Here’s a Mac FAQ if You’re Looking to Buy a Computer

[aryayush]

Here’s a Mac FAQ if You’re Looking to Buy a Computer

November 15, 2007
by Walter S. Mossberg

When I write my computer buyers’ guides, I typically focus on Windows computers, not the Apple Macintosh. That’s because I assumed that buying a Mac required little guidance: It’s sold by only one company and comes in only a few models.

But in recent weeks, I’ve been bombarded by reader emails asking for Mac-buying advice. So, here’s a quick guide — a sort of Mac FAQ — to shopping for a Macintosh. As with my Windows guides, this is aimed at average, mainstream users doing typical tasks, not techies or businesses or hobbyists.


Q. Who should consider a Mac?

A. Pretty much every average consumer using a computer should at least look at the Mac. It combines gorgeous hardware with an operating system I consider superior to Windows, with better built-in software. It can even run Windows programs if you buy and install a copy of Windows. And unless you do that, you won’t be vulnerable to the vast array of viruses and spyware that threaten Windows users. Only a handful, so far, have been written to run on the Mac operating system, OS X. Read more...

[Via AllThingsD]


I highly recommend this article. Just give it a read. Might give you guys a little perspective.

[preshit.net]

Originally Posted by Walt

Q. How are Macs at Web surfing?

A. Fine. Apple’s built-in Safari browser is very good and the Mac version of Firefox is essentially identical to the Windows version. However, Macs lack an up-to-date version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, so you will have to install Windows if you need IE.

What was he thinking ?

[debsuvra]

@aryayush What is the cheapest Mac ? Minimum Rs. 30k. So some average joe who may just want to do some office works, watch some movies and also net surfing have to shell out those damn extra 15k (at least). For what ? Some cool tiffin box (Mac Mini).

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by debsuvra

....have to shell out those damn extra 15k (at least). For what ? Some cool tiffin box (Mac Mini).

Exactly! As miniaturization takes place in the field of electronics, the cost increases.

[The Outsider]

^

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by debsuvra

@aryayush What is the cheapest Mac ? Minimum Rs. 30k. So some average joe who may just want to do some office works, watch some movies and also net surfing have to shell out those damn extra 15k (at least). For what ? Some cool tiffin box (Mac Mini).

This is exactly why I advise people to actually read before posting a comment:. This is a quote from the aforementioned article:

People looking for the lowest-price PCs should also avoid the Mac

Apple does not cater to the kind of person you just described. It is their choice.

[Cyrus_the_virus]

Originally Posted by debsuvra

@aryayush What is the cheapest Mac ? Minimum Rs. 30k. So some average joe who may just want to do some office works, watch some movies and also net surfing have to shell out those damn extra 15k (at least). For what ? Some cool tiffin box (Mac Mini).

I'm NO pro MAC or anything but if you think owning a MAC is costlier than owning a PC of a similar config, then I'm afraid that you or anyone who thinks so is absolutely oblivious to the price of genuine windows softwares. Well, for a config of a MAC that costs 50K, you are going to pay approx 45-60K for a PC with the similar config with all equivalent software bundled with the MAC for that price.

Com'on, am I the only one who thinks so, someone help me here if I'm wrong.

Anyone thinking of a budget PC has to go for Open Source alternatives as for an average beginner, its always better to get a MAC than a PC with all the bling bling you intend to spend on the Microsoft royalty softwares.

[Charan]

Originally Posted by DARK LORD

What was he thinking ?

MS did release IE for mac.. but stoped development for mac in 2003

In June 2003, the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit announced that Internet Explorer for Mac would undergo no further development, and support would cease in 2005. In accordance with published support lifecycle policies, Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer for Mac on December 31st, 2005, and is not providing any further security or performance updates.

Accordingly, as of January 31st, 2006, Internet Explorer for the Mac is no longer available for download from Microsoft. It is recommended that Macintosh users migrate to more recent web browsing technologies such as Apple's Safari.
Last Updated: October 25, 2006

link

[Gigacore]

I agree with everything.. but not the safari..

[preshit.net]

Originally Posted by Charan

MS did release IE for mac.. but stoped development for mac in 2003

Yea, I knew that. But not many people use IE. Specially on a Mac when there's Safari / FF

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by Cyrus_the_virus

I'm NO pro MAC or anything but if you think owning a MAC is costlier than owning a PC of a similar config, then I'm afraid that you or anyone who thinks so is absolutely oblivious to the price of genuine windows softwares. Well, for a config of a MAC that costs 50K, you are going to pay approx 45-60K for a PC with the similar config with all equivalent software bundled with the MAC for that price.

U can also buy OEM Windows & use various free softwares (both OSS & non-OSS) on Windows to do your work which reduces the cost.

[a_k_s_h_a_y]

apple is only for the posh and who can afford it time wise and money wise
others should shut up instead of saying its costly.. that's it
also they are soo gorgeous and hyped ...!

[debsuvra]

Yeah yeah u r all truely right. Apple is a elite computer umm.. ok electronic gadget making company for the riches. They are not going to look at average joes. Because those poor peoples are out of their league. So as always said and done poor will be poor and rich will .......

But in return, when u r composing or creating something in either a MAC or a PC, what do u get in results? I mean which is superior in terms of productivity and stuffs? Those beauty freaks in cupertino will surely woo someone with great videos and pics, but are they productive as much?

That's why when the pay date comes, the Windows guys get the lions share. But not to worry for the Mac users, they can surely show their pretty iMovie videos to their landlord instead of paying rents.

Check this for instance :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrpS9m2VF1c

[indranilmaulik]

what can Mac do but window cant ?? no cheap not so necessary animation features, ok.

[goobimama]

IE is needed for thorough testing of web pages. So yeah, I have installed Parallels+WinXP only for IE....

@Gigacore: Safari on mac, is DEFiNITELY not equal to Safari on Windows...

[infra_red_dude]

I don't think there is something which can be done on Mac that cannot be done on a Windows machine or vice versa. But Pro video editors, studios etc. use Mac for a specific reason: STABILITY.

Since the hardware and software is tightly integrated they don't hafta worry about installing drivers resolving IRQ conflicts, dealing with Malware etc. What matters to them is time. Time is money. So they wouldn't wanna waste their time on this. Other than that I feel there is no difference in anything else (Adobe products are available for both platforms and are worthy comptt. to Mac only software).

However, one disadvantage is that upgradation options are limited and costly. So these "specific" users don't upgrade. They use Macs for quite some years and when the cost is recovered they replace them.

Not that Windows is bad or something but just that they don't wanna be bothered with the above mentioned issues.

[aryayush]

You guys are missing the point. That is not a pro-Mac article. It is just there to serve as an answer to several common questions and misconceptions about Macs and it is very well written by a competent author. That is why I posted it here.

The intent was not to start another argument.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by aryayush

You guys are missing the point. That is not a pro-Mac article. It is just there to serve as an answer to several common questions and misconceptions about Macs and it is very well written by a competent author. That is why I posted it here.

The intent was not to start another argument

how about posting it in the correct forum then .... what part of this post is tech news

this can be moved into the QnA section as it is QnA

PS: i hope the forums were peaceful and the Mac Boys enjoyed their diwali on the forums ..... times up and im back

[aryayush]

Yeah, it was a mistake. I'm so used to posting in the 'Technology News' section that I did it almost subconsciously. Sorry!

[goobimama]

Btw, what's this about Mac users not making money? Seriously?

[Gigacore]

How can a senior member post threads subconsciously in a wrong forum?

@ goobi.. Alright!.. Safari Rocks!... Happy ?

@ iMav... Welcome BACK!!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

Since the hardware and software is tightly integrated they don't hafta worry about installing drivers resolving IRQ conflicts, dealing with Malware etc.

Windows Vista on any OEM PC with WHQL drivers & Windows Defender integrated....not that hard to get a stable Windows PC these days.

[drgrudge]

Originally Posted by indranilmaulik

what can Mac do but window cant ?? no cheap not so necessary animation features, ok.

On the nutshell, well you're correct. But you got to use OS X and see. You can do almost all the things that in Windows, but you can't get the awesome softwares. No wonder, Freelancers love Mac.

Originally Posted by goobimama

IE is needed for thorough testing of web pages. So yeah, I have installed Parallels+WinXP only for IE....

Dude! IE sucks.

I tried to "uninstall" in my Windows PC, but you're running it in a Mac? Try FX + IE add-on. Ohh.. or we need Windows for that add-on to work?



Moved to QnA.

[preshit.net]

Well, everyone knows IE sucks. A few ( ) even agree that IE sucks.

But there are a LOT of people out there still using IE. Some refer to it as the "Internet Software". Some often think that the internet works thru that and I know a few uncles who go "Woh desktop pe "e" click karke internet chalu kar..."

Anyhow, as a developer/coder, you _need_ to test your site in all the browsers. Hence goobi / me / others need to have it.

For that addon, you need to have IE anyway.

[goobimama]

I don't use IE, but since IE sucks at page rendering + most people use IE, I have to test out the pages on IE cause most probably they are going to show borked even though FF/Opera/Safari show them perfectly.

FF+IE addon needs the IE engine. So yeah, I have to install XP via parallels.

[drgrudge]

DARK LORD -
What you do? Any specific reason why you got a Mac?


goobimama -
If I don't want to have Windows installed, but I want to browse some "IE specific" sites like Dataone, then what options I got?

[preshit.net]

Well, I do a lot of things actually.

I'm a...
1. Webmaster ( I make sites. For myself and others )
2. Webhost ( I have a web-hosting business )
3. Blogger ( Not just mine, I co author others )
4. Content Manager ( I currently manage 3 big sites and a few small ones )
5. Internet Analyst ( Well, kinda. This doesn't pay, but I give feedback to new startups )
6. Freelance creative mind ( I'm not sure how I should put this, but I contribute stuff to various sites, like burrp.com / watblog.com / watshow.com )
7. I'm the g33k for the people I know ( Friends / college / family ). I wanted to be the uber cool guy with a Mac
That's about it I think.

Ohh, and I was really tired of all the viruses on Windows.

[goobimama]

Have you used IE through Parallels? (I know you haven't) It's almost like Windows is not installed. And anyway, you can get it installed through Crossover as well. I just haven't ever used crossover yet so I can't comment on that.

http://particletree.com/notebook/get...6-on-your-mac/

[praka123]

Originally Posted by goobimama

I don't use IE, but since IE sucks at page rendering + most people use IE, I have to test out the pages on IE cause most probably they are going to show borked even though FF/Opera/Safari show them perfectly.

FF+IE addon needs the IE engine. So yeah, I have to install XP via parallels.

@goobimamu: really? i dont think for website testing on IE u need to install windows xp on parallel!use ies4osx (for linux users ies4linux is already there!)
http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/

[goobimama]

Wohoo! Thanks a lot for that. Will check it out and see if it works well enough...

But also, I'm guessing Crossover might even be a more viable solution than my parallels setup....