Macbook vs. PC
 

I have been wanting a Macbook for a LONG time! I currently have an HP laptop. But I just always hear such great things about Macbook. I'm also really into my graphics, pictures, videos, etc and I've heard that Macbook is perfect for that. Anyone have one and suggest it??? Also, what are the main differences between the regular Macbook, the Macbook pro, etc? Would you suggest one over the other?

I have a Mac and it's hard , but I learned to use it. I just go on the computer and dibble and dabble, but if your into all those things then I would suggest it. I had a dell and it broke and I made the mistake of sending my husband to best buy to buy another dell, well he came home with the Mac :p It's a great computer, but it isn't easy, it takes time to learn.

Good Luck

We love our macs
 

The plastic on the white macbook can crack, although they will fix it for free if it does (they just did on mine.) The MacBook Pros are the aluminum ones and they are pretty cool. My husband just got a 15" Wait until after Sept 9th though - there is a big Apple announcement and it's probably iPods, but you never know. They did just drop the prices in June though, so it's probably a new product and not a price drop.

Get the Applecare extended warranty - you don't want to be without a computer for 2 weeks or whatever if it breaks. With Applecare they will fix anything right there in the store or in a day or two if they need parts.

We've always had a good experience at our local Apple store. Just last night my husband's mouse broke - we went at like 8:30 at night, put our name on the list and a genius helped us. He said it was under warranty and gave us a new mouse. Just like that. We bought it at a store that went out of business, so we didn't even have a receipt. Wow!

Sorry for the random thoughts! If you have any questions let me know. :)

If you can afford it, get a mac! When my hubby and I met in 2004 he had a ibook and at first I wouldn't use it because it was so different from a PC but once I got used to it, I actually learned that it's so much easier than a PC. Yes, Macs are great for those things! I do web design and graphic design for fun and I always used ours for that. Unfortunately he doesn't have that laptop anymore when I got a laptop I had to get a PC because we couldn't afford a Mac but if we could I would have a Mac right now. Of course, you get what you pay for and I have had many many problems with my PC.

Oh and my hubby is a huge Apple fanatic and even worked for them for awhile so if you have any questions, I'm sure he wouldn't mind answering them for you. :)

I love my mac..
The macbook pro has more programs I think for someone in the music, graphics etc industry. If you're just looking to do photo albums, enhance photos etc, stick with the macbook. I have the macbook DVD-R and honestly, I've never recorded DVDs. My daughter likes to make slideshows and videos and its easy to do via the built in webcam. I'll never go back to a PC. This is my 2nd macbook.

We got a Macbook a few months ago because we had so many problems with PC's. I am having a hard time figuring out anything but the basics on it. I need to take a class or something. I know there are a lot of cool things I just don't know how to use them.

I've always had PCs (HP and Dells) and i thought they were pretty good....until i got a macbook Pro. I LOVE IT!!! it never gets viruses and i never have any problems with it. i don't have to scan it every few days or back anything up. It does take a little getting used to if you've never used on before but once you play with it for a few days it is so much easier then a PC. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

EDIT: I have the 15in aluminum pro. still looking good after 2 years.

DO you have to clean out cookies and any of that? See I told you I am Mac challenged. I am afraid I am not maintaining it. Thanks

Love love love my Mac - but then I've Macs since 1989. I can never figure out where things go on my daughter's PC and it just gives me fits. We had a PC for a while and it was always down due to viruses and other things. I will never have anything other than a Mac. Also, I have never had one break or have any problems, it's never been in the shop. I use Macs at work too, and never had them down.

i use firefox and i have it set up to automatically delete certain things after i quit the program. cookies is an option if you want.

Awesome, thanks for the info! I'm a big Apple person too besides the computer lol. I operate with iTunes, Quicktime, have an iPhone. I love their products!!

I can't afford it quite yet, but soon enough!!

Thanks EVERY one for the info!! I'm pretty set on getting on. A few friends have them that I've messed with and I'm pretty computer savvy and quick at figuring things out, so I think I'd get used to it right away!

I absolutely love my Mac. I was a PC girl (my last laptop was a Dell) all the way for many, many years. I was forced to buy one because I needed to do some video editing, and I'd heard Macs were better for that. Plus, my Dell was so slow even after the second hard drive (I had it for about five years). Now I can't imagine life without my Mac, and I'll never go back. It was very, very easy for me to get accustomed to my MacBook Pro.

Macs are better supposedly because the PCs have so many different parts that need different programs to work together. That's not so with a Mac. It's seamless. So they're faster, and they stay in better condition longer.

Even though Macs are more expensive, they have more programs for free. Mine came with iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, iPhoto, etc. For a PC, you have to spend quite a bit to get those programs because they don't come with it.

Plus, you don't have to get an anti-virus software, which I absolutely love.

If you get a Mac and you're not a college student, find one so you can get some great discounts and a free iPod Touch. :)

If you're going to use iMovie and other graphic-heavy programs, I would recommend the MacBook Pro. The graphic card is better, and it's meant more for the serious computer user.

I actually am a college student so I'd get a discount :)

I don't know if you know this, but they do have free classes at the Apple store. You just sign up on the Apple website, and you show up and they teach you! I've never used it, but I have no doubts it's a great, informative program. Every Apple employee I've ever come across has always been super friendly, calm and so helpful.

Also, us Mac lovers could help you if you have any questions! :D

I had to kidnap one to get my mom her iMac. :D

Thanks! I am going to go to the Apple store and look into those free lessons.

No problem! You actually have to sign up on the internet first. Here's the site: Apple Retail Store - Workshops
Just put in your state, select a store, hit reserve, put in your contact info and then you can select a topic you're interested in. :)

hehe i used my ex-boyfriend who at the time worked for the apple store and used his discount. He also got me a ipod (which i would now like to scratch the engraving out) and he helped get my mom an ipod shuffle as well. at least he was good for something :D:D:D:D:D

Gotta love Macs! We have Imac and macbook and we love it!!! won't go back to pc's.

Yup yup yup! I love my macs as well! I've been using them since I was going to school for graphic design in uhhh, 2000? sometime around then. Anyway, I've always seen my bil go through laptop after laptop after laptop. He would get viruses from going to those ahem adult sites tee hee.

Anyway, I have an oooold ibook G4, still runs great. We have a mac mini (which is good for HS or college students) and those are pretty cheap. We also have an older G4 tower that's still really fast, well I think so.

My little bro is a crazy gamer and he has the macbook pro. He was a pc guy all his life and he just went into the apple store just to see what the big deal was, and he ended up walking out with the top of the line macbook pro. If you're not a gamer, doing crazy motions graphics or animation, or composing/writing your own music, the regular macbook would do just fine.

I'm so jealous I want a new one. You guys should see how old and dirty my ibook is, it's embarrassing, but still it works just fine.

I'm sold on a Mac, for sure!!!

Question -- does Apple have anyone available that will transfer all my files (my music from iTunes, my photos etc) onto my new mac from my pc?? I didn't know if this was possible or an extra charge etc.

i believe they can do this for you in the store. i may be wrong tho. i think i remember them saying it when i bought mine

definitely go with the mac! My bf is Apple-obsessed and bought me a mac notebook after my dell laptop died. I will never go back! It is amazing-and not too difficult to learn how to use. It's just perfect

I have been debating the same thing!!! Thanks for posting this!

I love all my Apple stuff, from my iPhone (can't live without) to the iPods we all have, and our iMacs. Very easy to use and quick, quick, quick! I love the way they all work together effortlessly.

But I do have to say is if you do Apple whether it is your iMac or Macbook it is way easier to use all Apple products with it such as buying an iPod or iTouch and using iTunes instead of any other brand MP3 player. My son bought a few MP3 players and it took forever, after hours of searching the net to figure out how to transfer songs, movies.... on to the player as Mac has another music format for music files. So it was converting, adding programs... and much of the software that comes with a lot of the players is made for PC only.

A lot of games and programs are not made for Mac as well and if they are they are more expensive and fewer compared to PC. But after all that I still LOVE all my Apple stuff and feel it is worth it for the use and ease of their systems.

I just bought a HP notebook yesterday just to surf the net in bed and after years of all Mac. Boy, I'm not having fun with how slow it is, all the Norton pop-ups, all the time it takes for windows to start, shut down (Mac is almost instant)..... I just wish I could afford the Macbook right now. :(

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Mac too. I've loved all my Macs since 1989, and even have some very old ones in the closet that still work, though I just use my Macbook Pro.

For anyone having troubles learning Mac, who don't have access to classes or a friendly user group, I suggest getting one or two of the fabulous books by David Pogue like Amazon.com: Switching to the Mac: The Missing... or Amazon.com: Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual...
GO MAC :cheer::cheer::cheer:

I went to the Apple store for the first time yesterday. I wanted to compare the iMac 20" & 24" displays. I'm interested in a Mac, because I heard that PC users are unhappy with Vista. I'm okay with Windows XP, but will go iMac to avoid Vista. Plus the iMac looks really good, but is pricey. My DW didn't want me to spend $2500 for a double wall oven. What's she going to say when a bring home a $2000 computer?

does she like computers too? If so bring her to the store and let her play around. The apple store is so much fun and i'm sure the sales person can talk her into it. LOL

I have had mac's since the 80's and love them. Once you get used to the operating system you'll find they are much more user friendly than a PC. If you purchase the Applecare Plan, which I suggest, you can also call Apple's toll free number and get any help you need over the phone.

Also, a good place to get help is on Apple's website under support. If you don't find what your looking for under tech specs go into the discussion forums. There is a wealth of info there and you can ask questions just you can on YT.

There is a program called Migration Assistant under applications then utilities call Migration Assistant. I'm not sure it will transfer from a PC to a Mac, but it's worth a try.