Computers & Networking

[lildups22]

I'm sure this question has been asked a million times but I don't have time to search through all the posts.  I am looking into getting a new laptop and have always been a PC user.  I like the idea of the mac being virus-free.  My concerns with the mac are transferring all my files over to the mac.  Also, the capatablility it has with PC users.  I am concerned with getting word attachments from PC users onto my potential mac, will there be problems opening the email, etc?  also, I have itunes on my current pc.  Will I lose all my songs?  how do I transfer them over?  Can I download limewire on to the mac?  How is the mac office program?  Is it just like the microsoft office program?  HELP!  lots of concerns and questions that I need answers for....thanks!

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

Sorry my post will be short(gotta work soon).

Just to address one part of your post and the biggest misconception, Mac's are NOT virus free. There's just fewer of them to catch.

[Entropy]

Far fewer.  And OSX is, at least in theory, designed more securely than Windows.  (Although Apple may have eliminated that advantage by having users run with root privileges in many cases.  I'm not familiar enough with OSX to know what the current state is.)

As to compatibility - Most file formats are easily readable on a Mac.  Things you MIGHT see issues with:

1)  DRMed WMA music, i.e. music purchased from online music stores that sold Windows Media Audio files.  I think there's a solution for this on MacOS though.

2)  Microsoft Office with "unusual"/"fancy" formatting.  This same category of "trouble features" will even cause you problems between different PC versions of Office though.  For 90%+ of users, the Mac version of MS Office or even OpenOffice will do just fine.

3)  Oddball/specialist applications.

What format is most of your music in?  Is much of it purchased from online music stores that used Windows Media DRM (copy protection)?

What applications do you run?  Just basic email/web surfing/word processing/etc?

Also keep in mind that modern Intel Macs can run Windows applications using two methods:

1)  Apple's Boot Camp allows you to have MacOS X and Windows installed on the same machine.  You can only run one at a time of course.

2)  Virtualization solutions such as Parallels Workstation let you run Windows inside what's called a "virtual machine", which will turn all of Windows into one window within MacOS.  In this case you can be running Windows and Mac applications at the same time, but most virtualization solutions don't support 3D video acceleration (CAD software, 3D games).

I think there's also a MacOS port of WINE, which gives a third method, but it's not reccommended unless you're a hardcore power user.

[Entropy]

Ooops, I missed that you use iTunes.  Even if you've got DRMed music from iTunes you'll be fine, the songs can be transferred.  I think iTunes has something like a 5-computer limit for DRMed purchases?  I don't know the details as I don't buy DRMed music.

I'm fairly certain there's either a version of Limewire or another app that can access the Limewire network for MacOS.

[Nokia]

Why are you considering switching?

[Rrrrrrr]

Like George said, they are NOT virus free due to the few that were made to attack Macs. But when they start really writing them (and they will at some time), well there will be ALOT of ticked off Mac-istas (what I call the Mac elitists). I've used both. Each has their plus and minuses. Macs USED to be the best choice for graphic editing, video and music but since PC's have basically caught up its really just personal preference. I still dont see the value to buy a mac now. An equivelent pc is usually 50% cheaper than a mac.

[lildups22]

I have only ever owned a pc and have always had nothing but trouble with them.  the equipment, viruses, freezing, its really just getting on my nerves.  the computer i have now is a really old dell laptop and i cant even take it off of the cord because it will shut down.  i have gone through part after part replacing and fixing it and i am just sick of sinking money into it anymore.  i want a computer that is going to last, problem free (for the most part).  I mainly use my computer for internet, microsoft office programs--excel, powerpoint, and word, pictures, itunes.

[Sassums]

I prefer a PC, as much as I hate Vista, thankfully you get buy XP and use that instead.

You run into a lot of software issues with MAc's and stuff not working like it would on a PC.

The only downside to a PC is the amount of viruses, spyware, and of course, Vista

[Nokia]

I'll address each of your concerns one-by-one:

• Hardware longevity: What parts have you replaced? I have rarely ever had any component fail on me. However, macs don't use different components from Windows machines ever since they started running x86, so switching wouldn't give you any sort of respite from possible hardware failures.
• Unable to remove laptop from power supply: This happens with every laptop eventually. Batteries wear out. It's inevitable. Macs are no exception.
• Viruses: As has already been stated by some other users, macs are perceived as more secure due to a lower number of viruses, which in turn is due to a smaller user base. However, they are just as prone, if not more so than Windows to viruses due to them not having to really protect against them. Most computers running Windows that catch viruses have only the user to blame. This results from not having proper anti-virus, -spyware, -adware programs, and also from unsafe computing habits such as visiting questionable sites, opening emails of which the sender is unknown, and ignoring warnings their protection programs give them. A lot of your freezing is probably caused by the same thing.

[lizziemurder]

ive always had a pc for my entire life.

recently, i bought a mac.

the pcs gave me trouble and everything, but if i spilt or dropped it, it was fine.

the mac, another story.

it all depends on what money you want to spend, and what you need to use it for.

pcs are more versitile in more school and work, but macs can be too.