Well… Its getting to be that time, and I need to start looking for a new computer. I’m back in school to become a teacher, and I will be teaching this time next year. I’m leaning toward getting a Macbook, as I will need a laptop. Anybody have any experience with Apples? My chief concern is that I will have problems integrating with pc software in the school system. Not trying to get into a pc vs. mac war. I have already seen that on computer message boards. I have always gotten good, sound info from you guys, so let me hear what you’ve got…
Absolutely nothing against Apple but when I look at the software packages; not to mention freeware I use on a daily basis; I’d be in trouble with a Mac. We have both at home and I NEVER use the Mac. I can’t argue for or against the merits of the ease of operation of a Mac. For me it’s all about software choices. As the owner of a Sony Betamax I know all about choices!
Even many of the Apple versions of popular PC programs are two revs behind the PC versions. You can run dual OS on a Mac but that’s like having two computers and constantly flipping between the two. It works but it’s awkward and far from seamless. Then there is the accessory issue as in; where do you have to go to buy Apple stuff.
SO I guess what I’m saying is; choose carefully after checking all of the software you presently use and plan to use in the future.
What I considered the best advice I received was; “Get the same types of computors and software that your coworkers have.” There’s always help availble if you run into problems,
Please let me know how much I can buy you unused Mac for. I certainly don’t want you to be unhappy with such a highly refined tool. I’d also like to know what software you are having issues with running an a MAC. It must be highly specialized to have compatibility issues.
I have been on an I-Mac G5 for over three years, and I’m in my second year with my MacBook with the Intel 1.83 ghz Core 2 Duo Processor. I recently upgraded to MAC OS X Leopard, and can’t believe how seamless that was. Even a bait fisheman could do it. I run a full Microsoft Suite under OS X that is compatible with any PC based MS Suite, and most importantly, I HAVE NOT HAD A VIRUS SINCE I WENT TO MAC. ZERO, NADA, NIC, NYET, NONE! The Safari Browser is a little fickle, but now that I’m running Firefox there are no problems surfing the Internet or doing any financial transactions with my bank, e-bay or Pay-Pal. I also run my business off of my laptop.
We have four Macs in the house with a full network, and they run flawlessly. Each can interact with the other and share files and printers. We do a lot with Photoshop, and teh MACs excell in that regard. I also run AutoCAD 2000 on the PC Core (along with MS Publisher and a few other non-MAC software packages), and flipping between operating systems is done via a single keystroke.
Yes, there are differences in how you talk to a MAC vs a PC, but it was not a problem crossing over. I’m also running my Vonage phone thru the G5.
We have a couple of PCs that are used for specialized applications in my son’s business, but that’s more to keep them separated from my business and the network.
Take a look at the software that comes with a MAC, vs a PC with just an operating system on it. Oh, and does anyone like the compatability issues with MS Vista? If you upgrade a MS OS, you might as well throw all your old software away and buy new stuff. They just can’t seem to make old stuff work on a new OS, and they always send out the new OS before it’s thoroughly debugged. I don’t miss that at all.
Can anyone guess which machines I like?
Lastly, I must admit that my son is a techno-geek and an Apple developer, so I have 24/7 service in-house, as well as the latest upgrades.
I agree Joe, My mac runs a full windows package as well as all the apple programs and I have never had any problems. I use a Mac and 3 PC’s at work and I have to say the Mac is fantastic, it always works and the speed is unbelievable. I have never had to get the I.T. guy to do anything to the Mac but he is forever having to fix up problems with the P.C.s
I would be very carefull before buying a Vista PC, you will have all sorts of compatability problems with your programs and may have to buy all new ones!
However if you use the laptop for playing games then go for the PC, there are many many more games available for P.C. than there are for Macs.
Just my 2c worth but I hope it helps!
Did I mention I tunes, I pics, I movies, I life etc all comes with a Mac for free.
All the best.
Mike.
Hey Guys… Thanks for the replies. Hey Joe, Can you expound a little bit on the problems you have with safari, and how you went around it. That has been one of my main concerns about buying a mac. I know you mentioned firefox, but could you expand a little more about it? Thanks!
I too, run the Mac G5, OS X Leopard. It’s great! Mac is the only computer I’ve ever used that, if it should require upgrading, I feel comfortable doing it myself. I’m not intimidated by the machine or process. (Ha! Now watch as it crashes!! Even at that, I can reinstall a new system!)
First of all, kudos to you for pursuing the profession of teaching. I suspect that the profession you are leaving will miss you, and I am sure that the folks you find in your classrooms will appreciate you.
Second, the only recent experience I have with Apples are Gala, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Pink Ladies, Fuji, etc. etc. etc.
Finally, my wife and I went through the same computer search when she recently started the Registered Nursing program at our local Tech College. While all the things that Joe had to say are certainly valid, and good reasons to think about Apple, our decision came down to the compatability of our home computer with the computers she would use at school. The computers at the college and the programs they ran, pretty much dictated a PC and we were fortunate to find a local computer builder who could install XP ( that was before Microsoft decided to extend its lifetime ) and avoid the Vista thing.
Anyway, something to think about as you look at the options.
Between my 4 young adult offspring ( my kids who have grown up) and my wife and myself, we are half mac and half pc users. I use a pc as this is what I have at work. I would say each has its advantages. My understanding was that the features of the mac made it the choice for educational settings, but as I have seen from my mac users at home, it is quite compatible for most applications. I would agree with LouT, go with what your co-workers have. It works for them and you always have help if you need it.
I work as an IT guy in a company that has both macs and PC’s. The only thing that would worry me if i was to buy a mac, and i was a teacher, is that the software that all the other teachers use for keeping track of grades is available only on PC.
Most all software that comes on a PC also comes on a mac now days, with the exception of highly specialized software, and games.
I have the MAC BOOK plus a PC. I like the Apple cause viruses are really not an issue. Have to get the Norton every years for the PC.
Most of my posting on here is from the MAC. I like being able to sit outside and yes I know you can do that with any lap top as long as they are wireless.
For me it is MUSIC and MAC is the place to be for that.
I’m an avid Mac guy so I’m biased. At work what software will you be using? If it’s mainly Microsoft Office apps. then I would not hesitate to get a new Mac laptop. You can start up in a Windows OS or the Apple OS…you can’t do that on a pc clone. Or you can just get Office for Mac…it’s a much smoother & better program on the Mac plus it saves the files in Windows format so going back & forth with PC’s shouldn’t be a problem.
Macs don’t lock up, the new OS keeps the HD cleaned up without having to use the utilities lik on a PC…overall the Apple is just a better integration of hardware/software than PC’s. The look cooler & operate better.
I disagree with this point, 99.9% of PC laptops cant be upgraded except for ram and Hard drives.
And it may be easier to change out hard drives in a pc laptop, but how often is just the hard drive upgraded, it is almost never the bottleneck in a computers performance, and with the cheap price of large hard drives, you can get a size that you know you will neve fill.
I’ll expand on my previous post to say that the issues with Safari are mainly that HTML pages do not always load in the proper position on the webpage. It has something to do with coffee according to my son (Java). :pWhen I approached my son about it, he simply took 5 minutes and loaded Firefox with the applicable add-ons that are needed for my particular applications and surfing habits. His response to my request to fix Safari was; “Forget it. Apple needs to fix that, not me. Firefox is more stable.” With that, I just moved on and have no issues with Firefox. Oh, one MAJOR problem with Safari was how it handled my banking software (poorly). Once I went to Firefox I had no problems and can use all the functions allocated by my bank.
The other thing I love about MacBook is the loooooooooong life of the battery. OMG, it was like night & day when I got rid of my HP laptop and got this machine. I needed a 200’ umbilical cord with the HP just to be able to handle my e-mail and do a little surfing. PCs have too much garbage going on in the background that just sap the life out of batteries. Even a brand new OEM HP battery would only get 2 to 2 1/2 hours MAX. With the MacBook I can get 3-4 hours doing the same type of tasks, and even longer if I turn down screen brightness.
I thought about that after I bought the MacBook with its 80gb hard drive. When I shared my concern with my son, he came home with a 300gb Firewire drive that now resides next to the G5. He partitioned it into three sections for the G5, MacBook and my wife’s MacBook. I do periodic backups (out of habit), and move files I no longer use to the 300 gb drive for storage, thus opening up additional space on he G5 and/or MacBook. Total cost for the 300 gb upgrade was about $130 for drive, external case and cable. Very cheap, IMHO.
That Firewire drive is a great idea. With my student discount, I can pick up the entry level macbook for $999. The only drawback I can see is the 1 gig memory. I’ve been told to get at least at least 2 gig (about $150 more) Necessary? I want to factor in the apple care, b/c many people have told me to get it. Price is a consideration. As I sit here pounding out more work on this pc, I keep telling myself “just hold on, its gonna happen!”
I think I paid $899 for mine, and it was a refurbished model that came through in factory wrappings with full warranty. I’m running 1 gb of RAM (paid extra for that), and have no performance issues. Of course, I’m 57 years young, and don’t use my computers for gaming, so the performance is not an issue. AutoCAD runs fine as well as MS Publisher, so I don’t know that I need any more RAM than I now have. AppleCare is worth the money, especially if something happens to the screen Ouch!
I run a full Microsoft Suite under OS X that is compatible with any PC based MS Suite, and most importantly, I HAVE NOT HAD A VIRUS SINCE I WENT TO MAC. ZERO, NADA, NIC, NYET, NONE! The Safari Browser is a little fickle, but now that I’m running Firefox there are no problems surfing the Internet or doing any financial transactions with my bank, e-bay or Pay-Pal. I also run my business off of my laptop.