PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Back in England I have a good friend of many years who started his own Linux software business. A good link is here: https://scorecard.tiger-computing.co.uk/

Needless to say I have no interest in the company that is Tiger Computing in the UK. Look it up!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I started with an Apple ][. We used it in the lab.

When the Mac came out, I switched to Windows. The Mac was a closed shop. The only peripherals you could get were those made by Apple. None of them fit the applications we needed in the lab. OTOH, Windows was open source. Plenty of third party suppliers to generate useful plugins. That was about 30 years ago.

I have used Windows computers all that time, from DOS to Windows10. Have never had any real problems with them. My current computers are 6-8 years old and still working fine. I will have to replace them eventually as the OS changes, but that happens with Mac, also. My wife is an Apple girl. But being non-technically oriented, I sometimes have to tell her how to do something. But I think my Windows machines are better, probably because I have much more experience with them. I considered getting a Mac to replace my desktop at some point, but when I looked into it, the Windows machines appear much more cost effective. The new Mac chip is tempting, but it doesn't appear to me that the possible speed increase is really significant. My wife will probably get one at some point and then I can evaluate them.

It appears to me that Apple caters to non-technical people who are not interested in the working parts. Windows machines are much more flexible in how you can configure them so they appeal more to people who want to get into the nitty-gritty of the computer. Once you buy an Apple machine, that's a constant. It is difficult, if not impossible, to add features or increase memory. Installing new parts on a Mac requires an Apple technician. A Windows machine can be stripped down and rebuilt by a user.

PS: I have not seen the BSOD for probably 15-20 years now. That doesn't mean Windows machines don't crash. It just means that they don't crash that way any more. The Windows machine just freezes or fails to boot properly. When that happens I just open the cover and exercise some of the connectors. That has always solved the problem. Takes less than 5 minutes.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

If one is a little computer savvy, PC is the way to go.
For the same price point, one can get a faster computer with a PC.
If one needs a really stable PC, then better learn Linux.
Windows OS is generally OK but the more non-windows software/app one installs in a pc, the more chances of glitching. Specially when updates happen. The caveat is to be comp savvy, as a PC is meant to be flexible and is easier to repair if it does go wrong.

If one has the moola and just want to use the tool, then get a Mac.
But we have a running joke on Mac's;
"You don't really use it but rather coax it to do something for you."
My personal opinion is that Mac runs on an I ME Mine system. Once someone dips into it, that someone belong to Apple's every whim.

Virus wise, PC viruses will generally destroy your file or render them inaccessible so back-up often.
A Mac virus, will never tell you it is there. They (because most mac users have money) will just steal credit card numbers and the like.

I've used both so I'm impartial to say which one is better. I often crash and hang both system when I get into the zone.
But personally, I don't like Apple's "we vs them" mentality so for myself, I wont buy a Mac or any apple product.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

My ipad cannot be upgraded to any of the last 5 OS's. Safari also can't. And I cannot load Firefox onto it any more. Built in obsolescent. Apple is quintessentially the "you buy it, we will screw you for everything".
My PC of a similar age still works fine. Since it was a high end model when I built it performance is still okay. My wifes PC the same. I have had to reload Win 10 because a hard drive failed. On my wifes PC she had a Win 7 to Win 10 upgrade, never had a reload. She is a graphic designer and runs full Adobe never an issue. Plus quite sophisticated software for her connection to her work. Same powersupply the last 10 years.
Most (maybe not all but most) PCs that fail were probably dodgy builds and/or under-powered caused by either ignorance or cheapness hence why the owners had issues.

Texzen Loc: Sugar Land, Texas

Been using Macs since 1986. The current machines (M1 chip) are state of the art - without competition - for moving huge amounts of date around, such as for video and photo processing. The interface of Mac OS is intrinsic to the user experience, unlike the artificial and counterintuitive Windows copy of the Mac OS. Because Apple creates both the operating system and the computers it is used on, their quality control is far beyond that of others. Microsoft builds the operating system and then sends it out to be used on the many Windows friendly computers out there. They have no ability to know how their software will work on any given Windows box. This is why different Windows machines behave differently running the same software. This does not happen with Apple computers because they have the testing and control prior to release. Do your homework to learn what you are buying and why.

Once you have had a Mac, you'll never go back.

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Are you any the clearer? ;-)

whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

I have used and continue to use computers from both, as well as a number of other systems. PC's are more flexible in the sense that you can add components that optimize the computer for whatever way you plan to use it. However, you need to have some computer knowledge to accomplish this or you will spend a lot of time and money hiring techs to keep your system working properly. For example, the tech staff where I work has a 99/1% ratio of PC/Mac techs. And the Mac tech is part time. On the other hand, the Mac world is more than a computer. It is a whole universe of tech products ranging from watches, cellphones, pads, laptops, and desktop computers as well as specialized computers used in movie/video production. It is a system that works together to offer a work process that is very efficient. The individual products are more expensive to buy, but in the long run, are more economical to maintain. They are also built well and last a long time. My main desktop, laptop, and pad are all over six years old and still are more cutting edge than I need for what I do. The only reason I buy new computers is when the software changes no longer work on my computers.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

This Dell all-in-one I have is the biggest piece of crap I ever owned. But I think it is Billy G's crappy Windows10 OS more than the computer. Back in 2010 I did have a 27-inch iMac but had to give it up because it could not run Excel or Word. With is present PC I have had to reinstall Windows 5 times due to the blue screen of death. It is now time to revisit an iMac. This PC has been nothing but a horror show for 5 years.

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

I use both but for photo post processing Mac wins hands down.

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

We just bought a MacBook with the M processor. Not only is it fast, but the fact that it is so efficient and does not put off as much heat is really nice in a laptop. No cooling fan required. Doesn’t get hot on your lap. Long battery life. Much lighter without a large heat sink and cooling fan. It is not going to compete with high end Intel processors. But it blows away mid level processors.

Canisdirus

I did get the blue screen of death not too long ago...but my core processor was shot. It had two cores reading a temp of 212 degrees (which is the limit of the software's program)...so not Windows fault.
I suspect a lot of blue screens have nothing to do with windows...but hardware failure.

Either way, I went PC again...not because it is any more or less dependable.
It's more simple than that.
I have android phones because they are made in South Korea...a democracy.
I use PC's for the same reason.

Apple charges more, but uses China's slave labor to make those profits.
So...I cannot support their products.

When workers throw themselves out of buildings...and the response is to put out nets...I'll shop elsewhere.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

[quote=DirtFarmer]I started with an Apple ][. We used it in the lab.

When the Mac came out, I switched to Windows. The Mac was a closed shop. The only peripherals you could get were those made by Apple. None of them fit the applications we needed in the lab. OTOH, Windows was open source. Plenty of third party suppliers to generate useful plugins. That was about 30 years ago.

I have used Windows computers all that time, from DOS to Windows10. Have never had any real problems with them. My current computers are 6-8 years old and still working fine. I will have to replace them eventually as the OS changes, but that happens with Mac, also. My wife is an Apple girl. But being non-technically oriented, I sometimes have to tell her how to do something. But I think my Windows machines are better, probably because I have much more experience with them. I considered getting a Mac to replace my desktop at some point, but when I looked into it, the Windows machines appear much more cost effective. The new Mac chip is tempting, but it doesn't appear to me that the possible speed increase is really significant. My wife will probably get one at some point and then I can evaluate them.

It appears to me that Apple caters to non-technical people who are not interested in the working parts. Windows machines are much more flexible in how you can configure them so they appeal more to people who want to get into the nitty-gritty of the computer. Once you buy an Apple machine, that's a constant. It is difficult, if not impossible, to add features or increase memory. Installing new parts on a Mac requires an Apple technician. A Windows machine can be stripped down and rebuilt by a user.

PS: I have not seen the BSOD for probably 15-20 years now. That doesn't mean Windows machines don't crash. It just means that they don't crash that way any more. The Windows machine just freezes or fails to boot properly. When that happens I just open the cover and exercise some of the connectors. That has always solved the problem. Takes less than 5 minutes.[/quote]

I started years ago with MS- DOS, and have been with Microsoft operating systems based computers ever since, now the latest update of Windows 10. I was working in a computer store in Palm Springs, CA; when someone would come in asking for an Apple, I would say "Bill, can you help this customer?" - I did not like Apple at all. We sold IBM and Epson computers, primarily, with some others peripherally. To my mind, the Microsoft based computers were easier to use, could be built/added to/upgraded by anyone, and it's been that way ever since. You weren't locked in to a company asking for your firstborn at every turn! A long time back, there were occasional BSODs, but I don't remember when the last one occurred!

Around 1980, I worked for the second iteration Scientific Data Systems, in Santa Monica, CA, which was pioneering a 6502A-based processor design with up to 56KB of memory and a proprietary OS, SDS-DOS, along with the BASIC programming language from Microsoft. It ran on 8-inch floppies. It was an excellent computer system, but suffered from the same thing that Apple did – proprietary hardware and software.

I’ve built, bought and upgraded a number of Windows based computers over the years, and never have had any consequential problems. Literally tons of software is available covering all conceivable areas of concern – a lot of it, free. It would require a remarkable breakthrough of some kind to compel me to entertain looking at any other.

Loren – in Beautiful Baguio City

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

phildee Loc: Oceanside, NY

I switched to a Mac in 2012 and it only broke down once.Would not go back to windows, viruses etc…

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

I am a professional commercial artist, always have used MACs since late 80's. Run the entire Adobe suite, cad, the MS Excell, word and powerpoint, some 3D programs, audio processing etc. etc. You can make an entire living on what will work with a Mac, and I can emulate a PC for obscure windows only software I guess- don't have any call for it. I have had many windows machines, some of the comments make it sound like windows isn't proprietary... however, power supplies and ram and other components are processor specific. And when they have upgraded the operating system, sometimes making everything obsolete.

I have a Mac 9500 I bought in mid 90's that I keep to run an expensive scanner to scan the various transparencies that all photographers provided back then. The scanning company refused to provide an updated driver, like all others did to OS X, so I keep the entire setup , can probably get rid of it now- havn't scanned any of the many transparencies I have in many years now. Sad really- they are beautiful. . 4x5's 2.25" 35mm slides... all piled in sleeves and in storage. Anyways that Mac 9500 still fires up and will show up on the built in MAC network and I can go through hard drives etc. and even run OS9 from my newest MAC.... they still talk to each other. That machine was on day and night for over 10 years till I got a newer faster G#, then G4's etc.

In fact I have boxes of good power supplies and sticks am and processor heat sinks in many boxes that represent the windows machines that died in the meanwhile. I can say that I have only thrown away one Mac that wasn't working perfectly the day I threw them out, just the maxed out 10mb of ram and 40MB hard drive and 2-1/4" floppy didn't cut it anymore on the LC and its 13" color monitor ( Probably should have kept it, people collect them now) .


I think if you built a windows machine to the same specs that apple requires from their vendors, the windows machine would work and last as long... but their-in lies the cost difference. The MAC are Lamborghinis out of the box, the windows are a pile of parts that they throw together and they do work and are chosen for their price point and their box design and the led lighting. The windows machine built with the same parts would cost as much as the MAC... if you can grasp that concept and what it means. You get what you pay for.

ME- I don't want to delve under the hood, I have work to do, and they just work. I can do it- I have had to learn on the windows machines- I just don't want to anymore.