PC vs. Mac

[StephenT]

Within the next year I will need to purchase a new computer. I want to switch from using my desktop as my primary computer to a laptop, for more travelability (is that a word?). I have always used PC's, but all my kids have Macs and they have much less problems with them crashing and such.

What do you use, and why?

[constance]

I was surprised when I got my new iMac that it seemed almost as buggy as a PC. I think Macs are easier for newbies to get started and I like my Mac, but there are little things that the Windows operating system and apps let you do that I like too. So I have both. For example, I do a lot of writing and Word for the Mac doesn't have a shortcut key for starting a new page. That drives me crazy. When you are opening a file on a Windows app, you can get in there and change a filename or delete it, right inside the dialog box. You can't do that on a Mac (actually, PhotoShop for Mac lets you do that). I find the Mac laptops to be a bit heavy for traveling, so I use a really thin VAIO pc laptop.

On the other hand, Macs are easier for installing software and a little more fun. I like having both, as some of my software won't run on a Mac.

BTW, how do you start a new topic on this forum? I have a question I'd like to ask.

[StephenT]

Thanks Constance! I've gotta say that you haven't helped me much! You have both!

To start a there's, just go to the main forum and at the top on the left is a button that says start a new thread, or something to that effect. Click on it and away you go!

[cindybidar]

I used to have a Mac, and I loved it. They are truly works of art. The interface is fabulous and makes the latest Windows offering look like 1992.

But there are some down sides. For me, the biggest drawback is the cost. I can get a pretty high end Windows laptop for less than $700, but the smallest, weakest Mac is over $1000. Macs also have limited software, and the latest and greatest is not often available for Macs. (This is getting better, though.) There is also a pretty steep learning curve for someone who is really used to PCs. And maybe the biggest problem for those of us in this group: Lynn's conference room does not play nice with Macs.

There are some really great things about Macs, too. The one I bought originally is still going strong, and it's nine years old. I gave it to a friend of mine who was a PC user, and he swears he will never go back to Windows. There are very few viruses made to target Macs, so virus protection is not a great concern. And since Macs are only made by Apple, all the internal stuff is compatible, so you will rarely run into a driver conflict.

I think you'd love a Mac once you got used to it, and it sounds like your kids would be able to help smooth out the learning curve, so what the heck? I say go for it.

[Baggs]

The reason I stick with PC's is because I have all the software I need in windows format and wouldnt want to have to purchase it all again.

Windows Vista is the one reason why I might consider swapping to a MAC - It is so much more unreliable that XP was.

[RichAvery]

Stephen,

I switched to an iMac at home in July and I switched to a MacBook for work and travel just over a year ago. My wife and kids are now true believers, so we won't go back to PC.

One nice feature for Macs is that you can run Windows if you need to. For some reason, like Cindy said, Lynn's webinars don't work for Macs, so I just participate in them by running Windows on my Mac. I've read that Macs even run Windows faster than PC's do. I just toggle back and forth between the Windows and the Mac operating systems as I need to. But really, the only thing I use Windows for is Lynn's webinar.

I may not fully understand what Constance was saying (so forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn)...but I've had no problem changing the names of files. I just find them in the "finder", then click once on the filename and it can be changed. Also, in Word, you hit "command N" to open a new document. If you want a new page, you just scroll down...but if you want to add a page break, you do have to go up to the "Insert" menu to insert a page break.

I'd encourage you to go to an Apple store and play around for an hour or two, and get your questions answered by a Genius (that's what their tech people are called).

Cindy is right in that Macs cost a little more up front, but remember that you are also getting the capability of running both operating systems (or even Linux, too if you want) on one beautiful machine.

Have fun shopping!

Rich

[franknvegas]

Is it true that Satan invented Vista? I got a new Toshiba laptop a month ago with Vista Premium and I really suspect it was preloaded with a demon (Asmodeus I think). Thank God I kept my old Toshiba with XP. Still not enough to send me to the MAC store, though.

[StephenT]

Thanks everybody that has so far answered. I wonder, can a Mac that can run windows do all the things that say for PC only?

[RichAvery]

Stephen,

I believe you can run all PC software on a Mac that runs Windows. I use a software called "Parallels" which installs a virtual terminal on the Mac. Once I did that, then I installed Windows Vista (you can install XP if you prefer).

Whenever I need to use a PC, I just open up Parallels and it boots up Windows and it runs the same on my Mac just like it was on a PC. I can easily go back and forth between the Windows and PC OS, and I can share printers, share files, share the internet, etc.

I've heard that Macs use less energy to run, and are more efficient that Windows machines. The newest Mac OS upgrade, called Snow Leopard, uses less energy AND less disk space than its predecessor. I'm no expert, but it seems like, with Windows, the energy use and the disk use are always going up with each upgrade.

There are lots of reviews on the web...here's one I found:

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2...ing-a-/living/

Rich

[LisaWood]

I was an avid windows user for many years, and I knew that operating system inside and out. I switched to a mac two years ago, and I will never go back. The mac WORKS. It doesn't crash, I don't need to restart it constantly, and the interface is very user friendly.

Like others here, I can run windows when I need to. There is a feature called "boot camp" on the mac that allows you to install windows on a separate partition, so you can start up your computer either in windows or in OSX. However, I don't use windows that way. I use VMWare Fusion (which is like Parallels) to start Windows through a virtual machine so I don't have to restart the computer. Sorry if this sounds like technical jargon. Bottom line, you can run both. I listen to Lynn's webinars in windows this way.

I'm on my third mac. My original macbook pro was just adopted by my daughter last month. She had had enough of her dell and fell in love with my mac. I gave it to her and got a 13" macbook pro, and I absolutely love it. It's light and portable and a total workhorse. I use my iMac as my primary computer for my business and love that too.

It's true that macs have a pretty high price tag, but that's largely because all the high-end components are already installed, so there's no need to upgrade. You can start with a base model Dell for around $400, but by the time you add enough memory to make the machine work well, a faster processor, graphics card etc., you're easily up over $1000. My son's Dell XPS cost $1500, the same price as my new macbook pro.

I'm definitely not a windows basher - we have both in my house, but I personally prefer to work on the mac.

Hope that helps