jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

It's up to you. I've been a PC guy all these years and every time I check out a Mac I can't figure out what it is that's so easy about them. There are a lot of things I can't seem to figure out. But if you've been using a Mac for a long time, then you'd be saying the same about a PC. So it's a matter of what you are use to using. Also, I must say that Mac is more expensive because everything relating to a Mac must be approved by Apple Corp before it can be sold and used on a Mac. Therefore, Apple Corp is picky about the quality of the products and there is less likelihood of incompatibility issues. That said, if people buy a product for a PC and it gets a bad reputation, people simply stop buying them.

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

Hi fellow Hoggers, After 8 pages of discussion I really resisted adding to it, but I like to write so here are my thoughts. First full disclosure, in my current life as a retired person I build custom designed Win-PC's. But I have a long history with Apple's, Mac's and PC's. We also own and use iPhones and iPads.

Second, when it comes to functionality with respect to the major photo software suites (Lightroom and Photoshop) they work the same on both platforms. In terms of less expensive choices and variety of software for photo editing, PC's hold that honor.

Third, there is plenty of room for discussion on price, performance and reliability. Mac's and PC's currently use the same hardware. If you have a $2,000 computer budget then you may use other factors to make your buying decision. PC's still get you more features for the buck, but pricing on Apple machines is narrowing the gap. On the other hand if your cash on hand is $400 then a Window's appliance is your only choice.

On reliability the average Mac wins here (one reason you pay more), but perfection is still a distant dream, otherwise why do we need Mac service shops in every Apple store? Who remembers the issues with Lisa, the inability to expand memory on Fat Macs, the huge overheating issues with Apple hardware in the late 80's. . .? Apple has total control over the parts that go into their products, while anyone (including me) can go into the Win/PC business. If you compare products of equal price then it turns out Mac's may have a very slight edge. Unfortunately it is difficult to asses this issue because Apple is not very forthcoming about their failure/repair rates.

With malware and viruses the Apple OS's are clear winners, for now. Recently the malevolent coders who think it is fun or profitable to foist this aggravation on the rest of us have become bored with infecting Windows machines (any teenager can do that) and are now turning their attention to the Apple world. This is bad for all of us. However PC users who are vigilant on updating their AV and antimalware programs have fewer problems with all of that.

So, what to choose? I think it comes down to this one issue, mind set. Does Explorer with it's clear layout of files and folders (where is my stuff at) or does Finder make more sense to you? Does single click, double click or single, double, left or right click seem more useful. When it comes to software are a few good choices okay or do you want hundreds in every price range? Is game playing an issue, what about video or audio editing?

How easy is it for you to do what you want to do in an Apple environment vs. Windows. In the end make your choice, and I don't think that you need to look back at all.

Now, lets discuss which is better, Nikon, Canon, or Leica? Just kidding.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I'm responding without reading the ten pages. I was a dyed-in-the-wool PC guy until a couple of years ago when I got an IPad. Last year, I bought a MacBook Pro w/retina display, and I'm considering changing my desktop to an IMac. I can't believe I've waited so long. This is the best laptop I've ever owned. All the fears others told me about using Word and Excel were unfounded. Sure, once in a while I find something that doesn't cooperate on the Mac platform, but then I find a workaround. Couldn't be happier!

Tai Chi Loc: Virginia

The good service you get at any Apple store, you will not get it anywhere if you own a PC. In addition, there are One-to-One sessions if you need help with transitioning from PC to Apple. Furthermore, there is the called Genius Bar (which, by the way, is not a bar anymore) and they can help you with Apple hardwares or things that seem not to work well. Etc. And they sell Microsoft Word too.

SNicker317 Loc: North NJ

It's more a matter of the OS than the hardware, for the most part hardware-is-hardware these days, the deal breaker is how well implemented is the software. Hell, I've had Dell PC's that lasted for 12+ years, but the Windows OS versions deficiencies and vulnerabilities were a total nightmare. Also, something to keep in mind is that PC software including OS is probably going to the pay-as-you-go subscription route. Many have complained that the $10 a month was too much for PS&Lightroom, what do you think the rate will be for the latest re-frontended-only version of windows?

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The list is incomplete, but yes.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

So who says you have to use Mac mail. I use Macs only and Thunderbird is my mail client of choice. There are many others also.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I would say that because Apple either makes or has control over the hardware that goes into each device, the consumer ends up with a better product, or at least has a place to turn for repairs.

The fact that OS X is based on UNIX, makes it a more bulletproof operating system in todays world.

Better hardware to me equates to a longer useable life and a better OS reduces the worry of intrusions by malware/viruses.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Now, lets discuss which is better, Nikon, Canon, or Leica? Just kidding.[/quote]

Why is my Seagull 4B-1 never mentioned in competition with Canon or Nikon?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Apple specifies all the hardware components, then writes drivers for every one of them (or works with the hardware supplier to write the Mac OS X driver for that specific component).

Because the same company creates the hardware design and writes the software for that design, and because they limit their offerings to just a few models in each category, they are able to maintain very tight control over quality. Bugs get found and squashed relatively quickly.

That said, I always like to get a machine with a "Rev. B" or "Rev. C" motherboard, and take the 10.X.3 or 10.X.4 version of the new OS X. Inevitably, 10.X.0 and 10.X.1 will have issues. Be it ever thus with ANY OS software, from Apple, MS, or Linux. WinXP Service Pack 3 was finally pretty stable, as is Mac OS X 10.6.8. But any software that is ever COMPLETED is also ABANDONED.

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

I've found the opposite to be true. I'm on my first MAC a MacBook Air and it runs very cool vs. my HP and Dell laptops. The Dell runs very hot.

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

Customer service next to none in my experience. I dropped my Son's iPad in the driveway and shattered the screen, dented the body. With visions of several hundred dollars out of my pocket, we took it to the store. No AppleCare on it, the tech replaced it free of charge.

SNicker317 Loc: North NJ

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Quayne L. Sherwood

Let me tell you about Macs. I belong to a family of Mac owners..
So I cannot say much about other brands.
My home town school district chose to use Macintosh computers from the beginning. I think mostly because of less downtime, and at that time some of the logistics were simpler and icons more legible.
Since I belong to a family of school teachers it only made sense to be compatible, hence we all have Mac's, from college age grandchildren to me the grandma.
A few years ago there were quite a number of things that were not compatible with Apple, and I believe that has changed. I have discovered that in my town, I cannot get help from Best Buy Geek Squad because for the most part they are not Apple literate, but I have not missed that.
If one does have a question or need help, Apple has technicians on the phone that are outstanding and I believe free of charge for the most part.
To sum it up, my family has found the Apple products to be well worth the extra cost in less down time and ease of operation.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It was worth the shift. Motorola was never going to create a G5 processor for a PowerBook. The 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 ran *very* hot (I had one). A G5 would have fried eggs (and fingers!) and would have required a 3X to 4X larger battery. No one would have bought it.

Also, the PowerPC RISC architecture seemed to have a "heat limit" that was effectively a "speed limit". They were not going to surpass 3 GHz without some very tough challenges! (Remember the liquid-cooled 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5? Many of them sprang leaks over time!)

So Steve Jobs had to do something. He and his team had a good relationship with Intel since their days of making the NeXT software run on x86.

Intel showed Apple plenty of forward thinking designs. As they had done a few times previously, Apple developers built a migration path for their OS, and for users' legacy software, so we were not stranded immediately. Just as OS X 10.4.11 was the last Apple OS to run Classic Mode (OS 9.2.2 applications), 10.6.8 was the last Apple OS with Rosetta, an emulator that could run apps built on PowerPC code. 10.5.x was the "bridge" OS that ran on both PowerPC and Intel chips.

When I bought my 2008 MacBook Pro with Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz processor, it rendered video FIVE TIMES faster than my 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 did. Everything else ran 2.5 to 3.5 times faster. I saved so much time (time is money) that it was more than worth the hardware and software upgrades and replacements.

Yeah, I still miss PageMaker, so I keep an accelerated Power Mac G4 around to run it natively, in OS 9.2.2. I never liked what Adobe did with InDesign.