Need advice from Freeper friends ( I'm a computer dummy ) : MAC or PC for me ?

[sushiman]

I'll keep this short and sweet . Have always owned PCs . Not a fan of Microsoft or Gates , but XP works well in the computer I have owned for 7 years . Hate having to purchase anti-virus protection and get tired of all the annoying , daily updates . But PCs give you more bang for the buck , and money is tight for me right now . Windows 7 is just around the corner , and by all reports it sounds like a winner . But I read just yesterday that Apple will release a re-freshed iMac very soon with more bang for less buck . I've been toying with the idea of switching to Apple for a while , and this new iMac might just be enough to make me go for it .

I am not a gamer . I use my computer mainly for basic stuff like internet , email , burning CDs , and watching Youtube videos . So I am thinking that I would not utilize a lot of the finer things Apple has to offer .

A dilemma of sorts .

What would you advise ? And please try to be as unbiased as possible . ; )

[SoftballMominVA]

How many people have you heard say, "I used to have a PC but then I tried a Mac and I'd never change back?" How many have you heard say, "I used to have a Mac but I'm so much happier now that I have a PC?" There's your truth. Disregard the fanboys

I used to have PC's, but i bought a MAC My next computer will probably be a PC as I am dissapointed with the amount of software available for the MAC and the fact the performance has not lived up to the hype. That being said, i do like the Mac Bar - just wish I wasn't there so often

[tophat9000]

PC are far more bang for the buck, if your money tight no way go Apple.

Wait a get one preinstall with Windows 7 (unless you technical)... if you have older XP app you want to be sure to be able to run get Windows 7 Professional or better

Anti Virus go free AVG...

If yon need new Office software but are cash tight go with free Open Office

[Vendome]

OMG!

funny!!

[sushiman]

Thanks to all for your replies . I knew I was opening up a can of worms but knew my Freeper pals would come through with good advice which would help me in making my decision .

There is no Apple store near me ( I’m in the Japanese boondocks ) , and everybody I know here in my town uses a PC , so it’s not easy for me to even check a Mac out .

[taillightchaser]

I-Mac rules and it is virus proof!!

[Vendome]

duz your compooter come with an F7 Key? lol

[Mr. Blonde]

I would go to an Apple Store if one is close. You can schedule a personal shopping session on the Apple Web site and get everything explained to you.

Also, Swordmaker can be of help.

[Aria]

HUH?!?!?!?

My non gay tech genius son wrote code for a business he started on his MAC, I’m on a MAC right now, my sister and her husband have a desktop MAC, my niece has a MAC laptop.

We like Apple because it’s the best. Who cares if someone says it’s “gay”. Sheesh...

[tacticalogic]

You buy a MAC. You build a PC.

[Nervous Tick]

Heretic. Galileo was condemned for talking trash like that.

;-)

[Nervous Tick]

Sorry Swordmaker, I meant to ping ShadowAce. I always get you two confused.

[OCC]

I use my computer mainly for basic stuff like internet , email , burning CDs , and watching Youtube videos .

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Best laugh I have had today! Thank you.

[sushiman]

” WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT ?? “

Like I said , just basic stuff .

[red-dawg]

Hate having to purchase anti-virus protection...

Even though Mac's aren't as susceptible to most virus's out there as PC's, plus the fact that you are used to PC's anyway, I would suggest going with a PC.

Wait for Windows 7 and get one with Windows 7 Home Premium and install AVG FREE Anti-Virus. It is a free and very effective anti-virus and the daily updates are painless.

[sushiman]

Even folks over at MacRumors admit that the current iMac is underpowered and overpriced , plus a lot of folks don’t like the screens and say there have been more QC issues than there used to be .

[normanpubbie]

Both Mac and PC are well-designed and built with excellent operating systems.

Macs tend to be pricier with a smaller selection of applications, but that may not be a problem for you. The uses you listed are "plain vanilla" so IMHO you'd be happy with either system.

BTW, I'm a Windows.

[mysterio]

My opinion is Apple is probably better. It pretty much depends on whether you think Apple is four or five times better, because that’s often the price differential. For me, a PC is better because I’m broke and it’s still a good machine.

[Military family member]

Every morning I turn on my Mac and my PC. I wait 10 minutes while my PC decides whether it needs to update itself, take care of any vicious virus that may have cropped up, and messes with dozens of other tasks it deems more important than whatever it is I want to do.

Meanwhile, I get a lot of work done on my Mac.

[sushiman]

The smaller selection of applications is not a problem . Even though my computer has XP , the Vista debacle has turned me off MS to some extent , hence my interest in Apple .

[antidemoncrat]

I’ve worked on PCs for a long time, starting with ones running MSDOS to ones running Windows XP Pro. I recently bought my first iMac and will never go back to a Windows machine. I hear what a lot of folks are saying about Windows 7 but I heard awhile ago they had already uncovered 50 security flaws with it. That has been Windows legacy. First release it then security update after update after update... ad nauseam. You can now get a version of MS Office for Macs and if you want to run Windows you can get Parallels for iMacs that use the Intel cpu. In fact, in my opinion Windows runs better on a Mac than on most PCs. There are more apps for PCs but every time MS releases a new version of windows some of the previous apps will no longer work. Macs are more expensive but to me they are well worth the extra money.