Hello,
The Mac is by far the best platform to go with. It may not have a whole bunch of games available for it (but you could just install windows on it) but it's probably the best investment you will make. The plethora of software that comes out of the box (iLife and a few x-tras) is phenomenal. As of October 26, 2006, I've been a happy Mac user and always will be. Mac OS X is definitely the better way to go. I have a 2006 24-inch iMac and a brand new MacBook Pro; i love them both and will never own a PC again. As far as editors adding more points because of the apple brand, those are not "extra points." The mac is definitely worth the extra cash. Our school used iMac G3's from 2000 all the way until leopard came out. Macs are very reliable and you get more bang for the buck. I've only had to call AppleCare once in the history of both of my computers; the issue was an error on my part. AppleCare customer support is very helpful and they get the job done. I'm not trying to sound like an obnoxious Apple fanboy and exaggerate the benefits of a Mac; but macs just simply work. Joining a network is a cinch. For a wired network, it's essentially plug and play. Wireless is the easiest; click the Airport in the menu bar, find the name of your network, enter the password for it, and you're in. The computer will recognize this as a previously visited network, so you don't have to enter/remember the password every time. Speaking of passwords, OS X has a built-in utility called "keychain access." Any passwords you use, OS X automatically stores it in one place. As long as you can remember your system password, it's just a matter of copy-paste. I'd also like to add that the iWork software that you can buy is simply amazing. Also, there is A TON of legit freeware available for OS X. But if you're debating as to whether you should get a cheaper PC or a more expensive Mac, just put it into perspective, for the PC, how much money you'll shell out for an anti-virus program, premium apps similar to Safari, iChat, iPhoto, iMovie, iDvd, (especially) GarageBand, iCal and iWeb. Factor the software alone into the equation and you will find that the Mac is the better bargain. The Finder (functions as Windows Explorer) is dead easy to use; it's a drag and drop sensation
But all of this is just my opinion. I would STRONGLY urge you to go for the Mac. If you would like to ask me ANY questions about my MacBook Pro, or just my Mac experience in general, I'd be more than happy to reply. I hope this helps ![]()
I'm a college student who's looking to replace a 5 year old hp dv1000 notebook computer and from examining cnet's reviews (a site that i look to when buying any device or gadget) on Apple's line of notebooks, i'm almost completely convinced that a macbook or macbook pro would be the notebook of choice for the rest of college. However, i couldn't help but question whether their computers really live up to the hype that their company advertises or whether the extra $500 is simply the price of having an apple emblem on your computer. I'm also curious as to why apple computers seemingly top each category that they're placed into. Are they really that good? or do the editors (with all do respect) add more points to the product review because of the Apple brand? are comparatively priced pc notebooks and computers just as capable as mac computers, if not more capable? Or, in another scenario, if the editors (or computer experienced individuals) could price mac notebooks based on their hardware and software, would their prices match those that Apple advertise their products to be?

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