<p>I'm starting to think about what kind of laptop to get for college this fall. I'm a longtime PC user, but am considering switching. The college I'm going to is, I think, about 50/50 each, so that's not an issue. I've always used Dells, but have had frequent virus and hard drive problems and I heard that Macs rarely get them. But I know that Macs are fundamentally different and it might take a while to figure things out. Is there anything you can do on a PC that you can't on a Mac? Is switching that hard to do, or should I stick with PC?</p>
<p>it doesn't really matter anymore b/c with the new intel macs you could boot Windows XP on it with bootcamp so anything that's not mac compatible like games would have no problems.</p>
<p>I switched 3 years ago and never had any real problems with the transition. Just about everything runs on mac that does on PC, and with bootcamp you can run xp so theres really no conflict in having a mac</p>
<p>gloaming,</p>
<p>The only really big differences with the Apples, other than the OS, used to be the PowerPC architecture. Now even that seems to be out the window (pun not intended.) I suspect that making the switch won't be hard, as I've met many computer-disinclined people who have easily made the transition.</p>
<p>Or, if you want to see how a fairly savvy computer user fares, wait a couple weeks and check my journal, as I'll be documenting my new computing life. </p>
<p>Or hell, just IM me and ask, I don't care.</p>
<p>But, I'm failing to see the difference between using a macbook with intel and winxp and say a dell with intel and winxp..</p>
<p>Doesn't that defeat the purpose?</p>
<p>What's the difference between a Dell and a Sony and a Lenovo, then? At this point it's primarily hardware build that matters.</p>
<p>But unless people have ported the universal binary version of Mac OSX on to other laptops, you get the added bonus of having two environments to work in.</p>
<p>Hm, thanks.
Aside from the virus/frequent crashing issues...I have to admit that I also just think Macs are really, really sexy.</p>
<p>If you've had problems with PCs, go ahead and try a Mac. But I've had problems with Macs. When I'm on the internet, they tend to quit unexpectedly quite frequently. Plus they freeze up a lot. You know those new Mac commercials? Well, there is one when the PC freezes. Ironically, my mom's Mac froze when it was playing that commercial!</p>
<p>Then again, my uncle loves them!</p>
<p>ETA: I also don't like how you can never open an internet window completely, but that is probably a matter of taste. And I've heard that Macs are better for graphics, though I've only ever used drawing programs on PCs.</p>
<p>Macs have a lot of programs on them that are far superior to their Windows equivalents...</p>
<p>iMovie vs Windows Movie Maker</p>
<p>This isn't even a fair contest. WMM is okay for simple projects, but iMovie is like getting a lite version of Final Cut. You can produce professional looking results with it. The only real limitation is that you can have only one video track. I made a 48 minute movie with it last year and my only problem with it is that i ran out of disk space!</p>
<p>Keynote vs PowerPoint</p>
<p>If you want to take a trip back in time to 1997 when you give your speech, use PowerPoint. If you want to look modern and elegant, use Keynote. PowerPoint is also more cumbersome to use. Keynote DOES take some getting used to, but once you use it there's no going back.</p>
<p>Safari vs Internet Explorer</p>
<p>This is almost a draw. Safari blocks pop ups better and isn't prone to the attacks you get with IE, but it does seem to crash a lot and sometimes isn't compatible. Download Firefox to use alongside it and you should be okay (this goes with either).</p>
<p>TextEdit vs WordPad</p>
<p>TextEdit is a better simple word processor for one reason--it has a spell check built in. I've heard it's also a bit more powerful overall, but I don't use it all that much.</p>
<p>Paint vs AppleWorks</p>
<p>AppleWorks doesn't seem to come on a few of the latest Mac models. This is too bad because they won't have anything to match Windows Paint. Although AppleWorks paint is a bit more powerful, ease of use goes to Microsoft's program this time. Apple used to have a program called MacPaint that was a lot like Paint bundled with Macs, but that program hasn't come with Macs since the middle of 1986.</p>
<p>OS X vs Windows XP</p>
<p>The big one. Windows is probably more familiar to people, and they probably like that aspect of it. However, the Mac OS is a slight bit easier to use based on my observations of older Pennsylvanians using both systems (the 50+ crowd seemed to understand the Mac better), and it's a lot more stable than Windows. I have yet to see the equivalent of the Blue Screen of Death, and I've never had the entire system freeze on me. Sure, a program can go down, but the system is rock solid. And if something does happen, it doesn't take five months to release a service pack. Second decimal place upgrades are out within weeks.</p>
<p>If you want full customization without third party addons, however, you might have a problem with OS X. It's not very customizable, and it's going to be tough to change much of its scheme (earlier Mac OS versions were easier), but the interface is pretty nice looking to begin with.</p>
<p>Tech Support Quality</p>
<p>If you read the latest Consumer Reports, you will find that Apple and IBM/Lenovo are the only two companies to get good marks here.</p>
<p>Reliability</p>
<p>I worked an IT job with my high school for three years. We had many PCs and a few older Macs. The Macs were much more reliable, especially in the long run. Think of a Mac as a Volvo--high initial cost but it will run forever as long as you don't abuse it. I got a Mac LC brand new in 1992 and the only thing I've done inside of it is upgrade it. Everything is original (except the RAM chips because I put bigger ones in). I have many older Macs in my basement that are even older than it and they all run great.</p>
<p>"Think of a Mac as a Volvo--high initial cost but it will run forever as long as you don't abuse it."</p>
<p>That saying goes for all computers in general. As long as you don't abuse the computer, it will run "forever". :)</p>
<p>"'Think of a Mac as a Volvo--high initial cost but it will run forever as long as you don't abuse it.'</p>
<p>That saying goes for all computers in general. As long as you don't abuse the computer, it will run 'forever'."</p>
<p>True. I'm using a 1997-era PC right now. Works a lot better than many of my firends' spiffy P4 boxes. Monitor sucks though. I've only has about 2 BSoD's since I got it, and those were all from when I had 98.</p>
<p>Also, who uses Paint for anything? (Drawings made in Paint solely to show off one's 1337 Paint skillz nonwithstanding.) GIMP and Pirated Photoshop CS ftw.</p>
<p>I've just recently switched to Mac. I was told by absolutely everyone to WAIT, WAIT, WAIT for the Mac consumer laptops to come out with Intel chips. I waited for 5 months before giving up and deciding that it was completely irrelevant to me... the only thing I do is use the internet, word processing, some instant messaging, music, DVDs and photos. All of those work beautifully on my 12" iBook G4 that I got for an exceptional university discount ($750). The Mac OS is simply a joy to use... and it's the first time I've ever felt feelings of devotion and adulation to a MACHINE... haha... I never once even saw a Mac, let alone used one, until I came to my university... but having grown to use them and now bought one myself, I think I'm slowly starting to understand the phenomenon behind the "cult of Mac".</p>
<p>i've switched to a mac and since then i discovered that mac os simply works as opposed to windows (and i've always wanted to have something that would simply work)</p>
<p>macs are not all that different from pc's, especially if you use them superficially -- perhaps when your parents were younger, they were much different, and may be this belief propagates from those times -- however, macs do require some maintenance -- the people who have horrible experience with macs are usually the ones who abuse their os, do nothing to maintain it, do not update, and then expect it would work (but then they usually curse pc's also) -- whatever 'machinery' you buy you have to rtfm and know how to maintain it</p>
<p>windows took a lot of maintenance compared to mac os -- my windows would always get noticeably slower after about 9 months of use -- i've always had problems with viruses -- at one time I go cut off from the internet on campus prior to a big project due because my computer (and like 40 others) got infected with a virus that uploaded another virus and a trojan (took a day to clean all of it out) -- the virus did not come from any file i opened, it just transfered to my compter via the college network from some other computer using some windows glitch, and then it dragged in the others -- windows also had to be reloaded at least every couple of days while my mac runs smoothly a month -- it almost never freezes (so no blue screen of death) -- and i noticed that many professors (lie 80%) use macs so i'm guessing macs are also the 'smart' choice -- if you look for a job with some groups/labs/offices on campus, job postings might actually state "mac proficiency" as one of job requirements even though you'll only get to open up some pdf of word files on someone's mac</p>
<p>with macs, only like 5% of people use them so viruses just never get a chance to spread -- however, the office is same as in pc's so office applications might get infected from pc office files (though this is very rare)</p>
<p>otherwise, if you download new versions of everything, don't click impatiently every time, repair your disk permissions (like defragmentation on windows), and don't hit it with a hammer, a mac should work much better than windows</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, who uses Paint for anything? (Drawings made in Paint solely to show off one's 1337 Paint skillz nonwithstanding.)
[/quote]
Haha, good times.</p>
<p>I (heart) my Mac, and my sis has been really happy with hers. They ARE the Volvos of computers. And like Volvos, if you buy them used or refurbished, you're still getting a great machine. Do it. It'll take you, at most, a week to work out all the kinks. You won't deal with pop-up ads or viruses all too often, either.</p>
<p>Okay, I've got to make a quick comment...</p>
<p>I actually don't get how people end up with their computers full of viruses and spyware and pop-up BS. Even with Windows.</p>
<p>What the hell do you people do, go on websites and click yes to everything that asks to install its malware on your system? If so, that's like putting sugar in your gas tank. Jeez.</p>
<p>Well, you dont need to click yes to anything and normally spyware will just 'get' into your computer. and the viruses, worms, trojan horses now are so well made that someitmes its jsut unavoidable for an average user to get infected (such as attaching itself to a reply email from your friend etc, the ever popular sending through msn, tho now ppl are aware of it, or just plain viruses going through loopholes in windows). Assuming that a large amount of people actualyl doesnt have much firewall/anti-virus program installed in their computers, its very easy to get all these spyware/viruses/worms/trojan horse if he isnt careful. Not realyl their fault or anything i would say</p>
<p>Nerj,</p>
<p>I have run some systems without dedicated virus/spyware removal and prevention programs, and had very very few problems. A lot comes down to the thing between the chair and keyboard.</p>
<p>windows has glitches -- statistically not everyone will get a virus or two through these glitches but it is a memorable day once you do -- i used to think just like you (like what the hell are these guys doing) until one day a virus crawled into my computer and also brought buddies with it, causing a lot of trouble for me -- now you do not have to be clicking yes like crazy to every spam ad or visiting porn sites every day to have glitches in your windows that can be exploited by those who do not wish well</p>
<p>kihyle,</p>
<p>I've been using Windows since 3.0, so please don't presume to tell me about glitches.</p>
<p>As for previous versions, I didn't bother. I ran in DOS mostly until 3.1 and 3.11 for Workgroups. But anyway, I know about the problems with the kernel, and the many serious security flaws. However, I find that a lot of people who go off on Windows' "problems" usually have at least one spyware-laden/virus laden program on their computer like Kazaa.</p>