Mac or PC?

[AgentS]

Hey everyone,
I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times, but which is better; Mac or PC? I currently have a Dell laptop, which I have owned for 3 years, and I am quite frankly starting to hate it. Over the last week and a half several programs (iTunes, the program I use to access the internet, etc.) Have stopped working. For seemingly no reason at all. I have tried everything I can think of to fix these problems, including reinstalling them. No effect. Nothing has been fixed. At this point I want a new laptop, and I feel like a Macbook is the best way to go.

I am just so frustrated by Windows and PC's right now. Everytime I use my friend's macbook or one of the macs on my university campus I feel like they run much smoother. I've also heard they have significantly less problems than PC's. Anybody know if this is true? Are macs easy to get used to?

What do you prefer? Mac or PC? And why?

Thanks, all help is appreciated.

[xblacklightsx]

Yeah, haha in my opinion Mac's are twenty times better than PC's. I used to have PC's back in around 2005-2008 and I gave THREE of them viruses (and no it was not the porn). They were legit websites and I got a spam virus. Anyway I've had my Macbook for about two years now and I have had a grand total of zero issues with it. Yeah its more expensive, yeah it can't play games, but if you want a good, solid system that's reliable and won't give you viruses, then I would strongly recommend investing in a Mac.

Yeah I used to have the same problem with PC's. I wasn't able to burn CD's, I wasn't able to open certain applications and this was me using Windows XP! Yeah it takes a little getting used to with its OS and how there isn't like a Start button where you can view all your applications but I've grown accustomed to the Dock so much that I forgot how to use a PC!

So yeah for me Mac>PC

[starfish]

Oh dear, not again.

Sorry but this topic always seems to turn into a flame war.

Before that happens. I've been a long time Mac user. Since the mid 90's or so. I also very familiar with Windows, Linux and many other operating systems. So I can't really answer the switching question, as I do it several times a day.

I have a 2007 MacBook Pro and a work provided 2010 MacBook Pro. I feel that the 2010 MacBook Pro is much better built than the 2007. The 2007 is about to fall apart. I've put several hard drives in it, the optical drive is toast and the display has gone wonky. I think the problem is that the case just has too much flex in it. The 2010 is the unibody design and it seems much stiffer. Of course time will tell how it holds up. This is my biggest grip about Apple. I feel that there build quality is lacking, especially for the price premium.

I can tell you the reason that I use a Mac and not Windows as my primary workstation. Windows lacks all of the UNIX tools I am used to using. Yeah I can put Cygwin on it, but Cygwin leaves a lot to be desired. Having the nice easy to use desktop is just icing on the cake for me.

I have limited experience with Windows 7, but the thing I immediately disliked is the UI is vastly different from XP. That is another Mac plus. The UI is much more consistent between versions and applications. The UI on Windows applications is all over the place.

I have considered moving my primary workstation to Linux. It is a lot better than it used it be, but the hardware support is not always there. That is one bonus to a Mac. Apple did the the system integration, so I know that all of the hardware and features work. I have Linux on a couple of desktops and laptops and each one has had a different issue with the hardware.

One thing that drives me batty is how Apple locks down the hardware. I would like to easily swap out the batter or pull out the optical drive and put in a second hard drive. It can be done, but it requires major surgery.

I'm not going to mention price, as it is not always an Apples to Apples comparison. No pun intended.

If I boil it down

Pros:
Nice easy to use OS built on a powerful Unix base.
System is very well integrated.
Consistant user experience.
Great support.

Cons:
Poor upgradability
Hardware often lags other PC vendors.
Questionable build quality.
A big silver laptop with a glowing apple on the back is very conspicuous.

In the interest of full disclosure I am an Apple stock holder.

[Zero Beat]

I LOVE THESE THREADS

I play Mr. Fence:

This is like comparing: Apples & Holden Cars.

They are two different things but far. Sure you could go on about: Mac safer, PC gamers... etc etc. But they have two different views on what they should do.

[Shevanel]

Both =]

[x2x2x2x2y2]

PC, although I would totally play for the other team if I had the money.

[AgentS]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. I'm am now 95 percent sure I am going to buy a macbook.

[Pseudojim]

PC.

Mac to me... it seems as though they usurp any potential easy access to specific preferences and controls in programs, in not necessarily critical areas, but still things you want to be able to customise, and just make them automatic, all under the guise of 'user friendliness'. They make it very difficult to set up your software just the way you like.

PC: Where do you want to go today?
Mac: I know where you want to go today.

i'm aware that it's possible, with arcane knowledge of the way MacOs works, to customise pretty much everything everywhere, i lack that arcane knowledge... If you're an absolute macintosh nut, and you know everything about them, more power to you... I couldn't be arsed putting up with the annoyance of getting there. I'll stick with my pc running pirated windows and being REALLY careful online to avoid those pesky pc-addicted viruses.

[edit]

oh and by the way, i would put my bottom dollar on viruses being the major source of the complaints of people talking about their dodgy dell/gateway/compaq/whatever laptops... The way those things are set up, generally they're absolutely prime targets for viruses. Many of the users of these computers are naive to how rife viruses are on the internet through various programs and how difficult to intercept and/or heal virus infection is, even with up-to-date virus scanning software. And the punchline... PC's (or anything running a microsoft operating system) are the target for at least 99.9999% of all existing viruses.

Macintosh lack that vulnerability... It's not that their software is more impermeable to attack, it's just that their market share has historically been very very low... it's only recently with the advent of the iphone that viruses made specifically for the MacOs canon were produced in any great number, and most of those viruses are isolated to that medium... Mac computers themselves remain relatively low profile targets for virus writers.

but you never know when things will change!

[RedState]

One word: MAC. No contest.

We've got PC's at my office, but I always bring my MacBook to use for work as well, and other stuff...like getting on here when things slow down during the day

When you use the two side by side, the superiority of the MAC is unquestionable.

Also, while not immune (no operating system is) MAC's are not as prone to getting viruses as PC's are.

I was a PC person for years, until I got a MAC.

But, then again...it's kind of like what kind of cigarettes you prefer or if you prefer Jim Beam or Jack Daniels...it's simple opinion. All depends on what you like.

[Pseudojim]

i'm also running an 8 year old version of windows xp on a 5 or 6 year old PC which still runs like a charm and has never had the slightest problem =)

hahaha! holy crap, just did a little research, the CPU i'm currently working with was first released for sale in april 2004. I'm on an antique!

oh, and i DO look at porn. =P

[Miss Modular]

+ YouTube Video

[kettleoffish]

I run Macs mostly, I prefer the interface and find them more stable.

[ArcaneVerse]

Look everyone has a bias, you cant avoid it. Try to ignore most of the bullshit. Find out what you need and want in a computer and how much you are willing to spend now and in the future.

Here's my opinion:

PC's offer more options, more customisation, more games, more hardware, more software and all at a much cheaper price. However they take a little more effort to maintain, its not that hard though really but its where most people go wrong. The rest of them go wrong with what hardware they buy, usually opting for a standard package which is not always a good idea.

Mac's offer less choice over all but tend to be more safer because of it and are also more expensive, they still have a lot of issues and can still get virus's so don't be fooled into thinking otherwise.

On another note if your just looking for a laptop and don't plan on getting a Desktop at all in the future then a Mac book is a great option to consider as long as your ok with Mac's down falls.

Both have pros and cons its just all depends on what will suit you and your needs. My personal preference is Windows/PC desktops, I'd much prefer the options available with hardware, software and games along with the option to upgrade easily without getting a whole new (and over priced system). But my needs aren't yours, my tastes aren't yours, it all comes back to you and your preferences. Hope this helped

[British Lad]

I am a proud owner of a PC with windows 7, I have trying Macs and h8ed them. I love windows and thats it. and this is a point less argument there are good points to both and bad points both get virusus (mac increasingly so) they both crash (yes I have had that happen to me on a mac) Windows is like a super-bike: fast powerful but carry alot more dangers were as a Mac is like a brand new ford focus rs: is expensive, powerful but is alot safer and does not have alot to offer interms of versatilely. And PC compared to Macs is like comparing apples and oranges the only time the sames is that there both fruit.

---------- Post added 21st Oct 2010 at 09:00 PM ----------

[x2x2x2x2y2]

Originally Posted by British Lad

---------- Post added 21st Oct 2010 at 09:00 PM ----------

[/COLOR]Image

^ I LOVE THIS!!!!!! lol

[Pseudojim]

here's how i see it:

if you're not that good at computers... Macs are for you.
If you're anywhere between decently proficient and very proficient with computers, you'd probably prefer a PC.
if you're EXTREMELY good at computers, Macs are for you.

[British Lad]

Originally Posted by Pseudojim

here's how i see it:

if you're not that good at computers... Macs are for you.
If you're anywhere between decently proficient and very proficient with computers, you'd probably prefer a PC.
if you're EXTREMELY good at computers, Macs are for you.

I would say that if your EXTREMELY good with computers don't go with either and try linix/ ubunto

[AgentS]

I love this discussion! Thanks everyone for continuing to chip in.

Anyways, I have used PC's my whole life. And I know I have barely scratched the surface of what they can do. However, everytime I hear about PC's supposedly being able to do all these amazing things, I wonder "So where do I get one like that?". I always feel like my laptop is going too slow for the simple task I have assigned it, or like it always has SOME new problem. It can never just run perfectly. For example, as I mentioned earlier, suddenly several programs won't open. When I perform the suggested solution, nothing is fixed. In fact the same error message pops up. This machine is only 3 years old, and should not be having these types of problems. Or for another example: I tried to run a hard disk check the other day, but since the drive I wanted to check was in use a dialogue box popped up that said I would have to schedule a disk check (for the next time I restarted my computer). But after clicking OK in that dialogue box, another box NEVER popped up. At all. So I restarted my computer later and no disk check was performed. WTF?

Maybe I expect too much from technology, but damnit if something is advertised to perform a certain way or is built to perform a certain task it better damn well do it and do it well, not get bogged down in a new problem everyday.

In the limited experience I have with MACs they seem to perform pretty well, unfortunately there is that learning curve to them.

[Mitchell]

I have several Mac's and several PC's, although my PC's run Linux - not windows.

I have to say, I enjoy both equally.

[Brandon]

I own a Mac and a PC. I like my PC better because I like playing games on it. My Mac is more so good if I'm using the Internet and I can't get any kind of viruses or spyware on it.

Trying to find games that are compatible on Mac is like trying to find the invisible man in Times Square on New Years night.