OK... Mac or PC.

Pros for Macs
About 4x faster than a PC with the same processor, memory, etc.
User-friendly (very easy to use and manage)
Comes with lots of programs like iLife which includes iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and more
You can run Windows or any other OS on it (program is parallel)
No viruses
Looks very modern
Steve Jobs gets payed $1US per year (he gets lots of gifts), so he works hard

Cons for Macs
Very expensive (except for Mac-mini)
Keyboard is hard to get used to
Easy to steal

PC - pros
umm... once you're good at using it, it's very easy
VERY cheap
You can hack OSX Leopard and sort of run a mac on your pc without some key features
Easy to hack computers, software, etc.
Looks OK
Hard to steal because it's so heavy

PC - cons
Slow, ones as good as Macs cost at least $3000US
Everyone uses them - don't you want to be different?
Hard to manage if you don't know how to use it
So many viruses that it's not even funny.
Anti-viruses cost money
Vista is annoying - asks you whenever you do anything
Vista blocks any programs that open other programs
Bill Gates isn't writing software anymore and still getting payed alot
Halo-idea stolen from Apple

P.S. I got to go finish this later.

This post has been edited by savgunz: Dec 23 2007, 07:45 PM

I've only had my macbook pro for just under 2 years now I think. before that I've been using a regular PC with windows OS 95 to XP. I've got to say I like mac os x better then any windows so far. The only down side I have so far is certain programs wont run on mac, most annoying is alot of games wont run on mac so PC is still better for games.

The user interface in mac is different from windows but once you get used to it you may or may not fall in love with it. I personally found it a change from many years of windows user interfaces. As for the difference in performace between mac os x and windows its debatable. But I personally think OS x runs more stable and better. I'll run my laptop 24/7 and it still feels like its just been booted up. I dont get as many errors as I do on windows again this may be due to many factors not really windows fault but who knows. I think required upkeep on a mac is far smaller then would be required on a windows. I havent had any major problems so far compared to windows where after an a year or so of installing and removing software something is wrong with it and the only quick fix is full reinstall of windows.

I think the learning curve with any new OS is a few weeks or months. You cant just use it one time and expect to fully understand it so if you havent really tired using it you dont know what its about. I still havent tried windows vista, it looks great but I dont think my old comp would run it as well as xp so I doubt I would be able to try it out throughly untill i get an upgrade or new build. It all comes down to personal peference some people will bash an OS and not really know what its ment for. there are pros and cons to all of them. Linux is something I wish I had more time to play with.

Try it out if you havent used an OS before you could be surprised at what you didnt know about it.

I think you are talking about Windows vs. Mac.
Because hardware isn't that different if it has the same specs.
And I have yet to see computer hardware (internal) that is "user-friendly".

PC has become synonymous with Windows even though PC means Personal Computer. There are so many different kinds of hardware for computers that run Windows, so saying that PCs are slower is a huge generalization (if you define a PC as a computer running Windows).

So, basically what I'm saying is, please use the proper terms when referring to the two (or at least tell what you mean by "PC").

There will be fan boys of both Windows and PCs against Mac OS X and Apple products.

So before you say anything, just a bit of a note: Try to go for the educated post.

I'll post my opinion tomorrow... I'm too tired to right now. It's bedtime for me.

if you mean PC (personal computer, no windows) then PC will be a lot more user friendly,
and also that their 'Start' button is so hard to reach sometimes. and because most hardware stores these days only stock 'PC' certified hardware, and many Macs (such as the iMacs, etc) are very hard to open (if you don't know what you're doing) and also that many macs nowadays have a screen built into them so if the screen breaks or it malfunctions (dead-pixels, stuck-pixels etc) then you'll have to get a new one (unless of course you are going to get a replacement screen (which is very rare to find and is hard (and expensive) to replace...
But with PC, all you need to do is replace the monitor... easy...
Oh, and did I mention that their start button is hard to reach sometimes and is a major inconvenience and it is very annoying... yes i did actually...

I don't agree with you on the performance part... because now any computer (regardless if it is Windows or Macintosh) the hardware is the thing that counts. If you plan to build your own PC with the same parts and build a Mac with the equivalent to parts then there won't be much difference at all (Windows will go ahead in some situations whilst Mac will go ahead in other situations).

I personally don't like Mac, not only does it have almost no 'Fun' games on it, it also has no right mouse button which I find very annoying especially for some applications which have been modified for use on a Mac.

Macs are generally much more expensive than windows' computers and I think you've got it the wrong way round... a windows computer costing around US$1500 might have a Mac with the same performance for around US$2000-US$2500...

So, yeah, I personally prefer PCs' (Windows computers) but Macs are fine for some things (like video editing etc) although if you do want extremely good performance + being very cheap (US$0) and being able to run in parallel with windows get LINUX! (I should do more exclamation marks but there isn't much point)

I am one of the many folks who use a PC and have been considering a Mac. I have read many posts on the subject of Macs vs PCs, that the Mac OS is more stable, doesn't get infected with viruses or spyware (I would assume virus/spyware writers go for the biggest target, Windows), and is ''easier'' to use.

Can someone please explain in plain english how a Mac is easier to use? I assume there are similarities like the use of file architecture and ''windows'', but why is Mac's way of running say Photoshop Elements better? Why, specifically, is the Mac OS better than Windows if you take out the virus/spyware issue? BTW, maybe I'm lucky, but in the 3 months I've been running XP, I haven't had a single crash, blue screen, or virus. Of course I'm knocking on wood!!;-)

Thanks!

I think mac os x is built on free BSD correct me if i'm wrong but I remember reading about somthing along the lines. so if your a linux user you can use that as well. I'm not sure what the limitations are on that. As with the handling of viruses and spy ware I dont even know if macs have them lol because you do get updates but they are security updates and theres no info ever that your mac is scanning for a virus or running one its not obvious I guess mac os x handles all that for you in the background.

As far as an OS Its very stable. loads programs very well, I've only got 512 mb ram and I run almost all my apps pretty well including PS CS3, although When I'm running alot of things all at once I know theres alot of disk > memory swapping because I've got so little ram. I can upgrade to 2gig on my modle and its much cheaper now so I will do it soon. I think thats one of only a few downside I have on my laptop.

The laptop it self is built to a high standard compared to other laptops that look bulky and flimsy. Its very thin compared to others and has a very solid look and feel to it. I personally like the grey metelic look. I think the keyboard on it isnt very suited for games as when I was playing dota on it for a while I would spam r key for a spell and eventually i messed it up lol. Now it acts funny but I dont like typeing on there anyway. I use an external keyboard thats much more comfortable.

I would encourage anyone to try out a mac if you havent used one before and not take someones word for it. maybe what they dont like you can live iwth or better like. I just dont want people to miss out on trying something different just because of bad word of mouth from some peoples experence. I mean I like my mac and I've always been a windows user before that so I'm not bais Its just my peference. I think apple are a cool company and their vision is great. They bring out alot of cool products iTv iPhone, iPod. THeir new desktop looks awsome its very flat very elagent.

I am a mac user and I think macs are the greatest... for me. I like how its so sleek, easy to use and hassle free. I have teh belief that because apple make the hardware, operating system and alot of the software (excluding freeware and shareware) they know their stuff (hence no BSOD) because they don't make both hardware and software.

(Of course when I say hardware i mean design of course because I'm sure apple don't make each piece themself)

But It's down to what you like, You might be a windows user and love every bit of it. That's fine. I prefer macs because they look better, way better (IMHO) than vista. Macs handle the 'visual styles and effects' quite well (unless you're doing something crazy which is understandable).

For The every day user, i think a mac is a good idea. as long as your internet provider has software/drivers for mac for their hardware it will be fine. easy to use, programs are often cheaper (e.g office is like $350AU and iwork is $99AU, Vista ulitmate is like 1000, leopard is like 159 or so.) all the cool apps that come with it, iPhoto, Garageband, iWeb, iTunes, iDVD and they kick windows stuff in the butt. plus they make most of the pro end stuff. And I haven't had to call them with a software problem and have them blame the manufacture and have manufacturer say thats software and not their fault.

plus lately my pc has been giving me trouble when I say pc i mean loading linux seems to stop all the problems...

Only problem is it costs a bit to get them upgraded, you can't do anything other than the ram yourself.

Macs rule, PCs aren't as cool, and linux is good