Genevieve
Marquette
Clare
Jodi
Victoria
Michael
If you're thinking of switching from a PC to a Mac for personal or business use, you should consider a few things first... After two and a half decades of using PCs exclusively, I recently opted for a MacBook Pro when I needed to upgrade my home laptop. The prevailing reason for this was because I do a lot of personal multimedia work at home (video editing, audio production, etc.), and Macs are ideal for this kind of work.
You've seen the "Mac vs. PC" commercials on television. And what they're saying is true. Apple's hardware is, indeed, superior to PCs; the Mac operating system (OS X) is more streamlined and stable than Windows. But just because the hardware and platform are better, doesn't mean Macs are best for everyone. There are other factors to consider.
In addition to my personal multimedia work, I also needed this laptop to act as my remote machine for work. Unfortunately, the tools I use for work are not supported by the Mac operating system or the Safari web browser. This may be the case for you, as well.
The way I got around this was by installing a Windows partition on my Mac, where I could install all the Windows programs I needed and access them for work. You can either boot your Mac in Windows, or you can access your Windows programs side-by-side with your Mac programs using VMWare Fusion or Parallels software. This gives you the best of both worlds – superior hardware & the operating system/software of your choice.
If you choose to go this route, you'll need to purchase a copy of Windows XP or Vista to install on your Mac, which can be a big additional expense.
One downside to installing a Windows partition on your Mac, is it can take up to 32GB of hard drive space. Since you may only start with 120GB (depending on what model you choose), this really limits the amount of storage you have on your laptop. Since I do a lot of video editing, I need as much free space as possible. I had to remove my digital music collection, in order to free up additional space.
Since you can run both Mac and Windows programs on your MacBook or MacBook Pro, you don't have to spend money on any additional software (other than Windows OS and VMWare Fusion/Parallels). But if you, like me, want to eventually switch over to all-Mac software, you will find that you do, indeed, live in a Windows world – many of the software utilities you use on a daily basis aren't available in Mac versions. And even if they are available on the Mac, they're usually limited in functionality compared to the more robust and fully-developed Windows versions. For instance, the AIM client for Mac is less functional than the Windows version. Other utilities (like FTP clients, bit torrent clients, etc.) rarely come in two versions. You'll have to find completely different Mac products to complete these daily tasks.
If you're a corporate user tied to Windows software, there is a Mac version of Microsoft Office. Or, if you want to save a substantial amount of cash, you can opt for iWork '08, which has comparable programs that can export (or save) in Microsoft file formats.
One thing you won't ever get on a Mac is a version of Internet Explorer. Microsoft stopped making Mac versions of its dominant web browser a while ago. If you have online tools you use for work that aren't supported by the Safari or Firefox browsers, you have to have a Windows partition on your Mac to run Internet Explorer.
The other big difference between buying a Mac laptop and a PC laptop is price. The Mac will cost roughly twice as much as a PC. This, above all else, is the biggest barrier to switching to Mac. Not only is the software selection miniscule compared to Windows, but the cost of the hardware is a show-stopper for most folks.
The Macs are superior products, and if you are financially able to get one, you should. Just know that you're going to have some growing pains on the software side. And be prepared to spend even more money to create a Windows partition for your work programs.
And be aware... Once you switch to a Mac, you'll never go back.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
41. My wife and I each have our own computers- iMac for her, PC for me. While her Mac is not a frequent target of virus hacks or intruders, the software/surfing limitations can be a pain. We do occasionally use my PC for convienence. Running a dual platform is a smart way to go and only wish Mr. Jobs and IBM/Microsift would have gotten together a long time ago.
Posted at 1:46PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Michael
42. I purchased a Mac for my nephew while he was in High School six years ago. He graduated college 2 years ago and still has it. In that time I have had to purchase 3 of the less expensive PC's. His Mac was expensive BUT, the money I have spent on PC came out to be about the same 3,200. (Mac) vs 3,500. (PC) over the same period.
I purchased desk tops for each of us and that was a real value compared to the cost of the PC desk tops with similar capabilities. This has made a convert out of me! I'll save happily for my lap top knowing I won't be forced to buy another in 2 years or less because of some malfunction.
Posted at 12:26PM on Jun 25th 2008 by BB
43. suzana wilson .... yes you need antivirus if you run windows on your mac .
There has not been a "virus" made for OS-X since it's inception in 2001 . There was a Word hack but it by no means was a virus and you had to allow it to open and access your system before it could do anything to your system , so it wasn't a virus . Also to those who have the saying "it's only because you have 10% wait till they get more popular " I beg to differ . Mac when they went to OS-X thought about the security of the OS as with OS 7 and 8 were there were viruses that had been written , OS-X was completely different from the ground up ( that's why a program in os9 wont work on OS-X ) It is based on Unix and if you know anything about code Unix is a underground bunker submerged down 20 miles under ground . It is VERY complex and you just can't write a simple code to break it . Windows on the other hand is like a tent in a tornado and they always have been . Windows (with the exception of Vista ) still uses DOS at it's core ...DOS . XP tried with useing NT code but still DOS is at it's core . Vista although has no DOS is built on NT ( remember NT started in 96 it was going to be the replacement for 95 ) . Until Windows does what Apple did and create a OS from the ground up with new technology , hackers and the like will have a field day with the system.
Posted at 1:37PM on Jun 24th 2008 by csummers1968
44. Their is no question about it, the Apple Mac is a better computer than the PC for business and serious users, espeacially those involved with music and video. Althousg you could buy a Mac and PC that are compareable in features, you will always have to spend more on the PC for virus protection, upgrades and miantenace to name just the basic stuff to keep it running right. Macs are designed to also run any software that is made for a PC. Thier are so many differant companies that make so many differant applications for the PC that making all the differant componets work right all the time is impossible, although being albe to configure your PC with so many differant applications is great when they all work. Saying that the problem with the Mac is the cost is like saying the problem with a Mercedes is the cost. You get what you pay for.
Posted at 2:14PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Benny Harris
45. I will never ever buy another PC, MAC's are so far superior it's scary. I can't describe it but my MACBook Pro along with Leopard is almost intelligent, it does the thinking for you so you can think about your work and be more creative. I'm not talking about graphic design or video editing type of creative. I'm talking about business creative. So far we are a three MAC household and that's where we will stay.
Posted at 1:50PM on Jun 24th 2008 by sobaka
46. The Mac's soft has been develop under Unix and you never have to reboot your computer. Can you tell the same about XP or Vista?
What about all internet viruses?
Try to connect an external hard drive, a digital video unit, on a PC an an a Mac, tell me the difference.
Mac is far away better than a PC.
Posted at 2:09PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Brigitte
47. Question: I've got a 2-year-old iMac that has developed, one at a time, five vertical lines of different colors on the monitor. Apple store says it would be very expensive to repair. Anybody else having this problem and know what to do about it?
Posted at 2:15PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Rick
48. I have used design software on the Mac since 1990. Mac to me is the ultimate "Gemini Syndrome": When it's good, it's great, but when it's bad, I feel like pitching it out a fourth floor window. It has been a Godsend and a curse; it gave me a graphic design career, and it has given me fits of rage when it has consistently crashed once or twice a day. I currently use a Mac G4 at my job with 10.4.8, and an HP Pavilion at home with Windows XP. Both have CS3, and both are great in their own way. Going forward, I have shied away from Mac because of price and past schizophrenic performance, and the new HPs look great, esp. their 24 inch flat screen that pivots. And HP is known for reliability, so I have to give them the props.
Posted at 11:48AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Lou
49. For SUSAN.
I would strongly recommend that you change your router. I am using a Belkin wireless router with my MacBook Pro and my Wife's iBook, and we never had a problem. Sometimes I pug the computers into the Eathernet plug on the router and it works perfectly. I made the switch from PC to Mac in 2003 with a Powerbook, and at that time I had a Linksys wireless router and I was very disappointed just like you because I could not get the internet connection to work properly on the PowerBook. I dumped the Linksys router and purchased the Belkin 24G router and its been working perfectly ever since. I now have a MacBook Pro and I am running VMware fusion with Ubuntu 8.0 as a guest operating system. I also installed Windows XP as a guest OS only because I want to use Yahoo Messenger with the live video and audio chat, nothing else. You can run all your windows software on the Mac through other software like VMware Fusion, Parallels, Virtual Box, and Virtual PC without any problem. So go ahead and take your iMac off the shelf and change your router, and I guarantee that your PC will end up at the Goodwill store or Salvation Army within a few days. Good luck to you.
Posted at 2:48PM on Jun 24th 2008 by almandog
50. Tracy,
Do not trust this (Michael) article completely. A lot of what is said here is not entirely true. Take the price for example, I am not sure what kind of PC this dude had before but it must have been a crappy (cheap) one. Macs are not twice as expensive as PCs. He has a point about the software being expensive but what software is not? Obviously none, they all cost too much money and rip people off when the do not work. In the industry world it is called business. The best thing to do is go to an Apple store and ask questions, better yet make an appointment at the “genius bar” there (in store help bar). Do not go searching for a number to call Apple, Trust me I have tried to do this and drove myself insane doing it. Oh if you buy a computer make sure to by and extended warranty, Apple does not tell you but there is only a 1 or 2 year warranty on the computers, if you do not get an extend one with in that time you can’t ever get one. Anything else just ask the Apple store people.
Posted at 7:47PM on Jun 24th 2008 by sjoyner2
51. I'm torn - I bought a Mac laptop for the first time about 4 years ago. I liked the way it looked, and everyone said how great Macs were. However, I never got used to it, and since I only use it for basics (word processing, internet access, a little i-photo), I certainly never took advantage of Mac's capabilities. Also, getting support was frustrating. I just got an i-pod (yes, I know I'm very behind the times), and I can't even use it now with my laptop because it has such an old operating system. If I want to use my i-pod, I now have to buy a new computer!
I can't decide whether to buy another Mac, or a PC. I've heard terrible things about the Vista operating system, but I have to say I'm not crazy about the Mac. Everyone says the Mac is so easy to use, but I never found that to be so. And can I use an i-pod on a PC?
Anybody have any advice?
Posted at 2:47PM on Jun 25th 2008 by Marcy
52. Susan, The problem with getting your iMac on line with the Linksys router is caused from lack of understanding of your computer. The airport must be configured for your router. You need to go talk to an Apple geek at the nearest Apple Store and he/she can step you through it. You will be very pleased with their helpfulness. I also had the same problem with my Linksys router. I finally went to a DSL service with wireless capability and no longer have a problem.
Posted at 12:23PM on Jun 25th 2008 by Helen Gish
53. Thanks! I like most have more interest in the "Mac;s" since the new commercials came out and always wondered what the differences were. Most that I ask all have PC's like myself, others are 100% for PC's or 100% for Mac's therefore, instead of a simple explanation I just hear how much they hate the prorams on one or the other.
Once again -- Thanks, I'm going to bookmard this page until I make my final decision.
Tracy
Posted at 12:29AM on Dec 16th 2007 by Tracy F-F
54. You're welcome, Tracy! I'm not a fanboy for either PC or Mac. I just tell customers what's best for them. Glad I could help in your decision-making!
Posted at 11:32AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Michael Tolosa
55. If mac hardware is so much better than why have they switched to using intel cpu's?? I think that a Lenovo workstation with a T7700 cpu and 4 gigs of ram runs just as well as a MAC Book Pro. Individual software programs are going to make the difference in terms of your productivity level provided that all else is equal. For some people that might be Mac based software and for others it might be Windows based programs.
Posted at 2:48PM on Dec 21st 2007 by Allen Gurewitz
56. MAC's Rule, I've had my G4 for over 3 years and have found it bullet proof. I DJ and I have a MAC and a HP(New) laptop for back up. My MAC has never frozen up on me. Once you learn to get around, you'll never want anything other. Go into an Apple store and ask the Apple geeks to demostrate, (AWESOME) they're the best. MAC is Back and their P.R. is second to none. They also have a new $99.00 plan which allows you to go into the stores and sit down with a tech and they'll walk you through any program or questions for an hour and a half( I believe every month for a year). (No more dealing with a foreign speaking tech from over seas, who will tell you that it's a software company issue.No more Virus protection or defragmenting.(Check out APPLE I'm glad I did.)
Posted at 1:37PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Ron
57. Very interested in considering a MAC. I'm not familar with there operating system but would like to know more
Posted at 5:42PM on Dec 31st 2007 by Sharon Montoya