I've wanted a Mac for ages. I keep getting told that hey are mainly for Design etc and that I won't need a mac for writing.
Just wondering what your experiences are with what you have. I'd love a black apple mac laptop, but keep being advised to just get a normal laptop with Windows etc.
I love my Mac, I rarely use it to it's full potential though. But I would never recommend Windows. 
I've owned computers since the early 80s and dozens of them have run Windows. About 4 years ago I bought an iBook, fell in love with the operating system and I haven't looked back. I now own 5 Macs and the only PC I still have never gets turned on.
Buy a Mac for the awesome operating system and enjoy the top-notch hardware as a bonus. There are rumors that they're working on a low-cost Mac netbook. That would be sweet.
Well Techincally Mac's don't exist anymore its just the OS that makes them different. Oh and the 500% pumped up price.
Quote: Gavin @ April 18 2009, 11:10 PM BSTOh and the 500% pumped up price.
True.
I like my Mac. It is pretty.
I am a very shallow computer user though, so.
I frequently hear that Macs are superior to a PC. However, when I go in a Mac shop and have a go on one I just get upset as I don't know how to work them, so run away.
I used a mac in uni and college.
Thank God I never bought into the fad.
Quote: Gavin @ April 18 2009, 11:10 PM BSTOh and the 500% pumped up price.
500% is an exaggeration, since the cheapest Mac laptops start at $999. I've seen many comparisons between Macs and similarly equipped PC laptops and the Macs are always comparable in price or even cheaper when comparing apples to apples, so to speak. Apple uses top-of-the-line components, so there aren't many cheap items out there, but they're all quality.
Quote: Gavin @ April 18 2009, 11:19 PM BSTThank God I never bought into the fad.
Their market share continues to improve. It's not a fad. Everyone I know who is a serious software developer or hacker uses a Mac because the OS is so superior. I have a 100% success rate when convincing friends and family to try a Mac. At least 6 or 7 adamant Windows users have made the switch at my recommendation and none of them can stand to use a Windows computer now that they've tried a Mac.
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:20 PM BST500% is an exaggeration, since the cheapest Mac laptops start at $999. I've seen many comparisons between Macs and similarly equipped PC laptops and the Macs are always comparable in price or even cheaper when comparing apples to apples, so to speak. Apple uses top-of-the-line components, so there aren't many cheap items out there, but they're all quality.
Yeh but whats the point in quality the rate of technology upgrading in 12 months do you really want to be using the same 1 gig of memory, f**k no you want 2-3-4gig.
I like the look of those really thin ones. I might take the great leap and buy one one day.
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:23 PM BSTTheir market share continues to improve. It's not a fad. Everyone I know who is a serious software developer or hacker uses a Mac because the OS is so superior. I have a 100% success rate when convincing friends and family to try a Mac. At least 6 or 7 adamant Windows users have made the switch at my recommendation and none of them can stand to use a Windows computer now that they've tried a Mac.
Don't get me started we are using the same machines you use OS X I use windows. Thats the difference. New Macs have intel chips. I don't even have intel chips
Quote: Gavin @ April 18 2009, 11:10 PM BSTWell Techincally Mac's don't exist anymore its just the OS that makes them different. Oh and the 500% pumped up price.
You missed a couple of 0s there, Gavin.
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:23 PM BST500% is an exaggeration, since the cheapest Mac laptops start at $999. I've seen many comparisons between Macs and similarly equipped PC laptops and the Macs are always comparable in price or even cheaper when comparing apples to apples, so to speak. Apple uses top-of-the-line components, so there aren't many cheap items out there, but they're all quality.
Your machines are priced very differently from ours then. By quite a way.
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:23 PM BSTTheir market share continues to improve. It's not a fad. Everyone I know who is a serious software developer or hacker uses a Mac because the OS is so superior. I have a 100% success rate when convincing friends and family to try a Mac. At least 6 or 7 adamant Windows users have made the switch at my recommendation and none of them can stand to use a Windows computer now that they've tried a Mac.
That high? Interesting that a 'serious' software developer would move to a totally different OS. Doesn't sound that serious at all.
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ April 18 2009, 11:03 PM BSTI've wanted a Mac for ages. I keep getting told that hey are mainly for Design etc and that I won't need a mac for writing.
Just wondering what your experiences are with what you have. I'd love a black apple mac laptop, but keep being advised to just get a normal laptop with Windows etc.
What do you want to do with your laptop? Web, e-mail, writing? What's your budget? What software do you use? How familiar are you with each OS?
Quote: Gavin @ April 18 2009, 11:23 PM BSTYeh but whats the point in quality the rate of technology upgrading in 12 months do you really want to be using the same 1 gig of memory, f**k no you want 2-3-4gig.
That's true for any computer purchase. If you can't stand the thought of your hardware becoming obsolete you shouldn't ever buy another computer.
My rule of thumb for buying computers is that you should buy the most computer you can get for the money you have on hand. Then you stop looking at new computer specs and prices until you're ready to buy again. It's less painful that way.
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:23 PM BST500% is an exaggeration, since the cheapest Mac laptops start at $999. I've seen many comparisons between Macs and similarly equipped PC laptops and the Macs are always comparable in price or even cheaper when comparing apples to apples, so to speak. Apple uses top-of-the-line components, so there aren't many cheap items out there, but they're all quality.
Their market share continues to improve. It's not a fad. Everyone I know who is a serious software developer or hacker uses a Mac because the OS is so superior. I have a 100% success rate when convincing friends and family to try a Mac. At least 6 or 7 adamant Windows users have made the switch at my recommendation and none of them can stand to use a Windows computer now that they've tried a Mac.
DaButt Hackers use Macs because the security encryptions on Microsoft is too good! (Same goes to developers to some extent).
I have to use a mac in my job which is a bit annoying I'm not keen on macs, I've only used 10.4 and 10.5 and they are over priced, you say they put top quality parts in but I bet a few pounds they are still made by the lowest bidder.
$999 is daylight robbery, my laptop cost £350 and it's very good, the only problem is it doesn't have a decent graphics card but I know I have a good laptop that will last me a fair few years and I have a choice of other OSs out there if need be such as Linux (which is a bit of alright).
Anyway I will finish my rant...
Quote: DaButt @ April 18 2009, 11:32 PM BSTThat's true for any computer purchase. If you can't stand the thought of your hardware becoming obsolete you shouldn't ever buy another computer.
My rule of thumb for buying computers is that you should buy the most computer you can get for the money you have on hand. Then you stop looking at new computer specs and prices until you're ready to buy again. It's less painful that way.
F**k... backing the mac man here - macs tend to utilies it's hardware better so upgrading isn't as important with macs.