Thoughts on Apple's Mac

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Hey all

Ive been a PC girl for quite awhile. Im thinking about getting a Mac eventually. The new Macbook to be more specific or what ever new mac laptop comes out when i get the hunkering to buy a new laptop. Any thoughts from Mac users out there, anyone who has had both pc and mac laptops?

Thanks

Specializes in Trauma.

Yes, I overlooked that. I guess everyone has their own personal experiences with mac. Me personally, I have never felt the "freezing" problems that you speak of. Quite honestly, I had more than enough freezing problems with my pc. As a matter of fact, it was a constant problem. I was always restarting my laptop, it was so annoying!! :angryfire

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I'm not saying PC's are perfect ... far from it. But I can say that I've gotten a hellava lot more performance out of even the crappiest Dell PC's I've bought over the years, than I ever did with the Mac.

:typing

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My father is an architect, and Mac tends to make better graphics programs (AutoCAD, i.e.). Therefore my family started off with an Apple IIc and stayed with the Apple/Mac family for the last 20 years. I definitely know how to use their products, and have personally owned two including a G4 Ibook my father got me in 2004. I have always preferred using my friends' PCs and the ones at my schools, but who turns down a free computer, right? It had a 1 yr warranty, and 14 months after I received it the screen went blank. It was something to do with the video card, but unlike with a PC you must take it to a special Apple service store to get it repaired, for a few hundred dollars. I have had it back for a year and a half, and now I barely use the thing. We have a desktop and a laptop PC, and since we got this laptop I don't know when I'll even use that computer again. I don't care for the mac system, even though I've used it my whole life. I enjoy and am very used to Windows, and have never had a virus. Using Norton has never taken any effort, just clicking something when the little window pops up and tells you to. To each his/her own, though.

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Everyone does seem to have different experiences.

I also have Norton and since I upgraded Internet Explorer, I keep getting these pop-ups from Norton that they have detected and deleted a trojan or virus or something. It is happening at least one a day and sometime 3 or 4 times. I've had Norton check the whole computer and everything is ok.

This is my second pc - the other was Compaq. Same thing - running slowly after a few weeks, freezing, etc.

I will be going with Apple next time.

steph

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Specializes in Education, Medical/Surgical.

I had great problems with the newest IE. I got freezing, screen jitter and unfocused screens. I removed it after just a few hours. Norton never jumped in though I have 2006 and Protection center. But I do scan every nite and use adaware to get rid of spy/ad/trojan crap.

See if taking IE off and going back to the prior version works.

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I had great problems with the newest IE. I got freezing, screen jitter and unfocused screens. I removed it after just a few hours. Norton never jumped in though I have 2006 and Protection center. But I do scan every nite and use adaware to get rid of spy/ad/trojan crap.

See if taking IE off and going back to the prior version works.

The truth is I don't even use Internet Explorer anymore - I use FireFox.

steph

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

My son bought a MacBook this year and he absolutely LOVES it. He will never go back to PC. And I know if I ever have to get a new puter, it will be a Mac as well. Without a doubt. :)

Most ppl I know who have Macs love everything about them.. I've really never heard any complaints at all.. they're hooked on them for life.

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Everyone does seem to have different experiences.

I also have Norton and since I upgraded Internet Explorer, I keep getting these pop-ups from Norton that they have detected and deleted a trojan or virus or something. It is happening at least one a day and sometime 3 or 4 times. I've had Norton check the whole computer and everything is ok.

This is my second pc - the other was Compaq. Same thing - running slowly after a few weeks, freezing, etc.

I will be going with Apple next time.

steph

Well ... Norton is horrible. Probably the worst virus protection on the market, IMHO. I quit using them years ago.

:typing

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.
Read Apple's Windows promo material that I previously posted.

When Apple talks about being able to use Windows Outlook Express or viewing live internet video feeds through Internet Explorer in their promotional material ... you don't think people are going to get viruses? That they're only going to use Windows legacy software?

As you state: Clearly, running Windows with an Internet connection opens the user to all the security issues associated with Windows.

And that's exactly how Apple is promoting Windows on their own website .... running Windows with an internet connection ... because that's what people want to use it for.

So, I stand by my statement: Here come the viruses.

:typing

Lizz, I'm soooo glad that this subject isn't life or death material and I'm sorry that you had problems with your MAC. Maybe they should have lemon laws for computers.

What keeps me going on this thread is the misinformation you are posting. I showed your post to my MAC consultant who is highly educated in MAC and she will explain the virus situation:

"the viruses that are out there only affect Windows users in the Windows environment. They CANNOT 'cross over' and infect the Mac side of things. Windows on a Mac runs in an 'enclosed' environment. If your Windows install on the Mac is infected - quit it, toss it in the trash and create a new one. It really is that simple.

That said, in general now that Apple is actively advertising that they are 'safer and more secure' many hackers will take the challenge and work harder to 'attack the Mac'. For now though OS X is as secure as ever and there are no current working viruses for OS X. The only active issue is the 'macros' that affect products such as MS Word, Excel, etc. these have been around for many years."

I do agree with you that NAV is awful. I've started using Virus Barrier and I really like it. It's quick, simple and can run in the background.:balloons:

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Lizz, I'm soooo glad that this subject isn't life or death material and I'm sorry that you had problems with your MAC. Maybe they should have lemon laws for computers.

What keeps me going on this thread is the misinformation you are posting. I showed your post to my MAC consultant who is highly educated in MAC and she will explain the virus situation:

"the viruses that are out there only affect Windows users in the Windows environment. They CANNOT 'cross over' and infect the Mac side of things. Windows on a Mac runs in an 'enclosed' environment. If your Windows install on the Mac is infected - quit it, toss it in the trash and create a new one. It really is that simple.

That said, in general now that Apple is actively advertising that they are 'safer and more secure' many hackers will take the challenge and work harder to 'attack the Mac'. For now though OS X is as secure as ever and there are no current working viruses for OS X. The only active issue is the 'macros' that affect products such as MS Word, Excel, etc. these have been around for many years."

I do agree with you that NAV is awful. I've started using Virus Barrier and I really like it. It's quick, simple and can run in the background.:balloons:

What is with the condescending ... you're so glad this isn't life or death information. Don't accuse me of spreading misinformation when I haven't. If anything, people need to read the posts before they accuse people of such things.

I never said the Mac OS was going to get infected. What I did say was: with internet use of the Windows OS ... which is what Apple is promoting ... here come the viruses. So, get your facts straight before you or your consultant goes off on some rant about something I didn't say.

It's even more ridiculous to tell people that if Windows install is infected, quit it and create a new one. Well, that's just great ... and something a Mac user who's not had much experience with viruses would say.

The problem is: what if you've saved a bunch of files with Windows which, people tend to do when they use Windows. There's a good chance you'll lose those files if you have to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the Windows OS which, btw, some viruses will force you to do.

With some of these really nasty viruses, you can't reboot the computer at all. Since this is a dual boot situation, you have to consider the possibility that you might have to scrub the entire hard drive and lose every file you've ever saved, including Mac files.

Hopefully, none of this will happen and there's a Chinese wall between the Mac and Windows OS. But, with hackers writing new viruses all the time ... these are the kinds of problems you could have even without infecting the Mac OS. Why take the risk of having to find out the hard way?

This is why CNET is now recommending that Mac users install virus protection software, firewalls, etc. with any Mac where they're also using Windows.

Windows Security on Your Mac

For many longtime Mac fans, maintaining PC security will be a whole new process. It's not that Macs are impervious to security threats and viruses -- they're not (see the most recent security updates here). It's more that Mac users have gotten away for years without worrying much about firewalls and antivirus protection -- and now, if you dual-boot into Windows XP SP2, you'll need third-party protection.

They go on list recommendations for all of the firewall, spyware and virus protection that you need to buy.

Windows security on your Mac - PCs

If you don't want to believe me, at least believe CNET. They're one of the most popular and, also, credible tech resources around. I am not making this stuff up.

:typing

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Windows Security on Your Mac

For many longtime Mac fans, maintaining PC security will be a whole new process. It's not that Macs are impervious to security threats and viruses -- they're not (see the most recent security updates here). It's more that Mac users have gotten away for years without worrying much about firewalls and antivirus protection -- and now, if you dual-boot into Windows XP SP2, you'll need third-party protection.

Windows is tha main part of the problem here. Simple soution, don't dual-boot into Windows! (*Sunny spits and crosses herself*) :lol2:

Yeah, The Mac OS is not the end-all. Some smart-aleks will eventually start writing a bunch of nasty stuff to mess up our great track record.

Yeah, there is some software you won't be able to run, but most Mac users realize they can find better alternatives. My DF is a heavy duty user, more than 99.9999% of the public/private. He uses both in his professional life and prefers the Mac. I was a PC lover, but had to grudgingly admit my love for MAC

People use what's best for them, PC or Mac. No need for worries.

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As a pc user who is looking seriously into Mac . . . .why in the world would I want to even use Windows if I switch? I'm not that happy with it in the first place.

For me personally, I'll be very happy with all that comes with Mac.

I can email, right? I can cruise the net, right? I can log onto allnurses? I can do photo stuff?

No worries . . . sunny, you are funny . . . (sunny spits and crosses herself). ;)

steph

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