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02/20/2014 02:17:11 PM · #1 |
Never touched one, but leaning towards my next putor being one! Talked to MAC store guy, he said a MAC can NOT get a virus???
Coming from only a PC world, (well I have an ipad and phone) How horrible is the learning curve for a MAC? PC to Mac converts, What is your opinions of leaving windows and going MAC? What R the common problems MACs will toss my way?? The one thing that kinda turned me off is on a mac you have buy a package if you want to learn the system, believe it was 169.00 for three years?
Any how.... I trust you guys WAYYYYYYY more than some sales man! All the input you can give me will REALLY be appreciated!!!! |
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02/20/2014 02:38:27 PM · #2 |
Oh! I thought Mac's was a restaurant or something and you needed the manager's number. Ha!
I have a PC.
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02/20/2014 02:48:49 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by littlemav:
Never touched one, but leaning towards my next putor being one! Talked to MAC store guy, he said a MAC can NOT get a virus??? |
The answer to that is: well, sorta' kinda' but not really. The Mac OS is built on a very secure Unix kernel, and since the Mac population is much smaller than the PC population, there's less of an incentive for it to be attacked. But our problems here in the interwebz don't stop at viruses, and Macs are vulnerable to other sorts of mischief, just as are PCs.
Here's a simple overview of the situation.
Message edited by author 2014-02-20 16:17:48. |
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02/20/2014 02:50:32 PM · #4 |
First things first, let's get terminology right. :)
Apple is the company. You were at the Apple store.
A Mac(intosh) is a line of computers that Apple creates. A MAC is an ancronym that could mean lots of things, but never means the computer.
People get persnickity over that stuff, so I want to make sure you sound as much "in the know" as possible :)
Now, onto the questions.
Macs can get viruses. They are rare, but they do exist. I have been using Macs since the mid 90s, and have had 1 single virus in all of those days.
There will be a learning curve. My wife switched from a PC laptop to MAc laptop a few years back. She is a PC power user, so she misses some of the things she had available and memorized. But now that she has learned, she says she will never go back to a PC laptop.
There is no "have to buy a package" if you want to learn the system. What you are talking about costing $169.00 per year is AppleCare. That is basically an extended warranty program in case something goes wrong (think of it as EXACTLY the same as any extended warranty that stores push on you). It's up to you if you want to buy it or not. I never have, I think it's useless (just like all extended warranties). |
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02/20/2014 02:57:49 PM · #5 |
I really doubt you need a package to learn the system. Turn it on and use. And you don't have to worry about what's under the hood.
I've been managing PC environments since the PC came on the market but have only used Mac at home use for the past 7 years. I also use a Mac at work. For photo editing, music studio, and film editing I think it's great, and so are PC's I'm sure. For gaming, you can't beat PC's, but for my kids I bought XBOX, PS3 and Wii instead for that purpose.
I have never used antivirus programs on my Mac's and never had a problem. That's not to say there never has been , or will be problems.
These are only my personal thoughts and I hope that both the PC and Mac markets will remain as strong as they are to assure continuing innovation. |
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02/20/2014 03:02:38 PM · #6 |
PC's give more bang for the buck.... Apple Computers are great.... They break too.... I used to work for a Computer dealer and we provided warranty service for Apple, IBM, Compaq, and HP.... Apple stood by their products, and even extended original warranty if there developed known problems even after original warranty expired.... Applecare always seemed reasonably priced to me to cover extended warranty repairs...your mileage and opinion may vary.
It's been almost 20 years since I was working at this business, but I think I still have the same opinions.... |
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02/20/2014 03:04:37 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by littlemav:
Talked to MAC store guy, he said a MAC can NOT get a virus???
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Your Mac store guy lied to you. |
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02/20/2014 03:05:58 PM · #8 |
Also something to consider...have you made an investment in Windows based software? Will you need to buy all new software for a Mac?
Message edited by author 2014-02-20 15:06:05. |
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02/20/2014 03:11:55 PM · #9 |
I love my MAC!!!!!!!
I am a hard core PC user at work, but a MAC user at home.
I found the MAC to be very intuitive and easy to use. I gave up on the MAC mouse though and use the PC style. (Right click, Left click, with scroll wheel)
I wouldn't bother with the $169 package.
I am an absolute fan of "Google" help. I have not been stumped yet! Every question I have, someone out there has the answer.
I did have to upgrade Photoshop to make the switch! |
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02/20/2014 03:12:21 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by HornOUBet:
PC's give more bang for the buck.... |
Remember that Macs are usually made with high-quality hardware, and come with pre-installed software which is actually useful and useable, which can justify at least some of the additional out-of-pocket expense. There will probably be some additional cost to port your current software from PC to Mac.
If you really need to, you can (purchase and) run Windows and PC programs on any modern Mac, often faster than on a comparable PC.
I think the number of people who permanently switch from PC to Mac outnumber those who do the opposite by about 20 to 1 ... |
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02/20/2014 03:31:35 PM · #11 |
Well I'm always hesitant to offer an opinion of the Mac it can lead to some quite heated discussion and flames, but here's my personal experience....
Albeit this is from 2008-2009 (wow, that long ago?)
I switched for a year, and in the end, wasn't happy, and switched back. The only things I liked better was the pretty interface, Spotlight (search) and the Preview function in Finder. I didn't like Finder much compared to the tree based browsers I use in Windows (and even Explorer). (And Preview crashed Finder whenever you looked at a file that had been touched by Lightroom...for months without a fix from apple.)
I use a lot of different apps, and when I tried to find equivalents to them on the Mac, it was difficult to impossible.
But even things like Spotlight (search) I found limited, and I had to find add-ons that all cost money to give me what I wanted (e.g., Spotlight show me a list including the paths where the files are! iTunes/iPhotos, get rid of duplicates). There's a lot more quality freeware in Windows, at least in terms of my needs. For example, Search Everything takes the place of Spotlight for me now, and works much better in fact (though it doesn't index contents, but what I mainly want is instant file search using components of the long names I use.)
IMO, the Mac works best for people who want the Mac to organize things for them and want to do it the way Apple felt it was meant to be done. Which isn't bad. But I like more control. iPhoto is a good example...a super app really...just let it take your photos, import them, organize them for you, in their way. You can find them easily, but you have to let it keep the main copy in it's own internal archives.
Also, "real control" on the Mac means digging into the Unix underpinnings. (Which by the way is not Linux, but rather based on the Mach kernel which is based on other Unix versions) To get around various problems I had on my Mac, I ended up working with the Unix end of things more than I wanted. For example, I seemed to frequently bump into permission system problems when simply dumping the trash. Then you go to Disk Manager, let it fix your disk permissions, and it never fully succeeds.
One other thing I don't like...Apple abandons old hardware much quicker than Microsoft. I have a high end Mac Pro, purchased in 2007 stuck at OS-X 10.6 Snow Leopard, because it missed the cut off date for compatibility by a few months. This wouldn't be a problem per se, but I can't use any new features like the App store or newer versions of apps.
Not sure about legacy support on the Mac, but on Windows, my main personal info manager on Windows is Ecco Pro, which was discontinued in 1997, and still runs fine under Windows 8.1 (and has quite a following).
Of course, there are lots of problems on the Microsoft side of things as well...but I find them easier to work with (or get around) than I did on the Mac.
Just sharing my own experience...I'm sure others have their own opinions, probably mostly Mac favorable.
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02/20/2014 03:41:58 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Neil:
I switched for a year, and in the end, wasn't happy, and switched back. |
Macs are definitely not for everybody, and the differences between Macs and PCs in quality and functionality are miniscule compared to the "early days".
I recommend taking a photo, a text file, a sound file, and a video file to the Apple Store and actually try out the computer you'd be most likely to buy and see how it feels to you.
FWIW I'm writing this on a computer running Windows 2000, and I'm about to do a book layout job on a Mac laptop of the same vintage. :-) |
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02/20/2014 03:46:39 PM · #13 |
IMHO...hardware / software should be purchased with the end use in mind.
What specific tasks will you use the MAC for?
Make a list of these tasks and then a sublist under each task of what hardware/software will be required to support that task. Compare this list to what you currently have and factor in the cost of cutting over from one system to another.
Budget may be a factor as well. If you have unlimited budget...very good!!!
The answer to that question will also answer the question of the training package to purchase (or not purchase).
Just my two cents based on having waaaaay too many devices in my house including Windows, MAC, and other annoying devices that my tweenagers apparently can't live without.
Your post talks about a MAC, but not really why you need one.
Message edited by author 2014-02-20 15:47:49. |
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02/20/2014 04:52:59 PM · #14 |
| MacBook Pro here. This is a recent purchase and my 5th Apple computer. I switched from a PC in 1989 and have never looked back. You have used a PC until now so I'm not sure why you are looking at Mac? Because you have been happy with your PC I'd recommend staying with that. |
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02/20/2014 05:00:22 PM · #15 |
I know a Mac is a lot more more expensive than a PC with comparable performance. BUT... I sold my 8 core Mac Pro to a guy running a music studio after 5 years of daily use for 33% of new price.
So a US$ 5000 high end Mac ended up costing me approx. $570 per year - which then is the real cost of ownership (minus the effects of binding capital etc...). My experience with PC's is not the same. Probably not cheaper than a PC, but not that much more expensive - as long as you can fork out he $$'s up front. |
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02/20/2014 05:21:25 PM · #16 |
I have a Mac mini and a
MacBook Pro. I have been a DOS/Windows user since 1982 (well, DOS at least).
In terms of the interface, the two platforms are converging such that the apple vs Microsoft thing shouldn't be what it once was.
Using VMware, I can run windows programs on the Mac. I currently do web development using windows apps (studio, expression) on the Mac.
I'm primarily writing apps these days, which pretty much requires a Mac platform. That being said, converting was no big deal. I still have my windows machines, but rarely boot them anymore. |
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02/20/2014 06:00:38 PM · #17 |
I switched from a Windows PC to the MacBook Pro several years ago. It did not take much to learn the new OS, just a bit of getting used to. I love my Mac now and cannot see myself ever going back to a PC. It's much faster and I have not had any virus issues - though I know they are possible. I do run an anti-virus program in the background, but it has never found a virus either. I purchased the extended warranty for $169 as in my mind for an extra 3 yrs protection it was worth it.
I was pleasantly surprised by Adobe. My biggest hesitance in switching was thinking I would have to purchase Photoshop for Mac. I contacted them before making the purchase though and they simply had me sign a paper stating I would destroy and not use my PC version of PS, and they sent me the necessary disc for MAC. Of course now they do everything through the cloud, but I bet they would still switch you over for free. Several other software makers did the same thing for me. |
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02/20/2014 06:42:07 PM · #18 |
I've been an Apple/Mac fan since forever, or age 15 anyway, in grade 10 computer class where we wrote programs in BASIC...on Apples. Used a Mac Classic for 7 years when I was writing ad copy and doing other desktop publishing stuff; then had the G4, got the G5 and now have the Macmini. Compared to PC, Mac is easy and intuitive. You will NOT be disappointed with a Mac, esp if you're using it for Photo stuff.
I have both a Mac and a PC. On my 3rd or 4th PC laptop cause I use it for the interwebz, so I buy cheap refurbs, and they often crash and burn (yes, even with AVG as my protection software). And Macs are relatively safe from infection by viruses but they are not immune. I keep mine offline (unless I REALLY need to get online with it) and use it only for PS and photo stuff. Love it. |
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02/20/2014 06:55:41 PM · #19 |
I own both, use both.
I cannot recommend the best computer for you, any more than I can the best car, camera, or BFF.
Windows computers seem more flexible, and more bang for the buck.
Macs seem less fiddly, more productive (when you compare similarly equipped machines).
The Macs just work. Now this is in no small part due to limited configurations, controlled by Apple. But duh! What a concept...! Almost like what if Lexus built the whole car? (yes, neither is perfect, for the record)
If the Mac has all the things you need/want then you might be happier. But if you are after an over clocked super-whamadyne-bit-blaster 980,000 graphics card, and want to super spec everything, you will not be happy. Same if you want certain games, programs that are Windows only.
There is no best computer, no best camera, no best lens. Only tools with different specs. What is on the other end of the tool, creates the masterpiece.
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02/20/2014 07:09:20 PM · #20 |
Just a few points...
Your Apple store rep confused "cannot" get viruses with "do not" get viruses. A Mac CAN be infected by a virus, but in practice they're almost non-existent on Apple's platform and generally not as destructive. This used to be attributed to the smaller number of computers, however Apple sold more computing devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones) last quarter than all Windows manufacturers combined so they're hardly an insignificant target. Windows just has more holes to exploit and more hacker experience from doing so.
You don't have to buy anything to learn a Mac. It's mostly intuitive. Best bet would be to try one out at an Apple Store and ask questions. They will also help you transfer data from your PC.
AppleCare gets you free phone support in addition to the extended warranty, but all Macs come with 90 days of free support and a 1 year warranty as-is. You can extend both to 3 years, but you can add AppleCare any time within that year and don't have to buy it from Apple. 3rd parties often sell it cheaper ($119 for an iMac vs. $169 from Apple). Refurbished Macs will save you some cash and come with the same warranty as new.
You can often switch your existing software from PC to Mac for free, and your computer would come with some very useful software pre-installed, including iPhoto and an equivalent to MS Office. Syncing and using your iPad and iPhone will be much easier and more flexible within Apple's system. |
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02/20/2014 07:20:23 PM · #21 |
PC user since Windows 95 until this past November.
I'm a happy Mac Book Pro user and doubt I'd go back.
No real big learning curve easy OS. You'll love it.
Best of luck.
Message edited by author 2014-02-20 19:20:36. |
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02/20/2014 08:43:09 PM · #22 |
I use both. MacBook Pro at work and PC home. I was tempted to get a MacBook Pro for personal use but in the configuration I wanted it was not affordable for me, and somehow unjustifiable. I also think is a matter of personal preference. At work we did encounter various issues to include hardware issues. Service was not always great.
Macs in my experience tend to be more ready to use, better tuned out of the box.
It is intuitive and you won't have absolutely no problems learning how to use it even by yourself. My wife switched to Mac and Apple 3 years ago (don't laugh) for face and social status. Now she claims there is no way back...
You'll be fine and you have us here to ask :)
Oh, and they are beautiful machines
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02/20/2014 10:50:52 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
Just a few points...
This used to be attributed to the smaller number of computers, however Apple sold more computing devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones) last quarter than all Windows manufacturers combined so they're hardly an insignificant target.
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It still is attributed to the smaller numbers. For this issue (viruses), tablets and phones aren't being compared as they are a completely separate platform. The only relevant comparison is the Mac OS vs. Windows. As far as I know, Windows PCs still outsell Macs by a wide margin. |
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02/20/2014 11:13:37 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by rcollier:
It still is attributed to the smaller numbers. |
Only in the sense that odd behavior is still attributed to witchcraft. If anything, the dearth of Apple malware makes them a BIGGER target than PCs, yet a doubling of the installed user base over the past 5 years has not led to a predicted surge in viruses... largely because its system level password requirement is not as vulnerable to self-installing bugs. |
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02/20/2014 11:52:34 PM · #25 |
I always thought it was due to the type of user, not the number of users. The targets of hackers and virus cooks are enterprise-level companies and governments, I'd assume -- not the largely individual end users or SMEs (ad firms, creative/design shops, law offices, whatever else).
The behemoths are mostly running Windows environments. A lot of these boxes are blasted with OS updates, but the physical PCs may not be replaced, so I don't think sales figures are a good indication of overall computer brand proliferation. Also, many of these same corporate PC users go home and use their Apples for personal use.
I don't doubt that Apples are less vulnerable, more secure, safer, whatever, but I also think a big factor is that, to a hacker, incapacitating the Apple market is not as attractive and rewarding as incapacitating the PC market. |
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