Need Freeper help: PCs vs. Mac

[Maceman]

OK Freepers --

My 80-year old Mom needs a new computer, and has asked me for advice on whether to get a PC or a Mac. (Her old computer, which she got in 1999, is a Gateway PC running Windows 98.)

I am a Windows person. I have been very pleased with the Windows XP Professional OS that came with my computer, which I bought in 2001. If my mom gets a Mac, I will not be able to help her with troubleshooting as I have in the past.

On the other hand, her neighbor is a Mac-person, is available to help her with trouble shooting, and has been aggressively lobbying for her to get a Mac.

My Mom is very smart, and has learned the PC environment well. She is not a power user, but she knows how to reinstall Windows and can do a lot of other cool stuff.

But she is confused by the conflicting input she is getting from me and her neighbor.

Cost is definitely a consideration here.

So I put it to my fellow Freepers -- should my Mom's next desktop be a Mac or a Windows XP PC? (Please let's not complicate things with Linux).

[sarasota]

We have a winner! Get her an iBook.

[TheBigB]

I've never understood why this discussion usually gets so out of hand. You like PCs, use PCs. You like MACs, use MACs. I've used both and really, I didn't see a dime's worth of difference. You never see people arguing over whether Sony or Panasonic is the better TV.

[Sockdologer]

[Izzy Dunne]

less compatible.

Yeah, no kidding. My Macs just won't run MyDoom, SoBig, The Love Virus, any of that popular stuff...

[Protagoras]

People get emotionally involved with the products they use. I find it goofy as well.

[BadAndy]

Mac users are usually found on the DU site. Real conservatives use PCs. {:-]

Faster
Cheaper
Reliable
More and better software
Better support

Nuff Said.

[Sockdologer]

I confess, I cried when my old 286 finally died :P

[skinkinthegrass]

...or a Timex 1000/Sinclair 1000. :)

[bwteim]

On the other hand, her neighbor is a Mac-person, is available to help her with trouble shooting, and has been aggressively lobbying for her to get a Mac

It is a function of who is closest to your Mother in terms of accessability. Regardless of OS choice, I see it more like a function:

Type of OS to Buy for Mother=Function of (Neighbor'sProximity to Mother *Neighbor'sKnowledge of OS)+Function of (Neighbor's Willingness to Tend to Same)/Age of Mother+[Patience of Son+Time Available to Visit for Tech Assistance]

[BlazingArizona]

I'm a heavy user of both PC and Mac. Since cost is a consideration, she should get a new PC running Windows XP Pro. The main advantages of Mac - heavy graphics and being able to run Unix apps at the same time as the GUI - will not be relevant to her, and she can get a new PC for a lot less than a new Mac.

[BlazingArizona]

I'm a heavy user of both PC and Mac. Since cost is a consideration, she should get a new PC running Windows XP Pro. The main advantages of Mac - heavy graphics and being able to run Unix apps at the same time as the GUI - will not be relevant to her, and she can get a new PC for a lot less than a new Mac.

[tiamat]

I've set a couple of seniors up with Macs, and they have had great success.

Would Mom be willing to accept a refurbbed machine if cost is an issue? Maybe one of the older iMacs like a G3?

[The_Victor]

You should get her the computer that you are most comfortable with. Since she's going to call you whenever something goes wrong, you'd better know the computer she's using.

[hawkboy]

And I suppose Tom Clancy is a D.U.er then, because he uses a Mac?

[Abynormal]

Well, this MAC user made the choice instead of PC... mainly because I don't have time to troubleshoot my own PC problems. The Mac is easier and more efficient.

Your mother is simply only using word processing, Internet use and email.... I would choose Mac because you have a good neighbor and your are utilizing your creative spirit instead of that old, boring everyone else has a Windows environment.

Such as only boring folks would think that Mac users are found on the DU site.... maybe correct on really, really right conservatives. No place for mom though!

[rageaholic]

Yeah, reminds me of when I posed the same question here a while back. My new brand new Mac was constantly crashing and hanging up. It also crawled along the internet, even using high speed access it took ages for a photo to open. When I voiced my complaints here, Mac users ganged together and accused me of everything from lying to spreading rabies. Well....exxxxxxcuuuuuse me!

I was constantly calling tech support, erasing, reloading and erasing software. I got so sick of the Mac people blaming the software people and the software people blaming the Mac people, that I got a Dell PC which operates very well.

But recently I gave the very same Mac a lobotomy and installed the new operating system "OSX" which works perfectly. Now Its easy to use, doesn't hang up and the Safari programs works well on the internet. Never experienced a freeze or crash.

Interestingly, the Mac people who previously swore their operating system was infalliable now admit that the old OS had "some bugs".

Now my only reservation with the Mac is the higher cost of software compared to a PC. I'd say the Mac is slightly easier to use, but unless one is planning to use graphic intensive software, the PC is a better deal if cost is a factor.

[Paulus Invictus]

Most MACS do not require troubleshooting, so you are safe if she wisely gets a real computer with virtually no problems. They are easy to use and resist viruses and worms too. What more can you ask for your Mom?

[antiRepublicrat]

She's obviously smart enough to be able to switch, so that shouldn't be a consideration. I'd do the following:

See if there are any exact software titles she needs that's not available on the Mac. Not functionality, but titles, because there's a Mac equivalent in functionality for most PC software.

If she has to buy any new software, calculate that into the Mac/PC price equation, which could tilt to to PC is she has a lot of software. Look at OpenOffice for free office software. MS Office is available for the Mac, and is generally considered superior to the PC version. The Mac will already come with browser, email, etc.

If that didn't kill the Mac, let her sit down in front of one and see if she likes it better. If she does, get her one. If not, get a PC with XP and use remote desktop to fix all the problems.

One Mac advantage, you and/or your neighbor will likely get fewer service calls, and you can tell her not to worry when the next MyDoom type worm comes around.

[Snuffington]

Heh, heh. Like you need another opinion, but you asked for it so...

Ignore 90% of the advice on this thread. The vast majority of Mac people know squat about PC's and vice versa. But they'll still eagerly impart their biases in the guise of knowledge. Humor them and ignore.

I think you're overthinking this. We're past the period where there's much of a reliability difference, if you choose a quality vendor anyway. You can find plenty of software for both platforms. We're now into a period where this is really just a matter of personal taste.

I'd say take your mom out to some retail store where she can play around with both. See what she likes better. You'll have no trouble finding good prices or support either way.

[tiamat]

Izzy Dunne wrote:

Yeah, no kidding. My Macs just won't run MyDoom, SoBig, The Love Virus, any of that popular stuff...

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ROFOLMAO!

;-)