Should I use a Mac or a PC?

Question

I am going to college next year. I have a PC, but my sister and my mother have a mac so I've been around both but I obviously am more familiar with a PC. I think macs are so self explanatory that they catch you too off guard when there is a problem you can't fix, but PCs also have a history of being faulty...well at least mine does. Can anyone recommend if I attend a college where I can choose the type of computer I use which they think is better?

Answer 1

The PC is the better Choice, here is why...



======================================...

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. They use a lot of the same parts as PCs. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



I Would also install Avira AntiVir on the Vista since there is a FREE version and works well.

I Would also install Comodo FireWall on the Vista since there is a FREE version and works well.



======================================...

LINUX OS



Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)



My Recomendation would be either Ubuntu (Most popular and well supported linux), Kubuntu (KDE version of Ubuntu),

Freespire (has all windows codecs for watching videos, dvds out of the box),

PCLINUXOS (very nice Linux, easy to use and polished),

There are so many good versions of linux besides these.



PLEASE NOTE: In linux there are many forms of Windows Environments, the two main ones are KDE (K Desktop) and GNOME. Ubuntu uses GNOME, KUBUNTU is a KDE version of Ubuntu, PCLINUXOS, Freespire use KDE... The differences in the window environments (DESKTOPS) control how you configure, open close the windows, the appearances of the windows... linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting helps with printer support. ScreenCasts.ubuntu.com shows video and non-video help with learning to work with Ubuntu.



There are many good Linux distributions for different reasons, distrowatch.com, polishlinux.org, desktoplinux.com

are good websites for overall understanding linux.



Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and FREE.

Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...

UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.

All you have to do is..

A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website

B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO)

C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive

D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu

E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.



ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. THIS IS NOT LEGAL and I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT FOR SECURITY AND LEGAL REASONS.

But, I have included a link to show you, purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.



**************************************...





A)Price...

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



*****************(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, ONLY reads DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE)



****************(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: Some responses might be that below is not a FAIR comparison but it is SINCE this is comparing Apple Mac's BEST DEAL vs Dells BEST DEAL. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, WIRELESS keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the ALL-IN-ONES are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer. To me it is NOT a good deal.



PS: Apple was smart, they know that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a Tower Option. This is not good for the consumer since it lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the simularities between the two and apple would loose people. In other words, in my opinion, it is "Style over Substance"



Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



************************END OF DESKTOP



======================================...



B) SECURITY:



Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.

All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.



======================================...

B2) VIRUSES



The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses, a friend of mine has a VIRUSED MAC. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe". Linux is also very low in viruses and is free with plenty of free software.



Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses



======================================...



C) Windows License is discounted with PCs..



You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.



======================================...



D) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...



With AppleCare you have to put down $300 and there is no guarantee the computer will be fixed, may cost more.. Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.



======================================...



E) BUGS



Macintosh's are far from bug free despite their fan base claiming so. Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc.. True, all computers have their issues but Apple Fans tend to hide their problems which makes it tough to trust any statistics about Apple.

Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts.



NO MORE THAN 10 Links were allowed... Here are the ones that I could not add..

www.ubuntu.com/

www.kubuntu.org/

www.freespire.org/

www.pclinuxos.com/

distrowatch.com/

polishlinux.org/

www.desktoplinux.com/

xwinman.org/gnome.php

xwinman.org/kde.php

help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsAppli...

help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToU...

www.linuxalt.com/

screencasts.ubuntu.com/

www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrintin...

www.free-av.com/

www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Google/Yahoo OS X on PC

Answer 2

More promoting, a better advertising and marketing staff, functional layout, homogeneity. PC is very nearly any pc no longer a mac, and of path they'll run the gamut in best/cost/layout. Therefore the one factor that Macs quite have over each PC is that they may be able to run Apple proprietary application. There's additionally an photo factor that I'm noticing with Macs. Due to their branding and promoting Macs are recognized as "cooler" than their PC counterpart in particular subcultures. I'm considering the fact that plenty of you place down 'virus loose' as one of the crucial essential execs of a mac. That nevertheless has to do with the Unix situated working approach run at the Mac alternatively than the Mac itself. If PC customers are so willing, they may be able to additionally get an endemic loose working approach in one of the crucial many Linux flavors.

Answer 3

Hi and Mac's are always better. If you get one, get the extended plan, so that if anything happens-you will get free help. I have had both a PC and a Mac and Mac's are more user friendly. You don't have to defrag or delete anything and always get extra space in your hard drive.That is for any updates that you will need. You can set your Mac to send you an update e-mail or you can just go to the Apple and pull down the menu and click on update. If there are any updates, it will tell you and , always, do all of the updates as they will help your Mac out. Even if you don't think that you need one. Every update makes your Mac run ,more smoothly. Mac's are the best as they require NO time to do all the stuff that you need to do for a PC. A Mac laptop will be the better laptop for you.

Answer 4

Most people might tell you that Macs are better and all that jazz, but like you, I'm more familiar with a PC, and I've survived with it long enough. I like the PC better than the Mac.

Answer 5

No operating system is perfect. Windows XP, Vista, MAC Leopard and other OSX systems all have their problems. That said, schools and colleges being what they are, you may want to use a PC. Depending on where you go and what your major is, you may need to use some "third party" software. Most "third party" software that I have seen is written for PC instead of MAC. I'd focus on compatibility instead of coolness.

Answer 6

well... at first I thought that Starting with a mac was just annoying to use. but then I started to like mac for it's simple solutions for your problems. Whit a pc you need to know allot about its world and different brands and stuff, but whit the mac if u get a problem u are almost serten to solve it and there are also not meny problems like whit the pc................ so get a MAC ^_^ and goood luck ... enjoy

Answer 7

mac is probably more portable. its lighter, more compact.

not as slow, no viruses.. god for work. easier to save / store files & stuff. doesnt have a mouse, but you can purchase one if youre uncomfortable w/o. Word takes some getting used to



pc is less expensive but still works good; but it can get slow. battery life might be a little better. might be heavier to lug around



i have a mac and i love it. im in high school;i use it for school & to organize photos and stuff. its great. and its not slow at all.

since youre more familiar with pc, that option might be easier for you.