Should I Buy A Mac?

[RalphyBoy]

So my PC is dying a slow, painful death, and the Podcast team (especially Pete) has me just about convinced that I should buy a Mac instead of another PC. My family and I went to the Apple store and were really impressed with the iMac, but I'm still a little hesitant because it seems so different from what I'm used to. Should I go ahead and make the switch? Are there any websites or books that would help me understand the Apple operating system? I'll still be using a PC at work, and I'm wondering if that would be kind of confusing switching back and forth. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

You'll get used to it so fast. I was hesitant about making the switch two years ago, and haven't had a single regret since. The Apple OS is much easier to use, and doesn't crash half as much as any of the PCs I've had the misfortune of using. Part of this is because of the better and more secure software engineering, and also the fact that Apple uses its own hardware. They truly stand behind their products; every time I've had a question or even the slightest concern, the Apple Store employees have been fantastic.

The price is substantially higher than most PCs, but Apple computers last much longer. I used to go through a laptop a year, and my Macbook is still running strong after two years. I will probably get another year or two of use out of it before upgrading to a MB Pro or Air.

Oh, and just to warn you... Once you start buying Apple products, you will only buy Apple products. Everything else will pale in comparison. So far I have an iMac, Macbook, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPod Touch, iPod Classic, and I'm looking at getting an Apple TV in the near future.

Switch. You'll be glad you did.

 

[LMO429]

I think you should get a Mac. My husband has the same mac for 5 years and I have gone thru 3 pcs during the time. So while you would have to pay extra money up front I think it's well worth the investment..My next computer will be a mac.

 

[kevrab]

Wehave two Dell PC's at home and I have an iMac at work. There's no comparison---I love the Mac and I hate Dell with a passion. Nuff said.

 

[robertgp124]

There are some things you can do to "adapt" your mac to behave more like a PC. For example, I enabled right-clicking on my mouse. I also ditched the mac mouse that came with my mac and put a standard pc mouse on it (I really don't like the standard mac mice!).

I think you can sign up for some learning classes at the Apple store to help you transition. The only advice I would have is that you look at the programs you use each day and compare them to the mac versions and make sure you are happy, and that there is a version available for you. We've had a few people at the office make the switch, and their biggest headache was the licensing for a statistical analysis program (SPSS).

I support a mixture of PC's and Macs at the office. I rarely hear from the Mac people.

 

[Golf4food]

There are some things you can do to "adapt" your mac to behave more like a PC. For example, I enabled right-clicking on my mouse. I also ditched the mac mouse that came with my mac and put a standard pc mouse on it (I really don't like the standard mac mice!).

I did the same thing. That is one thing I don't get with Apple - single button mice suck. They are not "smart", they are just annoying.

I think you can sign up for some learning classes at the Apple store to help you transition. The only advice I would have is that you look at the programs you use each day and compare them to the mac versions and make sure you are happy, and that there is a version available for you. We've had a few people at the office make the switch, and their biggest headache was the licensing for a statistical analysis program (SPSS).

Also good advice.


The Mac is very easy to learn. They do classes at the Apple Stores to train you on them. We took an overview class when we first got ours a few years ago. No charge, just sign up and show up.

 

[DEA]

I haven't bought a PC for years now, and our current Mac count at home is 5 (2 MacBook Airs, 1 17" MacBook Pro, 1 iMac, 1 Mac Mini server). Depending on what you do with your computer, the biggest hurdle you are likely to face are the window controls and management. Apple is moving toward multitouch as a means of interacting with the system, so any computer that you get that has a trackpad involved is going to open up a lot of multitouch gestures as a way of interacting with the system. This can be a big contrast with using a mouse. Of course, the Macs still have the mouse option available, but I find a lot of the newer features easier to use with a trackpad.

But, yes, they are nice systems with an Operating System I like a lot, and with some nifty integration with other Apple devices (like the iPods, iPhones, and Apple TVs). So I say go for it!

As for support, you can get one-on-one classes at the Apple Store. You can also check Apple's website here:http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

And an independent site: http://www.switchingtomac.com/

Good luck!

 

[DEA]

I did the same thing. That is one thing I don't get with Apple - single button mice suck. They are not "smart", they are just annoying.

Agreed on this, but Apple ships mice now that have separate clickable right- and left- click surfaces. However, in the OS, the right-click is mapped to the primary (left-click) action. A trip to the Keyboard and Mouse System Preference pane can take care of this, though. It annoys me every time I start to set up a new machine, though.

 

[safetymom]

I love my Apple products but I won't be giving up my PC any time soon. It depends on what you use your computer for but there is much more software written for the PC.

My Windows 7 PC is rock solid. Just like Ford and Chevy, both types are great.

 

[rotlex]

Should you buy a Mac? Yes. Don't even think about it. As others have said, you'll get used to the new OS and way of doing things very, very quickly. The hardware is build extremely well. The OS is rock solid stable, and in the end, there is NOTHING you can do on a Windows machine that you can't do on the Mac.

I've worked in the computer industry from 15 years or so on the Windows Server side of things. I think it says something when myself, and most of my co-workers, own Macs as our personal computers, even though we support the Windows environment for a living.

 

[OKW Lover]

Love my Mac's. Yes, plural. In a household of 2 people, we have three of them. They just work. No issues with ugly internet bugs. No maintenance needed.

If you're going to buy one, take a look in the refurb section of the on-line Apple store. Over the years I've bought probably 10+ refurb items from them and never a problem. They carry the same guarantee as the brand new units and are indistinguishable from new.

 

[RalphyBoy]

Thanks for all the feedback! I think we're going to go ahead and get an iMac. My wife really liked the trackpad, so we'll probably get that instead of the apple mouse. It's good to know I can also hook up a standard mouse if I want. Thanks again.

 

[disneysteve]

"Should I Buy A Mac?"

YES!

You won't be sorry.

 

[DisneylandDeeDee]

I have been a pc user from the get-go. Just switched to a Power Book last May and I love it. I am using ICloud which I find very useful

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I just picked out and received a new laptop for Christmas. I wanted a Mac Book, but they're outrageously expensive. I just can't afford the price of an Apple, but if I had a choice, I'd probably get one. I adore my iPhone and can only imagine how a computer would be to have!

 

[CastawayJP]

I used a friends macbook for a few months and ever since I have wanted to switch... I am finally going to in the next couple months. I am a little nervous about some of the functions (right click for one) but I have seen too many people switch to Mac without problems so I'm all in!

 

[rotlex]

Just some thoughts for those on the fence due to the cost of a Mac.

I always remind people to remember that in the long run, cost is very relative with computers. I understand initial output, but, one thing I always think about is the longevity of the product I buy. I have my current iMac over 4 years and have zero need to replace it for either problem, or performance reasons. (And I do a lot of heavy photography and video work). Same goes for my wife's Macbook, and our daughters Powermac, which is an old one of mine from nearly 8 years ago!

Most Windows machines I have owned in the past I have replaced every 2-3 years due to them not being able to handle the apps I tend to throw at them, or, having other hardware related issues.

You may pay a bit more for a Mac, but in the end, it is well worth the extra money; at least IMHO.

I think a lot of people also, in regards to price, tend to forget that just a few years ago, a Windows laptop, regardless of brand, ran upwards of 2K. I higher end desktop would easily touch 3-4K. Today's "under $500" computers are generally throw away machines, that aren't really worth half of what they sell for.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm a Mac convert.

My first Mac product was my first iPhone.

After that it was a slippery slope.

It started with a MacBook and then the iMac and then the iPad, and then a new iPhone and then Apple TV, and now....a MacBook Air (in a TwelveSouth BookBook case).

Through all of that.....I have not had a single issue with any of the Apple products I own.

I love the "out of box" ease.

One thing I would recommend.....when purchasing an apple computer at the Apple store, you can purchase for $99 a "One on One" plan.

This allows you to make a one hour appointment with one of the Apple folks to sit and ask questions and be "tutored.

You can do this every day (or as often as you wish) for one full year.

I've used this service and found it invaluable.

Please note that the "One on One" service is not available on Apple products purchased from other outlets (ex. Best Buy). Your Apple product much be purchased at an Apple store and you must purchase the "One on One" at the time you purchase the computer.

 

[zulemara]

get the mac, buy vmware(or use bootcamp), with a copy of windows. Then you have the best of both worlds, mac for most uses, but windows when you need it.

 

[darrengs]

Well my wife needs a new computer and does a lot of photography. So I looked at an iMac and no matter how hard I tried, I could not justify the cost. So over the weekend (black Friday sales) for the same price as one 21.5" iMac I bought three 21.5" HP Touchsmart PC's (touch screen), one for my wife, one for my daughter and one for my son.