New computer, PC or Mac?

jackknife said:
Is the Mac worth the great price difference over the normal Dell and HP PC's?
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Without a doubt.

The Mac is far superior. At one point, I had four PCs in my home (me, wife, two kids) and lost three PCs to viruses -- despite all the antivirus programs. The upgrade cycle on software and related incompatibility to network routers, printers, etc. cost much time and effort.

The Mac just works. You plug in the printer, it works. You go to Starbucks, it works. You plug in a phone or iPod, it works.

We have owned my wife's iMac for four years. No viruses, no problems, maybe locked up twice. We have two MacBooks, too. Same story, but had them less time. I feel like I would have saved myself a ton of money and aggravation by going Mac from the get-go. They are more expensive, but so much better over the long run.

If you are just getting started, I would definitely go Mac. Easier to use, too.
 
bladefixation2 said:
You hit the nail on the head there. An entry level MacBook is better built than an entry level PC for the reason that Apple just don't offer low end hardware the equivalent of a cheap Windows based laptop. Compare a low end MacBook to a mid range PC of similar price to get a fair comparison.
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lol wut?

The hardware used in Macs and PC can be made by the same manufacturer, eg an intel i7 in a Mac is exactly the same as an intel i7 in a PC........

Here is an Imac on the Australian Apple store.
Total: $2838
Intel 2.8ghz i7 processor
16GB 1333mhz DDR3 RAM
2TB SATA Drive
21.5" Monitor on 1920X1080
ATI 6770M 500mb

Now lets look at the cost of those parts (AUD).
Intel i7 2600K 3.4ghz - $337 (I don't think anyone sells a 2.8ghz i7 in Australia anymore)
16GB G.skill Ripjaws X/Patriot Gamer2 1600mhz DDR3 RAM - $104
Seagate SATA 3 2TB - $129
21.5" ASUS VE228T - $145
ATI Gigabyte 6770 1GB - $107 (no one's selling the 500mb version)
PSU: Thermaltake toughpower XT 775W - $148
Case: Thermaltake Dokker V6 - $61
Logitech G500 Mouse - $59 (will blow away any Mac mouse in terms of comfort, options and versatility, moreso for gaming however)
Logitech G110 Keyboard - $58 (again far more versatile than the Mac keyboard, made for gaming)
Total: $1148 + cost of OS
The parts here are either the same(The 2TB HDD), or even better than the parts in the Imac (GPU, mouse, keyboard, case, processor, and RAM)

If you like the Mac OS then by all means go for the Mac.

OP I would suggest to get a desktop as well if it's going to be used at home, a dedicated keyboard and the larger screen will be far more comfortable in the long term if you're to be typing up a book.
 
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Macs can do some nifty things. But so can a Linux OS. Mac is good if you are getting it because you enjoy the difference between a Mac and PC. Not because you just want to be different like 1/4 of the college students in the U.S. who won't go anywhere after they graduate. Mac or not. :P




The price between a Mac and PC is not justified in my opinion. You can get a cheaper PC that has a good bit more power than a comparable Mac.
 
Well, I have been a PC user all my life but my younger brother is big into Mac and Apple products in general. He likes his Mac because of the simplicity. I have an Alienware PC and love it as well. However, I use it for industrial design work and also some gaming. It is WAYYY overkill for daily/average use. If you want a simple, easy to use machine for average use (no gaming, use of demanding software, or modifying) I'd say Mac honestly. However, for the $1,100 or so a Mac laptop will run you, you can have a custom PC laptop built to your exact requirements and get more for your money. Or, if you want to save some cash, you can buy a sub-$1K PC that will do everything you want it to (browse the internet, run Microsoft office suite, and other basic tasks) just as well as, or better than a Mac.
 
Piso Mojado said:
Get an Osborne! Work with it for a while and you'll be grateful for whatever you eventually wind up with.
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Arthur C Clarke used a Kaypro. Good enough for Arthur C Clarke, good enough for Jackknife.
Arthur C. Clarke lived in Sri Lanka while working on the movie version of his science-fiction novel "2010". He used his Kaypro II and a modem to keep in touch with Peter Hyams (the director) in Los Angeles.
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The difference between an Osborn and Kaypro, the difference between a 4" screen and an 8" screen. ;)

Here's mine:

DSC_0078.jpg
 
I switched over to a Mac a couple of years ago after my PC laptop crashed for the last time...I will never go back.

Go check out some Macbook Pros at an Apple store and see how you like it. If you are willing to pay a slight premium buy one and never look back...
 
If you are just word processing and web surfing, both should do, but Macs are more stable and intuitive. PCs (Windows) are more prone to malware and viruses, and you might end up dreading the moment it boots up each time you have to perform a fix on it. The Blue Screen of Death is not funny. If you can afford it, go with an entry level iMac and it should give you peace of mind in the long run.
 
I have a Windows 7 netbook and PC (which is rather pimped) and I have zero stability issues and they both run very well.

Have the people who have had PC issues used Windows 7, or was it Vista/XP?
 
A mac is just a PC in a prettier package with an uprated pricetag. There is enough software for each these days that most normal computer function can be done on either. Only when you get highly specialized do certain platform specific software packages cater better or worse to your needs.
 
For the experienced computer user all systems will provide the same basic functionality, at the core it seems to me that all operating systems are very similar, it's just the way that things are presented that determines whether people find it frustrating or restrictive.
I've never used one but from what I gather Apple is the most automated, which would mean it is probably the most difficult to fine tune if you don't like the way something works. Windows has a good amount of automation but leaves a lot of stuff open for users to play with. Linux goes to the extreme and lets you tweak and customise absolutely everything, but has very little automation and potentially requires a lot of user effort to run.
 
Macs have their advantages over PCs. The biggest ones being that Mac operating systems are less prone to being attacked by viruses and other malware, and because you can also run Windows on a Mac if you want. The biggest disadvantages with a Mac instead of a PC is the much higher cost for the same hardware (as Roger999 illustrated), and that many programs/games aren't made for Mac so if you don't want to dual boot with Windows, you might not be able to run what you want.

If all you want to do is write, surf the web, do your taxes, and viddy the occasional devotchka, then a Mac will do all that with less issues or tinkering than a PC will. But you'll pay for it in the bank account.
 
I have to take exception to Roger999's Mac build - nobody in their right mind pay's Apple's price for RAM. Especially since it is a 5 min job to install RAM on an iMac, and any decent quality RAM will work. But that is a great way to drive the price of a Mac sky high if one wants to do so...

In my experience (10 years as a Mac consultant and trainer), most people purchase the base model Mac as it is well beyond their requirements. And there are very few people buying Mac's who are interested in assembling a machine - most want a computer that works, not one that needs work.

Dave
 
So far, I've had my Mac for 4 years. I've had every opportunity to have picked up a virus, and not ONCE has there been a problem. Never. Nada.

EVERY one of my other PC's (We have two) have had me spending extra time downloading free or pay software for a 'firewall' or 'virus' protection. Both of them get a virus, which take me hours to go through the procedures to fix them. (I use my mac internet to read the forums on how to fix. :))

I don't find the Mac interface ANY more intuitive than windows. Maybe less so. (Ummmmm, hit F7 to open the DVD tray. WTF? Why don't they put a damn button on it?!)

For timemanagement alone, at this point I highly recommend a Mac. You won't understand exactly why, though, because it will never give you the grief you will have missed. It will just work.

No snob, but my experience with both, at an intermediate level, showed me the way.

Coop
 
MACs and PCs are both good in their own areas.

A good analogy is MACs are like assisted openers and PCs are like manual openers. People have less problems with macs because they are so restricted with programs and settings (opens automatically). Mac tries to control the entire user experience so users can't break things. Windows allows more control but requires a little more effort to properly maintain (manually open). With windows 7 they have tried to make it more user friendly, to smooth out the action if you will.

Some areas where Macs tend to shine
-out of the box security
-video editing
-journalism
-minimal computer knowledge required for basic usage
-low maintenance

Some areas where PCs tend to shine
-software compatibility
-customization
-Video games
-advanced features/open environment for more advanced users

Or you can go with the opinel of the computer world and go with some custom unix boxes!

My personal preference is for windows machines, but I'm in IT and build my own computers. So if there is a fault, it's because I did it. If I had to recommend a no hassle laptop for someone who has a medium to high budget and does no gaming, MAC would probably be one of the primary runners in that race.
Simplicity leads to usability and reliability

Many of the deciding lines that differentiated MACs vs PCs have blurred over time and will continue to blur more, and that's good for us consumers.

But to try to get this back to the original post and away from a MAC vs PC thread, is it worth the difference? Well that depends.
So lets take a look at the OP's situation.
- new user
- little experience
- plans to take classes
- does not have high processing power needs
- has funds for medium to high laptop purchase

My opinion is you could get by with something substantially less expensive then a MAC, but the MAC would futureproof you for longer and make your introduction into computers an easier experience without as much maintenance. Computer classes may or may not cater to Macs since they are a different animal so you should ask before signing up.
 
Mac.

I built my first pc back in 1987, owned pc's (laptops and desktops) for personal use and work since then - owned several pda's over the years running windows ce, and about two years ago, after years of frustrations and after I got my wife a laptop running Vista, threw the thing across the room and we converted to mac.

Two macbook pro 13", kids each have an iPad, and the wife and I use iPhones. Easy, intuitive, well built - they just work. This coming from a veteran pc user since 1987.

Apple will have to screw the pooch big time before I go back.

I recommend a 13" macbook pro - should have all the things you need in it for your proposed uses.

Good luck. If you decide to get a mac I recommend considering taking a few sit down sessions with the people at the Apple store to get the basics under your belt. Nothing like being able to make an appointment and drive to the nearest Apple store if you are having a problem.
 
Roger999 said:
lol wut?

The hardware used in Macs and PC can be made by the same manufacturer, eg an intel i7 in a Mac is exactly the same as an intel i7 in a PC........

Here is an Imac on the Australian Apple store.
Total: $2838
Intel 2.8ghz i7 processor
16GB 1333mhz DDR3 RAM
2TB SATA Drive
21.5" Monitor on 1920X1080
ATI 6770M 500mb

Now lets look at the cost of those parts (AUD).
Intel i7 2600K 3.4ghz - $337 (I don't think anyone sells a 2.8ghz i7 in Australia anymore)
16GB G.skill Ripjaws X/Patriot Gamer2 1600mhz DDR3 RAM - $104
Seagate SATA 3 2TB - $129
21.5" ASUS VE228T - $145
ATI Gigabyte 6770 1GB - $107 (no one's selling the 500mb version)
PSU: Thermaltake toughpower XT 775W - $148
Case: Thermaltake Dokker V6 - $61
Logitech G500 Mouse - $59 (will blow away any Mac mouse in terms of comfort, options and versatility, moreso for gaming however)
Logitech G110 Keyboard - $58 (again far more versatile than the Mac keyboard, made for gaming)
Total: $1148 + cost of OS
The parts here are either the same(The 2TB HDD), or even better than the parts in the Imac (GPU, mouse, keyboard, case, processor, and RAM)

If you like the Mac OS then by all means go for the Mac.

OP I would suggest to get a desktop as well if it's going to be used at home, a dedicated keyboard and the larger screen will be far more comfortable in the long term if you're to be typing up a book.
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I take your point but what I was saying was don't compare the cheapest windows based laptop with the cheapest MacBook because that's an unfair comparison from the point of view of the windows machine, mac hardware is fairly good generally speaking but I wasn't saying its cheaper than the equivalent windows machine, just that there are some really cheap and nasty windows laptops out there for which there is no equivalent mac
 
^^^ Drunk Leprechaun: Good post. Clearly outlined.

Coop
 
jackknife said:
So the family gave me some very generous gift cards for Christmas, and I'm going to join the 21st century. I'm going to get my own laptop and learn to use a computer for more than just getting online and posting on a forum. I'm torn between the two, and I know very little about the things. I do intend to take some courses at a local community college, if they have any courses for senior citizens like "Computers for idiots; this is how you do it!"

Is the Mac worth the great price difference over the normal Dell and HP PC's?

Carl.
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Link

You don't sound like you have many expectations from a laptop other than maybe webcam, internet, a few standard programs like Word, Excel, Picassa, etc.

You can easily buy a PC with an i3 Intel chip, 500gb hard drive, and 4GB of memory, and Windows 7 for less than $400. My recommendations are Asus and Toshiba. Most of the rest do not come close in quality to those two brands. See link above for what I am talking about.
 
I used to be a PC guy through and through. I used to replace the $400 laptop every year. I finally got sick of all the Dell bloatware crap (all PC laptops come with it) and I finally bought myself a Macbook Pro. That was 15 months ago. Now, my wife has a Macbook, and Ipad2, and I bought a 27" iMac for our desktop for the kids. Its an excellent investment. Macs are the best, no doubt.
 
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