for free. I also had a cracked case, which happened when I slammed it shut a little too hard (I was in a fight with my roommate at the time), and they replaced that free as well, even though I admitted it was my fault. It also only took three or four days for them to send it in and get it back to me. I very much doubt that would happen with any PC. Being someone who knows almost nothing about computers, these are the things that are super important to me

 

[mickeysmate65]

I'm not a computer expert just an average, every day computer user. We were a PC-user household for many years but began the transition to Mac this year. We now have 3 MacBook Pro laptops in the house - (1) 13in for me and (2) 15in for each child. Keep in mind, DD (21) and DS (19) bought their own.

Even with buying name brand PC's (Dell, HP, Toshiba, Sony) and using virus protection there always seemed to be a problem. Sometimes it was virus-related but other times it was the housing or hardware. From my perspective, the advantage of a windows-based system is the software available.

We love our Macs and have never looked back. Very easy to use and seems to be a solid product. Definitely cost more but if I don't have to replace it as often then I'm not worried about it. I may not have found all of the software out there yet - I still use my barely working Dell to keep my checkbook but need to find something for the Mac.

Go Mac - You'll never regret it!

 

[uk_wildcat]

I would also say that one big advantage to a Mac is that they do not crash or get viruses like Windows machines. Very rarely will my Mac have to be restarted because it gets hung up doing a task. I have never had a virus on any of my Macs and we have owned several over the past 7 years. They also hold their value quite well. We just sold an old Mac Mini (6 years old) and 2 MacBooks (one that was only 2 years old and another that was 4 years old and had some cosmetic issues) on eBay and made over $1000 for the 3. We could never sell a Windows laptop that was that old for anything close to that!

 

[fuzzy164]

I'll put my 2 cents worth in, The pro's to owning a Mac are:
Few viruses are designed for this operating system, they are out there but very limited.
Reliability is very high as PP says they retain their value for a long time.
Easy operating sytem upgrades and few updates( except for ITunes and Safari)
High end graphics as these are used in publishing houses and newspapers.
Do not have to upgrade hardeware for next operating system unless you Mac is very old

Cons:
Very expensive but worth the money
limited games available
Only one office suite available from Apple( but check OpenOffice.org they may have an Apple compatible suite available)
They are used mainly for buisness and graphics so software is very expensive.

There are many pro's and cons to PC based laptops from pricing to viruses bottom line is what do you want to do with the laptop and how much are you willing to spend?

 

[marie1203]

I my mac! I will never go back to PC. My computer is 4 years old and still is as fast as it was day 1. My DH bought a PC ($3000 laptop) a year after mine and you can''t compare. His is slow all the virus protection makes even slower, takes forever to start, his CD player doesn't work anymore, I can keep going on with the list of problems. When he is home he borrows my computer.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

We've always been a Mac family with the exception of buying a Sony Vaio for DH for work/school (he was getting his MA). Although the Sony functioned, we hated it.

I think the menus and functions on Macs are way easier to use. I don't feel like I have to search as much to find what I want. Like others have said, virtually no viruses. Our old Mac desktop got hit with one about 6 yrs ago and we had to wipe it out and start over again. But that is the only one we've ever had in the nearly 15 yrs we've been married and we've used Macs our entire marriage. DH had one when I married him.

All of our gadgets with the exception of Wii and Nintendo DS are Apple products - 2 iTouches, 1 iPod shuffle, 1 iPod mini, 1 iPod, 1 iPad, 2 laptops, 1 desktop computer and a partridge in a pear tree! DH is going to law school next fall and will be purchasing a new laptop for him and DS will inherit his old one.

Yes they are expensive but my sister uses PC's and she has gone through at least 2 laptops since DH and I bought our original laptop in 2003 or 2004. There are programs it won't support because it's older but it still woks well and will be just fine for DS next year. With the money she has spent on 2 PC's she could've bought a Mac and avoided tons of problems.

And the customer service is out of this world. We will never be anything but a Mac family.

 

[tasha99]

Macs: More reliable, fewer viruses, more "user friendly" for the average user, more expensive, software is more expensive, software is more limited

PC's: cheaper, more software available, cheaper software available, choice of operating systems, usually not as well built, more viruses on Windows etc.

I use both regularly, but I prefer PC's.

 

[Swimalie]

Macs to me are much more user friendly. On PCs files get fragmented and put in places where they want them to go. On a Mac, you can easily find your files when needed. They are split up or put in odd places. No blue screen of death. Very few viruses. And reliability. We currently have 5 Macs in this house - 4 desktops and a lap top. All 5 work great, including the one from 1992. Yes, we have one of the old fashioned ones that does the old "ding" when you start it up and it still works. Hard to find a PC from even 10 years ago that still works. But you'll find Macs that still work!

 

[RitaE]

We have both, I personally prefer the Microsoft Operating systems. My husband will probably marry his Mac Pro if I kick the bucket.

One thing I'll note is that when many people make these comparisons they note that the $750 Dell or whatever they bought isn't as good at the $2300 Mac. Well --- no, it isn't. But if you gave me $2300 and asked me to build you a computer, I darn well better put together something top quality or I'm not doing my job very well.

Apple CS is tops. Most of the "PC" companies are the pits well Dell being the worst of the worst. Still, Dell you can't get some really good hardware at cheap prices so you make the choice.

Now I will say I'm a little tempted by that new line of Mac Air because they just look so darn cool. I have a feeling we'll own one eventually.

 

[Bell30012]

Go to an Apple Store and actually hold/examine a MacBook. The first thing you will notice is solid feel of it. No weakness at the hinges like a Dell or HP. There is loose feeling. This thing is solid.

I was an avid PC person for years until I got my daughter a 13" MacBook in 2006 she wasn't even four years old. She is still using the same MacBook over four years later. How many computers can handle being used by a child of that age for that long?

She can boot her MacBook as a Windows 7 machine or as a Snow Leopard Mac just by holding down a key (bootcamp). Ask the Dell salesman if his machine can do that.

After four years her original battery will last around three hours. We've replaced nothing. Still original configuration except upgrading the OS. Durability is important. New MacBooks run $999 and the battery life is now 10 hours!!!

 

[fauna74]

Long time Mac girl here (I started in the 80's with one of those little rectangular macs).

One big pro with a mac that no one has mentioned is that because all the software is from one manufacturer it all runs pretty much the same. Learn how to use one, you can use any of them. It is a really short learning curve to learn how to use ilife. You can be up and running and making your own movies using imovie with just a quick tutorial. It's all very intuitive and easy to use.

I just upgraded to a MacBook Pro, and my kids are inheriting my 3 year old macbook. They are SO excited!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I agree it is not a good comparison unless you are comparing the mac to the high end pc. We have lenove lap tops and they are very well built. 5 years old and running very well. But they were not off the shelf at Best Buy either. More in the $800 range back then. So make your comparison based on features and look at about the same price range before you decide.

DS wants a mac pro really really badly and DH went to check them out yesterday. The one thing he liked was the one mac that is solid state (I don't know which one it is) - no moving parts. That is a new feature and not one we have found on the lenovo. For that reason DS will most likely get his Christmas wish (don't tell).

 

[hpfan100]

I've had a macbook for 2 years now I love it. I use macs at work too so it was an easy transition for me.

pros to mac- customer service (awesome), I got a disk stuck in the computer and they took it out for free at the apple store , good quality (these babies last and are sturdy), no viruses, no slowing speed, looks cool, good built in software and features, free classes at apple store to teach you how to use computer/software, personal appointments at apple store to help you choose a computer

cons to mac- price is higher than cheapo PCs, ???

softwasre thoughts...I don't agree that software is more expensive or less available on a mac than pc

most office type programs are both mac and windows ok, it will say on the back windows 2000 and OS 10 for example...the OS is mac, some games are PC/windows ok but you can download them from the internet if you want
I would never go back to pc, in fact I'm saving up for a desktop mac too

interesting factoid...windows is just a stolen version of mac's OS which was a stolen version of IBM's operating system

 

[d96j97]

Keep the replies coming...I'm learning a lot here! Another big question...how about creating power points, excel spread sheets, and word documents? Do you have to download Microsoft Office or does Apple have its own software for that. I do a LOT of power point presentations.

 

[Green Tea]

I have both, and the Macs are SO much more durable. I bought laptops for my kids and they break all the time. Not just the operating software, but actual buttons fall off. The Macs and Macbooks I have had are all great. Once the case of a white macbook looked cracked. Took it in-they replaced it. Service is so good and so easy. BUT, thankfully they just really never need it. I'm on a Mac that is about 5 years old right now. I have never had a windows machine last. They are easy to operate, do not require the level of vigilance that a PC does in regards to scans, virus protection, spyware.

I have both the Apple presentation software and Microsoft softwear. But pretty much just use Open Office, which is free on a Mac or PC.

 

[PatMcDuck]

10 months ago, I go so P.O.ed at my Windows laptop that I ordered a MacBook in a impulse. I just got the basic model MacBook, no upgrades.

All I can say is, NO MORE PROBLEMS. And that is worth ALOT to me. Peace of mind. I will never go back to Windows. I plan to keep this one a long time. My daughter has one too, hers is older.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

There was an interesting piece on John Gruber's Daring Fireball site recently about the pricing advntage that Apple has on consumer electronics. In it he noted: "The switch to Intel processors has largely made the Mac price competitive with PCs, comparing comparable hardware, but the vast majority of PCs sold are not comparable to Macs in terms of hardware quality and design. It’s fair to argue that a typical PC costs significantly less than a typical Mac."

So if you want a lower end computer, there are more options if you plan to buy a PC.

As to office suite software, Micorsoft's Office '11 suite for Mac was just released to some great (Walter Mossberg) and some not so great (David Pogue) reviews. Apple has its own similar suite of software called iWork. I personally think the iWorks spreadsheet program (Numbers) does more than Excel with small spreadsheets because you can place several spreadsheets on the same page. However, if you are a power user who regularly deals with massive multicolumn and multi-row spreadsheets, Excel works better.

Although you can run Windows and any Windows software on the Mac, this may add to your expense if you don't already have a license for Windows. We were switching from Dell and had no such license. Some software options are still better on Windows, such as Quicken.

Apple has lots of information on its website under the heading "make the ultimate upgrade to Mac." You can also find lots of info by googling switching to Mac. -- Suzanne

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Macbook mommy here! I will NEVER got back to a pc. In fact, if we ever get another Desktop, it will be a Mac. My husband gave me my Macbook for Christmas 3 years ago..it looks, works, etc like the day I got it. My husband has a Dell from work - has had it break at least once a year. I got my dd a laptop 2 years ago for Christmas (Acer) and that has had to be fixed countless times due to viruses, etc -thank goodness my BIL is a computer geek and can fix anything ..I know Macbooks are $$$, but they are worth EVERY penny and more!

 

[AllisonK]

I've used both and am currently using the entry-level white MacBook and have been for almost a year (bought it last year on Black Friday). I'm a college student and had used a PC (Dell) my first 2 and a half years of school and constantly had problems with it (and I go to school 4 hours from home so this was an issue) and after it wouldn't turn on one morning (tech support on campus got it running) I got my MacBook a week and a half later when I was home for Thanksgiving and it's been the BEST investment my parents and I have made in the past year.

I've only had 2 minor problems with it (my trackpad kept getting stuck and after trying to fix it twice they replaced it for free, said it was a hardware issue and no fault of my own) and then the power cord kept shorting out and wouldn't always charge the computer, so I took it in and they replaced it no questions asked (my friend had this same problem with her same MacBook the week after I did and we got our computers a week apart last year). I'll be adding AppleCare's three-year extended warranty onto my computer when I go home for Thanksgiving next week. (I live about 20 minutes from the Apple store and I also go to school about 5 minutes from another one but just don't have time to get there before break!)

I do have the one MacBook in a house of PCs (we have my old one, which still works for basic stuff, my mom's laptop, her netbook from work, my dad's work laptop and our desktop) and my Mac can do everything their PCs can... (we're pretty pro-Apple in our house, though - we have a MacBook, 2 iTouches, iPod video, 2 iPod minis and my dad has an iPhone from work) and I think once my parents are eventually due for new computers they may just go with Macs because I've had a very positive experience with mine.

I also do have Microsoft Office on my Mac (2008) that I got through my college. My only software compatibility problem I've had so far is that I use inDesign and PhotoShop a lot for my classes (I'm a journalism major and I kind of concentrate in design and publishing) and my school offers the downloads of the programs for PCs but not for Macs (they claim that not enough students use Macs to warrant this.... not true!). Other than that I've been very, very happy with my Mac (and it is SO much easier to tote around with me and it feels like nothing in my backpack)