Mac v PC

wildgarlic · Mac v PC

Which is the best option?

Macs look great... and I believe that they are particularly good for graphics - but they are expensive.

Oh.. and then there is the laptop v desktop question?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

zombiecazz

I like PCs for the availability of cheap software.
I love my laptop as I can sit on the couch or in bed etc to surf and work, but it's a work lappy so that's Ok, but I would never buy one myself. too expemsive to fix and a right pain to upgrade.

Diana

Mac:
expensive
safer than a PC
possibly more geared up to graphics and photo work (certainly in the pro sector), look good (but that's no reason to buy one)
I've found them to be more stable (and easier to fix if they do go wrong, but harder to find someone to fix for you if they go badly wrong)
much less likely to catch a virus

PC:
Obviously the opposite to any positive and negatives above
Possibly more variety of software available.

If you have one then buy the other, please remember you may have to buy new software too - you can't put Mac software on a PC, but I think with the new Macs you can run them as a PC. Whether you can actually run PC software on them I'd have to check (will get back to you about that).

Desktop/laptop:
Laptop more likely to get damaged, smaller screen, gig for gig more expensive, easy to keep safe (i.e. lock in a cupboard etc) portable etc.

baldowrie

IainC

Can open, worms everywhere...

It's an old debate that, when discussed within computer forums, etc rapidly gets out of hand

Basically I'd say there is probably little to choose between them. New Macs use the same hardware as PC's now (despite charging you more 'cos it looks prettier often). You could buy a new Mac and get it dual booting so you could choose whether to boot into Windows or OS X (AFAIK it's the latest Mac operating system).

The descision between a laptop and a desktop is a personal one. I always used to buy a desktop 'cos it was easier to upgrade, etc but generally by the time I was going to upgrade I ended up replacing half the machine anyway.

These days I use a laptop from work and TBH, it suits me better. That plus the cost of laptops have dropped quite a bit. Although if it was purely for games then it would really have to be a desktop (and a PC one at that).

One other thing to note, if you ever want to replace a HDD in a laptop, ensure it's a PC and not a Mac iBook... I've done both and a PC laptop is a few screws, a Mac iBook you need to take back to it's component parts (not joking) you will have millions of little screws (all slightly different sizes) and so many little covers to take to bits.

The thing about Mac's being less virus prone is true in a way, although with them being a bit more popular now they will be targetted.

It is easier to get software, games, help when using a PC though.

Oh, and one other thing, if you were originally having back issues using a PC 'cos you weren't sitting properly then you need to consider that when buying a laptop as well, you still want to sit properly although you may no longer need a full coputer desk to sit at.

baldowrie

Villagefarm

Would have to say that the Mac would get my vote every time.

We bought ours 4 1/2 yrs ago, and other than replacing the mouse (wires pulled out at back), we've not had to do anything to it.

It gets used for several hours every day, by two adults and three of the five kids, and stands up to it all extremely well.

Our 2 yr old thinks it's funny to switch the whole thing off at the plug - no problem, starts up perfectly every time. Whole machine also been physically dropped about 3ft a couple of times (shoved off desk!!!) and again, plugged everything back in, and worked straight away.

Also virus free to date!

Lord_Azrael

I've been using/building & repairing PC's for years, so I may be biased, but I'd go with PC's anyday. I wouldn't actally give a Mac houseroom as they are expensive, very limited in software support and pretty tacky in design in trying to sell themselves to 'trendy' types. Their main bonus is for graphic designers who seem to prefer certain aspects of them.

A good solid desktop PC is cheap, easily maintained & upgraded and a doddle to work on. Software and accessories are also cheap and readily available.
Laptops are great for what they are designed for, which is convenience and portability. They are also dropping in price now and are more easily affordable, but a pain to upgrade in many cases, and (if like me) you are a hardened PC gamer, they are expensive to get with a reasonable graphics card.

If you really need the portability, then you'd have to go for a laptop. But if portability isn't a necessity, then get a good desktop, or better still, build it yourself as you'll save a packet!

IainC

Sassinak

I have just bought a new PC.
Trying to find one with high spec processor and ram but with less than 2-300gig of HD was difficult.
Why would nayone need so much storage space?? What on earth do they keep on there? LOL

Diana

Digital photography takes up so much space - especially if you're saving multiple copies of manipulated files

IainC

As do mp3s if you have plenty of them.

:oops:

I have both mp3s and a heap of pictures so need plenty of storage space. Notice Maplins are doing a 750GB external USB drive for a little over £100.

Lord_Azrael

If I only had 300GB of space I'd be in real trouble now! My current system is packing about 1TB (terrabyte) of hard drive space, and there isn't much space left on the drives either!

As Iain said though, you probably would be pushing it to get one cheaper than the likes of Dell, but I use high quality components and top end graphics for games and therefore do save a lot by self build. To get a standard system though, you may as well just get one of these systems as they have improved a lot over the years. check the policy on upgrades though, if they allow you to upgrade memory etc. yourself, all the better, especially as it's so cheap again at the moment- 1GB for about £20!!

wildgarlic

I've got 110GB on my current pc and have about 5GB free space. Photographs and MP3s etc...

When I first got this computer I thought that I'd NEVER fill it... ever.... but am deleting stuff to save space now. I want to have my photos accessible on the computer rather than having to load from dvd, so I will need to upgrade my machine, or get a new one. Current idea is to get new one for me... reformat this one and pass it to David, and the kids get David's - they are using an old laptop at the minute and it's fairly rubbish and has missing keys and virtually no space and half the games don't play on it.

The thing that I'll be doing most is working with my photographs, which is why I was considering the mac. I'll also listen to music on it too, and of course.. anything to do with Neeps.

IainC

wildgarlic

Have just ordered one. Cheers.

Diana

IainC

Diana

Yes, sorry, I should have clarified that.

i think my point was, if you're buying a large external drive, make sure it's Firewire or USB 2. Very often the cheap ones are USB 1 and be around 1-2 GB per minute transfer rate. (please correct if I'm wrong Iain)

IainC

Diana

Thanks Iain

wildgarlic

IainC