Buying a New Computer

jcjacob · 07-06-2010, 10:40 PM

Last October I bought a new computer. After looking around at most major vendors (yes, including Apple) I ended up with an Intel I7 Windows 7 PC.

The primary reason I went that route was because I have a significant investment in Windows software. I could have received Mac versions of some of the software at little or no cost, but others would have needed to be re-purchased.

For those of you that made the move from PCs to Mac, just what is it that makes you glad you made the move?

Do you have any advice and tips for others that may be considering the move with their next computer purchase?

JDtech · 07-07-2010, 06:56 AM

I've yet to see anything in a Mac that tempts me to switch from Windows. I think the whole Mac thing is way overdone. Macs are still a small percentage of the market.

Sidebyte · 07-07-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDtech

I've yet to see anything in a Mac that tempts me to switch from Windows. I think the whole Mac thing is way overdone. Macs are still a small percentage of the market.

I think it's a cult thing like Linux........heck, some peole even like Yugo's or warts.

JDtech · 07-07-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

I think it's a cult thing like Linux........heck, some peole even like Yugo's or warts.

Well, the Mac people swear that those machines "just work." Can't really say that about Windows boxes.

Sidebyte · 07-07-2010, 07:23 PM

They are very good machines for graphic illustration etc. but are overpriced and the software is limited.

Jon Foster · 07-07-2010, 10:04 PM

My personal opinion is the Mac's are too expensive. But I don't use one so I can't honestly comment on which is better, the PC or the Mac. But I can tell you that every Mac we sell makes the customer a very happy camper. We NEVER get Mac's back either. I can't remember the last time we had to service one with the exception of the notebooks that get dropped or run over (ya it happens). But even then, the service work is a simple hardware replacement due to physical damage not a software problem.

Jon.

OTL_Photo · 07-11-2010, 11:02 PM

Count me in the minority then.

John,
About a month ago, my wife and I decided it was time to invest in a new computer for the home and studio. We homeschool our youngest son, and I'm opening up my own studio in the near future. I looked at a PC, but wasn't sold on win7, and the aged machine we were replacing had XP home on it.

Count me in the 'it just works' group as well. I am more than capable of building and outfitting a windows box, if I were so inclined, I've done it before, and I could do it again if I wanted to.

as for 'limited software', let's look at what my family and I do on the computer: Primary use is surfing the web/email, Basic word processing and spreadsheet usage, followed by media listening/watching. I'm going to be using it for post processing and file storage for the photo studio and that's about it.

OK then, Mac OS X includes a browser, email program, itunes and even a rudimentary photo editor.

To which I immediately added open office, so there's the word processing etc covered. cost free...

PHoto editing was the only area I would need to buy software, though there is Gimp available for that as well, also free.

The educational software community is firmly entrenched in the Mac world, and nearly all of the software we already had on hand was dual platform, Mac and Win.
SO, right out of the box, or nearly so (two program suites easily downloaded) we had a working computer whiich met all of our current or projected computing needs with near zero issues.

We didn't have to worry about drivers or compatability issues. Perhaps we paid a bit more than a similarly capable windows machine, but to my mind it is a relatively small expense. WHile there are Viruses which are aimed at the Mac OS, they're so few and far between we're comparatively immune vs the windows platforms. On a similar track I don't have to worry about teenagers downloading garbage from their social networking sites and whatnot. They 'can' do so of course, but .exe files just dont' seem to work well on OS X.

I now have a modern computer with ample storage and processor speed, a gorgeous display and very small desktop footprint, which is hands down better than the mini tower and large CRt it replaced, which was several generations old and showing its age in many ways.

07-06-2010, 10:40 PM	#1
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	Buying a New Computer Last October I bought a new computer. After looking around at most major vendors (yes, including Apple) I ended up with an Intel I7 Windows 7 PC. The primary reason I went that route was because I have a significant investment in Windows software. I could have received Mac versions of some of the software at little or no cost, but others would have needed to be re-purchased. For those of you that made the move from PCs to Mac, just what is it that makes you glad you made the move? Do you have any advice and tips for others that may be considering the move with their next computer purchase? __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more. __________________ -John

07-07-2010, 06:56 AM	#2
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	I've yet to see anything in a Mac that tempts me to switch from Windows. I think the whole Mac thing is way overdone. Macs are still a small percentage of the market. __________________ Follow me on Twitter \| My Tech Blog

07-07-2010, 10:04 PM	#6
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	My personal opinion is the Mac's are too expensive. But I don't use one so I can't honestly comment on which is better, the PC or the Mac. But I can tell you that every Mac we sell makes the customer a very happy camper. We NEVER get Mac's back either. I can't remember the last time we had to service one with the exception of the notebooks that get dropped or run over (ya it happens). But even then, the service work is a simple hardware replacement due to physical damage not a software problem. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

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07-07-2010, 07:23 PM	#5
Sidebyte Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Medellin, Colombia Posts: 62	They are very good machines for graphic illustration etc. but are overpriced and the software is limited.

07-11-2010, 11:02 PM	#7
OTL_Photo Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 6	Count me in the minority then. John, About a month ago, my wife and I decided it was time to invest in a new computer for the home and studio. We homeschool our youngest son, and I'm opening up my own studio in the near future. I looked at a PC, but wasn't sold on win7, and the aged machine we were replacing had XP home on it. Count me in the 'it just works' group as well. I am more than capable of building and outfitting a windows box, if I were so inclined, I've done it before, and I could do it again if I wanted to. as for 'limited software', let's look at what my family and I do on the computer: Primary use is surfing the web/email, Basic word processing and spreadsheet usage, followed by media listening/watching. I'm going to be using it for post processing and file storage for the photo studio and that's about it. OK then, Mac OS X includes a browser, email program, itunes and even a rudimentary photo editor. To which I immediately added open office, so there's the word processing etc covered. cost free... PHoto editing was the only area I would need to buy software, though there is Gimp available for that as well, also free. The educational software community is firmly entrenched in the Mac world, and nearly all of the software we already had on hand was dual platform, Mac and Win. SO, right out of the box, or nearly so (two program suites easily downloaded) we had a working computer whiich met all of our current or projected computing needs with near zero issues. We didn't have to worry about drivers or compatability issues. Perhaps we paid a bit more than a similarly capable windows machine, but to my mind it is a relatively small expense. WHile there are Viruses which are aimed at the Mac OS, they're so few and far between we're comparatively immune vs the windows platforms. On a similar track I don't have to worry about teenagers downloading garbage from their social networking sites and whatnot. They 'can' do so of course, but .exe files just dont' seem to work well on OS X. I now have a modern computer with ample storage and processor speed, a gorgeous display and very small desktop footprint, which is hands down better than the mini tower and large CRt it replaced, which was several generations old and showing its age in many ways.