Does anyone have a Mac?

mindlesstrance

I built my own PC years ago and it's served me well but it's a bit outdated now to say the least. I've been contemplating over whether to build a new one or buy a Mac. I've never owned or used a Mac before but I have to say they look very sexy!

Would probably go for one of those aluminium iMac's if I went down that route. Just wondering if anyone else has one (or any other type of Mac) and how you'd rate it performance and usability wise?

Swanlander

I have a Minimac - I used my old keyboard and mouse and screen. A big learning curve but its so fast - I wouldn't go back to a PC. You do need to borrow books from the library to help you with it though.

Marty_J

I have an iMac and I think it's pretty fabulous. They have beautiful screens, they're very fast, easy to change the RAM (but not much else!) and OS X is a dream to use. They can also run anything a PC can too if you still need to use some Windows programs (and you can run Windows and OS X at the same time). You can even run some without installing Windows. It's also very nice being able to use the internet without worrying about getting the latest worm, trojan or virus.

The major down side is they're not ideal if you like updating components every so often. Apple don't really like end-users tinkering with their computers.

You'll also have to prepare yourself; if you ever say anything nice about Macs on the internet, you'll get accused of being an Apple-fanboy or a Mac-zealot, so you might want to factor that into the equation too!

But I've always been curious why more people don't use them, so it's nice to hear you're considering one.

jewels123

I have a MacBook and it is absolutely wonderful. I would never go back to Windows for anything.

No worries of a virus like Marty said.

It does take some getting used to but once you're there, there is no turning back.

I'd say go for it.

randomtask_2

I actively boycotted Vista since there were (are) so many issues with it, so plumped for a MacBook. Had no problems of note and its just a case of learning the nuances of the OS. You are paying a premium for the specs you get, but from a usability point of view, its money well spent for the majority of computer users.

There's lots of threads on help with using macs on this forum and in the wider realms of the internet.

Sput2001

I have to say they look very sexy!

You're just the sort of person Apple are looking for!

I'm a regular, and happy, user of both Windows and Mac OS, and in my experience neither is any more reliable than the other. Contrary to what you may have heard, Macs are perfectly capable of crashing, too!

The main difference is that you get substantially more bangs for your buck with a PC, and they're way easier to upgrade.

frugalsar

HI - we just got a macbook as a second comp, keeping the cranky old windows one for backup incase it was hard to use - but so far been fab, (if you know a student they get a percentage off in the apple stores also!) not had it for long so still getting to grips with it - the photo viewer is a little tedious as next / previous dont work unless you select all photos that you want to view at once and skyplayer does not work unless you install windows also. but on the whole it's just a case of getting used to it!! and it does look pretty sexy too!!!

Essenchill

Takes a little bit of getting used to, but I'd join the 'once I started using a Mac, I'd not go back to Windows for anything' camp anyday.

Bob63

I have Macbook Pro, eldest daughter has Macbook, youngest daughter got a 20" iMac this week. The change away from Windows, which has happened since I dumped my Windows laptop in November has been a revalation to us. I was concerned that I would miss certain applications so I invested in Parallels Desktop which allows the Mac to run a copy of Vista, XP, Linux etc., but rarely use it as everything I need runs on the Mac. What I really like is the speed of the machines, ease of software updates, ease of software and hardware installation, and the sheer slickness of the interface. I would never go back to a Windows machine.

PoppyHoppy

I'm a Mac convert... I love my Macbook, had no problems whatsoever. When I did my first degree Windows kindly lost my dissertation... so I bought this to do my post grad and it's kept everything safe and sound! Love it!

toasterman

I must admit I'm a Mac convert.
I work in IT support (Windows) and one of the original reasons I was considering a Mac was to put some distance between my home and work life (as my hobbies also involve computers).
Another reason was Vista, which I just don't like. I don't think it does anything that XP doesn't do - Vista just does it slower and in a much more cumbersome manner.

I got myself Parallels (lets you run Windows from inside Mac's operating system, if you need to run Windows apps) and I think I ran it twice, then scrapped it....because I just found Apple versions of the software I needed instead.

The price really isn't a factor.
Say you buy a Windows pc. After 3-4 years, its worth nothing. Nobody wants it.
BUT have a look on Ebay - you can sell Macs several years after because they are 'fashionable'.


And regards upgrades:
Yes - the only thing you can upgrade on an iMac is the ram. But you don't need to upgrade Macs as often. You can run their current operating system on a 5-year-old Mac. I used to be of the "what if I want to upgrade it?" camp, but if you think about it - what do you really upgrade in your Windows PC other than RAM?
If you want a big hard drive, buy a big hard drive when you buy the machine.

Replacing motherboard/cpu is a waste of time anyway. If you bought a cheap Dell desktop instead, when it came to replacing the motherboard/cpu, you would most likely find them non-standard, and there's always another deal on a new cheap Windows PC.

There are plenty of people who buy a car, drive it for 10 years and sell it on and buy another. You don't have to be changing components for the sake of it.


Two things to note - Macs aren't completely immune to viruses, hacking etc. Don't assume because there are few Mac viruses, there's no way you can get one. This is the same as Windows really - don't download illegal software, screensavers, and all that crap - and you'll probably find you don't get viruses.

And secondly - if you want to play the latest games on your computer, a Mac is not for you.
Personally I think Windows gaming is far too complicated and awkward with driver compatibility and whatnot - so I'd buy a ps3/xbox/wii instead.