Apple iMac vs. PC with Microsoft Vista

Hey computer people...I just bought a PC with MS Vista and hate it. I really wanted a Mac but thought saving the 1000 Euros would be worth it. Before I send back my pc, I'm looking for opinions. Main uses would be creative photo work, music playing, and Skype with camera. Shall I carry on with the PC and wait for the upgrades/fixes with my old software or make the plunge and go to a Mac?

Once you go Mac...

what are your computer specs and what is it that u dont like in Vista?

Mac

If you're considering a Mac, have a look at the refurbished ones for sale on the Apple Store. For example a MacBook Pro for 35% less than retail price.

This is a bit like asking somebody if you should stay a Catholic or become Protestant.

Another alternative you might like to consider is Linux, you can try out Ubuntu on your PC before you install it.

PC are for the office. Macs are for all the creative things you want to do. Get a mac. Pre-loaded software on a mac is so superior to most that you save your €1000 instantly. Send the PC back now..

The problem with Apple computers is that, although they look sexy, they are relatively expensive to upgrade or to replace faulty components. I have no idea about the operating system itself; it was the hardware that put me off when I was looking for a new computer last year. And if the reason you "hate" Vista is because you're not used to it, then you're going to hate Macs even more.

Incidentally, I've never found my "creativity" to be stifled using Windows, given the vastly larger choice of software available for it. I don't swallow this "PCs are for the office" nonsense. You can use a PC for whatever you want.

CPU Untel Core 2 Duo, GeForce 7600GS, DVD=R/RW, LAN, 2x512 MB DDR2-Ram, etc.

Specially at the moment, I can't listen to music on the internet, can't look at clips, I don't have sound recording capabilities, I CAN'T FIND THE UNDO BUTTON IN WORD!, my camera software doesn't work, the photo software that came with it is useless, etc. I know a lot of this is growing pains and waiting for fixes. Perhaps being too impaitient.

However, the Mac looks really sexy as does the software. Hmmm??

Change to Windows XP prehaps?

It's an interesting one this. If you HATE Vista - then what were you using before out of curiosity?

The things that you want to do can be done straight out of the box on a mac, no setup required, no software purchase neccessary.

That's a pretty hot machine. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, or Vista. I think you've just not gotten the hang of it and haven't installed the appropriate plugins (or is Vista's DRM preventing the listening/viewing of web content? Surely not.)

Looks aside, Macs are fantastic machines. But if you're going to return yours and go for a Mac do it because you like the Mac and not because you're having growing pains with Vista.

Re: STBs Linux suggestion. Sure, give it a go as it's come a long way (especially Ubuntu). The deal breaker for me is that Word won't run on it and OpenOffice isn't completely compatible with the .doc format. For most people it's probably just fine but the .doc files I work on can have thousands of tracked changes and hundreds of comments from dozens of people and OpenOffice just can't handle it.

I'm trying to word this as tactfully as possible... is there a possibility that you're doing something wrong? I don't think Microsoft have released ten million copies of software that don't allow you to listen to music on the internet or without an undo button in Word. Just a thought.

These dont look like Vista problems but rather related to hmmm your "restricted" computer skills. dont buy Mac, u will have the same problems.

I had Windows XP and was looking at photo software ideas and thought I really want the creative stuff because I like to scrapbook. Hense, the thought to make the switch to Mac.

I'll check in later...have to be a domestic goddess and show a friend how to make Thai spring rolls! Thanks for the advise everyone!!

Sharpe, I tell you, trying to figure out this does make me doubt my computer skills!!

I love the way people just rabbit those Mac vs PC adverts as if they're actually true. Even with a Mac there will be some additional software to install, like your router, printer, scanner etc. And Windows also comes with plenty of software, so there's no need to purchase any additional software unless there's something specific that you want - as with a Mac.

Old techie joke about Microsoft:
The only company with millions of beta testers.

BTW Why do you need to install SW on your PC for the router to work?

ho hum here we go again.

I'm in the market for a new laptop in the next month and willing to spend 1500 to 2000 euro, but am yet to be convinced that getting a mac will dramatically improve my computer experience. The general argument seem to be:

In the blue corner:
"Macs are better"
"Windoze sucks"
"The operating system is more stable"
"bill gates is a knob"

In the red corner :
" Apples are just well marketed"
" Macs are expensive"
" You cant get the software as easily"
"Steve whatshisface is a knob"

Convince me DW!

i think the most important question u need to answer before making any decision is " what will u do with the laptop"? just internet surfing and e mailing or video editing and dvd recording, will u need a virtual PC, will u play any games?

I was referring to the creative things she was wanting to do, and a Mac comes with all of this installed. Windows doesn't. Quite simple really. I have never had to install any printer/scanner/router software on my mac, just plugged in and away it goes. But, yes, there are times you will need to install drivers etc as you do with Windows

A good Mac laptop is no more expensive than a good PC. The thing is there are cheap crappy PCs, but no crappy macs. You get what you pay for.

Plus, with a Mac you can run both OS X and Windows Vista. If you go for the PC, you'll never have that option.

this made me giggle. as if microsoft does not have a history of releasing crap software just to get it into the market... 'cuz they can always patch it later! how many "service packs" do they issue each year? and I mean "service packs" for core issues - like security.

and after reading technical review after review of Vista, it comes as no surprise that our friend here cannot get these simple things to work. let's all say it together: "embedded digital rights management"

on a similar note, my mom had been fighting with her windows machine for years and was constantly relying on me to fix the problems (which a good son will do). but after I purchased my first Mac last year and after I realised that Macs simply work (and sooo simply!) and do all the things you want right out of the box, I told her that her next computer should be a Mac. well, her machine died last month, and despite her knowing my recommendation she got a Vista thingy (very powerfull hardward running bloatware). well, as was to be expected, she is having frustration afer frustration after frustration... and I can't help her since I will not touch Vista.

so, simply: send the Vista PC back and get a Mac.

The burden of proof lies on those making the extraordinary claim!!! Oh wait, I thought we were talking about WTC7 there for a second.

To each there own. I'm very happy that I bought Macs for lots of reason. I can't imagine myself going back to Windows (I'm typing this from a clunky, buggy, slow and slowing XP machine which just affirms my personal take on things). That's my $0.02.

i was wondering the same thing...

Here what the people at El Reg say.

What I like about Apple is they appear to be a company with a commitment to good design and innovation, if I wasn't a Linux user and gamer* I would probably get a Mac. Although sometimes their marketing people need a good slap.

* insert L(inux user) (g)amer joke here.

Edit: A gamer AND a Linux user NOT a Linux gamer

A linux gamer joke? Here you are:



(Source: http://xkcd.org/c91.html.)

What difference would this make if they kept the PC or got the mac?

Also will you need a Y and an O on the keyboard?

And a \\? ?

I'm not convinced. Not being able to find the back button in Word suggests a far simpler problem. In any event, I don't think it's in Mac users' interests to be advancing the Apple cause, because once enough people have Macs, the hackers and spammers will turn their attention to them and then Apple will also be releasing service packs every few weeks.

Besides Vista being an OS, has nothing to do with Word.

Ah! That old comfort blanket. Some further reading for those that care.

Maybe somebody who knows more about computer security can chime in here. From my limited understanding on the subject the Unix core of Mac OS X makes it less vulnerable than Windows irrespective of how many people are targeting it. How or why? I have no clue. I seem to remember somebody trying to write a benign Mac virus which was filled with comments about how difficult he found it to be.

Anybody?

EDIT: thanks Exile.

What version of Word do you have with Vista? I have Microsoft Office Word 2003 and there's a big obvious undo button right at the top where it normally is. Alternatively, use Ctrl Z if you still can't find it.

As for listening to music, Vista is pretty paranoid about letting you use any software that isn't directly from Microsoft. I had to get my local IT maintenance man (aka Greg) to fiddle a bit with the settings so I could do what I wanted without having to continually check "Yes, I really do want to open this program".

Sounds like teething problems with it to me. I'm not saying it's better or worse than Apple products, but what you've described, it doesn't sound like the machine is really the main issue.

I think that they have really over-complicated the Vista interface for total novice users!

The answer is: age.
If you had read computer magazines in 1986 you would have seen lots of articles complaining about this big security hole called 'Unix'. The main reason Unix is less vulnerable is that its concepts have matured over time. You won't get there if you do like Microsoft throw away half of the code and invent entirely new concepts with each release. What Unix also makes more secure is that you have several versions (Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, Irix, OS X) which share a lot of features. Doing software development in parallel by different teams, and by that peer reviewing concepts and code, increases security--a strategy also used to increase reliability of software in critical places such as airplanes.

In OS X, however, there is also a lot of new code besides FreeBSD. What Apple, however, does different than MS is that they don't throw away code/concepts. Rather than that they tend to make existing features a little better and add some new features which each release. Never throw away half of your code if you want it to be mature/secure.

Vista is complete and utter crap...

Go for the Macbook.. It runs OSX, Linux and even Windows both natively and in a Parallis VM.
Yes, its costs more than the PC one you already bought, but if you want a quailty machine, than
you should have waited until you had the $ for a decent system, instead of going with the cheapest
option.

Another option would be to keep the system you have, and reinstall it with Windows XP. You can get
an English copy downtown for around 120 Eur.

let's just call "bullshit" on that right now. don't believe? start reading (Exile's link is an excellent start).

New machine, 2 year warranty, nothing to worry about for a while at least. iMacs really aren't very upgradeable apart from RAM and hard disk.


You can, but with Windows you have to spend more time playing with the OS to get it to do what you want. Running a Windows PC becomes a hobby in itself. This makes you more productive with a Mac. Also the creative software (in fact the sftware generally) tends to be higher quality than what's available for Windows.


Let me see: router - no; printer drivers - no; scanner - no; camera drivers - no. All this stuff works out of the box. Software will have to be installed, true.

Also, the OP can buy the iMac, give it a try with Mac OS X and if she doesn't like it install Vista or XP on it anyway.

If u want to play games. Go with the PC.

The New MAC's are PC's!!! They just run OSX by default. You can still install Windows XP and guess what.. You have a PC for Gaming.. Or use Bootcamp and boot into whichever OS you want. The hardware in a Powermac beats the hell outta any PC.. Just goto the apple store website and look at the specs.

Ya know, I have said that on three different mac v pc threads and it keeps being ignored! Macs can also run Windows now!!!

Darkknob and Lexiconman speak the truth. I have a Mac and it only runs XP - actually forgotten how to even boot into the MAC OS.

beat this :

http://www.alienware.de/product_detail_pag...ode=SKU-DEFAULT

Obviously you didn't read the specs on the Powermac...

2 x Dualcore Xeons at 2.6Ghz (Upgradeable to 2 x Quad core Xeons = 8 Cores)
Up to 16GB of Memory
Up to 4 Dual DVI Grahpics cards
Can run OSX, Linux and Windows.

Paying extra to buy a PC with a little green face on is gay.

I did and looks way inferior. Am i missing something?

C'mon...it's not gay! All us gays buy macs!