MAC vs PC

[Bob Marino]

I am in need of a newer computer, my HP is giving me more headaches than it should. If I don't do graphics and media stuff, am not techy, is there any reason to  make my next desktop computer a MAC, or am I better off sticking with PC'S?

Bob

 

[woodguy7]

Bob, i don't think anyone will have an opinion on this  [tongue]

Its gona be like the 55 or 75
the ro150 or the ets150

This could get messy  ;D

 

[BobKovacs]

Don't forget "the MFT or a table saw??"

 

[Jeff Hein]

When looking at only hardware, a PC will generally cost less money than a MAC.

I am a PC user, and I work on computers all day, and I just don't "get" the appeal of a MAC.

You will probably get lots of opinions, mine would be to stick with a Windows 7 PC.

 

[rmwarren]

One more vote for a PC, now that Windows 7 is stable. I never used Vista, stuck with XP until last year then upgraded and am very happy. you will hear a bunch of Vista nightmare stories and they are mostly true.

My main reasons are compatibly, more software, networking etc. Just not a Mac guy, I guess.

 

[woodguy7]

I have always been PC but there is something about Macs that appeal to me !

 

[Bob Marino]

Had Vista and it wasn't good. What is so good/how does it  differ about/from Windows 7?

 

[PaulMarcel]

Well, it's personal choice.  I have both and do development on both.  My home office is a 27" iMac and a Toshiba laptop.

If you decide to get another HP, I highly recommend downloading and running "PC-Decrapifier".  HP overloads its machines with crap when shipped and some of it isn't easy to uninstall (Vongo anyone?).  NONE of it is necessary (and don't get me started on their printers... excellent hardware, amazingly bad software).

So what are you planning on doing with the machine?  Just browsing with a web browser?  For your store, do you use specific applications like QuickBooks that may not be available on the Mac?

While the cost of a Mac is higher, I can easily attest to it being because they pay attention to the small details, something people here understand.  A PC generally has more software available for it.  I say 'generally' because if you don't need a category of software available for Windows but not for Mac, does it really matter?

They are different so if you pick a Mac, realize the first couple days with it you'll wonder "where the $%^ is that option I always use on Windows!?"

Windows 7 is much better than Vista.  They finally incorporated the best ideas of Virtual PC to solve a lot of issues.

That said, though, I always reach for my TS-75 (because I don't have a TS-55 )

 

[richard.selwyn]

It's the subject of so many disagreements...
I have both, as my wife uses a PC for her job, so I built one for her and one for me to be able to act as her PC maintenance guy, but I have been addicted to Mac since 1988. In the time that I installed and maintained 5 pc's for her I have had just 2 macs, my old one lasting for 10 years and just being replaced last year. I am not a real computer guy - I'm a carpenter - but I just like the Mac experience. They are more expensive- probably unjustifiably so -apple after all make eye watering profits, but to me it's a bit like Festool. I actually derive pleasure from using my Festools - same with the Mac.
I am typing this on an iPad. I am not ashamed to say that I wouldn't have a Samsung tablet even if you paid me to use it. It is totally illogical and drives some of my friends to distraction, but it's the same with the tools. A tool that doesn't suit I'll give away.
To answer your question, you'd probably be better with a PC. They are generally cheaper, but go and spend some time in an Apple store and try out their products. If you get the Festool feeling, spend the extra and personally I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Richard

 

[Bob Marino]

Well, it's personal choice.  I have both and do development on both.  My home office is a 27" iMac and a Toshiba laptop.

If you decide to get another HP, I highly recommend downloading and running "PC-Decrapifier".  HP overloads its machines with crap when shipped and some of it isn't easy to uninstall (Vongo anyone?).  NONE of it is necessary (and don't get me started on their printers... excellent hardware, amazingly bad software).

So what are you planning on doing with the machine?  Just browsing with a web browser?  For your store, do you use specific applications like QuickBooks that may not be available on the Mac?

While the cost of a Mac is higher, I can easily attest to it being because they pay attention to the small details, something people here understand.  A PC generally has more software available for it.  I say 'generally' because if you don't need a category of software available for Windows but not for Mac, does it really matter?

They are different so if you pick a Mac, realize the first couple days with it you'll wonder "where the $%^ is that option I always use on Windows!?"

Windows 7 is much better than Vista.  They finally incorporated the best ideas of Virtual PC to solve a lot of issues.

That said, though, I always reach for my TS-75 (because I don't have a TS-55 )

If I do get another PC, not sure of which brand - Dell, HP, Sony, etc.
I'd be using it for emails, some of the basic office programs Excel, Word, etc. cruising the web, not Quickbooks or that type of program.

 

[Bob Marino]

It's the subject of so many disagreements...
I have both, as my wife uses a PC for her job, so I built one for her and one for me to be able to act as her PC maintenance guy, but I have been addicted to Mac since 1988. In the time that I installed and maintained 5 pc's for her I have had just 2 macs, my old one lasting for 10 years and just being replaced last year. I am not a real computer guy - I'm a carpenter - but I just like the Mac experience. They are more expensive- probably unjustifiably so -apple after all make eye watering profits, but to me it's a bit like Festool. I actually derive pleasure from using my Festools - same with the Mac.
I am typing this on an iPad. I am not ashamed to say that I wouldn't have a Samsung tablet even if you paid me to use it. It is totally illogical and drives some of my friends to distraction, but it's the same with the tools. A tool that doesn't suit I'll give away.
To answer your question, you'd probably be better with a PC. They are generally cheaper, but go and spend some time in an Apple store and try out their products. If you get the Festool feeling, spend the extra and personally I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Richard

One thing that I did notice that you can take classes at MAC stores, even one on  one ($99.00 a year I heard). And at Bestbuy, they told me they had an Apple tech there 5 a few days a week for support.  The support as I remember on all my PC's, was horrific.

Bob

 

[Guy Ashley]

Bob

From one "non-techy" to another I find a wireless laptop PC the best option just because I believe the Mac has a big learning curve.

As for the make I have an old Dell D610 in the workshop that gets covered in dust, biscuit crumbs and has survived a direct hit from bird poop when I left the workshop door open. Its about 5 years old and still works fine. (when I can find it under offcuts and invoices!!)

 

[kdzito]

I use a Mac at home and a PC at work and as I've always said don't mix business with pleasure.

So with this said I think your better off with the PC.  Costs much less and is way more business friendly (MS Office and OS).

 

[BobKovacs]

If I do get another PC, not sure of which brand - Dell, HP, Sony, etc.
I'd be using it for emails, some of the basic office programs Excel, Word, etc. cruising the web, not Quickbooks or that type of program.

We use ThinkPads at our company- over 5,000 of them at the moment- and have minimal issues.  They were previously IBM ThinkPads, and now they're Lenovo ThinkPads. 

 

[peter halle]

A Mac vs PC thread - OH BOY!

I am a Mac convert after being anti Mac for decades.  Never had  desire.  Now I am almost exclusively Mac.  I am not saying that one is better than the other, I just like the Mac interface better.  When I use my Windows notebook now, I plug in a Mac keyboard.

Peter

PS - I even have a dog named Mac Gyver.

 

[rmwarren]

Had Vista and it wasn't good. What is so good/how does it  differ about/from Windows 7?

My opinion is that Vista was released half-baked by Microsoft, total crap. 7 is a ground-up rewrite and it just works for me without issues. I fiddle with my computers a bit, installing and uninstalling stuff and over time they had always gotten screwed up, slow and misc. issues including crashing, that does not seem to be a problem with 7.

I know enough to be dangerous and for a number of years I was tech-support for my wife's business until it just tog too big. I would agree with the comment below that some of the manufacturers load up their systems with junk, I have been using Lenovo (formerly IBM) laptops for years now and they have been great, more business friendly than the consumer-oriented machines you get from Best Buy, etc.

I am not a Mac user so I really can't comment there.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Gee - what a surprise that so many of us have opinions on this? [big grin]

I'm running Windows 7 and haven't had any problems.  But it does better with lots of RAM, don't be cheap there.

I sometimes use a Mac over at a friend's house and Paul Marcel is absolutely right - I curse a blue streak when the delete key acts like a backspace key or when things aren't 'where they are supposed to be'.  I suspect I would get past that in a few days...

One big difference that attracts me to MACs is that the security seems to be much better and way less hassle.

My big gripe is that neither one of them gives any thought to dust control. [scared]

Let us know what you go with!

 

[Captainwrinkles]

I am "unfortunately" a PC user. My partner on the other hand is a MAC user. I have to agree With her when she says the MAC is the way to go.

I look at the features MAC's offer and i sit moping about why my PC cant have them also. I think when my laptop finally dies that ill make the switch.
Be warned that it is a little bit of a learning curve at first. but after that there are almost no issues that come up.

My problem is that i have certain programs that dont run on MAC's that i like to use occasionally. But i think i can find something similar for MAC's

Switch! you wont regret it

 

[josephgewing]

This may or may not be a factor in your decision but with a MAC you can run both PC and MAC operating systems and switch back and forth.

Joe

 

[kdzito]

This may or may not be a factor in your decision but with a MAC you can run both PC and MAC operating systems and switch back and forth.

Joe

Joe, I've tried teaching this to my wife on running Windows from a MAC and it's completely lost on her.  I use VM Ware to do this and think it's the cats meow!!!  While I think this set up is the way to go; however, if you're already a PC user and for simplicity's sake along with the costs of a MAC it's tough for some folks to do.  Kurt