Mac vs PC (yes, really) [Switched!]

[farmerjoe]

"...but w/proprietary-overpriced-hardware-checks..."(?)

Easy enough to build a Hackintosh. Just need to hunt around a little. I'm in the process of building my second box in 3 years, for video editing. $4500 cheaper than a comparable Mac, and worth every penny.

[NYT]

mac is great for the user will low levels of technical knowledge. the same user that will have problems uninstalling an application, getting a virus, installing malware or complaining of spam.

windows is by far the more able of the two in a head to head contest but if your only requirement is to surf the web and edit photos or video, mac is great. anything else and youre kind of screwing yourself over.

everything is more expensive, slower and you have but a fraction of the peripheral options moving forward.

[penguinofsleep]

i use both... prefer my pc as much as i dislike windows.

i'd also say i have a sufficient technical background understanding of computers. my pc i built runs great, better than macs i've used at the same price point. however, it took me a bit of effort to get it there. cheap pcs i've used elsewhere though vs a mac i can see why a lot of people would pick mac.

[Section 101]

Apple is the democrats of PC's. They tell you how you should like it and don't give you any choices.

[Brianguy]

[sd_shooter]

Apple is the democrats of PC's. They tell you how you should like it and don't give you any choices.

Well yes, like placing the window "control" widgets on the opposite side as the rest of the world (ie. on the left instead of the right.)

However windows gives you things without choice as well, such as having to reboot after installing certain patches and updates. With my Win7 machine at work, this drives me nuts! With linux I never had to reboot unless updating the very kernel of the operating system. I don't know Mac is in this regard, but I would be shocked if they forced a reboot. (eg. my Android phone doesn't force a reboot after installing some apps.)

[the86d]

Well yes, like placing the window "control" widgets on the opposite side as the rest of the world (ie. on the left instead of the right.)

However windows gives you things without choice as well, such as having to reboot after installing certain patches and updates. With my Win7 machine at work, this drives me nuts! With linux I never had to reboot unless updating the very kernel of the operating system. I don't know Mac is in this regard, but I would be shocked if they forced a reboot. (eg. my Android phone doesn't force a reboot after installing some apps.)

I understand BSD is getting better at this reboot issue, but my Windows rig hasn't rebooted on its own since Windows 7 was installed years ago, nothing forced. The last forced shutdown I encountered was due to a UPS battery-fail. I never ran Vista on anything in my house for more than a month, so I can't speak on that, but I believe XP fixed this issue in an early update, but that was so long ago I ran XP on a box exclusively I cannot recall specifics, but you COULD always set updates to NOT do them automatically, and I have done that since installing ANY M$ OS (XP and above..). When installing don't chose Update Automatically... THEN GO IN AND SET "...LET ME CHOSE..." INSTEAD, & don't do updates in the middle of your work day... unless you have time.

It is a user-error, or IT error if automatic updates take hold when unexpected...

[BRANCHER]

I switched to MAC at home a few years back. I have parallels and VMWare to run Linux and Windows (and even chrome) as needed. I write installers for Windows so I am on a PC all day at work. I have to trouble shoot resolve and look at code for it all day. Nothing worse than installing the same patches at home after watching them all day on my test / engineering PCs at work.

MAC is come home and just use it. No worries and No issues.
Plus the 2 27" screens are amazing!

[XDRoX]

MAC is come home and just use it. No worries and No issues.

This is what it all boils down to for me.

[Gavelek]

[armenakadino]

I have been a Mac user for the past 10 years but have used a PC before that and always had to use a PC at work. Personally I prefer a Mac since I don't have to deal with the stupid bloatware that comes with PC computers when you buy them. Also I like it due to the lack of errors that occur. The thing with a Mac is you can buy a Mac and install Windows on it for the times you need it. I installed Windows on my Imac and since your buying a fresh copy it is a stock build of software without the bs bloatware.

The Retina Macbook Pro still amazes me how there is absolutely no noise from the fans, it is completely silent.

[rockblaster]

Windows 8- Microsofts Hindenburg

I have had 3 clients in the last couple of months bring me brand new OEM windows 8 machines and pay me $ 250 to purchase, reformat and install Windows 7 on their pc's. A workaround is classicshell which gives the windows 7 desktop functionality back.

[Anti-Hero]

I just got my 72 year old mom on Linux Mint 16; she loves it!

[NYT]

no offense meant but if you truly think your mac is unable to get a virus youre out of your mind. the very worst viruses out there completely took over control of mac os machines.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/mac-virus-apple_n_1625110.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/02/20/yes-apple-really-does-have-a-serious-problem-with-computer-viruses-and-malware/

do yourself a favor and pick up kaspersky mac av or clamxav. i run clam for my machines and kaspersky for my friends.

[Cowboy T]

NYT's correct. Any platform can get compromised (yes, including GNU/Linux or *BSD). That most definitely includes Apple's Mac OS. Matter of fact, it's probable that Mac OS users are even more vulnerable due to the very mistaken belief that they're somehow "immune" from getting pwn3d. "Can't happen to me!", they say, so they may tend to use less caution than they should. *ANY* platform can get compromised.