Mac or PC - Computer Advice Requested, Please!

[shadowkat]

Can't decide right now which is slower my home computer or my work computer.
Actually the home one - which is a dell PC - Inspirion 6000 lap-top and over 5 years old. Time to get a new one, which I hate doing - because, decisions, decisions. Guy at work told me - it all depends on how much money you want to spend. Mac's are great because no one has figured out how to design spam or spyware that can infect a Mac. But they are more expensive. Dell's depending on bandwidth and gigbytes can run between $1000-2000.

Anyhow please take poll below:

[Poll #1610569]

A second question - for the comments, please advise as to what kind of Mac or PC - would be best. My needs aren't fancy. Just want to be able to download music, occassionally vids, post photos, write, save book length documents to Kindle, along with my own written book length docs, do financial spreadsheets, net surf and blog to my heart's content.

Currently own a Dell. Am considering buying a MAC - but no clue what would be best. Also currently own an Epson Printer - which isn't the best.

Advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ETA two hours later: Did a little research online, because poll results to date suprised me, and discovered difference between Dell PC and Mac Pro is mostly hardware and operating system. If you prefer OS/X then definitely Mac Pro. If you've never used anything but Windows - might want to stay with Windows. Mac Pro can do both Windows and OS/X and can load Windows operating systems. Windows has upgraded from Vista to Windows 7, finally, so isn't as nutty. Dell has better hardware apparently - 4GB at cheaper price to 2GB. Also more memory and more RAM (suprised me, thought it was the opposite.). Warranty is cheaper on Dell. And you can get a larger screen for a better price. (Note: if I get a PC it will be a DELL not another brand, only other brand would consider for PC is Hewlett Packard.) So...still on the fence.]

Comments

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

It depends on preference as well as money. If you're used to PC you'll probably find the Mac different to use - I love my Mac but a lot of that is sticking to what I know and am comfortable with. Of course if you've had big problems with viruses then the Mac will be a relief.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I am a Mac person, but do look at what it might cost to replace the Windows software you are used to. If I were to switch platforms, that would be a HUGE expense.

Another thing to consider is going second-hand with your Mac. I picked up a used iBook last year ($400) and it's been awesome! You don't get the very latest model, but they have a longer shelf life than PCs, I think. Check Craigslist.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I switched from a PC to a Mac, but I kinda spilled milk on my mac keyboard, making it unusable. While I save up for a new mac, I'm using a Toshiba I loathe with the fire of a thousand suns. I miss being a mac person!

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

I've used both macs and pcs at work and at home...(so I wasn't worried about switching back and forth)
I had always owned PCs at home but after so many viruses and breakdowns I decided to splurge on an iMac, and it has been worth every dime.
I think you would love how easy it is to use (once you get used to the minor differences)
and check w/your apple store: they sometimes have free helpers/instructors who can get your information off of your old laptop and onto your new one.

Of course a Dell is a good product, and you can use Mozilla Firefox to avoid most of your risks... but I think you would love the clean, good functioning, reliable iMac!

Made the change...

[ladyhelix.livejournal.com]

After Vista I will never ever buy PC/Microsoft, ever. Though my friends say Seven is a huge relief. Really? That's a selling point? It stopped hurting? Bye Bye.

I bought a Mac Mini ($699) and hooked it to my TV with an HDMI cable. The only other thing I bought was a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard- so I can use my PC from the kitchen table, from my chair, from the couch, or from a pile of pillows on the floor - by just moving these 2 tiny remotes.

Mac Mini http://www.apple.com/support/macmini/

Only two issues (small)for me:

(1) The mac remote keyboard takes getting used to - but then it's just like most laptops are sporting now (low profile small keys).

(2) For YEARS Microsoft gave away WORKS (.wps), and it has always booted fast and made files that were compact (unlike WORD). SO for quick and dirty documents I have always used works - which MAC will NOT READ. You can "juice" them (remove formatting) - or you can convert them to WORD on your PC and THEN bring them over to Mac and convert them again to Mac WORD - but I have literally HUNDREDS of documents to convert - letters to landlords, household lists (addresses, recipes, videos(, etc.). That will be a pain, even though I bought WORD for the Mac.

If I think of anything else I'll write back - but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my mini. And when I want to watch Netflix or a TV show on line (Hulu or network site) - it plays on my big TV (I HATE watching shows on my laptop).

Good Luck!! - N

Re: Made the change...

[ladyhelix.livejournal.com]

Also - I came over knowing QUICKEN files would not move (I have history back to 1991), and I'm still decideing how important that is. QUICKEN aparently works great on the MAC, but the windows data files do not convert well - if at all. So if I go with the MAC Quicken - I'm starting out fresh, with history on the IBM if needed.

Re: Made the change...

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This is helpful. I'm leaning towards Mac Pro - which my brother has and apparently also runs Window operating system if you must have it. Been told that Word goes over smoothly.

I have Windows 2003 or Word/Excel 2003. Corel Print Shop - which sucks. Kodak Easy-Share. And Turbo Tax - which does need to be used.

How the heck did you hook it up to your TV? That I haven't figured out. And what do you use for internet? I'm currently using Time Warner Road Runner Package - I'm guessing that would transfer to Mac?

Re: Made the change...

[angearia.livejournal.com]

In my experience, you use an HDMI cord (http://www.hdmicord.org/) to hook up your laptop to your TV.

I've been waiting for this solution......

[ladyhelix.livejournal.com]

The new Mac-Mini has two "display" hookups in it's tiny little frame. (See bottom right of this display for what the back of the MacMini looks like http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini?mco=MTM3NzIyMDg). Click on accessories to see the little adapters for DVI/VGA on the mini-display port.


One is a tiny one that you can put a DVI/VGA/HDMI adapter, and the other is a straight HDMI adapter that goes right into a newer TV. So in essence I can hook up my TV as a display - AND have a second display (small LCD monitor). SO NICE!! Adam Lambert's YouTube concert footage looks and sounds INCREDIBLE on my 40" LED TV. My email is also very readable on it as is LJ and Twitter. If I want to watch a DVD in the player, or watch SYTYCD - I just change the TV "input". My PC is just another input to the TV.

So I use my TV controller to tell it which "input" to display. My cable TV hooks into the TV through the "cable box" and attaches to the TV just like cable does, my DVD Player goes into another TV input, and the PC goes into one of m HDMI input connections on the TV.

I bought the software to install a Windows partition (I still have it) but I decided it was more trouble than it was worth. I would have taken it back but in an exhausted/insane moment I opened the software envelope - so I guess it's mine now!!

WORD does come across well, no complaints there. Although WORD is the only program I've had to upgrade/patch!

I think my Lithium is working - but if that was at all confusing - please let me know and I'll clarify!

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

If you have PC now I see no real reason to change. They're cheaper for similar features, and almost any software you ever want is likely to be made for the PC. I understand Windows 7 has been very stable so far, and the user interface actually is more similar to the Mac style than Windows has been in the past.

For laptops, I hear good things about Toshiba, but Dells are fine AFAIK.