Should I go with a new PC with OS Vista or should I go with a MAC?

Question

I currently have a very old PC. How old? Well, I am still using OS Windows 98SE. Now I need a new system. I waited for VIsta to come out, but now I hear they have software issues. There is no timetable for when or no idea who will release a software patch for what I need. Should I look around for a notebook pc with XP on it to get me by while waiting on the software patch. Or should I go with a MAC either a notebook or a desktop? Or should I just go with Vista and wait out the software situation that is eventual? I do need a machine with large graphics capabilities. I am into graphic arts and web design. I also plan to use autocad, as well as, other drafting software. The Autocad software is the problenm I have become aware of with Vista. Any help please?

Answer 1

LOL. I love the morons that try to pretend the mac is so much better even though it uses the SAME parts!!! Back when they used powerpc cpus, yes it would have been the machine to get, but it's a wanna-be overpriced PC now!! Just look up the prove yourself, it's the same parts in them, just overpriced for macs. (little sad when a $100 video card is $100 for pcs, but the same card is $200+ for a mac)
You should just get a real pc, 2gb of ram, good video card, and Win xp. There's no need for Vista (the other Win ME OS).
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/29/xp-vs-vista/
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_ws2007.html

Answer 2

You should go out and buy a brand new computer running Windows Vista. I have a brand new HP running Vista and it works great. Any software issues are easily fixed with Windows Automatic Update. As long as you have a relatively fast Internet connection (or aways on...i.e. cable or DSL) you will be fine. As I said before I have a new computer running Vista the works seamlessly with any program I have ( I even have an old program that was made for Windows 98 that works). So defiantly go with Windows Vista and just ignore all the critics.
P.S. My personal favorite computers are Gateway and HP.

Answer 3

First question is have you ever used a mac before? I personally like both the mac and pc's they both have their strengths and weaknesses. What I would check is to make sure that any software that you would plan on using would be available for the mac. One thing you can look at is if you want to stay on XP now is that alot of the computer vendors are offering an option for a "Vista" upgrade that is free so you may want to check that out.

Answer 4

Do not get Vista. It's a waste of money. You want value? Get a Mac.

Benefits of Mac:

No viruses, or any other malware for that fact. (This is due to Mac OS X's UNIX underpinnings, not "lack of users" or "low market share.")

Seamless integration. Your hardware will work perfectly with your software, because both are designed by Apple.

You will enjoy many advanced features that are not available in Windows, even Vista. Features like Exposé, Spotlight Search, a built-in dictionary that can be invoked in any application with a simple keystroke, easy to build scripting using Automator, zero-configuration networking, system wide spell checking and many more.

Macs can dual-boot with Windows or run Windows within Mac OS X itself. With BootCamp, you can dual-boot with Windows and run any PC application, even high-end games.

Excellent support and customer service. Apple is well known for it's support. I had a wonderful experience with Apple when the logic board in my Mac mini went bad. (This was due to a power issue in my home, not the Mac.)

Great software. Most of the software made for the Mac is better than similar software for Windows. Crap doesn't survive on the Mac market. iLife is absolutely amazing. Mac OS X is compatible with many file formats, right out of the box. As I mentioned before, you can run Windows applications. With a Mac, you can have it both ways.

Beautiful hardware. Quality hardware. Apple puts the sex in tech. Apple hardware is always beautiful, as well as functional. Apple has extremely talented engineers. One look at an iMac will tell you that much. The hardware is of excellent quality and built to last. Macs are well known to have a longer life span than PCs.

Upgrades? Who needs them. A seven year old iMac can still run the latest release of Mac OS X. Sure, you can add more RAM or get a bigger hard drive, but your Mac will run beautifully for years to come. When a new version of Mac OS X is released, you won't need to scramble to purchase upgrades in order to run it. (Leave that to the Vista adopters.)

Crashing. It doesn't happen. I'm not saying Mac OS X is absolutely perfect, but it's damn close. Most problems are easily fixed within minutes. Macs don't require the constant maintenance needed by PCs.

Value. When all of these things add up, you'll actually be saving money, as well as time, in the long run. You'll find yourself actually doing more on a Mac. Things you never thought of doing on a PC.

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A few notes... Windows on a new Intel Mac is not emulated, it's native. The Mac can now run Windows just as well (or better) than any other PC.

Better for graphic artists? Not true. Macs are now better for everyone.

As for notebooks, nothing is better than Mac. You'll get a thin, light notebook with a beautiful display, long battery life and plenty of power. I usually get between 3-4 hours of battery life, depending on what I'm doing. MagSafe is great, too.

Answer 5

I would suggest a new PC, but with Windows XP, not Vista, at least not yet. Rule of thumb, any new Microsoft OS requires at least 6 months of shakedown time before you should consider acquiring it. In Vista's case it might be a year, it seems to have some bugs and lots of issues with driver and application support.

Answer 6

I have nothing good to say about Vista! Lack of support so far, totally different than the operating systems you are use to. It will be a while before I jump to anything other than Windows XP.

As for the MAC, they have nothing but a huge advertising campaign. This site lists one thing pc users can do, that mac's can't.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

Answer 7

I've always used windows but I see that you can run windows on the MAC now so... maybe if you want the better video editing ability in the MAC, better security, and whatever else, maybe that better way to go. I dunno if they have any compatibility issues with any of the windows software ran on the MAC with the windows emulator. Microsoft though is obviously easier to find software for and if you ever have problems it will probably be much easier to get help.

Answer 8

hi
Depending on use.
If your going to do lots of imaging or design Mac is the best
but for other used PC is fine
Not for vista i would wait 1 year to install it there still lots of bugs
also you need more 1 gig ram to run vista

Answer 9

Go to a show room and see them side by side.

BTW All the graphics people I know use Macs. Don't know why, but they do. Ask users in your field, which of the two they prefer.

Answer 10

I'm a recent convert to Mac, and recommend it highly, especially if you're into graphic arts.