Windows Vista Upgrade story

[enderwiggin]

Dont do that... go back to xp, go to linux... Mac are really only good for insulated networks where all the work will be done on macs.

I still have no idea how macs have managed to get the reputation they have. Go check out the help line at your local mac store, I had to stand in line their recently it blew. Then theres the overpriced hardware... and the aforemention lack of compatability... yes no matter what anyone tells you, that really exists.

Are you kidding me? Macs are some of the most secure personal computers out. I don't think folks who haven't used a Mac to browse the internet have any idea what they're talking about.

You know that Spyware issue, the one you have to run three or four programs constantly while you browse the web to prevent viruses and losing your data?

Yeah. We don't have that problem.

Compatibility has been an issue because Microsoft has chosen to make it one. The new system software on Macs (OS X) is a shell over a Unix core, and the hardware now supports any OS that any modern PC does.

Please, standing in line at a computer store does NOT make you an expert on Apple computer.

What compatibility issues were you specifically referring to? Unless you're transferring applications back and forth, common documents--like Word and Excel--can just as easily be opened in Microsoft Office on a Mac as they can be on a Windows machine.

The majority of the Mac "issues" I hear about are rumors passed through PC-only users, started by other PC-only users who've never actually used an Apple computer for any length of time.

 

[avidknifeusersf]

Are you kidding me? Macs are some of the most secure personal computers out. I don't think folks who haven't used a Mac to browse the internet have any idea what they're talking about.

You know that Spyware issue, the one you have to run three or four programs constantly while you browse the web to prevent viruses and losing your data?

Yeah. We don't have that problem.

Compatibility has been an issue because Microsoft has chosen to make it one. The new system software on Macs (OS X) is a shell over a Unix core, and the hardware now supports any OS that any modern PC does.

Please, standing in line at a computer store does NOT make you an expert on Apple computer.

What compatibility issues were you specifically referring to? Unless you're transferring applications back and forth, common documents--like Word and Excel--can just as easily be opened in Microsoft Office on a Mac as they can be on a Windows machine.

The majority of the Mac "issues" I hear about are rumors passed through PC-only users, started by other PC-only users who've never actually used an Apple computer for any length of time.

I'm glad you havent had any problems.

I hope it stays that way.

Macs are great for a few very specific apps and very specific people. For lots of video editing they cant be beat... except the really high end CAD stuff, then its back to workstations... For someone who lives in a bubble theyre great too...

But their hardware is overpriced...

I use a lot of computers, I'm very involved in tech biz, and I can tell you if other people in your life have PC's, at work or home, stick with a PC.
I have a mac at home and a pc at work, tranferring even basic word even when ive dumbed down the format has problems for no apparent reason. Excel tables get screwed if im lucky, if im not a formula goes hay wire and I dont figure it out until later...

Lots of companies still dont make mac software and boot camp is not for the computer novice.

Alot of apps wont run natively on a Mac, and connecting them to 99.999% of business networks in the world is way too difficult and wont work with lots of hardware.

Mac's get viruses... look it up... its true. Its just no one bothers. Theyre also very vulnerable to physical hacks, ask your IT guy how long it would take him to get the keychain passwords and comprosmise your whole online life. If he's good it will take about 5 seconds.

I've never seen a problem fixed at the mac store in one visit... I'm sure it happens, heck ive only been there 3 times with a 3 month old desktop that had harware malfunctions for hours at a time waiting to be helped, what do i know?

 

[Bufford]

After spending hours and hours of my time nursing Microsoft's Vista, instead of producing knives, I wonder if it really costs more to own a stable mac that may cost more up front, but saves the user time?

This thought is what is making me weigh out the differences between the two systems. This is an interesting informative thread. When smoke someday pours out of this PC I will then make the decision.

Microsoft has its work cut out for them to convince me to purchase any future products from them

 

[ChadHahn]

After my last Windows computer crashed unexpectedly losing all my data for the third time since I had it, I finally decided to get a Mac. That was about 3 years ago.

I bought a top of the line MacBookPro. Yes it was expensive but 3 years later it is still running strong and although Apple has come out with a new version of the OS I don't feel the need to upgrade. The version I have is still being maintained. I don't forsee having to upgrade my computer anytime soon (knock on wood) so in the long run the price isn't that bad. Sure it's a lot more expensive than a cheap Best Buy laptop, but spec to spec it isn't that much more expensive.

My wife is a student taking classes online. She is sending PowerPoints and Word documents to her classmates everyday as well as downloading them and has never had a problem. Sometimes when she is on our second MacBook I have to use NeoOffice and haven't had a problem with those papers being opened or features being recognized.

Since the majority of the people use Windows computers, most of the niche programs are written for that OS. There aren't many programs that I can't find a Mac version of though. I think the only one I can't find is a free check printing program. I still have my old Windows laptop that I get out whenever I need to print a bunch of checks. I was even able to download a program to open .WMV files in Quicktime.

I bought an Apple Airport and set it up to have a little network for our two laptops and a printer. It was as easy as can be. I just plugged things in and it was set up. I had tried to do this before with windows computers and then with my Mac and then with other brands of routers and could never get things to work. I find this to be the case with everything I try to do with my Apples, I plug what ever into the computer and it starts working.

In the three years I have had my Mac I haven't had a problem with viruses or anything. I do keep my computers hidden but that is more of a hacking issue than a virus issue. I don't run any virus program or firewall. I'm not constantly updating my firewall or virus program like I had to do in the windows days.

If you have a lot of money invested in Windows compatible programs, it can be expensive to switch over, but once you do and get used to the "backwards" way Apples work compared to Windows, I don't think you would want to go back.

Chad

 

[SPXTrader]

Off topic, but ChadHahn, you realize the average life of a hard drive is 3 to 5 years? And the bigger the drive size, the greater likely hood of failure. A 1 TB drive has 4 250 GB platters...that means 8 heads.

OTOH, some drive makers are switching to higher capacity platters. The WD 640 GB has 2 320 GB platters, so only 4 heads to worry about. Start watching...I think you'll see more drives in the 320 multiples coming to the market.

 

[avidknifeusersf]

Off topic, but ChadHahn, you realize the average life of a hard drive is 3 to 5 years? And the bigger the drive size, the greater likely hood of failure. A 1 TB drive has 4 250 GB platters...that means 8 heads.

OTOH, some drive makers are switching to higher capacity platters. The WD 640 GB has 2 320 GB platters, so only 4 heads to worry about. Start watching...I think you'll see more drives in the 320 multiples coming to the market.

Related to that, solid state drives are starting to be moderately affordable, and have faster retrieve times and are infinitely more dependable... (no moving parts!)

 

[SPXTrader]

Related to that, solid state drives are starting to be moderately affordable, and have faster retrieve times and are infinitely more dependable... (no moving parts!)

Yes! I'm looking forward to more SS drives.

I found a 32 GB thumb drive the other day for $ 19.95! I ordered four!

 

[Josh K]

A note on flash (also jump, usb, memory sticks, etc) drives: While there is no danger of moving parts, and they are quite durable, if you buy shoddy (read: piece of crap made in china) drives, they are much more likely to break to to bad solder connections, or damaged chips. These drives are also more sensitive to static electricity, magnets, heat, and sunlight then their spinning counterparts.

That being said, they are also much more reliable, offer faster and less power consuming ways of moving and storing data, and have a longer lifespan. It's like buying carbon fiber instead of FRN.