Mac or Pc

coll69

I sure I am asking this question in the wrong place, I am currently a PC and I am thinking on converting to Mac ? I am looking for some good advise on this. Is it true you don’t need anti virus? with Mac. Will I need to get new printer and scanner? Is their any compatible issues with other software?

Sad Professor

coll69 wrote: »

Is it true you don’t need anti virus with Mac.

Yes.

Will I need to get new printer and scanner?

No, they should work okay. But you may need to get Mac drivers and software from the manufacturer's site, especially for the scanner. Depends on the model, etc. Check now to be sure.

Is their any compatible issues with other software?

Well, yes, Windows software won't work on Mac OS X. So you'll have to get the Mac equivalent of things. You also have the choice to install Windows on your Mac, but that kinda defeats the purpose.

banquo

In a MAC forum, you should beware that you're going to get mac-biased posts.

I've become a bit of a mac-convert recently, so I can give you just my own personal reasons why:

1. The users. While mac fanboys can get on peoples' nerves - as can all fanboys - it occured to me that mac users are mac users because they want to be, while windows users are so because they have to be.

2. Lifespan. My sister has had a macbook for nearly 5 years now and it still runs like a dream. She got a ram upgrade though, so it's not that pure. But compared to my own crappy dell it's amazing. Well worth the extra money.

3. Operating System. You don't realise just how bad and ill-thought-out Windows is until you try the alternative. Like, small stupid things. The finder takes about two seconds to find something, compared to the short holiday windows takes when you search for a file. It's so much easier to do stuff on a macbook. Like multiple finger recognition - to scroll down a webpage (or any page), just swipe two fingers down the trackpad, compared to *swipe**swipe**swipe**hold down left arrow**swipe**swipe**swipe*. Just simple things like that show a lot more respect for the user.

How I got into it was that my sister was away for two weeks and I needed a laptop (my dell had busted, sigh) so I used her macbook. After that, it was total ***** windows* territory.


4. Looks. Maybe it's a bit petty, but I nearly cream myself everytime I see a macbook prop. They're just so beautiful.

The main problems are compatibility with software - not everything available on windows can you get for mac. Most important software is, though. And if not then there's usually a mac equivalent.

coll69

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yes.

How do's that work with e-mail?

coll69

banquo

By the sound of things if a thumbs up from you x pc man. thaink for the info

coll69

sad professor,

Thanks for all the feed back but when it comes to anti virus how do's this work with e-mail is that were some problems are with virus?

aidan_walsh

coll69 wrote: »

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yes.

How do's that work with e-mail?

OS X has its own built in mail client called Mail. This should suffice for pretty much any kind of email account you can have, as if you have the settings will be no harder to set up than any application on Windows. In fact, because it can auto-discover mail settings, it might even be easier.

Of course there are also still third party mail apps like Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Entourage that can be considered too.

aidan_walsh

coll69 wrote: »

sad professor,

Thanks for all the feed back but when it comes to anti virus how do's this work with e-mail is that were some problems are with virus?

Viruses designed to work on Windows won't work on Macs on their own. Programs on Macs and Windows are different for a start, and viruses that are designed to take advantage of specific vulnerabilities in Windows won't work because it is a different system.

unklerosco

banquo wrote: »

mac users are mac users because they want to be, while windows users are so because they have to be.

After using windows for donkeys years I switched to macs... I used macs for around 3 years and went back to windows.. I choose to use windows over a mac. I just prefare it. Especially Windows 7, I think its great..

My advice for the OP is to try out a mac and if u haven't try windows 7... I'll admit, macs do have some great features. They also have some damn annoying ones too(the price for starters) but the good outweighs the bad.
iLife is a great package, deffo one thing I miss about the macs.. That and skitch..

As for Virus's.. They're generally written to infect windows hence theres no need for anti virus on osx. Same way u can't run a windows program on a mac, a windows virus wont harm a mac...

RichyX

It really depends on what you need if for and how much you have to spend.

Macs are good for film editing and graphic design work and the OS is lovely.
I've found it hard to find decent software for it though. There's nothing as good as Winamp for example, imo.

I haven't used Windows 7 yet, but if price is a concern then a nice Windows PC might be a better bet.

Eliot Rosewater

Macs are very expensive, and if the only reason your considering changing is because Mac OS X is better than Windows then it would be worth trying Linux Mint on your current PC. Its free in all respects and can be installed on your current PC. Its probably the easiest to use Linux distro, although I use Ubuntu myself.

I say these comment because many Windows users feel the only alternative is Mac. However in recent years Linux has improved in usability and depending on what you want from your computer Ubuntu/Mint will do the job supremely well. In my experience its faster and more responsive than Windows. Its also as secure as the Mac. Both Linux and Mac have similar origins.


Ill just add that I haven't used Mac, I understand from speaking to users that its great, but the price tag is monstrous. Especcially if your only interested in seeing the alternatives.

chillin_penguin

Im thinking of moving to mac as well. My probelm is that a lost off the software i use such as autocad and solid works. You can load them up using a program called bootcamp that lets you install windows on the mac . but then again whats the point of sepnding so much money on a mac when a pc is really what i need


Having said that macs are brillent and far better then pcs.....if u dont know need any programs that are not mac friendly then the answer is simple get a mac

john__long

OK seriously.

There are some Mac viruses. You've gotten be facerolling your keyboard to install them though.

Get ClamAV. Runs in the background.

Your printer and scanner will be fine. If you do have any compatibility issues with software, investigate VMWare or Parallels.


John (Using Macs since 1993)

Sad Professor

Afaik there are no Mac viruses. Only trojans, which depend on user stupidity to do any damage (and I've yet to hear of anyone actually getting one). So ClamAV is really only useful for stopping the spread of Windows viruses. Unless your Mac is connected to a large Windows network at work or something, I really don't think there's any point.

john__long

2006 - OSX/LeapA
2009 - OSX/Tored-A - an updated version of the Mac OS Tored worm
OSX/Jahlav-C - Trojan

Assume that one day there will be many many Mac viruses. Start your good practices now. I use ClamAV to sanitize my mail queues. That way if I have to forward one on there'll be no chance of infecting anyone else.

Ultimately up to you though! ClamAV is free. Won't lose anything by having it!

Sad Professor

john__long wrote: »

2006 - OSX/LeapA
2009 - OSX/Tored-A - an updated version of the Mac OS Tored worm
OSX/Jahlav-C - Trojan

Even the first two required user intervention, which makes them trojans imo.

Assume that one day there will be many many Mac viruses. Start your good practices now.

Nothing wrong with this, I just think it's unnecessary. If/when Mac viruses become a problem we'll know about it. I say worry about it then. In the meantime, we are just wasting system resources trying to protect Windows users who have better AV software and are better able to protect themselves than we are.

PC blog sites have been engaging in outright scaremongering of Mac users about viruses for years. Every time some pathetic little security threat pops up, they declare that the Mac Virus-Apocalypse is nigh.

Phototoxin

No, they should work okay. But you may need to get Mac drivers and software from the manufacturer's site, especially for the scanner. Depends on the model, etc. Check now to be sure.

Depends on the printer... my epson .. just to get it to work I need to get 3rd party drivers which don't allow me any settings what so ever

1. The users. While mac fanboys can get on peoples' nerves - as can all fanboys - it occured to me that mac users are mac users because they want to be, while windows users are so because they have to be.

I disagree with this. I am getting a new computer soon and going back to pc as a mac is too limiting.

Macs are good for film editing and graphic design work and the OS is lovely.

If you're big into that though you'd have specialised technology and software anyway. Basically there is nothing you can do on a mac you cannot do on a PC. However a mac, while more limited, is more ergonomic and 'prettier'.

Also gaming is practically non existent on a mac unless you play blizzard games although EA are trying to improve it. Then again for the price of a mac with a graphics card you could get a top end PC

yoyo

Sad Professor wrote: »

Even the first two required user intervention, which makes them trojans imo.

So do viruses on Vista/7 now, Windows no longer runs as admininstrator, so you must confirm a UAC prompt (simular to the linux ones) for any software to install into the system

Nick

aidan_walsh

I am getting a new computer soon and going back to pc as a mac is too limiting.

Limiting how, in your experience?

Davexirl

My laptop is on the way out and I am sick of windows to be honest, I want to buy a mac for a change and only hear good things but the price tag at the moment is putting me off when I could just get a windows 7 laptop for half the price. Dont know what to do I need a new laptop quick but getting the money for a mac is taking longer than expected.

RichyX

Phototoxin wrote: »

a mac, while more limited, is more ergonomic and 'prettier'.

Also gaming is practically non existent on a mac unless you play blizzard games although EA are trying to improve it. Then again for the price of a mac with a graphics card you could get a top end PC

I think most Windows laptops I've used are better ergonomically than my Macbook Pro. It's an uncomfortable bugger with sharp edges if you use the touchpad a lot.

Bootcamp is handy for playing PC games. I often use it for Sega Rally Revo and a few other recent(ish) games.