should i buy the new macbook? I have never had a mac before and just wondering about the pros and cons?

Question

should i buy the new macbook? I have never had a mac before and just wondering about the pros and cons?

Answer 1

I can't think of any drawback to owning a Mac, other than the very small price difference. People claim you can get a Windows notebook that's "just as powerful" for less money, but what good is that "power" going to do if you're stuck with a crappy operating system, crappy software, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and viruses?



Some know-nothing Windows advocates like to claim that the Mac OS is just as vulnerable to viruses as Windows is, but that's purely hypothetical. As of this writing, there are NO viruses in the wild which are successfully infecting Macintoshes. Zero. Not one. Compare this to the millions of viruses out there threatening Windows users.



I've been using Macs since 1991, have never bothered to install any virus protection software, and have never gotten a virus. And I do a lot of high-risk things, such as downloading movies and cracked apps via bit-torrent and visiting dodgy porno and hacker sites.



If you're at all worried about easing the transition, there are several books available specifically for Windows users switching to OS X which teach you all the equivalent things in OS X that correspond to what you're used to in Windows. You'll notice that no such book exists to help OS X users switch to Windows because once somebody's used OS X, there's no way they're willing to downgrade to the awful world of Windows frustrations.



Get a MacBook, and be sure to get Apple Care. It's really good insurance to have, 'cause laptops do tend to get dropped now and then.



I hope I've been helpful.

Answer 2

You buy cheap software, you get what you pay for. There is already a huge security hole for windows 7 even though they already sent out a patch for other security holes a month ago. This new hole deals with the poor way windows hashes its user passwords. Windows stores them without "Salting" the hashes, something Unix based computers have been doing since the 1970's. Windows 7 is still 30 years behind other platforms, it's UI may look better then vista, but under the hood it is still unstable. Microsoft makes bad software, Internet Explorer, 7, Vista, 2000, on and on and people still buy it, its amazing.



On a mac, you will not need to install antivirus/anti-spyware/drivers there will be no registry errors, missing dlls and daily crashes. The updates are smooth and upgrades are easy, I just updated from 10.5 to 10.6 with out a problem. Try upgrading from vista to 7 without problems, or even the service packs.



The applications on mac do not require an installer to install it, its just one icon that can be moved easily. On windows, the installer installs files all over the system for every application, causing fragmentation of the hard drive and the possibility for crashes goes up. This also allows bloat ware and malware to be installed without the user knowing it.



The "mac is unpopular there for not many viruses are written for it" argument is complete BS. With Mac OS 9 back when the mac market share was around 5% there were 500+ viruses for the OS. Today with a mac market share of 10% you think there would be double the amount of viruses. There are in fact maybe 10 application specific (not OS) trojans for the modern mac.



Windos 7 has tons of problems already, and has already been hacked. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Windows-7-Hacked-controlled,7619.html and http://www.pcworld.com/article/174342/windows_7_upgrade_woes_mount_endless_reboots_and_product_key_problems.html

Answer 3

I am typing this on a seven year old Mac that is just as peppy as the day I bought it brand new. Don't worry that the price tag is higher than PCs.



1) Those cheaper PC come with less. Add to them to make them truly comparable and the price tag difference goes away. Most times the PC ends up higher.



2) Do you know anyone who uses a seven year old PC that runs as well as it did when it was new? Mac have a longer useful life than PCs. You will replace a Mac half as often as you will replace a PC.



-----



The first link below are instructions that will fit on a single sheet of paper. These instructions will guide to fixing 99% of what might go wrong with a Mac. Can you find a similar link for Windows or Linux?



The second link is the best reason to buy a Mac. You can avoid most viruses by being careful, but would you rather try to avoid these kinds of viruses by "being careful" or by using a computer that they cannot infect?

Answer 4

Mac is just all different. I think its cool! the pad thing is a clicker.. i mean you actually press down if you want to open a file instead of tapping it...

how bout you go to a store where macs are sold and try it out. :)

P.S... if you get a Macbook... theres Macbook Pro & Macbook Air... The Air you would have to buy an external drive.. sucks really...

Answer 5

It depends. If you have the money to spend for an expensive notebook then go ahead. If you want the same power at a cheaper price I'd suggest you go buy an Asus notebook. They are high-quality machines that costs less than HP's or Dell's.



If you'd go with the Mac, don't worry it can run both windows7 and Mac OSX either in bootcamp or virtualization mode.

Answer 6

Macs are very easy to use once you get to know the system and that won't take long. I'm sitting at a white MacBook right now and I am very satisfied with the system! The design is very nice as well!

Answer 7

i at the instant have been given a MacBook professional and that i individually like it. besides the indisputable fact that, i did not get it for something especially aside from i needed a sparkling pc and theory i could handle myself! they're so confusing to understand in the beginning up yet then you definately purely click with it and now i discover it greater handy than workstation. one in all those easy format. The battery existence in marvelous to boot, like mines at the instant at 7h. needless to say the main important draw back is value, the actuality that a working laptop or workstation that does the comparable factor is like 0.5 the value... yet individually i think of its rather worth it, besides the indisputable fact that maximum folk tell me its not.. good luck!!

Answer 8

if you have the money then it will absolutely be worth it. macs are amazing in every way, they dont get viruses, run so much smoother than pcs, i never have any problems with mine. so yes definitely worth it. however i would recommend if you could, paying the extra couple hundred bucs for the 13 in macbook pro.

Answer 9

I have used both and both suck, but windows sucks more.



The pros with macs, is they come loaded with almost all the software you want. It is part of the operating system.

They are less prone to virus attacks

Everything usually works



Cons

Less off the shelf software

Expensive

It takes sometime getting used too so give it sometime. I love them both, for different reasons.



Today, I have migrated over to a totally free and awesome operating system that I am still learning. Ubuntu

Google it, put it on a windows machine and give yourself sometime getting used to it.



Ubuntu is an entirely open source operating system built around the

Linux kernel. The Ubuntu community is built around the ideals enshrined in the Ubuntu Philosophy: that software should be

available free of charge, that software tools should be usable

by people in their local language and despite any disabilities,

and that people should have the freedom to customize and alter

their software in whatever way they see fit. For those reasons:



http://www.ubuntu.com/





Good luck.



.

Answer 10

The biggest con will be you will be lost when it comes to using it. Especially since you've never used a Mac before!

Answer 11

No. Macs suck, especially if you're an experience Windows user. And Windows 7 just came out recently and it's totally awesome.

Answer 12

Avoid the Mac... Read Below...



PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Today, Macs use a subset of PC hardware. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think..



Don't believe the lies that Macs are better than PCs at graphics/animation.. Dreamworks Animation http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/ under studio click on Technology of Animation, an independent film maker I know uses PCs, a graphic artist I used to know uses PCs also.



A number of PCs can also run OS X (Mac OS) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=os+x+on+pc&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=os+x+on+ as well just that Apple makes it illegal in order to get Market share.. The reason why Mac can run native Windows is because it is using a subset of PC hardware,



If you decide to buy a Mac for running Windows, you will still have to get the same virus/spyware protection, and run into the same issues as a regular PC.



Now is a Mac worth buying for OS X?



I say: NO... for the following reasons...



ADVANTAGES WINDOWS :

Aprox 90% of the market is Windows and most PCs have windows already pre-installed.

1) Some websites require Internet Explorer, to run IE on Mac you really get ies4osx which is the Windows version of IE running really buggy and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows.

2) Supports more devices (printers and other things you hook into the computer).

3) More business software/games

4) Want the dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.

5) Used by businesses.



ADVANTAGES LINUX :

1) FREE (most versions are)

2) Install software by either 1) Synaptic Package Manager, 2) Add/Remove 3) Opening a .deb or .rpm file (depending on distribution)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION which can do any cool effect a Mac can do and many ore....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)

3) Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Avant Window Navigator.Cairo Dock, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE

4) It is FASTER/MORE SECURE to surf on the internet

5) Some Windows programs work with Wnehq/Crossover (also avail on Mac, but why pay $$$)



Instructions how to download, burn and boot http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

Dual Boot Instructions http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



VIRUSES

Mac OS X has viruses (and significantly on the rise), 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".

http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/



SECURITY

Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 less than 30 minutes, and within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008, and within 10 seconds in 2009. In 2008, Linux and Vista were not hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered. Vista was next, and then Linux. In 2009 Windows 7 fell shortly after the Mac but Linux was unscathed.

Macs are standardized with Cameras, if your Mac gets hacked, the hacker can turn on your camera with more ease.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Mac-OS-X-hacked-under-30-minutes/0,130061744,139241748,00.htm

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html

http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/03/19/Researcher_cracks_Mac_in_10_seconds_1.html

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml



QUALITY/PROBLEMS

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. 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.



Sample of problems: Deleting your Data (Snow Leopard), Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=5006

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://www.appledefects.com/

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/107748-mac-os-leopard-running-slow.html

http://cybernetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/reliable-laptops.jpg



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.



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)



**(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I compare Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you really want 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 matching specs. 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.



PS: Apple knows that they need to make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end 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.



Dell XPS8000: ($1018)

CPU: I-7 2.8GHZ (SUPERIOR ) RANK 12= http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7+860+%40+2.80GHz

SCREEN: (Upgrade to) 21.5inch Screen

MEMORY: 6GB Ram DDR3 Dual Channel 1033GHZ (MORE)

HARD DRIVE: 640 GB (LARGER, FASTER)

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer (FASTER)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon 4350HD 512MB (SUPERIOR)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dxdzkv1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&m_2=SXI7860&mo=2~SXI7860&kc=studio-xps-8000



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



IMac ($1200)

CPU: 3.06 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (MUCH SLOWER) http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E8435+%40+3.06GHz

SCREEN: 21.5inch Screen

MEMORY: 4GB Ram (LESS)

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive (SMALLER, SLOWER)

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer

GRAPHICS: Nvidia Geforce 9400M (WORSE)

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB950LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NDc



**(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop Price Starting: $550 Ending Opt A: $854 Ending Opt B: $954

15" Screen (SAME)

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: OPT A: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD (WORSE) Benchmark: 1243 http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html

OPT B: 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 (BETTER) Benchmark: 4969 http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4330.13973.0.html

Memory: 4GB 1033GHZ DDR3 SDRAM (SAME)

CD DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD-RW

Hard Drive: (upgrade to) 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SAME)

Battery Life: (upgrade to) up to 8 hours (BETTER)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DNDWZA3&s=dhs&fb=1



Macbook Pro Price Starting: $1700 Ending Opt A: $1850

15" Screen (SAME)

CPU: 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics Benchmark: 3263 http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-9400M-G.11949.0.html

Memory: 4GB 1033GHZ DDR3 SDRAM (SAME)

CD DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD-RW

Hard Drive: (upgrade to) 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SAME)

Battery Life: up to 7 hours (WORSE)

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC118LL/A?mco=MTM3NDcyODk



FREE Windows Stuff

http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

http://www.iobit.com/

http://www.ccleaner.com/



ILife Equivalents

http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20070830_ilife_for_windows.html

http://www.xsellize.com/showthread.php?t=20518



ANTI-VIRUS

Avira Antivir (FREE) rated best detection/2009 (Free version=no realtime protection) and here http://www.freewaregenius.com/2009/04/07/the-best-free-antivirus-a-comparison/

http://www.free-av.com/



Avast (Free- Click under Free Software and download Avast Home Edition) http://www.avast.com/



ANTI-MALWARE

Malware Bytes-(Free version=no realtime protection).

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol

Super Anti-Spyware (FREE)

http://download.cnet.com/SuperAntiSpyware-Free-Edition/3000-8022_4-10523889.html?tag=mncol



LINUX INFO:

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.ubuntu.com/