Considering an Apple

[gsabc]

Well, it is Macintosh season.

Since we're looking at new computers anyway, I thought to take another look at Macs. GW has had them at work forever, and loves them. We last had one at home over 15 years ago, IIRC a Quadra. Lo and behold, they claim that the current Mac OS lets you run Windows and programs for it, either separately by booting up whichever OS you want, or side-by-side with some additional software. That eliminates the problem of PC-only software or having to buy a Mac version of something we already have.

So, how many of you out there are Appleheads? Any suggestions? We buy as high-end as we can afford, looking to keep the computer for the long haul. We find it's cost effective. F'rinstance, our current PC is almost eight years old, and is only now getting hard to use because of the significant use of graphics and video on the web.

Thank you!

[christie1111]

I heard they keep the Dr. away.

[earendel]

Well, it is Macintosh season.

Since we're looking at new computers anyway, I thought to take another look at Macs. GW has had them at work forever, and loves them. We last had one at home over 15 years ago, IIRC a Quadra. Lo and behold, they claim that the current Mac OS lets you run Windows and programs for it, either separately by booting up whichever OS you want, or side-by-side with some additional software. That eliminates the problem of PC-only software or having to buy a Mac version of something we already have.

So, how many of you out there are Appleheads? Any suggestions? We buy as high-end as we can afford, looking to keep the computer for the long haul. We find it's cost effective. F'rinstance, our current PC is almost eight years old, and is only now getting hard to use because of the significant use of graphics and video on the web.

Thank you!

I am not a member of the Apple cult. I have never used a Mac and my only experiences with them have been bad ones (trying to get a MacBook to work with our church's Windows network). That said, there is much to be said for a Mac for personal use, especially with the addition of the "boot camp" feature (the one that lets you boot to either the Mac OSX or Windows [though you have to pay extra for the license]). It is less likely to be affected by virii (though that may be changing) and if you own any other Apple products (iPod, iPhone) I'm sure they work much better with a Mac than with a Wintel machine. I'm not sure how I'd like the "boot camp" feature, though - having to reboot every time I wanted to use a Windows-friendly application, and I'm dubious about any third-party software that claims you can run Windows within the Mac OS.

[peacock2121]

It's a cult!

Run away!

Call an adult!

[ne1410s]

Call an adult!

Call tubadave!! He has the sweetest rant against Apple you can imagine.

[Rexer25]

Not that this is really important or relevant, but Microsoft is dropping the Gates-Seinfeld commercials. They found an engineer in Redmond who resembles the PC character in the Mac commercials.

IMO, an Apple is more reliable than a PC, but I have always hated the limitations that DOS/Windows brings to the table, and I am a Unix fanatic. Mac won me for good when they gave you the power to drop out of the Macintosh presentation, and directly onto the Unix command level. I guess I'm in a sect of Pea's imagined cult.

[15QuestionsAway]

If you're looking at an Apple notebook, wait a couple of weeks. The MacBook (lower priced) line is about to be refreshed.

I find modern Apple computers just work properly out of the box. I had to use a Vista-based notebook at home recently, and had to hack the registry to make it get an IP address (using DHCP) from my router. [If that's all too technical, I couldn't make the laptop see the Internet without digging deep into Vista.]

My experience with Vista made me think of John Hodgeman with a webcam duct-taped to his head in the Apple/PC commercials. I do like the Vista interface, but there are definitely some annoyances Vista has that a Mac with OS X doesn't have.

Your experience may vary - there's certainly cost considerations with an Apple machine, especially if you already own PC software.

[peacock2121]

Not that this is really important or relevant, but Microsoft is dropping the Gates-Seinfeld commercials. They found an engineer in Redmond who resembles the PC character in the Mac commercials.

IMO, an Apple is more reliable than a PC, but I have always hated the limitations that DOS/Windows brings to the table, and I am a Unix fanatic. Mac won me for good when they gave you the power to drop out of the Macintosh presentation, and directly onto the Unix command level. I guess I'm in a sect of Pea's imagined cult.

I am not imagining it. It is a cult. You are a cult member.

That is what cult members say - that it is not cult.

Run away!

Call Tubadave!

[Rexer25]

Not that this is really important or relevant, but Microsoft is dropping the Gates-Seinfeld commercials. They found an engineer in Redmond who resembles the PC character in the Mac commercials.

IMO, an Apple is more reliable than a PC, but I have always hated the limitations that DOS/Windows brings to the table, and I am a Unix fanatic. Mac won me for good when they gave you the power to drop out of the Macintosh presentation, and directly onto the Unix command level. I guess I'm in a sect of Pea's imagined cult.

I am not imagining it. It is a cult. You are a cult member.

That is what cult members say - that it is not cult.

Run away!

Call Tubadave!

I'm going to be worse than a Jehovah's Witness to you...I will come back and tech talk you until you see the light, and give Microsoft the one-finger salute it so richly deserves.

Unix is your friend...DOS/Windows is evil...watch my pen...count backwards from 10...go to the Apple store...

[ulysses5019]

It's a cult!

Run away!

Call an adult!

I have three. I have owned nothing but macs. I guess I am damned to computer hell. Does anybody here need me to pass on a message?

[peacock2121]

Not that this is really important or relevant, but Microsoft is dropping the Gates-Seinfeld commercials. They found an engineer in Redmond who resembles the PC character in the Mac commercials.

IMO, an Apple is more reliable than a PC, but I have always hated the limitations that DOS/Windows brings to the table, and I am a Unix fanatic. Mac won me for good when they gave you the power to drop out of the Macintosh presentation, and directly onto the Unix command level. I guess I'm in a sect of Pea's imagined cult.

I am not imagining it. It is a cult. You are a cult member.

That is what cult members say - that it is not cult.

Run away!

Call Tubadave!

I'm going to be worse than a Jehovah's Witness to you...I will come back and tech talk you until you see the light, and give Microsoft the one-finger salute it so richly deserves.

Unix is your friend...DOS/Windows is evil...watch my pen...count backwards from 10...go to the Apple store...

Too cute.

Like I could understand tech talk.

[Rexer25]

I am not imagining it. It is a cult. You are a cult member.

That is what cult members say - that it is not cult.

Run away!

Call Tubadave!

I'm going to be worse than a Jehovah's Witness to you...I will come back and tech talk you until you see the light, and give Microsoft the one-finger salute it so richly deserves.

Unix is your friend...DOS/Windows is evil...watch my pen...count backwards from 10...go to the Apple store...

Too cute.

Like I could understand tech talk.

That's okay, Jehovah Witnesses try to convert a number of people who don't understand them, either.

[Ritterskoop]

Consider a Mac mini, if you have a monitor and mouse already. I got a rebuilt unit for $450 and have been very happy.

It takes up very little space:

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

If you or a family member has a valid university email address, you can get additional discounts by going through the education store.

Maybe browse the magazine I volunteer with, to see if they have insight on particular models that might help you:

http://www.atpm.com/


I wonder if we answer when asked, if it still counts as a cult.....

[Evil Squirrel]

I am also considering an Apple. They fit so well in my paws and have the perfect mass and aerodynamics for pegging unsuspecting canines in the back of the noggin. The only decision is whether a red, yellow or green one will travel further.....

[AnnieCamaro]

I am also considering an Apple. They fit so well in my paws and have the perfect mass and aerodynamics for pegging unsuspecting canines in the back of the noggin. The only decision is whether a red, yellow or green one will travel further.....

Hey!

You've always had a thing for apples.

[NellyLunatic1980]

My entire freshman year of college, all of the computer labs on campus had only Apples. I had the hardest time properly using them. Thank God the university suits sprung for brand new IBM computers (with Windows 2000) in time for the beginning of the Fall 1999 semester.

Apples are crap. They're Crapples.

[TheConfessor]

Spoiler alert:

On today's WWTBAM, one contestant had to leave when he didn't know that a Smurf is Three Apples tall. They did not specify whether the units refer to an Apple II, an original Macintosh, or a Mac Book Air. It could make a big difference.

[littlebeast13]

My entire freshman year of college, all of the computer labs on campus had only Apples. I had the hardest time properly using them. Thank God the university suits sprung for brand new IBM computers (with Windows 2000) in time for the beginning of the Fall 1999 semester.

Apples are crap. They're Crapples.

I learned about computers on the Apple IIe's we had when I was in school during the 80's. My high school still had them in the early 90's, and I about died when the physics lab at college had Apple IIe's during the Fall of 1994! They finally upgraded before the following semester, and I was the only one sad to see the ancient relics go.....

lb13

[MarleysGh0st]

Not that this is really important or relevant, but Microsoft is dropping the Gates-Seinfeld commercials. They found an engineer in Redmond who resembles the PC character in the Mac commercials.

I think some ad agency convinced Gates--or more likely one of his underlings--that it'd be cool for him to appear in those commercials with Seinfeld. It didn't take Bill long to realize how lame those spots were.

But trying to counter Apple's Mac/PC commercials? That's going to be tough nut to crack, too.

[kayrharris]

I'd be happy to give advice if I could, but I can't. However, if you wife uses one at work, I would think she would prefer a Mac at home.

[dimmzy]

Check out my next post!

[dimmzy]

Ok, here goes!

1) Decide if you want a desktop or a laptop. I do some graphic design work and run a website, so I got a desktop iMac.

2) Convince them you are an educator. I teach continuing education classes occasionally, so they gave me the educator discount. I showed them a PDF of the school district booklet with my name in it! Ithink if you told them you walked by a school, they'd give you the discount.

3) Buy the three-year warranty. As a result of this, I brought in my OLD Windows 98 PC and THEY TRANSFERRED ALL THE DOCUMENTS. For free.

4) Buy the one-year One-to-One training. It's $100 a year and you get WEEKLY one-to-one training (you sign up online). The trainers are all kids who know EVERYTHINNG. One helped me revise my logo - that alone would have cost me HUNDREDS of dollars because I didn't have Adobe Illustrator ... They also can help you with iPods or anything Apple. The kids also are honest "Don't buy it here -- you can get it half this price at XXXX."

5) I also spent another $80 for MobileMe, so Apple can host my website and I have 2 gig backup space ... With iDVD (standard on the computer), I am able to host and revise my website using their template. The kids also have helped me edit photos, create a slide show for my uncle's 90th birthday and do all sorts of cool tasks.

6) You will have to buy Microsoft Office for Mac(sp?) to get Word etc. but a family member had one license left for me in her package.

Altogether I spent $1,500 including TAX. Totally worth it! No problems yet!

You can check out my website if you like: www.gentledecluttering.com

Enjoy! And remember: we can always iChat once you get it!

[kayrharris]

I think this where Pea would say dimmzy is a member of the cult!

[dimmzy]

Must reply in duplicate. Must reply in duplicate. Must reply in duplicate....

[Bob Juch]

I hear PSM can get you a good deal on one.