Why OSX and Macbook? Really ...WHY?

I'm really on the fence in getting a Macbook and/or a MacMini. I hear nice things about OSX but haven't heard nothing yet that so far kills Windows in any category. Even music and production. Yes ease might be an argument, but I'm so comfortable & very experience in dealing with Windows that OSX being much easier does not really sway me. And sometime ease takes away from config options. Don't get me wrong, I will and do have ease of use in mind but not as my main concern. Productivity and User experience is my main concern. Even people at my work place, who are Vid & Audio Professionals cannot give me a FIRM answer of why they all have Macs over PC's. Most of their answers had to do with specific Add-ons, Options or Apps.
So does this mean there are so many little things about Mac that when put together makes it as good or better than Windows as a Whole?

Booting Windows under Bootcamp sounds nice too, but thats really not a real concern for me. It would just be nice to have Windows incase I choose to take my Macbook out instead of my PC laptop. I wish it was the other way around but we all know the answer to that already.


And as for the hardware, as noted in another post ....Mac's are becoming or basiclly are PC's. I heard that Macs built with quality and I do believe that. But does quality matter over the fast pace technology? Will I need a Low Specs but Good Quality Macbook in 5 to 6 years from now? I think alot of compaines build their PC's with decent quality anyway. Nobody buys Laptops to last over 6 years anyway. Are Macbooks even Upgradable? And What about MacMini? Is it true I would not have to worry about hardware drivers (like anything that connects to USB) as long as it's Mac compatible, or is there more to it?


I'm not looking for a what OS is better or Mac vs PC answer. I'm not thinking about converting, I'm thinking about adding on. As I will still have & keep my PC laptop & Desktop. I really just want to know if it is really worth the money and time to invest in Mac/w OSX when I already have a Good Notebook & Desktop PC running XP and Vista?

 

Most people buy them for OSX, of which I see no advantage over Windows. In my opinion they sell a lot on looks, and if your spending $3,000 on a Macbook Pro I think it should atleast have a decent build quality. If you want to run a UNIX variant you can on a pc with ease, Ubuntu is great and free

I would stick with PC's if I were you, but I'm not so it's your choice

 

This is a complicated debate. I have been a Mac user at home for 15 years - and PC user at work. Recently I added my first home PC, the E1505.

It was a bit of a pain to get my XP up and running at first - but (don't tell my Mac friends) windows is not too bad.

I would say that since the apple controls both the hardware and software you get less compatibility or crash issues. In addition, I do not have to worry about spyware, mallware, virus, and in general security threats - there is no need for protection software. Then of course there is iLife for free - the iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD is such an excellent powerful integrated suite for the average home user - I don't have anything like that for my PC. We do all our media work on the Mac. PC is for games and some software not available on my MAC.

Also there is the matter of system upgrades. I think Apple comes out faster with new versions - and they usually work on older macs just fine - no need to buy a new machine or do major upgrades. The next version of Mac OS this spring is supposed to be impressive - and again my old eMac should run it just fine.

I personally I don't like having to get to know things like configs, bios, drivers, system.ini, xyz.exe, and other things that make me feel like I should know C++ to run XP very well.

However, now that the E1505 is setup, tuned, and the Norton protection suite running - it is just fine for me and my family as a secondary computer and a portable one. I do like all the extra programs (some very cheap) that I can get for my family on the E1505. Also, for the price the E1505 was a better deal than the macbook - which I considered.

Matter of taste and experience I suppose.

 

If your pc laptops are working fine, I don't see the reason why you would need a new laptop. Anyway it's definitely worth getting a macbook if you so choose.

 

I use both platforms and consider myself an experienced user on both environments. But even though OSX has great looks, it gets old in time. I mean, in a few months of use, the Aqua wow factor just sorta "disappear" if you know what I mean... However the interface just like windows can be skinned if you like (you need extra tools to do that though).

But don't be fooled by OSX simple interface and ease of use, it's really amazing the stuff you can tweak or modify under the hood, don't underestimate the power of UNIX.

Viruses and Trojans... Nah... I just don't have a single problem... Yet! ...but I know that will change sooner or later as Macs become more and more popular...

Windows on the other hand, I like a lot too, and can be tweaked till you cry! But there's simply too much to fix and patch and sometimes I feel I spend more time fixing and patching than pretty much anything else... LOL

Peace!
Rayan

 

It comes down to personal choice. You can get a PC equivalent for better value but less build quality.

Personally I researched for a month before buying a new laptop and saw the MacBook Pro met all my needs and had the best build quality/support from all other 15 inch laptops. Just pick a laptop that's right for you. My suggestion would be to walk into an apple store and test them out.

Also if you already have a computer that is good enough and up to speed for your needs then don't waste the money.

 

I plan to do that at a Comp USA near me. Macbooks were something I always ignored when visiting Comp USA or other tech stores. They always place them in the back of the PCs and just always seemed like a novelty.

I'm really looking into a smaller than 15inch laptop for business & personal reasons. This is one reason why I'm considering a Macbook. I'm also consdiering a MacMini because it's cheap and portable with decent specs.
And like someone posted, you can run newer OS versions on old Macs. So I consider MacMini a decent investment.



Thanks for the replies guys.

 

But keep in mind with the mac mini you also will need a monitor, mouse and keyboard for it to work. And a power supply. Mac mini's good for storage maybe, but not as a laptop substitute.

 

Yea, I don't intend to use a Mac Mini as a laptop replacement.

I'm more concern with Macbooks. But I might get the Mini too, being it's so small and cheap with decent specs & will most likely last a good 6 years or more. I wonder if I can hook it up to a regular TV? Would make a decent movie viewer/ music player etc:

 

If you're getting both the macbook and the mini why not just get the macbook pro?

 

If you have a fairly new notebook and desktop I see no real reason to buy a MacBook out of curiosity. If you have some money to burn or, like me, you love gadgets, then I see reason not to get it. It sounds like it may fill your need for a slightly smaller notebook. Although keep in mind that the MacBook is heavy for a 13". Really it comes down to what you want, cause you don't need it.

 

Exactly, but I still don't want to get what I want just to find out I don't want it. (hope that made sense)

And I do really Need a smaller than 15inch Notebook. The Acer in my sig is just a little too big for my travels. This is my REAL reason for looking into a Macbook. I'll end up getting a small pc notebook anyway if not a Mac.

I'll check the weights since you claim 13inch is heavy.

Thanks

 

FWIW, I think if you buy a MacBook you will be very pleased with it. I would check those weights, the MB comes in at around 5.2lbs. I am not sure what something like a sony SZ weighs, but I know it is significantly less than that.

 

Yeah, it depends on what you want and what you need.
For me, it was a huge hurdle to join the OS X camp. I've always HATED apple and been heavily against them. Every mac I've used has had problems. But those were often heavily used and abused units. And these are university machines, and the PCs don't hold up nearly as long and as well as the macs do.

As far as software and reasons to go with mac... I've always had A/V people be able to rattle off pretty specific reasons to get a mac over pc for that type of work. A big one for me was Logic for audio work. It simply one of the best audio programs out there. Though I haven't learned it very well yet :-D


After using OS X for a while, I find myself asking, why Windows, why? I have my linux box for serving and doing tasks I don't want my MBP to be bogged down with. I can game on this just fine, as well as on my 360. I can even use the 360 broswer to view and play video, music, and pictures from my MBP.
The only reason I can see for having a dedicated windows machine is for pure gaming. And I'm not up to spending $2,000-$3,000 just to pay games.

 

You make some of the points that concern me s well.

I am a physician and almost 2 years ago we decided to go completely paperless and the software we chose ran only on Macs. So we became a Mac shop with the purchase on an iMac G5 server and 11 iMac stations.

Since then 4 machines have blown up from hardware problems and even though we bought AppleCare it's like pulling teeth to get things fixed. I dread calling Apple because they just don't care about their customers.

We used to use IBM and had on-site service contracts. When something went wrong (and it did so less often that with these Macs), one phone call and they were on my premises within 2 hours. Parts, if necessary, arrived by courier the same day.

WIth Apple, on 2 occasions we waited 2 weeks for parts (an Ethernet board and modem board...both pretty standard parts). In the meantime our machines were expensive paperweights.

The one thing I like is not worrying about viruses.

Maybe I need to explore the operating system more, but I found that I could find my network connection and fiddle with them much easier in the Windows world than on our Mac network.

Now my son, who is entering Grad school in theoretical physics has been told he needs a Macbook because OS X is Unix based and all physicist use Unix.

I'm worried about buying him any Apple product because of my experience with what I have decided is a predatory company.

I would like to 'believe' in Apple, but in my experience they are predatory and customer insensitve. I cannot imagine that IBM could have survived with such an attitude. I wonder if Apple does so well because most of their users don't know what a real business environment is about.

Sorry, I'm just a little bitter as another machine has recently crapped out and I need to set aside 1/2 a working day to call Apple and listen to them tell me there is nothing wrong!

 

IBM invented build quality with the ThinkPad. While the Pro line of Macbook has a great fit and finish (with actual keyboard keys in place of Macbook's press-button cubes), I've never been satisfied with Apple's hinge construct. I don't like the way the screen travels down the front of the box when opened, and while they've tightened up the hinge over the years, it still torques a little too much with all of the length added by that 90 degree angle there.

Then when you try to expand a window, there's always more steps involved unless one wants to just resize at the lower right. You always need a mouse on the port because trackpads don't respond to less than a warm touch.

And the big giant apple all lit up on the top is a little too sclade for my tastes, but that's an aesthetic thing.

Other than that (and the sharp palmrest edge), nice machine and software.

 

LOL ......... You guys make it hard for me to decide. Alot of you name so many problems just to say it's a nice machine. And Vice Versa.

 

It is possible to get Mac OSX running on PCs, just of course considerably harder than running Windows on a Mac. I myself have used Windows all my life and have liked it overall. Don't see a reason to move.

 

Thats:
A) illegal
B) hard to do
and
C) doesn't work very well.

Sorry to hear you had so many problems Fred. I've heard that Apple did have some bad customer service in the past (5+ years ago) but everyone I know who's had to contact Apple in regards to their unit has had no complaints.
If you read up on people who have had to have their MB/MBP replaced, they have generally gotten great service from Apple. General turn around time is 3 days. But of course, some people just don't have luck with some companies. I can definently understand you're trepidition there.

I feel the same way with Dell and Sager (terrible support!).

 

get a nice macbook and use it for your multimedia needs. i think that's what macs are for, so called "digital life" through music, videos, photos, and creating them.

game on your windows notebook.

 

This is not the case for a company I know that uses 100+ Mac minis. When one fails Apple replaces them very fast. Also my dealings with applecare have been good. So I have to disagree with you.

 

i find this hard to believe. i bought my first apple, a 17 inch g4 powerbook last year. a few months after the purchase, i had sound problems..one of the speakers was 100% static. i called up apple (monday), talked with a tech in under 5 minutes, and doing the mini tests he had me do, i got an overnight box in the mail the very next day. i was told the turnaround time is usually within a full business week. on wednesday afternoon, i come home to my fully functional powerbook.

the second time my g4 powerbook failed, it was a logic board problem 1 week out of my 1 year applecare (i did not purchase the extended applecare). i went into the SOHO apple store, talked with a *genius*, and i got my powerbook fixed...for free.

mind you, when a computer fails, it sucks..but when the company realizes you are out of service for awhile, and they try to accommodate you as best they can, and get you back up and running ASAP...it makes you feel that your money didnt go to waste.

now besides apple, their are only 2 companies that i have dealt with that i can honestly say treated me above and beyond other stores..and they were NewEgg, and EVGA.

IMO..apple is top notch build quality and tech support.

im not an apple genius or unix nerd, but OS X just feels more *intuitive* to me..things just work (i can take any camera for instance, plug it in and take movies + pictures off it, all without drivers...i can plug in almost any printer and just print, no drivers needed...this is because apple has drivers installed with the OS..and you can choose not to install if you choose but requires a fresh install or archive+install)

tbh, i couldnt be happier with my macbook, i can have the best of 3 worlds if i choose to at any given time (OS X, Linux, Winblows).

the ONLY thing i use windows for...is gaming, until apple has OS X with gamers in mind, i cannot make a full switch. i dont buy expensive parts to build my PCs for text documents....

now in LFNY's case..i was in the same boat..i have a V6VA that it took with me to school everyday...it was a monster 15.4" screen, etc..the macbook isnt much lighter, but it feels it when i carry it in my bag (zoo york bag). if you are just looking for something lighter by a little bit, and have the urge to drop $1k+, then go right ahead..but if you feel you dont need it...save the money and use it toward something else.

hope this helped.

*edit* 1,000th post.

 

On my Mac laptops in 5 years I've never used virus protection and never had a virus.

I got a freaking Trojan Horse on my Sony laptop the other day. Bummer...

 

Because it says so in the EULA?