Swapped to Macs 12 years ago and never regretted it. Currently have two iMacs and a Powerbook the only problem I have ever had was a HD failure but Apple arranged for courier pick up to one of their repairers and it was back in three days.

With regard to MS Office compatibility I use Open Office and it works fine and is free. http://www.openoffice.org/

I don't miss the Blue Screen of Death.  Andy

Guess it depends on what you wanno do and are capble off using. I use PC-version-only software which locks me to PCs. If you don't have that issue and use a ot of other apple stuff and are prepared to learn the new way of using the OS I guess apples are a good alternative.

I probably, as a programmer, by an apple one of these days as I have a few ideas for iphone apps I wanna try out. Only thing holding me back atm is the cost and if I'd make enough money back from the apps to repay it.

As an entrepreneur I always think that way: if and how fast I get the investment back...

My 6 year old, intesively used DELL inspiron still does all the necessary jobs without hesitation so don't have yet felt the need for a replacement. As I only seldomly turn it of and keep it in sleep mode most of the time, it starts up fine but I do agree it takes a hell of a long time te boot it up. Battery is done however and I'd buy a 13" or max 15" next time. A 17" laptop as I have now is more like a desktop then an actual laptop as it's to big to move around. One can always build a docking setup if needed.

If I were new to computers I'd go for linux, but that is a personal choise as it suits the business I'm in. User interfaces on linux are hardly great, not to mention plug and play stuff, but it's dead cheap and fast to use.

On a Mac you can run OSX, windows and linux at the same time using either multi-boot or virtually as for a PC I don't think OSX will run on it.

athelstan wrote:

The expiration of the battery has led to me yesterday to spec a new 27" iMac with all the whistles, plus a 2TB Time Capsule and the AppleCare Protection Plan. That lot here in CH tallies CHF2,600 or at today's FX rate GBP2,110. Now if that package is as durable and reliable as my current iBook I'll think that that is excellent value for money.

Thinking that most PC users would feel that this is an expensive change, because in monetary terms its huge. In value terms its common sense.

Ask yourself why we always hear Mac owners saying they made the change and wouldnt go back, but I'm yet to hear of a PC owner that changed from Mac to a PC and said they would never go back to a Mac.

There must be a reason for that  2012 DISCOVERY 4 GS AUTO ORKNEY GREY
2012 FREELANDER 2 SD4 GS AUTO BALTIC BLUE - GONE
2011 FREELANDER 2 TD4 GS MANUAL BALI BLUE - GONE

The reason is the Mac to Pc owner can't get online to say he'll never go back  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Once you go Mac, you don't go back

the wife heard that saying in scotland once  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I believe that possibly the main reason why folks don't go back to a PC is superior "Platform Stability".

As mentioned by AiiEEX; Apple design & build both the hardware and software platforms, this ensures (as much as is humanly possible with any manufactured item) that there is a higher synergy (i.e functional stability) between them.

PC 's are manufactured by a plethora of companies, some highly skilled in those processors and others less so, but importantly, they are all trying to handshake their individual esoteric and dissimilar hardware components with generally the same common Microsoft one-stop-suits-all operating system. That naturally induces "fit" problems. Those fit problems also have a propensity to enable the illegal viral access to one's computing system.

It is akin to accepting that the human frame can be condensed into a single geometry of average neck, arm, breast, leg, waist, hip, etc.. Not possible. That's why a bespoke tailored suit or dress will always adorn the client better than M&S's best efforts.

Off the peg PC or a tailored MAC - it really is no contest. And so it is reasonable to expect to pay a little more for a bespoke product.

Thanks guys, most helpful.

Does anyone know what you can do with macs when you encounter a file that needs flash player or PDF etc. Apples ongoing battle means they don't work on my iPhone so is there a way around this? LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

OS X 10.4 - 10.6, Flash, Adobe PDF not a problem, downloads are available from Adobe.

EYorkshire wrote:

OS X 10.4 - 10.6, Flash, Adobe PDF not a problem, downloads are available from Adobe.

Doctor,
I think u will find the MAC is much better in the snow than the PC........
Seriously I bought an apple MAC about 14 months ago as a replacement for my PC. Never had a virus, still runs fast, no problems with word or excel, never regretted it. Wife finds it a little irritating because some of the shortcuts or navigation is a little different to her works PC but she is still able to transition from one to the other if she needs to print something off and is using the MAC a little more often now. In terms of cost, there is little difference between a top quality well specified PC and the Apple MAC although you can buy cheap PC/laptops
Scott

zone30 wrote:

EYorkshire wrote:

OS X 10.4 - 10.6, Flash, Adobe PDF not a problem, downloads are available from Adobe.

On the computer: yes
On iPhone: no

Apple bans flash from iPhone and iPad to protect their appstore. On would be able to build apps in flash otherwise which can be randomy used circumventing the appstore. This would mean less income for apple.

The Doctor wrote:

Thanks guys, most helpful.

Does anyone know what you can do with macs when you encounter a file that needs flash player or PDF etc. Apples ongoing battle means they don't work on my iPhone so is there a way around this?

not heard bout the vulnerability in an Macbook laptop battery that could allow a hacker to set fire to your laptop ?? http://pixelsmashers.com/?p=10813

In all seriousness I think that Apple's generally are in a league of there own and whilst you get plenty of skeptics, users of the apple all say how good they are. I for one would not hesitate moving to an apple (and my background is very much Microsoft) if it were not for the money. Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints