Buy a Mac? Buy a PC?

I’ve got a Macbook for approx. half a year and i really enjoy it since i gotten one. I feel that it is so much better than Windows when i crashed on me all the time

chris-

Love the topic, this helps out with my 8th Grade classroom discussion on Mac/PC. The kids love watching the blog and dig it when the dogs make guest appearences.

Keep up the good work

I had a Mac with OSX and frankly did not see the fuss in it. It crashed more than windows ever did and it felt like I had to got through extra 5 steps to do anything compared to windows. The lack of upgradeability was an absolute killer and the inability to do any kind of proper tweaking with it frankly bored me to tears.
I recommend Macbooks for laptops but PCs for desktops. Imacs are just laptops with the portability taken out and bigger screens and Mac Pros are just stupidly expensive.

I noticed most of the votes for PC in yesterdays article gave “what I’m used to” as their reason if they gave any reason at all.

Do geeks resist change more than the average person?

Hello Chris

I’m playing the part of a PC without the encouraging others to use it. I guess I had a few reasons I am sticking with PC’s and Windows.

1. I have a Mac. It is an old Macbook with Tiger on it… its nice to play with and surf the web with but my apps, games, and preferences still lie with Windows. Windows Vista is a pretty stable OS these days.

2. Bang to Buck ratio. Yes Mac’s are still overpriced for what you get. A gamer does not need a 1000$ dollar machine. Unless they have 22′ monitors and they INSIST on using the monitors native resolution… like 1440×900. I built my gaming rig of the past and it has since retired and been replaced with a notebook but it only cost me i think 800$. It had a 2.8ghz HT P4, 1gb RAM, 250gb HD, and A Geforce 6600. By todays standards its outdated but when I built it a few years ago it was all i needed to have a good time.

3.Guaranteed compatibility. Yes its getting better and there are many free and commercial applications for OS X that are very nice but… With Windows I know that almost any piece of hardware or software I pick up will be compatible. Macs can run Windows this is true… but why spend the extra money when I will be spending all my time in Windows anyways.

4. Gaming.. I play Games! Enough said.

5. Preference. This is the least important one but I just prefer Windows. Yes I have used BOTH PLATFORMS I can get work done on both of them… I can browse my favorite websites on both of them… I can even play my favorite MP3’s on both of them… maybe they aren’t so different? It comes down to what you are use to and what you like. Like I mentioned I have used both but still prefer Windows. OS X is much more polished then Windows in many ways I wont deny that but its just my choice to stay in a windows world.

and I do have two pet peeves with OS X

1. Task Management… The dock bugs me… I think it needs some attention in a future release.

2. The menu bar always at the top… I find it annoying.. others love it… whatever.. .Vista hides them from you by default.. so they both annoy me with menus. Microsoft is pushing to get rid of them and Apple puts it all in one at the top… oh well

See ya later Chris
Jeff

I also recently made the switch from PC to a beautiful 2.6ghz Macbook Pro!!

Just before i switched i got Vista, which i then found to be very… well how can i put it…. annoying, i had a look arround on YouTube google etc. and started watching the slag off windows videos on YouTube, about how windows nicked apples ideas etc.

I had a good think about it, got up one morning and went to my nearest apple store (Trafford Centre, Manchester (UK)) i had a chat with the apple experts, and finally decided to go for it, and spend the near £2500 on the macbook pro.

As soon as i got it home i ripped it open and pulled it out…

After about a hour of using it, i saw how wonderful it was and how everything was easyer on mac.

I installed windows via VMware Fusion, as i thought due to the compatibility issues i would have them both running, and so have windows in case of “emergency”.

I have to be honest… i have been using Leopard & my Macbook Pro for about 3 months now, and i have booted windows once!!

Thats how good mac really is, and how non existent the so-called compatibility issues are. Office for mac works the same (if not better) than the windows version, the list goes on.

all i can say is…

SWITCH TO MAC… ONCE YOU GO MAC YOU CANT GO BACK!!!!

Trust Me!!

Chris Percival :-)

I made the switch in August during the back-to-school & no state tax weekend promotion. I am thrilled with the hardware & the software of my Mac Book Pro. I am ready to install VM Fusion (an alternative to Bootcamp or Parallels) to run my Windows-based Libronix research software that is still be “re-tooled” for MACs.
Rather than ever saying “why did I do this” I am daily saying “Why did I wait so long?”
Take the plunge! — the water is GREAT!

‘So, are you switching soon – if you haven’t already? Or are you playing the part of PC, encouraging friends to stick with what they’ve been used to for all these years?’

As usual…unbiased, Chris. There is nothing in this piece that convinces me a Mac is superior to a PC. Games certainly don’t seem to run well in that environment. The article says it. MSOffice is better on a Mac? How so? Nothing convincing said there. The only thing here has to do with the physical beauty of the equipment. This is the only really difference mentioned over a PC argument. I’m sorry but I don’t buy a piece of computing equipment based on how ‘pretty’ it is.

I used to love watching you on TechTv because I felt you were unbiased and showed all sides to each product. I get the feeling as of late you purposely look for ways to bash anything but Apple. Even if it means publishing fluff like this piece.

hey chris…. I think that it’s nice that Chris switched and that he’s liking it so far. I have Vista home premium and I think it’s great. I’ve had no problems with it. Even though i have vista i would also like to get a mac and have vista and leapord. But for gamers which ilike playing games they should remember that windows is the way to go on gaming. Even though windows is great for gaming they can still get a mac. They would just have to get a very large harddrive so that they can run bootcamp and split the harddrive for OS X and windows. Most would want to go with XP but unlike Vista XP doesnt have DX 10 im pretty sure but i might be wrong. Well those are might thoughts on this blog.

Hi Chris.

I would go for a Mac for the following reasons:

1) I’m just BORED of PCs now. Not much has really changed over the years. If I were to buy a new computer, I’d just go for something different.
2) Besides, Macs can run Windows.
3) You don’t have to choose between brands… There’s only Apple! (I know it’s obvious but it needs to be said!)

I really don’t think I should go on anymore. I mean, there are tons of reasons you should go for a Mac but I realise now with how ubiquitous and powerful computers are in our lives, it’s a very personal decision. But I think if anyone comes to a point in their lives where they have a chance to do something different (ie, at the point of deciding between a PC or a Mac), they should try something different just for the heck of it. So if you’ve been using PCs for a long time, go for a Mac. Conversely, if you’ve been using Macs for a long time, you could and should consider a PC too (not that MacUsers actually WOULD but the principle is the same!). Nowadays, the opportunity to change computers come once in a few years. You could always change the NEXT time, but I think ’switching’ is an exciting opportunity – so whether or not to switch really depends on your state of mind, whether you are ready for an exciting, learning adventure, or just to maintain the status quo.

Then again, if you are already ASKING that question (”whether or not to switch”) I suspect you’re already halfway there…

Cheers!

ps: welldone on pronouncing my name in full in your video. I’m quite impressed! Most people fumble over the first attempt.

Yameen

Bob,
You’re obviously a liar.
You say you’ve been using OS X, it crashes on you more thant windows? BULLSHIT.

Takes you five steps more to do anything in OSX? you ever tried locating an alias’s original file in OS X? try Command+R
- now try doing that in XP and tell me how many steps you had to go thru.

Can’t tweak it? Can’t scale it or whatever.? u sir are a MORON.

Either you just don’t know what you’re talking about, or just too lazy to find out how to do all those things in OS X, or you’re jus TALKIN OUT OF YOUR ASS.

my first post got deleted :(
i said that a mac is probably the right choise for everyone who’s even thinking about it, by that i mean non geeks of course. if youre not happy you can even run windows, and it’s fast! that was about what i said.

Chris,

What a nice review!
I switched to apple just a little longer that 5 months ago. I couldn’t be happier. I have been using Windows since 3.1 and also went trough 95,98,ME (Disaster) 2000, XP and just before i switched to Mac Osx i did the greatest mistake of my life trying Vista.

I have to admit; it is beautifully changed on surface, nice colors and nice tricks, but underneath is the same old SxxT.. I never had so much compatibility issue in my life!!!! My printer did not work my windows mobile phone did not sync well, every time my computer went into standby my sound card was not recognized and i had to restart the system again.

I worked before with Mac Os with the first 13″ g4 and i know it was a powerful machine but back then there was not much i (this is where personal needs play a big role) could do with it and i sold it (got almost the same money back i paid for after more than half a year) and bought a Acer 15″ (drama)

Anyhow, after sometime i decided to buy a macbook pro and, what a difference. First i had Tiger on it which worked superb and then i upgraded to Leopard. It was just a joy upgrading. I was so stupid to do not make a back up of my documents, mp3’s, configurations and programs. But guess what??? after installation i found my old files and everything in a nice folder called old system or something like that.

I NEVER turn off my computer. I just close the led when i do not need it and open it again when i need it, and everything is right there. Don’t even get me started with the fact that i don’t need to spend more money and space on my hard drive with stupid antivirus software to still get viruses and spywares and trojans, you name it.
I installed parallel desktop with windows xp in the begging and crazy enough, i never saw windows xp run so smoothly on any pc i have ever had. After a week i just uninstalled it because i did not use it anymore.. And i was more than happy to.

Yes, for gamers you might have a down side but i don’t think this will remain an issue for long. Looking at the speed EA has already brought their most popular games to Mac, i think is just matter of time before all other big game producers start doing the same.

For the people out there who are still giving it a though…. there is nothing you cannot do with a Mac that you can do with a Win PC.
It just work! as someone say back there: you pay more, but it is definitely worth it every penny.

I won’t lie, Leopard or Tiger aren’t the perfect OS ever, and so isn’t vista and xp and the rest. But i am certain of one thing.. My apple computer gets me there with less drama, less restarting, less crashing (never have had a crash BTW) and there is one thing i think is priceless: It is just user friendly. For new comers it get some getting used to, but believe… it takes some get used to ass well upgrading to Vista. So if you are going to upgrade and learn how to use your computer again, just start from scratches with something that will give you WAY LESS headache and will make you more productive?

Take care.

Dexter

I personally think a Mac is a much better overall purchase then a PC. Even though a Mac is a PC. People always ask me why Macs are so expensive and I always say its because, you get what you pay for and you don’t need to worry about spyware and viruses. Mac OSX is a much better then that piece of garbage Windows Vista. Its easy to use and has everything you want preinstalled,

But a PC is very good for gaming and mos people use windows because its a standard for the workplace. If more people would look at Macs they would see that a Mac is better. PCs are a little easier to use and you also need to spend a little time getting to know the operating system and to have it do what you want.

Recently bought an imac and thats basically my switch from windows to mac. Im loving it wouldnt go back one bit. Had thought of installing windows since im doing a windows course but i found no need at all. My cd tutorials come either in flash or .mov and not .exe and those are fine on mac os x. What people dont realize is that mac is very compatible but it’s different from windows. That fact that it’s different is what makes one want to try it out or make a switch. For instance, if u move to another town or go holidaying, would you go to a place that looks exactly like your town or go to a place that look different? I personally would go to a place that looks different; i would enjoy more coz i will see and learn new things. Secondly when you get to that new town, the first few days are going to be unfriendly; you hardly know anyone, you dont know the nearest food store, you get lost trying to get around the place. But as days pass, either you use google maps, or ask people around for directions, you meet people, make friends, all of a sudden you start to feel comfortable and you start to enjoy the town. That’s the same concept with any change you make in life and that’s how switching from pc to mac or vice versa or any other os is more like. One other important thing: IF YOU STUCK OR DONT KNOW HOW TO DO SOMETHING OR ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR COMPUTER, GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE(here you might have to shorten the phrase or use a word) THE PROBLEM OR QUESTION.
Challenges i encountered in my switching:
- My 320gig hard drive i had used on windows could conect and read perfectly but i couldnt put anything on it. Researched on the problem and eventually downloaded a free app and installed it which allows NTFS fomatted hard drives to work flawlessly on mac os x. So i ddnt have to format my HD to FAT32 or anything.
- I press delete on the keyboard to delete a folder or file only to find that it doesnt work with mac os x. – Mac os x is very sensitive at deleting files or folders so easily (only within an application it allows you to delete) and THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING. Its annoying at the begining but you get the hang of it. What you do is either drag and drop it in the trash or right-click and press move to trash (there is no ‘delete’)
- Press enter to open a file or folder. on mac, it wont work on files and folders( use a mouse to do it) but it works within applications for instance to confirm an action.
- i ddnt know that in mac os x, there is a big difference between closing a window and quitting a program/application. So i usually quit the window thinking that i quit the applicaton only find that it’s still showing that it’s open.
- Emptying trash to free a huge space in your hard drive.
- Expecting quicktime to play any movie. Well, windows media player also dont play all movies; so you have to download codecs, plugins, divx players, vlc player. You will have also have to download some of those. I personally downloaded flip4mac, quicktime plugins and VLC player. Now any movie can play on it.
- Expecting imovie to expect any type of format. Well, imovie 08 accepts quality formats mp4, dv, mov(some of it); just like windows movie maker has certain formats it doesnt allow. To solve this, i downloaded video converters such as visualhub, isquint, handbrake, burn. I personally use visualhub but a free app would be burn(that’s what i’ve also used).
-Expecting itunes to import my files as mp3. Well, the default settings on windows media player is wma so you have to put it to mp3. The same applies, itunes has aac(mp4), you have to go to itunes preferences and change it to mp3.
- Double clicking on the windows to maximize the window. On a mac, it minimizes it. Click on the + sign to maximize. By the way, macs like their windows opened in a smaller form than windows. This makes everything look clean.
- Mouse cant right-click. Well, simple, mac os x default settings for mouse is a one click. So go to system pref, keyboard and mouse and change it from there.
- Pressing control c or control z, v and and nothing happens. Well instead of control button, use the command button instead. Simple; command c, v, z, etc…
- press command and + or – to increase or decrease your font sizes. Press control and scroll with mouse up and down to zoom in and out your GUI. This is handy when browsing webpages and viewing word documents/pics/blog videos.
- Not knowing that some tasks can be done easily. Here the tasks:
- First contact help if you dont know something.
- incase you dont know how to get to utility or application on mac os x, simply use spotlight and type in a few words and it finds for you the app
-
- the dictionary is not built-in the application rather it is built-in the os. So you can use spotlight to find a dictionary meaning of your word.
- Simply click on a pic/movie/song once to highlight it and press spacebar to preview it (actually its more like u opening it rather than preview it) instead of double clicking on a movie or song or pic to open it which will take a few seconds coz it will have to open the application that runs it e.g. quicktime, itunes, etc…
– Use expose to easily move about your opened windows
- use spaces to organize or filter your opened windows
- use imovie 08 to easily and quickly make a video and post it directly to itunes or youtube.
- use apple remote not only for cover flow but also for itunes, quicktime, vlc player, cog player, you name them
-to copy images and words from an internet webpage is simply drag the image from the webpage to your desktop or highlight your text and drag and drop to the desktop.
- apply changes in an application or the os without having to click ‘apply or ok’.
- very easy to install and uninstall applications. move installed programs to new locations by just copying and pasting and they launch without bring any message like ‘ exe file could not be found’.
- finding out that there is a whole lot of LEGALLY free applications for mac out there and they are so good and complex that you surprised that they are for free.
- finding out how compatible mac os x is with hardware as well as software.
- The os organises your files and folders for instance all your downloads, you find them in one folder. Itunes takes care of your arrangments music wise, iphoto is photo wise and more.
-realizing that the only hardest part about mac os x for an average user is terminal(which is the dos alternative). Changing settings in system preferences, using application utilities, everything seem to be easy. That made me realize that i dont think there is something called ‘a geek’ in the macintosh world.

I like turtles.