Alright, sorry for the lame headline. Anyways, I'm looking to get a new laptop and I'm not sure if I should invest into a Mac. I'm only 16, so I like the entertainment aspects the Mac includes, but computer wise, is it just too different from the Windows operating system? Also, price is somewhat of an issue (as it always is). I'm looking to get this laptop for under $2,000. So what are the advantages and disadvantages to getting a Mac, compared to a Windows operating system?
2007-01-11 10:40:47 · 12 answers · asked by supernaturalpatience 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
I want to use this computer for the entertainment aspects like music, movies, and photos, but I also want something that is fully copable of allowing me to complete my school work - writing term papers, etc.
2007-01-11 10:48:06 · update #1
It breaks down to personal preference.
Also, I wouldnt pay much mind to the Mac fanboys here.
2007-01-11 11:11:24 · answer #1 · answered by INOA 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
first, let me say you can get an incredible mac laptop for under 2,000.
Second i need to settle this myth... Yes the apple operating system is different but not as much as you think. In the begging like in the 1980s this was the only operating system and then microsoft kinda copied it but jsut enough that you couldn't win a lawsuit from it. so in reality they work just about the same. On the contrary most people who review both pcs and macs as their job agree taht after a week or two of using the mac they are used to it and jsut about all agree it is a lot easier to use then windows.so let me list the advantages and um ... let me think of a disadvantage.. ooh this is dificult well i'll think of somthing...
In terms of school work.. you can get microsft office for your mac that works with word, powerpoint and all the other things one needs for a pc ruled school.
Pros
Every Mac comes preinstaled with iLife. This has software taht lets you easily create website complete with blogs, photo pages, movie pages, podcast pages and more and it all looks professional. iLife also comes with somthing to manage and do some editing of all of your photos and your music. Then software to help create and edit music, create and edit movies as well as DVDs.
Macs are not as prone to viruses for many reasons for one tehre system is much more protected ( i have an article of a proffesional virus maker admitting it is harder to create viruses for macs)
All Macs have built in cameras to take pictures and video conferences
A remote to control all of your media (all of your movies, music and photos) from accorss the room
These computers are hot!
The most advance operating system that is widaly agreed to almost always be atleast 4 years ahead of windows
And if you ever ned windows.. u can install it!! you can have the best of both worlds...
And many other small things that the reviews might tell...
Cons...
um.... i guess games don't come out for the Mac operating system as fast....
and somtimes some websites don't give downloads for macs but that is starting to become a myth aswell....
um yea that is all i can come up with...
Another myth i must settle... Macs (nowadays) are almost never more expensive when comapred to pcs. When you break it down to the ahrd drive, memory and the otehr stuf both offer... macs usually can turn out to be cheaper!! however you are right in saying that there is no mac that is less then $600... And no terrific mac less than $900. But then again you couldn't say there are many terrific pcs for under $900s...
good luck and i hope you choose the smart choice...
2007-01-14 23:57:38 · answer #2 · answered by me, myself and I 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The OSs are very different. Macs were always famous for their ease of use. However, if all you've ever used is Windows, the transition can be a bit slow, depending on how fast you adapt to other desktop environments. The nice thing about the new Macs is that you can make them dual-boot Windows AND Mac OSX! So you can have the best of both worlds!
The biggest advantage of the Mac OS is its stability and very few viruses written for them. It's so stable because it was designed to work on a very limited set of hardware. Apple also uses excellent quality of hardware, thus the bit higher price.
All of the *nix administrators that I know have switched or are going to switch to Macs because they work well in administering both Windows and Unix (*nix) environments, if that tells you anything.
2007-01-11 18:48:22 · answer #3 · answered by bogus_dude 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go Mac! Dude, it rules for all ages. by the way, I know people will talk about how standardised windows is, but let me tell you, you can run Windows on Mac. I have a Mac Book Pro, and I added Windows to it as a second OS. It rules. You get the best of both worlds.
But DONT BUY THE MACBOOK, GET A MACBOOK PRO.
MAC BOOKS AREN'T ENGINEERED THAT WELL AND OFTEN OVERHEAT.
THIS IS NOT SO WITH MACBOOK PRO.
Save up a bit and get the MacBook Pro.
2007-01-11 20:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by Charlemagne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm it's actually hard to decide... I've been working with mac and PC... and i enjoy to work with both of them... they both have good stuff ...
Some people says that Mac will be very powerful... yes... that's really true... but, if you buy an Core 2 duo PC with at least 2GHz processor speed an at least 1 GB of RAM with a good video card... it will be enough to do the entertainment stuff that you'd like to do... and, lot's of games was design for PC not for Mac... evenly there's some for Mac, the price for the game software itself will be much more expensive than the game software for PC....
for the programs... most of a well known software company built a software for Mac and PC.... like Adobe, Microsoft Office, Macromedia, and etc... but some, you will only can find on PC but not on Mac.... but, there's always another software to do makes you able to do something....
For the Stability... Yes... that's true... Mac is more secure than PC... Mac was not get easily infected by viruses... but i think you still can get spam... not sure....for PC.... it's little bit fragile... but if you install a anti virus and anti spam it will be enough.... and if I'm not wrong, the new release of northon anti virus was already come with the anti spam... :)
and for the price.... PC is always much much more cheaper than Mac... but, some of the PC will probably cost almost the same with Mac... so, make sure you know what to buy and how cheap or how expensive from one site to another....
and for parts... it's really easy to get parts for both of them if you want to upgrade.... so, don't be worry about that...
so... if you wants to buy a laptop here's some tips...
i think it much better if you get yourself a price range... it's always great to get something from the newest technology.... but, there always will be tomorrow that offers you the better one from now... so... be ready...
if you already have a price range... then you can search what kinds of great deals that you can get for your price range...
if you really wish to get a mac.... you probably need to borrow it first from your friend or family.... try to use it for several days... then decide... they both was pretty much the same.... the different only the operating system... one using windows and the other using OS X... both can have emulator that can runs Windows on Mac or Mac on Windows....
then... check the software that you've already have and all the parts you've already have at home... is it compatible with Mac or PC or both ?
ok... hope it's help.... ;) have fun...
2007-01-11 20:19:06 · answer #5 · answered by pv_tree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm... If you really need a computer right now, I'd say go with a cheep windows comp. If not, wait until you get into college, when you're going to spend a lot more time on it, and get a Mac, you might also want to get one with Windows pre installed on the Mac if you need both OS
2007-01-11 20:09:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most professionals and businesses use macs. For example, a photo editor or video/song creator, management of stocks, etc. Was and still is used by a mac. Lately, Mac has been trying to stop windows campaign that it is more user friendly than mac by changing around the interfaces and making it easier to use. Windows has a plus in its programs, for it sold its code to all companies so anybody could make programs for it. However, Mac keeps programs to itself (Ex. iTunes, Garage Band, iMovie) and makes them themself. A negative side to this is the viruses, but a good anti-virus such as mcAfee or Kaspersky should keep it up. Mac DOES have a "virtual windows" program but it runs slow and is a waste. You decide, you want to work on a bit more pro stuff etc? I wouldn't choose that for a LAPTOP (mabey for a desktop), but windows seems fine and more user-friendly, but its up to you. Plus, windows has some good laptops under $2000, such as the sony Vaio
2007-01-11 18:46:52 · answer #7 · answered by PaRs433 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, Macs now use Intel chips, so you could install Windows on one if you wanted too.
MacOS is similar in some ways, but it's different enough to annoy you, so you'll have to take some time to get used to it before judging it. You'll have to relearn a few things too. Installing software is easy, just download it, and drag the icon into your Applications folder.
2007-01-11 18:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by Yanni Depp 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HELL YEA!!...I've just got my mac book pro for college and it's amazing...its not slow and it's got way less virus problems, you don't have to spend money on virus software unless you really want to, gaming is a problem however, if you wanna game seriously get a PC...but i found i was over gaming by the time i got to college and bout this computer... oh and a small downside is that you have to buy Microsoft word for your mac, unless you don't care about using Microsoft word.... but that's just my opinion
2007-01-11 18:47:08 · answer #9 · answered by trigger-man 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get a MAC and stay as far away from anything micro$oft is making!
2007-01-11 18:59:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋