Mac vs. PC HELP ME PLEASE?

Question

Mac vs. PC HELP ME PLEASE?

Answer 1

hey. i actually just bought a new macbook a few weeks ago. the thing is, is that i am starting to think i am more of a PC kind of person. I have used PC's all my life and it seems to just be so much easier. don't get me wrong, the apple is a nice computer but i am always finding myself go to my PC more than my macbook.

Answer 2

If your using it at school, for basic or show off your laptop. I think PC will be better because MAC don't support alot of games and the games MAC supported games are very crappy borning games.

If you go for PC you can get a very flash one, Nivida video card, 4GB of memory and most of all Intel Core 2 Extreme processor. unlike MAC they only giver you Core 2 Duo's

Answer 3

Don't buy a Mac for the hardware specs. It's all the same stuff and performs comparably to anything in the Windows world.



People buy Macs because of OS X. I you prefer OS X to Windows, then go for the MBP! But if you like Windows then just stick with Windows. There's no point in paying the premium for a machine that runs OS X if you're not going to use OS X.

Answer 4

First of all.... Mac's are PC's. The only thing special about them is the fact they they have Mac OS X.



Mac's are way over priced, but I personally would rather have a Mac than a computer running Vista. It is really up to you though.



Actually I would rather buy a Dell with Ubuntu 8.04 pre-installed.

Answer 5

Go with a mac desktop. The new OS X "Leopard" can do way more than vista anyways, and there are games available for mac. Oct. 26th I'm planning on buying the new iMac for $1199 if it comes pre installed wth leopard. Anyways, a mac is much more reliable than a pc, I use them both in the same day (macs at school, my pc at home) and I love mac because the OS isn't a POS. Windows freezes all the time and always is vulnerable to viruses that can even destroy your hard drive. Mac's are based on the unix OS, a single kernel operating system, which makes them A LOT less vulnerable. If you think about it, mac is a better buy than pc, sure it cost a little more than a pc, but in the end it will even out. Buy a webcam, anti virus, probably spend money repairing stupid errors in your pc, add some desent software and you probably spent more than that on a pc, when you could have just bought a mac. And the OS will take about a day to learn if that, it is so much easier to operate than a pc. And apple has a help menu in the menu bar that has PC to Mac translations (all programs=macintosh hd, etc.)

Answer 6

Can' do with a Mac that can do on PC- Nothing

Can' do with a PC that can do on Mac- Nothing

or do you mean OS X vs Windows... Compiz fusion on Linux is "Cooler" than OS X effects and can do just about everything OS X effects can do and more, and free!



The PC is the better Choice, here is why...

BTW- You can get flightgear which is just like flight simulator for free. www.flightgear.org

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Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. They use a lot of the same parts as PCs. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.



WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:



Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. PCs include windows already pre-installed.

1) There are a number of websites that still require Internet Explorer to view.

2) Printers and other things you hook into the computer are easier to support on Windows.

4) If you like the Dock on OS X (Mac) google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.



I Would also install Avira AntiVir on the Vista since there is a FREE version and works well.

I Would also install Comodo FireWall on the Vista since there is a FREE version and works well.





LINUX ADVANTAGES:



1) Install Linux, and then get tons of stuff for free. Updates done, etc.. Linux is very EASY and has tons of software that will be updated automatically.

2) If you like the effects on a Macintosh go yahoo or google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...

3) If you like the Dock on OS X (Mac) google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.

4) Linux is MORE SECURE. I surf the internet and can even run SOME windows programs on Linux. Also, I can VERY EASILY INSTALL programs by checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (ADD/REMOVE or SYNAPTIC PACKAGE MANAGER). I can search for something I want, check a box and click apply. The program is automatically installed. (To me that is easier than searching the internet and dragging the program in MAC).



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LINUX OS



Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)



My Recomendation would be either Ubuntu (Most popular and well supported linux), Kubuntu (KDE version of Ubuntu),

Freespire (has all windows codecs for watching videos, dvds out of the box),

PCLINUXOS (very nice Linux, easy to use and polished),

There are so many good versions of linux besides these.



PLEASE NOTE: In linux there are many forms of Windows Environments, the two main ones are KDE (K Desktop) and GNOME. Ubuntu uses GNOME, KUBUNTU is a KDE version of Ubuntu, PCLINUXOS, Freespire use KDE... The differences in the window environments (DESKTOPS) control how you configure, open close the windows, the appearances of the windows... linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting helps with printer support. ScreenCasts.ubuntu.com shows video and non-video help with learning to work with Ubuntu.



There are many good Linux distributions for different reasons, distrowatch.com, polishlinux.org, desktoplinux.com

are good websites for overall understanding linux.



Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and FREE.

Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...

UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.

All you have to do is..

A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website

B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO)

C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive

D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu

E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.



ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. THIS IS NOT LEGAL and I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT FOR SECURITY AND LEGAL REASONS.

But, I have included a link to show you, purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.



**************************************...



A)Price...

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



*****************(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, ONLY reads DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE)



****************(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: Some responses might be that below is not a FAIR comparison but it is SINCE this is comparing Apple Mac's BEST DEAL vs Dells BEST DEAL. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, WIRELESS keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the ALL-IN-ONES are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer. To me it is NOT a good deal.



PS: Apple was smart, they know that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a Tower Option. This is not good for the consumer since it lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two and apple would loose people. In other words, in my opinion, it is "Style over Substance"



Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



************************END OF DESKTOP



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B) SECURITY:



Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.

All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.



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B2) VIRUSES



The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses, a friend of mine has a VIRUSED MAC. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe". Linux is also very low in viruses and is free with plenty of free software.



Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses



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C) Windows License is discounted with PCs..



You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.



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D) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...



With AppleCare you have to put down $300 and there is no guarantee the computer will be fixed, may cost more.. Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.



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E) BUGS



Macintosh's are far from bug free despite their fan base claiming so. Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc.. True, all computers have their issues but Apple Fans tend to hide their problems which makes it tough to trust any statistics about Apple.(Not all Apple users are "Apple Fans", more of its users are naturally "Apple Fans" since it is such a small percentage of the market, and since they tend to consider Microsoft and PCs evil, tend to be more radical and get people to switch at any cost.) Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts.



www.ubuntu.com/

www.kubuntu.org/

www.freespire.org/

www.pclinuxos.com/

distrowatch.com/

polishlinux.org/

www.desktoplinux.com/

xwinman.org/gnome.php

xwinman.org/kde.php

help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsAppli...

help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToU...

www.linuxalt.com/

screencasts.ubuntu.com/

www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrintin...

Google/Ya

Answer 7

Do a couple checks of websites on prices of Macs versus Windows laptops. You find that when you add the same software, hardware including a webcam & wireless, that the prices are near the same. With a MacBook (again independent websites back it up), you get the highest resale value, best tech support, high reliability & great battery life. What you also get is none of the 1,000,000 Windows viruses/malware/adware to worry about. I did tech support for a school district, never had a Mac running MacOs X with a virus. We had hundreds of Windows computers down for weeks at a time for viruses/malware/etc. even with anti-virus software.

Answer 8

OK you can have it all........if you get a PC laptop, make sure the intel chip it comes with is primed for virtualisation.



Next.....If you get a machine with vista business, microsoft give you free downgrade rights to XP and the option to upgrade again when you are ready. (make sure you use something like arez view to get your XP licence key as the machine will have the vista key on it, and the two are not interchangeable)



THE POINT!! you will be able to run leopard OS as a virtual machine within windows and also have all that nice freeware running in windows for you. In fact you could also throw linux into the mix and wow people as you switch between virtual machines. You'd also be spreading the word about virtualisation. All the best rog

Answer 9

I tell people to ask themselfs this question. When you have your computer do you want to just use the default program or be told which is best, or do you like to pick your own programs and mix and match?



If you like to shop around, pick your own software and mix it up, go with a PC, you'll have more options as long as you know whats good. Prefer to have someone choose your software for you, Mac is good at that and will get you on some great stuff that should work well.



Hardware specs arent as important as they used to be in the day, unless you are a gamer, 3D designer, or work with music. Most people I know buy computers to only use 15% of its potential till they throw it away. My homework/media/internet laptop is almost a decade old and does my homework as fast as a new computer.

Answer 10

I have a macbook and i love it. If your school uses leopard, then it won't be hard for you to adjust to having a mac.

Answer 11

If you are a student, you will be able to get the apple student discount. I recently had a Dell laptop motherboard die after 4 years and was forced to get a new laptop. The most important thing when purchasing a new computer is to understand what you want to use it for. Once you do that, the user can more easily determine what is best for them. the big deal is the Graphics card and how much you need it.



You mentioned you are a student. If that means college, you can buy a MacBook Pro MBP) at a student discount generally at at least a $200 discount. With respect to RAM, Leopard is a Linux based OS 64 bit OS. Unlike Vista or XP, will run either 64 or 32 bit apps. This feature also allows it to use 4GB RAM unlike Windows that maxes out at 3GB. Leopard is therefore more flexible in running applications and memory than Windows.



You are mentioning Video chips that are what are commonly considered upper mid range. Anything beyond that is strictly used for high level gaming and nothing else-if you are not a gamer than you will not notice any difference. That is basically the cut off between serious gaming and upper mid range. The MBP has graphics that intended for professional graphic artists, film editors, photo editors, music and mixing and are the industry standard and push the professional graphics envelope. However, if you absolutely need additional graphics for gaming that Macs don't have a PC is your only option. You WILL need to buy a performance or gaming PC for higher ends.



If you look at the cost of the MBP and compare the components to PC, you will find that Mac include upgraded components over cheaper PC. But if you were to upgrade PCs to the hardware the MBP has, the cost is the same. If you couple that with the $200 worth of software Windows doesn't have. MBPs are lighter in weight, move from application to application about 40% quicker. Quicktime is far better than WMP, Safari better than IE7 and Leopard is better Windows.



I find it easier to personalize and customize. I find windows is slower, clunkier and big prone to bugginess. Applications and drivers sometimes work and don't work. After buying mine, no way I'm giving up my Mac. Since I got one, I don't think I'm ever going back. Also Mac seem to last a lot longer. The think I like most is the Mac software appears integrated and information is easier and simpler to manager between graphics



I with XP loaded onto my Mac, using bootcamp, find I've got the best of all worlds and not limited in any way. A feature I use constantly with Mac that PCs don't have is the Macs split screen capability. Which I update one thing, I can see how it affects the others in real time. Or run video on one side and something else on another. With XP, the only thing I'm limited to is the very high ended gaming which I can live with.



If you couple that with 90 days free tech support for hardware and apps with support that has people who speak English as their first language and are in the US, you really have a lot -try that with Microsoft



I think in 6 months you may see a stronger graphics card and processor that will bring it up to that standard.



I hope that Helps-Go with the Mac-all the way