Question:
My husband and I are considering the purchase of a new computer. We've had some pretty miserable experieinces with Gateway and others of the like. He had a Mac once and really liked it, but way back then there were issues of compatability. We are considering that option now. It was actually his idea that I come in and ask you fine folks your opinion/and or experience with Apple. He said that if anyone thought it was a weird subject for the forums, to tell you that if his level of aggravation is minimal, than mine is minimal and therefore would reduce my stress helping to keep my psoriasis from being triggered.
Thanks!!
Annie
Annie,
I have a DEll. I love it. It is 3 years old and I have not had any problems with it. We went to Gateway a few years ago and never got a computer that would work properly.
When we ordered our Dell it was here in a few days and their support has been great.
Good luck in your search.
Thanks Granny!!! Can you get at home tech support as well as online support with your Dell? If it breaks down do you need to pack it up and mail it somewhere. I know these are the questions my dh will be hounding me with later on!! LOL
Annie
Mac still has compatability issues with mainstream applications, devices and periferals. It's not to say that there aren't work arounds for those issues. But who needs or wants work arounds. In my opinion, it just complicates things.
Annie,
I don't know that much about the support. I know I have heard my DH on the phone to them. I know our monitor went out shortly after we got it and we had another one delivered the next day. We have 2 computers and he has been on his to support-mostly questions about security and stuff for my Dell that I don't understand.
He will be gone until about 3:00. I'll check back and see if anyone else has helped you.
He bought the Dell just for me. I use it mostly for genealogy work. And talking to our kids and grandchildren. We have cameras so we can see them.
Then I have some play time!!!!!! :D
Apples are great... we've always been Mac folks.... but we are also high-end graphics people too, and video production, etc. so our needs are different .... If you can give a list of what your needs are for a computer I might have a better idea to recommend Mac or PC.
Annie,
I have to agree with granny.. (Keep in mind, I don't know much about Apples, except we always used them in public schools back in the day!) We have 3 Dells and they are the best. My current laptop is a Dell Inspiron, which isn't the greatest, all the extras model or anything, but I have had it for almost 3 yrs as well and it's a rock. Still works like it's brand new and rarely have any problems with it. I can't think of the last time something went wrong, if ever. I had a Compaq laptop before this one and it was JUNK. So many problems, couldn't wait to get rid of it. My sister has a higher-end Dell laptop that is also great. No problems for her either.
We do also have a brand new desktop (Dell), with the flat screen and all the other goodies and it is awesome so far (we got it last fall). Good luck in finding a new one...at least it seems to me they have made a lot of progress in building computers and they are less likely to give you many problems nowadays.
mari
I forgot to add something...I have gotten support from Dell both online and on the phone and they have been very helpful. I do know, however, that they don't sell Dells just anywhere. I believe you have to order them from catalogs or from their website. Maybe things have changed since I last bought mine, but I believe everything is done directly through Dell (not Best Buy or Circuit City or anywhere like that). Pros and cons to that, of course.
mari
Annie,
DH said the support is good. Sometimes it depends on who you get on the phone. You can buy an in-home insurance. We would buy another one if we needed to.
Best thing to do is call and talk to a rep. You can't buy them in stores. They are shipped, usually within a day or ordering.
It's the only system we've ever had. My DH works in the photographic field and as was stated before MACs are great for graphic work. He also has a Dell which his company supplied and he likes it. We are currently considering getting a Dell for the kids since they are compatible with the school and college PCs.
Our MACs have never crash or gotten viruses which makes them perfect in my eyes.
Paige
Annie I have an hp desktop and an hp laptop, both within maybe 1-1.5yrs. old. Both have performed flawlessly and I have had no trouble with them. I've heard a lot of horror storys from Gateway.
Thanks to all who have responded or will.......This info as far as I'm concerned beats any commercial in the world. Real people with real experience. Good old word of mouth.
Annie
MAC'S RULE!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been using Mac's since day 1.. and I use PC's constantly at work. I use Dell's at work and have a Powerbook G3 and a brand spankin' new souped up iMAC 20" G5 roarin' at home.
Compatibility issues are meaningless if you're talking mainstream apps like Microsoft anything (word, excel, powerpoint, access, etc.) as well as Adobe applications such as acrobat (PDF's). Design files can be tricky, but they're doable. It all depends on what type of files you're attempling to cross platforms with.
I will say this though..... I have never, ever, ever had any problems whatsoever with any Mac I've ever owned - EVER. I have a 5yr old outdate powerbook that still outperforms my crappy Dell laptop at work... which was just rebuild because the motherboard fried... and the screen died!
Now for the unbiased response - If you're buying just for home computing, I would lean towards apple, but you could always get away with a PC (piece of crap :) ). If you're talking small business then I'd say a PC, just because the world runs on PC's (I'm still trying to figure that one out).. although a MAC is more than fully capable of running a business and then some (look at Apple... I bet they run on Macs :) ).
It's really personal preference. Do you want a hassle free complete cool awesome computer? Then go with Apple. If you want more of the troublesome, virus laden, MAC OS ripoff operating system piece of junk made out of spare parts... then go with a PC.
:) :D
-Steve
................ then scroll back to Steve's, there was another cautionary tale in between, need to be a little savy to get the best bang for your buck with Mac. Between "day job", the "office" and home I'm computer touching on about every concievable brand name and system the world has to offer, some they don't. Not happy with your Gateway PC for the proleteriate experience - move laterally to Dell. I'm no "geek"(term of endearment not offense), as you know - for your purposes it's a PC for the masses - basic, tell the sales person to shove the add ons(unless they're free) and don't let your egos get in the way. Take a hard look at the least expensive packages, then negotiate for a more diagonally enhanced monitor. LOL! How long is the list of things you do with your PC? That's the question.
Think like this - electronics, what hasn't become "throw away" yet? Plasma TVs ................ PC's are getting real close to the edge, going the way of cell phones, text message devices, PDA's, MP3's - battery slow to charge, toss it, buy a new one. They're cheap. This is a good thing and I can't wait for the "one charge and done toss lap top". BEAUTIFUL!
A POSSE AD ESSE!
I will comment that I use my Mac for design work and recording studio work - processor intensive stuff... no wordprocessing... which isn't a basis for comparison at all as you can do word processing from a handheld (palm OS anyone?) and isn't the most RAM consuming activity any computer can possibly turn up... which is the only reason why my laptop at work is ok... all I do is type on it. The processer's toughest job is starting up this pathetic operating system :)
-Steve
I knew what my husband was leaning towards, and Steve (Oakraid), you just convinced him that he needs a MAC! If you knew my dh, you'd know that it takes him forever to make a decision like this. And during that process he hounds me relentlessly with questions and quandries. You have just eliminated one thorn in my side. Thank you, thank you, thank you. He's had to make eleventy million choices with regards to our relocation. Which phone service, what utility companies, DSL or cable, cable or satelite, etc.
Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on you. I'm never going to let him live it down that the NPF peeps helped him out on this one!!!
XOXOX
Annie
Kent County Clerk has. I sat around there for about an hour waiting for their stinking computers to come back online. You know they're the records holder for a large area and they really need their computers to work. They told me their computers have been acting up all week long. So anyway, $2.oo worth of parking and an hour of my time wasted, now I have to make another uneccessary trip.
So Annie, you're not the only one. Your husbands a doc, buy a good one and get the warranty! If you go Low Bid you might be crashing like our county.
Oh yeah... I forgot to mention that MAC's are also works of art themselves... form meets function... visually pleasing and will enhance any decor. My iMAC looks like a giant floating stone tablet... with a 20" widescreen :)
-Steve
1 Attachment(s) yippee!!... I love Macs!
congratulations Annie
Sorry, I just can't let this end... just yet....
Macs are compatible with every type of USB related peripheral (cameras, printers, monitors, scanners, keyboards, mice, trackballs, speakers, microphones, storage drives, etc...etc.). Full Bluetooth capability as well - I know, I use it everyday. Apple also introduced a little transfer technology called FIREWIRE which blows USB away. Firewire connectivity (like with the iPod) is by far the fastest method of local data transfer for the average consumer... and then some. Serial ports may be a little faster, but no one sitting at home is probably using that method anyway. Firewire is actually a faster transfer for data than to an internal hard drive (ATA, IDE, etc.). I can record music with a larger buffer to an external firewire drive than to any internal drive.
My entire house is set up as a wireless network, with wireless internet connectivety as well - all for $120. Airport Express my friends! I can also stream music from either computer right to my bose home theater system - very cool :cool: Did I mention that the router is about the size of a pack of cards? Practically invisible.
MACS - JUST PLAIN OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!
Even the packaging that their products come with is asthetically pleasing. They have a very impressive marketing department.
The only thing that PC's have over MAC's is the amount of software that's out there. But who needs quantity when you've got quality?
Ok... I'm done... I swear... :)
Annie (and everyone else),
There is no comparison between the two IF you're looking for agraphics development machine. However, if you plan to use it for business, go where the real world is (and I HATE to admit it):
WINTEL.
In my opinion, right now, the best buy for your money, bar none, is Dell. Last fall I bought 130 from them for the city where I worked, and was preparing to buy another 65. THey have the best prices for the same specifications, the best support, and I believe the best business computers in the US right now.
That's my 2 cents worth.
Go DELL.
Jeff
I know I know.. shut up already Steve... but just one last point....
Everyone talks about Dell's award winning support... uh.. support? What's that? I NEVER NEEDED TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR A MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:) :) :)
-Steve
............................. sales for MAC don't you? Steve, that's right - Steve Jobs! LOL!
CALLIDA IUNCTURA!
............................. sales for MAC don't you? Steve, that's right - Steve Jobs! LOL!
CALLIDA IUNCTURA!
shhhhhhhh... don't tell anyone... oh.. oops... ha... hmmm... well.. uh, I guess everyone just read that... yeah. :)
NONDUM SPISSA NIMIS!
-Stiiv
Thanks!!
Annie
Answers:
Annie,
I have a DEll. I love it. It is 3 years old and I have not had any problems with it. We went to Gateway a few years ago and never got a computer that would work properly.
When we ordered our Dell it was here in a few days and their support has been great.
Good luck in your search.
Answers:
Thanks Granny!!! Can you get at home tech support as well as online support with your Dell? If it breaks down do you need to pack it up and mail it somewhere. I know these are the questions my dh will be hounding me with later on!! LOL
Annie
Answers:
Mac still has compatability issues with mainstream applications, devices and periferals. It's not to say that there aren't work arounds for those issues. But who needs or wants work arounds. In my opinion, it just complicates things.
Answers:
Annie,
I don't know that much about the support. I know I have heard my DH on the phone to them. I know our monitor went out shortly after we got it and we had another one delivered the next day. We have 2 computers and he has been on his to support-mostly questions about security and stuff for my Dell that I don't understand.
He will be gone until about 3:00. I'll check back and see if anyone else has helped you.
He bought the Dell just for me. I use it mostly for genealogy work. And talking to our kids and grandchildren. We have cameras so we can see them.
Then I have some play time!!!!!! :D
Answers:
Apples are great... we've always been Mac folks.... but we are also high-end graphics people too, and video production, etc. so our needs are different .... If you can give a list of what your needs are for a computer I might have a better idea to recommend Mac or PC.
Answers:
Annie,
I have to agree with granny.. (Keep in mind, I don't know much about Apples, except we always used them in public schools back in the day!) We have 3 Dells and they are the best. My current laptop is a Dell Inspiron, which isn't the greatest, all the extras model or anything, but I have had it for almost 3 yrs as well and it's a rock. Still works like it's brand new and rarely have any problems with it. I can't think of the last time something went wrong, if ever. I had a Compaq laptop before this one and it was JUNK. So many problems, couldn't wait to get rid of it. My sister has a higher-end Dell laptop that is also great. No problems for her either.
We do also have a brand new desktop (Dell), with the flat screen and all the other goodies and it is awesome so far (we got it last fall). Good luck in finding a new one...at least it seems to me they have made a lot of progress in building computers and they are less likely to give you many problems nowadays.
mari
Answers:
I forgot to add something...I have gotten support from Dell both online and on the phone and they have been very helpful. I do know, however, that they don't sell Dells just anywhere. I believe you have to order them from catalogs or from their website. Maybe things have changed since I last bought mine, but I believe everything is done directly through Dell (not Best Buy or Circuit City or anywhere like that). Pros and cons to that, of course.
mari
Answers:
Annie,
DH said the support is good. Sometimes it depends on who you get on the phone. You can buy an in-home insurance. We would buy another one if we needed to.
Best thing to do is call and talk to a rep. You can't buy them in stores. They are shipped, usually within a day or ordering.
Answers:
It's the only system we've ever had. My DH works in the photographic field and as was stated before MACs are great for graphic work. He also has a Dell which his company supplied and he likes it. We are currently considering getting a Dell for the kids since they are compatible with the school and college PCs.
Our MACs have never crash or gotten viruses which makes them perfect in my eyes.
Paige
Answers:
Annie I have an hp desktop and an hp laptop, both within maybe 1-1.5yrs. old. Both have performed flawlessly and I have had no trouble with them. I've heard a lot of horror storys from Gateway.
Answers:
Thanks to all who have responded or will.......This info as far as I'm concerned beats any commercial in the world. Real people with real experience. Good old word of mouth.
Annie
Answers:
MAC'S RULE!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been using Mac's since day 1.. and I use PC's constantly at work. I use Dell's at work and have a Powerbook G3 and a brand spankin' new souped up iMAC 20" G5 roarin' at home.
Compatibility issues are meaningless if you're talking mainstream apps like Microsoft anything (word, excel, powerpoint, access, etc.) as well as Adobe applications such as acrobat (PDF's). Design files can be tricky, but they're doable. It all depends on what type of files you're attempling to cross platforms with.
I will say this though..... I have never, ever, ever had any problems whatsoever with any Mac I've ever owned - EVER. I have a 5yr old outdate powerbook that still outperforms my crappy Dell laptop at work... which was just rebuild because the motherboard fried... and the screen died!
Now for the unbiased response - If you're buying just for home computing, I would lean towards apple, but you could always get away with a PC (piece of crap :) ). If you're talking small business then I'd say a PC, just because the world runs on PC's (I'm still trying to figure that one out).. although a MAC is more than fully capable of running a business and then some (look at Apple... I bet they run on Macs :) ).
It's really personal preference. Do you want a hassle free complete cool awesome computer? Then go with Apple. If you want more of the troublesome, virus laden, MAC OS ripoff operating system piece of junk made out of spare parts... then go with a PC.
:) :D
-Steve
Answers:
................ then scroll back to Steve's, there was another cautionary tale in between, need to be a little savy to get the best bang for your buck with Mac. Between "day job", the "office" and home I'm computer touching on about every concievable brand name and system the world has to offer, some they don't. Not happy with your Gateway PC for the proleteriate experience - move laterally to Dell. I'm no "geek"(term of endearment not offense), as you know - for your purposes it's a PC for the masses - basic, tell the sales person to shove the add ons(unless they're free) and don't let your egos get in the way. Take a hard look at the least expensive packages, then negotiate for a more diagonally enhanced monitor. LOL! How long is the list of things you do with your PC? That's the question.
Think like this - electronics, what hasn't become "throw away" yet? Plasma TVs ................ PC's are getting real close to the edge, going the way of cell phones, text message devices, PDA's, MP3's - battery slow to charge, toss it, buy a new one. They're cheap. This is a good thing and I can't wait for the "one charge and done toss lap top". BEAUTIFUL!
A POSSE AD ESSE!
Answers:
I will comment that I use my Mac for design work and recording studio work - processor intensive stuff... no wordprocessing... which isn't a basis for comparison at all as you can do word processing from a handheld (palm OS anyone?) and isn't the most RAM consuming activity any computer can possibly turn up... which is the only reason why my laptop at work is ok... all I do is type on it. The processer's toughest job is starting up this pathetic operating system :)
-Steve
Answers:
I knew what my husband was leaning towards, and Steve (Oakraid), you just convinced him that he needs a MAC! If you knew my dh, you'd know that it takes him forever to make a decision like this. And during that process he hounds me relentlessly with questions and quandries. You have just eliminated one thorn in my side. Thank you, thank you, thank you. He's had to make eleventy million choices with regards to our relocation. Which phone service, what utility companies, DSL or cable, cable or satelite, etc.
Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on you. I'm never going to let him live it down that the NPF peeps helped him out on this one!!!
XOXOX
Annie
Answers:
Kent County Clerk has. I sat around there for about an hour waiting for their stinking computers to come back online. You know they're the records holder for a large area and they really need their computers to work. They told me their computers have been acting up all week long. So anyway, $2.oo worth of parking and an hour of my time wasted, now I have to make another uneccessary trip.
So Annie, you're not the only one. Your husbands a doc, buy a good one and get the warranty! If you go Low Bid you might be crashing like our county.
Answers:
Oh yeah... I forgot to mention that MAC's are also works of art themselves... form meets function... visually pleasing and will enhance any decor. My iMAC looks like a giant floating stone tablet... with a 20" widescreen :)
-Steve
Answers:
1 Attachment(s) yippee!!... I love Macs!
congratulations Annie
Answers:
Sorry, I just can't let this end... just yet....
Macs are compatible with every type of USB related peripheral (cameras, printers, monitors, scanners, keyboards, mice, trackballs, speakers, microphones, storage drives, etc...etc.). Full Bluetooth capability as well - I know, I use it everyday. Apple also introduced a little transfer technology called FIREWIRE which blows USB away. Firewire connectivity (like with the iPod) is by far the fastest method of local data transfer for the average consumer... and then some. Serial ports may be a little faster, but no one sitting at home is probably using that method anyway. Firewire is actually a faster transfer for data than to an internal hard drive (ATA, IDE, etc.). I can record music with a larger buffer to an external firewire drive than to any internal drive.
My entire house is set up as a wireless network, with wireless internet connectivety as well - all for $120. Airport Express my friends! I can also stream music from either computer right to my bose home theater system - very cool :cool: Did I mention that the router is about the size of a pack of cards? Practically invisible.
MACS - JUST PLAIN OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!
Even the packaging that their products come with is asthetically pleasing. They have a very impressive marketing department.
The only thing that PC's have over MAC's is the amount of software that's out there. But who needs quantity when you've got quality?
Ok... I'm done... I swear... :)
Answers:
Annie (and everyone else),
There is no comparison between the two IF you're looking for agraphics development machine. However, if you plan to use it for business, go where the real world is (and I HATE to admit it):
WINTEL.
In my opinion, right now, the best buy for your money, bar none, is Dell. Last fall I bought 130 from them for the city where I worked, and was preparing to buy another 65. THey have the best prices for the same specifications, the best support, and I believe the best business computers in the US right now.
That's my 2 cents worth.
Go DELL.
Jeff
Answers:
I know I know.. shut up already Steve... but just one last point....
Everyone talks about Dell's award winning support... uh.. support? What's that? I NEVER NEEDED TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR A MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:) :) :)
-Steve
Answers:
............................. sales for MAC don't you? Steve, that's right - Steve Jobs! LOL!
CALLIDA IUNCTURA!
Answers:
............................. sales for MAC don't you? Steve, that's right - Steve Jobs! LOL!
CALLIDA IUNCTURA!
shhhhhhhh... don't tell anyone... oh.. oops... ha... hmmm... well.. uh, I guess everyone just read that... yeah. :)
NONDUM SPISSA NIMIS!
-Stiiv
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