The Modern Gal is in the market for a new computer, and she’s looking to you for help.
I bought my personal laptop exactly five years ago, which is like 125 in computer years. In other words, the computer has been dead for the past six months or so. I have a laptop through work, so it’s not like I’m completely unplugged, but I can’t do everything I’d like to do on the work laptop for obvious reasons.
Since the Christmas Day that Santa left the IBM next to the tree some 20 years ago, I have been a dedicated PC user. I understand them. I can fix them to a certain extent. I love my right click button. I’ve been eyeing some of those fancy-looking HPs lately. I really have no impetus to switch from using a PC other than I’m scared of having to upgrade to Windows Vista and I know that so many of you are Mac fans. And because I know my Modern Friends tend to use their computers for many of the same reasons I do, I figured I would turn to you to convince me one way or the other: Mac or PC.
So, in the comment section below, please give me a reason or two or three why I should buy a Mac instead of a PC or vice versa. Comments that are no more useful than “I have a Mac, and I love it!!” are not allowed because they tell me nothing. Why did you buy what you have and what do you like and dislike about it? Be fair — tell me both likes and dislikes. You never know what will strike a chord. And if you’ve owned both in recent years, offer me some comparisons.
If it will help you offer suggestions, here are the things I prefer to use my computer for:
- Blogging
- Downloading music on iTunes and Napster and loading to iPod (which also needs replacing).
- Watching videos
- Balancing my checkbook on Microsoft Money
- Doing a minimal amount of design (does anyone remember what The Modern Gal blog used to look like? That’s what I mean by a minimal amount of design)
Here are some of the pros and cons that are already stirring around in my brain:
- PCs are way cheaper than Macs. The Modern Gal is buying, so cheaper is good.
- If I were to get a Mac, I’d have to buy a new Mac-compatible copy of Photoshop, which does not come cheap.
- Something always seems to go wrong with a Mac, and you can never seem to fix it yourself. It always means a trip to the Genius Bar.
- I’m scared of Windows Vista.
- I kind of hate Apple.
Woah, woah, hold up…Macs don’t have a right click? As a web designer both freelance and real life, I wouldn’t not be able to function without a right click. And I too was toying with the idea of going mac, oh hell no! The lack of right click alone should keep you on PC.
I have one of those fancy HPs with Vista that I use at the office, and a Macbook that I use at home. I’ll first admit that I have been able to go pretty seamlessly between the two operating systems my whole life, thanks to a 50/50 split of computers at my high school.
I love my Mac. I never worry about viruses. There aren’t any annoying security pop ups every ten minutes. The one time I had a major problem with my computer, the people at the Genius bar were insanely nice. For smaller problems, I can always search online to find the answer, because there’s a huge, rabid Mac community online. iTunes is a dream. And you CAN “right click”: you just touch the control key while hitting the mouse, or you can plug in a traditional USB mouse.
I used to have Windows XP, and I have to say that while Vista is pretty, it’s a terrible operating system. Most people in my office have insisted the IT guy switch their computers back to XP. All the security pop ups are annoying. Half of your programs won’t work correctly anymore. And it’s Windows. There are the usual bugs and viruses. But, if you’re going to be a PC, the hardware of the fancy HP is pretty awesome. And the HD screen is beautiful.
But I still think the money for a Mac is worth it.
I have a Mac and I love it. 😛
I get my husband’s hand me down computers, and he made the switch to Mac. Something about the set up of it just works better with my brain. I haven’t had the same crashing problems I had with my HP or Dell. Before I got this computer, I was using a shareware operating system called Ubuntu. Just getting away from Windows made me realize that I never want to go back.
Plus, Macs have made some pretty amazing eco-advances. I just read something on Greenpeace’s website about it the other day.
I have a mac at home and a PC at work. The mac is sick, actually, and I need to take it in for a check-up but haven’t had much free time lately.
I think for what you do, a PC is more economical. Stone me for saying that, but I believe it’s true.
I prefer my PC but my husband loves Mac. Obviously there is a learning curve when switching from a system you have used for years and years to something new.
Personally though I just don’t like the visual layout and how you navigate to options etc on Mac. I’ll use J.’s to surf the net but if I have to open a document or create anything I’ll go get my PC.
My work laptop has Vista and while I only use it for outlook, the internet and some specific work related programs I haven’t had problems with it. I don’t get a bunch of security messages or error messages.
I will say that the Mac service people (the genius bar I think?) are WAY more helpful then any store you buy your PC from. You make an appt they help you right then if they can and if its something simple they don’t charge.
Oh one weird things about Itunes that we found out is that on a Mac we couldn’t transfer the music to an external harddrive which meant we couldn’t share Js music (not that we would share illegally…) this has never been an issue on my PC.
Macs DO have a right click! That’s such a myth.
I love my Mac. I understand it and it loves me back. We have two MacBooks at our house and I used to have an iBook. I’ve never had any problems…large or small…with any of them.
For me, I gave up on PCs because they were crashing all the time. The switch to make is a change, though, and you can expect it to be perfect right away. It’s definitely an adjustment, but I wouldn’t go back to a PC.
Hey there! Phil here. I hopped over from No Ordinary Roller Coaster…
My family had a PC for years, but when I finally stepped out to buy my own computer, I opted for Mac. Here’s why:
1. Even though they’re expensive, Mac makes really good computers. I’ve had my iBook for going on 4 years and it’s still doing great. A little slow, but great.
2. The Mac OS is based on Unix, which lends to Mac’s overall incredible stability. Programs I run crash considerably more rarely than they tend to on Windows.
3. The Mac OS, aside from being more stable than Windows, is not continually the target of nasty viruses. Sure there are some, but they’re generally pretty obvious ones that are easy to avoid, like “Want free porn? Just download this file!” kind of easy to avoid.
4. Apple computers are just plain sexy to look at. Something about he sleek white or silver, and currently the silver and black, adds a touch of style to your experience.
5. And as Tutugirl pointed out, YES, MACS CAN RIGHT-CLICK. All you have to do press the control key and then click the mouse. Or you can get a regular USB mouse with two buttons and a scroller, and it works exactly like you’re used to it working.
6. Organization! Mac stores everything within its Finder system. Having access to all your files from a single place is INCREDIBLY nice. Music, movies, pictures, documents, etc. all can be found within Finder. And if you can’t remember where you put something? The search function is extremely powerful (and fast) and doesn’t involve evil robot puppies who put pawprints on your screen.
7. Innovation: Mac’s latest OS (OS X Leopard) offers great ways to multi-task without having to minimize a million windows. It’s called Spaces, and you can have 4, 8, or 16 different desktop screens to work from. It’s super nice. Also, they now have a program built into the OS to keep a backup hard drive.
Now for a few things that can be considered downsides:
1. Apple doesn’t, to my mind, make a very good mouse. Sure, the idea of Might Mouse is nice, but I’ve never been a fan of Apple’s mouse. They’re cheap quality and don’t tend to work well. However, it’s easy enough to remedy: buy a different mouse. I recommend Kensington. They make great products that work nicely with Apple computers.
2. Software. This is less of a problem now than it used to be, but sometimes there’s great software available for Windows that is not made available for Mac. Often, Mac has alternative software of its own, which is fine. Mac also functions well with a variety of open source software, which is always free. Sometimes it just takes companies a while before they come out with a Mac version of the software. Sometimes this works in our favor however, as by the time a Mac version is released, a lot of the flaws of the program may have been fixed by that point.
Personally, I use my computer for much the same things you do, and I’ve never once regretted my decision to use Mac. I love how much I still control on my computer: it’s easy to organize and to do on it what I want. It’s safe, it’s fast, and it’s worth every dollar I paid for it (them, actually; I recently bought a new iMac, and let me tell you, the 20-inch screen is SO nice. The quality and clarity of the screen alone would be great for your creative work).
Good luck!
Well. I would offer advice, but there’s no way I’m going to follow Phil up there.
I love my Mac, but if you kind of hate Apple, you shouldn’t get one. Plus, the Photoshop concern is a valid one. But if you change your mind, I will say that I’ve had far fewer problems with the Mac than I did with my old Dell. I do not recommend Dell.
It's sounds like a PC is your choice mainly because of the cost to change software like Photoshop. Right click is command+click for a Mac. I got both Mac & PC and it's equal on many levels. Vista, when it first came out was bad, the last service patch fixed the problems. If you go PC/Vista add as much Ram as you can afford and it will work better. 2GB is the sweet spot.
Then there is the Linux factor. Linux is fast, reliable and cheap. Dell sells laptops with Linux pre-installed and most of the software can be found for free.
Bottom line – if you've got a lot of cash to spend Mac has the best user interface, but PC is cheaper and easy to fix DIY style. If it were me I wouldn't want to buy another Photoshop in today's economy,
Best of luck deciding.
I have a Mac and I’ll never go back (to PC, that is).
They are super easy to use, and I love the Mighty Mouse. How to buy a cheaper Mac? GO to Apple.com and on the left side, all the way down, they have Clearance and Refurb models. They come with the same warranties, but are often previous generation. (They do ipods this way, too). I actually bought my MacBook under the Husband’s education discount, and it was well worth it. Often, you can get deals if you buy Photoshop with it. If you’re concerned, go to your local Mac store and sign up for the free class offered for PC users. =)
I had had both Macs and PCs at the same time and now I split my time between my personal Mac and work PC. (Plus, the boy now has his PC at the house.) But I’ve still got to go with the Mac. I’m running into the same issue you are and the cost really is a hang up, but I do feel like I have more security from viruses etc on a Mac. Plus, I feel like Macs are a lot more intuitive and user friendly than PCs. But that’s just me. And I know a lot of graphic design/photography folks who swear by Macs for such things.
Plus, we both happen to know an excellent and smart Mac user in Knoxville who can help you troubleshoot a lot of problems if they crop up.
So, my vote: go for the Mac. They have payment plans if you’re not sure you can plunk down the whole thing at once. And I bet the Modern Beau’s student ID could still help you get a discount.
OH yeah — plus, Macs just look cooler. 🙂
I love my Mac. And I’m forced to use a PC at work. Going back and forth, there aren’t that many differences to be honest. Windows has changed a lot to be more like Mac. Not having to worry about viruses is fantastic. But let’s hit some other pros and cons.
1. Blogging. There’s no difference. Either way, you’re going to the Web (Safari comes installed on a Mac, but go ahead and download Firefox) and heading to Blogger.
2. Downloading music. iPod and iTunes are, of course Apple products. If you’re not replacing your iPod, though, you could run into problems. My brother set up his iPod on my Mac. Then when he bought a PC he needed to reformat the iPod to upload music. Oops. Not too long ago, though, Apple had a buy a computer, get an iPod promotion going on.
3. Videos. No difference as far as YouTube, etc., are concerned. Plus, Macs come with iMovie, which makes it easy to edit and create your own videos.
4. Balance your checkbook. OK, Microsoft software doesn’t come on a Mac. Big deal. I’m a big fan of Google Spreadsheets (and Docs). There are also online options, like Mint.com and Geezeo.com. You can also download Open Office (openoffice.org).
5. Design work. Kinda like the others, there are always online options like GIMP.org or Photoshop Express. There are several free WEb developers like Komodo or Taco.
I’ve had my Mac laptop for 5 years. It made one trip to the Genius Bar earlier this year for a hard drive problem. Before that, I had an iMac — one of the first “bubble” iMacs. I upgraded when I wanted more memory. And it was tricky to balance that iMac on my lap. When I upgraded, I gave the iMac to my mother, an avid PC fan. She had no problem switching over. (Lightening caused a power surge that fried the modem, though. A hazard of very rural Missouri.)
If you can use the Modern Beau’s student discount, that’ll help with cost. It would also help with software — I bought CS3 for about half price after taking a couple of classes at a local university.
Good luck!
I just purchased a Lenovo Thinkpad and I love it. Nothing against Mac, but PC’s are what I’m accustomed too and since my life is busy enough already I don’t want to spend my time learning a new unfamiliar system.
Just to add to the not-at-all-clear discussion here, I’m casting a vote for Mac.
Mac is inherently intuitive. Everything works with this wonderful elegance that I have never come close to finding with a PC. Want to set up a wireless network? Plug the base station in, and you’re done. (And as people noted, the right click thing is no longer true.. you can plug any old right-clicking mouse up.)
On the whole durability question, I can say that in a now 20-year period of owning Apple computers, I have never had a repair issue that required me to take the computer itself in for repair. My PowerMac G3 from grad school is still plugging along faithfully, and my everyday use 15-in Powerbook G4 is running like a champ.
Maybe the best testimony to Mac durability is the Performa that I had when I was in high school that to this day is used by my parents to run Quicken. (This is because they steadfastly refuse to pay Quicken to upgrade software that still works)
I’ve tried to be positive so far, but I can’t avoid it: Vista is so bad. It’s beginning to appear around here, and no one knows how to make it work. If you’re going to have to relearn how to use your computer anyway, it seems like you might as well make the leap.
I’m forced to use Macs for work, and I hate them. My main gripe with Macs is that if you have multiple windows open, like, say, a Web browser, an Excel spreadsheet, another Excel spreadsheet, and a chat window, there is no real easy way to switch back and forth between the windows, especially when one gets buried behind the others. Windows has that nice toolbar on the bottom where you can click between windows easily. On a Mac, you have to minimize all the windows blocking the one you want, which is a pain when you’re trying to multitask. There is an applications toolbar on a Mac, but if you have two of the same application open (like the two Excel sheets), clicking on the application symbol only brings up one of the sheets.
I don’t know if that makes any sense or not. But bottom line is, I find PCs a lot more intuitive on user-friendliness. I also hate how on email attachments, it makes you download the attachment to your desktop or some other folder, instead of just automatically opening the attachment using the application and embedding it in your browser, like Windows does.
Also, a lot of Mac versions of software suck. I tried downloading the Mac version of Quicken and found it inferior to the PC version.
My last point is that I’ve actually found connecting to a wireless connection a lot easier with a PC.
I was in the same situation a few months ago. I was always a PC person but then needed to go buy a new computer and my family was converting to Macs. I was hesitant because i had never owned an Apple, but I made the investment in it because I could not handle the spyware and random other issues that always happened on my PC. Since I’ve made the switch, there were a few bumps but now I love my Apple and can’t imagine a life without it.
Hey Herman — Macs have a great quick key to switch windows: Apple-Tab will switch from one program to the next. (PCs have a similar one — control-tab — but it’s not as clear what you’re switching to.) One of the F-keys also shows all open applications, but I’m not a fan of that one. Love the Apple-tab (and shift-Apple-tab if you want to go backward.)
Everything Amanda Dawn said plus, Mac’s do have the right click. You just have to choose the setting under system preferences if you have the MacBook. If you have the iMac, mighty mouse works the same way a regular mouse does with all the right click features being the same. I was a tough convert, but I love my Mac and will never go back. Good luck!