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

[kalimus]

The first paragraph, though, presents only part of the story. The reason Macs don't get targeted as much is indeed because there aren't as many of them. But most of your Internet servers run Linux and Free/Net/OpenBSD, so that's a Big Fat Target (TM) right there. However, Linux and *BSD servers don't get compromised nearly to the degree that Microsoft Windows servers do. That's because Linux and *BSD are simply better designed under the hood. They're not as compromiseable by design. Therefore, it's just plain easier, from a technical aspect, to target Microsoft Windows OS's. They're just plain easier to "pwn", be they desktops or servers.

That's true. I generally don't get that specific, but basically the effort involved for such a small score is just not worth the effort for the average attacker. I certainly wouldn't bother.

[NYT]

Not sure why you think asking a question is the same as asking for a justification. It's a legitimate question which none of your analogies properly compare to. Specifically I wanted to know why people bought Macs and dual booted them to Windows. That's not the same question as why would you buy a Rolex, Corvette, big screen, AR, etc (All of which have better responses than "Because I want to"). It's more along the lines of asking why you buy your AR and replace the charging handle, or why you add a quad rail, or why you replaced the trigger. "Because I want to" is a totally useless response that gives no helpful information, and doesn't help me to understand why people do this any more than I previously did. You installed BootCamp for work (or so I understand). That was the answer to my question. Anyway...

I completely understand why people buy Macs. That wasn't the source of my question. I don't understand why they buy Macs and put Windows on it, since Windows itself is the cause of the problems, not the hardware. Windows gets the viruses, Windows has the registry tweaks, Windows has the driver errors... or whatever other complaints people have about it. I totally get that. So those people buy a Mac. I get that too. Then people put Windows on their Mac, effectively making the most expensive Windows machine (for the money) possible, and bring onto themselves all the same problems the Windows machines have that drove them to buy a Mac in the first place.

lol, youre right on the money there dude.

my ceo asked me to research options for a company wide laptop refresh. i started with a macbook because our staff do not require a desktop replacement laptop. first question to the apple genius from me was what kind of FDE options do i have with a macbook? they had no friggin clue what that was so i started doing some digging on various forums. turns out apple does not utilize hardware encryption technology. they are betting the farm on their cloud based encryption tools. obviously no bank in the world would allow GLBA data (SSNs, account numbers, etc) on a non-encrypted laptop so i had to pass on a recommendation of apple.

[a-shot]

Yes, of course the grass is greener, the water doesn't smell, and the sun shines all day. But always remember, the first apple debuted for $666.66. And the logo is temptation itself. It's very delicious, but it will just cost your ever-lasting soul. And you will never have another computer problem again as long as you live.

[Section 101]

I don't know if this point has been made yet here because I grew weary reading all the posts but I'd like to make an important point if I can.

Apple isn't just a computer company any more. They build a suite of products. All of these products are made to work well together. The iPhone talks to the iMac which talks to the iPad which talks to the Apple TV, etc.

It's not an accident that virtually all smart phones now look like the iPhone which came out first. Remember all the jokes when the iPad appeared? Now everyone makes some kind of pad device. The point is that Apple innovates. All the others copy.

Apple doesn't invent anything. They steal ideas and trademark them.

[pacifico23]

Double post.

[pacifico23]

Apple is the Daniel Defense of electronics.

Lolol...not sure if serious.

Ide put Nvidia in that class.

[acorn]

To say one is better than the other is just stupid! It comes down to preference. I prefer Mac over PC, for me they are more reliable as I don't know all the in's and out's of a PC and Mac is just more user friendly for me. I prefer my Galaxy Note 3 over an Iphone...........

[sd_shooter]

Switched...

Just bought a 15" MB Pro!

Specs:
- 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, these seemed adequate and upgrading would have been an arm and a leg
- Quad core i7 Haswell, no doubt more than enough for me
- Intel Integrated graphics, should be ok since I don't play games

First impressions:
- This thing is blazing fast! Even compared to my relatively new work laptop with 8G RAM and 256G SSD the mac is far faster. I'm talking several times speedier, but this is just my 'butt dyno'
- Things indeed seem to "just work." I plugged in my wireless 3-button PC mouse and the Mac didn't give any indication whatsoever. I wiggled the mouse and *poof*, the pointer moved! Not so on a PC of course, there's a period of "Searching for drivers..." and other uncertainty before the thing is recognized.
- I keep all my personal files in a separate partition on the PC and I'm just copying the whole mess over to Mac, supposed to take 25min for 50G of stuff. No need for the "Migration Assistant" (Seems like my NTFS partition on the portable drive is read-only, I'll have to research that a bit more)
- The retina screen is great I'd read reports of it being washed out but I'm only at about 70% brightness and it's very good. Absolutely crushes my Lenovo screen which is definitely dim even at max brightness.

So far so good. I didn't get Applecare, I figure electronics seldom break after the 1yr period and it was about $350

My bro was with me at the store and was ribbing me about being a member of "the elite" now. I don't know about that... I felt kind of 'dirty' at the Apple store instead. It's a little snooty in there to me. I did my best to hide the gigantic apple logo on the bag when I slinked back to the car, LOL.

[Elysium]

Same old tired argument used by PC users to make themselves feel good about admin privileges.

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.

[the86d]

Same old tired argument used by PC users to make themselves feel good about admin privileges.

Free Mac: ElementaryOS Luna w/your PC... Open Source AND less susceptible to malware than a Mac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSRCVSGNRM&noredirect=1

It is so simple, a Mac-user can use it...

[XDRoX]

Just bought a 15" MB Pro!

Specs:
- 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, these seemed adequate and upgrading would have been an arm and a leg
- Quad core i7 Haswell, no doubt more than enough for me
- Intel Integrated graphics, should be ok since I don't play games

First impressions:
- This thing is blazing fast! Even compared to my relatively new work laptop with 8G RAM and 256G SSD the mac is far faster. I'm talking several times speedier, but this is just my 'butt dyno'
- Things indeed seem to "just work." I plugged in my wireless 3-button PC mouse and the Mac didn't give any indication whatsoever. I wiggled the mouse and *poof*, the pointer moved! Not so on a PC of course, there's a period of "Searching for drivers..." and other uncertainty before the thing is recognized.
- I keep all my personal files in a separate partition on the PC and I'm just copying the whole mess over to Mac, supposed to take 25min for 50G of stuff. No need for the "Migration Assistant" (Seems like my NTFS partition on the portable drive is read-only, I'll have to research that a bit more)
- The retina screen is great I'd read reports of it being washed out but I'm only at about 70% brightness and it's very good. Absolutely crushes my Lenovo screen which is definitely dim even at max brightness.

So far so good. I didn't get Applecare, I figure electronics seldom break after the 1yr period and it was about $350

My bro was with me at the store and was ribbing me about being a member of "the elite" now. I don't know about that... I felt kind of 'dirty' at the Apple store instead. It's a little snooty in there to me. I did my best to hide the gigantic apple logo on the bag when I slinked back to the car, LOL.

Congrats on the switch to Mac. I think you'll be very happy with your new Mac. My advice though fork out the extra for the AppleCare. I know lots of people that have used it. You have 30 days.

[DaveInOroValley]

All I can add to all the comments being made in this thread is I have used both extensively over the years and when you compare fixing software and hardware which I have done both before retiring I prefer OS X and Apple hardware. For me PC variations and the slew of "compatible with some work peripherals and drivers is just an excuse to create an industry of people to troubleshoot and repair.

[DaveInOroValley]

Congrats on the switch to Mac. I think you'll be very happy with your new Mac. My advice though fork out the extra for the AppleCare. I know lots of people that have used it. You have 30 days.

You actually have up to the entire year of warranty since the AppleCare doesn't start until the regular warranty is up.

[XDRoX]

You actually have up to the entire year of warranty since the AppleCare doesn't start until the regular warranty is up.

That's right, thanks. I was thinking about the AppleCare+ for the tablets and phones which covers accidents.

[sd_shooter]

Congrats on the switch to Mac. I think you'll be very happy with your new Mac. My advice though fork out the extra for the AppleCare. I know lots of people that have used it. You have 30 days.

I'm on the fence with this one. It's another $350, enough to buy a cheap PC laptop outright!

Reasons I'm leaning against it:
- I'm coming from a Lenovo that also offered a 3yr warranty but I settled for the 1yr. Had no problems over 7 years.
- I can fix any software/configuration issues myself.
- Apple wouldn't price it at $350 if it were a "good deal" for the consumer. They are making money here.
- I work in the tech industry and understand MTBF, testing, manufacturing etc. A modern mac is very 'solid state' and has little that can go wrong with moving parts. It's most likely to fail in the first year if there is an actual manufacturing defect.
- I have a whole year to think about it. If the machine indeed has a hardware problem during that time I may $pring for AC.