Get a Mac.
At work and at home now, I use a Mac. Use to be at work was a Dell (and I hate them…), and at home a Mac.
Computer shutting down due to some ugly virus? Nope. Spam mail? Nope.
Jeff: the beautiful thing about a Mac? Less key strokes to perform than a Wintel. Seriously.
Patricia, sicne I’m an MSCE, I should probally keep my Winamd box! :D) I’d like to sit down at a Mac and see what the difference is. I just don’t know anyone who has one.
Spam?!? I don’t get any spam in my my main email! That cuz the ISP runs good spam blocking software.
Jeff, a Mac would be a revelation to you. Not only is the computer itself far easier to use than a wintel machine (okay, maybe not for YOU, but for the vast - 99% - majority of users out there), the company itself just makes better decisions for its customers. To give only one example: Windows XP Home Edition ships with FIVE ports open. Mind you, this is the Home Edition - and most people don’t have networks at home. Why are these ports open, since they serve absolutely no purpose unless the computer’s hooked up to a network? Got me. But that’s the way it is, and this is one of the main ways viruses can enter if you’re hooked up to the Net (which virtually everyone is now).
In contrast, Mac OS X ships with no ports open.
Stuff like that is why I’ll never switch.
EVERYBODY SING!!!
(to the tune of the William Tell Overature)
Get a Mac
Get a Mac
Get a Mac Mac MAC
Get a Mac
Get a Mac
Get a Mac Mac MAC
Get a Mac
Get a Mac
Get a Mac Mac MAC
Throw your PCeeeeeee
Out the Wi-in-dooooooow
lol, you kids are funny!
macs are for kids
I’d very much like a Mac. Problem is, to duplicate my $1500 WinAMD rig would set me back about $3500 in MacBucks.
Just don’t have the billfold for that these days. In the happy land of early 90s Pentiums, when the most recent chip was $750, $2500 or $3000 wasn’t so much to spend.
But when I can assemble a totally decent gaming system for $600 even, that just isn’t reasonable anymore.
DI
My home computer is really acting up lately. This week was the first time I’ve seen the Blue Screen of Death on a Windows 2000/Windows XP machine. I may end up reinstalling Windows.
Jeff:
Do you recall what the error was? Run it by Google, undoubtedly eleventy-seven other people have already dealt with it.
DI
Macintosh…sad story. While it might be a wonderful turn-key solution for those who don`t like to look under the hood, my experience is that it is a specialized machine limited to some few niches (graphic design, pressroom, arts) and not too much anywhere else.
However, the sheer lack of volume makes it a bad business settings worktool. Everybody I work with has PCs. So when I send them stuff, I am sure we are on all the same ground. If I took a Mac, who would be blamed if the file I received never ran on my little Apple? Me.
Being a sealed system, you cant go under the hood and change what you dont like as easily as a PC. If I am tired of my video card, I shell out the bucks and it can be done in really short time, without putting my warranties to the scrap. Same thing for all peripherals.
Bottom line, Mac is a turnkey solution for those who prefer all-in-one, don`t fiddle my machine solutions. PCs are widespread, have alternative technologies, and can be tweaked.
Chui made me laugh with his one-line synthesis.
Each has its advantages and inconvenients. You take what floats your boat.
Dan - not 100% true. You can easily swap things in and out of the systems. iMacs were designed to be mostly left alone, but they were designed for people who generally DON’T muck around with their computers. The Power Macs have plenty of room to play.
In any case, most PC users do NOT screw with their systems after they are set up. Most PC’s are owned by businesses and Joe User, unpack them, set them up and let them run. I know about 100 people with computers, out of those 100, maybe 3 do anything more than play games, get email, and run Office.
This is, of course, outside of the geek circles who don’t even leave the cover on their computer so they can alwyas fiddle with stuff. But those circles exist in the Mac world as well.
So, could you build a Mac from scrath, just like a PC?
haha macs
macs may not have many viruses, but those they have usually caue more trouble cos no one is ready for them 
macs over over prived and underpowered (g5 may have a hope but fuck paying or that beast)
all old imacs/eMacs or whatever they call them now need piled ass high in a cess pit
(2)
Cykomiko, you ain’t exactly setting a good example for PC people by posting gibberish.
The only guys I know who tinker with their computers are (a) computer techs or (b) computer geeks. Most end users don’t have any desire or need to pop the hood and fiddle with the devil box. As for being able to build a Mac from scratch…why would I (a typical computer consumer) even consider building a computer? I just want to plug it in and have it work. I pay someone else to build it, and they had better fix it if it ever breaks.
I like and use PC’s, but not because they are a superior product. I’m a PC guy because that’s what I learned on (after the Commodore 64 and Coleco ADAM) and that’s what I’m comfortable with. Macs are WAY more intuitive and easy to use, assuming the user has no prior PC experience.
(2)
No Jeff, you can’t and that is the point.
Mac licenses all products made for Mac. that means that all products work together. When I install my new speakers my printer continues to work, my mouse continies to funstion and I can still get on the internet.
Because PC’s can be completely generic drivers conflict and the installation of one utility often makes others cease to function.
this is basically a non issue. The average computer user does NOT build their own computer, does NOT upgrade hardware, does NOT use teh computer for anything but games and interent.
If you are getting a computer for someone who has never touched a computer before the Mac is VASTLY easier to understand, work with and install programs on.
Joe Average is NOT a computer geek. PC people would like you to believe that everyone who ownes a computer wants to open them up and play with the guts. Joe Average wants to but a computer that works and pay to have it fixed when it stops working.
As for computers not working, I have a mac that I use daily that is 6 years old. I have never had a hardware issue and only rarely have software problems. It crashes less than once a month. The programs rarely ‘stop responding’. My other Mac is almost 10 years old, and until three months ago was also in use daily with no problems. I don’t know of many PCs hand built or fatctory that have lasted that long.
I use PCs and Macs daily, and I know both inside and out. Like most people who have in depth experience with both platforms, I’ll take my Mac anyday.
DanC, I use Macs for everything that I do in my office. That includes (but is not even close to being limited to) corresponding with the “outside” world, almost all of whom use wintel stuff. There is never any problem.
Microsoft has been putting out a Mac version of its Office suite for several years now. There are no more compatibility issues with anything in that suite. None. Zero. In fact, the last time there were any compatibility issues was about 6-7 years ago, and even then it wasn’t a case of Macs not being able to read Wintel stuff, but the other way around (of course).
Also, if you’re starting up a business and are looking at what computer system to buy, it is true that wintel stuff is a lot cheaper. But macs last longer (from virtually any computer survey ever done - just look one up) and if you’re dealing with people who haven’t used computers before, the getting-up-to-speed time is not even comparable. A mac, and you’ll be up and running in an hour. With Wintel, your first day will be spent getting installed, and then the teaching begins.
Believe me, I’ve had experience with both. Long-term, there’s no cost-comparison at all. Macs are not only cheaper, but much cheaper.
Thanks again for the feedback.
Maybe there is something I did not get in the process, but once the learning curve part is done, be it for the Windows environment (on either systems), what is the difference asides the said virus problem?
The way I see it, most of what is said here resides on the speed/ease-of-learning-how-to-use-the-interface for Average Joe, and that Joe Schmoe never changes anything under the hood.
Which brings up another interesting question: When you DO get tired of your Macs performance (or you need to beef it up for new needs - example, more RAM or processing power for Video Editing), is there hope to change the missing part at a competitive price or you are better off changing the whole machine? So far, I like the PC for that: choices and quality/price ranges of hardware when needs change. If Macs are similar, I could consider them.
CHAR: What about software? I have tons of programs on my Win machine. Is the Mac market strong enough to allow one to jump ship for less-than-mainstream (Office) applications? Example: When I need freeware for mostly one or two time jobs (like encryption, audio editing, video editing, etc), I go to Tucows and similar sites. There are tons of programs there I can test drive or one-time use (which fits exactly my temporary needs). Can I hope for a good percentage of them being available for the Mac? I have no idea.
Wow lots of mac users here.
All I can say is even though I dont necessarily use mac much, they are fine for certain uses. And most home users who do email/type/internet could use a mac just fine.
Like all computers though, they work in certain market niches and not so well in others. windows kicks mac’s butt in the hardcore gamer niche, windows also tends to win out in many parts of the programmer field (since so many more users have windows many peeps wont program on anything else, not to mention the M$ based tools out there).
I personally build all my computers, and yes I will admit windows tends to be less stable in the long run, which is due to what char talked about in compatibility between various software/hardware parts. Windows also seems to be more of a “siphon” code which attracts all sorts of flotsam to it and becomes corrupted easier. Whether it be installs/uninstalls of software/hardware or internet surfing, windows likes to corrupt itself after a while and requires a cleansing.
As for long term use I really think that is limited to power. I mean if you only wanted internet/email/word I could foresee still using a 10 year old 486-66 computer, but the minute you want to do something more than that you would have to upgrade. Old computers quickly run out of memory & hard drive space and if they are old enough you cant upgrade them far enough to fit into the current world.
Also newer programs require more processor to run smoothly.
Again, guys, I’m not putting down Macs, I’m just asking questions because I am not familiar with them.
It seems that some of you are implying that I should have a Mac, so my questions are based on what I would want with a 'puter.
Since computers are what I do for a living, I’ve learned a little bit about what’s inside. :D)
Just about everyone I know has done some type of upgrade to their computer (RAM, netwrok card, etc.)
Oh, no Jeff, you should use whatever computer makes you happy. I use a PC because it’s what I know.
"Just about everyone I know has done some type of upgrade to their computer (RAM, netwrok card, etc.) "
I’d wager this is because you work in the field, and most of the people you know are more likely to tinker. I, on the other hand, can’t think of a single person that I know that does their own upgrades. I know plenty of guys who work on their own cars, however. I guess it just depends on the company you keep.