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General discussion

Help me decide: PC or Apple laptop?

Aug 23, 2013 9:33AM PDT
Question:

Help me decide: PC or Apple laptop?


I read all your submissions and I really rely greatly on your answers so thank you!

I am in need of a new laptop. I've always had PCs but lately I have been increasingly unhappy with all the problems with errors. Inevitably a little Microsoft window pops up at the most inopportune times. It makes me crazy.

We have an iPad 2, and 4th-gen iPods. I only had one problem with my iPad in three years. I took it to Apple and they took care of it. It was as easy as pie. With my PC, it's like pulling teeth. I am good with computers and can usually work around problems, but it has gotten annoying to see little windows pop up saying my program is being closed for no reason.

So, my big question...PC or Apple for a laptop that I want to use for everyday home non-gaming use. I want to use it for e-mail, general word processing, pictures, and video. That's it. It has to be fast and work. That's all I ask. Can you help me decide?

Thanks very much!

--Submitted by Mary S. of Illinois

[NOTE to all participating members: Please keep this a civil discussion and respect each other recommendations and suggestions. Let's help this member make an informed buying decision. Thanks! -Lee ]


Note: This post was edited by its original author on 08/24/2013 at 1:31 PM PT

Discussion is locked

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Not if it's a Microsoft Office application.
Sep 4, 2013 2:37PM PDT

I've readily worked with Microsoft Office files on my Mac. I frequently take files from my Mac to a secretary using Windows to proofread and print.

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Yes, that usually works but ...
Sep 4, 2013 4:54PM PDT

... I have had the delightful experience of taking an Excel spreadsheet (that was part of an automated application) home and making two hours worth of changes to it, bringing it back and find it was not acceptable to be merged back into the system and therefore having to make the changes all over again on the Windows PC at work.

I was subsequently able to take the same sheet home, load it on a Windows machine, and make changes and successfully able to merge it back into the application.

I later found there was some difference in some of the functions and macros in the version of Excel on the Mac versus the one on the Windows platform that caused the issue.

It is best to be safe and not switch platforms -- even with MS Office files. Word is easier -- fewer Macros and functions to deal with (like normally none).

Yes, there are many occasions where you will have no trouble -- but when you are in a crunch, trouble is almost guaranteed. Isn't that a corollary of Murphy's law or something?

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It depends on your budget and preferences
Sep 3, 2013 8:21PM PDT

Apple hardware is probably the best out there, and I have seen many who will buy a Mac and install Windows as a dual boot. That's probably the best, but highest cost option.

That said, since switching to Windows 8, I have not had the problems you've described, which are quite typical with Windows 7 and earlier. So here are your options, from lowest to highest cost:

Lowest cost = Chromebook (lacks software, but does basics you've described)
Low cost = Inexpensive non-touch screen Windows 8 laptop - much more flexibility and privacy than Chromebook.
Mid-cost = Windows 8 touchscreen laptop or all-in-one (which will have a larger screen)
High cost = high-end Windows 8 or low to high-end Mac

My personal preference is Windows 8 on an HP, but others will swear by Mac, Chrome, or even Linux. I have never had to have my HP's serviced, but have always found their customer service (for ordering) to be fast and efficient. HP laptops are typically significantly less expensive than Apple laptops.

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PC vs. APPLE
Sep 5, 2013 3:08AM PDT

I do realize that your interest is in a laptop......not a desktop, but I was in a similar boat a few years ago.

I've always been a PC user, and a few years ago I was looking for a new laptop.
I "sampled" quite a few via Costco, and their generous return policy. Eventually one of the Managers put the Babbosh on my rental program. Most of them had Windows XP (which I loved), and a few had Windows 7 (which I didn't like as much). I tried ACER, DELL, ASUS, SONY, TOSHIBA, and a few HP's. I really hate to say this, because I have a phobia of DELL products, but that thing was super-fast, and just worked well. I just wasn't comfortable keeping it because years ago they had problems with their batteries, and my Sister had one that crapped-out a week after the 2 year warranty expired.

So I decided to try an APPLE.

I wanted another laptop, but actually ended up with an iMac.

I'm only writing from a PC vs. APPLE perspective.

So I ended up buying this iMac, and I went BIG! I bought a 27" with the 3.4 gig i7 quad core processor, 1 gig for the graphics, and 1 TB hard drive. I bought more ram from Crucial, and upgraded it to 16 gigs (1333mhz DDR3). The Computer came with OS X Lion 10.7

I have cable internet service from the Large local Cable company.

This computer is loaded. The only thing I didn't get was a solid state hard drive. This computer should've been more than I would ever need. I planned on keeping it for a long time, but it just never worked right from day one. It would basically freeze trying to check my e-mail. I couldn't open two windows at the same time, because I would just get the pinwheel/beach ball. Perhaps maybe an upgrade to "Mountain Lion" will have it running the way it was supposed to? Everybody I spoke with loved "Snow Leopard", and said their Mac ran great. Microsoft flubbed with Vista, then "fixed it" with Windows 7, so I know these things happen, but I was trying to get away from all the Service packs, and new Operating systems every 2-3 years that Microsoft is know for. They seem to always put out an un-finished product, then sell you the fix for it later.

Maybe I just had bad timing when I switched to APPLE...........or maybe I just got a Lemon?

I can tell you this much, I've spent 5 times as much money as if I would've if I had just stuck with a PC.

Just my 2 cents (actually $3000.00)

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Apple vs PC
Sep 6, 2013 1:13AM PDT

There is a big price difference you must consider, if that is not an issue then go for Apple.
You can browse 20-30 pages at the time, keep the tabs open and switch from one to the next.
The operating system is much more stable than Windows.
The most important issue, you don't have to buy expensive new programs when the operating system is upgrated.
With Apple you upgrade your operating system and the programs installed keep working fine, not so with Windows.

I switched to Apple 4 years ago and don't regret it.

FB

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Several untruths here
Sep 6, 2013 4:23AM PDT

Since Windows 7, Windows is as stable as Mac OS unless you have hardware problems on your computer. Windows XP and earlier were pretty unstable in my experience. If it had not been for Windows 7, I probably would have gone over to Apple too but I didn't have to.

Backward compatibility is something Windows is built on (sometimes to its detriment) so old programs generally work fine when you upgrade the Windows operating system. There are a few exceptions but they are fairly rare. I have 15-year-old programs running just fine under Windows 8. You generally do not have to replace your old programs when you upgrade Windows though some software sellers try to tell you otherwise to make more money.

Windows has never done what Apple did a few years ago when they changed the OS and the platform and everything was immediately obsolete and you had to replace everything to move up.

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Odd note about XP.
Sep 6, 2013 4:27AM PDT

At the XP, XP was the first consumer OS that we could run 24x7 data collection apps. Mind you we wrote these apps so that may be part of the discussion but prior consumer Windows (1,2,3, 95, 98, ME) were not easy to get stable for unattended data collection. Prior to XP we used Windows NT and before Windows, we had DOS and embedded computers (no real OS except the app we wrote on it!)
Bob

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I am only considering consumer applications
Sep 6, 2013 4:48AM PDT

Commercial apps written for business purposes or custom-developed by a business for their special purposes are a whole different animal. In fact, they are more likely to break when you upgrade an OS because they may be built around features specific to an OS version. This is true regardless of the OS.

There are still lots of businesses running XP but they have sometimes painted themselves into a corner as far as updating their computers since modifying their custom software can be expensive and time consuming.

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A surprise is
Sep 6, 2013 5:01AM PDT

That our custom apps from 2000 are still running today and this includes Windows 8, Windows server 2008 (sorry, no one has gone beyond that.)

The only request we've had is for an Android version.
Bob

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Not true
Sep 9, 2013 12:00AM PDT

I ran data acquisition software 24/7 on Win 2, 3, 95 and NT4 and rarely had problems. As long as the software was well designed AND THE SYSTEMS USED FOR NOTHING ELSE, I could go weeks without rebooting.

As soon as I started using the systems for other tasks, problems galore. The trick is to remember that if the software costs WAY more than the computer, get another computer for more mundane tasks. (Had trouble convincing the accountant of that.)

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Ex PC user
Sep 9, 2013 3:06AM PDT

Hi,

I use MacBokpro for 5 years now, before I had only PS's.

My experience with MAC is very positive. All software I had on PS's has equivalent. My machine did not become low over the years. It got broken couple of times, bur Apple did excellent service and fixed my mac twice. Last time almost all part of my MAC (including screen) ware replaced for $300.

I used up couple C's Dell & IBM, and they are non functional after 3 years of usage.

I would say if it is not for gaming, go with MAC.