Apple Owners feedback/experience/opinion?

polkatese

Polkies,

With the release of Leopard, I have the itch to test drive an Apple. I've been a staunt PC supporters for the past 25 years, with the exception of being in college and experienced the first generation of MacIntosh and its subsequent Apple Lisa and a little bit of IIc, I haven't really had real desire to own Apple. Well, until now. My business owners friends and personal friends are almost unequivocally have migrated to Macbook Pro or in the process of justifying the cost (through breakage/obsolescence reasons), slowly but surely. And those who doesn't own one are looking for opportunity to own one.

So, with that, I like to hear/read the experience of those who has jumped from PC based (desktops, laptops) to MacBook. I have two PCs and a personal laptop, plus a work laptop. Obviously workplace will not switch to Apple anytime soon. Hence, I am not holding my breath to have one from work.

I know the user interface is a lot more elegant and now that one can run Vista on top of Tiger/Leopard, using software such as Parallel, I am even more inclined to own one.

I wish Leopard would run on a PCs without glitch/sacrifice of the interfaces and functionality, but I don't that it's a real option in the near future. I would be happy with a Mac Pro desktop, but I like the portability of owning a Macbook Pro.

Thoughts?

wingnut4772

I just switched to a Mac from a PC and it's pretty easy. Nothing to set up or anything and it's pretty secure out of the box. I am still learning the different Aps and shortcuts though. I am going to get the Leopard upgrade for $9.99.

polkatese

which one did you get, Darla?

wingnut4772

Macbook Pro 15". My other laptop died so.....I can't live without a computer.

polkatese

That's what I am aiming for...

My Compaq laptop is still humming, otherwise, I would have pulled the trigger...:)

Fireman32

An Apple will be my next computer.

wingnut4772

I am still learning but I really like it.

tecmo04

ive had both pc and macs in my house for about 20 years. long story short, all the PC's have died and the macs are still kickin! currently running a powerbook g4. Ive had it for 5 years now with zero problems. My dad has had everything from an apple 2 gs to the macbook pro's, all of which are still in my basement and fully functional. They are in a different league than pc's and well worth the investment. Apples are the ONLY way to go!!!!!!

BottomFeeder

I made the switch from PC's to Mac's about 4 years ago & am sooooo glad I did.

I've found these advantages:
1. They're just easier to use
2. They're more fun to use
3. They don't get viruses or spyware!
4. They've lasted longer

Using Mac's has been so enjoyable for my family and me. I'm a happy convert and highly recommend switching.

bigaudiofanatic

My father was going to get a laptop "not tech savy" and I did not want to worry about fixing virusis and spyware so I recomended a mac he loves it.

agfrost

I've got a Powerbook G4 and an iMac, and they've both been faithful and dependable machines since day one of ownership.

If you have special software needs that don't have a Mac equivalent, or if you plan on using your computer for gaming, you may not want a Mac. Otherwise, a Mac would likely make you very happy.

Jay

cyberhazard

agfrost wrote: »

If you have special software needs that don't have a Mac equivalent, or if you plan on using your computer for gaming, you may not want a Mac. Otherwise, a Mac would likely make you very happy.

Jay

Them days are over. Newer Mac's can run Windows, OSX or both.

I used PC's for many years. Got my first Mac about 2002. Chucked all my Wintel box's in the trash a week later.

okiepolkie

I've got a Mac Mini I'm using as a media center. Leopard will be here in a few days. I'm about to add a 500GB HD, but I like it much better than either Dell laptop I've got. When my business D810 kicks the bucket, I'll switch to a Mac Laptop, and I'll prob put an iMac at the office in the near future. Being able to run both OS's makes it a no brainer for me.

mantis

I own the 24 inch Imac with wirless keyboard and mouse. It's the very best computer I have ever owned. It lightning quick and does everything you and and nothing you don't. It has yet to crash, get a virus , have any kind of problems. It just works and works great. I can't say enough about mac. Just like in audio once you go mac there is no going back...

Dan

agfrost

cyberhazard wrote: »

Them days are over. Newer Mac's can run Windows, OSX or both.

I used PC's for many years. Got my first Mac about 2002. Chucked all my Wintel box's in the trash a week later.

Sigh. You're right, I'm describing my machines, not the ones that are bought today! Thanks for the correction.

Jay

polkatese

Apple Mac owners are happier?

thanks for the feedback, guys.

hockeyboy

So everyone raves about the product, what about the tech support? Surely someone has had to call Apple tech so it would be interesting to here how that was..

john22614

I bought my first Macbook about 6 months ago and like it a lot. Customer support is pretty good....just remember its only free for 90 days after purchase. You can also schedule an appt. on line for the "Genius Bar" at your local Apple store for free at any time after purchase.

I love Airport Express and using my Macbook as a music server with iTunes and the obviously simple interface with my iPod.. Needed customer support to help me set it up, but it has worked flawlessly since then. Overall, I would give the laptop and Airport Express an excellent rating....and despite Apple's somewhat pretentious image, I expect to be a customer for life. And, by the way, using the laptop as a music server with iTunes Plus streaming content at 256k is vastly superior sonicly to a direct hookup of an iPod to you system. There are also some very good internet radio stations like sky.fm that provide commercial free music using an upgraded signal for a modest fee like 5 bucks a month on iTunes. All of these a great options using the Airport wifi. Been a long time since I bought a CD.

BottomFeeder

hockeyboy wrote: »

So everyone raves about the product, what about the tech support? Surely someone has had to call Apple tech so it would be interesting to here how that was..

Apple Tech Support has been the industry leader for years, consistently getting an "A" grade.

& Their techs speak English well!

hockeyboy

:DENGRISH is a prus!

margate21

Love my imac! photos and videos. hands down beats anything on windows!

polkatese

so, where are the unhappy Apple owners hiding? I am sure there is gotta be someone who crashed his or her Mac? BSOD?



This is good news, btw.

bobman1235

I never have contact with Macs really - they're not used much where I work and I don't own any. But a friend of mine works for the DOT, and has to work with them once in a while, and I know he has quite a few problems. Nothing out of the ordinary so much, but they're not all sunshine and lollipops, they're still electronics and they still have problems. And honestly, just having grown up with PCs and their way of doing things, I feel limited by Macs a bit. Probably just things i don' tknow how to do more than things they can't do, but.... there it is. A less than glowing review

sirhc55

Used Mac since 1984 and have never had to call for service. Use them in my business and have the added bonus of being able to run Windoze for those clients that have not seen the light

Chicomoralessxm

Well having used both for over a decade, i'll lean toward mac. But prepare yourselves mac faithful the only reason we have been spared with spyware and viruses is because the of mac popularity mainly in the designers world. With its broad based appeal lookout the hackers and spyware pest will be busy writing or busier. Thank you ipod generation.

bobman1235

The highest number I've seen so far for Mac market share has been 6.3% a month or so ago, still not exactly huge numbers. There's a ways to go before anyone sees them as worthy of attacking, I think.

BottomFeeder

Just read an article that put Mac's at 8% market share...& growing.

polkatese

It is an interesting news. Until now, I was under the impression that Mac OS and underlying technical design were the reasons that they are not susceptible to hackers and viruses. So the explanations that crooks weren't interested to hack Macs until recently is news to me. Mac owners have to install virus protection too now?

WilliamM2

We use both at work, and I much prefer PC's. What's the point of having an overpriced Mac, when we have to run Windows on it to use any of the applications we need?

My PC is about 4 years old now (P4@3.8Ghz), it has never crashed, and nothing has ever failed. Maybe that's because I build my own, and don't use cheap parts like Compaq, Dell, etc. do.

As far as viruses and spyware, I have never had either on any of my PC's ever. Maybe Mac's are better in that regard for people that don't know what they are doing.;)

mantis

I know many mac owners and I'm one myself and there has not been any problems. I grew up on PC and hated every last moment of fixing the computer more then using it. I got really tired of that. Since I made the switch to mac, I have had NO problems whatsoever.

The choice is yours, I choose Imac.

SKsolutions

I prefer Mac for browsing and relaxing. BUT: If I need to work, I need the PC to integrate into my office environment. The only edge PC still has over Mac, is it's ability to be configured to do anything. Of course this is how it got so amazingly bloated and heavy. If you want to be able to control every aspect of your machine, go with the PC.


An 8% market share is not the only incentive that will be motivating the black-hats. It will be the fact that Mac users are generally more affluent, and sorry, ignorant. I don't say that in a broad sense, but in the sense that they will keep there banks URL, CC numbers, routing numbers, passwords, etc stored in their browser because they feel safer. Most know nothing of hardware/software firewalls, anti-virus, root kits, browser helper objects, hijackers, trojans, etc, and may find out the hard way that they are not immune.

When Apple becomes the low hanging fruit for specific and personal exploits, Steve Jobs will finally have to comment on his security issues. His "no-comment" will sooner than later affect his loyal following in a very personal and financial way.

If you are a Mac owner or joiner, I would not rely on "no-comment", and would strap up now!

I have both, and like both. I'm a ****, so I mostly use the PC.

FYI, Leopard arrived with known exploits not patched, check CNET if you are switching.