Debate This: Mac v. PC

pixiesis said:
I think the question isn't actually Mac v. PC but rather Windows v. Apple's Operating System. There are free, open-source operating systems available that are exactly like Apple's low-maintenance OS, but they are free and can be installed into your any computer. As long as you don't have any hardware probs on your current computer, it's worth a try to see if switching OS might do the trick. If it works, it's free! If not, at least it didn't cost you anything.

My dad just wiped out the Windows OS on our dell laptop and installed Ubuntu, which is a free OS like I was describing above. It's pretty cool and so far it works great. I still would love to have a Mac, but mostly because I love how they look!
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My DH used Ubuntu on both of our PCs before we got our Macs. Unfortunately though, the PC would still crash at times making having Ubuntu a moot point. :(
 
Miss Lee said:
My iPod was formatted on Windows, too, and it works perfectly now that I've switched to Mac. I use my iPod just like I always have. And I just bought an iPhone and loaded my entire iTunes library on it! My DH took care of setting everything up when we got the Mac and I don't know if he did anything special with the iPod or not, I just know I've never had an issue with it.
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Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that too! My first iPod was formatted on a PC too and I didn't have any issues when I switched to my Mac.

Also, must mention - definitely buy the Apple Care plan. If you do need service (I had to have a new battery recently), it will be free. I didn't pay a penny for my new battery!
 
Thank you so much everyone!

Miss Lee, glad to hear that you haven't had any problems.

Lean Lori, Thanks for answering my question. I use a PC at work. I hope I don't have any problems going back and forth on a daily basis.

Tricia, I'm so sorry about your battery. The AppleCare plan sounds good!

Again, thank you!

Does anyone use a PC at work and then come home to their Mac? Have any problems going between the 2?
 
Another long time MAC using here. I got my first one back in the mid-80's. I had to use PC's when I worked and I use my Dad's when I visit them, and my iMAC is just way more user friendly.
 
This thread reminds me of an article I read a few months back, "Tech Experts Top Ten Ways to Keep Your Home PC Running Smoothly." Number 10 was "Buy a Mac." :D
 
GO MAC!

Here's a tip: I work in the government, and they always buy PCs. Whatever the government decides, you can bet you're better off doing the exact opposite! ;)
 
Miss Lee and Tricia,

How did you switch your iPod to the Mac and get it to work? If I do that I have to reformat my iPod and lose 2000 songs! Thanks.
 
Thanks for all this great info, Ladies!! Our 8 year old HP pc at home is on its last legs - can't tell you how many times it has crashed right in the middle of a post :mad: I've been considering a Mac and this thread has really pushed me over that fence. Is it best to purchase from the Apple store or online? TIA
 
mabdoo said:
Miss Lee and Tricia,

How did you switch your iPod to the Mac and get it to work? If I do that I have to reformat my iPod and lose 2000 songs! Thanks.
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My DH took care of all that. I'm not sure how or what he did but I'll ask him tonight and get back to you. I do remember that there was an issue right at first, probably because he was trying to transfer accounts from the PC to the Mac without reading the instructions :rolleyes:, but he managed to get it straightened out.

Maybe Tricia can explain it! :D
 
I have an iMac at work and a PC at home, and I work at home one day a week. I have no problem switching between the two. I used to have both a Mac and a PC at work (years ago) and had the monitor and keyboard hooked up to a switching station, so I could switch between machines. All that is to say I guess I was conditioned early on to go back and forth between the two. Part of it depends on how tech savvy you are and how willing you are to learn new ways of doing things. I know I don't take advantage of all the perks of using a Mac yet (I got it at work a few months ago), but I definitely love it. When I have to replace my home computer, I'll get a MacBook.

Go Mac!

anne
 
Govtgirl said:
GO MAC!

Here's a tip: I work in the government, and they always buy PCs. Whatever the government decides, you can bet you're better off doing the exact opposite! ;)
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:D:D

I use PC's and I will continue to since the software I need to use for work is Windows specific and I do use my PC at home for work from time to time. If I didn't I would consider a MAC.
 
chefkate said:
love my mac!

dh has a vaio that crashed this weekend. and i mean crashed! lost everything. i didnt even think that was actually possible!
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Macs can crash too and data can be lost. We have had a couple of Macs crash over the years. The last one we were very fortunate and had a good recent backup so everything was recovered. Always, Always, Always Backup your computer, no matter what you use.
 
mabdoo said:
Miss Lee and Tricia,

How did you switch your iPod to the Mac and get it to work? If I do that I have to reformat my iPod and lose 2000 songs! Thanks.
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No. I didn't need to do anything special. Just make sure you move everything from your PC in iTunes to your Mac and you should be fine! There shouldn't be any formatting issues between your iPod and your Mac. My DH just moved his iTunes account to his Mac and the only issue he had was with his Apps for his iPhone (set them as read only so he had to change that to access them), but his music switched over just fine!
 
dreamyjeanie said:
Macs can crash too and data can be lost. We have had a couple of Macs crash over the years. The last one we were very fortunate and had a good recent backup so everything was recovered. Always, Always, Always Backup your computer, no matter what you use.
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Good thing to remember! Thanks for mentioning that! I don't ever think about it because we have a Time Capsule and all that is automatic! :eek: Sorry for forgetting the one REALLY important thing about ANY computer!
 
dreamyjeanie said:
Macs can crash too and data can be lost. We have had a couple of Macs crash over the years. The last one we were very fortunate and had a good recent backup so everything was recovered. Always, Always, Always Backup your computer, no matter what you use.
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Yes, the sales guy at the Apple store told me that ANY computer can crash. He said it doesn't matter what kind of computer or laptop you get, you always should back up. He even went on to say that all computers, Macs included, can use the same hardware (chips, drives, motherboards, etc) and many times, you'll find the same hardware in a pc that is in a Mac. What makes a Mac unique is the way the hardware is assembled and used. He told me to watch the unibody video and the battery video on the website, which I did. Good videos, but obviously a marketing tool as much as it is informative.

I asked him, so if I have to back up a Mac like a pc and if a Mac can have the same hardware as a pc, why should I buy the Mac? He laughed and said, "Because you like using the Mac. I just saw you smiling when using it. When's the last time you smiled just because you were using your pc?" LOL!
 
It doesn't look like you really need any more votes for the mac, but I thought I'd share my 2 cents anyway. I have had my mac (mini) for about 4 years and my husband has had his (12" powerbook) maybe 6 months longer. Both are still going strong and we've never had any trouble with either one, except having to replace the laptop battery about a year ago. (3 1/2 years isn't too bad when you consider he uses the computer all the time) We will never go back to windows for our personal computing. (I say personal computing because I will probably always have to use windows for work)

I also wanted to respond because I'm another who goes back and forth between a mac and pc and it's no trouble at all. I use a pc at work, and I also have one at home because I'm an architect and AutoCad is not available for macs. I have a kvm switch so that the two computers share monitor, keyboard and mouse, and I literally go back and forth between the two as much as every few minutes (I don't have the pc online because of the security headaches, so I need to switch for e-mail, internet, etc.) and once you're used to both OS's it's not even a conscious adjustment.
 
I say stay with a PC, but maybe do away with Dell. I had problems with my Dell laptop and it was a struggle (understatement) to get them to replace the faulty parts despite my premium warranty. I'm thinking of going with Sony for my next laptop.
 
I have always used PCs, but the time I buy a computer, it may be a Mac.

The thing with the Mac is that they just don't have virus issues. Also, I have alot of windows software, so that is one reason I have always had PCs, however, my boyfriend is a Mac fan, and he told me that you can run your windows programs on a Mac, all you need is the right software, which isn't expensive. Macs are just faster, which probably has to do with the operating system more than anything.

PCs are great as long as you have some good anti-virus and system maintenance software. I use Bit-Defender and System Mechanic on my PCs, and very seldom have problems. They are more affordable than Macs for sure. I guess it depends on how much you want to spend.
 
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