Apple MacBook vs PC

[ravman]

I want to ask you Apple head's on this forum about the MacBook. Before I start... I do not want this to culminate into an argument about how Mac is better than a PC, and vica versa. I am a PC user (.NET developer) and due to the nature of my job, that will never change.

Recently my GF approached me and told me that she wants to buy a new laptop (daddy is paying). I instantly thought of a PC laptop. She said she was interested in checking out the Apple laptops. First thing that came to my mind was, over priced, low spec'd laptops. But we went over to the Apple store and started checking out their laptops (see I can be open minded). I asked the sales guy about what the difference was with a Mac and PC? I just couldn't justify the price difference. The only thing that come out of the salesman's mouth was, "less spam, less viruses and less pop ups". In my opinion, that was simply not good enough. I asked him to tell me more, and he just looked at me with a blank face. His "trying to scare a customer" line did not work. I seriously expected someone in a Mac store to know more about their products. I mean, it's not like going into Best Buy and asking a sales person there for advice right? Chalk and cheese!!

So I am going to ask you Apple heads for some advice. What is the difference between a Mac and a PC (laptops). We have my desktop as our main machine, it has all the stuff we need on there to do our jobs. So the laptop will be more of a second machine. I am thinking of the MacBook and installing Parallels and MS Office, plus a few other bits and bobs.

Any advice?

Once again, please do not turn this into a Mac vs PC fight. I just need some advice.

[Lincoln]

First of all, what the sales guy told you is absolutely true. Never, in all my years of using Macs, have I used an anti-virus or anti-spyware program and neither have I had any kind of viruses or spyware.

Then of course, there is customer support. Apple's customer support is amazing. You need something? Call the store and you will talk to a real person who will halp you with whatever you need.

Interface. Face it, the Mac's interface knocks PC's out of the park. Just them beside each other. You'll see it.

Out of the box. No assembly, no large manuals, no bloatware. You take it out, you tun it on, and there's your Mac, ready to go.

Simplicity. It can take forever to figure things out on PC. Too many menus and buttons to sort through. You want to search for something on a Mac? Just click the Spotlight icon in the top-right and start typing. Want to find an app? Open the Applications Stack in the dock. Simple.

Is your girlfriend into media production? If so, there's no question about what she gets. Macs are so far ahead in multimedia, PC's will never catch up. Between the stock apps that Apple has (iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, iPhoto, etc.) and the ones you can purchase (FinalCut Pro, Logic Express, Aperture, etc.) there's nothing in that department you can't achieve with a Mac.

Price. Yes, when you buy it, the Mac is more expensive. But you don't have to buy new video cards, drivers, or pay people to fix it or remove viruses from it. None of that with the Mac.

Wireless capabilities. Connecting to and creating networks is extremely easy, and with the Mac's wireless network service, Bonjour, connecting to other computers - Mac or PC - is extremely easy.

Seamlessness. Ever synced your iPhone or iPod with a Mac? Try it. There are zero complications. The Mac works perfectly with any hardware made by Apple.

If you still need more, look at Apple's Get a Mac page.

- John

[jpmihalk]

All of John's points are valid, but here are some other points to consider:

Macs are more reliable - My MacBook Pro has yet to lock up or freeze or go to a blue screen of death the way that my HP laptop would if there was a driver conflict. (Much like the difference between the iPhone and Windows Mobile and memory management.)

Yes, they have different metaphors for the way information is displayed (dock vs. Start button/desktop) and sometimes finding Mac equivalent software can be tough (like in .Net development) but overall the experience with my Mac is very positive. Apple has started including a lot more apps for free (like the iLife suite) that mean less spending out of pocket for extra software, like John mentioned.

Is it worth the price difference? That depends on your point of view. I have used both for years for different kinds of work (I am an IT professional) and everything depends on what you want to accomplish. I think the Mac is easier to learn than a PC, especially a Vista PC.

[kokogirl]

Your GF should get what she wants, not what you want. She could make a personal shopping appointment at the Apple store. The sales guy will give her a full run-down of the computer. (They were very nice, and not pushy when I did this). Then she will have an experience to compare, not just nuts and bolts.

I LOVE my macbook. Clean lines, beautiful interface. My PC is ugly. I do not like it really. I could trash it today and not care. (I have to use a PC at work).

Life is too short to settle.

[ravman]

Thanks for your advice guys. It was funny, as I just installed Vista on my PC and tried to run something. The PC froze and guess what? THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!

I've been checking out the refurb MacBooks on the Apple site, they seem to be about $200 ish cheaper than brand new.

So you guys do not use any kind of virus or firewall software at all on your Macs?

[acosmichippo]

not apart from OSX's built-in firewall.

[ravman]

Thats crazy man. On a PC, you wouldn't go near the net, unless you were loaded up with firewall and anti virus.

I was testing out the Macs in the store today. Running applications on the mini Mac, MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro. Dam, I want that Mac Pro. But I cannot justify the price tag. I love that Spaces application.

My GF has an appointment tomorrow with the Mac store. Let's hope she comes back with good feedback. She's also got her eyes on a Dell XPS fully loaded laptop for $1500.

I have my desktop dual booted with Vista & Leopard. Works for me, but Leopard is very touchy, due to it being on a PC (drivers & stuff).

Originally Posted by acosmichippo

not apart from OSX's built-in firewall.

[Saverino]

Sorry, but, this is just my opinion, so I dont want to get flamed or anything, but I think that Vista is just a wannabe OS X Leopard...and a bad copy at that...Again, just my opinion and I dont mean to offend any Vista users.

[acosmichippo]

it certainly has its issues. They are working on windows 9 now, which is supposed to be much better. But at the moment Unix > Windows.

[Saverino]

Originally Posted by acosmichippo

it certainly has its issues. They are working on windows 9 now, which is supposed to be much better. But at the moment Unix > Windows.

Yeah. It seems like to me, they released it quickly without working out all the bugs as something to compete with Leopard.