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I haven't used Mac's much, I admint, beems to me they are overpriced hardware-wise and really not that much easier to use than a PC. What is the appeal?

2006-10-19 04:30:19 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet Hardware Desktops

Windows XP has a firewall, High speed internet gives me free antivirus, spam blocker, etc. PC's are easy to uprade. From my experience the usual reason why Windows breaks is because of the wealth or software available to install to Windows. Mac's have fewer software choices and therefore don't have the opportunity to break.

2006-10-19 05:07:13 · update #1

That's a pretty high end Dell. Most people aren't going to get a Dell Precision 690 for their daily tasks. Precisions are made for high end applications. I guess I'm talking about the 90%. I know for sure that you can but a Dell for under $400.

2006-10-19 05:23:06 · update #2

9 answers

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NEW

Nospamcwt -
Sheesh, come on. You sound like one of those Linux fanatics. Any real PC owner would build their own system, so they won't go buying PCs from HP or Dell. PC hardware is still less expensive and still more abundant. The wealth of hardware & software is still worth the extra computer knowledge to run them. Less software means less choices and who wants that? You end up spending more on software. The Mac's overall computing philosophy of "here it is, you don't need anything else,' still exists and a lot of people aren't comfortable with that. No matter how much you love your Mac, it will never be more popular than the PC. It's the same way with Windows and Linux.
Perhaps if you had an Apple II in the 80's, your view of that stupid company would be different.
If you haven't noticed, the Mac sure looks more like a PC, doesn't it? Where's the Motorola CPUs, huh? Look what's inside the Macs and look at the PCs. Imagine if the PC had the Mac OS system. Think about that. Don't talk about Mac hardware. The only Apple thing worth talking about on the Mac is the OS. If PCs had an operating system like the Mac's, then what would Apple users have to brag about?
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I don't have too much experience with the Mac, but it is easier to use than Windows on the PC and Linux on the PC. That's in terms of less problems overall and less hardware, software, and operating system set up problems.

PCs are more powerful and offer much more software and hardware than the Mac.
PCs were based on expandability and allowing the computer user to make their own computer system the way they like - at a cost of additional computer knowledge.
I liken the Mac to a laptop computer; You just buy the computer and use it as it is, and you don't worry about any extra peripherals or upgrades. This has always been the Mac's philosophy on home and office computing.

The PC hardware is less expensive because there are more hardware peripherals available from different manufacturers. Also, the PCs all don't come from only one computer company.
Despite that, I know that Apple computers have always been idiotically over-priced. That dates all the way back to the late 70's.

2006-10-19 04:58:28 · answer #1 · answered by Balk 6 · 0 1

Some Macs cost less than comparably equipped Dells, so I don't know where you get the idea that they're overpriced. The total cost of ownership of a Mac is lower than a PC too. No need for antivirus/antispyware, the built-in firewall is plenty of protection on a Mac, it works out of the box and is rarely misconfigured. Computers are tools, and a tool that does what you need when you need it and without maintenance and security issues is worth more than a tool that causes all kinds of problems.

Computer consultants and stores prefer to sell you a PC that has a lower sticker price and lower profit margins. That should tell you that they expect to more than make up the difference somewhere. That somewhere is in all the support charges they'll pull in (ie, Geek Squad) when you have problems. Even if you get free support, the downtime alone is very costly.

Macs generally come equipped with most of the things you need, and they never came with cheapo processors like the Celeron, so upgrading a Mac is usually just a matter of adding RAM or a new hard drive. Look at the current Macs. They all have Core Duo or Core Duo Xeon processors. By the time a significantly better processor is out, it will be better to replace the entire system than upgrade the processor because a faster processor will need a faster motherboard. Sure, you may want a faster graphics card, but that's easy to replace too! Anyone who says Macs are difficult to upgrade either doesn't know what they're talking about or they're lying.

Spend some time using a Mac and you'll see why people who know about them choose them over a PC, even to the point of fighting with their IT departments.

Balk,

Where are you getting this crap? Most PCs don't have Duo Core processors, come with about the same amount of RAM, but an OS that needs more RAM to do the same things! Expanding a Mac is just plug-n-play, but on a Mac it really works! As for software, yes there is more PC software, but most of it is junk. It's custom programs written for specific businesses that you'll never use, crappy freeware that you'll use once and trash, or games!

PC hardware is NOT less expensive:
http://www.systemshootouts.org/shootouts/desktop/2006/0809_dt3200.html
The Mac is less and it has a 20" display. The Dell: display not included!

Yes, you can get a Dell for around $479, but it will have a crappy processor and be difficult to upgrade! Antivirus adds at least $79, and when it fails your PC cost of ownership can easily surpass the cost of the box. If you want cheap, get a Mac Mini for about $600. At least it won't need any more upgrading other than perhaps some additional RAM.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/cto_dimene521?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/0.RSLID?mco=B3C47B0&nclm=Macmini

I DID HAVE AN APPLE II+ in the 80s, and you don't have a clue. Macs don't look like PCs, PCs look like Macs, but they still can't work as well. The processor and the rest of the hardware aren't relevant. It's the OS that counts. If PCs had an OS like the Mac's, then they wouldn't be the crap they are.

2006-10-19 04:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by nospamcwt 5 · 0 0

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2016-12-25 15:06:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Macs are definitely easier to use. I switched two years ago, and I love it. Mac has a built-in firewall, as well. You don't need to run any sort of anti-virus on a Mac, it's secure. Don't let everyone tell you it's due to lack of users and low market share. Here's a link to prove that point.

http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisemac/archives/2006/08/is_windows_inhe.html

It's not really overpriced, hardware-wise. Macs have excellent hardware. iMacs are actually shipping with 802.11n chips, even though they are said to be 802.11g. What is the appeal? There's a million reasons... I can't even begin to tell you all about it. I've been answering questions like this day in and day out. Why don't you read my previous answers? If you have any specific questions, just ask me.

There's no lack of software. How many calendar programs are available to the PC? About a million? How many of those are any good? Two? Simply put, crap doesn't survive in the Mac market. Most Mac software is much better than it's PC counterparts. Don't be fooled into that myth.

How are PCs faster? Macs are using the same architecture now that they have moved to Intel processors. I have a Core Duo in my Mac, and it's fast as crap.

PC hardware is cheap because most of it is junk.

2006-10-19 10:40:01 · answer #4 · answered by UbiquitousGeek 6 · 0 0

Your question seemed open enough but your details ("What is the appeal?") indicates you find Macs not appealing. If so, just go buy a Windows box and be happy. I'm fairly happy using my Windows XP box.

Mac OS-X has a firewall. My Mac is much easier to upgrade than my Windows box because the OS will usually have all the drivers it needs and never gives the long wait for "New hardware found... Windows is searching... Windows can't find... " Macs are available in most price ranges from the 600 buck Mac Mini to the really bad a_ _ Mac Pro G5. If you want a really cheap quality computer, however, you will have to settle on a Windows box because Apple makes some really sturdy hardware.

There are thousands of software titles for Mac but more for Windows. Of course, most of the new Macs can run Windows and thus Windows apps. One person says Windows breaks because there is so much software available. I think it is more related to the oddities of the registry. No registry voodoo on a Mac. That doesn't mean you can't have Mac issues. It just means you have fewer issues and they are more logically resolved. I did tech support for both Dell and Apple for years.

I develop websites. I use a Mac. I have a Windows box also but I only use it for special Chinese programs which usually are not made for Mac (Chinese pirate everything and, like viruses, pirated software is almost always Windows only). If I want to type in Chinese, however, I usually use my Mac because I can switch to Chinese in one second on my Mac and then switch back to English later.

At that school where none of the students use the Macs? That is probably related to two phenoms: Apple Computer fumbled their sales efforts in education from 1998 to 2004 so almost all schools dropped their use of Macs, thus most of todays kids have switched to Windows. Also, there are more games for Windows. Kids like games. Nothing weird about it.

Pick whatever you like after spending at least two hours using each. BTW, I have never had a virus on my Mac (except on the external USB drive after it gets connected to almost any Windows box -- but I can easily remove the viruses in the Mac OS Terminal program) in 15 years of very active use. Yes, I know why Macs don't get viruses but it doesn't matter. It's just a fact I enjoy.

2006-10-21 16:58:08 · answer #5 · answered by SilverTonguedDevil 7 · 0 0

Mac the entire manner. I purchased a Macbook Pro a month in the past and I fell in love with it. In my factor of view, a Mac is way less difficult to make use of than the PC trash. Addfdsf(the fellow who replied first) is tremendously intellectual, there's a correct-click on in Macs. He is one of these whimp.

2016-08-31 23:25:16 · answer #6 · answered by dassler 4 · 0 0

macs are considered to be easier to use. took more time developing user interfaces... all of that.

most people feel as though they are stronger or handle applications and memory better for dealing with things that require a lot of processing.. like very large graphics, sound mixing and video editing.

they are costly though, and harder to upgrade and there are less open software options for them.

really it depends on what you are using the machine for.

i develop websites, i need to work on a pc for this.

2006-10-19 04:35:05 · answer #7 · answered by nfreebairn 2 · 0 1

Pc.. I say just cuz its what Im used too.. At school there is a section with MAC... and They are always EMPTY! nobody.. people will sit and wait idley for the PC and leave the whole section of the lab with Macs empty .....Weird

2006-10-19 04:41:33 · answer #8 · answered by Christal 3 · 0 1

Macs by far. More user friendly. No viruses. Easier learning curve.

2006-10-19 04:33:21 · answer #9 · answered by ___johnnymnemonic___ 2 · 1 0

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