Mac or PC?

gaudenti · #1 07-24-2011, 05:31 PM

Yes, I know the question has been asked here before. But it's been a while and Macs and PCs have changed.

Daughter is going off to college (!) and she needs a new laptop. She currently has an old HP which she has been happy with, and doesn't know if she should get a Mac or a PC. She's going in as a Bio major. Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks . . .

Floyd Eye · #2 07-24-2011, 05:32 PM

Joe Kyle · #3 07-24-2011, 05:35 PM

I have a custom built pc, and a macbook.

OSX is only good for listening to music/word processing/internet browsing, IMO

Windows- Excel, Programming, Gaming, Full integration/ everything a mac can do (but much less trendy)

MAC's do get viruses, and I find that the bootcamped (vista 64) side of my mac is better than osx.

That being said, you can, for the price, get a more powerful laptop/ less expensive peripherals, but the battery life isn't always there.

Edit- I'm a Chemistry Major, and I find that most of the labs have PC's, if she'll be doing research work, you'll either want to bootcamp the mac, or just go PC.
Oh! Apple doesn't stand behind their products, btw. Even with the 'Extended Warranty,' you'll pay for a refurbished unit and get told that it was your fault that the system failed, regardless of manufacturer error.

James Hart · #4 07-24-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaudenti

She's going in as a Bio major. Any suggestions or comments?

Speak with the department faculty as to what software they use. If your daughter has a career path in mind, have her reach out to people / employers in the field and ask what they use.

Ivan M · #5 07-24-2011, 05:37 PM

MAC all the way!

onosson · #6 07-24-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

Speak with the department faculty as to what software they use. If your daughter has a career path in mind, have her reach out to people / employers in the field and ask what they use.

+1

recreate.me · #7 07-24-2011, 05:49 PM

Buy a Mac, if she gets it off the website she will get back some discount, or just buy from the refurb store and save about 200$ (there is no reason you should buy a new mac, ALWAYS buy from the refurb store, you get the same warrenty, and a brand new laptop at a discount)

With the new macs you can still run Excel, and Word, and Powerpoint. You can also buy a windows emulator (Parallels, or Fusion is what i use) and that will let you run Windows if the need arises but it rarely will.

I have used my macbook pro through 7 years of university (B.A.Sc, and M.A.Sc in Engineering) and its a great computer. I have NEVER had a problem.

Also in 7 years i have NEVER had a virus, or purchased any virus protection software, and always just used the standard browser. Its the easiest thing ever, and you never need to worry. As you can imagine, a male university student really pushes the limit of sketchy site visiting (if you know what i mean), so I am sure there is nothing your daughter can do to get a virus lol

BUY A MAC, maybe make this thread a poll too...PM if you want any more info. Cheers

Floyd Eye · #8 07-24-2011, 05:55 PM

Not only have I never had a virus on any of the 5 or so Macs we have, I have never personally heard of anyone else getting one. Have you?

**Kinetic Shadow** · #9 07-24-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Kyle

I have a custom built pc, and a macbook.

OSX is only good for listening to music/word processing/internet browsing, IMO

Windows- Excel, Programming, Gaming, Full integration/ everything a mac can do (but much less trendy)

MAC's do get viruses, and I find that the bootcamped (vista 64) side of my mac is better than osx.

That being said, you can, for the price, get a more powerful laptop/ less expensive peripherals, but the battery life isn't always there.

Edit- I'm a Chemistry Major, and I find that most of the labs have PC's, if she'll be doing research work, you'll either want to bootcamp the mac, or just go PC.
Oh! Apple doesn't stand behind their products, btw. Even with the 'Extended Warranty,' you'll pay for a refurbished unit and get told that it was your fault that the system failed, regardless of manufacturer error.

You've got to be joking, Vista is better than OS X? I could see a possible argument vs. Windows 7, but Vista? I think you've been inhaling your lab work. And as a former chemist, we only used Macs in the R&D labs. Yes, there were a few viruses back in the days before OS X, but I haven't heard of, much less been affected by one in the last decade or more, actually come to think of it, I recall there was one back in 1996 that caused a little stir on system 7.

I don't use Macs because they're are trendy now, I've been using one kind of Mac or another since System 6. I have also used PCs on a regular basis and simply prefer the user experience and stability of using a Mac. They can do far more than listening to music and browsing the internet. Actually, they are capable of doing anything a PC can do, with the exception of the BSOD. And because they are trendy now and gaining market share, gaming companies are taking notice and porting more and more to OS X. In the mean time there's Steam and other like services. Also look at MacUpdate just to see how much software is available for the platform.

Yes, they do cost a little more, but they also tend to last longer than their PC counterparts and have a higher resell value. So are they really more expensive in the long run? I think not. It's not unheard of to get 6 or more years out of a Mac, can you say that of a Dell, Acer or the like?

As far as standing behind their products goes, I can attest that I have had many, many Macs over the years and have never bought AppleCare. In fact when one started to fail because of a known Ram slot issue, Apple replaced the motherboard gratis even though the laptop was three years old and out of warranty.

That said, I would have to agree with James and find out what system will be being used primarily at the college for her work and go from there.

vin*tone · #10 07-24-2011, 06:01 PM

OS choice is personal preference. For research work either platform will do great. Both run Microsoft Office (If you really need it), both do the basics- web, music, etc... PC wins if she's into gaming.

Personally I prefer the Mac OS - it's much more intuitive & doesn't treat you like an idiot. ("Alert: Are you sure you want to do XYZ?"..... YES I"M F@%&$% SURE. JUST DO IT!)

stflbn · #11 07-24-2011, 06:05 PM

Definitely un-secure... (sarcasm)

Major overhaul makes OS X Lion king of security â€¢ The Register

.

Apple's own iWork suite is very good (although completely foreign to people used to Microsoft Word/Excel, etc... and don't count out Google Apps, which are very decent.

recreate.me · #12 07-24-2011, 06:05 PM

I have never heard of anyone getting a virus personally with mac. Also, the resale value is ridiculous. I sold my first macbook (rev. A macbook from 2006) in april, for 600$..yeah, a 5 year old macbook sold for 600$, and i had quite a few inquiries for it. At least if she wants to upgrade or switch after a few years she will get back 80% of the cost.

Floyd Eye · #13 07-24-2011, 06:08 PM

I just sold 2 six year old power pc Ibooks for $300 a piece. My wife loved those things. Now she is stuck with a lowly, brand new 25" Imac and a brand new MacBook Pro. Whatever will she do. lol

CBRXJ · #14 07-24-2011, 06:28 PM

I'm sending my daughter off with a MAC.

tekdiver500ft · #15 07-24-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRXJ

I'm sending my daughter off with a MAC.

Good answer. Good for you (and better for your daughter)!

**Kinetic Shadow** · #16 07-24-2011, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRXJ

I'm sending my daughter off with a MAC.

Okay, just going to put this out there to all you dads sending your little girl out into the world.

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are solidly built pieces of industrial design made with aluminum - not cheap lightweight plastic. They will not only get your daughters through their schoolwork, but can also be wielded as a very daunting weapon to ward off would-be attackers

jabsys · #17 07-24-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Kyle

OSX is only good for listening to music/word processing/internet browsing, IMO

Windows- Excel, Programming, Gaming, Full integration/ everything a mac can do (but much less trendy)

windows over OSX for programming? you're joking, right?

BassBob1 · #18 07-24-2011, 06:48 PM

it appears you have made your decision. I am a mac owner and i really do like it but in the 3 years that i have had my macbook pro it has crashed twice for no apparent reason. I have learned this in my three years of college, whether it be a mac or pc they all break the same. You just feel much worse when your mac breaks because of how much you paid for it. If you and your daughter think the mac is the best way to go by all means go for it but don't go into it thinking the (typically) much large price tag gives you what is necessarily a better product. I'll leave with this. I really do like my mac and other apple products but my next computer will be a pc.

allexcosta · #19 07-24-2011, 06:49 PM

One of each. A good Mac and a cheap PC.

Turock · #20 07-24-2011, 07:45 PM

I have a year old Macbook pro, a Powerbook (I believe that's what it's called), a Dell D620 Latitude, an Inspiron, an older Dell desktop, and a PC that I built.
Ever tried to replace a hard drive in a Powerbook? Ever tried to put a new power supply in a G5 desktop? Ridiculous. I can fix anything that goes wrong on a PC; with a Mac, even something that should be simple, it's almost not worth the time.
Also, software is much easier to find for a PC.
I'll take a PC any day.