How Are MacBooks Better Than Windows Laptops?
MacBooks intrigue me enough that I want to buy one. However, I have been a Windows person my entire life and I’ve never owned one of Apple’s laptops. So, I’m calling on all you Apple lovers out there to educate me. I’ve heard for ages now that MacBooks are better, but I want to know why so I can make up my mind about buying one.
I want to make a smart decision. One that I won’t regret. I’m looking for a notebook that will help me produce more impressive results in less time. I’ll offer details below about the specifics of what I hope a MacBook will do for me.
I know what the competition can do, so now I hope you can help me understand what MacBooks do so much better.
Are MacBooks just sexier or will they actually enable me to produce better results in less time?
What specifically about Macbooks makes them better?
I’ve done a little research. I’ve read articles like 10 reasons a MacBook Pro is better than a PC laptop. However, reasons like longer battery life, better security, and a backlit keyboard are all pretty utilitarian.
I’ve even watched the videos Why I love my MacBook more than my PC and More reasons I love my MacBook more than my PC. Unfortunately, these didn’t really help me either.
So, I’m hoping that by extending this question, you will be able to provide me more specific and relevant information. I know this is an old question and that’s why I thought there would be a lot better answers available than what I’ve found so far.
The things I would use a MacBook to do
The three main areas where I hope a MacBook can help are:
1. Publishing my blog – Running my blog encompasses several different activities. First and foremost, it involves creating interesting, attractive content. Presently, I use Windows Live Writer on my PC notebook to do this. I write the article text, search for related content to link to, and browse Flickr for eye-catching photos.
Second, I constantly tweak my blog’s theme to keep it fresh and to add value. I administer WordPress, edit CSS, and I recently started playing around with PHP. In addition, I transfer files via FTP.
Lastly, I interact on other blog sites and social media sites like StumbleUpon, Digg, Twitter, and most recently on Tip’d. Of course, I subscribe to a plethora of sites via RSS and try to comment regularly.
All this takes time so what features of the MacBook will help me publish and promote my blog more effectively and efficiently?
2. Creating good-looking graphics – I’ve never been successful creating really good-looking graphics on a PC. Simple things seem too hard. I often know what I want, but can’t get the result I desire.
I’d like to think Macbooks handle this better. I’ve always heard about the superior graphics capability of Macs. Is this fact or fiction?
I’d like to be able to whip up some nice looking graphical ads for my site from time to time. I doubt it would ever be anything to involved, but it has to look good without eating up a ton of my time. Will the software that comes on a MacBook help me do this?
I’d also like to be able to produce more appealing presentations. The ones I create with PowerPoint always seem so blah. I want some that really look beautiful and will knock people’s socks off! What can the MacBook do here?
3. Editing amateur video – I like to record and edit video. I’ve been doing the editing using Sony Vegas on a PC. It produces great results and has pleased me so far. However, if I buy a MacBook, then I’ll probably start using it for editing.
I hope the MacBook is as good or better at this than the PC with Vegas. My only complaint editing video now is mainly centered around fairly slow performance. Would a MacBook improve this?
Is the video editing software in iLife ‘08 as good as Sony Vegas or would I need to buy something else? Would I be able to produce even snazzier videos in a shorter amount of time with a MacBook? I’m thinking of producing some online videos. How would the MacBook facilitate this?
What MacBooks have going against them
The MacBook has a bit of an uphill battle to win me over. Here are some of my concerns:
- I already know Windows so there is going to be a learning curve to overcome with OS X and Mac software.
- There is a ton of software available for the Windows platform. I’m not sure I can find as much good stuff for the Mac.
- Not only is there a lot of software available for Windows, but a lot of good stuff can be found for free. It seems that much of what is offered for Macs you have to buy.
- Some of these 32 reasons a PC is better than a Mac concern me.
I’m not sure whether my concerns are well founded or not. Please feel free to debunk any myths that I have expressed here.
Any tips about how to buy MacBooks?
I’m looking at buying the 13-inch refurbished MacBook 2.4GHz Intel that is selling for $949 on Apple’s site. I’ve also seen what looks like some decent deals in my area on CraigsList for this notebook. I’ll be paying cash and I’m trying to keep the cost down to around $1,000. Is this unit a good choice and are these good buying options?
I have no experience buying MacBooks so any information you can provide that will help me get the best deal possible for a quality MacBook preferably with some warranty coverage would be greatly appreciated. I might forgo the warranty if the price is right.
Looking forward to lots of great feedback on MacBooks
Come on all you MacBook zealots out there. Tell me what you think! One thing that has always impressed me is the passion with which you love your Macs. You don’t find too many Windows users that have the same strong feelings about their machines. I’m trying to learn something here. Please don’t hold back.
Also, be sure to pass this along to other Mac lovers so they can enlighten me as well. I want to get as much input as possible. Make me a convert!
Photo by ?Dorszi
1. My mac is far more stable than my PC. On a PC, when a program crashes it can bring down your whole system…not so on a Mac. Programs also crash and freeze far less on a Mac.
2. Macs are not susceptible to spyware and viruses.
3. Downloading updates and creating backups is far easier on a Mac.
4. My MacBook has a 5 hour battery life. That’s not trivial, that’s huge. It gives you so much more flexibility.
5. Macs are much better for designing graphics and use system resources better.
6. Leapord kicks Vista’s ass any day of the week in terms of functionality. Macs are also bluetooth enabled and the wireless internet doesn’t get any easier.
7. Macs will last longer before being outdated.
What else do you want? Get a Mac already!
To Kevin @ The Money Hawk.
I’m getting a Mac Book Pro when the core i5/i7 lineup comes out, so I’m not a Mac hater. But I have to dispute some of your statements.
//2. Macs are not susceptible to spyware and viruses.
Seriously? How so? Even Apple does not dare making such outrageous claim. (“Doesn’t get PC viruses.” is all they would claim.) Currently there is no computer operating system in the world that isn’t susceptible to spyware and viruses, to my knowledge.
//6. Leapord kicks Vista’s ass any day of the week in terms of functionality. Macs are also bluetooth enabled and the wireless internet doesn’t get any easier.
Tried Windows 7?
//7. Macs will last longer before being outdated.
What does this even mean? Apple has consistently come late to the party when it comes to using new technology. Case in point: most major PC manufactures have at least one Intel core i5 or i7 in their line up. No words from Apple.
1. only things close to hardware can freeze the entire system, can happen on a mac as well … no argument
2. there are less viruses and stuff, but not none
3. depends on the pc program you compare it to
4. get a notebook with a good battery and 5hours is not huge but the average under load
5. that was 5 years ago, photoshop and co. arent optimized for macs anymore
6. bluetooth really is a good point, comparing it to vista is somewhat strange … is there directx 10 for mac ?
7. only for fanboys
there are arguments pro mac … the design of the mb air is awesome, the unixoid underlying system is great because you can run tons of open source progs not made for windows, the case of mb pros are as good as only in higher priced lenovo notebooks, the mac version of VMware runs really smooth, …
i’d check if i need things like bluetooth and design and a non-pvc case and such stuff, because if you dont you still pay for that if you buy a mac
… and what i forgot … you shouldnt support a company selling a one-button mouse !
why not just get a mac and try to learn the OS. It will do everything you want and more. If for some very odd reason you don’t like it or wish you had something in vista, just get parallels and windows and run them at the same time.
Problem solved.
Get a mac
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Jeff,
I’ve also long been on the fence regarding buying a Mac. I’ll be honest that the major reason why we don’t own a Mac is because of cost. Can any of the Mac GURU’s give any financial reasons why Jeff or I should “invest” in a Mac?
Thanks!
-HIB
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I sell these everyday to new people who want a computer, and ask exactly what you just did.
Why should I buy it, and what are the advantages if any, to owning a macbook instead of a pc?
So, lets start of with the fact that I am biased in my opinion.
Now that that is out of the way, you should know that I am a pc fan.
Although I love macs… I detest mac users.
So condescendingly arrogant, and ill mannered.
Ok, rant aside here we go.
Yes macs can get viruses… However there are very few of them so when it comes to security, macs are by far the better of the two.
Limited software has always hindered my decision to buy a mac.
I really don’t think that learning OSX should be a daunting task for you. If you are computer savvy in the least, you shouldn’t have that many problems.
Originally photoshop and software similar to it was designed and optimized to run on a mac, but as another poster pointed out… they are no longer really any different.
On the same note however… OSX does not use the same resources that vista or XP do so running video editing software will be much more of a smooth transition for you.
PC’s have more flexibility when it comes to software selection, and like you point out, they have freeware available, unlike the macs.
Overall…. if you were asking me to recommend a mac to you if you were going to use the internet and chat with your GF I would say hell no.
For what you are planning to use it for the mac book meets all of your needs and more.
Oh and one last tidbit, the difference between all the macs…
Don’t buy one of the old school ones, stick to the new ones that were just released.
The new ones have a LED screen so brightness and color are fantastic.
The new macbook has a better graphics card as well as a better processor.
I am not going to recommend a macbook pro for you.
I am going to recommend you buy the starting new macbook.
Best buy has them starting at 1199.
Yes that IS cheaper than the mac store.
Best buy offers 18 months of no interest if cost is an objective.
Apple can only piddle around with 6 months.
Please I’m begging you do not buy a refurbished machine for any reason.
That is only asking for trouble
I know I’m forgetting something, but hey… if this helps let me know.
(:
Tyson
I have been a Mac user for years and years and have had my computers crash a total of 4 times in all those years. Also, not one virus – ever.
Trust me – once you change, you will not go back to PC’s. My mom was very hesitant to switch, but once she did she asked why I didn’t make her switch earlier.
They are on sale at BestBuy for $100 off for a few days, and look for Apple’s Black Friday sale later this week. Oh, and don’t buy the old macbook (white) – buy an aluminum one. Good luck!
Everything that you are asking for has nothing to do with the hardware. It’s all about the software that you install on your machine, and there is far more software available (to buy or download) for the PC. A MacBook starts at over $1000 and a Dell Vostro starts at $350. If you buy a MacBook you are just paying 3x more to feel hip and trendy.
@Everyone – First, I appreciate the time each of you has taken to let me know your opinion!
The comments left here seem to coincide with what I’ve read elsewhere. The people that are using a MacBook seem to love them. The people that are not seem to think Macs are more expensive, have less software available, and are just a trendy fad.
Maybe it is just my curiosity, but I can’t seem to shake the desire to own one and try it out. I don’t know if I will become a convert or not, but it seems like something I need to try myself.
Anyone else have an opinion about buying a refurb directly from Apple? What about a used one off of CraigsList?
“It just works.” That’s the best argument I can make. From the OS, to the visual interface, to Time Machine, automatic software updates, you name it, Apple does an exquisite job of insulating you from the nastiness of computer maintenance and administration that we associate with PC’s. It just works.
Bought a Macbook a year ago, my first foray into Apple-land, and have no regrets. After years of playing tech-support for my parents’ IBMs and Dells, I’ll see to it that their next computer is a Mac.
Let me start out by saying that, throughout my years i have tried all of the opeating systems (mac, windows and linux, ubuntu to be exact). And at the moment, i am a PC user and supporter.
Let me start out by saying that when you buy a mac, you are buying a maching that is greatly overpriced for the hardware you are getting. The price might be appropriate if the computer came out in the year 2000 because it would be top of the line, but right now, you are paying at least twice as much as you would for any PC equivalent.
Second, I have been using a PC at home for my entire life (except when i switched to ubuntu for about a year), and it has not crashed ONCE. That’s right, not once, after all these years. The trick? Don’t click on every single thing and install those screensavers that put a bunch of crap on your computer. That’s all there is to it. I am running AVG antivirus (which is free), and provides superb protection in case I do slip up. Also, in terms of viruses, I have never got one. Another small trick is to not download anything without first scanning it, or checking if it’s from a reputable source. So, to sum it all up, don’t be a dumbass and you and windows will get along fine. However, if you plan on being a dumbass, then by all means, go ahead and buy a mac.
Next up is gaming. I am an avid gamer (an i have a social life, amazing huh? lol) and i can tell you that all the amazing games come out for PC. There are no exclusive games for Mac, and all of their good ones also run on a PC as well. Meanwhile, Microsoft, one of the richest companies in the world, has spent millions of dollars developing games for the PC such as Bioshock and Halo. Although there are some applications that allow mac to run PC applications and games, i doubt that even the best mac out there could run Bioshock to its full potential.
Now, onto my past mac experiences and what i’ve read on the internet (namely the site about 32 reasons why PC’s are better than macs). I first started using mac in elementary school where i think we used MAC OS 9 or something like that. The computers were crap and could barely run word processing without crashing. Many times my work was completely lost when the computer crashed or froze. Now, i’m sure that the Mac OS has evolved plenty since then and fixed its many crashes. Then again, when you’re paying close to $200 a year for service packs, you might not want to upgrade all that often. Now, back to when i was in elementary school, we got a bunch of MacBooks for our school. I would say in total, probably around 30. I once inquired as to why my school bought so many mac products, and the answer was because they game schools a “good deal” on their products. Later on, one of my teachers told me that each MacBook was about $2000. I looked at the specs for the computer and it had a 1GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. Yes, that’s not a lot. And how long ago was this? The year was 2006. $2000 dollars for what would cost about $500 in a PC laptop? That’s 4 time more for exactly the same hardware. So 30 MacBooks for $2000 dollars each, in total that would be $60000 in laptops that would regularly cost about $15000 in PC laptops. And why would we spend all this money on these particular laptops? The answer would be because the company gave us a “good deal” on them. The school i was at, being one of the more funded schools in the district, could have done very well without a bunch of over priced laptops. Imagine if all that money was spent on a school 50 years old in that same district. It would make a huge difference, but instead, it was spend on a company that gave us a “good deal.”
anyways, i could go on about this, but really, in general, nobody should get a mac, they’re non-intuitive, overpriced, and there are so many more free applications that do what any mac application can do on a PC.
Mike: “really, in general, nobody should get a mac, they’re non-intuitive, overpriced, and there are so many more free applications that do what any mac application can do on a PC.”
I completely disagree. I, like you, used PCs as my primary computers my entire life. It wasn’t until the Intel MacBook came out that I decided I’d give Apple a shot. That was a couple years ago, and I’ll never buy another PC again.
The regular MacBook _is_ comparably priced, but the Mac and MacBook Pros are a little pricey. But it’s well worth it. Since purchasing the MacBook, I’ve also bought a MacBook Pro, and both my MacBooks have lasted without any problems far longer than any computer I’ve ever owned (I’m hard on my computers). Everything still works exactly as it did the day I got them.
As for being non-intuitive, you couldn’t be more incorrect. I’m the kind of guy that learns every keyboard shortcut for every program. I learn all the ins and outs of everything on my computer. OS X is far more unified than Windows is. This is in part due to Apple’s (highly researched) UI guidelines that dictate how programmers should lay out their software. Shortcuts are far more universal, and software behaves much more consistently across the system in OS X than on Windows.
I will grant that there are perhaps more applications available for Windows than for OS X, but that trend is quickly changing. Of course, if you’re living in Windows World, you’re not searching for Mac software, so it would seem like there’s hardly any available. But I can guarantee you that there is plenty of free software available for the Mac, and in my experience the free software is of higher quality than similar software for the PC. Again, this is an area I have “researched” in depth: I’m definitely a software pack-rat. I’m constantly looking for interesting new programs to install on my system and try out, and I have yet to not be able to find an application to do what I need to do.
Speaking of which, some people would have you believe that it’s harder to find pirated software for the Mac than it is for Windows. Again, I’ve found that to just not be the case at all.
Mike, you mention that when you were in elementary school, you got a bunch of MacBooks at your school. The MacBook only came out a couple years ago. I take it then that you’re in middle school now? I don’t want to belittle your opinion, but I’ve been using PCs since Windows 3.1 and Apple computers since the Apple ][ (before Macs were invented). I’ve personally run every version of Windows since then, and used most versions of Mac OS throughout my school career. Up until OS X 10.4 Tiger, I hated using Macs. But Tiger, and especially 10.5 Leopard, are miles beyond their predecessors, and far better than Windows.
I mentioned earlier that I upgraded from a MacBook to a MacBook Pro. The reason was that the Dell desktop PC my parents had purchased only six months previously crapped out on them. My dad, the primary user of that computer, had become increasingly fed up with the PC. So I convinced him to try out my MacBook instead of buying another PC. Now, my parents are definitely not tech savvy by any means, but they both quickly acclimated to the new OS, and I get far fewer tech support calls from them now than I ever used to.
When I made the switch to Macs, I did it because I figured that in the worst case scenario, I could just run Vista on it and have a solid Windows notebook. But now the only reason I ever boot into Vista is to play games. I will agree that PCs are more gamer friendly, but mostly just because game publishers haven’t been coding for OS X. It’s not that they don’t run well; I’ve been playing Fallout 3 since it came out and it runs great. Of course, having the ability to install new graphics cards is crucial to being on the cutting edge of computer gaming. But I was never interested in playing games immediately as they came out if it meant I had to shell out another couple hundred bucks just for a new graphics card. For me, consoles handle that task far better.
My suggestion to Jeff would be to get a regular MacBook and try it out. Or if you want the best of both worlds, look for a good deal on one of the MacBook Pros from the last generation. If you give it a couple weeks, you’ll find you can do everything you used to do and more, and more easily and efficiently than ever before.
And one more thing: I want to clarify that Macs are, so far, not susceptible to viruses. The only malware that has been able to infect OS X are Trojans. There is a major difference between Trojans and viruses, though, and that is that Trojans disguise themselves as innocuous software, and require action on the part of the user to grant administrative access, hence the name Trojan. Trojans can affect any system, because they exploit the one weakness that all systems share: the user. So it is incorrect to say that Macs are vulnerable to viruses, as so far they are not.
As another user of all platforms since they were first introduced, I have to agree with mediaphile. These days I live in my MacBook Pro 17″. I have XP Parallels bubbles for when I need Windows stuff (Office, Visio, Visual Studio, IE 7, …), I have VmWare Fusion bubbles for when I need pure Linux stuff, and Tiger for everything else. For apps, go to versiontracker.com. Also visit vmware.com, get their free player, and there is a lafrge library of pre-built Linux bubbles to play with. There’s plenty of free stuff. Pretty much everything Open Source is available, from standard stuff like Office equivalents (OpenOffice.org) and photo (Gimp), comes with reasonable DVD creator and movie maker but again plenty of free superior programs available. And stuff just looks better, and Just Works ™. As to value for the buck, I’ve had those cheaper PC laptops, as well as higher end ones at the same price-point. You just have to hold the Aluminum Mac on your hand to know it is greatly superior – feels robust, doesn’t flex, battery solidly in place… I have a Gateway where the battery fit loses contact if I pick it up wrong and it just shuts down. The place I worked at then gave everybody one of these and they all had the same problem. The big Dells flex like crazy, the case is not strong enough for the weight of the innards. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.
I just read through the 32 reasons etc. Obviously not a lot of experience using Macs. Nor is it correct on prices. Where does he get $914 for a mini from? Or that one does not get Bluetooth? The thing about the hardware is not (merely) the looks – though they are fine – it is the solidity of the design, where form follows function and the looks follow form. I would also point out the Parallels runs Windows faster than a native boot. Faster boot, and I get 100 fps in my WinAmp AVS projects but only 25 on my buddy’s native PC machines. The slower meme may be a hang-over from the days when Windows was emulated on the PPC. Today there is no emulation. It is running directly on the Intel Core Duo (or whatever) silicon.
Basically, you pays your money and you makes your choice. Yes, there are cheaper PCs. They are also flimsy, delicate, prone to failure.
I’m a Network/Sys Admin by career (over 12 years), use my PC everyday, and love Vista. I borrowed a friends MacBook over the summer for a trip and fell in love with it so I got one. It rocks. The number one reason: It’s pretty! I only use for light duty travelling stuff like checking webmail and browsing, but I’d never trade it for a PC laptop, ever. Just the same, I wouldn’t give up Vista on my desktop, either.
As far as graphic design work goes, sorry dude, but it’s probably more a case of the user than the tool. I’ve done some limited design work for a few side-projects, and teh only way to get good is to get real training on Photoshop and Illustrator. The platform doesn’t matter, they’re interchangeable.
P.S. Don’t buy the MacBooks don’t crash crap. I C&B mine on a daily basis.
Wow, your article is exactly what I went through recently! I opened up my new Macbook White yesterday. I got the same one you were looking at with the 2.4 ghz chip, 2 gig ram, and 160 HD. Off the bat it looks great! Problems so far though: Can’t get my wireless connection to work. Not sure if it’s that my router isn’t compatible or I need to keep trying connecting it. It hasn’t been as easy as Apple makes it out to be. I can connect via ethernet with no problem though. Also, there was a piece of the power adapter missing. I called them this morning and they are shipping it to me with no problems. So make sure everything is included.
I was concerned with costs too which is why I went with the refurb machine. Many say that you can get a PC cheaper which is true but wen you compare the features on the Macbook to a comparably built PC the costs aren’t as extreme anymore. Some of the stuff I may never use (video chat, bluetooth) But maybe I will and it’s nice that it comes included on the Mac. For all I heard I decided to switch.
My previous laptop was reformatted at least twice! Not fun. I wanted a system that just worked. I know there’s a bigger expense but I also tend to use computers well (last one lasted 6-7 years) so I think it will be worth it.
Wish I could give you a better review but it’s still too new to me.
Black Friday may have good deals on new machines but may not apply to refurbs. Also Apple currently will give a $100 rebate on a printer so on top of the computer I got a free printer as well (it cost $99).
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@Everyone – I’ve been a PC user for a long time and I work in a corporate IT setting. I know what PCs can do. I use and support them every day. I know that a well-maintained Windows machine performs well and is stable.
However, as I began this article, I am still intrigued by the MacBook. I’m probably going to get one. The comments here have just further solidified my desire. I went to look at them again today at Best Buy. They are sweetly designed notebooks!
I am truly impressed by the passion with which Mac owners love their machines. I have to see what it is all about.
It will probably be a couple of months before I make the purchase. I have to save up the cash because I don’t use credit.
I’d still like to hear from someone that has personally had experience buying a refurbished MacBook from Apple. It seems like a great way to save some cash. Anyone care to comment on this?
I did it once, and sad to say I will never do it again. I only buy new now, as as much as they refurbish them, they are not new – and sometimes it shows. A few friends have had more probs with refurbished than with new, and for something this expensive I always buy new now – it’s not worth the small amount of savings. Also, you might be getting old technology (like the white and black ones in the refurb section right now – the new ones are aluminum) versus the newer, better stuff. If you have to, I would wait to save up the extra few hundred and get a new, up-to-date machine for sure. Good luck!
Oh, and don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot find the software you need – I have been on only Mac forever and have always found what I needed.
@David – Thanks! I think I’ll do as you advise and wait until I can buy a new one. It might take me another month or so to save the funds, but it will probably be worth it. I definitely want one of the aluminum MacBooks with the LED displays.
I feel pretty comfortable that the software is out there. There may not be as much variety, but I’m sure I can find what I’ll need.
the best part about macs is being about to walk into any apple store and ask them “hey, how do i do this?” and they give you an answer. they train their staff well. yuo are paying for a well thought out, engineering piece of intellectual artwork.
I definitely think it’s worth taking the time to learn the Mac system. They even have these weekly classes ($100 for the year, i think) where you can chip away at all the nuances of the tips and tricks of a mac, the same way you learned your pc (though you probably didnt realize it at the time). The benefits significantly outweigh the costs of the turnoffs you mentioned. You learning the mac and embracing your fears is exactly what this blog and life should be all about.
@deb – Thanks for the info about the classes! I’ll have to check into that. You are right that this blog and living life to the fullest is all about facing one’s fears and stepping out into new challenges. I appreciate the encouragement!
A bit late to the reply, but I love my Mac!
5 years ago I was one of two people in a class of 120 software engineers to own a Mac. As we graduated, more than 50% of these 120 students owned Macs. If that’s not enough, I don’t know what is. Oh, and I don’t think you should get one because everyone else did… I just think you should try one out and see how smoothly it runs, and how pretty the graphics are. 
What can I say, I’m a girl.
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I’m a little perplexed about a post asking for advice, when you clearly already plan to get the Mac Book.
I think Macs are great, but in my opinion, you’re paying a lot more money for something that does what a PC can do for less. It’s all about branding… and Mac is just better at making people believe they’re superior.
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@Christina – It is true that I am thinking seriously about getting a MacBook. However, at the same time, I’m trying to learn more about them. I think this is a smart approach.
It is good to hear differing opinions before making a purchase. Right now, I still have the chance to change my mind because I’m saving up the cash I need to buy a MacBook.
Most PC users make the argument that their machines can do the same thing a Mac can do for less up front cost. I’ve been in this camp for many years. However, this doesn’t really dissaude me.
There are often cheaper alternatives. For instance, why don’t we all drive the cheapest car possible? They all get us from Point A to Point B. It is because there are other value propositions beyond just price.
Mac users seem passionate about their machines. I’m interested in finding out myself what this is all about. I think I can make an honest and unbiased evaluation. I’ll let you know if I simply got caught up in the hype or if there really is something to what all these Mac people believe.
Thanks for adding to the discussion!
jeff, all i can say, as i want a macbook too, is to go to an apple store, and sit at a macbook and plunk around on it. thats what i did when i was wondering if i want one, and after that, i decided that it would be good for me and im buying one soon.
seriously though, just get one already. ive read this in many of the comments : it just works.
this is seriously true. both soft ware and hardware are made by apple, so there are fewer problems. yes, PC’s have an edge in some categories, but for your needs, they dont.
mac users are passionate, because they are good machines. simple.
now, stop reading comments and go get one!
[...] How Are MacBooks Better Than Windows Laptops?. Jeff asks his readers why the MacBook has such a strong reputation. The value here is in the comments. I read all of them before making my decision. [...]
I bought a G4 iBook in the summer of 2004 because I was starting a grad program that used Macs and Mac software exclusively, so if I wanted to do any homework at home vs. in the computer lab I needed a Mac (plus my PC desktop from college was so sluggish it was unusable)
The number one reason I will only even buy Macs for the rest of my life is that 4 years later it still runs super fast and has never had the pop-up and virus problems I have encountered on any personal PC. All of my family members have PCs and it seems like after 6 months or so they become so sluggish that you pretty much can’t use them. I know this is not typical for all PC users, but it was for me, and now with a Mac I have no problems.
Is my Mac-loving-life perfect? no, I have one of the first 10X versions on my iBook and the latest Flash player is not compatible, and since I dont want to shell out $$ for an updated OS I am out of luck to watch video online…my system is also too out of date to get my pictures into my Picasa account.
You won’t run into these problems with a new Mac, but be advised that if you plan to keep the same computer for 4+ years the now current OS will probably be too old at some point.
I never made it to 4+ years with a PC, so I am happy…and in the next few months may start saving up for a new MacBook, not to be trendy or cool, but because for me an expensive computer every 4 years is more cost effective than a cheaper computer every 2 years.
Debs right! There are many adult education centres that have class in graphic design that use Mac, you should enrol on a course and check that the Mac can produce the results that you want it could save you a lot of money and you get the benefit of the course
I guess if you want to look cool and trendy, a Mac would be the way to go. But I guess for myself, I use Windows Live Writer and other PC based software, which I guess I could run on a Mac, but if I am going to spend that much money on a laptop, I could get a PC based one with more features for less money.
I think for now, I am going to stick with PC, though owning a Mac would be a new experience for me.
Read Marc Norris´s latest article – Five Uses for your Old Laptop
If you guys are looking for cheap used macbooks, check applepalace, they give 60 days warranty on the computers, much better than buying from ebay or craigslist. Click here for the used macbooks page or try used macbook pro
I am an avid Windows user, but against the odds, I’ll make a case for macs.
Macs are more expensive, probably more expensive than they need to be. But depending on what you want to use them for, they can be worth it.
From all that I have seen, Macs are a lot better to edit video on. I don’t edit much video, but if I did so frequently, I would want a Mac. As far as graphics, it’s a mixed bag. With adobe photoshop, Windows computers and Macs alike are powerful tools for creating cool graphic effects. If you aren’t up for photoshop, or it’s learning curve, I have a feeling that a Mac would be better suited for giving you the results you want to see.
Either way, a Windows computer or a Mac is a good option, and I would recommend that you seriously test out a Mac before you buy one. Maybe you could borrow one from a friend or hang out at a Mac store, but make sure that you can do all of the things that you want to do with the Mac before you buy one.
This comment is to everyone who has posted on this topic. EVERY single person i know who has ever owned a mac, still owns a mac, and every person i know who has never owned a pc are the kind of people that dont like new stuff, want to stick to what they KNOW works, and the people i know who own macs are extremely happy they converted, and i constantly hear pc users talking about how much they hate their slow computer, i personally just bought a new macbook 2.6Ghz, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, w/ the OS X snow leaopard OS, it is fan freaking tastic, my best friend has a macbook pro he got 2 years ago and he always told me how his has never once been slower than when he got it out of the box, and i hear all the crap people talk about iphones and i too own an iphone 3g and plan on soon upgrading to the 3Gs, before i bought my iphone i thought oh my regular cellphone works fine blah blah blah, now that i have an iphone i have converted no lie at least 15 people to iphones from LG’s and blackberries and everything, my mom had an LG view, my brother had a blackberry pearl, my other brother had a pantech duo matrix, and my dad had a palm treo, and most of my close friends had many different types of cell phones and have all converted to an iphone, my point being, everybody always thinks cheaper is better and people think, my razr or my palm treo or my LG view can do everything an iphone can and for cheaper, same thing with PC’s and MAC’s, APPLE PRODUCTS ARE DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY. period, case closed, PC Only users i would bet have never used a mac and go off of the negative hype about macs that they hear from other people who have never owned one, same with the iphones, apple products are so much more superior to others of their kind it is insane, everything i did on my PC i found out how to do the very first day i opened my Macbook, please, if you want a laptop that will last u much longer, and stay fast way longer than ANY PC, buy a macbook, macbook pro, or macbook air. you talk about how much mac users love their macs, i am prime example, its because we doubted them like everyone else did but once we stepped out of the norm away from all the people who think they know everything and found out they were wrong and saw how amazing macs are, thats why we love our macs so much man, do yourself a favor and buy a macbook, and too all you other PC users, do yourselves a favor and buy a macbook.
i just did this second post because i forgot to click the notify me of follow up comments and i want to see what people have to see about my comment, if any of you disagree with me, go to an apple store, sit at a macbook or macbook pro or macbook air for 30 minutes and fool around with it, and i bet you will say wow, this is a really good computer and it actually probably is worth the 1000 dollars or so it costs, i personally paid 1300 dollars for a very high end HP at a best buy in 2006 when vista first came out, dont get me wrong at all, i love vista and i am thinking about doing the parrallels and vista programs on here just to simply keep them around for if’s ?? but on that high end hp i got in 2006 it crashed in december of 2008 right after classes ended and i got the hp on january 16th of 2006 when i started college my second semester after seeing how useful a laptop is in class, then once people started showing up with more and more macs i thought, they cant be as bad as the hype, so i played around on that friend of mines and fell in love and actually had my laptop repaired in january of 2009, but once i started this semester fall sem of 2009 i was like I HAVE TO HAVE A MACBOOK, they are great, they just simply WORK like everyone says, and they’re sleek and elegant looking, and yes a bit of a status icon too, same with the iphones, but being a status icon they also perform better than imaginable to a non apple user. thanks guys
I’ve been a windows user for 20 years. Recently i bought a macbook pro 17inch. Let me say this…. i cannot describe how much better it is than the PC. I’m a systems/solution architect and live on my computer 24/7. I do things from software development, word processing, blogging, email, video editing… you name it. I dont play games. My wife is a pc user and just uses it for email, surfing, and some other basic things. I have to fight with her when she takes over my macbook. She has been begging me for an imac for the last month.
Overall, the mac is MORE RESPONSIVE! things just work. And most softwre you need is already installed like imovie,iphoto, iDVD, cd burner….
Not to mention, surfing on the internet using safari is 100 times better. No crashes like IE and every page renders fast. Also, I never shut my mac down. its always on sleep mode and works like a champ everytime.
PC laptops are built cheap. they are flimsy and feel cheap. now thats a fact.
I am truely a new passionate mac user.
I however let my 3 year old daughter use a pc. She doesnt know better. But my 6 year old dumped per brand new laptop for a macbook.
ITs worth the extra money given that you will have less headaches when your pc runs slow or crashes.
You buy a 6 year old a Macbook? You are either rich or they are spoiled.
Jeff,
Have you bought a macbook? If you did, what’s your experience so far?
I just bought a macbook pro a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. I came from pc as well and im not going to say that I hate pc, but I will say that the experience with the mac is far more pleasureable. The operating system is alot more smoother and loads a lot vs windows. Im not a fanboy, but currently apple does have my interest, because they seem to pay attention to the little things, such as curving the keys on the keyboard for comfort when typing and they have a very friendly and helpful staff. I plan on doing more things with the macbook, since my major is software engineering and from there I will really put the mac to the test. All I can really say is that once you get a mac, there is a strong possibility that you may not go back to a pc. As for the people who say that it is overpriced, well they may feel that way, but you have to actually own one or have owned one to come to that conclusion. I felt the same way and I now know that it is worth every penny, although I dont know about the price on the 17″ because that one is a bit steep. Well if you havent gotten one yet, I say get one, and if you dont like it, then you can always sell it, because the resell value on it is a lot higher than an pc and someone is bound to buy it off of you if youre not happy with it.
It’s funny to read the people who throw up the argument about cost / hardware comparisons. It’s really a silly argument.
It’s kinda like comparing a BMW/Lexus to a Ford Escort / Hyundai. Yeah….ya buy an engine, 4 wheels and both cars get your from point A to point B. And well, you can buy a Ford Escort for considerably cheaper than a BMW / Lexus. Are the BMW/Lexus overpriced for what you get? Not to the owners. If you want to go in style, with better engineering, with better performance….you go with a higher end car. Same thing goes for the Mac vs. the cheapo PC.
It comes down to this: Go to a mac store and play with is / use it. It’s all about personal preference….and it’s really difficult to try and break it down to pros/cons. I’m a Mac guy….I love it. I get more done, faster, more efficiently with the Mac then I do with a PC. The value I get from this FAR exceeds any minimal extra cost the Mac carries.
Some people have a personal preference for the PC. Hey…good for them…I don’t begrudge ‘em anything.
One thing to point out….90+% of the people who have actually used mac…LOVE it. On the other hand, I hear a lot of people complaining about their PCs and Windows
There is a REASON for that. One that’s hard to quantify….you just have to use the Mac and you’ll understand 
I have heard that Macs are very good at video editing (Film schools mostly use Macs). If I go into film school I will have to buy one so I am looking around at pros and cons. Good luck with your Macbook!
I actually within the past 5 minutes bought the new macbook. I am an online college student [my husband is military so its hard to go to an actual university with the way we move] I have always been a PC user aside from my junior year of highschool [which was about 5 years ago] when we had to use MAC for my video communications class. I loved it then. Personally I am switching for the simple fact that I have had 3 laptops and a desktop [all with the newest versions of windows for each] and they all have completely crashed multiple times. I spent hundreds of dollars on repairs and virus protection and none of it worked. Now my point is that while my husband was in Iraq last year [THE IRAQ INTERNET IS A MANIFEST OF VIRUSES] he took my HP laptop with him. It was brand new when he left for deployment. While in Iraq his roommate bought the macbook. After one year of having to use Iraq internet the laptop took over 20 minutes to even turn on-mind you-my husband is a pretty great guy with computers- his roommate, who is HORRIBLE at computers, had absolutely no problems what so ever with his macbook. he came back and it was working in the same order as when he left. That’s why my husband has me buying one for myself. Just wanted to share that. Hope it helps. ill come back once I get it and let you know personally what I think of it!
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