“Shopping for a computer would be easy, if it weren’t for that whole Windows-versus-Mac thing,” Rob Pegoraro writes for The Washington Post. “Fortunately, that may be a simpler choice than you think — and making that call first can greatly simplify the rest of your home-computer shopping. Apple is making a strong pitch these days. The price to switch can be little more than $500, the cost of the Mac mini. That and other Macs ship with an outstanding set of multimedia programs — iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD — and continue to be free of viruses, spyware, browser hijackings and many other Windows diseases.”
Pegoraro writes, “Meanwhile, Windows XP, despite a stream of patches from Microsoft, remains a shaky structure that many users struggle to maintain. When even playing a CD can get a computer infected (as buyers of Sony’s ‘copy-protected’ CDs have found), things need to change. But XP’s replacement, Windows Vista, won’t arrive until the fall of next year and possibly later. The choice between these systems is often phrased as ‘why get a Mac instead of a PC?’ But given Windows’ painful history of insecurity and dysfunctionality, it’s worth flipping that around: Why not use the safer, more reliable system?”
“‘Because everybody uses Windows’ is neither relevant nor true. There are other possible reasons, but you need to decide if they matter,” Pegoraro writes. “One is software: While you can find at least one Mac application in pretty much any category of software, the selection of Windows programs is dramatically superior in a few categories (most obviously, games). The Windows market also offers a far wider variety of computers. Apple makes some fantastic machines, but its lineup skips categories that you might like. For example, it doesn’t offer ultralight or big-but-cheap ‘desktop replacement’ laptops, and its cheapest desktop runs about $100 to $200 more than the starter PCs of other firms.”
Full article here.
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A few caveats those considering switching or adding a Mac: Pegoraro writes that the selection, meaning the quantity of software, for Windows is dramatically superior, not the quality. The best-in-class applications are all there on the Mac side from Adobe and other well-known software makers. Microsoft Office for Mac is also available and generally considered ahead of the Windows version; its files are also compatible with Windows. If you create a Word document on a Mac and give it to someone on a Windows box, they’ll be able to open and use it just as if you’d created it on a Windows machine. Same goes for Excel and PowerPoint. Also, most of the basic tools are already included on the Mac: a better browser, better photo management, better movie-making, better email client, better calendaring, better music-making, better DVD creation, etc.; plus a dramatically superior quality operating system: Mac OS X with Spotlight searching, system-wide dictionary, Dashboard Widgets, rock-solid stability, zero viruses, etc.
There are currently over 20,000 software titles for Apple’s Mac OS X and more are added each day. If you spent just a day to learn each one (obviously not enough time for most), you’d be done in about 55 years (not counting all of the new applications introduced over the five and a half decades you’ve spent learning). Explore your Mac OS X software options here: http://guide.apple.com/
The other main thing to remember is that you get what you pay for: Macs actually cost less than most Windows PCs, by the time you add all of the extras to make it approach what the Mac already includes. Try it for yourself by matching features and pricing out Macs vs. Windows PCs online and you’ll see what we mean – just remember that with the Windows PC, you won’t be able to have Mac OS X, iLife and many other Mac-only applications. Lastly, how much is your time worth? There are no viruses, spyware, adware, or other malware on Macs. Macs just work.
Get a Mac today. You’ll thank us tomorrow.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple Macs are less expensive than Dell PCs – April 24, 2005
Apple Macs are far easier, cost less to manage than Windows boxes – March 02, 2005
Want to switch to Mac? Mossberg answers common questions – November 10, 2005
Windows PC retailers face tough holiday season, meanwhile Apple stores are packed as Mac sales surge – November 09, 2005
Analyst estimates over a million Windows to Mac switchers during 2005’s first three quarters – November 07, 2005
Windows sufferers: It’s not your fault, but it is your problem – switch to Mac – November 07, 2005
Tech writer: Windows PCs highly vulnerable to zombie hijacking; get an Apple Mac instead – November 06, 2005
Windows switchers, now’s your chance: Apple Mac mini with Mac OS X Tiger for $379 – November 03, 2005
Computer columnist: anti-virus software purely optional for Apple Macs, not so for Windows – November 01, 2005
Microsoft apologists and why Apple’s Mac OS X has zero viruses – October 24, 2005
Mossberg: Every mainstream consumer doing typical tasks should consider Apple Mac – October 13, 2005
Mossberg: Switching from Windows to Mac – software not an expensive proposition – September 30, 2005
$500 bounty offered for proof of first Apple Mac OS X virus – September 27, 2005
Symantec: 10,866 new Microsoft Windows virus and worm variants in first half 2005 – September 19, 2005
Hackers already targeting viruses for Microsoft’s Windows Vista – August 04, 2005
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Mossberg offers resources for Windows users interested in switching to Apple Mac – August 18, 2005
ZDNet: How many Mac OS X users affected by the last 100 viruses? None, zero, not one, not ever – August 18, 2005
Intel CEO Otellini: If you want security now, buy a Macintosh instead of a Wintel PC – May 25, 2005
Mossberg: Apple’s Tiger ‘the best, most advanced personal computer operating system on the market’ – April 28, 2005
97,467 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – April 05, 2005
>Qman: I just love it how PC apologists think they are so cool because they know how to “operate and maintain” a computer…
Macs need TLC too. Damaged file systems, corrupt prefs, disk errors, etc…
Yeah… Firefox is a great app. I use it on both Macs & PCs. I can’t stand IE/Safari.
—
>watched a documentary on the making of Star Wars III – one of the sound effects guys was making effects at home on his iBook
Just rented it… will check that out. Thanks for that tidbit!
>Qman: I just love it how PC apologists think they are so cool because they know how to “operate and maintain” a computer…
Macs need TLC too. Damaged file systems, corrupt prefs, disk errors, etc…
Yeah… Firefox is a great app. I use it on both Macs & PCs. I can’t stand IE/Safari.
—
>watched a documentary on the making of Star Wars III – one of the sound effects guys was making effects at home on his iBook
Just rented it… will check that out. Thanks for that tidbit!
Own Mac and PC: Strange definition you had for the word pedantic..I used the word pedantic in the context of:
“a pedantic interpretation of the rules, overscrupulous, precise, punctilious, meticulous, fussy, fastidious, finicky; dogmatic, literalist, literalistic, formalist, hair-splitting, quibbling; informal nitpicking, pernickety.”
Perhaps there is one multi-syllable word in the above even you can understand.
I frankly don’t care one iota that YOU haven’t ever had a Windoze virus. Even if you haven’t you spend 10%’ish of your PC’s resource keeping them at bay let alone anything else you have to do to keep ithem clean. If you think everyone lives in a ‘Windoze no virus heaven’ then you must be soft in the head.
I also look forward to the Mactels, but my iMacs and Powerbooks do everything I could ask of them – which is more than I have EVER been able to say about the PC’s I own, or the PC’s I look after for other poor folk whose lives are a misery because of them…
Star Wars sound effects on my computer? Wooo hooo. No thanks.
Oh and ‘Own Mac and PC’, in case no-one said it to you before, don’t be so fscking patronising.
agh, these “games are the reason people want computers” people are so clueless! gaming is still a *comparatively* niche market in computing (not to say it’s a SMALL market, because it’s not) next to people who just want to get online and check email and do ebay and stuff of that nature. tell me that the MAJORITY of compuer owners care whether or not they have integrated intel extreme graphics or a geforce 7800gtx 512mb card. go ahead, just go up to any random person. ask them “do you own a computer?” and they’ll likely say “yeah, i hate the thing” (unless they own a mac) and then ask them what video card they have, and they’ll give you a puzzled look and tell you it’s a dell.
face it – most people buy consoles for games and computers for internet access and office productivity.
besides which, most of the games coming out for PC anymore are just the same damn thing with maybe nicer graphics and a new gimmick or two. (admittedly, the whole gaming industry, sans nintendo, is going that route…)
the mac has fewer games but it has the IMPORTANT ones – doom 3, the sims 2, WoW, etc etc. however i will agree that the mac’s bundled games are lame, except chess, which i think is a far better bundle-in game than solitaire.
ah, that’s enough out of me. MW: i think i’m gonna go *let* my dual g4 kick my ass at chess. =)
Landlord had a computer meltdown, Windows, By her daughter surfing who knows what kinds of sites. Most likely downloading free music and the computer was unusable.
Took it to get fixed and between the cost of reformatting the hard drive and virus ware @ three hundred dollars spent.
I think she is a good example of most casual users in that they don’t know how to reinstalll their own software or care to know how to trouble shoot windows problems.
I tried to tell her the advantages of a mac but time will tell as she is sure to have more spyware issues down the road
People just don’t know any better, there scared to switch to a mac because of false wivestales, not enough software or there slower, Bah!
I tell them that software you see for 9.00 at comp usa is worthless anyways so you won’t miss it.
PC gaming has become the uncle in the basement that nobody wants to talk about. Fewer and fewer people over the age of 17 remain interested in playing the first-person-shooter-of-the-week. Doom is over.
Macs don’t try to be all things to all people… yet. The Intel switch will be interesting because now Intel will have a showpiece for their tech. Also, Apple will suddenly be able to enter some of the markets that have gone somewhat neglected– like gaming.
Hey Macaday – Pendantic
Don´t know if you spelled it right when you looked it up.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pedantic
pe·dan·tic Audio pronunciation of “pedantic” ( P ) Pronunciation Key (p-dntk)
adj.
Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details.
pe·danti·cal·ly adv.
Synonyms: pedantic, academic, bookish, donnish, scholastic
These adjectives mean marked by a narrow, often tiresome focus on or display of learning and especially its trivial aspects: a pedantic writing style; an academic insistence on precision; a bookish vocabulary; donnish refinement of speech; scholastic and excessively subtle reasoning.
————-
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861702240/scholastic.html
pedantic: too concerned with details or fine distinctions and too ready to criticize minor errors ( disapproving )
————
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=pedantic
Main Entry: pe·dan·tic
Pronunciation: pi-‘dan-tik
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or being a pedant
2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned
3 : UNIMAGINATIVE, PEDESTRIAN
matt – yes, you are clueless.
The gaming market (including Xbox,playstation) is bigger than the movie market.
The NPD Group tracks computer and video game sales in the United States. It reported that as of 2004:
* Console and portable software sales: $6.2 billion, up 8% from 2003 [5]
* Console and portable hardware and accessory sales: $3.7 billion, down 35% from 2003 [6]
* PC game sales: $1.1 billion, down 2% from 2003.
Figure 5 or more pirated copies for each one sold.
A small, niche market????
matt: “the mac has fewer games but it has the IMPORTANT ones – doom 3, the sims 2, WoW,”
Again, matt, clueless. give it up.
matt: ” most of the games coming out for PC anymore are just the same damn thing with maybe nicer graphics and a new gimmick or two”
matt – you are embarrassing yourself. go play some more chess on your mac.
wannabe: “Fewer and fewer people over the age of 17 remain interested in playing the first-person-shooter-of-the-week. Doom is over.”
ha ha haha ha sheesh where do you people come from???
David Reeves – you note your son´s new computer has a:
“Intel® Pentium® D Processor 830
3.0 GHz, 2 x 1 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB”
I don´t know if you realize it, but this is the new dual-core processor from Intel. (Something along the lines of the upcoming new Mactels.)
The Pentium D processor uses Flip-Chip Land Grid Array (FC-LGA4) package technology, and plugs into a 775-land LGA socket. The Pentium D processor utilizes the Intel NetBurst® microarchitecture and maintains the tradition of compatibility with IA-32 software.
The Intel® Pentium® D processor supports Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel® EM64T)Φ as an enhancement to Intel’s IA-32 architecture. This enhancement enables the processor to execute operating systems and applications written to take advantage of Intel® EM64T.
With the debut of the new Intel® Pentium® D processor with two full processing cores, the cutting edge of computing got a lot sharper. Dual-core processor-based PCs for the desktop are the next generation in PC computing performance and power. Combined with the Intel® 955X Express Chipset, the Intel Pentium D processor makes a perfect solution for your most demanding multitasking needs. Power computing users, multimedia entertainment enthusiasts and gamers who crave optimum PC performance for audio, video, digital design, and high-end gaming are in for a treat.
Intel dual-core products like the Intel Pentium D processor are well suited for multitasking environments because there are two complete execution cores instead of one, each with an independent interface to the frontside bus. The dual-core Intel Pentium D processor offers 1MB to each core exclusively, delivering the resources of two full processing cores, giving you the new capability to accomplish performance-intensive tasks on your PC.
That thing must be pretty fast.
And you got a great deal of a computer.
I am looking forward to the new Intel powered Macs (lower prices, more speed – just like windows users have been getting).
The computer – its a tool, not a religion.
Macaday – One more thing…..come a bit closer….let me whisper something to you about my Macs and PCs…(whisper) my PCs run almost all my programs faster than on my Macs. (!!!!!) Yes, Macaday, the PCs are faster.
Now go sulk in the corner and try to justify your Macady life.
Sheesh – some of you guys take your computers just a tad bit too seriously. They are tools – not a way of life, not your reason to live.
I use both computer systems in my work, they both work fine.
I drive a BMW but don´t go around telling everyone else their vehicles are crap because they don´t drive a beemer. It´s a car. A nice car, but there are other nice cars, too. Even old clunkers can be nice. Same with computers.
dear hk,
quote: (even though there is a firewall and AV software installed and runing)
I have used several firewalls and anti-virus softwares. But never underestimate dau’s (that is what we call stupid users in germany). They managed to do stuff I never imagined to be possible. And I also told them how to use that software and at what times I configured the PC to run Scan Disk, to defragement and all that. They just ignored it or forgot about it or whatever.
That would probably equal to forgetting to go to the TÜV (you have to show them your car in germany every 2 years) but without any consequences from the government.
I don’t say that Windoof is a bad invention but I am happy that I can let my family use my laptop and I am sure I won’t get any virus. Oh, and guess what program was the first to crash on my Mac? Word.
I didn’t mention it but I haven’t used IE for a couple of years. I also could not get rid of it. They now have had netscape for years and refuse to use firefox even though they managed to use it without a prob on my mac.
>Interesting articles from Anandtech, but sadly based on ancient history – we’ve now moved on to a dual core, dual-processor flagship and, given Mr. Yager’s comments in the article to which I’ve linked above, I find it difficult to see how your gripe holds much water.
Hmm. Suggest you actually read the articles before regurgitating your religious beliefs. If you *had* read the articles you’ll see that they don’t criticise the hardware (it runs rather well under Yellow Dog Linux in the tests) but the lousy performance of MacOS. Dual cores and water-cooling don’t actually make any difference to the flaws in MacOS. MacOS is very pretty and has some seriously cool user interface ideas – but in terms of sheer performance it is sluggish and slow. If you aren’t aware of that, I suggest you go try a bottom of the line Dell and compare the speed of basic tasks like opening and closing applications. Then go read Anandtech (properly this time) and see how MacOS really blows when it comes to serious computing. This is not a criticism of the hardware – it can perform very well – but more a criticism of Apple for concentrating on the bells and whistles before getting the underlying basic OS functionality sorted.
Compare simular Mac’s and PC’s here, mouse over the menus at the top
http://www.systemshootouts.org/processors.html
MacDude worthless reading there.
I helped a girl at work switch earlier this year. She wanted a machine which was powerful enough to do graphics work (Adobe) and organising her ‘digital life’ (Apple iApps) and all the regular stuff (surfing, email, MS Office, etc).
We found a second hand PMG4 Digital Audio 533MHz syste (including 17″ Studio Display, Keyboard and multi-button mouse) in great condition on eBay, had the winning bid of $650.00 AUD. In all respects except for the mouse, this machine is in original condition, so there’s mountains of headroom for future upgrades to this machine to keep it going for another 10+ years.
The first thing she said to me the following week at work:
“I can’t believe how fast it is compared to the (brand spankin’ new) Dells (3.4GHz P4) at work.”
She loves OS X and wishes (like I) they’d ditch the Dell Windows boxes at work for Macs because she’s “more productive on the Mac.”
We can rave on and on and on about how insanely great the Mac experience is, but until a person sits down in front of one and experiences it for themselves, they really won’t get it. And when they do, from my experience with many switchers, they won’t want to go back.
Own Mac and PC – you’re being patronising again….
Why do you have such a thing about SPEED?? You give me the impression you’re just a games freak.
Speed is nothing to me if things don’t work – and continuously work – as I need them to. Windoze doesn’t. Full stop. Macs are just plain more productive regardless of the relative speed, which makes as much difference as nothing… (Anyway we’ll probably see that one resolved to in January as Yonah chipped Macs clean up).
Macs are no religion to me. I do have to spend a lot of my life living with them which makes them very important to me. Having had years of crap from Windoze I’ve now had years of bliss with OSX and I feel I owe it to Apple to return the favour and promote the product. Too many people have it in mind to dismiss the Mac and many would have preferred Apple to have died. It hasn’t and the 5% of us who benefit from using them should help to spread the good word.
Bookboy: try a Thesaurus. Just using the dictionary IS narrow! Think different.
Own Mac and PC – admit it…you’re in the Microsoft PR department aren’t you? You say you have Macs but you don’t really do you? You’re playing a clever game of bluff, ‘subtly’ infusing a balance to TRY and keep Windoze from being whitewashed. Fat chance.
Provocative or what? Let’s see the sparks fly from OMPC!!
Owns a Mac and Pc owns a Mac and PC and that bothers you?
I own a Mac and PC (I owned the PC first and just bought a Mac over a year ago). My PC worked all right, I had no problems, but was curious about the Apple computer so I got one.
It´s great.
But then I have no real complaints about the PC.
I must say that my PC is snappier than the Mac. I think the Mac gets too loaded down with eye candy and stuff. It´s cool how it works, but when you get down to working in Painter or Photoshop, the OS doesn´t seem to matter. Except that the PC is faster.
And you think that speeds doesn´t matter? What in the heck do you use your Mac for? Writing your letters to MDN? Speed is everything on the computer.
Ecspecially when working in Photoshop with 300+ MB photo and you want to apply a filter too it. If the Mac takes 30 seconds and the PC 15 well that´s twice as long. Over a day, week, month this adds up.
Time is money. But then you don´t seem to use your computer in a time critical manner.
Don´t go fudding us PC owners – we know what PCs do and soon more of us will be buying Macs and hanging out here listening to your lack of knowledge on PCs and Macs.
Macaday – “Why do you have such a thing about SPEED??”
Wow – read it here first from Macaday – speed does not matter when working with a computer.
Macaday – My PCs and Macs work fine. My PCs are faster than my Macs. My PCs do not crash or have ever gotten viruses. They are operating basically 24/7 for the last 1, 3, and 5 years (I have three of them.)
In my line of work speed is very important in creating graphics – animation, 2D and 3D video.
My Macs work great, too.
I wish my Macs and PCs processed my graphics faster.
I will be getting a new Mactel when one comes out that fits my needs. I will probably get another PC, too, in the near future unless the new Mactel has a great price and just blows the PCs away as far as speed.
These computers are my tools for my creativity. They work. I work. If they did not work I would get rid of them.
If you like to live in your little world that thinks Macs are the best in the world for you, live in your world, have fun. Everybody has to believe in something – your life seems to be consumed with the Mac. Good for you. I hope you convince lots of people to buy Macs. I own Apple stock. And Intel. And Dell.
I will keep creating with my Macs and PCs and enjoying them both.
—
By the way, what do you do with your computer that you do not want a faster one? Nanosaur 2 or Marble Blast Gold???
And do you even know what “patronizing” means?
You seem to have had trouble with that other multi-syllable “p” word.
@ Reality Check>
Sure, occasionally my copy of MacOS will go away to LaLa-land for a while whilst it does something and, judging from the performance of the till I was served at in the Apple Store the other day, it’s not an isolated problem.
However, MacOS X is getting quicker with [B]every[/B] iteration: indeed, the recent 10.4.3 update has made several applications run with a lot more zip including Safari. It should also be noted that many organisations are making investments (notably, by Omneta plc) in MacOS-based computing despite the so-called issues alluded to by Anandtech.
Maybe what this shows is that the problems that exist with MacOS are mainly limited to some of the “bloat” of the user interface which in a super-computing environment is effectively amortised over all the computers in the grid. In any case, I’d still rather have the elegance of the Macintosh OS than the clueless inconsistency of Windows or the DIY geekdom of Linux.