OT- Windows 8 or a MacBook?

[montrose]

I need a laptop for work, hopefully someone has had a chance to get familiar with Windows 8. I used to sell computers but that was almost 2 years ago so I'm a bit out of the game. I've always used Windows PCs although for the last year I've been enjoying using my iPad and iPhone and the allure of compatibility to a MacBook is compelling. I also have a full version of Windows 7 that I could run in Parallels or Boot Camp on the machine, the downside would obviously be cost. Probably about $1500 for what I want.

On the flip side, I could go with a Windows 8 PC. I would lose the syncing between the computer and Apple devices but that seems like more of a luxury than necessity. The Windows PC would do everything I need for less, probably around $800. So I'm wondering if the cost difference is worth it going with the Mac. Has anyone had experience with Windows 8? I played with the beta but I'm sure it's different now. Thanks!

[mhgaffney]

You won't go wrong with a Mac.

[theAPAOps5]

My next computer will be be a Mac. I have slowly converted for much the same reason as yourself, iPad and iPhone

[baja]

If you have an iPad & iPhone get the Mac. It's a no brainer really. iCloud by itself is reason enough, factor in all the other apps that display across all your Apple devices and clearly a no brainer.

[El Guapo]

With all of the apple fanbois (see: blind mice, sheeple, etc.) you are bound to get tons of recommendations for the macbook. I implore you to head to a windows store and check out the new windows 8 products. I, personally, was blown away by it. So much so that I immediately traded in my android for a WP8 phone. Next on the list is definitely a W8 laptop.

Good luck.

[CHANGSTER]

I'm really not a fan of Windows 8. It's a version built for tablets that's supposed to be user friendly but comes across as dumbed down. And it makes everything take a second longer when you have to hold your cursor at the edge of the screen to get a menu open. It's pretty good for people who aren't exactly "computer people", though.

[El Guapo]

Originally Posted by CHANGSTER

I'm really not a fan of Windows 8. It's a version built for tablets that's supposed to be user friendly but comes across as dumbed down. And it makes everything take a second longer when you have to hold your cursor at the edge of the screen to get a menu open. It's pretty good for people who aren't exactly "computer people", though.

Interesting considering I have a masters in Computer Science and prefer W8.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by El Guapo

Interesting considering I have a masters in Computer Science and prefer W8.

What about 3.1x?

[DenverBroncosJM]

Originally Posted by El Guapo

Interesting considering I have a masters in Computer Science and prefer W8.

Windows 8 is probably the most stable release I have seen from MS so far. Like I mentioned downloading an app to get rid of the native home screen is almost a must but after that its a very stable OS.

I recently "rebuilt" my desktop. New MB, processor SSD drive and windows 8. It screams and for 400.00 I have a brand new computer. For the people complaining about viruses etc on a pc, what are you doing? I have yet to get a virus on my new machine but I also do not download my claim form because I just won the Nigerian lottery

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by DenverBroncosJM

Windows 8 is probably the most stable release I have seen from MS so far. Like I mentioned downloading an app to get rid of the native home screen is almost a must but after that its a very stable OS.

I recently "rebuilt" my desktop. New MB, processor SSD drive and windows 8. It screams and for 400.00 I have a brand new computer. For the people complaining about viruses etc on a pc, what are you doing? I have yet to get a virus on my new machine but I also do not download my claim form because I just won the Nigerian lottery

We are fappin' JM.

/fapfapfapfapfapfapfap

[OOJack]

Originally Posted by DenverBroncosJM

Windows 8 is probably the most stable release I have seen from MS so far. Like I mentioned downloading an app to get rid of the native home screen is almost a must but after that its a very stable OS.

I recently "rebuilt" my desktop. New MB, processor SSD drive and windows 8. It screams and for 400.00 I have a brand new computer. For the people complaining about viruses etc on a pc, what are you doing? I have yet to get a virus on my new machine but I also do not download my claim form because I just won the Nigerian lottery

If you're not getting viruses, you're not surfing the web hard enough

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by DenverBroncosJM

For the people complaining about viruses etc on a pc, what are you doing? I have yet to get a virus on my new machine but I also do not download my claim form because I just won the Nigerian lottery

I never got this either. I have had a virus problem exactly once in the last seven years.

Basically if you have problems with viruses or, heaven forbid, you are paying for virus protection, you are obviously a computer imbecile and a Mac is what you need because they are made imbecile proof.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I never got this either. I have had a virus problem exactly once in the last seven years.

Basically if you have problems with viruses or, heaven forbid, you are paying for virus protection, you are obviously a computer imbecile and a Mac is what you need because they are made imbecile proof.

Now there is a hell of a reason to opt for a PC. You prefer a machine that is more complex to run because you are smart enough to deal with the unnecessary complexities. Screw the simple elegance of a Mac I an smart enough to learn all the tricks and work arounds needed to use my PC successfully and my investment in time saves me a couple of hundred dollars over three years.

With that logic driving a Ford Escort is wiser than driving a Porsche 911 because both cars will get you there and the Ford is cheaper.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I never got this either. I have had a virus problem exactly once in the last seven years.

Basically if you have problems with viruses or, heaven forbid, you are paying for virus protection, you are obviously a computer imbecile and a Mac is what you need because they are made imbecile proof.

The only time you get a virus is if you go out looking for one. I have one friend who had a couple viruses a year until he stopped downloading porn. He finally swore off Internets porn and has had one since. The other one I encountered was from a client who installed Freeware from an untrusted source that was infected.

If you use common sense on the internet and keep your anti-virus products updated and don't share USB drives without scanning them right away you will be fine.

I have been using the Free version of AVG Anti-virus and Malware Bytes and not looking for Gene Naked on Porn sites. AVG saves me over $70 bucks now, I am over the limit on Mcafee and Norton licenses at the house.

[lolcopter]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I never got this either. I have had a virus problem exactly once in the last seven years.

Basically if you have problems with viruses or, heaven forbid, you are paying for virus protection, you are obviously a computer imbecile and a Mac is what you need because they are made imbecile proof.

Attention old people who don't know ****: macs can get viruses too, they are just targeted much less frequently

[ZONA]

Originally Posted by CHANGSTER

I'm really not a fan of Windows 8. It's a version built for tablets that's supposed to be user friendly but comes across as dumbed down. And it makes everything take a second longer when you have to hold your cursor at the edge of the screen to get a menu open. It's pretty good for people who aren't exactly "computer people", though.

Yes thank you, finally somebody who knows what their talking about in terms of OS. Windows 8 GUI alone is reason not to buy it. It's definitely a phone OS cloning as a computer OS. I would stick with Windows 7.

As for Mac's, I have no problem with them. But they don't do anything special a Windows PC can't do, except take alot more money out of your wallet. They're so overpriced it's ridiculous.

[Willynowei]

I honestly think this generation, both sides have just about flawless offerings in terms of OS, they really are great, both of them, you can't go wrong with either one.

I think it comes down to products, i'm a big fan specific ones such as the snap on tablet w8 devices and the macbook air - what i'm typing on.

[broncosteven]

I haven't used Win8 but if your thinking about cost already I would go that rout, I have an iPhone and can sync it fine on my Win7 pc, I hate iTunes and the Apple calendar but I don't think you need to spend all that money just because your worried about syncing.

You can get much better hardware cheaper in the Windows platform.

Good luck, tell me how Win 8 is.

[lonestar]

Mac in a heartbeat if for no other reason I do not have to buy virus programs to keep my unit free of crap.

Some day I might have to but not now.

If you want to run windows on the Mac you can. Not sure why you would but you can.

[Doggcow]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Mac in a heartbeat if for no other reason I do not have to buy virus programs to keep my unit free of crap.

Some day I might have to but not now.

If you want to run windows on the Mac you can. Not sure why you would but you can.

Ignorance is bliss.

Same goes for Iphones. Andriods have been putting out superior hardware and features for years.

Didn't Apple just advertise a "Bigger screen" and "Panoramic Pictures"? Lol.

I'm not saying Apple is a bad product. But Apple Products are like the Beats Headphones of the industry now. Nothing more than a status symbol.

[lolcopter]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Mac in a heartbeat if for no other reason I do not have to buy virus programs to keep my unit free of crap.

Some day I might have to but not now.

If you want to run windows on the Mac you can. Not sure why you would but you can.

This is completely wrong

[HILife]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Mac in a heartbeat if for no other reason I do not have to buy virus programs to keep my unit free of crap.

Some day I might have to but not now.

If you want to run windows on the Mac you can. Not sure why you would but you can.

That is a major misconception. Macs can get malware just like any other computer in the world. There are just less of them in the world because of Mac's smaller market share. Why write a program to infect macs that have maybe 10% market share, when you can write a +80% market share windows.

With all that said, go Linux, because it's free and because you like doing stuff the hard way.

[Wes Mantooth]

Originally Posted by HILife

That is a major misconception. Macs can get malware just like any other computer in the world. There are just less of them in the world because of Mac's smaller market share. Why write a program to infect macs that have maybe 10% market share, when you can write a +80% market share windows.

With all that said, go Linux, because it's free and because you like doing stuff the hard way.

Let me echo HiLife. If you get plugged into the vulnerability community, you will find plenty of issue with BSD / Mac.

Virus scanners are dead by the way. Most companies have moved to threat prevention and heuristic scanning to prevent the pattern of attacks. Virus scan engines are retroactive.

[Irish Stout]

In the past 8 years I've purchased 8 laptops. 3 years ago is when I purchased my last laptop, a MacBook. It's has held up better than any pc I've ever owned. There was a steep learning curve for me to get used to the OS, but I love it now. Had to download Firefox for a few of the websites I use for work, but most things are now Mac compatible.

Since getting a MacBook my wife quit her Lenovo and bought a MacBook and we bought a used iMac for a desktop. There are still glitches with the machines, but my problem solving time, virus chasing time, and general load times are just less on the Mac.

There's a reason apple has such a devoted following.

[enjolras]

Originally Posted by Irish Stout

In the past 8 years I've purchased 8 laptops. 3 years ago is when I purchased my last laptop, a MacBook. It's has held up better than any pc I've ever owned. There was a steep learning curve for me to get used to the OS, but I love it now. Had to download Firefox for a few of the websites I use for work, but most things are now Mac compatible.

Since getting a MacBook my wife quit her Lenovo and bought a MacBook and we bought a used iMac for a desktop. There are still glitches with the machines, but my problem solving time, virus chasing time, and general load times are just less on the Mac.

There's a reason apple has such a devoted following.

Counterpoint: All of the developers at my company have either Macbook Air's or Macbook Pro's. Our failure rate is higher than at my previous venture where we mostly used cheap Dell's.

Our average lifespan for a Macbook Pro is about 1.5 years. Which is good for a developers machine, but not fantastic. We're forced into it as all of our developers touch iOS at some point.