Wonder if Mac and I should Part Ways

Published on November 18, 2004 By InBloom In Personal Computing

I am a mac user...Don't Know if there are Many of you out there....
and I am not even an upgraded mac user at that :/ There are many features I cannot use with this mac version, and it seems like I am years behind other ppl as far as advanced computing is concerned...

This is my dilemma...I would like to get a new laptop soon (and another car...mine's getting to be a clunker..but that's another story...), but I am not sure if I should just upgrade the one I have to MacOSX or if I should go for the gusto and get a pc with the works.....
Here is what I am looking for in a Computer....
A system that is not too difficult to use,
One with cd burning and dvd viewing capabilities,
One with enough memory to store lots of things such as music and photos and documents,
Something lightweight,
I can be a girlie sometimes, so something with a sleek look and style,
something that is of quality, but not too expensive...

The reason I hesitiate to upgrade to MacOSX is that I dont think I have enough memory....I am not a technical wizard, not too familiar with lots of things having to do with computers, but i do know this...this version is not working as great as I'd want it to, and I just hunger for something for advanced...

Comments (Page 1)

personaljesus (Anonymous User)

on Nov 18, 2004

I think you answered your own question. Stick with Apple.

InBloom

on Nov 18, 2004

Really? Well, I'll admit that I'd be lost on Windows if I would get it...I use Mac at Work and at Home....But It seems like Everything is So Catered to Windows....

CerebroJD

on Nov 18, 2004

What do you do for work?

PurrBall

on Nov 23, 2004

Look at the Gateway laptops. The least expensive one that can play DVDs and burn CDs is $999 for a limited time. It also has a Pentium processor, which is the best for you if you are mobile computing. Its +$370 to burn DVDs. You should look at all of the options you can choose with it. Its the Gateway M405X at Link If you want something more powerful there is the M520X Plus which has faster processor, more RAM, bigger HD and more. It can basically do everything, burn CDs and DVDs, play games, listen to music, use Word processing and spreadsheets, go on the net, use email. Also has integrated wireless and 6in1 memory card reader for digital photos. For a limited time its $1299.99. Link Gateway is also my recommendation for reliability. Hope this helps.

InBloom

on Nov 24, 2004

Sorry for taking long to respond

Cerebro: I'm a teacher
Meowy: Thanks for the Information: gateway was one of them that I was looking at.

MarcieMoo

on Nov 24, 2004

DON'T get Gateway...My desktop was only $1000...but...you get what you pay for right? Dell maybe? I have NO idea as far as brands...and I have to use Mac at work and I *HATE* it....lol...I wish we had windows...I think we completely hinder our kids when we don't give them a Windows format to work with....my first graders are NEVER going to use a Mac outside of the school setting unless they go into art, architecture, or drafting of some sort, I think...you know?

Blah. lol.

Texas Wahine

on Nov 24, 2004

Meh. I like my Gateway computer. $400 and it works fine for me, and even plays DVDs and burns CDs. The tech support for Gateway is excellent as well.

ToeJo

on Nov 24, 2004

Macs have their advantages...PC's have their advantages. Gateway has no advantages...except price! And Marcie Helen is right...you get what you pay for! The difference between a $1000 laptop and a $1300 laptop is night and day. Yes, I agree...the GW's look godd and their cheap but the last GW laptop I ordered went back to GW 3 times in less than 6 months. First it overheated, then the screen went black, then the modem wouldn't receive a dial-tone, (that one was real strange). (and at sometime the DVD drive failed.) Each time it was tear it down, image the HD, sent it away for 2 - 3 weeks. Reload it. I have never been more aggrevated with a PC. I could understand it if the person using it was beating it, but it just sat in a docking station most of the time. This is just one example of many. I understand everyone who makes a PC has problems...especially with laptops...lord know Dell has. But GW just hasn't pulled out of the slump yet.

There is a reason why GW's are so cheap. My belief is that they are using inferior parts and, quite frankly, have to in order to keep the price so low, because if they didn't they'd go belly up.

Good luck with your choice, but from experience, avoid GW.

_02

on Nov 26, 2004

You could go to http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/search.asp?mnf=821&cat=17 and check out the Systemax notebooks. They start at less than $700.00.

kingbee

on Nov 26, 2004

switching from mac to pc is lots easier now (and still way easier than vice versa) the 2nd biggest mac problem (not nearly the range of applications) has improved a bit. the first biggest mac problem (price) shows no sign of abating and its compounded by apple constantly churning out new stuff. almost like being strung out cuz sooner rather than later, you suddenly find yourself needing more hahahaah.

if you dont need to finance, and you dont have a problem with slightly used, it's not difficult finding relatively recent macs at considerably better prices. people who have to keep up with apple's cutting edge are a good source. even better are universities that routinely buy newest and sell off the ones being replaced. ui bloomington hadda buncha stuff at bargain prices last summer. .

InBloom

on Nov 26, 2004

Marcie, Tex ...ty for the comments...I guess i have to look at the pros and cons of Gateway.

InBloom

on Nov 26, 2004

Joe...that is a lot of valuable information you shared there..Thanks:)

Keith..I'll definitely check that Website out, Thanks!

Kingbee...thanks for the advice...you are right...mac is expensive.

Sigh....well, I will keep on with the search.

I was looking at Dells and Vaios also.

PurrBall

on Nov 30, 2004

I have NEVER had a single problemo with my five- year old GW. Relatives that I recommend them to just love them. ToJo's problems have never happened to anyone I know. Go into BestBuy and try them out. Or whatever you have near you, like CompUSA.

messybuu

on Nov 30, 2004

I really like Dells.

I want to stick up for Apple, but if you'd rather spend less than more, then a Mac isn't sensible. Also, as kingbee explained, they don't have as much longevity as they once had (and they release a new freaking OS upgrade EACH YEAR!).

DesignCaddy

on Nov 30, 2004

if you're after a pc notebook with the works - ie a great color screen, going around 17", with dvd burning and especially if you want something thin - you're going to pay the same for a PC than you will with an apple. look at the difference between the mac modles and pc's with wireless internet, harddrive size, and memory.

if you're going for a desktop, different story. pc's are easily cheaper.

how about your software? will you have to buy all new platform software?

then think about the OS. if you're still on os9, it's the equivelant of win98. OSX is a hudge new world for macs just as XP is for PC's. if an os upgrade is the only question, maybe you drop more memory into your mac and go to panther and that solves your problem.

really, it's what you're going to use it for. if you just need something for internet email and word processing, an ibook is a nice solution. if you want a medium-price-ranged desktop replacement, i find pc's cheaper (hp pavilion, here). if you want a power machine, i think prices are matched. then it all omces down to software.

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