Laptop Dilemma: Mac or PC?
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It’s the great debate – Mac vs PC – people are staunchly loyal to whichever one is their favorite. So which should a new computer user choose? In the end it comes down to preference and what you plan to use it for. There are a few myths surrounding each that cloud the issue.
The first myth is that Macs can’t do everything a PC can do. This just isn’t true, especially with the newest technology Mac has been using, such as the Intel Core Duo processor found in new iMacs and MacBooks. In fact, if you were concerned about not being able to use your favorite PC applications on your new Mac, fear no more.
While Macs have long been known for being the computer of choice for design, many design programs have not upgraded to be native on the new OS X Tiger Intel Core Duo version. This means that until next year, 2008, programs such as Adobe Photoshop currently run in bit faster in their PC versions if you have one of the new Macs.
Alternatively, the popular belief that PCs are less intuitive, prone to viruses, and more difficult to use and upgrade are all based in fact. Granted, not all people are looking for an intuitive machine. Some people just find it harder to work in an intuitive environment. That’s okay, if you are one of those people that just means you belong in a PC environment.
I like to think that it doesn’t really matter which type of computer you use. The more advances in technology we make, the easier it is to just choose the computer you are most comfortable with and still be able to work with and communicate with anyone, anywhere.
Take a look at me, for example, I use an iMac G5 desktop and a MacBook Intel Core Duo laptop for my work. Many of my clients use PC laptops. By using similar programs and universal file formats, we’ve never had a problem sharing files or working together. I could share anecdotes about both types of laptop all they long, but let’s get down to the nitty gritty. I’ll start by taking a look at PC laptops.
The first thing most people notice about PC laptops is how much they vary in price as compared to Macs. Just because you can buy a PC laptop for the bargain basement price of 600 dollars doesn’t mean that machine will be comparable to a Mac. What you get for your six hundred dollars is a machine they can do basic things like check your Email, surf the Internet, and performs some basic business functions like create documents and spreadsheets.
The more that you would like your PC to do, the more money you will have to spend up front. PCs do not come loaded with any of the standard business software, design software, or games that many users enjoy and need. If you want to write word documents that use formatting more complicated then the basic Notebook text program, you will need to buy the word processing software such as Microsoft Word or Works. In fact you should plan on buying any software that you will need to do anything more than run your computer’s operating system, check your Email or surf the Internet.
Another issue with PCs is the susceptibility to viruses and instability of the operating system itself. Buying virus and hacker protection software and learning how to use that software and create firewalls and other protective devices is a must when using PCs. In fact, viruses are so prevalent on PCs it is foolish to run your computer with out any protection whatsoever.
Microsoft, makers of Windows, one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, have recently introduced a new operating system to replace Windows. This operating system is called Vista. The introduction of Vista has made many computer users angry. The reason for this is that it leaves a hackable door open in the programming.
The original purpose of this “door” is to allow Microsoft to do automatic upgrades on your computer (whether you want it or not), and to require automatic registration in hopes of preventing software theft. Of course, there is the theory that more reasonably priced software, or bundling more software with the OS like the Mac does, would go along way to preventing software theft all together. But that’s just a theory.
On a more positive note, because PC laptops are made by so many different companies, the prices of many are more affordable up front for most computer users. The long-term cost of the PC is far greater than a Mac, but the up front cost is lower. Most people only look at how much the PC or Mac costs them right now.
So what is long-term cost? The long-term cost of your laptop is the combination of several factors. Number one is how long will your laptop last? As a general rule, PC laptops physically wear out and/or break within five years. Not only that, the cost of software for a PC can really add up over time. This isn’t due so much to the cost of the software, but more due to the cost of not having any software included with purchase.
Another aspect of long-term value it is how often do you need to upgrade, and how easy is it to do so? With a PC, it is not unusual to require some kind of hardware upgrade each time you go to the next level operating system or other software. Needing a new sound card here, more RAM there and other new hardware along the way can really add up.
One advantage that PC laptops have over Mac laptops is accessibility to people working with a tight budget. Even though Mac laptops will cost you less over many years, the reality is that some people simply can’t afford the Mac laptop at its lowest price point: 900 dollars, much less its highest price point: well over two thousand dollars.
Apple’s newest laptop, the MacBook line, is the cream of the crop. This computer is versatile, innovative, sleek and solid. Do not be turned off by the high price tag. Macs are a complete computer that you can start using right out of the box with very little learn time. Not only that, they last for decades with no real upgrades needed.
What will an entry level MacBook really cost you? I bought an entry level MacBook to replace the iBook I’d been using. I paid around $800 for the iBook clamshell in the nineties, and I paid $999 base for the white MacBook in November 2006. The iBook lasted years and years with no problems (in fact it is still in use today by my younger sister in college) and only one upgrade to a larger hard drive and maximum RAM. It had everything I needed right out of the box, so buying software wasn’t needed for the Mac, though I ended up buying Word and Photoshop to be compatible with clients using PCs at the time, as well as paying for some shareware games and such. That put the real world cost of the original iBook somewhere around $1300 all said and done.
The MacBook came with even more preloaded software (iWork, iLife, and so much more). With that and the super fast processor, generous hard drive and superior RAM, not to mention the built in iSight camera, I was up and rolling in minutes. Without any additional purchases I had the ability to handle making and editing original movies and music, writing documents and spreadsheets, playing games, checking email, surfing the internet, and running a laptop movie theater and juke box.
The one feature I would never use is perhaps this Mac’s biggest selling point to died in the wool PC lovers. It can now run Windows in addition to OS X. You can boot in and out of operating systems, run them simultaneously, and more. This means a PC user won’t have to give up their Doom-playing days to join the Mac universe, for example. Keep in mind, it is the Mac OS that keeps it virus free, and running Windows opens your Mac to possible viruses – think ahead and protect it accordingly!
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy this one as well:
Since I am an obvious Mac enthusiast (yes, I have built and used PCs over the years and simply believe Macs are superior), I thought I’d give you links to comparisons from both camps so you could make your own informed decision:
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I've been a Mac user since 1989, and any time I have used a PC, it only makes me long for my Mac. I have an iMac Flat Panel, but since buying my iBook last year, I do everything on it, leavng the rest of the family to use the desktop.
Nice post! Where did you learn that?
Well, and I like PC!
I could easily go back to a PC after switching to a Mac. I like that the Mac OS is now built on BSD so that I can run programs that I used to have on Linux. Also, the Mac Book design is very slick. however, I don't like the Mac windows as much as I like the way the windows on XP or Vista operate. Also, I think the PC still offers the best price performance.
I have used pc all my life and believe it or not I have never seen a mac, only on TV. I went to their website a few days ago and felt in love with a laptop. I am one of those you mentioned that can afford the mac prices, but with this information you posted I would say thank you because you have resolved my confusion between them.
It's very difficult to recommend PCs any more for anything except games and even then, consoles are a better value. If compatibility is an issue, or if the most recent Office file formats are a necessity, then PC is the correct choice. For just about everything else, the Macintosh notebooks and desktops are very difficult to compete with and the OS X platform is only going to become more important when the iPhone is released. Macs are very nice.
Not everyone can afford Mac. It's only for the upper class. PC is still affordable and user friendly too. Buying Mac for 999$ is ridiculous here in my country. Having Sony Vaio which costs for 400$ already tells everyone that you are rich.
Thanks for your post! It really helped me!
Good post! It was really useful!
Good job! I learned somthing new!
Cool post! I learned somthing new!
Great post! That was new for me!
Here's the real difference..... If you are into movies, graphics, general entertainment and you don't already have a preference then buy a Mac. If you are looking for a networking platform, a flexible work computer, or a file server then buy a PC. The software you want should be the start of your search. Not all programs run cleanly on Macs just as Itunes and Quicktime can have a hard time on a PC.
The myth that spyware is synonymous with PC's is also a confusing red flag. Honestly it is "Internet Explorer" that is the problem on the PC not the PC. Bugs can be tooled for any browser, but more people use IE so therefore more bugs on that browser.
Mac's are not "cool" and I personally believe they cater too much to the laziness in the youth of today by not actually learning how the computer works, but instead attaching a shell around the math to let people remain dumbified in technology. This goes the same for Vista, but you can adjust Vista and still hack at the OS productively and make your PC work for you and not you working for the PC.
Does the author have anything to support the claim that Macs last longer stastically than pcs? Especially, PCs laptops in the same price class that might include special engineering to protect vital components like hard-drive from drop damage? The author appears to present personal anecdotal evidence as fact.
Hard-drives and Cd-roms tend to break because they have moving parts which lead to wear and tear and eventual failure. I had a g4 ibook and while I valued the design and the software, the hard-drive was no more immuine to failure than a pc-laptop. The reason: the ibook and pcs used identical hard-drive technology. After a year or so of being knocked about, the hard-drive failed. I tried to replace the hard-drive manually and found the task to be very labor intensive.
I've read that apple has now designed all their laptops with hard-drives that are as easy to replace as a battery. I applaud that and hope that all laptop makers will follow suit. In my experience, processors and motherboards tend to last beyond the useful life of the unit, unless subjected to water or power fluctuations. The Hard-Drive, Disc Media Reader, should pop out fairly easily. This more than anything ese would extend the useful life of laptops, and reduce the number of junkers in landfills.
""Does the author have anything to support the claim that Macs last longer stastically than pcs?"" from Tommy2D
tommy2d, I'm glad you enjoyed my opinion piece on Macs vs PCs. If you visit the links at the end you'll see information from both camps on making your own informed decision between the two so that you get the computer that is right for you. One of the links is a side by somparison, including a cost analysis, of equally equipped MacBook Pro VS PC Laptop - enjoy! Leslie
It's neither the PC nor the Mac that counts, it's the softwares. Historically Mac was much more sophisticated than the PC but cost so much more that the mass of people couldn't afford the Mac. So editors turned towards developping for PC. All essentially originates to that ! Lesson to learn: good start and you will probably win, bad start and you will probably lose :)
Don't be surprised by my answer: I'm the perfect counterpunch !
Hi there I found this site to be very usefull. But I am ovasly a ibm pc person and the problem I have with a mac is the complete disarea of were anything is and god forbid if you have problems with it you need to call a tec.
Hmmmm... I have been buying PCs for years and everyone of them has come pre-loaded with Microsoft Works, music playing or jukebox programs, and other business software (Quicken, MS Money, etc); one early machine had Lotus Organizer included with much other software, and the later Hewlett Packard machines I have bought are bundled with as least as much sophisticated software as you get on a Mac if not more. Some people don't like this, because they want to chose their own software. As far as the PCs breaking down, I haven't experienced that. I have an old 486 25Mhz machine that is still running fine (with a few bad spots starting to show on the hard drive) and the machines I have had since then are all still running (one replaced hard drive is the only major problem). I do think that you are a teensy bit biased towards the Mac, Leslie.
Hi Stuart,
As I mentioned, if you buy your PC at the right price point, you get more "stuff". I hope you enjoyed my opinion piece and the links for both PC and Mac at the end of the article geared toward helping you make your decision either way.
I dont understand the PC people here. Have they EVER used a MAC? Really? Used? Played with? Enjoyed? I know they would fall in love with them. If MACS arent so damn GREAT then why are all the SCHOOLS using them now? Why are the companies upgrading to MACS left and right? Just a thought. But hey, I was once a PC lover so who am I to judge.
meleah rebeccah, yes I have used a Mac. Quite extensively, in fact. And what it all boils down to is this: A Mac is a toy. A PC is a tool. I may not know a lot about computer hardware and software, but I know enough to get superior performance and longevity out of a less expensive PC than you will ever get out of a Mac
I'm a network tech for a dual-platform school district with more or less equal numbers of Macs and PCs. We have the following issues with Macs...
1) They cost more out of the box. We pay about $200 more for a Mac than for a PC with comparable specs.
2) They are difficult to manage in a large network. Apple really needs to work closer with Active Directory.
3) The much touted Mac reliabilty doesn't appear to apply at my district. We have three PC techs and 5 Mac techs. I encounter Macs that are frozen or blue-screened on a daily basis.
Macs are fine for home use, but I would avoid them for any sort of business or large enterprise.
Also, the only preloaded software we use with our Macs is iLife. Photostory 3 and MovieMaker, both free from Microsoft, cover the much of the same territory for our PC's.
And finally... I was floored by this comment in your article: "Some people just find it harder to work in an intuitive environment."
great post... I prefer PC's but this is because i've never really used macs
I agree that Macs are superior, especially in the way of OS X vs. Windows Vista, design, and other software such as iLife and Front Row, etc. Both systems can use similar hardware, but the bottom line is that you have to be rich to afford a Mac system. An $800 PC laptop will have better hardware in it than a Macbook Pro which goes for at least $1900. That's ridiculous.
I own both a Macbook Pro and a self built PC. To be honest I am much more comfortable with the PC. Say all you want about software but your options are extremely limited when it comes to mac.. If you are a gamer and own a mac you may as well just give up. I like to be able to get into the guts of my system/software and I having built in limitation to "protect" amatuer computer users.
Mac is generic with virtually no software or hardware customization but the experience is pretty much the same for all users (forced). PC is as good as the users skill lvl.
I disagree with you on the lack of customization abilities - I've fully customized all of my Macs since my very first Apple IIe, as well as building PCs from the ground up. I still prefer Mac. All that aside I have to agree on the gamer aspect of Macs. Their continued use of the GMA 950 built in graphics card in their affordable models means no Myst online, for one thing, and that totally cheeses me off. How much more expensive would a decent graphic card be??
What a great page! I've never owned or used a Mac, but I've often wondered about them, and your page answered a lot of my questions - thanks!
Josef F, you say Macs are toys, were you aware that they are used extensively if not almost exclusively in the recording industry, movie making, newspaper publishing, (photo)graphic sector, schools and journalism, not to mention the cut-price super-computer assembled by Virginia Tech from a truckload of G5 Power Macs (the 3rd quickest in the world).
Some toy!!
I've used many different desktop and laptop machines, starting with a microVAX in 1984. My first operating system was VMS running DCL, so I have acquired some knowledge over the years, but only because I had to. Although I've been around computers for some time, I've always been an end-user, not a techie. When I left DEC, I bought a MAC (one of those original old groaners) because I didn't want to learn a new operating system, or have to configure new hardware or networks. I want to do my work: write reports, get my email, crunch some numbers, etc. MAC is great for that. Mine have always been bullet-proof. I broke two ibooks by dropping one and stepping on the other (don't ask). My original groaner still works, by the way. I also own a toshiba laptop so I can run minitab, but if it ran on a MAC, the PC would be gone. I remember Ken Olsen (DEC CEO) said MACs were toys, too. There is no more DEC. By the way, it seems we are coming around to a distributed computing environment again, so maybe Ken was right, just ahead of his time. How cool would it be to have all your apps and processing power in one box, shared by remote wireless terminals and accessable through the Internet?
I've used windows all my life (i'm 16)and I recently got the $1100 Macbook and I love it!
I would still use my Dell XPS600 for gaming and stuff but I'm a musician and a bunch of seasoned musicians I know owe a Mac computer and they told me they never had a problem and now I have to agree with them.
Good to see that there are plenty of MacFans out there! PCs to me have always felt like they have no 'soul', although this sounds strange.
I thin one of the reasons that there are very little viruses for the mac is because a very small percent of the population uses them so hackers or people who make viruses wont bother with macs. If you could make a virus for the vast majority (pc) or the minority (mac) wat would you do? If more people switch to mac dont you think people are going to make more or smarter viruses for the mac?
In my opinion, Windows Vista beats Mac anyday.
To me, PCs are slow and give you kind of an epmty feeling, like Pspfan said, but then I have to use a PC for stock trading. I currently use a Dell Ispiron 5150 and an iBook G4 Mac.
i'm a student entering first year of college, what do you guys recommend? i want to watch dvd's and write papers and surf the net as well. im not too big of a gamer on the computer, i like the consoles more..what do you guys recommend?
i'm a student entering second year Environmental Design with a laptop requirement for design / architectural programs. This is a dilema. With what I'll be needing it for can you sway me in the right direction?
I'm an incoming college freshman planning to be in the Communications major; that means lots of word processing and web surfing. I like game consoles better than computers like tanner above me, but I am completely torn...I have used PCs all my life, and personally find the Mac formatting to be annoying...but i've heard lots of good things about Macs. Please help!
Very interesting hub plus discussion. I recently changed from desktop PC to imac. And because of my great experience with the iMac I'll probably consider a portable mac when my laptop gets outdated.
Indepth hub...Macbook Pros are expensive when compared to discount windows laptops from the likes of Acer and Hewlett Packard. However cheap ibooks and Powerbooks can be picked up for a song on auction sites like ebay.
Isn't it a religious thing? Like Unix(Linux) - Windows, Intel - AMD, IE - Firefox, etc.?
Gooadam has a great point I think - if you start with what you nedd to do and what software you use for your needs, hardware will follow...
I had to stop reading after the usual Mac User elitism started showing through ("Some people just find it harder to work in an intuitive environment.") and then I realized you didn't have a full understanding of what you were talking about.
I use Windows XP, and Linux. I will get a MacBook before I get Vista, but the elitism has stopped me from buying a mac twice now. Maybe I'll just stick with Linux forever.
You should click my Cult of Apple link if you are under the mis impression I'm an Apple elitist ;)
Not an elitist, just a fan. Anyone should be a fan of OSX over Windows because the only reason to run Windows is for the sweet, sweet games. The only reason to run OSX is so you can buy the hot, proprietary software to make you look cool.
Instead of throwing away your MONEY on limited operating systems, you could instead invest a little TIME to learn Linux. It's not any more difficult than learning Windows or OSX if you've never used them before. If you edit video or make flash movies or play new games, don't use Linux. If you want to do anything else, such as play SNES games, produce music, program, construct websites, design graphics or just play Planet Penguin Racer then you should use Linux.
Leslie mentions that Macs come bundled with software. Any major version of Linux comes bundled with everything you want initially installed as well as over 20,000 other programs you can download and install automagically with a few clicks. iWork and iLife look like really cool programs, but they don't come free. I think iLife even requires a paid subscription.
I better stop before I lose control. I think any elitist of any operating system needs to be generally elite (1337), which begs standard knowledge of all major operating systems. How am I supposed to play a prank on a friend by switching his Times font to WebDings if I can't find the fonts folder on his MacBook? And how am I to drop a backdoor on my enemy's computer without some knowledge of the holes in Windows?
I've been kicking around trying a mac for years. After buying a new PC and getting to know Vista, I'm almost ready for the change. I'm a programmer and Vista has been nothing but problems.
The biggest thing stopping me from reying one this year (I pretty much buy 1 new computer a year), is I'm not sure it will wok right with Visual Studio (microsofts Programming software). It's hard to cut throught the religous debates to see if it would actualy work for me.
Gues I just need to try it and find out. Thanks for the tip on the photoshop software, that's my other major software.
I mentioned wrong price and calculation on my previous comment. 999$ Mac is still affordable and Sony Vaio does not cost for 400$ in my country, but almost the same price with Mac.
The problem here with Mac is about compatibility. Most of the computers in my country are Windows PC. Many people gets trouble when they switch into Mac because the menu is quite different to Windows PC.
I am in the process of buying my first MacBook Pro. I have used a PC my whole life (ok, 15 years). I have been saving for this. I love my PC and using a Mac will take a wile to get used to. But, I love the software bundles and the operating system. I used my friends not long ago. I have always wanted one but couldn’t bring myself to spend that much money. I hear way too often from old PC users that the Mac s the way to go. I’m not usually a follower, but I am on this issue. I will still keep my Dell Laptop in the living room for guests and my daughters new Dell Vista until they no longer work. By that time I should be able to switch out the rest of the computers.
Very good article. I use a Mac at work and a PC at home. I like both and I can get my work done on either. If you have the chance, check out my article on <a href="http://www.softwaresalesinfo.com/sales-and-marketi and marketing software</a>. You’ll find information on sales analysis, sales marketing and commissions. Hope you visit.
Great Article. I switched to Mac from PC around September of last year. My wife got me a Macbook 2.16ghz with 1gb of Ram. Since then, I have almost stopped using the desktop i had custom-built a year ago. The only reason I have had to go back to the desktop was doing some web editing (My Adobe CS2/3 suite was on the Windows comp) and playing the occasional video game.
More recently, I decided to upgrade the RAM on my Macbook. According to the specs, the maximum amount of ram that the computer could handle is 2gb. After I delved further into the system compatibilities, I saw that it is possible to put in 3gb, but it will cause some conflict. The Intel system runs on matched pairs (same types/sizes/speeds of RAM), and a 3gb configuration may detract a little from the speed. After I delved even deeper into the issue, I found benchmarks showing a successful configuration of a MacBook running 4gb. This gave the optimal speed, while maintaining consistency and matched pairs.
I decided to go ahead and risk getting 4gb from a popular Mac upgrading web store. I ended up getting delivery the Next Morning! I have never seen shipping that quick- and was apprehensive at first- but the $9 shipping price difference was definitely worth it.
I installed the two sticks, and Lo and Behold!! The 4gb actually registered! Everything runs well, no hangups, and the difference in speed is dramatic!
I recommend this upgrade to anyone looking at purchasing or that already has a Macbook. Do all of the research first, and then go with the best configuration you can afford!
As far as practicality goes -- I can almost completely run my business on my Mac. The main difficulty that has arisen is that of not being able to utilize Internet Explorer. During my typical day, I don't usually use IE, but my bookkeeping software (Quickbooks Online) require IE to run. Other than that, I have recommended Macs to many of my colleagues and friends.
Your information has arrived at the right time. We will be buying two new PC next week.
Now we will buy two Macs.
Great information tyhank you.
Let's fight, which is better!?
But, I would love to have both, though...
Hei, Wonderful hub. Nice comparison. More informative and educative. My dilemma came to an end and decided to purchase a Mac Laptop. Good work and keep it on. I like this hub and rated 5*. A similar good stuff site about Hardware Testing Software on http://www.softwaretestingcentral.com/hardware-tes Try out this site for more information about Hardware Testing Software.
I need to buy a laptop for home and travel. I use both Macs and PC's at work, and would consider buying either. I just compared a Dell Inspiron to a Mac online. With the specs as similar as I could make them (dual processors, 4GB memory, 15" screen, large hard drive) the Dell was $1400, the Mac $2600. I'll take the Dell and the $1200 on vacation.
I have recently had to make the choice a dell inspiron and mac...I ended up with the dell. I am not I care for the dell all that much just because I am an IS major and forced to run a lot of applications for school on it and even though I try my hardest to keep it running as lean as possible - it is difficult. Experiencing sluggish load time is the worst (once its running all is well - but getting apps to startup is like pulling teeth) The only reasons I decided not to go with mac was becaue of work and school. No one really uses them as much (its gaining ground) but still you have to put a lot of add-ons in order to get it to have PC like features. ($$). I think hp might be my next purchase but its all about the features in fine print they don't really tell you about that you find out you don't care for later on down the road. My professor told a comical story about his vision for the next mac vs. pc commerical. Its where mac is waiting in a long line to get hired because nobody in the business world has mac as their primary support & pc walks into the 6 figure door! I respect mac but just can't really spend the time or money on it when its not being fully used.
I've always had a PC, but the next computer I buy will be a Mac.
I've had a gutful of Windows, and its unreliability, susceptibility to virus attack, and endless bug fixes.
The constant bragging from friends who have already made the switch didn't hurt either.
I used to be very much a PC person - but I recently bought a mac and I'm so glad I did - the OS is sooo much better!
Make Mine a MAC please.... I love my mac and pc is like visiting another planet now.
First off I am a converted PC user. I am 34 and have used PC's most of my life. I had found, that about 40% of the time using various PC's throughout this period I was trying to resolve one problem or another with it. Make no mistake, I liked doing this, but my lifestyle changed. I no longer had the patience or time to do this. I had heard that MAC's were more reliable so I looked into them and decided to buy one. Five years later I have the same MAC computer and have yet to do anything at all to it with the exception of just using it. It was hard for me to pay the initial "higher price" but it has been far less expensive in the long run. I urge you to do your research of unbiased reviews and I feel that you will find that the clear choice for reliability is a MAC.
Thanks for the advice... but I'm still stuck on which to get. I'll go over this again (bookmarking it now) to check before I head to the store.
-Nicki B.
i am a simple guy when it comes to pc/laptops/mac's. well i have a old acer travelmate 4100 laptop. i have a option to upgrade to a mac, dont know the spec's, all i know it's 5 months old. i use the emails, internet and play dvd's for my kids either hard copies or through my external hard drive, that's it. i have everyone around me at work to do all the other crap on their pc etc. should i get the mac?
I love my mac. I bought my macbook in November 07 and haven't looked back. I went through so many viruses on my PC that it basically just needed to be tossed when I was done with school.
Thanks for your post! It really helped me!
Mac are just so much easier - I recently had to use a hard drive reader and the instruction book has 6 pages dedicated to Windows instructions and one small paragraph for Mac's because it does all the work for you.
Very useful information! I can't seem to go a year without a major catastrophe with my PCs. I think I'm ready to make the switch! Thanks! Irene Kirkman
Okay so I'm looking for a laptop, as I'm going to be a college freshman. There were many things I found helpful as I read through the comments and your article Leslie Poston. I'll be looking into what programs I need to run, and check with my (hopefully) future college about the network thing mentioned. Because I'm leaning toward Mac. HOWEVER I can't afford much down time. If doing fixes yourself on a Mac is as hard as some claim here I'd prefer a PC. Asking a Mac technician for everything would suck if I could be fixing it myself on a PC.
There are plenty of Mac enthusiest here...I've always been a PC user. Never touched a Mac in my life. (luckily there's a Mac store nearby so that'll change soon.) I'm planning to major in English actually so my "requirements" aren't TOO high. But I'd like to be active a few sites, so multi-tasking is a must. Then there's the fact I do art as a Hobby. That's why it's tough for me. (that and I'm really squeezing my parent's pockets this year)
Yikes I rambled again. so let me sumarize: I'm going to college soon and I want a PC where I can get things done with little down-time. I don't want to face a Mac tech everytime I need a fix. But I'd like to keep up with several sites, and continue with my artwork. Thus I'm checking with my college for the networking stuff. (no doubt others have macs/PCs there) And I'm also looking into programs compatibility and such.
Have to disagree about a Mac lasting longer than a PC. They both turn into sloth-like creatures after 5 years due to ever more bloated versions of software coming out. Take a bow Adobe. I speak from both sides of the fence as I have both PC and Macs over 4 years old and they are both like treacle running down a very gentle hill when any large file is thrown at them.
Ok. After some system administration for the Govt. for some time I have noticed a very brutal fact. The weakest link in our systems are all of the windows boxes. Yes it's true windows are everywhere, but hey for far too long people believed that the world was flat and would even call you a heretic if you said otherwise. At the core of these MAC's is UNIX by far hands down a more stable reliable operating system... PERIOD!
Now once you use a Mac you just feel it in your BONES, "How the hell did I survive using that windows junk?"... easy... you didn't know any better. Here is an EASY fool proof way to evolve, go and use a MAC, play with it, kick the tires, ask questions..... and you will see for yourself, not because you are following every other goofball that has never used anything but a windows PC but because you decided to learn for yourself.
AWESOME!!! hands down. I stopped wasting my time with PC's 10 years ago, and never looked back since. Well that's not true, I do have look back, to help the other guy out of the mud.
cheers!
Was a Pc owner, until a friend offered a gratuitous Mac -her employer was upgrading all their Macs and I gladly accepted the offer for a free computer. My Mac is a G4 power Mac and dates back to 2004 or so, and I do find it is limited in its functionality, for ex. cannot burn CD or DVD, nor can i download music onto Ipod from itunes (requires 10.4.8 and over, and my Mac is 10.3.9) I have reached a plateau and must decide do I purchase a PC for 800$ or a Macbook Pro for 1700$.
Mac is the undisputed king of reliablity
$750 vs $1600. There's a nice starting point why a PC is a better choice. $750 for a laptop that has the same processor, twice the ram, 70GB more HDD space, a more powerful video card and a larger screen than a $1600 MacBook. I could buy two laptops that are better and have money left over for the price of that MacBook. Macs are ridiculously overpriced for what you get. Someone further up said $200 more, but that's not even in the ballpark.
I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the operating system. I think it's ludricrous to call it more intuitive than Windows. Anything Mac can do, Windows can do. The same can't be said for Mac. Enterprise software? Forget it. Games? Unless you want to play WoW or 1 or 2 other titles, forget about it.
Someone made the ridiculous statement that consoles were somehow a better value. Except for that fact that by the time the ridiculously over-priced console comes out it is well behind the PC in terms of power and technology and is just going to keep falling behind. Top that off with the fact that a good game designed exclusively or primarily for the PC will always be better than the reverse for a game designed primarily for console. PC games just have more depth to them if you look at it objectively.
If you're just that desperate to have MacOS, I'd say save yourself some money and buy a PC and then stick MacOS on it. There's nothing that they do to their machines that justifies that kind of money.
I dunno. I'll probably go PC
Thank you sooooo much for this article. It helped clear up so much and diverted a possible argument between my boyfriend and I. He was trying to convince me that a mac was better but I just couldn't see past the high cost. Your article helped me to ask him the right questions and better understand what the heck he was trying to say (he works for Apple)
Well I have not read all the comments I admit but I read a few and I thought I would reply to a few of the points raised by some of the comments. Let me first say that I am a fierce Mac supporter.
So to address the "do you have proof that they last longer" question. Yes I do. My son who is extremely hard on stuff, (cars, phones, computers) still uses my old mac 4 or 5 years after I gave it to him. Now you are going to say that is not very long. He has never kept a windows notebook longer than 18 months. And that is an old computer. It is a G4 power book. That to me would be sufficient proof but if you want more proof you can look at the used market sales. Mac retain there value much longer, and there are fewer people willing to sell their Mac.
Are they more expensive? I don't think so. Initial cost and looking only at the machine yes the price tag is higher. Now let's look at the overall picture. I don't have to spend one minute cleaning up my mac when I open it. I have never had to fuss with it or to buy additional anything to keep it virus free. It just works and I don't waste time answering stupid questions like "are you sure you want to close this window". Finally while I spent more for my mac the service I have receive was always superb. I have had problems with windows machine and with macs, they were not handled the same way. My windows machine a Vaio at the time, 3 months later I was still waiting for them to decide if they would replace the board, give me a new computer or if it was something else. My mac 4 days later I had a totally repaired mac. No comparison.
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meleahrebeccah says:
3 years ago
MACS RULE THE WORLD. I was a PC person my whole entire life until this last October when I was presented with the MACBOOK PRO for my birthday. At first I was intimidated by the fact that it seemed so different to me. However, the MAC was very easy to learn, It is super crazy FUN, not to mention the added bonus of having my Apple PROCARE which includes Tech / Help support and the FREE LESSONS for a YEAR to learn and develop even better skills when playing with and/or using any of the features on my MAC. I have gone MAC and I will never GO BACK to a PC. MAC is best thing that ever happend to me!