Thinking about making the leap to Mac...

[mandy200587]

Do it I love my MAC. As soon as I get the money I'm getting photoshop and my MAC will be complete. I got my first MAC in May and I haven't looked back since, I actually don't like using the PC's at my house because they are much more a pain now to use.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

If you are worried about money don't get a mac.

Why not? They cost about the same. Plus I think you get more for your money with a Mac.

 

[MaryJ]

I just got a MacBook Pro. It is great. I did however get Office 2004 for Mac. Not so much because I don't like the Apple programs but because my Windows using friends need to be able to read the attachments I send them!

I had an iBook G4 in the past, and some things have changed with the new OS system that take a little getting used to, but like the other poster said "I'll never go back!"

 

[SueM in MN]

For the question about getting a refurbished Mac, my DH got a refurbished Macbook at the Apple store and saved about $300.

I have a PowerBook G4 that is 28 months old (it will even tell you how old it is!). It's still running strong and is a lot faster than the HP Windows laptop I have for work, which is a little newer. I have Office on my Mac, mostly because I sometimes do things on it at home and need to be able to read the documents back and forth on my Windows work PC (plus send them to other people on my network at work).
Ironically, when I make a new document at work on my PC in Word or Powerpoint, I have always been able to read it on my Mac without problem. When I've sent that same document to other people at work, they usually have problems unless they have exactly the same version of Office as I have on my PC.

 

[I'm a Divaaaaa]

Yes, yes, yes. I just got my MacBook and I do everything you want to on it and it is my best friend of all time. Best investment ever.

 

[nuke]

Our Imac is about a month old. I love it! We bought IWorks and every file we had from excel and word transferred right over without a problem.

 

[enyaj40]

::: sigh :::

a year ago when ds1 was living with us, he bought an iBook with his income tax and we shared it

he moved and took it

i had to buy a pc because mac was out of my price range

when i'm done paying for disney, a mac is next

they load SO FAST

and you don't need virus software

and they load SO FAST...did i mention that?

love, love, love them

even the guy who came to hook up our wireless internet when ds1 bought the mac said he'd rather have a mac even though he had a pc

 

[Linxzy]

DH is trying to get me to cross on over to the "Mac" side. He has an iMac which he absolutely loves. I'm very interested but I'm addicted to the Sims 2 Games and I just don't like the way it looks or plays on the Mac. We are looking at possibly getting a Mac book that we both can share.

I play Sims 2 in my Macbook and is great. Even better than when I played in a PC. I don't see any difference. Same game.


May * Happy owner of a Mac since July 2007

 

[scarlett873]

I love my Macbook!! I also just have the basic Macbook...nothing fancy. I do have Office...I'm still Mac-challenged, but i'm getting better. One of these days I'll get over to the Apple store to take some of the one on one classes that they offer on how to use your Mac...lol! I do use a regular PC at work, but when I have the chance, I'll use my Macbook every opportunity I get!

I love my Mac!!

 

[kaseyC]

I play Sims 2 in my Macbook and is great. Even better than when I played in a PC. I don't see any difference. Same game.


May * Happy owner of a Mac since July 2007

Do you play Sims 2 with all of the expansion packs and custom content? When DH purchased a copy of the Sims 2 base game (Mac version) and loaded it on his iMac, there was a big difference in the graphics. The Sims hands looked like mitts and IMO, the game just looks more rich graphically and runs better on my PC (custom built for gaming).

 

[Linxzy]

Do you play Sims 2 with all of the expansion packs and custom content? When DH purchased a copy of the Sims 2 base game (Mac version) and loaded it on his iMac, there was a big difference in the graphics. The Sims hands looked like mitts and IMO, the game just looks more rich graphically and runs better on my PC (custom built for gaming).

I have some, not all expansion packs and have custom content (lots). It looks great for me. It also depends on the capacity your PC has. If you only play games on it, and have customized it for playing (especially for the Sims) the difference will be obvious, IMO.

In my mac, my simmies have fingers no mitts. But hey, if your PC is custom built for gaming, I would stay with it. I didn't change to a mac just because of the games. Mac users have to wait sometimes a little more time for games to get out (being a Sims player that is not good).

 

[Diznygrl]

I have an iBook G4 and a PC desktop. I still use both equally because the G4 is not as powerful as newer Mac laptops or Mac desktops, so I still need my PC for a lot of things. But once the PC goes kaput, let me tell you I'm going to go Mac all the way and never look back. Apple rules!

 

[angelmav]

Well I only started reading this thread thinking it was about 'MacDonalds' But now I am thinking I need to take a look at what apple has since I am in the market as well, Thanks guys! Now, time for that qtr pounder!

 

[PatsGirl]

I've also been considering a Mac for my first laptop. Of course, the kids have them but they are Pcs and I so like the new very thin one I saw on Tv recently.

Question to an PP: Why won't I need virus protection. I spend more than $100/year now between Norton and having someone come clean up the messes I make...

 

[crcormier]

I've also been considering a Mac for my first laptop. Of course, the kids have them but they are Pcs and I so like the new very thin one I saw on Tv recently.

Question to an PP: Why won't I need virus protection. I spend more than $100/year now between Norton and having someone come clean up the messes I make...

Since the predominant operating system on the market is variations of Windows, most virus writers create their viruses to attack those systems, because they can do more damage. Web viruses mostly tend to target Internet Explorer as well, since that's one of the most widely used browsers. Since the Mac has a different operating system, and uses a different browser, it can't be hit with the viruses written for a PC/Internet Explorer.

That's not to say a Mac is invulnerable. It does have good security, but it's just not as good a target if you're looking to cause widespread problems.

 

[schmitty]

It's looking like a minimal difference for me too once I price it all out. I was more concerned about spending the money and being happy with the switch. I have the same budget for either, I just can't buy the upper end of the MacBook in that budget.

schmitty - Is there a specific reason besides the initial purchase?

crcormier - Good point about Office, I need to research that.

Thank you everyone for the advice, it really helps!

Alot of Apples programs are crippleware. The most recent update of quicktime has made working with QT files with anything else beside Final Cut Pro impossible, files do not load up. Customer support is horrible, when people bring up complaints to them in there forums they often just delete the thread and refuse to acknowledge this.

 

[crcormier]

Alot of Apples programs are crippleware. The most recent update of quicktime has made working with QT files with anything else beside Final Cut Pro impossible, files do not load up.

Nope, have the latest of QT and iMovie, haven't had a single problem.

Customer support is horrible, when people bring up complaints to them in there forums they often just delete the thread and refuse to acknowledge this.

Had only one issue I've had to call customer support with, shipped my laptop to them, they shipped it back the next day good as new.

What do you use for a computer?

 

[schmitty]

Nope, have the latest of QT and iMovie, haven't had a single problem.



Had only one issue I've had to call customer support with, shipped my laptop to them, they shipped it back the next day good as new.

What do you use for a computer?

I meant nonApple created software. So I am still correct.

Ok so nothing bad has happened to you so that makes my statement incorrect. Just because nothing horrible has happened to you does not mean nothing bad happens. Apple has a horrible track record for horrible customer service. They just try to silence it the best they can.

I built my own for hardware and Opensuse for OS.

 

[dcentity2000]

I must say I've found customer care for my Mac impeccable



Rich::

 

[crcormier]

I meant nonApple created software. So I am still correct.

Ok so nothing bad has happened to you so that makes my statement incorrect. Just because nothing horrible has happened to you does not mean nothing bad happens. Apple has a horrible track record for horrible customer service. They just try to silence it the best they can.

I built my own for hardware and Opensuse for OS.

Never said nothing bad happens. As I said, I had an issue with my fan, which lots of people had with this particular laptop. All the forums I went to everyone had their laptop fixed by Apple, no problem.

No company or product is perfect, but you obviously seem to have a grudge against Apple.