2012 Mac vs. PC thread

[Bayonetwork]

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So the new Macbook with Retina display looks sweet, actually got the chance to see one in person. I need a laptop for med school and was comparing some PC laptops to the new Macbook:

Mac Pros:
-Flash storage
-Faster memory (1600 Mhz compared to 1333 avg.)
-From above you get no moving parts = increased reliability
-Awesome display (definitely a plus given all the time Ill be staring at a screen)
-Obviously no viruses to worry about and durability/reliability is awesome

Cons compared w/ other PC's
-You can build a PC with equal/better specs for quite a bit less. Although from my experience Apples seem to run faster with less spec
-Not as tech oriented, i.e. apple likes to control the user experience and theres not as much overall individual customization
-Possible incompatibility with a few programs needed in med school although Ive heard this is mostly a non-issue
-Somewhat of a learning curve since I am not an expert Apple user

So this to me really comes down to cost. A new Macbook will run mid $2000s. Any PC I buy will be well spec'd and cost close to or north of $2000 as well.

The Lenovo thinkpad or ideapad would probably be the PC I would go with.

The flash storage, faster memory and awesome display are definitely worth something but Im still having a hard time justifying the cost.

Any thoughts/inputs? I realize there are laptops much cheaper that are probably nice as well but I will be buying a higher end laptop and keeping it for a while. Thats just how I roll.

 

[armybound]

Not really sure what the debate is. You know what the drawbacks of the Mac are (cost, compatibility) and what its advantages are. Either buy it or don't.

I have a MBP and there were programs I needed that were PC-only, so I run a VM. You can also dual-boot. There's no real reason why your MBP can't double as a PC.

 

[Innominate]

There is absolutely no reason to spend more than ~$1500 (even that's a stretch) on a laptop thats going to primarily be used for med school related tasks. The new MBP is 99% un-upgradable - the RAM is soldered in, flash drives are proprietary (ok, you can upgrade those, but it's going to cost more than double vs a standard SSD). Such drawbacks will probably be cause for regret a couple of years down the road. As for the standard MBP / air vs PC, it's personal preference.

 

[JackShephard MD]

I tend to lean PC but I these debates are typically not useful.

Macs are actually great machines, they usually last a long time and are made well. I tend to like the value and compatibility of the PC world but that's just me. Most software is moving to the web anyway so Macs won't have a compatibility issue for long.

Any PC you buy should cost at least 15-25% less if you do it right.

I think your idea to hold onto a laptop for longer is a good one. Another option is to buy a midlevel $700 machine today and then another one 2 years from now. The computer 2 years from now will be much better, run Windows 8 and probably have a tablet/laptop combination of function.

I think both machines are good.

Edit: as for dual boot, I find it pretty expensive to shell out more money just for an extra OS. I guess I'm cheap. Another reason to buy the PC.

 

[seelee]

I remember watching a documentary on motorcycles in the US. It presented an observation that, I think, sums up the mac vs pc debate quite nicely.

See, back in the 50s the only motorcycles that were around were harley-davidsons. They didn't run all that great and constantly had to be tinkered with, most people were intimidated by them because they didn't really know much about motorcycles. Later on, in the 70s japanese companies started making bikes. These bikes were better built, and didn't break down as often. All the hard-core bikers hated them because the "tinkering" was part of the experience. Who wants a bike that you never have to work on?

Very few people like to "tinker" with their computers. Most use computers as a tool, and want it to "just work" when they need it to. Macs fill that role very nicely. People who really like to tinker with their computers prefer windows (and to a greater extent, Linux) because that is part of the experience with them.

I have been a mac user for the past 4-5 years. I still have, and use the first MBP. I have never had to work on it or have it worked on. After 4-5 years, it still "just works". Definitely a fan.

 

[Kadava Reviva]

Linux!
You can get a kick-ass machine for a reasonable price. Loads of great free software. Viruses? What viruses? I suggest Ubuntu or Kubuntu. I prefer Kubuntu.

 

[Bancrofti]

I ended up ordering one of the new macs. My 5 year old HP is still kicking, so I figured once the MBP comes in I can use that as my primary laptop that I take to class with mean and I can leave this laptop and all of its 7 pounds with the charger at home as a desktop/back-up.

I spent a longgg time trying to decide before I finally ordered the MBP. I was having hard drive issues with this earlier in the year so I've been looking since then. Honestly, there are a ton of options out there now that you can't go wrong with. It's going to come down to a matter of preference, compatibility (for what you need), and something that fits your style. The last one seems pretty juvenile, but hey if I'm paying over $1000 for something it better look pretty damn nice in addition to being functional.

I'd say line all the best options up side by side, hardware-wise and see if there are any big advantages to one over the others. I went to best buy and the apple store multiple times to play with different brands also just to see how things look in person so I'd recommend that as well. I think it's well known macs are about $200-$400 over priced at least, but some will say that is made up for by the reliability/premium design or whatever. Bottom line is, regardless of which laptop you get over $1400, you'll probably be satisfied considering functionality, so just get what you want. If you get the MBP and aren't blown away, return it and get something cheaper, which is what I plan on doing 😀

 

[cowme]

Mac all the way. But unless you do heavy photoshopping/video editing, you are wasting 1000 dollars on the retina display. The vast majority of software is 1-2 years away from being optimized for retina display, and even then, the difference is only noticeable under close inspection of two displays side by side

 

[Slack3r]

I remember watching a documentary on motorcycles in the US. It presented an observation that, I think, sums up the mac vs pc debate quite nicely.

See, back in the 50s the only motorcycles that were around were harley-davidsons. They didn't run all that great and constantly had to be tinkered with, most people were intimidated by them because they didn't really know much about motorcycles. Later on, in the 70s japanese companies started making bikes. These bikes were better built, and didn't break down as often. All the hard-core bikers hated them because the "tinkering" was part of the experience. Who wants a bike that you never have to work on?

Very few people like to "tinker" with their computers. Most use computers as a tool, and want it to "just work" when they need it to. Macs fill that role very nicely. People who really like to tinker with their computers prefer windows (and to a greater extent, Linux) because that is part of the experience with them.

I have been a mac user for the past 4-5 years. I still have, and use the first MBP. I have never had to work on it or have it worked on. After 4-5 years, it still "just works". Definitely a fan.

This post is perfection.

 

[Morzh]

I remember watching a documentary on motorcycles in the US. It presented an observation that, I think, sums up the mac vs pc debate quite nicely.

See, back in the 50s the only motorcycles that were around were harley-davidsons. They didn't run all that great and constantly had to be tinkered with, most people were intimidated by them because they didn't really know much about motorcycles. Later on, in the 70s japanese companies started making bikes. These bikes were better built, and didn't break down as often. All the hard-core bikers hated them because the "tinkering" was part of the experience. Who wants a bike that you never have to work on?

Very few people like to "tinker" with their computers. Most use computers as a tool, and want it to "just work" when they need it to. Macs fill that role very nicely. People who really like to tinker with their computers prefer windows (and to a greater extent, Linux) because that is part of the experience with them.

I have been a mac user for the past 4-5 years. I still have, and use the first MBP. I have never had to work on it or have it worked on. After 4-5 years, it still "just works". Definitely a fan.

This post is perfection.

Except modern PCs (we're way past Windows 98) actually do "just work", at least as well as Macs do. Just like I'm sure modern harley-davidsons are much more user-friendly and durable than they were in the 50s. I'm not heavily pro-PC or anti-Apple, but those analogies are kinda outdated in 2012. Windows got a bad rep with 98, ME, and, more recently, Vista. They seem to have gotten very much back on track with Windows 7. You gotta separate the present facts from the stereotypes of yesteryear.

The real question is how will Microsoft, particularly with Win 8, adapt as more and more users migrate from desktops/laptops to tablets for their "casual" computing needs. (However it will be a long time before non-casual users abandon the old keyboard, mouse, and large monitor. You can't type a 20-page report with an Excel worksheet + powerpoint + web browser + 6 different PDFs all open at once on an iPad.)

OP: I like the suggestion earlier about getting a mid-level laptop for $600-700 and just plan on replacing it every 2-3 years. That sounds like a simple, very low stress plan. If you can squeeze 3 years out of such a laptop it will be 9 years before you spend the $2000 for the new Macbook. And you won't even notice a difference between a mid-level laptop and a new Mac if all you're doing is using MS Office, browsing the web, and using a couple in-house software products your school gives you. If you're into gaming get a pricier PC. If you're into artsy video/photography stuff, you may actually want the Mac.

 

[deleted103644]

This debate has been pointless since Apple went Intel.

Get a Mac and dual/triple boot unless it would mean you go without food.

 

[Osakhomen]

I'm Mac all the way. I've had my MacBook for 5 years. And have had minimal problems.... most of the problems I've had are of my own doing.. I've dropped my computer at least 20 times since I got it, and because of that some MINOR things had to be fixed. Also I've spilled water on the keyboard as well as orange soda... I actually didn't have to do anything when that happened... The only thing I can say that has been maybe not so good is the power cord... I've replaced it 3 times.. first time I think I was being too hard with it, 2nd time I think I did a pretty good job with it, 3rd time, my computer fell from a table to the ground ON the power cord connection to the computer... so I guess that was my fault. lol.
Anyway, My Mac is still running pretty well, I did recently replace the battery because it wouldn't hold a charge if the power cord wasn't plugged in, but after 5 years and many falls, I'd say that's really good. I'm getting the new MBP sometime soon, but I do think my current Macbook could last me another year or two.

 

[xanthomondo]

I remember watching a documentary on motorcycles in the US. It presented an observation that, I think, sums up the mac vs pc debate quite nicely.

See, back in the 50s the only motorcycles that were around were harley-davidsons. They didn't run all that great and constantly had to be tinkered with, most people were intimidated by them because they didn't really know much about motorcycles. Later on, in the 70s japanese companies started making bikes. These bikes were better built, and didn't break down as often. All the hard-core bikers hated them because the "tinkering" was part of the experience. Who wants a bike that you never have to work on?

Very few people like to "tinker" with their computers. Most use computers as a tool, and want it to "just work" when they need it to. Macs fill that role very nicely. People who really like to tinker with their computers prefer windows (and to a greater extent, Linux) because that is part of the experience with them.

I have been a mac user for the past 4-5 years. I still have, and use the first MBP. I have never had to work on it or have it worked on. After 4-5 years, it still "just works". Definitely a fan.

This post is perfection.

This isn't even close to perfection. It's really stupid. All Mac people love to say that their computer "just works" which is why you must love the analogy so much.

To the OP, just remember that how long a computer lasts for depends on 1) how the user treats it and 2) how quality it was out of the gate. I've seen a friend switch to Mac after tanking his HP 9 months into buying the laptop only to have his Mac go down after 9 months for the exact same reason. Both computers were fine machines, but he just wrecked computers. Also comparing how your $2,500 Mac has lasted 5 years and your $399 Acer only lasted 9 months is BS.

Also build your $2,000+ PC laptop and compare the specs to the Mac. I'd imagine you would get a much, much better machine in the PC land. My friend got a sub $1,000 laptop that has the i7 Quad Core processor in it last year.

Lastly Macs do get viruses (source), and this is like the first point. If you're not an idiot (with both a PC or a Mac) you won't get a virus. Don't download stupid ****, don't install stupid ****, and don't go to stupid websites. Every year at the Pwn2Own national hacking convention it's usually a Mac that is hacked first. (source2)

 

[deleted103644]

This isn't even close to perfection. It's really stupid. All Mac people love to say that their computer "just works" which is why you must love the analogy so much.

To the OP, just remember that how long a computer lasts for depends on 1) how the user treats it and 2) how quality it was out of the gate. I've seen a friend switch to Mac after tanking his HP 9 months into buying the laptop only to have his Mac go down after 9 months for the exact same reason. Both computers were fine machines, but he just wrecked computers. Also comparing how your $2,500 Mac has lasted 5 years and your $399 Acer only lasted 9 months is BS.

Also build your $2,000+ PC laptop and compare the specs to the Mac. I'd imagine you would get a much, much better machine in the PC land. My friend got a sub $1,000 laptop that has the i7 Quad Core processor in it last year.

Lastly Macs do get viruses (source), and this is like the first point. If you're not an idiot (with both a PC or a Mac) you won't get a virus. Don't download stupid ****, don't install stupid ****, and don't go to stupid websites. Every year at the Pwn2Own national hacking convention it's usually a Mac that is hacked first. (source2)

The exploits are almost always Flash-based, so that's easy to avoid - use Chrome and Google's flavor of Flash (or avoid Flash altogether).

And saying that people don't tinker with Macs is silly. Maybe not the hardware, but software absolutely.

It's just a UNIX based system, and you can always dual boot Ubuntu/your favorite Linux brand. Even windows if you're masochistic.

 

[Slack3r]

This isn't even close to perfection. It's really stupid. All Mac people love to say that their computer "just works" which is why you must love the analogy so much.

To the OP, just remember that how long a computer lasts for depends on 1) how the user treats it and 2) how quality it was out of the gate. I've seen a friend switch to Mac after tanking his HP 9 months into buying the laptop only to have his Mac go down after 9 months for the exact same reason. Both computers were fine machines, but he just wrecked computers. Also comparing how your $2,500 Mac has lasted 5 years and your $399 Acer only lasted 9 months is BS.

Also build your $2,000+ PC laptop and compare the specs to the Mac. I'd imagine you would get a much, much better machine in the PC land. My friend got a sub $1,000 laptop that has the i7 Quad Core processor in it last year.

Lastly Macs do get viruses (source), and this is like the first point. If you're not an idiot (with both a PC or a Mac) you won't get a virus. Don't download stupid ****, don't install stupid ****, and don't go to stupid websites. Every year at the Pwn2Own national hacking convention it's usually a Mac that is hacked first. (source2)

My $1400 MBP was way better than my $1500 gaming computer. I still have a G5 Mac Pro from 03 that still works just as well as it did the day it was purchased. Wish the same could have been said for my $1100 Sony VAIO that **** out after 13 months.

I'm sorry, but no PC has lasted as long or as consistently as my Mac machines, period.

 

[mimelim]

The mis-information this thread is staggering.

 

[mimelim]

My $1400 MBP was way better than my $1500 gaming computer. I still have a G5 Mac Pro from 03 that still works just as well as it did the day it was purchased. Wish the same could have been said for my $1100 Sony VAIO that **** out after 13 months.

I'm sorry, but no PC has lasted as long or as consistently as my Mac machines, period.

I'm still running my dual PIII 733 circa 2000 as a file server. I have 3 other machines that I have used as my primary over over the years that are all perfectly functional, but don't see daily use as I have my new i7 rig.

I tried going back to Macs and had to return 1 G3 machine and 2 G4 machines. My wife and I have also had to return at least 4-5 nanos/touchs which decided to just simply crap out. Every time we took the computer/player in, nobody at the store (or tech support) had any clue what was going on with the device and simply replaced it with a refurbished. By far my biggest complaint about Macs is the lack of modularity. I've had crappy luck with Apple products, but given the premium you pay for them, I have been less than thrilled with customer service and support.

How anyone can spend 2k on a desktop right now is well beyond my imagination. Unless you are an avid gamer, there is just no point in spending that much on a computer. Don't get me wrong, I can go to newegg and price it together, but justifying it (just as justifying the prices Apple charge) is very difficult.

 

[seelee]

I'm still running my dual PIII 733 circa 2000 as a file server. I have 3 other machines that I have used as my primary over over the years that are all perfectly functional, but don't see daily use as I have my new i7 rig.

I tried going back to Macs and had to return 1 G3 machine and 2 G4 machines. My wife and I have also had to return at least 4-5 nanos/touchs which decided to just simply crap out. Every time we took the computer/player in, nobody at the store (or tech support) had any clue what was going on with the device and simply replaced it with a refurbished. By far my biggest complaint about Macs is the lack of modularity. I've had crappy luck with Apple products, but given the premium you pay for them, I have been less than thrilled with customer service and support.

How anyone can spend 2k on a desktop right now is well beyond my imagination. Unless you are an avid gamer, there is just no point in spending that much on a computer. Don't get me wrong, I can go to newegg and price it together, but justifying it (just as justifying the prices Apple charge) is very difficult.

LOL at the "less than thrilled with customer service".

My very first macbook was purchased in 07. Something was up with the CD-ROM. Took it too the apple store, the problem wouldn't reproduce. They gave me a new one. I was out of the store in 30 minutes. I have had a few other customer service encounters and they were all the same.

The laptop I had before that was a Toshiba. I bought the Best Buy insurance. When it crapped out I got bounced back and forth between Best Buy, Toshiba, and Microsoft. Each customer service rep blamed some other company for the mishap. It took all day to finally get someone to help me, and then I had to be without my computer for 3 weeks.

 

[mimelim]

LOL at the "less than thrilled with customer service".

My very first macbook was purchased in 07. Something was up with the CD-ROM. Took it too the apple store, the problem wouldn't reproduce. They gave me a new one. I was out of the store in 30 minutes. I have had a few other customer service encounters and they were all the same.

The laptop I had before that was a Toshiba. I bought the Best Buy insurance. When it crapped out I got bounced back and forth between Best Buy, Toshiba, and Microsoft. Each customer service rep blamed some other company for the mishap. It took all day to finally get someone to help me, and then I had to be without my computer for 3 weeks.

Again, the issue that I have is that when things go wrong with Apple products, their solution is to replace, not fix, which until recently usually meant loss of data (now with remote storage, far less of an issue.)

 

[MilkmanAl]

My $1400 MBP was way better than my $1500 gaming computer. I still have a G5 Mac Pro from 03 that still works just as well as it did the day it was purchased. Wish the same could have been said for my $1100 Sony VAIO that **** out after 13 months.

These are apples and oranges, no pun intended. You're comparing a high-quality product, the Mac, to a consumer-level POS. Macs are great for people who don't mind paying a hefty premium for a product they know is going to be good. There is a wide spectrum of PC quality, but there's just one Mac quality: excellent. For people who don't care to do the fairly minimal amount of research required to figure out which PC labels are best and have the extra cash available, going Mac is a safe way to ensure that you're getting good quality out of your purchase. Macs are also widely known for being easy to use, another attractive point for the general public. I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment - probably because I'm more accustomed to the Windows menu - but whatever works. That said, I'd never buy a Mac computer since I actually enjoy researching what I buy, and I'm not terribly fond of spending significantly more money on a product that is identical or inferior to the better PC options.

edit: Just FYI, I'm not at all "tech-savvy" but have never had to "tinker" with any of the (software or hardware in) PCs I've owned, outside of replacing a fan in a 4-year-old laptop during college. If you don't treat your computer like crap, you likely won't have to fix it.

 

[BigRedBeta]

It really depends on what your goal is.

At this point, I'm convinced that all I need in a computer is something that will open and edit word/powerpoint/excel documents, will let me search pubmed/various journals, save pictures and will function on the internet with minimal issues regardless of what I want to do (videos/music/etc). I don't code, play video games, do video editing, or anything beyond these very basic functions. If that's the case for you, a computer simply becomes a tool to accomplish those things and it ends up making less and less sense to spend a significant amount of time, money and effort customizing a computer to fulfill these goals. At one point after I graduated college, I felt like that if I didn't spend well above the "standard" amount for a computer I was giving up a significant amount of possible performance, and yet, my most recent computer purchase (during my intern year of residency) was an off the shelf Dell from Best Buy with zero enhancements and I've never been happier with a computer purchase. I didn't spend a fortune, put more money into the chip and memory rather than software, and if something were to happen to my current computer, I'm only out about $600, which I can easily replace without too much hardship.

Now if your goal is to do a bunch of video editing or to brag to your friends about your awesome computer, my approach absolutely won't work. If you view a computer purchase as a long term investment instead of as a tool to accomplish some very specific functions, then you'll likely be unhappy with a product that isn't the top of the top of the top level of quality. If your identity and the way people judge you at Starbucks is tied to your computer, you'll gain no favor by going with my advice. But if you approach the purchase with a healthy sense of value and desired outcomes, you'll see that there's value combined with minimal risk by going with a PC and limited investment.

In the end, it's a situation that you have to make yourself happy with.

 

[GreenStyle]

If you look at porn, go Mac.👍

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

These are apples and oranges, no pun intended. You're comparing a high-quality product, the Mac, to a consumer-level POS. Macs are great for people who don't mind paying a hefty premium for a product they know is going to be good. There is a wide spectrum of PC quality, but there's just one Mac quality: excellent. For people who don't care to do the fairly minimal amount of research required to figure out which PC labels are best and have the extra cash available, going Mac is a safe way to ensure that you're getting good quality out of your purchase. Macs are also widely known for being easy to use, another attractive point for the general public. I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment - probably because I'm more accustomed to the Windows menu - but whatever works. That said, I'd never buy a Mac computer since I actually enjoy researching what I buy, and I'm not terribly fond of spending significantly more money on a product that is identical or inferior to the better PC options.

edit: Just FYI, I'm not at all "tech-savvy" but have never had to "tinker" with any of the (software or hardware in) PCs I've owned, outside of replacing a fan in a 4-year-old laptop during college. If you don't treat your computer like crap, you likely won't have to fix it.

+1, especially to the bolded.

If you spend an hour or two doing the research, you can easily get a much, much more powerful (and high quality) PC than a similarly priced Mac for significantly less money. I'm sure Macs are great, but I like the fact that I got my Lenovo ThinkPad (i5 processor) w/ an awesome SSD for several hundred dollars less than Macs that were less powerful. If you have the money to spend and like the "user-friendly" interface (though, like Al, I'm so used to Windows and think it's easier to use), go with a Mac. My Lenovo's a beast though! I'm pretty sure I can throw it across the room and it wouldn't have a scratch on it. Plus, I think it's more elegant looking than any other laptop I've come across. 🙂

 

[deleted103644]

Again, the issue that I have is that when things go wrong with Apple products, their solution is to replace, not fix, which until recently usually meant loss of data (now with remote storage, far less of an issue.)

Back your s*** up. This is true whether you use a Mac, a PC, or a toaster.

And any malfunction that doesn't fry the hard drive, your data is recoverable. You can just place the old drive in an enclosure and load it as an external.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

+1, especially to the bolded.

If you spend an hour or two doing the research, you can easily get a much, much more powerful (and high quality) PC than a similarly priced Mac for significantly less money. I'm sure Macs are great, but I like the fact that I got my Lenovo ThinkPad (i5 processor) w/ an awesome SSD for several hundred dollars less than Macs that were less powerful. If you have the money to spend and like the "user-friendly" interface (though, like Al, I'm so used to Windows and think it's easier to use), go with a Mac. My Lenovo's a beast though! I'm pretty sure I can throw it across the room and it wouldn't have a scratch on it. Plus, I think it's more elegant looking than any other laptop I've come across. 🙂

agreed. macs are just way too overpriced for what you get. lenovos may not have the greatest display/screen compared to macs, but from my experience run a lot better. Plus Microsoft figured out Windows 7, not too sure about 8, but 7 has been spot on

 

[cowme]

I can't imagine anyone who has owned both PCs and Macs would ever argue for a PC

 

[FIREitUP]

I can't imagine anyone who has owned both PCs and Macs would ever argue for a PC

this is getting ridiculous already. The fact of the matter is, as milkman said earlier, there is a large spectrum of different qualities of PC's based on the multitude of different consumer price ranges. You can't compare a ****ty dell with a macbook pro and come to the conclusion that apples are superior; that is not a fair comparison to make. Personally, I hate Mac OS, I dislike the lack of customization I have after I purchase an apple (new MBP's: non-upgrade-able ram, HD, etc.). There are PC's out there that are built just as well if not better than Macs (I rather not have my whole case made out of an aluminum heatsink, thank you), and if the consumer doesn't wish to do research then they should stfu about how they've had their macbook pro for 7 years and not try to engage in frivolous debates on computers.

 

[GreenStyle]

I can't imagine anyone who has owned both PCs and Macs would ever argue for a PC

Hahaha. Right!? I have yet to meet anyone who has ever owned a Mac ever claim to like PC's much in comparison. I am convinced that besides few exceptions, people who like PC more and clamor for them, have never used them, or love tinkering with PCs.

 

[GreenStyle]

this is getting ridiculous already. The fact of the matter is, as milkman said earlier, there is a large spectrum of different qualities of PC's based on the multitude of different consumer price ranges. You can't compare a ****ty dell with a macbook pro and come to the conclusion that apples are superior; that is not a fair comparison to make. Personally, I hate Mac OS, I dislike the lack of customization I have after I purchase an apple (new MBP's: non-upgrade-able ram, HD, etc.). There are PC's out there that are built just as well if not better than Macs (I rather not have my whole case made out of an aluminum heatsink, thank you), and if the consumer doesn't wish to do research then they should stfu about how they've had their macbook pro for 7 years and not try to engage in frivolous debates on computers.

Most PCs suck. Macs don't....

 

[cowme]

this is getting ridiculous already. The fact of the matter is, as milkman said earlier, there is a large spectrum of different qualities of PC's based on the multitude of different consumer price ranges. You can't compare a ****ty dell with a macbook pro and come to the conclusion that apples are superior; that is not a fair comparison to make. Personally, I hate Mac OS, I dislike the lack of customization I have after I purchase an apple (new MBP's: non-upgrade-able ram, HD, etc.). There are PC's out there that are built just as well if not better than Macs (I rather not have my whole case made out of an aluminum heatsink, thank you), and if the consumer doesn't wish to do research then they should stfu about how they've had their macbook pro for 7 years and not try to engage in frivolous debates on computers.

In college, I bought 2 near-top of the line, 1500-2000 dollar dell desktops. They crashed, got viruses, slowed down to the point of being obsolete in mere months. In 2007, I bought an iMac. I am still using it, and haven't rebooted it in a couple months. I never got a virus. Apple's OS is worlds smoother than anything I ever used on windows. Maybe windows has improved markedly with windows 7 and new machines, but I'm never going back.

 

[dr zaius]

I've had 2 Dell desktops that lasted 6 years each. The only things I ever upgraded were memory and graphics cards. If you treat them right (ie only peruse the most reputable of porn sites along with good antivirus/spyware/malware protection, defrag when needed, don't click on pop ups, be smart with torrents) they last quite some time. I recently went with an HP desktop that I have been using for 2 years without any problems (knock on wood).

I also purchased a netbook at the beginning of medical school. I hated it so I bought an HP laptop on sale at best buy and haven't had any problems.

If you're a standard brain dead home user go with a mac. They're harder to mess up with sloppy usage.

 

[cowme]

I've had 2 Dell desktops that lasted 6 years each. The only things I ever upgraded were memory and graphics cards. If you treat them right (ie only peruse the most reputable of porn sites along with good antivirus/spyware/malware protection, defrag when needed, don't click on pop ups, be smart with torrents) they last quite some time. I recently went with an HP desktop that I have been using for 2 years without any problems (knock on wood).

.

Yea, but on macs, you can see porn from the farthest reaches of the internets, you don't need to pay for antivirus/spyware/malware, don't need to defrag, don't get popups, and know which torrents are shady cuz they are .exe files.

And not to mention the need to use microsoft products. We are talking about a company that introduced the zune in response to the ipod, vista in response to OS X, and can't even get a 2012 version of internet explorer to work any better than the first version of firefox.

 

[SoundofSilver]

Apple computers are extremely overpriced, and no it's not because they use better hardware (they don't), it's because they want to maintain their extremely high profit margin.

You can get a much better/powerful pc for the half the price of something by Apple. You are essentially paying for a logo when you buy an Apple computer. Apple is the master of marketing and has convinced the populace that if you buy one of their computers you can automatically become more hip, young, and cool.

Windows 7 is quite nice in my opinion. It's extremely user-friendly and also allows for a huge degree of flexibility for more advanced users. Apple computers are pretty much locked down from what I understand.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

Hahaha. Right!? I have yet to meet anyone who has ever owned a Mac ever claim to like PC's much in comparison. I am convinced that besides few exceptions, people who like PC more and clamor for them, have never used them, or love tinkering with PCs.

if i was spending 2-3k on a computer that could run just as fast on a pc for half the price, i'd try to save face too and not go back to pc

 

[dr zaius]

Yea, but on macs, you can see porn from the farthest reaches of the internets, you don't need to pay for antivirus/spyware/malware, don't need to defrag, don't get popups, and know which torrents are shady cuz they are .exe files.

And not to mention the need to use microsoft products. We are talking about a company that introduced the zune in response to the ipod, vista in response to OS X, and can't even get a 2012 version of internet explorer to work any better than the first version of firefox.

Haha all true!

I just feel that PCs get a bad wrap. I repaired and built PCs for years, and 9/10 the problem was due to the user and not the machine. The other 1/10 was some POS e machines from wal-mart that ran on hamsters.

 

[cowme]

I agree, but I treat my Mac like crap and it never breaks (although I pimped it out a year ago with 8 gb ram and a 3 TB hd)

 

[Lysinee]

How can you complain about Dell when Dell and HP have the worst reliability? They don't last long.


2nd To Last) Dell
Last) HP

http://zapp5.staticworld.net/news/graphics/211081-laptopchart_800_original.jpg

 

[FIREitUP]

How can you complain about Dell when Dell and HP have the worst reliability? They don't last long.


2nd To Last) Dell
Last) HP

http://zapp5.staticworld.net/news/graphics/211081-laptopchart_800_original.jpg

again the dell and hp lines are heterogeneous, whereas you will be unable to find a new mac for under $1k.

As a comparison, I have a lenovo thinkpad x220 that runs amazingly. I bought a different lenovo (not the thinkpad line) and it's crap. But I paid $360 dollars on it, so what did I expect?

 

[DISCOSTEW]

and the base 1k mbp 13 inch isn't all that great anyway. brand new out of the box it is a bit sluggish and the display is so so

 

[cowme]

if i was spending 2-3k on a computer that could run just as fast on a pc for half the price, i'd try to save face too and not go back to pc

Don't knock it till you try it. If you want a cheap, fast computer, by all means get a pc. But if you are shelling out 1500-2k for a top end pc, you might as well just get a Mac

 

[deleted103644]

and the base 1k mbp 13 inch isn't all that great anyway. brand new out of the box it is a bit sluggish and the display is so so

Sluggish? Doing what?

Having an SSD makes that little thing pretty fast.

I abuse mine and do 3D rendering on it (not its intended purpose) and it holds up just fine. If I need to do serious work, I just send the job to a server.

If you need a powerful computer, build yourself a cluster with spare parts.

If you need a well constructed laptop, get a Mac.

If you need both, get both and use the cluster remotely from your Mac.

And if your mainly griping about gaming, grow up and get a girlfriend instead.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

Don't knock it till you try it. If you want a cheap, fast computer, by all means get a pc. But if you are shelling out 1500-2k for a top end pc, you might as well just get a Mac

I have tried it. Not just toying around with my buddy's cpu, but actually have used them on a regular basis. I still believe they are overpriced and that there are just as reliable and cheaper alternatives. It's just great marketing

 

[dr zaius]

Sluggish? Doing what?

Having an SSD makes that little thing pretty fast.

I abuse mine and do 3D rendering on it (not its intended purpose) and it holds up just fine. If I need to do serious work, I just send the job to a server.

If you need a powerful computer, build yourself a cluster with spare parts.

If you need a well constructed laptop, get a Mac.

If you need both, get both and use the cluster remotely from your Mac.

And if your mainly griping about gaming, grow up and get a girlfriend instead.

What if you already have one and would like to trade it in for a gaming PC?

 

[DISCOSTEW]

Sluggish? Doing what?

Having an SSD makes that little thing pretty fast.

I abuse mine and do 3D rendering on it (not its intended purpose) and it holds up just fine. If I need to do serious work, I just send the job to a server.

If you need a powerful computer, build yourself a cluster with spare parts.

If you need a well constructed laptop, get a Mac.

If you need both, get both and use the cluster remotely from your Mac.

And if your mainly griping about gaming, grow up and get a girlfriend instead.

i have an ssd btw and love it. don't really game much on the cpu.

 

[deleted103644]

i have an ssd btw and love it. don't really game much on the cpu.

Your MBA shouldn't be sluggish then, unless you didn't max out your RAM.

It doesn't handle Flash particularly well, but that's on Adobe.

My main gripe is the speakers, but I think that's a restriction of the form factor.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

Your MBA shouldn't be sluggish then, unless you didn't max out your RAM.

It doesn't handle Flash particularly well, but that's on Adobe.

My main gripe is the speakers, but I think that's a restriction of the form factor.

i was referring to a the brand new 13 inch mbp (not mine) when i said that and that did not have an ssd. I currently use a thinkpad.

 

[deleted103644]

i was referring to a the brand new 13 inch mbp (not mine) when i said that and that did not have an ssd. I currently use a thinkpad.

Oh, MBP. I thought you meant the MBA.

Still, I'm betting your friend skimped on RAM.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

it was 4-6gb i believe. it wasn't freakishly slow, but compared to what I am used to and/or my expectations it was slow for the 1000 price tag

 

[deleted103644]

it was 4-6gb i believe. it wasn't freakishly slow, but compared to what I am used to and/or my expectations it was slow for the 1000 price tag

What were you using it for?

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Don't knock it till you try it. If you want a cheap, fast computer, by all means get a pc. But if you are shelling out 1500-2k for a top end pc, you might as well just get a Mac

Actually, that's what a lot of us are arguing against. Why would you spend 1500-2k on a Mac when you can get a PC that's of same (or higher) quality and much more powerful for much cheaper than that? Hell, I bought my ThinkPad and separately ordered a $300 SSD off of Newegg and that still came out several hundred dollars cheaper than what I would have had to spend on a Mac with similar power. All it takes is a couple of hours of research. As others have already mentioned, Windows 7 is incredibly stable.

Yea, but on macs, you can see porn from the farthest reaches of the internets, you don't need to pay for antivirus/spyware/malware, don't need to defrag, don't get popups, and know which torrents are shady cuz they are .exe files.

You can get (good) free antivirus/spyware/malware/pop-up blocker software, again, if you spend a little time looking this up on the internet. I haven't paid for any of that stuff in years and my computers have been doing perfectly fine. I haven't defragged anything in years either.

And, sorry, but if you're going to visit shady websites, torrent sites, etc, clicking on links without paying attention to what you're clicking on is just flat-out asking to get your computer in trouble. Maybe that's why your PC experiences were bad?

Also, I could be wrong, but I remember reading somewhere that Macs are being increasingly targeted by viruses, Trojans, etc. Can anyone confirm this?

And not to mention the need to use microsoft products. We are talking about a company that introduced the zune in response to the ipod, vista in response to OS X, and can't even get a 2012 version of internet explorer to work any better than the first version of firefox.

How many people use Safari? I'm pretty sure nearly everyone I know who owns a Mac uses Firefox, just the same as the PC users.

I guess I just don't understand the mindset of spending a lot of money on something because of brand name when you can get something better for significantly less (and all it takes is a little bit of research)! 😕