VWL Lovers & Groupies Thread: Meese-ka, Mice-ka MOOSE-kateers

[Brian Noble]

maybe a few comments on what everyone has found using a PC compared to a MAC. I have no experience servicing or supporting a MAC. My life has been in the PC world, and I still think DOS is a great way to control the thing!

My first ever computer was an Apple IIe, way back in the early/mid 80s. I owned an early Mac in college, and in graduate school switched to intel boxes running Mach, BSD, and Linux in some combination or another. Once I got a "real job" I got tired of hacking Linux and switched to Windows, and used that for more than a decade, with a fairly significant home office installation, including 1TB of network storage for backups/server space. About 2.5 years ago, I bought a MacBook Pro, and within the next year replaced my *entire* home computing infrastructure---desktops, laptops, network hardware, and network storage---replacing all the windows stuff with Apple. I've since expanded that infrastructure to include a couple iPod touches, a couple iPhones, three iPads, and an AppleTV. Things "just work" a lot more often with the Apple hardware than it does with the Wintel stuff. It's easier to administer. It crashes less often (but still does crash infrequently). Easily my favorite feature is Time Capsule; we get automatic hourly backups to our network storage, and recovery of a fully crashed machine is doable.

This all costs a lot more than it would for Wintel boxes. My experience has been that the acquisition cost has been repaid in ease of use and administration. We do still have two Wintel laptops---I bought two cheap but well-equipped HP laptops for the kids, on the theory that if they ruin one of them, I will be a lot less unhappy than if they ruined a MacBook that cost 2-3x. But, they are more of a pain to keep current and backed up.

That said, if you're mostly reading DIS, it probably doesn't matter what you own.

 

[wildernessDad]

Da, da da da da da! 90 days until I step into the Lodge! Woo Hooooooo!

 

[wildernessDad]

I'm definitely a Mac user! Love that Mac!

 

[twokats]

So this most recent computer crash has DiznyDi in a real mode against PCs in general; "Apple is the way to go" she declares. I think a good PC with static hard drive would be just fine; after all, you only need connection to this thread to make life complete, right?

Not looking to start a war here, just maybe a few comments on what everyone has found using a PC compared to a MAC. I have no experience servicing or supporting a MAC. My life has been in the PC world, and I still think DOS is a great way to control the thing!

Do things on the DisB go better with MACs?

I am totally PC all the way. My brother was an early MAC/Apple user but has since switched to PC's and no longer uses MAC. Don't know his reason, but since he is a computer geek at the company he works at there must have been a reason.

I find that as long as I do my updates, research and keep diligent against malware, I have very good luck with my pc's of which 6 are laptops. (before I get questioned about why so many, all 4 of us have one and I have a mini and my Mom's)

I felt like I went to the dark side when I got my I-Phone. The main thing that bothers me about it is that little apple logo on the back!!!!

 

[DisTito69]

Thank you everyone for making me feel so welcome!

Tito

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

However, I have a suspicion that MAC problems are out there but the MAC snobs don't want to admit it or make it public. Just an unfounded opinion based on my daughter's attempts to hide her MAC notebook problems.

LOL - I think you found them out Granny! Every now and then I get little snippets from my Mac loving family members who are having a "little problem". And it's more often than I have problems with any of my PC's (very rare) and I haven't even had any anti-virus ware enabled in 2+ years.

My experience with Mac's were at work and I never worked on one that didn't have a problem at some point. The Mac problems were always of a more catastrophic nature than the PC problems. Eventually we learned to reload the operating system fairly efficiently. I also think it must be personal taste in the ease of use b/c I always found the PC's to make more sense to me. Few have said I ever follow the "cool" crowd though...... Being a Groupie is an exception of course!!!!

 

[wildernessDad]

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

I'm with you!

 

[Dynaguy]

I would be very interested in hearing about your cruise since we did ours earlier this summer on Princess. We had a "leisurely" southbound cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver BC and loved it (also did 6 days on land in Alaska in addition to the cruise). I mentioned to DH that I'd like to go back on the Wonder and his response was that he didn't think we'd like it - too quick a trip and time in ports were to short. Your take on that?

I always wish I had more time in ports, I guess that's part of why we keep going back, doesn't matter which cruiseline.

For me, a lot of Alaska's allure is the diversity of the geography and wildlife. As you probably learned, if you want to see that you need to get off the ship and onto a tour, even if it's only a smaller ship so that you can get a picture that isn't like looking from a 10-story building. Sea Otters look a lot bigger at sea level. The other thing you have to do is be vigilant. If you do those two things, you probably see wildlife, if not you will probably be disapointed. That's been my experience on 3 trips and talking to anybody else who's been there.

Disney asked the operators to create bigger and better excursions, such as the steam train running in Skagway ( it's normally a saturday only thing, I think). The Disney bear tours we were on were great. The bad thing about Disney tours is too many children under ten, who aren't good about following instructions, or keeping quiet , when the bears are close enough for a great photo, or otherwise disturbing the wildlife. I prefer to have other watchful adults filling those excursion seats.

The really great thing about cruising is that you arrive relaxed and refreshed in each port without packing and unpacking every night. Maybe that's what you'd like to concentrate on in future trips.

I prefer Princess because of their hotels and excursions in the interior, but as you know, once you get away from the salmon, the animals are few and far between.

There is nothing like cruising through a fjord with a window table at Palos. Nothing.

Hi Groupies:Inkmahm ~ Welcome back from your cruise! What ports did you visit in AK and how was the weather? I would love to visit AK during the summer and take a train tour before/after the cruise.

We had a beautiful day viewing glaciers in the Tracy Arm fjord. The other days tended to be a cold light rain. Not so bad if you dress in layers, have a hooded raincoat, and waterproof 2 pairs of jeans each before you back. I saw some umbrellas inverting on a day we had some wind. Next trip we'll pack a small squeegee so that we can wipe the condensation off of our windows on the trains/busses/ jet boats. ( A lot of people with damp clothes and cool outside temps make for foggy windows ). I believe it was Vancouver-> Tracy Arm -> Skagway-> Juneau-> Ketchikan-> Vancouver. Be it Alaska panhandle, Eastern Carribean, or Western Carribean, you don't have too much trouble finding Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, Del Sol or Cariloha. Of course the people in those cruise ports like to go places to shop that have a McDonalds and WalMart.

Alaska seems to be one of those places that you love it... or you'd rather have gone somewhere else. Depends on the person.

Dynaguy ~ Hope you had a great birthday!

I did. Thank you!

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hey, Tito - Welcome Home!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

Me!!!!!!

 

[Corinne]

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

WD you crack me up!!!!!! And, I am with you!!!

OK,Groupies, this is but I do not want to post this for everyone in the Mousellaneous folder I am curious what do you think of the new DVC logo?

 

[Granny]

OK,Groupies, this is but I do not want to post this for everyone in the Mousellaneous folder I am curious what do you think of the new DVC logo?

I'll be in the minority and say that I like it better than the old one. I totally get the folks who hate it, but for me it is a cleaner and classier logo. And the mountains & water never really made sense to me as far as DVC.

WD...count me in!

 

[Muushka]

Welcome to the Groupies Tito! Grab yourself a Moosie and a rocking chair!

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

WD, you crack me up too! I'm with you man!

WD you crack me up!!!!!! And, I am with you!!!

OK,Groupies, this is but I do not want to post this for everyone in the Mousellaneous folder I am curious what do you think of the new DVC logo?

I need to see the logo before I give my (unscientific) opinion! I guess I could do a search......

 

[horselover]

OK,Groupies, this is but I do not want to post this for everyone in the Mousellaneous folder I am curious what do you think of the new DVC logo?

Do you mean the new Mickey head that looks like the Earth inside? If so, I hate it! Does that make my position clear enough?

 

[Inkmahm]

Do you mean the new Mickey head that looks like the Earth inside? If so, I hate it! Does that make my position clear enough?

With that description, I did a google image search and found it. I can't say I like it but I don't hate it, either. Seems kind of "blah" to me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Do you mean the new Mickey head that looks like the Earth inside? If so, I hate it! Does that make my position clear enough?

Perfectly!!

 

[wildernessDad]

OK,Groupies, this is but I do not want to post this for everyone in the Mousellaneous folder I am curious what do you think of the new DVC logo?

I don't like it. It doesn't denote vacation to me.

 

[jimmytammy]

I'm hijacking this thread! I need a WDW fix now! Right the heck now! Who's with me????

Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
47 days and counting!! We added a PO(Dixie Landings, thats for you Muushka)one night stay to the start of our trip.

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi Groupies:

How's everyone doing? Hope all of you are safe and recovering from Hurricane Irene.

Our generator stopped working Sunday night around 10pm. DH/I just got into bed and the power went out. We raced out to the generator to see what was wrong with it. Ended up turning off the main switch, called the mtce. company and scheduled an appointment for yesterday. Battery was replaced and we found out that when it was installed... the electricians made an error which is why it stopped working. Long story... Luckily we didn't loose any of our food.

Yesterday our lawn guy came over and removed the tree that fell. He's not able to remove the other tree that tilted so I have to contact a few tree companies and provide us with an estimate. DH/I spent hours cleaning up our yard/deck/patio and bringing the furniture back out from the shed.

Our area is still without power and it's going on 58 hours. I pity all those that had to throw out their food.

DiznyDi ~ Thank you very much for the congrats on my new car. Speedy was safe in the garage during the hurricane and will be garaged kept. Sorry that your PC went poof during a T-storm but luckily you have the laptop to stay connected.

Dynaguy ~ Did you take the train tour in Skagway? DH/I took that three years ago and loved it. The scenery was breathtaking and I felt like I was in another world. I agree with what posted about taking tours on the smaller boats. It's a new perspective seeing everything at a "normal" level and being much closer to wildlife. One thing that shocked me in AK was the stores you mentioned (Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, etc.). I expect to see them in the Caribbean but not in AK. Very out of place. DH/I loved AK and it was one of the best cruises we've taken. The cruise was very port intensive but to see so many new places was worth it. We would like to go back in the future and see more of AK.

Have a great day everyone!