[cygy2k]

I am in desperate need of help. I am a lifelong PC user that doesn't like the bloatware installed on pcs, lack of security, and unstability. I just purchased a 12" Powerbook 1.5ghz and a HP AMD 64 3500+ desktop machine w/ 17" lcd. I could also return both and get the low end iMac 1.8ghz 17". I am stuck between the two and can only afford one (the same price). I have them sitting by my couch in the living room and do not need portability other than it would look better out there. For me it really comes down to which is better I guess, powerfull PC or MacOS X. Here are my pros and cons of each, please help me decide what to keep! I know it's a personal choice but I cannot decide what to do. Please...

I mainly do web surfing, office productivity, quicken, etc. I will do a little editing of our wedding video but that is it. I need it to last a couple of years as well.


Mac (powerbook 12")
OSX
iLife
No crap preinstalled
stability
security



PC
Power
better 17" screen
expandable/upgradeable
more storage, etc.
more software/accessories

or there is the 17" iMac as well, more power than Powerbook but less than PC.

Thanks!

[ericssonboi]

It pretty much boils down to what uses you'll be using it for.

Coming on to a Mac board... of course everyone is going to ask you to keep the Mac... but keep in mind, what are your uses?

If you already have the 17" Screen... why not get a PowerMac?

[flanders]

Or are you saying the HP notebook has a 17" screen? Really depends on what the use is... for general computing i'd go for the mac but if it's something specific then tell us what software you want to use or what you need it to do.

[cygy2k]

The HP is a desktop w/ 17" lcd.

[cambro]

If you don't need the portability....

I'd definately say get the 17" iMac or treat yourself to the 20"...the screen is freaking AMAZING if you haven't seen one!!!

As far as computing power is concerned, what exactly will you be doing on the machine? The iMac is pretty darn fast for the vast majority of things.

Personally, I think a machine would have to be MUCH, MUCH faster in order for the benefit of OS X to be trumped. Don't underestimate iLife either. These are really under-rated and tremendously useful apps. You'd have to pay quite a bit to get much less integrated and harder to use apps on Windows (at least I'd guess, not having ever needed to buy much software like that since I have a mac!).

So...my advice is decide what you will be doing 90% of the time on the computer. If it's gaming and trying to calculate PI, then get the fastest machine possible. If it's surfing, sending email, organizing pictures, writing letters, making movies, watching movies, organizing pdfs, and listening to music, I'd say definitely OS X is the way to go.

[jokarak]

Echoing the above observations, the biggest deciding factor is what specific software do you plan to use on your computer. I haven't used Quicken on the Mac or PC, but I have heard that Quicken on the Mac is inferior to the PC version, since it is pretty much the only game in town for the Mac, whereas in the PC you have Money and Quicken butting heads. If you have been a long time PC user, you probably have a stable of programs that you like to use on a daily/weekly basis. Consider whether there are alternatives on the Mac (iLife is surprisingly good at filling a lot of niches - iTunes, iPhoto, etc. are great apps and can take the place of a boatload of windows software).

In my honest opinion, either machine will suite your basic computing needs fine, specially if they are limited to browsing, e-mailing, etc. As for office productivity, if you mean Word/Excel/Powerpoint, you'll have to shell out extra cash if you plan to keep the PB, because it doesn't come w/ Works. I heard good things about Notes, there are also seem to be rumors about an upcoming Apple spreadsheet. You can also use MS Office for Mac, but again, you'll have to pay more, whereas you probably (I assume) have a copy of office for the PC.

Maintaining a PC is more work, but if you are reasonably knowledgeable, it should be no problem. Apple computers look a heck of a lot better, on the other hand, and provide a much nicer package in terms of user experience - OS X is really a well put together OS, minor bugs aside. WinXP, on the other had, has some much bloat.

I suggest you try out the free trial version of Quicken that comes w/ the PB - see how you like it. MS Office for the Mac should be pretty much the same as in Windows, so it all depends on whether you want to spend more money for that. Note that MS does not make a database program for Mac, if that is one of your needs...I haven't used FileMaker, so can't comment on it. Finally, if you have an older PC lying around, and you find yourself really set on getting the Mac, you could do a fresh install on the old PC to get rid of all the bloatware, install whatever PC-only software you absolutely need to run on it, and enjoy your day to day computing on the Mac.

[cambro]

Originally Posted by jokarak

Note that MS does not make a database program for Mac, if that is one of your needs...I haven't used FileMaker, so can't comment on it.

FIlemaker is great and very powerful. It is also one of the leading DB software titles out there and it is on both platforms.

I agree with jokarak. Software is important and to my mind, OS X just can't be beat for an out of the box user experience when it comes to software.

iLife, GraphicConverter,QuickBooks, system-wide dictionary, and tons of free/shareware
If you need more, Pages and Keynote are great...$49.

Pages does a superior job importing Word documents, as does Keynote importing PPT. I'm sure word is less friendly with Word documents saved by Pages, but I haven't really tried.

Anyway, the Powerbook would be good, but the iMac would be better...IMO. Also, the iMac comes with Appleworks, which I've never really used, but it'd be there.

[outsourced]

Based on your description, it sounds like the iMac would be a good choice: Nice, big, bright screen; power to handle your video edits; and doesn't require extra desk or floor space.

And, if you *really need* to run Windows apps, the G5 iMac can run Virtual PC very well!

[runejoha]

Originally Posted by cygy2k

I am in desperate need of help. I am a lifelong PC user that doesn't like the bloatware installed on pcs, lack of security, and unstability. I just purchased a 12" Powerbook 1.5ghz and a HP AMD 64 3500+ desktop machine w/ 17" lcd. I could also return both and get the low end iMac 1.8ghz 17". I am stuck between the two and can only afford one (the same price). I have them sitting by my couch in the living room and do not need portability other than it would look better out there. For me it really comes down to which is better I guess, powerfull PC or MacOS X. Here are my pros and cons of each, please help me decide what to keep! I know it's a personal choice but I cannot decide what to do. Please...

I mainly do web surfing, office productivity, quicken, etc. I will do a little editing of our wedding video but that is it. I need it to last a couple of years as well.


Mac (powerbook 12")
OSX
iLife
No crap preinstalled
stability
security



PC
Power
better 17" screen
expandable/upgradeable
more storage, etc.
more software/accessories

or there is the 17" iMac as well, more power than Powerbook but less than PC.

Thanks!

Trying to analzye your needs, I believe the PC laptop is the better if you need a portable. The 12'' inch PB has a to small screen for your needs. imac is probably the better if you don't need a portable. You could try to get a 15'' or a 17'' PB, very recommended!

[d.fine]

You could use the PB with the 17" screen you allready have... make it a desktop replacement machine. Maybe one day the portability will be of use. If this will not be the case the the G5 iMac is a great solution.