What am I really gaining by going from Windows to Mac?

Question

I have friends that really want me to change. My home pc is for my wife and I and basically we just load our pics on it, use our Quicken and surf the net, will it really change that much if I go Mac?

Answer 1

See all the ads.

1. It just works.

How much time have you spent troubleshooting your PC? Imagine a computer designed by people who hate to waste time as much as you do. Where all the hardware and software just works, and works well together. Get a Mac and get your life back.

2. You can make amazing stuff.

Every Mac comes with iLife ’06, a suite of software that transforms your photos, music, and video into all kinds of projects. Make high-quality websites, photo books, DVDs, songs, slideshows, music CDs, calendars, cards, prints, podcasts, music videos, documentaries, and more.

3. Design that turns heads.

You won’t want to hide your Mac in a corner of the den. You’ll want it front and center in your life. The Apple style shows in every detail, from its sculpted surfaces to its gorgeous Mac OS X graphics.

4. 114,000 Viruses? Not on a Mac.

Mac OS X was designed with security in mind. Windows just wasn’t built to bear the onslaught of attacks it suffers every day. A Mac offers a built-in firewall, doesn’t advertise its existence on the Net, and isn’t compromised within an hour of being turned on.

5. Mac OS X , Next year’s OS today.

Since Mac OS X engineers aren’t busy damming a flood of viruses, they have the time to think up amazing new technology. Like Dashboard widgets, mini-applications offering a world of capabilities just a keystroke away. Or a built-in RSS news reader.

6. The latest Intel chips.

Intel Core Duo processors put you on the cutting edge. In fact, a Mac with an Intel chip is so fast it surprises even longtime Windows pundits, who keep running benchmarks again and again. Results? Fast. Fast. Yup, still fast.

7. Instant video chats.

Setting up a video chat with the people next door — or across the globe — should be as simple as picking up the phone. On a Mac, you just click an icon to have a four-way video chat in a full-screen window with amazing clarity and special effects.

8. More fun with photos.

On a Mac, you don’t need any extra software to make a photo book. You don’t have to leave your photo software to visit a separate website and wait for forms to load. All you need is a camera and a Mac.

9. One-click websites.

How long does it take to post a photo or video to your blog on a PC? On a Mac, you can shoot a picture or a movie with the built-in camera, then post it on the web in a few clicks. Pontificate, preachify, and publish. The hardest part is coming up with something to say.

10. Amazing podcasts.

Want to get your message out to the world? Podcast it. A Mac makes it simple to create professional podcasts, complete with artwork. Add sound effects and jingles, even use the built-in radio engineer to make it perfect. So you can be a talk star in seconds.

11. Rock star tunemaking.

Musicians get all the girls (or guys). And a Mac has the software to turn you into the musician of your dreams. Choose from hundreds of cool riffs and instruments to create your own songs. Get good enough and you could be on iTunes.

12. Hollywood-style movies.

Connect your DV camera and turn your movies into spectaculars. Add graphics, titles, and sound effects in minutes. Then use your Mac to burn a DVD or post to your website.

13. No hunting for drivers.

Just plug in your stuff. A Mac includes USB drivers for mass storage, digital cameras, input devices, iPod, and more. It can see Bluetooth cell phones and headsets, as well as FireWire cameras. No rebooting.

14. Awesome out of the box.

Other computers include software, it’s true. But once you start using that software, you find that you’re hobbled in some way or another. Software included with the Mac, on the other hand, is critically acclaimed as best in class. More

Or Take it from me :
Macs were only slow because of the PowerPC processors they had ... not anymore that's fixed because now all Macs come with Intel Core Duo , Now they're Just Overall Perfect .

Now you can even use Windows XP or Vista with a Mac . Well , I have Vista On Mine . --- http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Answer 2

Get a Mac. These people are nuts. If you have no specific reason to use one or the other, go with the Mac. And they don't need to be expensive if you're not doing a lot of intensive video or audio work. You won't get any more viruses, it will crash about a tenth as often, anything you plug into it will work, usually without installing any drivers, and if you want to keep track of music or photos, Macs have the best tools for that preloaded with the OS. If you have a monitor, mouse and keyboard, I'd recommend a Mac Mini, if not, an iMac has a built in monitor. There are all kinds of really cool features and other things that just make Macs easier to deal with. And if you don't like Mac OS X (and I've never met anyone who didn't... no wonder the new Windows is a total rip off of it...) you can even install Windows on it. It won't change too much about your day to day life, but i guarantee you'll have more fun on your computer.

Answer 3

Hello MtN_BkR,

I think that the main gain is no computer viruses. So you won't have to worry about getting computer viruses inside your e-mails, or through your web browser. If you will get a virus in your e-mail, it will show up as an executable file attachment that has no effect on your Mac at all. You just delete it. I've heard that there were a bunch of computer viruses for Vista long before it was even released.

I haven't had a system crash since I've upgraded to OS X. There might be an occaisional program crash, but with protected memory, you just re-launch the program. Software is easy to get and there's plenty of open source and public domain programs available as free downloads.

You can still buy Macintosh versions of Microsoft Office and Quicken for the Mac, if you are accustomed to those programs, or you can enjoy Macintosh computer programs from Apple, Adobe, or other companies made specifically for the Macintosh.

I love how iPhoto launches whenever I plug in my digital camera. There are also more professional photo programs that are out for the Mac. You should sit down and play with your friend's Macs to really get a good idea how they work. You'll find that there is only slight differences in how Windows and the Mac OS X works. There's also some information for Switchers on the Apple web site:

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

As far as the hardware, there is no plug-n-pray like with those pieced together Windows PCs. Check the prices with the list of hardware that you get with your purchase. Best of luck in your final decision.

--Rick

Answer 4

Macs offer more style and fun for doing those things you mentioned as your primary uses. iPhoto and other programs that come with the system give great options for viewing your pictures making DVD's to send to friends as well as albums you create then they ship to you. It is a great system for media overall. For surfing the net, they have few (I've had none) problems with viruses.
But the best part is their customer service. Sure you can go buy a cheep PC but when it breaks down (and you know it will) with a virus or other problem you will spend hours and hours on the phone with someone in India or tons of cash to have it fixed. With a Mac you can just go to the Apple store and talk to a tech right there (usually they just grab your computer and fix it)....you can go and ask them questions about how to better use the Apple software or why this or that for any aspect.

I recently got a Mac (iBook) and have had nothing but great success with it. Sure it was more money but you get what you pay for.

Answer 5

I agree completely with Josh. I'd also like to add the fact that Macs used to be almost completely hardware and software locked. You could barely upgrade it and could only run the Mac OS. Now you can use bootcamp, and upgrade your Mac! This is a plus since some Macs come with good discrete graphics cards now. And redchaos, great read.

Answer 6

You'll get several disadvantages:
#1 computers are dead boxes w/o software. If you can't go anywhere and buy software, whats the point? Anyone seen the list of mac software at wal-mart lately? :D
#2 the list of "mac upgrades" can be listed right here with ease. 3 or 4 video cards are available, a few sticks of ram, and maybe a bigger hard drive. Wanna upgrade cpu? Good luck. Motherboard? Good luck. When it's obsolete theres little hope, toss it in the trash and buy another.
#3 you might hear some mac addict say they're faster, but read actual mac/pc shootouts. In 95% of tests, the mac is devastated by a decent pc in terms of speed.
#4 expense. Macs are OBVIOUSLY more expensive per level of performance than pc's.

Mac pros? Well, there are fewer viruses. I have a pc and never get viruses, I learned common sense. Something every user should have or at least try to acquire. People that say macs are better because they don't get viruses are in actuality saying "we don't know what to click on, what to download, what to do online so we need a machine to protect us from our own ignorance."
Just my oppinion.

Answer 7

You are gaining a more secure operating system, and intuitive interface. Not to mention, you will be gaining access to much more creative software with the iLife and iWork software packages. MAC systems are also less vulnerable to viruses and system crashes, so prevalent in Windows OS operations.

Also, with the Mac Parallels software, you can run both Windows and Mac OSX. This means that you can run all programs that your PC will run, in addition to all proprietary MAC software. Essentially, you gain much and lose nothing.

I was also skeptical about the change, but having done it for my small business, it is the best decision I have made in some time.

Answer 8

No, it wont. It's just trendy to bash Microsoft and recommend Mac or Linux. Windows and Mac OS X are both fine, but if you're used to using one, there will be a learning curve when switching to the other.

Another thing to keep in mind is a Mac will cost more than a PC with similar hardware specs.

Macs are supposed to be easier to use, and actually probably are, but you shouldn't switch without knowing what you're getting into. Ask your friends if you can try out their computers to see how Mac works for yourself.

Answer 9

Tell your fiends to go buy there own macs. Macs suck I have been a tech for years and half my life revolves around computers.

Lately macs have final got some ground of there own but really if you have gone this far with a PC then stick with them they are a lot better then a mac.

Only switch to a mac if you want to render graphics or run some high stress video editing. Leave pictures , movies and videos , work ,internet browsing ,programing and gaming to a PC.

Note: I find PCs to be more stable , and cheap.

Answer 10

As an owner of both, I'd say:
Mac Benefits- Dead easy to do the basics. Watching videos, pictures, playing music (iTunes !) all work great.

PC benefits- If you suddenly need to do something, chances are there's a PC program. Mac version? Maybe, maybe not.

My iMac eneded up in the bedroom, as an entertainment center. Video EDITING is still done on the PC in the study.