Apple or Microsoft?

I am due for a new computer. My dell vista has been a night mare. Do you like Apple better and why?

Alice, my son has been described, more than once, as a computer expert with people skills - which is generally considered an oxymoron.

He usually favors Apple, which he and Lyn both use, but when I got my new little netbook in Feb (an ASUS) he highly approved my choice. It depends on the specific product in the long run.

What do you want it to do and how much are you willing to pay for what you want?

11/18/2012

Mine is Microsoft , HP, I don't know or understand

Apple computers nor do I know what the hell a

MacIntosh is ?..........

Cheers..Joe...

Alice,

I've been involved with computers since I got out of the Army in '65, back when you had to hard wire the programs. When Apple came out you were restricted to only running programs written to run on the Apple operating system, but now days most software runs on either the Apple operating system or Windows. So your choice is safe either way. You are limited pretty much only by looks and what you want to spend and by the knowledge that by the time you get it home there will be a newer and better model out there!!!!

Joe,

Macintosh is a fruit, a little smaller than the normal apple, tart and great for both eating and cooking.

Thanks, all. Is it true that Mac's have less trouble with viruses?

I'm not sure - others probably know more, but I think the big problem w/ PC's is Internet Explorer - if you use a different browser, you have fewer problems.

Correct me if I'm wrong or oversimplifying.

Anne,

What is an ASUS?

Ir's a brand of PC's - fairly new and highly ranked, but prices are competitive. I am very happy with my little netbook, but they make desktops and notebooks, too.

Dave recommended an online store called Newegg, where I got mine. Their prices were better than Amazon for similar machines.

Alice, this site looks like a pretty comprehensive one for ASUS products

http://www.centeronasus.com/

Alice,

ASUS is a brand of laptops and notebooks, like DELL or Toshiba.

The biggest reason you hear about viruses more in Windows PCs than Apple is simply Apple only has about 12% of the market share. 88% of the PCs makes an easier target!

On closer look, try here & click on products
http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/ASUS_ZENBOOK_UX21A/

Thank you, Ann.

Don,

Why are there fewer Apple users?

Mostly because they were late coming to market and at the time a lot of the software was propitiatory. They donated many to schools in hopes that the kids would buy more when they got out of school. Their concentration has been on the Ipod and Ipad more recently. Anyone and their brother can build and sell a PC, only Apple can build Apple!

Alice,

I like both and use both, though I still prefer PCs best. Apples have some practical advantages and offer generally a bit more of a user-friendly environment that for me borders on cutesy. They do have an advantage that too many Windows-based PCs still lack and that is a fast bootup and an instant-on feature if you simply shut the cover and return to it later. Newer Windows-based laptops have similar features, but I still give the advantage to Apple on that point.

The main disadvantage is price: Apples still cost up to twice as much as comparable Windows-based PCs. In addition, they do not play as well with all peripherals such as printers (my Cannon all-in-one office laser printer will not work with my Apple, nor will two of my laser and inkjet HP printers) because of Apple's closed architecture. Apple wants you to buy Apple peripherals which are almost always more expensive and provides you with fewer choices as a consumer.

Another disadvantage is that there is far less software for the Apple than for Windows-based PCs. And what is available often costs more for the Apple. Yes, you can find the leading Office products for both platforms, but you will almost always pay more for the Apple versions. This is true for the operating system as well if you want to upgrade.

Viruses were once of little concern for the Mac notebooks. This is no longer true; as apple captured greater market share, it has become a more attractive target for virus developers. I would no more use a Mac without a copy of leading virus detection software than I would a Windows-based PC. And because the software is not available for both platforms simultaneously, you will need to buy two separate packages--with the Mac version likely costing more than the same version for the PC. (I usually buy multi-computer versions of Norton 360 to place on all of my machines. My mac requires a separate Mac-specific program so that my PC license does not cover the Mac.)

If you are happy with a Windows-based notebook and want to upgrade, you can find very reasonably priced solid systems starting at around $500 unless you want the latest technology to run graphics intensive applications like games or CAD programs. I just bought a 17" HP Pavilion for around $600. It is an Intel 3 system (rather than an I7) with more than enough power and memory (4 Gig of RAM) to run everything I do--including all of my games--just fine. Don't buy the best PC or Mac available unless you have money to burn or unless you actually need the power--the vast majority of users, especially most writers, do not. Visit a Best Buy, Staples or even Office Max when they have sales with a knowledgeable friend. Try out the machines, starting with the $500 loss leaders. You may be surprised at how much faster they are than what you were used to.

Victor

Thank you, All. You have given me alot to consider.

Hiya,

I love my HP Pavillion. I got a really good deal on it (5 or 6 years ago) and bought one for my husband and one for myself.

This Black Friday, I am planning on buying two new ones, since 5-6 years is a very old and proud age for any computer.

I hate Gateway! I have had one of those, and it broke down shortly after I have bought it. Their customer service was totally useless.

Our laptop is also HP. The one that we have now (we need a new one) is almost 7 years old and survived 3 tours to Iraq.

I like the fact that with HP I end up buying a new computer or laptop, because the ones that I have have just become too old - and/ but not because they broke.

Huggles,
Katja

Everything I need to do can be done on my $150 hp netbook (bought on sale at radio shack). My objection is the 10.1 small screen and the touchpad mouse that gave me trigger finger in the thumb that I have improved without surgery by switching back to the pc mouse. You can use an electronic mouse with a netbook, but I put my netbook in my lap just about anywhere so the mouse is cumbersome.

I want a bigger screen that I can as easily transport. The netbook keyboard seems fine. I wish there was a "fold out" screen with a netbook size computer - and the whole things needs to be slimmer than the netbook.

I had a friend who was going to give me an Ipad - but he tried it out and kept it for himself so I've no idea how they are - but I bet I would need a keyboard - and then it's a netbook. However, a touch screen on a netbook would be nice too.

Of course, I want to pay $150.00

I am irked and in a forked fit. I have security and see that it is updated. All of a sudden my windows email quit receiving mail.

I sought help and got some geeks who said they would fix it. They worked and worked-- made a royal mess I told them to stop, I would get a new computer.

This happened once before with this computer. How does malware come when you have security?

I don't get it.

Security doesn't protect it all; and some slips through. My son is a geek. I get malware. He has a fit. It's always my fault somehow and he has a big firewall on here and lots of protection. It comes in through emails opened, attachments opened, web sites visited - they lay in waiting just for us to click...

right now I am sitting in my office at my large armoire desk with my little netbook closed and sitting on an extension shelf, with wires and cables coming out of it.

One of the cables is hooked to my relatively large flat-screen monitor, which used to be hooked to my now defunct PC. Others are connected to little power boxes that control my old wireless mouse and keyboard.The netbook is not as powerful as a new PC or full-sized laptop would be, but it is still far more so than either of the old computers.

I can't say that I had as much luck with my HP Pavillion as Katja did. When it died this past spring it was on its second motherboard and 4th hard drive. I replaced the last hard drive myself for a fraction of the labor costs that would have been charged. Dave insists that the reason I had so many problems was that both my old computers were HP/Compac, which I understand are the same machines with different names.

I do like this little ASUS. I paid just over $300 for it. It is one of the 10" models, but has an ergonomic keyboard and mouse pad - both of them easy on my hands, but when I work at my desk, the set-up is more convenient with the old hook-ups, and I can see better on the larger monitor..

The cool thing is that I can unhook the netbook and use it anywhere - especially in my little creating corner of my bedroom.

I'm a pretty happy camper.

My security protection program sent me a message the other day, saying the biggest problem today comes from hackers getting into legitimate websites, and the security guys have to work very hard to stay ahead of them. They say that about 80% of malware from the internet comes from those "protected" sites.

@ Ann,

yikes, you have had loads of problems with yout HP. I am very hard on my computers... they run almost all the time. If I shut my computer down once a week - it is alot.
On top of that I play online games (Everquest 2) don't laugh...lol... it relaxes my mind... some folks like TV...I like to slay the occassional dragon...lol. With the game I usually run at least 3 other apps at the same time. All with my little HP... oh... I did put a new graphics card in there, other than that it is factory. For $450

And the system came in an out of the box style, with monitor, keyboard, mouse.

Oh - I am considering going with a Toshiba for the next laptop though. The keyboard is different. The keys are bigger and ... for a lack of better words even.

While I was at my son's house I used his laptop. I normally struggle to type on a laptop keyboard (fingernails) and on his - I was able to type even faster than on a regular desktop keyboard.

I really hope that I can snag me one of those HPs on Black Friday I have seen some stores running a $350 special...

Huggles,
Katja

I have two Toshiba's, a 10" and a 15", love them both. The 10 goes everywhere with me and been dropped twice.

Is shutting down your PC harmful in the long run?
I like to keep anything not in use turned off.