Mac vs. PC?

cecilia0909

It is amazing to me how personal people always take the Mac vs PC debate. Out of everyone I know who went from PC's to Mac's I have never heard of one person going back to PC. Maybe that will change in this thread
We have a 7 year old Mac at a home and a new Macbook Air and the 7 year old Macbook doesn't seem slow that I have noticed. It's still going strong.

killagb

"I will give that to the Mac, the OS is basically made for people who don't have a clue what they are doing on a computer. "

Right, that can't be taken as an insult to anyone.

Okey-dokey.

I'm so glad we now have an "ignore user" feature.

Priceless. I said in so many words...that the OS is simple and easy for anyone to pick up and use. That means I'm being insulting and rude, clearly. Yes, indeed ignore me.

Classalete

yesiamaduck

It is amazing to me how personal people always take the Mac vs PC debate. Out of everyone I know who went from PC's to Mac's I have never heard of one person going back to PC. Maybe that will change in this thread
We have a 7 year old Mac at a home and a new Macbook Air and the 7 year old Macbook doesn't seem slow that I have noticed. It's still going strong.

I did my long post earlier

Mac's are more userfiendly but as a trade off limits functionality, it did my head in so I sold my Mac and bought a laptop, then I discovered Windows 7 1,000x better then Vista (which was the reason I stopped using PC in the first place) but still had all the functionality. I know how to protect my computer well so viruses and melware (which is a negative of such flexibility, it has to be said) and haven't had a single crash or performance issue.

The reason for most PC malfunctions is to do with the build quality, some laptops over heat because they're poorly ventelated whilst others just fall to pieces easily. Look out for ones with good build quality, because I can assure you this has nothing to do with the OS.

Macs are the 'casual' computers, the ones people wan't to use when they just wan't it to perform the basics (and to do video, it's good for that, of which case I can recommend it to the OP) but if you want to dig deeper and get more functionality (which I often do) I find the PC far less frustrating. The is a PC for everything, same can't really be said for mac's but it's a good and safe option (as in doesn't require lots of research to find out if the build quality and components are any good) and in that regard macs are a God send, but it doesn't take away the fact that they're overpriced and you could do a lot better getting a PC no matter your skill level, but a lot of the time it's just easier to get a MAC and you know what that's fine they're very efficient little machines with brilliant build quality (and a very nice, clear screen)

ajbeans

It is amazing to me how personal people always take the Mac vs PC debate. Out of everyone I know who went from PC's to Mac's I have never heard of one person going back to PC. Maybe that will change in this thread
We have a 7 year old Mac at a home and a new Macbook Air and the 7 year old Macbook doesn't seem slow that I have noticed. It's still going strong.

I did my long post earlier

Mac's are more userfiendly but as a trade off limits functionality, it did my head in so I sold my Mac and bought a laptop, then I discovered Windows 7 1,000x better then Vista (which was the reason I stopped using PC in the first place) but still had all the functionality. I know how to protect my computer well so viruses and melware (which is a negative of such flexibility, it has to be said) and haven't had a single crash or performance issue.

The reason for most PC malfunctions is to do with the build quality, some laptops over heat because they're poorly ventelated whilst others just fall to pieces easily. Look out for ones with good build quality, because I can assure you this has nothing to do with the OS.

Macs are the 'casual' computers, the ones people wan't to use when they just wan't it to perform the basics (and to do video, it's good for that, of which case I can recommend it to the OP) but if you want to dig deeper and get more functionality (which I often do) I find the PC far less frustrating. The is a PC for everything, same can't really be said for mac's but it's a good and safe option (as in doesn't require lots of research to find out if the build quality and components are any good) and in that regard macs are a God send, but it doesn't take away the fact that they're overpriced and you could do a lot better getting a PC no matter your skill level.

I don't know what you mean about "casual." I assume you mean people that don't want to mess with programming and such, and in that respect, I would agree. I'm not a computer programmer. I'll do what I need to, but I don't have the time or inclination to do a lot in that respect. I don't know anyone personally who does though, but I know a lot of people who hate Mac who really don't explore the programming or custom-building aspect of a PC. To be honest, I actually did prefer Windows. But with several custom-built PCs crapping out on us, we gave up on the hardware. I'm just really hoping the Mac doesn't crap on us, because if it does I'm getting a typewriter. :laugh: I'm over it.

dalgirly

Honestly, most people like apple because it makes you "cooler" to have it. Apple has amazing advertising, and so anyone who is an artist/photographer/graphic design goes with Apple.

My mom runs an advertising company, and they do all their work on PC's. They initially did their art on Apple and business on PC, but then switched to all PC because it was preferred and more cost-effective.

Not saying which is better, but I've always preferred PC, had Apple before, but I just don't like it. I love my acer computer.

Saruman_w

Linux... Oh wait, is this a hardware debate or an OS debate? Oh well, no matter.

yesiamaduck

It is amazing to me how personal people always take the Mac vs PC debate. Out of everyone I know who went from PC's to Mac's I have never heard of one person going back to PC. Maybe that will change in this thread
We have a 7 year old Mac at a home and a new Macbook Air and the 7 year old Macbook doesn't seem slow that I have noticed. It's still going strong.

I did my long post earlier

Mac's are more userfiendly but as a trade off limits functionality, it did my head in so I sold my Mac and bought a laptop, then I discovered Windows 7 1,000x better then Vista (which was the reason I stopped using PC in the first place) but still had all the functionality. I know how to protect my computer well so viruses and melware (which is a negative of such flexibility, it has to be said) and haven't had a single crash or performance issue.

The reason for most PC malfunctions is to do with the build quality, some laptops over heat because they're poorly ventelated whilst others just fall to pieces easily. Look out for ones with good build quality, because I can assure you this has nothing to do with the OS.

Macs are the 'casual' computers, the ones people wan't to use when they just wan't it to perform the basics (and to do video, it's good for that, of which case I can recommend it to the OP) but if you want to dig deeper and get more functionality (which I often do) I find the PC far less frustrating. The is a PC for everything, same can't really be said for mac's but it's a good and safe option (as in doesn't require lots of research to find out if the build quality and components are any good) and in that regard macs are a God send, but it doesn't take away the fact that they're overpriced and you could do a lot better getting a PC no matter your skill level.

I don't know what you mean about "casual." I assume you mean people that don't want to mess with programming and such, and in that respect, I would agree. I'm not a computer programmer. I'll do what I need to, but I don't have the time or inclination to do a lot in that respect. I don't know anyone personally who does though, but I know a lot of people who hate Mac who really don't explore the programming or custom-building aspect of a PC. To be honest, I actually did prefer Windows. But with several custom-built PCs crapping out on us, we gave up on the hardware. I'm just really hoping the Mac doesn't crap on us, because if it does I'm getting a typewriter. :laugh: I'm over it.

I mean casual in the sense the is a lot more stuff you can do with a PC which isn't the stuff the average user would wan't to do, the are more programs that do more niche things on a PC. If you wan't to have you PC perform a certain function then it's often easier and cheaper to do it with the PC. I do all sorts like stream stuff from my PC to other computers around the world, use it as a server, a game console emulator, a recording studio, play PC games with it etc etc etc and it would of cost me a damn sight more to do all these things and some of the software I tried for stuff like Emulation, Server software and Streaming simply didn't work as well. And even all the recording software, screen captioning software and the like cost the earth and then some

theome

I was PC my whole life, then my parents got me a mac laptop for my birthday and at first it was cool and after 5 years its still running great *knock on wood*, never had major problems with it, unlike my pc but i tell you it drives me bat**** trying to figure out how to do simple ****, even microsoft word runs completely diffrent and it drives me nuts. I'll keep it because it was a gift but when it takes a dive- back to a PC for me.

wrevhn

i really see no point in attacking someone for preferring purple to blue. its just a preference. no use in starting war over it. thats what religion is for. lol. jk.

Mymag

I just got my beautiful sweetie-pie PC a few months ago, and she's like my best friend in the whole world and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

HOWEVER

I think if the time came to get a new computer, I'd get a Mac
PC's are sooooo mainstream

killagb

I just got my beautiful sweetie-pie PC a few months ago, and she's like my best friend in the whole world and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

HOWEVER

I think if the time came to get a new computer, I'd get a Mac

It's the glowy lit up Apple logo, isn't it?

Mymag

I just got my beautiful sweetie-pie PC a few months ago, and she's like my best friend in the whole world and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

HOWEVER

I think if the time came to get a new computer, I'd get a Mac

It's the glowy lit up Apple logo, isn't it?

Yeeeeeah, it's kindof irresistable the Dell logo on mine is just-- no

fteale

I AM an elitist jerk, but that's not why I use Mac. We had macs at school, because back then it was them or BBC computers and there was no contest. You didn't have to write your own script every time you wanted to use the mac. So my first computer was a mac (powerbook 210 duo - anyone remember them?) so that it was compatible with the school computers, and I just stuck with them. I have never really got the hang of PCs. As I have worked in photography, music and design, macs always seemed the obvious choice anyway.

killagb

I AM an elitist jerk, but that's not why I use Mac. We had macs at school, because back then it was them or BBC computers and there was no contest. You didn't have to write your own script every time you wanted to use the mac. So my first computer was a mac (powerbook 210 duo - anyone remember them?) so that it was compatible with the school computers, and I just stuck with them. I have never really got the hang of PCs. As I have worked in photography, music and design, macs always seemed the obvious choice anyway.

You drive a Prius, am I right? :laugh:

fteale

"There's nothing about a Mac that makes it more immune to being obsolete in the hardware department. If you have one for 7 years, it's going to seem like an old, slow computer when compared to what's out now. Digital photo processing speed comes down to system resources. I will give that to the Mac, the OS is basically made for people who don't have a clue what they are doing on a computer. Even with that said...a PC computer can run Mac's operating system. "


Just for interest's sake, my desktop computer is a 13 year old mac pro or whatever they were called back then. The duel intel processor things. Anyway, it is still perfectly adequate for most things other than games, which we don't have anyway, 13 years on. I edited my sister's wedding video on it with no problems at all.

fteale

I AM an elitist jerk, but that's not why I use Mac. We had macs at school, because back then it was them or BBC computers and there was no contest. You didn't have to write your own script every time you wanted to use the mac. So my first computer was a mac (powerbook 210 duo - anyone remember them?) so that it was compatible with the school computers, and I just stuck with them. I have never really got the hang of PCs. As I have worked in photography, music and design, macs always seemed the obvious choice anyway.

You drive a Prius, am I right? :laugh:

No.


And we didn't have them at school.

killagb

Just for interest's sake, my desktop computer is a 13 year old mac pro or whatever they were called back then. The duel intel processor things. Anyway, it is still perfectly adequate for most things other than games, which we don't have anyway, 13 years on. I edited my sister's wedding video on it with no problems at all.

Can't really compare something you did 13 years ago just fine on a computer to a computer today as a benchmark. Obviously you had no problems, but a newer computer would get it done much, much faster. Also, there are things the newer computer would be capable of that the old one is not. For instance...64 bit OS.

killagb

I AM an elitist jerk, but that's not why I use Mac. We had macs at school, because back then it was them or BBC computers and there was no contest. You didn't have to write your own script every time you wanted to use the mac. So my first computer was a mac (powerbook 210 duo - anyone remember them?) so that it was compatible with the school computers, and I just stuck with them. I have never really got the hang of PCs. As I have worked in photography, music and design, macs always seemed the obvious choice anyway.

You drive a Prius, am I right? :laugh:

No.


And we didn't have them at school.

I guess there wasn't any humor in school, either? Ah well.

a_stronger_steph

Linux... Oh wait, is this a hardware debate or an OS debate? Oh well, no matter.

Hahaha, I was wondering when someone would chime in on Linux.

I've used both PCs and Macs (and a plethora of operating systems: Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Ubuntu, Red Hat, and OS X). It's curious that people are saying Mac, as an OS, doesn't have as much functionality. It's actually used quite extensively in academic departments because it combines some of the customizeability of Linux with some fancy bells n' whistles.

Personally, I was wary of Mac at first, but my entire research group used them, so I figured I might as well give it a shot for the sake of compatibility. I have an iMac and a MacBook Pro, and they're quite lovely machines. One thing that stands out when I switch to my (personal) HP laptop is something so simple as the trackpad on the laptop: I love the multitouch Mac trackpad. It's intuitive and a dream to use. I actually prefer it to a mouse (which I end up using with my HP laptop).

But I do agree that Mac hardware is overpriced compared to the PC counterpart. I guess it's a matter of whether you think it's worth paying more for some form-factor. If it were my money, and I were purchasing the computer for personal use rather than business, I doubt I would have opted for the Mac. But after having used them for a while, I might consider a personal one in the future. Or I might just get some snazzy, souped up PC and dual-boot it! Decisions, decisions...

fteale

Just for interest's sake, my desktop computer is a 13 year old mac pro or whatever they were called back then. The duel intel processor things. Anyway, it is still perfectly adequate for most things other than games, which we don't have anyway, 13 years on. I edited my sister's wedding video on it with no problems at all.

Can't really compare something you did 13 years ago just fine on a computer to a computer today as a benchmark. Obviously you had no problems, but a newer computer would get it done much, much faster. Also, there are things the newer computer would be capable of that the old one is not. For instance...64 bit OS.

I mean I did the editing recently. On footage from a recent camcorder. Sorry, I thought that was pretty clear.

fteale

I AM an elitist jerk, but that's not why I use Mac. We had macs at school, because back then it was them or BBC computers and there was no contest. You didn't have to write your own script every time you wanted to use the mac. So my first computer was a mac (powerbook 210 duo - anyone remember them?) so that it was compatible with the school computers, and I just stuck with them. I have never really got the hang of PCs. As I have worked in photography, music and design, macs always seemed the obvious choice anyway.

You drive a Prius, am I right? :laugh:

No.


And we didn't have them at school.

I guess there wasn't any humor in school, either? Ah well.

Yeah, we had humour, but you appear to have missed it entirely.

killerqueen17

I love PC's... I've been using them since I was a little tyke, and I feel very comfortable with them. Macs are lovely but I don't feel like I really understand the computer, or have any control over it, if that makes sense... haha.

If I was into graphic design or video editing or something, then I'd def want a Mac-- they're way better for that sort of thing. But for my casual, general usage, a PC is plenty of computer for me... the price of a Mac is pretty deterring, unless I had a dang good reason to need one. lol!!

Mymag

Yeah, we had humour, but you appear to have missed it entirely.

i don't know, i thought it was funny...

killerqueen17

Side note-- the only time I ever got a virus on my PC was when I was trying to download old episodes of The Office for free... downloaded a virus that completely crashed my computer, right in the last month of my Senior year of undergrad.... NOT FUN!! Luckily most of my data was able to be restored. The computer itself was shot.

I don't try to download crap for free anymore-- haven't had a problem since!! My current HP is about 2 and a half years old and still running great-- fast and no problems.

In the meantime I have gotten all seasons of The Office on DVD. Problem solved. :bigsmile:

Mymag

Side note-- the only time I ever got a virus on my PC was when I was trying to download old episodes of The Office for free... downloaded a virus that completely crashed my computer, right in the last month of my Senior year of undergrad.... NOT FUN!! Luckily most of my data was able to be restored. The computer itself was shot.

I don't try to download crap for free anymore-- haven't had a problem since!! My current HP is about 2 and a half years old and still running great-- fast and no problems.

In the meantime I have gotten all seasons of The Office on DVD. Problem solved. :bigsmile:

I got a virus on my PC once... It was so expensive to fix. Luckily, it was right after I'd won 10,000 dollars for being the 500th visitor on a website I'm still waiting for the money, but at least I know it's on it's way.

killagb

Yeah, we had humour, but you appear to have missed it entirely.

I'm sorry that your Cheerios were peed in this morning. I did not do it.

sarahgilmore

I'm another one in the penguin camp

kgb6days

I've had Dells and loved them. However we kept getting viruses and having problems. After multiple times on life support (the PC) we bought a Macbook Pro and fell in love. DH wanted his own laptop and we tried to make ourselves buy a PC. In the end, he got a Mac (the smaller white one). We are now Mac people only with multiple ipods and iPhones. We'll never go back. We've had these computers several years and have not had a single problem with either of them - none, zip, nada. There is a learning curve, but that's true with anything.

wrevhn

I'm ready for a third option, i'm so tired of this fight. I want out.