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Are You a PC or a Mac?

Here's the deal: I'm in the market for a new computer because:

1.) I want to give my current machine to my younger sister (I'm a good big brother, I know).
2.) I have a little bit of sense as to how to store files without wasting space, and have a decent idea of how I'd run my machine if I were to start from scratch.
3.) I want something that runs better by today's standards.

I currently have a Dell desktop. I've been leaning toward getting a laptop, and I've also been leaning toward Macs. I have some time to think about my purchase (I probably wouldn't be buying said Futurebox until after the 20SB meetup this June).

I want your input--PC or Mac? Desktop or laptop? What kind of machine do you have? What do you use it for, mainly?

Any help from the 20SB community is greatly appreciated. As bloggers, we need computers--what works for you?

Tags: Mac, PC, buying, computer, computers, desktop, laptop, new

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Permalink Reply by Libby on December 10, 2008 at 8:41am

I love my MacBook Pro. I use it for work, graphic design, blogging, & everything in between and it works beautifully. I have a Dell desktop also, but I rarely use it since I got the laptop.

My husband has an Acer Aspire One for work. Its teeny tiny & ultra-portable. He likes it because when he needs to work at the office it hooks up easily to a monitor, but when he's traveling he doesn't have to worry about lugging around a big laptop.

Good luck with your computer search!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Robinson on December 10, 2008 at 9:12am

Hm, the Macbook Pro, you say? I've looked at that one, I think. *takes break to check Apple's website*

Okay, yes, I've looked at that one. It's very cool, but $2,000 is a lot of scratch to pay for something that doesn't say "Gibson" on it or have four wheels and a motor. I've been giving consideration to the lower-priced Macbooks, though---lots of good stuff there.

My girlfriend has one of the mini laptops. I think they're handy as all get-out, and could use them if I had to. My only problem is that I have big hands and I'm too set in my "proper typing" ways, so the keyboard size is a bit of an issue. Most of the minis, though, have no moving parts, so they don't overheat...or something. I just know the lady has Super Mario 64 on hers, and I'm very, very jealous.

Thanks for the luck wish, and for your opinion--it's very appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by Libby on December 10, 2008 at 11:08am

yeah...i just liked the bigger screen on the pro. plus, i have last year's version, so it wasn't $2000 when i bought it (yikes, that's a lot!).

i do know that the one my hubby has only cost around $350 -- pretty awesome price. he has big hands, too, so he looks kinda goofy when he's typing on it;-) reminds me of zoolander's tiny phone. ha ha

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Permalink Reply by Mike Robinson on December 10, 2008 at 11:11am

My girlfriend makes fun of me when I'm using her wee little lappy. Apparently, I look confused and ape-ish. I can't help it that my hands look like baby giraffes learning to walk.

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Permalink Reply by Renee on December 10, 2008 at 6:12pm

Try refurbished Apple stuff. It's cheaper. There should be an option on the Apple store for Apple approved refurbished machines. I have a refurbished MacBook Pro that I love.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Robinson on December 10, 2008 at 8:01pm

There's the girl I like---knows how to bargain shop!!!! Thanks for the tip!!!

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Permalink Reply by Maxie on December 10, 2008 at 10:57am

I'm a PC... maybe it's just because I'm broke and stubborn.

I've used macs and I just didn't see anything "special" that would be worth the extra money unless you have a specific purpose for them (like graphic design)

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Permalink Reply by Mike Robinson on December 10, 2008 at 11:15am

PCs are definitely cheaper--probably because Apple makes the software AND the hardware, whereas you have Microsoft making the operating system for PCs, and numerous companies have their own boxes in which to place Windows.

The disadvantage here, obviously, is that Apple would charge a little more, but on the plus side, you know the the software and the hardware will like each other. You could also make the case that, because so many companies have PC parts, you can make your own super PC for cheaper than you could get a mid- to high-priced Mac.

Just a few of the MANY things going through my brain.

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Permalink Reply by Renee on December 10, 2008 at 6:15pm

Upkeep isn't nearly as tedious on a Mac as a PC. The one thing I hate on PCs is how often you have to update the security and how susceptible to viruses and trojans and spyware they are. (Trust me, my old job consisted of cleaning up the computers of students who neglected keeping their anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date. It's a PAIN in the ASS.) Macs are secure, which is an added bonus to the price. Unless you plan on running Windows on your Mac (why would you?), you don't need to worry about any nasty stuff getting into your system.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Robinson on December 10, 2008 at 8:02pm

I can see if someone had Windows software and wanted to run it on their Mac, as opposed to shelling out the cash for new discs. I think there's a thing called Boot Camp for Macs that allows you to run a version of Windows, which in turn allows you to run/install/whatever with your Windows software. I think.

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Permalink Reply by Renee on December 10, 2008 at 9:10pm

It would be cheaper to buy your software for the Mac because to run Boot Camp, you have to buy a full version of Windows. And then it threatens the security of your computer. To me, it makes more sense to repurchase the software you want to run because I wouldn't want to pay the $300 for a crappy Windows OS and I wouldn't want to pay to replace my machine when PC viruses and trojans take over my machine.