38 replies to this topic

[ShootingStars]

Just looking for some views.

[Arrowhead]

I love my Mac and I can never go back to a PC again. I don't know why, but I call my Mac 'Mariana' and we have a close and disturbing relationship.

[haley.the.great]

Once you go Mac, you never go back.

MY FAMily owns at least one of every product Apple has ever made. Well, from about 10 years back at least...
I love my Mac with my life and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's worth every penny!

[ShootingStars]

Thanks for the replies everyone! How long did it take approximately to get used to a MAC after using a PC?

[Sandwich]

I agree, I used PCs from the age of 7 until last year when I bought myself my first Mac (for an extortionate amount of money >__>). It's such a wonderful machine.

The reasons I'd not switch back include:
- speed
- SPEED
- not having to bother with several thousands tonnes of rubbish anti-virus stuff, pop-ups and infections
- speeeeeed
- battery life
- not having to use the Windows software
- multiple screens up at once
- the screen overview button
- speed

The only thing I dislike about it is occasional incompatibility. Although largely it has superior compatibility - with my phone, my iPod and also actually external non-Apple products like my camera. Also because it doesn't have any emotional break-downs like my PCs always did, when something goes wrong with it (rarely) I don't know how to fix it because I don't have to spend all my time fixing it. So a mixed blessing there .gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='XD' />

I got myself a top of the range MacBook (Mackleton... like Shackleton, but a computer and it's never been exploring) and it's as fast today as the day I originally got it. Until you have a really fast piece of kit you don't realise exactly how much time you used to sit waiting for things to catch up, trying to get them to load or even just starting up your computer. Madness. I can't believe how much crap I used to put up with from my old laptops/PC which worked at about half the speed that my Mac does for anywhere from 2 weeks to a month and then went into a terminal senile slowing down culminating in death. My previous laptop was a relatively top-mark Sony VAIO and after owning it for a year it was taking between 5 and 15 minutes to switch on, plus I had to debug it constantly. In the end, it actually used to run out of battery before it could even manage to shut itself down. Now that was sad.

I think it took me about a week to adjust to all the buttons being the other way around and a few other things, then I got used to it pretty quickly.

[Capt’n Marth]

In academic life, PC definitely. Although Mac has some pretty cool apps, (Garageband WOAH)

PC has the most common programs that school and the net use, that are simply not compatible with Mac. When you download documents, if theyre not in pdf format, there in some kind of MS-Office doc, xml, ppt, etc. It's going to be really hard to access them with Mac.

Mac has awesome security and no "restart your computer before changes take effect"
but for the sake of getting around and working, PC has been my best friend.

[Alex .]

Mac is the way forwards, there is no doubt about it. I have used a macs for my personal computer always. The only time that I have used Windows machines is for my GCSE's at school, to bridge the compatibility issue I use parallels and boot camp for the few windows exclusive applications I run.

If you are going to buy an apple computer then maybe wait until october, this is when they usually release new models.

[TurtleR]

I've used Mac's before, and I like them for a variety of reasons. They're usually very polished, they run smoothly, and they have the BEST trackpads.

But, I would still choose a PC anyday. Probably because I just love the look of it more, and I also love the fact that its much more convenient in terms of compatability. Also, there's a lot of really cool software that I can use for Windows that I prefer over Mac, not to mention that it's much more useful in terms of academics.

Also, I feel like if I DIDN'T have to deal with all the antivirus stuff, eventually I would lose all my computer skills because I'd be so used to my Mac doing stuff for me.

Also, I'm just not a fan of paying so much for a laptop like that...

[haley.the.great]

In academic life, PC definitely. Although Mac has some pretty cool apps, (Garageband WOAH)

PC has the most common programs that school and the net use, that are simply not compatible with Mac. When you download documents, if theyre not in pdf format, there in some kind of MS-Office doc, xml, ppt, etc. It's going to be really hard to access them with Mac.

Mac has awesome security and no "restart your computer before changes take effect"
but for the sake of getting around and working, PC has been my best friend.

This is actually a pretty common misconception. Mac has, in the past, experienced some rough compatibility issues vs a windows-based OS. However, many programs for PC are also available for Mac...MIcrosoft Office being one of them. So, it's not any more difficult (and I would argue even easier with OS X lol) to access such files.

WIth an exponentially growing market for Apple computers, in the past few years, even more programs are beginning to access compatibility with this operating system. Some of my favorite programs are intended only for Mac as well (and windows has tried but failed to make copies )

I've been a Mac user since I was like...maybe 10? We owned a few dell machines when I was a kid at home, but my dad has always had macs at his photo studio. Eventually as he upgraded, we got the hand-me-down macs at home and they were so superior compared to the PCs lol. It took no time at all to adjust but is probably easier as a kid anyway. I would recommend an open mind, as with any change, to make the smoothest transition. Also, if you are used to other products made by Apple, the switch to Mac will be that much more natural. The UI is much more user-friendly though, like seriously...it would be much more difficult to learn about a windows OS than a mac one. Mac is noticeably more intuitive.

Edited by haley.the.great, Aug 21, 2011 - 21:47.

[ChikkyD]

I've always wanted a mac, but I just can't bring myself to spend that ridiculous amount of money on it .
PC is what I've been with all my life... I think I've used a mac like.. once? Very difficult because I got caught up that all the buttons were in different places .
I think that until mac is fully compatible with everything and you don't need various emulators or programs to run windows stuff, then I shall stick to PC doe simplicity. One day though.. one day..

[TurtleR]

In academic life, PC definitely. Although Mac has some pretty cool apps, (Garageband WOAH)

PC has the most common programs that school and the net use, that are simply not compatible with Mac. When you download documents, if theyre not in pdf format, there in some kind of MS-Office doc, xml, ppt, etc. It's going to be really hard to access them with Mac.

Mac has awesome security and no "restart your computer before changes take effect"
but for the sake of getting around and working, PC has been my best friend.

This is actually a pretty common misconception. Mac has, in the past, experienced some rough compatibility issues vs a windows-based OS. However, many programs for PC are also available for Mac...MIcrosoft Office being one of them. So, it's not any more difficult (and I would argue even easier with OS X lol) to access such files.

WIth an exponentially growing market for Apple computers, in the past few years, even more programs are beginning to access compatibility with this operating system. Some of my favorite programs are intended only for Mac as well (and windows has tried but failed to make copies )

I've been a Mac user since I was like...maybe 10? We owned a few dell machines when I was a kid at home, but my dad has always had macs at his photo studio. Eventually as he upgraded, we got the hand-me-down macs at home and they were so superior compared to the PCs lol. It took no time at all to adjust but is probably easier as a kid anyway. I would recommend an open mind, as with any change, to make the smoothest transition. Also, if you are used to other products made by Apple, the switch to Mac will be that much more natural. The UI is much more user-friendly though, like seriously...it would be much more difficult to learn about a windows OS than a mac one. Mac is noticeably more intuitive.

Actually I thought this post brought up something important to consider. It's hard to CHOOSE between Mac and PC because both include more than one computer, especially PCs. For example. when haley.the.great mentioned the dell machines, it reminded me..although I'm definitely a PC guy, I probably wouldn't recommend Dell to someone. Maybe if you want a budget laptop, but not one for performance. I have one right now, not the best. Nor would I recommend HP.

However, this goes both ways. If someone was set on getting a Mac, and asked me, I would probably tell them to stay away from the Macbook Air. I mean, it's just a personal opinion....but I would never get the Macbook Air.

I'm a PC guy, but thats only due to my preferences, I can get why Mac is cool and all, but really in the end it all depends on the person.

However as to the "user friendly UI" comment, true the UI is much more user friendly, but I wouldn't want something that user friendly...I mean, my PC taught me a lot about how to deal with computers, I like finding stuff out on my own.

And its much easier to repair and change a PC. With a Mac, they'll charge you each time something goes wrong.

[Amandurrs]

I got my macbook a little over a month ago and I adore it! I'd used PCs up until then so I was kind of worried about the switch and if it would be hard to figure stuff out but it's really easy. It only took me a little bit to get used to keys being placed different and the trackpad but once you get used to it, it's like second nature! I like how your mac comes built in with all sorts of nifty and useful apps, like Time Machine (for backing up files) and iCal. Mac OS X Lion is a real joy to use, everything's so sleek and I love all the multi-touch things you can do with your trackpad. I would recommend a Macbook to anyone, even if they've never used a Mac before because it's a solid machine.

[Sandwich]

And its much easier to repair and change a PC. With a Mac, they'll charge you each time something goes wrong.

Well I don't know about self-repair, but whenever something has gone wrong with any Mac stuff I had (the power cable went wrong once) they replaced it for me for free. They even replaced my friend's iPhone for free and she just flat out dropped it xP

Anyway what I was really going to say was that I worked out the money differential and say I spent £800 on a MacBook versus £600 on a normal PC based laptop, the amount of time I save in not having to sit and wait for things to load or for it start up, over the course of its lifespan, IMO is worth it

[aldld]

Linux, of course You get the security benefits of a Mac, plus many Linux distros run faster than OS X or Windows, and out of the three, Linux is by far the easiest to customize. The fact that it's completely free is a bonus too

But given the choice between the two, I'd go with a Mac, for a few reasons (in no particular order):

• Security (already mentioned by someone else)
• The bash command line I'm used to from Linux. Once you get used to it, doing things via the command line (especially for programming) is much more efficient than wading through a GUI.
• Fewer little things to worry about, like Windows' annoying update system, antivirus, etc.
• Feels less bloated, and most of the bloat that is there is hidden fairly well.

That said, there are some flaws as well. For example, my Macbook (so hardware-specific, not an OS issue) comes with only two USB ports and a single line-in audio jack that doesn't even work with the majority of microphones and will definitely not work with the majority of analog headsets which have separate jacks for input/output. I mean, come on, my cheap little 11" netbook has 3 USB ports and dedicated speaker/microphone sockets. I don't really mind too much, but it can be an inconvenience at times.

Not to mention, the cost. If I were to buy a new laptop, I'd probably go with Windows and dual-boot Ubuntu or some other distro. I mean, Windows is at least a decent operating system. And the only reason I even have a Macbook in the first place is because I won it in a contest Ignoring price though, I'd say the benefits of a Mac outweigh the downsides.

[hedwig]

I got my mac a year and a half ago. I don't think I'll ever buy a PC in my life, ever again.

[Austin Glau]

I don't think I'll every buy a Mac in my life. Just because PC's are that much better.

[Hexa]

I don't think I'll every buy a Mac in my life. Just because PC's are that much better.

QFT

I have a PC with Ubuntu on VMWare.

[aldld]

I don't think I'll every buy a Mac in my life. Just because PC's are that much better.

If you'll never buy one, have you ever tried using a Mac for everyday use?

[Hexa]

I don't think I'll every buy a Mac in my life. Just because PC's are that much better.

If you'll never buy one, have you ever tried using a Mac for everyday use?

I've tried a hackintosh cause there is no way I'll spend so much money on weak hardware.
Like no games run on it and everything was made so simple that it's a ***** for power users imo.
Ultimately 90% of stuff done at this point in time is in browser, so it's like the same. The 10% that isn't is better on PC imo.
Give me arguments to respond to.

[aldld]

I don't think I'll every buy a Mac in my life. Just because PC's are that much better.

If you'll never buy one, have you ever tried using a Mac for everyday use?

I've tried a hackintosh cause there is no way I'll spend so much money on weak hardware.
Like no games run on it and everything was made so simple that it's a ***** for power users imo.
Ultimately 90% of stuff done at this point in time is in browser, so it's like the same. The 10% that isn't is better on PC imo.
Give me arguments to respond to.

Hey, I'm not saying one is clearly better than the other for everyone, that would be ridiculous It really depends on what you mainly use your computer for. I was just saying that, judging by Austin Glau's comment, he hasn't given a Mac a serious try before deciding which one is clearly the best.