Anybody make the switch from PC to Mac?

I'm in the market for a new computer and considering trying a Mac. I've been using PC's my whole career and mostly use Excel, Word, and Powerpoint.

My fiancee just got a G4 Mac and it is awesome. I haven't really taken the time to learn it yet but apparently the new operating system they have is much closer to windows. We also went to the Apple store tonight and they have some really sweet products.

Can anybody give me a simple pros vs. cons summary with focus on:

1. How tough to make the switch
2. Are there any disavantages as far as certain software versions not being available for the Mac
3. Feel free to add a comment on Desktops vs. Laptops too... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

I'm not concerned with price differences etc.

TIA

 

Lance,

This is pretty far OT, but I have and use both Macs and PCs. IMHO Macs are better than PCs. I love my Mac, I hate my PC. Specifically, I hate Windows. It crashes, no matter what version I've got. Mac OS is far easier to use and much more reliable.

1. It's very easy to make the switch. Mac OS and all of its programs are very intuitive. Remember, windows is trying to emulate Mac OS. Of course there's a slight learning curve, but I can't imagine it would take more than a day or so.

2. There are disadvantages with certain software. Without a doubt, there are far more software products for the PC. However, most people use the basic Word, Excel, Explorer, PowerPoint, Acrobat, ect. Most major software programs have Mac and PC versions. The Mac has a great advantage with its extremely easy to use and superb graphics and video programs. iMovie, iPhoto, etc. For my use, there's nothing I use on the PC that doesn't exist on the Mac.

3. The major disadvantage of Macs are their price. They're always more expensive than comparable PCs. Laptops included. However, all Apple products are far more "cool" and beautiful. They're made extremely well. I don't think there are any equivalents to the Apple 15" and 17" Powerbooks. Eventhough the 15" Powerbook has been out for 2-3 years, nothing even comes close.

Hope this helps.

 

I switched a couple of years ago to Mac. I would have done it even sooner as I was tired of my Windows PC crashing or freezing up all the time. I had to reprogram my PC once or twice a year and get a consultant to do it for me.

The only reason I waited so long was becasue I was penny wise and pound foolish. I was relcutant to buy all new programs! But once you get past that hurdle, you will find that it is a great choice to go with Mac.

I use MS Office and the Internet mostly so the software is readily available and the same as the Windows programs.

My only caution is that when you are travelling, hotel business centers may not have a compatible printer for you to work print with. You can always email your file to the hotel and have them print it through Windows.

Switch!

 

I switched to Mac a year ago and would never go back.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that I have Virtual PC running on my Mac which is a program which allows you to run Windows if you have have to run programs which only run on Windows. I have Windows 2000 running on my Virtual PC on my Mac. Can Windows run Mac? NO! It even makes all the Windows' sounds when I execute Virtual PC!

 

Does it crash like Windows too?

 

Eric993TT basically said what I would say. I have 2 Macs at home (iMac 17" and Powerbook G4 12") and they are awesome. The hardware is art and the software is very well conceived.

Don't get me started on Windblows; I am forced to use it at work <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

Windows used to aggravate the hell out of me. I must say that Windows XP has been amazingly robust (amazing because of how bad it was before!). I leave XP running on several PC's for weeks at a time and crashes are almost unheard of--actually less frequent than on newer MAC OS's I use.

The biggest advantage to me of the PC besides the almost univeral compatibility, is the cheap, easy upgradability. I always like keeping my computer up to date, and a a year or so after purchase I'm usually interested in adding more memory, faster peripherals, etc. The availability of these upgrades for PC's by so many vendors means that they are amazingly cheap compared to upgrades for MACs. And when you consider that you will probably want a whole new computer in two years anyway, the upfront premium cost for a MAC doesn't make sense.

 

This message title is definitely flame-bait, but I just had to drop my 2 cents.

I've owned loads of Macs over the years since the very first 128K model. I've used a PowerBook since they were first introduced. I am the CEO of a technology company and we have a mixture of Macs, Windows and Unix systems. I'm a 25 year Unix vet and the new Mac OS X makes me happy as **** as it is basically a Mac UI over a Unix subsystem.

People often ask me, "Why do you use a Mac when you could buy any system you wish?" I usually answer them with a question, "What kind of car do you drive?" Computers are a lot like cars, popularity doesn't mean "the best". In fact what appeals to the masses is quite often not the best but generally the most affordable/available.

I use a Mac PowerBook because it serves my needs the best for what I do. (That goes for my wife and kids too).

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Eric 993TT:
<strong>Does it crash like Windows too?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I don't use Virtual PC enough to say. I must say it give me the "creeps" when I hear that Windows chime on start-up now!

 

We have both Mac OSX and Windows XP machines. Before these versions, speaking as a consumer, I thought both operating systems were a disgrace, perhaps some of the worst widely purchased consumer products out there. We have had almost no trouble with either OSX or XP. I'll stick with XP because (1) it's a Windows world, at least for now, for lightweight consumer users like me and (2) the price differential. But the Mac still has superior look and feel and ease of use, in my uneducated opinion.

 

I think the only huge advantage the Mac has is with image or video editing.

If you're just tired of OS crashes, reformat Windows and put on a UNIX OS.

 

For stability use Unix or Linux.
As for Mac or PC, I'm heavily into gaming, there simply are,'t enough games in mac for me to make the switch. If you really think about it, most programs are written for pc then adjusted/massaged for mac. Even if mac is the better product, the availability of pc programs vs mac programs will make me get a pc.

 

MAC = Lexus (Reliable but boring)
PC = Porsche (Excellent if you know how to use it)

<img border="0" alt="[blabla]" title="" src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" />

 

Personally I use a Mac, a Dell PC, and a Sony notebook. The Mac rarely crashes period. I'm about to ditch the notebook and get a G4 Titanium notebook. Mac users are in their class of their own.. just like porsche owners.