Is it worth buying a Mac

Alice Milligan

I've never used a Mac laptop before but need to get a new laptop. Just for basic stuff like Uni assignments, listening to music, connecting to internet.
Is it worth paying over €1000 for a Mac or would I just be better off buying a cheap laptop? What are the benefits of paying extra?

newirishshogun

It has the same underlying structure as a PC (hardware) the OS is different (pro and cons with both) you're basically paying a premium for pretty and an Apple logo. I personally would buy a Windows laptop, Win 7 is very stable and fairly idiot proof. There are some really good bargains out there and they look pretty good too.

Dawwwg

Short answer: No

Long answer: Hello no.

:P

Sad Professor

Well, I think they are 100 percent worth it, but (like the posters above) I'm biased.

Have you ever used a Mac, OP? I always like to say that they are better at selling themselves than any salesman. The best thing to do is to go to a shop and use one and decide for yourself.

There are many benefits. The hardware and software are tightly integrated so you have less compatibilty problems. Viruses (currently) aren't an issue so you don't have to worry about getting AV software. The operating system is very intuitive and most switchers say that they could never go back to Windows.

DMG_49

Don't think it is worth paying double the price if all your going to be doing is listening to music and assignments etc.

Said above, better of with windows 7

Dymo

Price that's the biggest stumbling block I have to owning a Mac, anytime I go into research to buying a new computer when I weigh up the pro's and cons of everything the PC always comes out on top. I don't really buy into the propaganda that Mac's never go wrong and as for viruses once your protected correctly it shouldn’t come into the equation. 2 of my computers are now 4 years old and both running windows 7 and both running fine, Windows 7 if anything is over engineered for the normal user so these’s nothing I can see what a Mac would offer more.

I’d love to own a Mac but to pay €1,000 for one of there lower end models is still too far where I can get a PC laptop for about €650. Can Mac owners please correct me and tell me where the difference is.

TeddyTedson

I love my mac since I made the big switch, but for college work and music ect I'd say go for a Windows laptop.
Saying that though I don't exactly challenge the power of my mac

Kewreeuss

Is your lipstick Rimmel or Chanel?
Did you buy your coat in Penneys or a boutique?
Do you buy make your own sambo or buy it it M&S?

Apple is mostly image, you can't deny it is a thing of beauty.
But you don't need an antivirus and I heard they don't crash.
Hands up any Dell /Microsoft owner who hasn't had that problem!

Willbbz

Go try one in pcworld or compub OP
As for me I love my macbp

I have a windows 7 computer that I'll probably never use again because of Mac.

old_aussie

NO,

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Feature/92605,32-reasons-why-pcs-are-better-than-macs.aspx

banquo

PCs are subsidised - THAT's why they're so much cheaper.

A lot of pc manufacturers - Dell being the worst offenders - just cram the cheapest parts they can find into a shot black box with a screen. How many people do you know with regular laptops whose batteries or chargers have died? Or it has a rubbish battery life? Or software randomly stops working?

Win7 is extremely stable, I actually love it almost as much as OSX. Credit where credit is due! There are a few stupid (typical Microsoft) things that annoy me. For example, there are 2 'Downloads' folders, which has confused a few of my friends to the ends of the earth! But there are silly little annoyances in both OSs.

I do think that OSX is really what you pay for with a mac. You can run the specs side by side of the mbp with a Sony machine and they'll be around the same price too. It's not as much of a fashion premium as everyone says.

David086

Yes.

Dr.Sanchez

Buying a mac is a long term investment. Sure, you'll pay a higher price for the same hardware you'd find in a windows laptop. But I can guarantee that you'll still have the mac laptop in five/six years time and it'll be still running like new.

miralize

Superior Build Quality
It can run Windows if needed.
Longer lasting battery life
OS X
They look amazing
They're very quiet

Yes there not cheap, but paying a few hundred more gives you a reliable machine for 2 or 3 years longer than the pc equivalent

conor.hogan.2

Yes if you want a laptop that:

will last twice as long (or more)
has twice the battery (or more)
is twice as fast (or more)
gives you half the hassle (most of the time)
can run every os on it (easily)

I could buy a 400-500 euro laptop and pimp it out and make it almost as good in theory as a mac but it would still be:

Worse hardware, even the better ones
great os, but i want to print not hunt for drivers
would have to buy a second laptop when that one inevitably breaks
most likely worse battery
it would cost me time and effort with av etc

Freddie59

Dymo wrote: »

Can Mac owners please correct me and tell me where the difference is.

I've had both. Was a PC user for 12 years. Bought an iMac in June 2010. Also installed Windows on it. The Mac side is still the same as when I bought it. 52 seconds to OS from startup; 7 seconds to shut down. The PC side is already becoming sluggish - and I only use it for email and some small video editing.

The definition on the Mac display has to be seen to be believed. That's what convinced me to buy it. I was setting wireless up for someone on one of them and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Go see for yourself. I don't buy into the whole Apple can do no wrong thing. For example, their video editing software is touted as the be all and and all, but, while it doesn't crash, it is cumbersome and doesn't hold up well against some of its PC counterparts. But there is the key - it NEVER crashes. Ever. Go figure.;):)

Johnmb

I would say that it definitely is worth buying a Mac. Those who claim the Mac is more expensive generally aren't comparing like with like. I didn't do a comparison when buying my own laptop as I just wanted away from Windows no matter what the cost. But for work, when we needed a new computer, I wanted an iMac, so I did a comparison with Dell, on a like for like basis. The iMac was quite a bit cheaper, and that was even after having to add on the cost of a copy of Parallels and Windows 7 in order to run some specific software!

whiterebel

old_aussie wrote: »

NO,

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Feature/92605,32-reasons-why-pcs-are-better-than-macs.aspx

An article rehashing a previous 3 year old article? Talking about gaming, ease of broadband..........what a load of crap.:rolleyes:

MartMax

if u can afford it, go for it.

i just got my first mac for Christmas, a MacBook Air and simply attached to it. i've been using Windows for years and now Windows 7 on my primary desktop.

personally i think Windows 7 is the best version of Windows. however having used Mac OS X for couple of days now, Apple has done an excellent job - i think it is less cluttered OS, minimal in the front so i feel less much distracted.

plaasjapie

My 2 cents? If you are used to a PC, it's not worth the effort to re learn everything on a mac. If money matters, don't get a mac If you work in an office, don't get a mac If you have esoteric hardware (obscure printers etc) don't get a mac. I use a PC, and haven't had a crash (BSOD) since I switched from Win95 to XP in 2001. My PC is on 24/7 for work etc. I use Microsoft Access / Photoshop / some video editing with Skype and other P2P stuff mostly. Since I am careful on the net, and use Firefox + noscript, I haven't needed Anti-Virus since 2004, and don't have a firewall since the switch to Win7 early 2010. I do a free scan at Panda / Trend Micro / etc. every once in a while, always comes up clean. I don't recommend this for newbies, or in a family environment though. Macs are great, and work great out of the box as long as you don't buy any obscure hardware. So if you are loaded, and don't have any investment in learning the windows platform (or don't mind learning everything again), get a mac. Just make sure everybody knows it, because at that price, you have to get your moneys worth.

Losty Dublin

Oh dear, oh dear oh dear :rolleyes:

plaasjapie wrote: »

My 2 cents? If you are used to a PC, it's not worth the effort to re learn everything on a mac.

So the advice here is not to change platform as you have to learn the new software. Does this apply to all new softwares as well, don't you have to learn them? Like Vista and 7?

plaasjapie wrote: »

If money matters, don't get a mac

What you actually mean here is if you want a cheaper computer that will have a lower resell price, probably lower specced, uglier (in design and function) and are happy with Windows don't get a mac.

plaasjapie wrote: »

If you work in an office, don't get a mac

Most people simply need word processing, excel and e mail/net access in work. Almost all specialist softwares for other work duties (Like your ordering/account systems) can be easy sought for a Mac and therefore will benefit from Mac OS advantages over Windows. Apple don't charge OS licence fees like Microsoft do so chances are that a Mac will cost less and have less paperwork as a result.

plaasjapie wrote: »

If you have esoteric hardware (obscure printers etc) don't get a mac.

Why not just get a new printer

plaasjapie wrote: »

I use a PC, and haven't had a crash (BSOD) since I switched from Win95 to XP in 2001. My PC is on 24/7 for work etc. I use Microsoft Access / Photoshop / some video editing with Skype and other P2P stuff mostly. Since I am careful on the net, and use Firefox + noscript, I haven't needed Anti-Virus since 2004, and don't have a firewall since the switch to Win7 early 2010.

I have a Hyundai and have not crashed it; it doesn't make it a safer car brand

plaasjapie wrote: »

I do a free scan at Panda / Trend Micro / etc. every once in a while, always comes up clean. I don't recommend this for newbies, or in a family environment though.

A few minutes ago didn't you say something about re-learning softwares etc but now you advocate not using something that works well?

plaasjapie wrote: »

Macs are great, and work great out of the box as long as you don't buy any obscure hardware. So if you are loaded, and don't have any investment in learning the windows platform (or don't mind learning everything again), get a mac. Just make sure everybody knows it, because at that price, you have to get your moneys worth.

Pricier but you get what you pay for and over the long haul they last the course and have both a longer working life than most PC's; two PC's may well not last the life of one Mac.

quad_red

Wife has always had macs (graphic designer). 'Broke' into using a mac on her macbook pro.

Bought my first macbook a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since. Have W7 installed on bootcamp to play starcraft2 but apart from that it's mac osx for everything. Smooth, simple, stable. Love it.

Replaced the parents in laws bloatware infested fijitsu laptop with a macbook in the summer and they haven't looked back since.

Yes, macs are more expensive and that may not be worth it for some people. However, the ease of use and the user experience have me won over. It's all so smooth....

conor.hogan.2

Oh btw my old macbook (23 months old - 1000 odd charges) is now the laptop of my parents who havent had a computer since our old pc broke.
So as I said before macs are like 2...n/1 machines when compared with 500 ish euro laptops.

I have windows 7 ultimate (thanks ucd) that I needed because a stupid lecturer wanted us to use access 2003.
But since I reinstalled it in virtualbox again when I got the macbook pro I have had no need to use it.
I only reinstalled it was because I might buy a technet subscription, as there is no other software I need it for beside MS products

mykro28

moved to a MBP about 18 months ago and I will never move back. Worth every penny, I even upgraded the RAM and got a hybrid disk and it is humming along quiet nicely.
I use it for work, they have a good policy, they will not support it but they will allow me to access work resources on it. I have Office 2011, which is sweet and the only thing I need my XP image for is InfoPath and Visio. Other than that I love my MAC. It is really fast and I picked up an Apple Care Plan on ebay for about 50% of the cost which made it worth while.

On the printer issue, I have a Dell Laser Printer which is a rebadged Minolta I think, which does not have a MAC driver. This is due to cheap printers, most other good printer brands have no issues. Also when I go into my office, I can print without having to set up printers, if I look at printers near me they are all available. I have a lot of old hardware too and I have never had any issues.

I would say that a MAC is well worth it and more and more people in my office are using them, and we work in IT Security! Full Shell access!!!!!!!!

Deffo get one, it just works!

If you want to do any media at all, Photography, Audio video etc Mac. IF a pc replies and says a PC can do it better or a PC can do it too they haven't used a Mac. They are just a lot more efficient.

Also there other benefits:

* Environmentally friendly

* Has proper software installed for photo, music, and movie organization

* Usually have a 7 year life span. ( A PowerBook G4 from 2003 made it all the way to 2009 until Snow Leopard came out but before Snow Leopard it could run all those operating systems from jaguar (10.2) all the way up to Leopard (10.5)

* The batteries on them are awesome. My 2009 MacBook Pro 13" gives me 5:12 of battery life playing webHD content in iTunes, 50% brightness, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth off and 6:50 of battery life browsing the web (I use click to flash to disable flash content) WiFi on, 40% Brightness and bluetooth off. Apple advertised on this model upto 7:00 hours

* People who say your paying for the logo is well.... This smilie explains it :rolleyes:

* OS X is based on Darwin, UNIX, has protective memory, runs a GUI EFI system rather than bios.

* And Macs CAN play games. With software like steam available there's over 100 titles on that store than with apple store games etc. I believe EA games from 2009-2010ish on the DVDs have versions for both PC & Mac. If you bought a PC game on steam you can play it on the Mac for free. Then theres World Of Warcraft etc.

* Macs CAN Run windows.

* If you use mobile broadband dongles but on the road want to use your dongle with other devices you can turn any mac into a mobile hotspot (Once left on)

* Drivers for everything, Ranging from webcams to printers and so on. Never ever use a printer driver or web cam driver again in your life (assuming the printer was made in 2004-2005 or later), it's funny as webcams have a technology built in that makes them universally compatible on every OS without drivers but Windows still needs that 50MB Logitech bloatware

* Macs have IPS screens. As a matter of fact, take what some PC fanboys call the overpriced iMac. Woah €1700 for 27" Computer right. Turns out the 27" Display on it's own is worth 1,000. Which means the computer is worth €581. iLife is €80 and the Operating system is Snow Leopard €29. When the next more full featured OS comes out and will cost €129 the price of the system gets reduced to €481 for the hardware. Now add SMS sensors to the iMacs, IR sensors (Mac Notebooks have them built in) and more. Your getting really a high quality display on a high quality computer. OH don't forget the wireless keyboard and mouse and battery charger.

(The price of the 27" Cinema display is €1000 and they have the same features and IPS technology as the 27" iMac. Not to mention the resolution of the computer 2650x1600, then apple has to make the display a bit thicker using more metal to house the computer, add 3 system controlled fans with advanced sensors etc.)

* Office runs on the Mac. 2010 is the latest version.

* Only one copy of Mac OS X to purchase, unless you want the server edition . Snow Leopard (€29) up against Windows 7 ultimate (€200)

You know who to call if you encounter a hardware failure (Never happens). Hmm, the computer is crashing on the PC side do I call HP or microsoft? And there's Apple here in ireland so your computers dont get shipped around the world to fix

ruanaidh

Once you go mac you'll never go back! I bought a macbook 5 years ago. I have been using it daily since and it's still going strong. Only enhancement I made to it during that time was to add an extra 2GBs of RAM when I had it 2 years.

9 to 5 I use Windows at work and it can be infuriating to use at times (having to kill extra process, software hanging etc). I rarely ever experience such issues with the mac (occasionally VLC and Firefox might hang, but not nearly as the same frequency as windows). The mac starts up in seconds and the Mac OS X is extremely nippy and reliable compared with Windows! Having a UNIX based operating system being the reason!

The extra few hundred quid hurts when having to cough it up, but it's so worth it and you won't regret it.

Basq

00Blaine00 wrote: »

Buying a mac is a long term investment. Sure, you'll pay a higher price for the same hardware you'd find in a windows laptop. But I can guarantee that you'll still have the mac laptop in five/six years time and it'll be still running like new.

This!!

There's plenty of people who'll say they're not worth the money.. but if they say that, they've probably never owned one - simple as!

My MacBook is 4 years old in May and still as reliable and speedy as the day I got it.

Don't get me wrong.. they're nothing wrong with a PC. But over time, they'll get bloated and sluggish.. whereas Mac's don't.

Also I'm throwing in Macs auto defrag throughout the day without you noticing.

plaasjapie

Deleted User wrote: »

If you want to do any media at all, Photography, Audio video etc Mac. IF a pc replies and says a PC can do it better or a PC can do it too they haven't used a Mac. They are just a lot more efficient.

As an Graphics/Animation/Programming professional working in a large company, I looked at getting a MBP because people in my line look down on PC owners.

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

Love the Apple TV 2 though. Pity it has such bad codec support. And no TV shows in Ireland, but that’s off topic…

plaasjapie

plaasjapie wrote: »

As an Graphics/Animation/Programming professional working in a large company, I looked at getting a MBP because people in my line look down on PC owners.

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

Love the Apple TV 2 though. Pity it has such bad codec support. And no TV shows in Ireland, but that’s off topic…

Relearning everything, Are you serious Why do you think media professionals use it, because it's easy to learn = effiecent.

And you know they are other ways of getting WebHD, E.G a 1GB torrent for an episode in HD is considered webHD = about 4,000kbps bit rate.

And if you think Windows is easier than Mac you obviously haven't tried it and if you tried it within your job enviornment give it 2 weeks to kick in, soon the shortcuts will be so useful. Efficiency can be as little as using spaces to separate final cut with photoshop and illustrator and expose within a space.

Johnmb

plaasjapie wrote: »

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

What is this business of having to relearn everything? The only problem I had with switching was that now and again when I'd be doing something new, I'd look for the most awkward, non-sensical way to do it (a-la Windows). But once I got around to trying the easy and obvious way first, it all was very natural. You may have to learn Windows, but you just have to use a Mac.