Going to a Mac....maybe

[Capt Steve]

Our Dell desktop computer now going on 9 years old is beginning to fade. I want/need to replace it before it craps out completely. I must admit 8+ years with the Dell has been excellent. We still have our Toshiba laptop PC from our boat days but really want a new desktop. We are seriously thinking of going to a Mac. My friends that have them are very happy. The one really big plus is that there seems to be very little in the way of virus', bugs and general criminal nonsense directed at Mac's as there are far fewer of them. The I-mac is around $1200 and would meet our needs just fine. Any Mac folks (or anyone else for that matter), out there with opinions one way or the other???

 

[MK]

Dunno... For some app's they are great.. IE: recording music, etc..
Pretty good.
But... I'll never run one here as it won't run my flight simulator
worth a hoot.. I'm pretty much stuck with windows unless a new
sim comes out that is better than the present FSX I'm using, and
that may be a while being as everyone else is so far behind the MS
version. "MSFS has been out for years and thus has 25+ years of
programming.. Most of the others are playing catch up, and they
still have quite a ways to go before they pass the overall function
of FSX. "

But MS has laid off the last FS team, and there may not be any more
PC versions released.. I could be running FSX for quite a while.
And it's a shame as FS11 was half done when they canned the
ACES programming team at the beginning of last year.

 

[Dave from Pa]

Purchased a Mac almost 2 years ago.We could not be happier. Easy to use and no virus or other things that plagued my dell.

 

[Dragonfly]

I've run a Mac since 1988...I'm one my fifth now (a 2003-vintage G4 tower). I run no anti-virus software at all--I know that Macs aren't 100% immune but until there's a virus in the wild I think I'll be OK. OS X is a very stable system--I've run my tower in excess of 70 days without shutting it down or restarting. If you reallywant or need to run Windows you can do it on the newer Intel-based Macs without too much hassle. The newest iMacs are fast and have beautiful screens--I'm hoping to get one later this year. Go for it!

 

[Evil One]

A moderate spec desktop with Ubuntu linux...
WAY cheaper than a mac, works similar to windows, and no virii for it.


Jim

 

[Blkcat]

With Mac OS 10.6 "Snow Leopard", which should come pre-installed on a new iMac, you can run Mac and PC applications. You only need to install your own version of Windows.

I have had both Macs and PC's and love my Macs. They are a bit more expensive than PCs , but less trouble to keep clean, since the bad guys,(so far) haven't invested a lot of time in developing malware for them.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The new iMac is becoming a M&P 15-22 for Apple...

iMac yellowing screens. (among other problems)---

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/012210-apple-imac-users-claim-yellow.html


Apple iMac users complain of yellowing screens - Techworld.com

Apple iMac users claim yellow screen of death - Network World

 

[bellevance]

Go to a Mac. You'll never go back.

Seriously. Everything Mac is better than anything PC. Except price.

Ya get what ya pay for.

 

[beemerphile]

What bellevance said. Except the price difference ain't so bad these days if you are pricing a parallel quality piece of Windows hardware. I have a home built Windows 7 desktop with all the goodies (10K RPM Velociraptor drives, i7 chip, fancy motherboard with overclocking, liquid CPU cooling, maxed out RAM, etc.) and the wife's iMac is still more satisfying to use at half the price. If it's hooked to the internet, you will find that all computers wait at the same speed. The Mac OS is just more pleasurable to use because it is so tightly integrated to the hardware. My $1200 MacBook Pro is the best laptop I have ever owned after several ThinkPads, Toshibas, and so on. I am converted, except that I would still rather use my Windows 7 desktop to manage my servers and wired and wireless network hardware.

 

[jeffsmith]

If you already have a nice monitor that works well for you
check out the Mac Mini
Unless of course you (or family) play a lot of Graphic intensive games
then the iMac is the way to go

Also if there are windows programs you just can't live without
like BLKCAT said just install Windows (XP, Vista, or 7) and Dual Boot

If you do run into any problems Apples Customer support rivals S&W's for satisfaction
they are well noted for making things right

 

[truckemup97]

My first and last Mac was purchased in 1984. I liked it, and I like the new ones, but I can't justify double the price.

 

[Capt Steve]

First of all thanks one and all for your valued input. I have a decent monitor that is only a year old and plan to keep it, whatever I end up buying. My needs are fairly simple; surfing the net, word processing, lots of photos and simple applications. We aren't gamers and video production isn't in my future. We are headed to the Mac store tomorrow to look around and I got a quote from Dell that was just about the same price as the Mac. Keep the good info and opinions coming as the $1200 to $1500 budget is a lot of money for us and I would like to get this right the first time. (o;

 

[loutent]

I have never owned a "non-Apple" computer - Apple IIe way back when and then Macs - never had a hardware problem (except the occasional HD of course) - I upgrade about every 6-7 years (currently a G5 - about 5 years old). Would never buy anything else - they are worth it in the long run.

 

[K38]

I have had my iMac for four years and I like it very much. Best thing is to have both a Mac and a PC, then you are covered. I got the wireless mouse and keyboard, but I don't think I would do that again. I am not all that fond of the Apple Mighty Mouse, but I have not used the newer one yet.

Dwight

 

[jeffsmith]

snip I have a decent monitor that is only a year old and plan to keep it, whatever I end up buying. My needs are fairly simple; surfing the net, word processing, lots of photos and simple applications. We aren't gamers and video production isn't in my future. snip

Then a Mac Mini might just fit the bill for you
I sent you a PM with a link

Good Hunting err Shopping

 

[sipowicz]

Love my iMac...I like that everything is in the monitor...no base with all kinds of wires...they tried to sell me the wireless keyboard and mouse like I had on my Dell but it's a waste with the iMac...the wires come straight from the monitor so they really aren't a problem like with a base on the floor....my old Dell was an okay machine but the router sucked and always went out on me...the apple wireless airport is a tiny box that just plugs into an outlet...works like a charm, as does the computer...the lynksys PC router was a nightmare to config...still have a Dell laptop though...I use it mainly for writing since it has my final draft program on it and I don't want to spend another $150 to put it on my Mac...but that's okay as I get to stay proficient with the PC also...

 

[jag312]

I have a G4 and I like it. Before this one, I had a G3. I had only one virus problem with it a few years ago. I picked up an obscure virus that attacked the Microsoft Word program. I downloaded a free anti-virus program, and I have never had a problem since.

One of my friends went to college with Steve Jobs, and they were in some classes together. He says Jobs was a human rectum in college, and he is still a human rectum today. My friend says it will be a cold day in hell when he buys a Mac.

 

[Waldo]

About 4 years ago I purchased my first computer. I knew nothing about computers. Still don't know much. Have a good friend who is a computer science professor. Asked him what kind of computer to buy. He said Mac. Met a guy who was the computer guy at a big company. Company had all kinds of computers but they all were PC's. He taught and solved problems on the company computers all day. His personal computer at home that he purchased with his money was a Mac.

 

[5Wire]

I've run a Mac since 1988...I'm one my fifth now (a 2003-vintage G4 tower). I run no anti-virus software at all--I know that Macs aren't 100% immune but until there's a virus in the wild I think I'll be OK. OS X is a very stable system--I've run my tower in excess of 70 days without shutting it down or restarting. If you really want or need to run Windows you can do it on the newer Intel-based Macs without too much hassle. The newest iMacs are fast and have beautiful screens--I'm hoping to get one later this year. Go for it!

Plus One!

I've been using them personally and professionally since the Mac Plus days. The only virus I had was the Microsoft Excel Virus affecting only Microsoft Excel & Word. Fixed in a day.

The Mac OS IS an anti virus system as well as an operating system. The Intel Macs, as you posted, will run Mac OS and Windows better than some dedicated Windows machines.

There are Mac OS versions of Flight Simulator which work jes' fine.

Most Mac software is backwards compatible for years up to the G4s and Mac OS 10.4 (I think). I currently run a G3 Laptop, G4 Tower, and Mac Mini all wireless networked at home in minutes out of the box with only the addition of a Linksys Router.

Very easy to get along with, productive to work with and without the literally thousands of bugs included in all the Windows OSs I've used up to VISTA.

 

[mtscout]

I'm not a 'IT' person, but I have an iMAC, (21.5 inch), and like it.
We live out from town, an using the WIFI (wireless router, keyboard, mouse, and Canon 560 printer), all has worked as advertised.
In the past I had been a long time 'PC' user, and this 'MAC' system is a little different, but no real problems re-learning.
This unit was $1200, and there was a special offer for a rebate on iWork and a new printer, (purchased at the same time).
I recommend it.