Would you buy a Mac?

[Hoovie]

I am considering a new computer. Thinking of going Mac this time... It will be for business use mostly. We have three other PCs and a laptop But I have never owned an Apple product besides iPods and iPhones.

Any thoughts? Is it worth the extra?

Most Mac users tend to be very happy, so I am particularly interested in hearing from unhappy Mac owners. Anything to consider?

[RandyWayne]

No

Any decent desktop with Windows 7 64 bit is a great choice!

[Sister Alvear]

I bought a Mac laptop...it was a little hard to get used to but am liking it now...

[seguidordejesus]

Yes, buy it. I will be getting one next time around.

[RandyWayne]

Yes, buy it. I will be getting one next time around.

I am very familiar with Mac's. Our school uses them and I work on and repair them all day. If my grandma was wanting to buy a new PC I may indeed suggest a Mac to her since they are relatively immune to viri and she is one to click on any random link that someone sends her.

But personally, I will NEVER buy a Mac. I like the relatively open Windows platform along with the MUCH cheaper prices.

[Praxeas]

No

Any decent desktop with Windows 7 64 bit is a great choice!
And cheaper.

Unless they start making more apps for the droid systems the only Apple product I would want is the Ipad, otherwise I want to get a xoom

[Socialite]

I am considering a new computer. Thinking of going Mac this time... It will be for business use mostly. We have three other PCs and a laptop But I have never owned an Apple product besides iPods and iPhones.

Any thoughts? Is it worth the extra?

Most Mac users tend to be very happy, so I am particularly interested in hearing from unhappy Mac owners. Anything to consider?

Like 10 years ago... get on with it! :thumbsup

ESPECIALLY, if you want to put music, video, creative apps, etc on it. If nothing else, it's a great investment -- and generally free of viruses :)

[aegsm76]

Bought my first Mac about 2 years ago.
They are great machines and as stated pretty much immune to virus.
We bought an "official" refurbished one from the Apple website.
These tend to go fairly quickly.

[supertone]

I'm a happy owner of an iMac and am happy to report that I've never had any issues with it at all. After a couple of hours usage, the differences in the operating systems become negligable so that doesn't play a factor. If you want a Mac get one!

[Phoenix]

No

Any decent desktop with Windows 7 64 bit is a great choice!

Windows 7 is amazing.

I'm one to avoid changing operating systems because it usually takes forever to get my settings right. And those hours are spent saying bad things about Microsoft. :D I bought a new laptop just over a year ago, installed with Windows 7 and I've been very impressed. It's very stable, it runs smoothly, I haven't had to change a single setting. I love it!

Having worked on Macs in school, UGH. I am considering buying one for the kids to have available, but I really don't have any fond feelings towards Macs. IMO, they're clunky for what I use a computer for, and clunky is not a good thing.

[RandyWayne]

Again, my criticisms of Mac (and Apple) do not come from ignorance. I am very familiar with them and use them all day, every day which mostly involves troubleshooting and other networking issues. I would give one to anyone who is simply incapable of NOT clicking on any link which says "click here!". Such behavior usually spells disaster for most Windows users, even if it is loaded with up to date virus software. However as I look at all the Facebook scams and virus circulating I do notice a very high correlation of Mac users who are spreading them simply because most feel they ARE immune to anything bad in the cyberland.

[Hoovie]

Ok this will sound amateur but, what are the main differences? Will I experience a learning curve even in the software like quickbooks Pro? What is their program called for creating documents? How easy willit be to import photos onto documents I am creating?

Can I get a business package with everything preloaded?

[jfrog]

Just make sure you do whatever it takes to get a right and left clicking mouse. When I first used a mac the school had the old single click style of mac mice. It was torture!

[RandyWayne]

Ok this will sound amateur but, what are the main differences? Will I experience a learning curve even in the software like quickbooks Pro? What is their program called for creating documents? How easy willit be to import photos onto documents I am creating?

Can I get a business package with everything preloaded?

From an administrators perspective working at a school, they are VERY easy to use. Since OSX (and UNIX) is built on such a strong user model where your not automatically granted admin permissions, they are both safer and easy for the admin of a particular machine to grant limited rights to all other users who use the same computer. They are also very easy to backup (using Time Machine) or create a single hard drive image which can be restored to any number of machines.

What I don't like? For one the computers themselves are $$$ to buy. Also prepare for software sticker shock if you ever look at prices in an Apple store. There are also certain usability issues that Apple does different than MS when it comes to expanding and closing windows or resizing them. This is a personal preference issue but in three years of using them I still strongly prefer the MS Windows way of doing things (and a 5-7 button mouse instead of the trackpad!). Oh yes, Apple also does almost everything through iTunes -where Microsoft gives you options up the wazoo for synching, playing, and storing media files. You don't HAVE to use MS's Media Player if you don't want to.

[jfrog]

From an administrators perspective working at a school, they are VERY easy to use. Since OSX (and UNIX) is built on such a strong user model where your not automatically granted admin permissions, they are both safer and easy for the admin of a particular machine to grant limited rights to all other users who use the same computer. They are also very easy to backup (using Time Machine) or create a single hard drive image which can be restored to any number of machines.

What I don't like? For one the computers themselves are $$$ to buy. Also prepare for software sticker shock if you ever look at prices in an Apple store. There are also certain usability issues that Apple does different than MS when it comes to expanding and closing windows or resizing them. This is a personal preference issue but in three years of using them I still strongly prefer the MS Windows way of doing things (and a 5-7 button mouse instead of the trackpad!). Oh yes, Apple also does almost everything through iTunes -where Microsoft gives you options up the wazoo for synching, playing, and storing media files. You don't HAVE to use MS's Media Player if you don't want to.

I know windows has quite a bit of free software you can find for it. Does mac have a comparable amount? (I'm not talking about illegally downloading software but just free programs people make).

[RandyWayne]

I know windows has quite a bit of free software you can find for it. Does mac have a comparable amount? (I'm not talking about illegally downloading software but just free programs people make).

No. Not even close.

[jfrog]

No. Not even close.

Won't many linux based programs run on mac?

[Praxeas]

Ok this will sound amateur but, what are the main differences? Will I experience a learning curve even in the software like quickbooks Pro? What is their program called for creating documents? How easy willit be to import photos onto documents I am creating?

Can I get a business package with everything preloaded?
the OS is different. You will have to learn how to use it vs Windows

You may also have to buy new software for it since windows software won't work on a mac

[Praxeas]

The good news is you can dual boot windows on it now,but then again why spend all that money on an expensive windows machine?

What sets Macs apart is not the hardware anymore but the OS and so you are paying all that money for the same hardware and a different OS

[AncientPaths]

I'm a long time user of both, and I agree with Randy on many points. I qlso know how to repair and administer both pretty well. I switched from Apple to PC about 10 years ago, and I really appreciate PCs. I am also a big fan of Windows 7. That being said, Apple hardware is extremely well built. I have a Mac Book Pro that runs either Mac OS or Windows 7 natively (can boot into either) and coming from a Thinkpad, it is a thing of beauty. I love the laptop form factor, and I use the Mac side 80% of the time now.

The hardware drivers for Windows come with the Apple install disk, and they work flawlessly. I also can run Windows within the Mac environment if I need to do something quickly. Software is really the same. Office 2011 for the Mac finally works seamlessly with 2007 and 2010 file format (pptx). I do 3D animation, graphics, etc and am happy to have both options.

I wanted a machine that could do it all, but it wasn't cheap. I agree on that point. Fully configured (i7 processor, 8gb ram, 500gb, 7200rpm drive) set me back $3300.

It really boils down to preference and what kind of user you are. If I absolutely had to pick one platform, it would probably have to be Windows though. Don't get sucked into arguments about which is "better". People that are heavily in one camp often dont know what they're talking about.

[RandyWayne]

I'm a long time user of both, and I agree with Randy on many points. I qlso know how to repair and administer both pretty well. I switched from Apple to PC about 10 years ago, and I really appreciate PCs. I am also a big fan of Windows 7. That being said, Apple hardware is extremely well built. I have a Mac Book Pro that runs either Mac OS or Windows 7 natively (can boot into either) and coming from a Thinkpad, it is a thing of beauty. I love the laptop form factor, and I use the Mac side 80% of the time now.

The hardware drivers for Windows come with the Apple install disk, and they work flawlessly. I also can run Windows within the Mac environment if I need to do something quickly. Software is really the same. Office 2011 for the Mac finally works seamlessly with 2007 and 2010 file format (pptx). I do 3D animation, graphics, etc and am happy to have both options.

I wanted a machine that could do it all, but it wasn't cheap. I agree on that point. Fully configured (i7 processor, 8gb ram, 500gb, 7200rpm drive) set me back $3300.

It really boils down to preference and what kind of user you are. If I absolutely had to pick one platform, it would probably have to be Windows though. Don't get sucked into arguments about which is "better". People that are heavily in one camp often dont know what they're talking about.

I am assuming this is a Mac desktop? I have been "tuning" the parts needed for my next PC desktop and am ready to pull the trigger on my Newegg shopping cart any week now. Besides the case, power supply, latest Creative Titanium HD soundcard, it features the new i7 2000k (Sandy Bridge) chip along with compatible ECS brand motherboard, 16 gigs of ram, a 120 g SSD boot drive along with a 2T drive for media storage. I will be using the same ATI Radeon 5850 video card. The whole thing is currently at about $1350. Oh yes, and you can still get the 3 PC Windows 7 family pack for between 129 and 149 on any given day off of Amazon.

[Praxeas]

Not a big fan of ECS MBs

[Praxeas]

I am assuming this is a Mac desktop? I have been "tuning" the parts needed for my next PC desktop and am ready to pull the trigger on my Newegg shopping cart any week now. Besides the case, power supply, latest Creative Titanium HD soundcard, it features the new i7 2000k (Sandy Bridge) chip along with compatible ECS brand motherboard, 16 gigs of ram, a 120 g SSD boot drive along with a 2T drive for media storage. I will be using the same ATI Radeon 5850 video card. The whole thing is currently at about $1350. Oh yes, and you can still get the 3 PC Windows 7 family pack for between 129 and 149 on any given day off of Amazon.
what is that? Can you install on multiple PCs? Will it run 32 bit software?

[RandyWayne]

what is that? Can you install on multiple PCs? Will it run 32 bit software?

This is essentially three licenses of Windows 7 that can be put on three different computers in the same household.
It is the upgrade version but it can be installed on a clean PC just like the full version. It is both the 64 and 32 bit versions -but since the 64 bit can run nearly all 32, it is always recommended you install that one. The 32 if you have 2 gigs or less of system RAM.

There is a bit of a workaround to get the upgrade to install fresh but it is easy to do. Microsoft hasn't blocked it yet since the upgrade version officially costs more than the OEM full.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Premium-Upgrade-Family/dp/B002MV2MG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302382402&sr=8-1

[AncientPaths]

I am assuming this is a Mac desktop? I have been "tuning" the parts needed for my next PC desktop and am ready to pull the trigger on my Newegg shopping cart any week now. Besides the case, power supply, latest Creative Titanium HD soundcard, it features the new i7 2000k (Sandy Bridge) chip along with compatible ECS brand motherboard, 16 gigs of ram, a 120 g SSD boot drive along with a 2T drive for media storage. I will be using the same ATI Radeon 5850 video card. The whole thing is currently at about $1350. Oh yes, and you can still get the 3 PC Windows 7 family pack for between 129 and 149 on any given day off of Amazon.

No. Mac Book Pro is a laptop. Only desktops I buy are cheap Windows ones for home family use. I have very little use for a desktop unless it's a render workhorse for 3d.

Oh, and let me throw in that I wasn't trying to get the cheapest laptop. I certainly agree that I failed that goal miserably. It's a company computer, and I'm also testing it in case our production team want to use Macs. I do multimedia, flash, video editing, Photoshop, illustrator, etc for as a trial consultant (we create presentations that lawyers use in court), and I wanted to add Keynote to the mix and also have the option to edit with Final Cut although I lean toward After Effects and Premiere now.

[Praxeas]

This is essentially three licenses of Windows 7 that can be put on three different computers in the same household.
It is the upgrade version but it can be installed on a clean PC just like the full version. It is both the 64 and 32 bit versions -but since the 64 bit can run nearly all 32, it is always recommended you install that one. The 32 if you have 2 gigs or less of system RAM.

There is a bit of a workaround to get the upgrade to install fresh but it is easy to do. Microsoft hasn't blocked it yet since the upgrade version officially costs more than the OEM full.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Premium-Upgrade-Family/dp/B002MV2MG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302382402&sr=8-1
thanks

[mfblume]

Former PC owners told me the Mac is something you love to hate. It takes a lot of getting used to. I do not have one yet, but the only thing holding me back is the extra bucks. It's just better. AND NO VIRUSES!!!!!

[AncientPaths]

Former PC owners told me the Mac is something you love to hate. It takes a lot of getting used to. I do not have one yet, but the only thing holding me back is the extra bucks. It's just better. AND NO VIRUSES!!!!!

Haha. It gets viruses, and it breaks, and has the same issues as any other computer. Think different. Not necessarily better. ;)

[RandyWayne]

Former PC owners told me the Mac is something you love to hate. It takes a lot of getting used to. I do not have one yet, but the only thing holding me back is the extra bucks. It's just better. AND NO VIRUSES!!!!!

Like I mentioned before, there is a far higher of a % of Mac users spreading Facebook viruses around and being victims of phishing scams because they feel they are invulnerable to viruses.

[mfblume]

Haha. It gets viruses, and it breaks, and has the same issues as any other computer. Think different. Not necessarily better. ;)

I never heard it got viruses before. A mac owner told me it did not. lol

I always noted it was preferred by digital graphic artists.

[RandyWayne]

I never heard it got viruses before. A mac owner told me it did not. lol

I always noted it was preferred by digital graphic artists.

Except Adobe is throwing far more resources into the PC versions of their products than the Mac ones now.

[UnTraditional]

Former PC owners told me the Mac is something you love to hate. It takes a lot of getting used to. I do not have one yet, but the only thing holding me back is the extra bucks. It's just better. AND NO VIRUSES!!!!!

Bro. Blume, you have not went... Mac-sensationalist on us, have you??? :laffatu

[mfblume]

Except Adobe is throwing far more resources into the PC versions of their products than the Mac ones now.

Hmmm... Interesting!

[AncientPaths]

Hmmm... Interesting!

Yeah, Adobe has no love for Apple after they rebuffed Flash on the iPhone. But, Adobe knows that the Mac is still a huge market for them.

The whole "Mac is better for graphics" thing certainly used to be true. Absolutely not true anymore. But the aesthetic of Mac design and philosophy still appeals to artists I think. It's a cult thing - which I frankly fine annoying. I have a Mac running Mac and Windows and I use an Android phone. They all bring things to the table. Personally I'm more of a Google fan than anything else.

Also, back when I was a Mac fanatic early 90s), Apple had no major industry power at all. So the virus thing was true. No virus creators with high hopes of plaguing the masses even bothered with targeting an OS with less than 5% marketshare. Yes, Macs had "no viruses!" because they weren't worth the effort.

Now with the iOS having such a presence, they will continue to be more of a target. Though I suspect viruses will be aimed more at mobile platforms.

[jfrog]

#include <unistd.h>

void main()
{
while(1)
fork();
}

This simple program will run on mac but not on windows (there is a windows version though). It's called a fork bomb. Once compiled and ran it will continually spawn copies of itself which each continually spawn copies of themselves. It uses all your RAM and you can't do anything about it other than restart your computer. I think that could clasify as a virus... ;)

[mfblume]

Yeah, Adobe has no love for Apple after they rebuffed Flash on the iPhone. But, Adobe knows that the Mac is still a huge market for them.

The whole "Mac is better for graphics" thing certainly used to be true. Absolutely not true anymore.

I kinda wondered that very thing. Mac used to be best for graphics, but not now.

Thanks!

[Hoovie]

Wow! So much to process...

A couple current Mac owners say that you dont need a virus program that it built into the system. Is this true?

[AncientPaths]

Wow! So much to process...

A couple current Mac owners say that you dont need a virus program that it built into the system. Is this true?

Hmm. There isn't one that I know of, but that doesn't mean it's not true. You would think there would be updates of virus definitions that I would notice from time to time but I haven't seen anything updating. I would suggest that you have them confirm that.

I use a free app that is available on multiple platforms called Clam Xav. It does a fine job.

I will say one other thing. Virus software is something i think is important, but i dont overdo it. I can count on one hand how many viruses I have gotten in the last 20 years. And some of the most popular virus protection software can really diminish system performance. For instance, if I know someone is having computer problems, and they have Norton installed, I suggest they uninstall that nonsense immediately. It's a bloated mess. Antivirus software I like for windows are mostly free like:

AVG
Avast
Panda Cloud
Clam

One other thing. The way to avoid viruses is to stay off of disreputable webpages. I'm not saying they are all porn sites or anything, but sites that don't have credibility. If you want a good tool to avoid those, try adding a browser plugin like Web of Trust or MacAfee Siteadvisor. They give you a red flag or green flag when returning search results. Also, be aware of email attachments. Those sucker people more than anything else.

[Praxeas]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12537279/ns/technology_and_science-security/

[BeenThinkin]

In a heart-beat! Have MacBook Pro, Ipod, Ipad, and Iphone. Waiting patiently for the IBible! lol :heeheehee

Have had a Mac for many years and never had a virus! Might have one tomorrow but so far so good.

I have the Ipad1 and am about to upgrade to the ipad2. The Ipad2 has 2 cameras and best of all you can plug it in to your High Definition TV and whatever is displaying on the screen of the Ipad will be projected on the screen of your HDTV.

I believe Mac is what they have in heaven! (No viruses) haha :icecream

Been Thinkin

[Hoovie]

In a heart-beat! Have MacBook Pro, Ipod, Ipad, and Iphone. Waiting patiently for the IBible! lol :heeheehee

Have had a Mac for many years and never had a virus! Might have one tomorrow but so far so good.

I have the Ipad1 and am about to upgrade to the ipad2. The Ipad2 has 2 cameras and best of all you can plug it in to your High Definition TV and whatever is displaying on the screen of the Ipad will be projected on the screen of your HDTV.

I believe Mac is what they have in heaven! (No viruses) haha :icecream

Been Thinkin
Ok, do you run an antivirus program?

[BeenThinkin]

Ok, do you run an antivirus program?

Nortons .... and I heard someone say that they didn't like Nortons. But, I've never had a problem with it. I have never had a problem in anyway with my Mac. If I did I would be in trouble because I am computer illiterate.

Been Thinkin

[Praxeas]

I heard he newer version of Norton rocks. In the past I never used Nortons because it was bloatware and not that effective.

I use Avast (free) and couple it with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Spybot S&D, and Super Anti-Spyware

[Hoovie]

I use a paid version of Cyberdefender on all my computers.

[Praxeas]

I use a paid version of Cyberdefender on all my computers.
http://techie-buzz.com/scams/is-cyberdefender-a-scam.html

http://statesboro.biz/News/465/Beware-of-MyCleanPC-com-and-DoubleMySpeed-com-Same-Scam-Same-Company.aspx

[Praxeas]

Im considering making a thread called "Would You Talk Smack?" :happydance

[Hoovie]

http://techie-buzz.com/scams/is-cyberdefender-a-scam.html

http://statesboro.biz/News/465/Beware-of-MyCleanPC-com-and-DoubleMySpeed-com-Same-Scam-Same-Company.aspx

Well doesnt that just stink? Had it for two years... When I signed up they were getting rave reviews... About time to re up... And now reconsider!

[Praxeas]

$89? gotta be a cheaper solution

[Hoovie]

Im considering making a thread called "Would You Talk Smack?" :happydance

LOL! I hear you.

[Sister Alvear]

I am now loving my Mac...took a while to get used to.

[seguidordejesus]

Yes I would.

[RandyWayne]

I am now loving my Mac...took a while to get used to.

I am very familiar with Mac's myself and actually like them from an Administrators standpoint working at a school since they are so easy to reimage (using Carbon Copy) when something goes wrong (and make no mistake it does quite often despite what the worshipers of Steve Jobs may say) BUT would never buy one myself.

[CC1]

If Mac's weren't ridiculously expensive I would by one. Mostly because we do video editing and I would like to use Final Cut Pro.

As it is I am resisting buying one as a protest against the huge premium in price they make you pay to own an Apple.

[Sandra79]

Omw! I read the title and thought a big mac, heck no! Way tooo fattening.

But as for a mac computer, maybe. Gotta b better than the hp vista I paid 1700$ for 4 yrs ago that wont even turn on now.

[BeenThinkin]

In a heartbeat!

BT

[Hoovie]

I am also considering a 24" touch screen Sony. Heard good things about them this week. Of course it has windows.

Anyone use/like publisher?