5 reasons to buy or not buy a Mac

[washe]

Thanks for the replies, I shall foward your replies to my friend, Its up to her if she gets it, I would be able to help her if something is broken .... well Im telling a lie.... I would love to put my hand one of those to test it.

[brandon184]

There is nothing wrong with getting a Mac if that's what she wants. Some people use Macs and prefer them because they, personally, enjoy the interface. Don't force your preferences upon your friends.

My friend's mom recently had one of her tech friends fix her computer. The idiot installed Linux on it, and basically just said... Bring it to me and I'll fix it for you. Her mother doesn't know jack about technology, she can't take advantage of what Linux has to offer.

Brandon

[smurffart]

There seems to be a lot of support for purchasing a Mac from Mac users, which is great. However, I thought I would throw my experiences into the mix for what it's worth. For the last year I've been working part time in a design studio that is exclusively Mac based...from XServe servers and G5 workstations down to G4 imacs. All I can say is that at the end of day I'm pleased as can be to go home to my PC workstation.

There is something that is always f'd up with those machines at work. Mac has a bad history in my experience of "backwords compatability" in terms of perhipherals. Want to use you 1.5 year old $15,000 scanner on a new G5 running 10.3...tough, no support for it. I've got another scanner that will only work on G4 imacs...nothing else. It will work on any of three different G4's imacs but not on G4 or G5 towers (all running the same, completely updated OS). Printers are always having to be reinstalled on various machines because the drivers get corrupted. Etc. Etc. Ect.

My point is that Mac are not magical computers that are simply plugged in and trouble free. They can be just as much of a P.I.T.A. as any PC.

[Tekk]

Mandrake 10 is ridiculously easy to use. Simple interface. Cant screw too much up generally. Just put the icons that she wants on the desktop and you're ready to go.

[originel]

I don't think that mandrake is rediculously easy to use. Even if you do set it up for her, if something goes wrong that person would be completely lost. Also if they ever wanted to add a program things could get very interesting if it's not an rpm with all dependancies installed already.

As for the Mac case. I don't see why you guys think they are so expensive. Falcon NW and Alienware are about the same in quality and price. You can't compare a Mac to an emachine any more than you can compare a daewoo to a mercedes. The thing to remember about Macs is that they don't build cheap computers. Even their low-end line is still of very high quality, relatively speaking. Sure they have problems from time to time, but what computer doesn't. The only thing I really fault them for is backwards compatibility with hardware. As far as software goes you can get pretty much anything on a Mac, and if worse comes to worse you can slightly modify Linux apps to run on a Mac since the new version of OS X supports X11. My roomate even installed KDE to run concurrently with aqua.

If you don't play games, then I think that Macs are a very attractive product. The utter lack of virii and spyware is enough in and of itself. Yes you can get along in windows without too much difficulty, but it's so much easier to not even have to bother with it in the first place.

[my4skcg]

I LOVE my Mac. I've been using a mac for about 15 yrs. I used a PC for a few years before that and in the last few years, I've needed to use one for certain things. Here are a few specific things that I like about Macs over PCs:

-installing software is very easy AND there are not a million different files that are put in 2 dozen different directories. Less risk of a file having a problem making the entire program unusable.
-NO registry
-After installing s/w, if you wish to put it in a different directory, NO PROBLEM ... just move it. No uninstall, reinstall just to have it where you want it.
-Almost NO Virus problems. I've heard of people getting viruses on macs, but I haven't experienced it myself.
-For personal use, I can get all the s/w I need for the mac. The problem comes in when I need to share data with a PC user.

Unfortunately, Mac h/w and s/w is more expensive, but that's because there are not as many people buying the products. If more people used macs, I believe the cost would go down, and more s/w would be written for the mac. It might also make PCs better because Microsoft would have to try to compete to keep business.

[gberz3]

There seems to be a lot of support for purchasing a Mac from Mac users, which is great. However, I thought I would throw my experiences into the mix for what it's worth. For the last year I've been working part time in a design studio that is exclusively Mac based...from XServe servers and G5 workstations down to G4 imacs. All I can say is that at the end of day I'm pleased as can be to go home to my PC workstation.

There is something that is always f'd up with those machines at work. Mac has a bad history in my experience of "backwords compatability" in terms of perhipherals. Want to use you 1.5 year old $15,000 scanner on a new G5 running 10.3...tough, no support for it. I've got another scanner that will only work on G4 imacs...nothing else. It will work on any of three different G4's imacs but not on G4 or G5 towers (all running the same, completely updated OS). Printers are always having to be reinstalled on various machines because the drivers get corrupted. Etc. Etc. Ect.

My point is that Mac are not magical computers that are simply plugged in and trouble free. They can be just as much of a P.I.T.A. as any PC.

Ok, uhm, I work for a very large printer company (not naming names, but think, very, VERY large) and ,well, that's simply not true. . .trust me, we do extensive test with the highest of the high, and the lowest of the low. You all must be doing something to cause this mysterious "incompatibility".

[smurffart]

Ok, uhm, I work for a very large printer company (not naming names, but think, very, VERY large) and ,well, that's simply not true. . .trust me, we do extensive test with the highest of the high, and the lowest of the low. You all must be doing something to cause this mysterious "incompatibility".

Great, then all the problems are just in my head...I feel much better now. Look, I'm not blaming the printers or scanners (although the customer service reps from Olympus and Microtek blow), but was simply pointing out that Macs are not without problems. I don't know, it's just that we pay a local company over 30 grand a year for support because there is always something mucking up with our machines. Some of that is user error (thus proving Macs are not idiot proof), but some of it is just crap that the techs scratch their heads at. My favorite is the Microtek scanner that ONLY works on G4 imacs....makes no sense whatsoever.

Every time that we have updated OS's from 10.1 to 10.2 to 10.3 we end up loosing compatibility with some perhipheral. So instead of being able to run all machines on the latest OS, we have to boot one into 10.2 and one into classic mode....not ideal.

[gberz3]

Great, then all the problems are just in my head...I feel much better now. Look, I'm not blaming the printers or scanners (although the customer service reps from Olympus and Microtek blow), but was simply pointing out that Macs are not without problems. I don't know, it's just that we pay a local company over 30 grand a year for support because there is always something mucking up with our machines. Some of that is user error (thus proving Macs are not idiot proof), but some of it is just crap that the techs scratch their heads at. My favorite is the Microtek scanner that ONLY works on G4 imacs....makes no sense whatsoever.

Every time that we have updated OS's from 10.1 to 10.2 to 10.3 we end up loosing compatibility with some perhipheral. So instead of being able to run all machines on the latest OS, we have to boot one into 10.2 and one into classic mode....not ideal.

Ok, well, developer-to-developer, you all may need to invest in a larger system base. If you can afford to pay 30k for support, then I'm sure you have the $$$ to spend on at least one of every system (for cross-checking). For instance, you say that the Microtek scanner "ONLY works on G4 imacs". Is that opposed to G3 or G5 iMacs, or all other Macs in general? Have you considered that this may be simply a driver issue? It's possible that Microtek wrote the driver to "take advantage" of G4-specific functionality and simply disabled it thinking "hey, this should be good". Just please consider all options. Throwing money at something (e.g. 30k) is not always the answer to problems; MS Windows is a prime example of that.

I'm not saying that what you're saying isn't happening; I am saying that it may not be a "mac issue". It's possible this anomaly is caused by something else, like that USB microwave or whatever else you've got plugged into your mac at the same time.

[TrendyMartini]

I'm not saying that what you're saying isn't happening; I am saying that it may not be a "mac issue".

Gberz... A MAC issue? ...we wouldn't dare say such a crazy thing!

Seriously though......Personally, I don't think anyone is ever going to win the MAC vs. PC argument. There is always going to be another side to whatever position is taken. Personal preference is involved, and so you’re going to have people at the extreme sides of the issue. What I can’t understand is why we feel the need to persuade those who don’t see it our way - Use what you like, use what works best for YOU and that tasks you need to perform, and leave everyone else to do the same. Why the “hardware holy war”?? It’s be fought about for 10+ years… do we need another 10 to finally get wicked bored with the topic?… Ok, all that said, I’ve used both MAC and PC… I’m a PC user.

[radio1_mike]

A friend of mine wants to buy a Mac, altought I say her that only because it looks nice (fits on the decoration of the room), its a good reason to get a system more because she will only surf the web and use a word processor and a spreadsheet.

No need to dish out aroun 800 on it, If she can get a better deal....

If your friend wants a Mac because it will accessorize better. I say why not? Any person who'd consider a computer based on cosmetics has a different value set than us at Techimo. Meaning, she won't be tearing it apart to upgrade stuff.

The tasks she needs done can be easily handled by a Mac. It fits in with her lifestyle. What's the harm? Sure, she could get a home brew or a Dell for about half that price, but none, really, have the eye appeal a Mac does from a design standpoint.

[TrendyMartini]

but none, really, have the eye appeal a Mac does from a design standpoint.

I agree that you, Mike. She should get what she'll like. ...but from the design stand point, I have to disagree... It depends on the design.. if you've got a contemporary, sleek look going on... the last thing you're going to want is a purple (or any other color of the rainbow) bubble sittin' on your desk. But, whatever works for her!

[brandon184]

Depends on the person. I think my black & silver Dell & accessories go perfectly in my place. A Mac could work, but I prefer the Black as opposed to white (or even silver with a G5)..

Brandon

[gberz3]

Gberz... A MAC issue? ...we wouldn't dare say such a crazy thing!

Seriously though......Personally, I don't think anyone is ever going to win the MAC vs. PC argument. There is always going to be another side to whatever position is taken. Personal preference is involved, and so you’re going to have people at the extreme sides of the issue. What I can’t understand is why we feel the need to persuade those who don’t see it our way - Use what you like, use what works best for YOU and that tasks you need to perform, and leave everyone else to do the same. Why the “hardware holy war”?? It’s be fought about for 10+ years… do we need another 10 to finally get wicked bored with the topic?… Ok, all that said, I’ve used both MAC and PC… I’m a PC user.

It's not necessarily about winning, just getting people to state truth. Yes both platforms have their ups and downs. Having extensive experience with both I am merely helping people to "see" the benefit of the Mac.

Yes, people will always choose what they want, but tell me, if you saw someone picking their nose with a fork (PC) wouldn't you at least make a case for using a finger (Mac)?

[TrendyMartini]

Picking their nose w/ a fork? ....how long did it take you to come up w/ that one, Gberz? lol they might like their fork.. let'em be!

I don't agree w/ the MAC being the finger.. and the PC the fork, but that aside. ( I can't believe we're talking about nose picking..) It's more than just "helping people to "see" the benefit of the Mac". If after explaining all the pros of your finger to the "nose picker" they decided to go back to the fork.. would you give it up? I think not. You wouldn't be happy until they used their finger, just like you.

[gberz3]

Picking their nose w/ a fork? ....how long did it take you to come up w/ that one, Mike? lol they might like their fork.. let'em be!

I don't agree w/ the MAC being the finger.. and the PC the fork, but that aside. ( I can't believe we're talking about nose picking..) It's more than just "helping people to "see" the benefit of the Mac". If after explaining all the pros of your finger to the "nose picker" they decided to go back to the fork.. would you give it up? I think not. You wouldn't be happy until they used their finger, just like you.

You have a good point. Honestly, I probably would as long as they admitted that the finger was better. I don't see it as a matter of "what one likes" but a matter of "what is". I mean, seriously, the fork is sharper than a finger, has more tips, and metal (usually); all great qualities. But it's not what you want when picking your nose. So if nothing else I would at least ask them to explain "WHY IN THE #3!! ARE YOU PICKING YOUR NOSE WITH A FORK?!?!?!" before I "gave it up".

Even a crackhead knows crack is bad for them; they might not wanna quit, but they know. Why can't you guys admit the same. . .?

NOTE: I'm not calling Windows users crackheads, so calm down. Just using an extreme example to make a point.

[TrendyMartini]

"But it's not what you want when picking your nose.".... Ok, granted. A fork is no good for picking your nose.. Finger wins. So, you going to use your finger for everything? For example how about when eating spaghetti?... you gonna use your finger then? No. You'll be real happy you have yourself a fork. You'll use what you need to get the job done - What's best for the job. So, like I've said a bazillion times.... choose the platform that will best suit your needs.

[washe]

Does the factory software contains a wordprocessor and spreadsheet?

[TrendyMartini]

....wrong thread washe? usually a fork comes w/ a knife and spoon

lol, thanks for your note, Gberz. ....gotta love edit, so you can save your butt.

[gberz3]

"But it's not what you want when picking your nose.".... Ok, granted. A fork is no good for picking your nose.. Finger wins. So, you going to use your finger for everything? For example how about when eating spaghetti?... you gonna use your finger then? No. You'll be real happy you have yourself a fork. You'll use what you need to get the job done - What's best for the job. So, like I've said a bazillion times.... choose the platform that will best suit your needs.

I was waiting for someone to say something like this. Ok, try and stick with the analogy. The whole point is about using the right tool for the job. Were I speaking of eating, I would have said that. I happen to like picking my nose, so i used that. . Using the PC is similar to nose picking, an important part of life, but not as detrimental as say "eating" to live. OK?

It boils down to perception, but perception does not make anything true. Take the earth for instance. A few hundred years ago, it was a prevalent thought that it was flat. It made peoples lives convenient to believe that and many based societies around such a belief. Does the fact that they percieved it as true, or that it made them feel all warm and bubbly inside to think they knew (despite the truth) make it truly better for them? NOPE! In fact it wasn't until they realized things like the earth isn't flat, the universe does not revolve around the earth, etc that their particular progress (or enlightenment) in fields such as astronomy took place.

So, back to my point, you may use a fork to pick your nose and you may like the fork for picking your nose, but you can't say the finger isn't better; especially after quitting the finger because you couldn't find the manual.