[Joinee Hathorn]

Right, so I'm being unusually open minded with my sisters thoughts about purchasing a mac. I don't really know all the facts... so:

1. Macs have no cooling fan? Is this right, don't they get really hot?
2. Software is cheap? Is word really only £11 or is this some kind of conversion/compatibility software?
3. Security is better? Is this because apple have done something clever or is it because the malicious software writers concentrate on windows?
4. Free software? Is there much freeware available for Macs?

I'm sure I have more questions but I can't think of them at the moment.....

Thanks all

[joinee_doug]

I had a mac that my brother passed down to me when I was 6. It was a bright yellow raincoat with these odd mechanical clasps that worked really well. I loved my mac and often wished it would rain so I could wear it. It came with one awesome piece of softwear; a matching hat that covered your whole head and fastened in front with a space for your face (FaceSpace) and a visor to keep the rain out. (In fact, after I'd outgrown the coat, I kept the hat for another year or two, wearing it by itself when I felt kind of nostalgic or Space-Agey.) You sometimes see a variant on some haz-mat suits, which while the reflective silver/lead color is eye-catching, it just doesn't have the panache of School Bus Yellow.

But from the context here, I'm guessing you're talking about the third kind of MacIntosh (not apple, not rubberized rain gear). I don't know anyone that has one, personally, but the stores have a reputation for cultishness. One of their salespeople should be able to tell you. I would just let them know that you're only shopping at this point, not buying yet, and I would be sure to always include the air-quote gesture when you ask about their "geniuses" that work there. First time, every time.

Sorry. Good luck!

This post has been edited by joinee_doug: 05 November 2011 - 08:36 PM

[Joinee Snowberry]

I had a Mac until about a year ago when I started a Microsoft Office Specialist course; I initially bought compatible Office software; but it was nowhere the same & I lost points for my first 3 projects I never noticed it getting hot....I believe malicious viruses etc are aimed at windows just because they are the majority...I don't know about free software. I do know that I found things like having to sync the whole of your playlist when you wanted to add a song annoying; people think apple products set you free, but my opinion of them is that they want you to do things their way.

Peeps, this is just my personal opinion so please don't shoot me down

[Joinee Hathorn]

joinee_doug, on 05 November 2011 - 08:36 PM, said:

I had a mac that my brother passed down to me when I was 6. It was a bright yellow raincoat with these odd mechanical clasps that worked really well. I loved my mac and often wished it would rain so I could wear it. It came with one awesome piece of softwear; a matching hat that covered your whole head and fastened in front with a space for your face (FaceSpace) and a visor to keep the rain out. (In fact, after I'd outgrown the coat, I kept the hat for another year or two, wearing it by itself when I felt kind of nostalgic or Space-Agey.) You sometimes see a variant on some haz-mat suits, which while the reflective silver/lead color is eye-catching, it just doesn't have the panache of School Bus Yellow.

Oh I see, she must have meant a Sowester. I'll pass on your useful comments. Thanks Doug!

[GJ Drought]

Yeah security isnt better, its just that windows has been targeted more! and im not sure about software being cheaper, i know a number of mainstream programs that if anything are dearer on a mac. so this may be worth researching first.

they are certainly pretty easy to use ( once you have overcome the loss of a right click!)

my mac definatly has a cooling fan, i found it as i was measuring it up for a new motherboard... one that can run windows!

[Captain K]

Joinee Hathorn, on 05 November 2011 - 06:29 PM, said:

Right, so I'm being unusually open minded with my sisters thoughts about purchasing a mac. I don't really know all the facts... so:

1. Macs have no cooling fan? Is this right, don't they get really hot?
2. Software is cheap? Is word really only £11 or is this some kind of conversion/compatibility software?
3. Security is better? Is this because apple have done something clever or is it because the malicious software writers concentrate on windows?
4. Free software? Is there much freeware available for Macs?

I'm sure I have more questions but I can't think of them at the moment.....

Thanks all

Excellent opening sentence! Go open-mindedness!

1. Depends on the Mac. Mine has one, for example. I think the Mini doesn't. There are several case styles. I've not heard of overheating issues with any of them. The product design tends to be pretty good with the exception of the older plastic laptop cases sometimes cracking, but they're now made of aluminium anyway.

2. As with Windows, it varies. I have full Microsoft Office that cost a fair bit more than £11 — it was exactly the same as the Windows version cost at the time in fact.

3. Security *is* better. Mac OSX (the operating system) is based on BSD Unix. Much more than Windows, if you're not logged in as an "administrator" (i.e. as root) there are lots of things you just can't do. Additionally, there are far fewer viruses and malware examples because yes, people concentrate on Windows, and the security just is tighter. It's a rare example of Apple's proprietary-ness being useful too — unlike Microsoft, they don't publish what's in their security fixes. (There are far fewer of them needed than on Windows too so it's less likely to be caught out by missing one.) Finally, the backup system is so good that it's very straightforward to restore the whole system after a problem. In my experience of using it to revert changes I've made, it's been *much* smoother and more reliable than Windows System Restore.

4. A bit less than on Windows, but there's pretty much at least one good app for free for every task that has an equivalent free app on Windows. Plus, you can run almost any Windows app (except hardware drivers basically) at impressive speed using "Wine" or one of several other entirely free emulators, because Macs use the same Intel processors as typical Windows machines now.

I've had a Mac since giving up on Windows in 2008. It's yet to crash. Seriously, no system-wide crashes at all, and I'm not a "light user". I never ever believed I'd become one of those Mac evangelists, but I've just been so impressed. The only big downer has been the changes to the ergonomics of scrollbars in the latest version of the OS, but I just used my backup to revert the whole system - didn't need the other new features - and it's fine again

[Joinee Mum White]

We've had our iMac for 6 years now. I don't pretend to know anything about computers but I love it. It has never gone wrong and we've never had a virus or any sort of problem. Not planning on repacing it anytime soon. Also we run windows for mac and it's fine. My daughter has been using her Apple laptop for 4 years now with no problems at all and her boyfriend has had 3 laptops in the same time ... he has just converted to Apple and is delighted with it! Mum White.

[Gaz]

A note on security - it is better on Macs because of the way the OS is made, not obscurity (there are millions of Macs and not one virus). You do get Trojans, but they rely on user authentification to run - so user beware (same as Windows).

Software-wise, OSX has many best in class programs. In 10 years of Mac ownership I've never had trouble finding an app I need(free or paid), or had any issues with Office document compatibility. And as Macs can run Windows in a virtual environment or natively via boot camp but Windows cannot run OS X, it's actually the case that no other computer system has access to a wider range of programs.

Oh, and the only Mac I know of that didn't have a fan was the G4 Cube. Designed to be air-cooled. But that was from about 10-11 years back. My old Mac Mini certainly had one.

[ruinedHouse]

i'm typing on a Macbook pro right now and it's ice cold as the cooling fan is so powerful. xxx

[Mr Phil]

Macs aren't perfect, just like any other computer, so please don't buy one thinking they never ever crash. They do. *But* mine crashes very rarely after more than three years, so I'm pretty happy with it. It does run a little slow now but certainly no worse, and probably better, than most 3 year old Windows PCs.

The only big problem I've had is the graphics card, which was an overheating problem on all of the MacBook Pros from around the time I bought mine. Eventually it just dies. Apple fixed this for free (3 years old, remember) and now it's running really nicely again.

I run Apple iWork, which is much cheaper than Office (£50-60), but then I don't need all of the features of Office. If you need to do lots of fancy stuff in Excel, then you probably need to fork out for Office. Don't know how well LibreOffice runs - OpenOffice never quite worked properly for me.

*All* of the personal photos and stuff software just works better for me than Windows ever did. But I jumped ship at Windows XP so I really have no idea what Windows 7/8 is like for that now.

[Joinee Varwell]

I really like my Mac, though I can't explain it in techy-geeky terms. No offence, other posters!

It's a very different way of doing things but once you get used to it there's no wishing to go back.

[joinee_doug]

Joinee Varwell, on 07 November 2011 - 09:47 AM, said:

It's a very different way of doing things but once you get used to it there's no wishing to go back.

I'm voting this sentence "Most Likely to be Taken Out of Context or Used in a Double Entendre".

[Joinee Hathorn]

Thanks all... very useful information. Sounds like it might be the right thing for my sister so will pass on all your advice and opinion.

Ta

Noel