Is Apple worth the extra cost? (Page 3): Bought an iMac in 2006, and it still is as useful now as then. Bought a MacBook pro in 2012 and it too 'just works'. They are worth every cent.

busmaster2 Loc: College Point NY

Bought an iMac in 2006, and it still is as useful now as then. Bought a MacBook pro in 2012 and it too 'just works'. They are worth every cent.

Lilli480

I switched to Apple over five years ago and it was the best choice I ever made. The support at the Apple Store is second to none even if your computer is out of warranty. They will sit and work with you until your question is answered or the problem is fixed. I am on my second laptop, a 15" this time around, and use the 13" for my consultant work. My iPad is for travel and my old iPad was passed on to my husband. Good luck to you!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

The Apple folks will say Yea use Apple. The PC guys will say the opposite. Some will tell you you need 16 gigs of ram to run Photoshop?
Its just like the Canon vs Nikon debate my friend lots of opinions that amount to very little that will help you.
I use an Acer laptop thats 5 years old and is hammered to death. Its on and in use 14 hours 7 days a week. I Photoshop everything like crazy and it has 4 gigs of ram. To really stand out from the crowd I use a Pentax lol.
In a nutshell buy what YOU feel is right. No one makes a bad computer so I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to purchase.

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

I have a 17" HP laptop that has 2 hard drives . I have a samsung 840 Pro as my main hard drive , and I am running Zorin 9 Ultimate on it. It is a Linux OS . It's very fast and works very well . Cost $1000 .. Just food for thought ,Tommy

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

wingnut1956 wrote:

Hi Fellow 'Hoggers..This is probably going to be a... (show quote)

I purchased a 27" Mac from a friend of mine, as he was going to upgrade. Best Photo equipment move I ever made.
--Bob

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

We use an old MacBook with 2GB memory for traveling and it's fine.

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Not my experience. All of my family have gone through their (Windows) laptops-- and they weren't the budget models. Meanwhile, my MacBook continues like the energizer bunny-- and I use mine more than they use theirs. However this is just my experience-- not pretending to know what the industry studies would show.

My work (financials) requires that I use Windows. For my personal use, I'll never go back. I edit everything on my MacBook.

mldavis2

Good post by @Gene51. I use both, so here's my 2c.

Macs are expensive. Apple tries very hard to maintain proprietary control of their machines and peripherals, so you have few options when it comes to modification or expansion. For non-techies, that's a plus because you don't have to know much of anything to run one once you learn the idiosyncrasies. (That actually goes for Windows as well, but Apple apologists like to disagree.) Apple has somewhat of a cult reputation among artists, photographers and graphics designers, so it's a good choice if that's what you will want it for and price is no object.

PCs are far more customizable and less expensive. They will run more software as the PC user base is larger and many vendors do not write for both platforms, so your software choices are greater.

Laptops become obsolete much more quickly than desktop machines which can be continually updated for a while to keep them near the leading edge. If it costs you over $2000 for a laptop with performance comparable to a $1000 PC laptop, you can afford to ditch the PC and replace it with a current faster model in half the time for what you paid for the Apple.

If you are planning on doing anything even remotely related to gaming, then the PC is the hands down choice, so it really depends on what ELSE you plan to use the laptop for. Personally, I would never edit photographs on a laptop of any kind when I have a calibrated 24" monitor on my ultra-fast desktop. My laptop is a road warrior used for keeping up to date on news and e-mail, not as an editing platform.

Jgh Loc: On the Road

wingnut1956 wrote:

Hi Fellow 'Hoggers..This is probably going to be a... (show quote)

I've been an Apple user since 1992 and have been very happy with them. Quality is excellent. I also use PC's at work, and they are fine for that, too. However, check out the software that is available. I use Aperture for organizing, storing and editing and I've been happy with that, too. Go to an Apple store and have one of the Geniuses show you Aperture before you make a final decision.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Ed. I started with Apple when my boys went to school.The schools here had them in the class rooms and that is what they had to have. The oldest is now 29 and he still has a Mac.:):) I always had to look at them and try to get them running again. And was always able too. The one I am typing on right now is around 10-12 years old. I just keep down loading the updates.:):) When I started out taking pictures about 9 years ago I went out and got a new one for me. It is getting long in the tooth now and I plan on getting a faster one this spring. I take my computer every where. Just throw it in the truck and go.:):) And it still keeps ticking.:)
Erv

Jmcoopermini

Virtually the entire advertising/photography industry operates on Mac'a.
One thing to consider: pCs traditionally try to accommodate people with older models from years past which can be a problem when running new software. Apple, like it or not, doesn't give a crap and re- designs every time it thinks it should. People often don't care for the Company (apple)because of this but their product works. As we move forward in technology we need to reinvent things which Apple is good at. another issue to consider is hacking. The fact that there are many many more PCs out there, Hackers go after them first rather than mac owners. Yes is possible for a Mac to get a virus but much less likely.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I have a Dell that I love but now that I have the I Phone and I Pads, I wish that I had a consistent platform across all devices.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

wingnut1956 wrote:

Thank you all for your opinions, and it pretty muc... (show quote)

Have never had issues with my Windows PC's. I stayed on Win98 way past the 'expiration' and was never an issue. Have now been on Vista for a long time with NO issues!! Just get a good AntiMalware program and make sure the AntiVirus is properly setup and the Firewall is properly activated. I know a lot of people have problems, but with the proper precautions that can mostly be avoided.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Not my experience. All of my family have gone through their (Windows) laptops-- and they weren't the budget models. Meanwhile, my MacBook continues like the energizer bunny-- and I use mine more than they use theirs. However this is just my experience-- not pretending to know what the industry studies would show.

My work (financials) requires that I use Windows. For my personal use, I'll never go back. I edit everything on my MacBook.

I always get 'budget' model HP or Compaq from BestBuy or Walmart and mine are running long after most people upgrade theirs!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

SonnyE wrote:

It depends. Do you want a computer you can take into a store and say "fix it." And some techy type sits you down and plugs you in, or takes your computer "in the back" and performs VooDoo on it while you browse products?
Then Apple is your brand. Usually there's a Starbutts nearby with other helpless minions in the same boat.
Taking what their giving and shrug it off. Yeah, there's a class for that. As long as you don't ask any out of the box questions. (I tend to never get in the box to begin with.)
Apple is fine for my wife, step-daughter, and her family. When it doesn't work, take it to the store.
If you'd like that, get a Mac aroni book. My SIL has blown up several so far. And he just buys another one.

If you'd like something you can groom to exactly what you want, are a bit tech savoy, and know what you want out of your computer. Then I'd suggest a PC.
I've been PC since 1989. Both bought, and built my own. My last computer died when the Solar guys had to replace my main service panel. Seems that after 10 years, taking away it's power finally killed it. I even tried a new Mother Board battery, but the poor old XP was dead. RIP
So since you can buy something cheaper than you can build it, and it's ready to sit down, plug in, and runs everything you still like (like my dual displays), I just went down and dirty with a Dell tower. Much improved over my last decade old PC.

And I got a Toshiba laptop as my traveler with a 16" display. It mainly runs 24/7 as my email, weather station, and solar hub. But I grab and go with it when we travel.
Both PC's have my favorite software so I can easily work graphics at home or away. And they both operate pretty much stand alone, updating daily, self maintaining. They just work, and I work their butts off.
And it appears Nikon works better with a PC than it plays with an Apple. Just an observation...

There is a very good reason 80% of the world operates off of PC's. And Apple struggles to hold onto their 20%.

But hey, you should always get what YOU want.
Afterall, I, and nobody else out here, are going to live with your choices. YOU are.
Choose wisely Grasshopper. ;)

It depends. Do you want a computer you can take in... (show quote)

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Wahawk Loc: NE IA

SonnyE wrote:

Actually no, it isn't.
That's my way of saying, "I really do not give a shit how you do it."
I've worked on too many pieces of Apple mush to ever consider owning one.
But please, you Apple Jacks continue to soak in your milk. ;)

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