mshepp Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I currently own an aging Sony Vaio laptop and have started to think about upgrading and getting something completely new. I have been taking a look at the MacBooks and think that something like that has the hardware specs i want, good looks and is within my budget (about ?800). As a Windows user all my life i have only ever tried Linux on a few occasions and never tried a Mac but fancy that change. My questions are as follows: How is the switch between Windows and a Mac, will i struggle or is there lots of support/easy to use software etc. When i ever thought of Mac in the past i thought of it as all command line and harder to use that Windows. Is this the case or is this a common misconception. I understand the MacBooks may not represent absolute value for money but is the hardware good quality (maybe another misconception)? Will a Mac suite my needs as a computer user (Internet, email, films - No gaming) What are the main selling points of a Mac, functionaily wise, compared with a Windows unit? Thanks for all your help, i realise some questions may sound completely stupid or may be common misconceptions but i appreciate all your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivious Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 "How is the switch between Windows and a Mac, will i struggle or is there lots of support/easy to use software etc." There is Microsoft Office 2008 Pro for Mac, so you won't lose out there, but having trouble navigating . . . . its really dependant on your skill level. If you can use linux fairly well, then Mac is a cinch. "When i ever thought of Mac in the past i thought of it as all command line and harder to use that Windows. Is this the case or is this a common misconception." UNcommon misconception. Its GUI rivals windows in beauty and ease of useability. Granted any commands at the prompt are different and more similar to that of Unix. You shouldn't need it often, and with Parallels you can run win xp inside a VM on it. "I understand the MacBooks may not represent absolute value for money but is the hardware good quality (maybe another misconception)?" Hardware is good and sometimes its simply Intel (i.e. Mac Book Pro) "Will a Mac suite my needs as a computer user (Internet, email, films - No gaming)" Absolutely! "What are the main selling points of a Mac, functionaily wise, compared with a Windows unit?" Having a pretty OS, more stability then windows, and just being different. You WILL PAY MORE THAN YOU SHOULD FOR IT AS YOU CAN GET AN INTEL LAPTOP AND THEN BUY LEOPARD OSX WHICH IS $99 USD FOR A SINGLE LICENSE OR $119 USD FOR 2 FROM ZONES.COM. Good luck and enjoy! By the way . . . Why not go to an Apple store or a store that sells them locally and play with one for 30 minutes. You might like, might not, but don't switch without playing first. Nothing else, buy an Intel laptop and try the OS on there so you are only out $99USD if you hate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 How is the switch between Windows and a Mac, will i struggle or is there lots of support/easy to use software etc. When i ever thought of Mac in the past i thought of it as all command line and harder to use that Windows. Is this the case or is this a common misconception. I understand the MacBooks may not represent absolute value for money but is the hardware good quality (maybe another misconception)? Will a Mac suite my needs as a computer user (Internet, email, films - No gaming) What are the main selling points of a Mac, functionaily wise, compared with a Windows unit? As always these represent my opinions and you have to remember that I've used computers for 25 years and as such my perceptions and opinions may not be the same as your average user as the needs are generally slightly different. 1+2: I'd say Windows to Mac is relatively easy once you grasp some differences - there is no need to use the command line on the Mac unless you want to - infact I'd say vast majority of users never even see it. If anything, I'd say using a Mac is vastly easier than using your average Windows installation - mainly due to the streamlined GUI, relatively simple software and strictly controlled hardware. 3. I've only had Macbook Pros and Mac Pros so I'm not well versed on the normal Macbook quality - I have been pleased with the Pro versions overall. I've heard the normal Macbooks had some hairline cracking issues on the covers but apparently this has been fixed? 4. Extremely well - in non-gaming use Macs shine. Lots of good software that gets the job done. 5. Unified system and unified hardware, meaning there's generally few compatibility issues and no need to play with device drivers - you plug the device in and it more or less "just works". In general the Mac "experience" is aimed at the plug-and-play, just works crowd - people who wish to use the functionality with the least amount of hassle. This is not to say that Macs don't have their issues - they definitely do just as any other computer system - however the overall package is pretty solid. At the end of the day - the choice is yours. If I were you, I'd take a stroll to a comp store and compare both offerings and see what suits you best. I'm sure they'll both serve you well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sn00pie Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 After using them all, I'm absolutely in love with iWork. Easily the best office suite available for any platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterC Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 When i ever thought of Mac in the past i thought of it as all command line and harder to use that Windows. Is this the case or is this a common misconception. I think you're thinking of Linux :laugh: You don't have to touch the command line if you don't want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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