Windows verses Mac??????????

[Captned]

Time to replace the home computer, everyone and their cousin is telling me to get a Mac.....Problem is, my work software and several other needed programs are not available in MAC. I know that there are programs for the Mac that will allow you to run a windows program on the mac, has anyone here had that experience and if so, how is it? I like the way the Mac looks, etc.. But hell, its twice as much as a Dell or something similar.... And if I get the Mac, I gotta buy a copy of windows, a fax program, adobe acrobat, etc...
What ya say, Mac or Windows??

Confused in Miami...

Captned
MBMM

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have the same issue. Some of the work software needs windows. The Macs are very stable, but for less than $400 you can get a great windows machine. I think you'll have to stay with windows (for now).

 

[fissioneng]

Age old discussion certain to start a war.

If you are designer/photographer/artist or like "trendy", "hip" things, a Mac is the ONLY way to go. Apple has owned that space for years.

If you are anyone else, a Windows machine will do fine. I just replaced an old clunker with a new Dell for less than $600. I am amazed at the power and speed.

 

[SportFishCruising]

...if I get the Mac, I gotta buy a copy of windows, a fax program, adobe acrobat, etc...
What ya say, Mac or Windows??

I think you answered your own question; makes it very expensive when you have to buy OS Windows, fax, etc. for it. Unless you have been a user of MAC, and had all the programs and are used to a MAC, or have progams that require MAC, then you are like most of us that works with Windows and get by fairly inexpensively. Unfortuantely though, you may have upgrade programs anyway to run on the new Windows platform; I know I need to if buying new and 'upgrading' from XP.
My son just got a replacement HP under a 3 yr warranty, the replacement was valued at $800cdn. and he bought the original 2.5yrs ago for $1000cdn.
Was a good deal and the new one has another 1yr warranty and is faster and more powerful. I bought a similiar HP Laptop 3 yrs ago for around $1200cdn with 5 year warranty. I returned it twice for repair because I dropped it (lol..twice). HP does very very good for us in performance and warranties.
(Note my pricing is CDN...reduce by 50% for USA...lol..life in Canada eh.)

 

[krush]

Macs cost more, but they just work. Winblows has some amazing ability to fill itself up with junk/spyware/viruses and get slower and slower and slower (kind of like bottom growth).

Macs just go and go and are much more user friendly. My computer nerd friend is way into computers and bought his first Mac a year or two ago---he said "I'm bored, there is nothing for me to fix!".

My next computer may be a mac

 

[holtcl]

I have been a Mac user for going on 10 years and as they say "once you go Mac, you never go back". Seriously though, I use one at work and at home, and though the up-front cost may be more, I would not consider going back to PC. The Mac is much less hassle, and less susceptible to viruses. Not sure how software updates for the PC are handled, but for the Mac it's just a simple free update through the web, which the computer automatically finds for me and I just click 'agree'.

With regard to the software issue and compatibility. I have no compatibility problems working with my PC coworkers and swapping files back and forth. The other issue is working with PC-only programs which I do need to do periodically for my data analysis work. For this, I recommend "Parallels" software, which is very easy to use, much improvement over the earlier "virtual PC".

Hope that is helpful and good luck with your new unit, be it Mac or PC!

 

[dwaynec]

When my old IBM thinkpad died earlier this summer, I bought one of the new all aluminum cased Macbooks. $1100 was what I paid for a 13 inch model.

It takes a little getting used to, but it only took me a couple of days to learn how to use a touchpad without any mouse buttons, and not having to have a towel on my lap to keep my legs from being burned. I didn't have to worry about software incompatibility, as the software I use the most is available for the Mac.

Nice being able to use the computer virtually all day long without having a cord hooked up to it.

 

[GJH]

We have two Macs here on "Incentive", which is also our home. One is a G5 I-Mac running their "Tiger" OS and the other an Intel MacBook running "Leopard", which is the latest. The hard drive on the latter crapped out after two years, which apparently was a known issue on my particular model.

Anyway, I am less than enamored with my machines, I could go on and on. Maybe the deal is that they are just "less awful" than Windows machines. If you want more detail I can provide it later, but we are underway right now, choogling up the Neuse River after a four day cruise to Ocracoke and South River, NC.

But my quick answer is, don't waste your time and money.

 

[Peter Mitchell]

I'm a Mac user and have been for years. All I can say is why did you purchase a Hatteras instead of a Bayliner? After all, they both float!

 

[GJH]

If only my computers could be as good as a Bayliner in doing their respective jobs. One of my life goals is to float test both of my computers. I predict that a Bayliner will out perform the Macs in that regard as well.

"Incentive" is, I am sure , quite insulted in its FRP heart that you equated it to a Mac, as I have cursed these computers 100 times more than I have ever cursed this boat.

 

[Captned]

ROFL! Thanks guys, I'll drink on it tonight and see what happens...

Captned
MBMM

 

[TopHattandTails]

I've used "PC's" for the past 20 years and bit the bullet on a Mac about 2 years ago. I work in the financial / investment services world lots of number crunching and database work) and have a HUGE need for PC / windows based software. I rarely use the Mac software for anything legitimate, other than photos, music, and surfing the net (and it is really nice for photos and music). That said, I will never buy another PC. I save about 2-3 hours a week by not having printer, scanner, networking, internet, etc. connection issues. There are a few options for running PC software on the Mac - I use Parallels. I'm not overly impressed with Parallels, but it works. It runs a little slower, but I understand if you max out the memory / RAM, it is much better (on the to do list). Its still better running Parallels on the Mac than dealing with a PC. It really is nice when a computer works. Spend the extra $500 and get a Mac / related software. End of rant.

 

[Westfield 11]

Once you go Mac, you never go back.......

Reliability..... it's not just for hippies anymore.

 

[dwaynec]

I havn't had my Mac long enough for it to be a thorn in my side yet. I do have some issues with the OS 10.5 "Leopard", but that is because I always ran Linux on my IBM and I got used to being able to customize it quite easily. OS X may be unix (BSD) based, but it sure isn't the same.