Thread: Dell or Imac

It depends a lot on what you want to do with it.

For a lot of people, it would be a much better idea to buy a much cheaper PC which would be quite capable of doing the job and spend the couple of thousand dollars you have saved on parts or accessories for the Land Rover.

The question is not which is the best computer or the best OS. The question is what is the best computer for the job you need to do at a price you can afford or are prepared to pay.

If you are worried about viruses and other nasties, then for some people the sensible answer is a Dell with Linux installed.

Just as we don't all need to rush out and buy a Lexus or a Ferrari to serve as a shopping trolley for SWMBO, we don't all need to pay for more computer than we need.

Just because the Mac may (or may not) be a better computer does not mean that it is the one you should buy.

Originally Posted by vnx205

It depends a lot on what you want to do with it.

For a lot of people, it would be a much better idea to buy a much cheaper PC which would be quite capable of doing the job and spend the couple of thousand dollars you have saved on parts or accessories for the Land Rover.

The question is not which is the best computer or the best OS. The question is what is the best computer for the job you need to do at a price you can afford or are prepared to pay.

If you are worried about viruses and other nasties, then for some people the sensible answer is a Dell with Linux installed.

Just as we don't all need to rush out and buy a Lexus or a Ferrari to serve as a shopping trolley for SWMBO, we don't all need to pay for more computer than we need.

Just because the Mac may (or may not) be a better computer does not mean that it is the one you should buy.

Some of what you say I agree with but one key point about the OS I have to comment on. This is the fact the Mac OS X is a significantly more intuitive and functional user interface to Vista. Apple also provide easy access to a fantastic amount of online video tutorials - yes, I know MS also do, but they are no where near as easy to access. I say this not from just my on personal experience but from what I have experienced since my elderly parents swapped to the iMac from an PC running XP. In the last 12 months they have had virtually no problems, where as when they had the PC they had weekly issues. For someone who is not computer savvy the Mac is a far better choice.

The basic Mac certainly isn't as cheap as a basic PC, however, you get a lot more preloaded software that is fully functional and a higher end quality hardware. When you factor this in and price equivalent in a PC it ends up about the same cost.

Originally Posted by MacMan

Cough... That's an imaginative take on things. I'd call it c-wap but that's rude.

And slightly untrue

Mac market share has been on the rise over the last few years. Your analogy regarding the fact that Apple was bridging the gap and that making them "betamax" doesn't make sense. Microsoft is too busy trying to make their software work the hundreds of different varieties of the PC platform to do anything else, and it wouldn't make good business sense for them to do so if they weren't. Microsoft don't make hardware. None of the Linux authors make hardware. Apple makes hardware, OS, applications.

You obviously misunderstand, Betamax was a technically superior system to VHS, but it lost our because Sony flooded the market with cheap VHS equipment effectively outselling Betamax to the point where it just became unviable. Apple are now trying to play catch up after letting their architecture moulder on the shelf for many years, in fact they tried to duplicate PC architecture into their systems as they realised that with their software being so unacceptable to 90% of the computer world they had to do something. This flopped, and they have just resorted largely to using emulators.

MS Office for Mac is not expensive, certainly no more so than the PC version. I use open source alternatives. My Adobe CS software is expensive either way! I'm not a gamer so I care not about the lack of games.

I have no games other than those that are part of the Windows package, and although I am disappointed with Microsoft's Operating systems, the PC software that I use is infinitely more adaptable (read hackable if you wish) than that of Apple that it is a non event for me.

My advice - if you just want to work, try a Mac!

No, I don't just want to work with limited software. I have far larger fish to fry. I want something far more flexible and useful, also something that can run a huge variety of software with files that are easily transferable to 90% of the rest of the computer world.

You have a good quality pen knife with one sharp blade, I have a Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife. Both can cut things, but one is infinitely more adaptable

We got a Mac a year ago and have had no problems.

It just works, all the time, every time.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

For a PC, Dell is ok as their configurations are always compatible with Windows. However you still have all the usual windows pain with them like viruses, spyware, bloatware, MS patches, rebuilds, buying or stealing software to do simple stuff etc. Also, I guess you'd get Vista with a Dell, and then you'll want to buy Windows 7 in a couple of months for $200.

Just buy a mac and be done with it. You won't regret it. Apple are basically giving their new OS to people that buy now as well.

You can see the IMac buyers guide here.

Thanks for that I want to go a Mac SWMBO is keen as she has worked as an office manager for a graphic designer. Sounds fair enough; i can get office and windows very very cheap through work we pay a small figure and download from Microsoft that would elp the Dell i don't want Vista. We still run XP for that reason on the 5000 odd computers the organisation I work for has including new ones.

Cheers

Originally Posted by dm_td5

... ... ... ... the Mac OS X is a significantly more intuitive and functional user interface to Vista. .. ... ... ... ..

The basic Mac certainly isn't as cheap as a basic PC, however, you get a lot more preloaded software that is fully functional and a higher end quality hardware. When you factor this in and price equivalent in a PC it ends up about the same cost.

I know that a lot of people, especially Mac users say a lot about intuitive interfaces, but my few attempts to use a Mac have all been a complete disaster. Absolutely nothing worked the way I expected it to. Perhaps my brain has been addled by starting off with CP/M and DOS.

I don't accept that the problem was entirely my fault though because I found it much easier to convert to Linux than to try and use a Mac. I even tried a number of distros before settling on Xubunutu and had no problems with any of them.

I am beginning to wonder whether this claim about intuitive interfaces is just one of those great lies that no-one bothers to challenge.


Linux distributions also come with a lot of software (and there is more available for free) but the extra software is only a bonus if you have a use for it. A lot of people don't.

I accept that there are people who are better off with a Mac. I just think that automatically recommending a Mac to every potential computer buyer makes about as much sense as recommending a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce or an Aston Martin to everyone looking to buy a car.

Originally Posted by ozzirt

Macs are the "Betamax" of computers. They were once undeniably technically superior, but have pretty much lived on their past glory for a number of years. Evidence if this is best demonstrated by the fact that for many years now, Apple have been trying to develop a dual system with PC architecture. The same is certainly not true of PC systems.

If you are a fiddler and like to mess with your software, Macs and their software are hopeless, however if you are merely a "user" you can take your choice. I like some Mac software, and find that it's good quality but very expensive, and inflexible for my needs. PC software is cheap, and very adaptable (hackable)

It's a bit like comparing a heavy truck with a sports car. Both are very good at what they do,... you just have to decide what you want out of your 'puta

You gotta be kidding me- Anything windows based is designed to stuff up and never work for very long. They still have major issues with Vista and they have the nerve to bring out windows7. Macs have saved my sanity, i would have saved over 1000 hours of swearing and headaches just by buying a mac- i have gone months even years without any hardware or software issues- dont even have to think about trojans or viruses. They cost more but they always work. Microsoft is a pure rip off.
"Come to the Dark side Luke" The only thing you will miss is games- 99.5 percent of all software is available for mac or there is something better that does the job.

I love listening to the PC guru segment here on 6PR talkback radio every week- people ringing up with the same PC problems that were around 5-8 years ago. I laugh sooooo much.

Actually dont come to the dark side, the more windows people the better. Ill have nothing to laugh about otherwise.

Originally Posted by Bigmark

You gotta be kidding me- Anything windows based is designed to stuff up and never work for very long.---snip---

Ahhh the great "Mac lie". I'm no Einstein, but have never seemed to suffer these alleged "problems" and believe me, I do some horrible things to my dear old 'puta.

Perhaps the main reason there are so many alleged PC problems is because they have 95% of the users.

Macs are now finding the downside of their increasing market share, the virus writers are starting to consider then a worthwhile target. Welcome to the real world. Until now they have been a complete non event. ;-)
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