Huh? What are you taking about? Viruses are still very much a problem. Tell that to my parents and their pc that i have reformatted 3 times so far since they bought it a year ago.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How would you counter these arguments against Mac
- Thread starter asifnaz
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Huh? What are you taking about? Viruses are still very much a problem. Tell that to my parents and their pc that i have reformatted 3 times so far since they bought it a year ago.
Sigh...
Not for first time do I wonder why you continue to post on these boards.
Please feel free to take your unproductive and unhelpful ramblings elsewhere, welcome to my ignore list.
OP: There is never any point in getting into this debate, it`s as old as time itself.
All that matters is that YOU are happy with YOUR choice of machine.
For most mainstream users the hardware in their computer is of no more relevance than the hardware in their satellite reciever or toaster and will become increasingly less relevant.
It`s actually hard to buy a computer these days that won`t do all the things that the majority of people actually use them for.
Am I willing to pay a premium to have the integration, build quality and ease of use I get with Apple?
Hell Yes.
I am not sure there *is* any argument against it. It's one of those "you get it or you don't" kinds of things, I guess.
If you're worried about security, I think that Mac is a step ahead. With Windows, if you have an admin password you've hacked the whole hard drive. It's a lot harder with OSX.
You also either trust Apple hardware quality, or you don't. It's great...but if you're on Windows machines from Dell and Sony then you just aren't going to understand that Apple really means business with customer service and the quality of the hardware.
Sometimes they'll even seem to be a generation behind, but they'll be able to give you a reason. They stick to dual-core i7 in the MacBook range, because nobody uses all 8 logical processors in a quad core machine anyway, and there is a huge, huge price to pay in either battery life or the weight of the notebook you have to configure with a battery big enough to power those cores all day long.
If you really use your machine to communicate, then Apple could appear to be cheaper in the long run. The operating system comes with an iMail and an iCal application that is each every bit as good for the normal communicator as Outlook is, even having some additional features for free, and both synchronise with MobileMe perfectly, and even with free services like the Google iMAP and Exchange servers.
And if you have to use it for business, then you'll find that iWork does everything that Powerpoint and other expensive Microsoft applications do, and it does it for hundreds of dollars less.
:shrug:
So...you get it or you don't.
There's no real way to counter the arguments of a dedicated Windows games player, because the fact of the matter is that these are not machines for gaming, necessarily.
They are, however, machines for people who have real lives.
Our Macs are adjuncts to life, enhancements and tools to life. We do not use them to escape from life.You don't. YOu buy a Windows laptop instead. And tell your friends they are right.
And then show up the next day with Windows stickers on your Mac laptop.
All because it is pointless because Windows fans will argue specs and will fail to see that there is more to the computing experience than specs.
You can buy a bigger engine but is the car faster if it is heavier and not efficiently mated to the right transmission and a sleek aerodynamic body?
And how enjoyable is it to use if the windshield wipers are not conveniently located or you have to reach into the backseat to put the seatbelt on or if the steering wheel isn't locked in place?
EDIT:
Sometimes it is hard to argue. I mean I bought a i5 15" Samsung laptop yesterday with a 330M Nvidia 1gb gpu and 4gb ram with a 500gb hard drive, usb3, bluetooth, wireless N, speakers, webcam, hdmi ports, and 2/3 usb3/usb2 ports among other ports, LED monitor, ...
And Windows 7 with supposedly not much bloatware.
All for $730. PLus they gave me a $100 Amazon gift card.
And then show up the next day with Windows stickers on your Mac laptop.
All because it is pointless because Windows fans will argue specs and will fail to see that there is more to the computing experience than specs.
You can buy a bigger engine but is the car faster if it is heavier and not efficiently mated to the right transmission and a sleek aerodynamic body?
And how enjoyable is it to use if the windshield wipers are not conveniently located or you have to reach into the backseat to put the seatbelt on or if the steering wheel isn't locked in place?
EDIT:
Sometimes it is hard to argue. I mean I bought a i5 15" Samsung laptop yesterday with a 330M Nvidia 1gb gpu and 4gb ram with a 500gb hard drive, usb3, bluetooth, wireless N, speakers, webcam, hdmi ports, and 2/3 usb3/usb2 ports among other ports, LED monitor, ...
And Windows 7 with supposedly not much bloatware.
All for $730. PLus they gave me a $100 Amazon gift card.
Last edited by a moderator:
I like to argue/debate but if the OP is really a Mac user then you should not be phased in the least by what someone says about your choice of computer. Both platforms have disadvantages. If you're happy, why would you be bothered by what someone else says? That goes for life in general. Tell them to kiss your a s s.
I never understood this bizarre argument. Yes, you can build your own PC from parts, and it will be cheaper than a Mac with similar specs. Guess what? It will also be cheaper than a Dell with similar specs. Or an IBM or a Toshiba or a Sony - but not by very much, and you lose some major benefits that definitely outweigh the small cost differential.
Building your own PC from parts is completely different than buying a complete system from a tier-1 manufacturer. When you build your own, from parts:
- You have to pay extra for the Operating System and all the software. Windows 7 Ultimate is $300. Be sure to add that $300 to your build cost if you want a fair comparison. Also, how much do Windows equivalents cost for the iLife applications, which are included free on the Mac?
- You have no tech support. If your Mac (Or Sony or Dell) has a problem, you have one vendor to call, and you have a warranty that covers the entire system. Build it yourself, and YOU are the warranty. With a Mac, you can take it to the Apple store and a "Genius" can answer your questions and fix problems for you for FREE. Nothing similar is available for PC. If your system crashes, is it the motherboard? The CPU? Or the memory that is bad? Or maybe it's a software configuration issue? You have to open support cases with each of the different component manufacturers, and frequently each one will blame your problems on the other. Also, if you bought OEM packaged components (like most of what NewEgg sells) instead of Retail packaging - you have NO warranty whatsoever on any of the parts! Also, sensitive components like CPU's and Memory frequently have a VERY short return period, 5 days or 7 days or something like that.
- Mac's all have free shipping. Add all the shipping costs of many different PC components and you might find you spent $50 to $100 or more on shipping, getting all the parts to your door.
- Not everybody is hardware-savy enough to build their own PC. If you aren't experienced at such things, you run the risk of damaging the components and ending up with an expensive door-stop. Or you'll spend large amounts of time and money in training, to learn how to do it. You also might buy incompatible components, or ones that don't work well with each other. And now you have to download and update drivers from a dozen different component manufacturers to keep your machine up to date.
- Time required to research all the parts compatibility, to physically build and test the machine, install and update the Operating System and all the applications, and then migrate all your old data over. This adds up to many hours of your time. My time isn't worthless, is yours? A Mac comes out of the box, immediately ready to use. You could make the same analogy here with a car - why spend Tens of $thousands of dollars on a new car, when you could go out and buy some steel, some glass, an engine, some seats, etc. and build it yourself. "Immediately ready to use" versus "many hours of research, design, and build time".
- Time required to migrate all your old data to the new machine. Mac has an absolutely outstanding migration assistant that migrates all your old data over, from your old Mac. It works amazing well, only a few clicks, and ALL your data, operating system preferences, settings, etc. all get moved over automatically. Even your desktop wallpaper and screen savers. There is nothing even remotely close to this available for Windows - you'll spend hours copying random files out of your Windows "My Documents" and "C drive" and all other places.
- Lastly, there is the build quality. Pick up a Macbook Pro (or Air or whatever), and then pick up an HP or Toshiba laptop. The Mac is made of metal, it just *feels* solid in your hands, like it has a very high build quality like a Mercedes or Rolls-Royce. Then pick up the Toshiba or the HP laptop. It's plastic. It flexes. It feels cheap and chintzy, like a honda civic. Build quality matters!
- Cost aside, when all is said and done, with a peecee, you're stuck with the crappy Windows operating system. A bloated, buggy, virus-riddled piece of crap that needs to be re-installed every 2 years. With a Mac you have a lean and rock-solid reliable UNIX based operating system. A proven security model, that is safer and more reliable than Windows by design.
Last edited:
...OEM parts from Newegg have warranties. Why do people speak on stuff they have no idea about. This is why a lot of people cant take the whole Mac side of the debate seriously in the first place, you're just saying stuff that has no truth behind it.
Also building a PC from scratch isn't hard. I have no training or anything whatsoever and I managed. All I did was google "building first pc" and watched a 10 minute video on youtube. When I turned it on the first time it lit up but wouldn't boot. I google'd the problem and the first answer had a solution. Wow lots of time and training that really took. And this is coming from a guy who is 21 years old and has touched a screwdriver maybe three times in his life
Last edited:
I'm sorry, but you clearly do not understand the subject matter at hand. Most OEM parts do not have warranties. It doesn't matter what Newegg tells you - have you tried to get warranty service on any of your OEM parts, 6 months or a year after buying them? No? I didn't think so.
Your "isn't hard" argument is pathetic. Just because you did it (and had some problems along the way) doesn't mean everyone can do it. Also, most people do not have the hours of time, or the desire to do it. That is all I am saying. Just because you and I are techno-geeks, comfortable with reading computer forums, and googling motherboard problems, doesn't mean everyone else is too. Most people have no idea what Socket 1366 means, DDR2 versus DDR3, SATA versus PATA, Core i7 versus Phenom II, or any of the other techno terminology.
Do your parents build their own peecee's? Does your girlfriend build her own peecee? Yeah, I didn't think so.
Last edited:
They don't
but I'm sure they could if they wanted to. And have YOU even bought parts of newegg or dealt with their or the manufacturers warranty? What makes you an expert on the subject
Yes I have bought hard drives from Newegg. Newegg listed the drive as having a "3 year" warranty. The drive failed about 18 months after purchasing it. Of course that is far too late to RMA the drive with Newegg, so I went through the manufacturer. Western Digital. I was told by Western Digital that the serial number of my drive was an OEM serial number, and OEM drives are intended for system integrators (not end users), and that I needed to go through the system integrator to file a warranty claim with them. They said they only honor warranties with end users on Retail packaged drives. So Newegg pointed me to WD, and WD pointed me back to newegg. End result is ZERO warranty for me, the end user. This is my own personal experience, not rumor or speculation.
Of course Newegg also sells retail packaged drives, but they cost $10 or $20 more than the OEM version, so be sure and factor that into your build cost if you want to have a warranty you can actually use.
The "you can install Mac OS on a PC is hundreds of $ cheaper" is crap, as:
- it's not easy
- a beginner would never be able to do it
- not everything works on every configuration
- it's not easy
- a beginner would never be able to do it
- not everything works on every configuration
Yes. It reminds me of something the late Carl Sagan once said in his series Cosmos. For something like $5 or $10 dollars you can purchase all the chemicals that constitute the human body. You get all the parts to make a person, but you don't get a person.
To the OP- any argument you might make is pointless. If someone is a die-hard PC fan (or Mac hater) you will not convince them regardless of your evidence and arguments.
Trying to tell a pc person why they should like Macs is like trying to tell a gay guy why women are more fun in bed. Vice versa for mac people. Although, a few people I work with have switched teams on their own to Mac. One guy I work with is still pc and every time I see him he goes on and on about a pc he built for his wife and how all the specs are superior to my mac. Then later in the day, he'll mention he's thinking his next computer might be a mac. Go figure.
One guy I work with is still pc and every time I see him he goes on and on about a pc he built for his wife and how all the specs are superior to my mac. Then later in the day, he'll mention he's thinking his next computer might be a mac. Go figure.
+1
I've turned dozens of Windows/PC users to the Mac side over the years and EVERY ONE OF THEM said the same thing to me:
"It's just so easy to use"...and not a single one of them ever went back to a PC...in fact, most have said they wished they had switched years ago...
Well i shoped when they had those education deals so i got free printer, free ipod which i sold for like 200 dollars and educaiton discount which saved me another 100 dollars. So after 300 dollars off, the price for a mbp vs something comparable in quality was not very different at all. The thing that made me choose mbp was that it was thinner, studier (alum vs plastic), and lighter which is a big deal for a laptop since you carry it around places.
If i used my laptop as a desktop then yea i wouldn't mind having one that looked like a plastic brick with noisy fans.
If i used my laptop as a desktop then yea i wouldn't mind having one that looked like a plastic brick with noisy fans.
I just went from a Dell Studio 1558 laptop to a mid-level 2010 15" macbook pro. I purchased the Dell about 8 months ago, and after configuration, came to about $1500.
Dell had a blu-ray drive, a 2.4ghz Core i5, 4 gigs of ram, 500 gig HD, 15" screen @ 1366x768, all the normal little ports and whatnot that they cram onto the side of most PC laptops that the average person never uses. E-sata, HDMI, etc etc...I never used them once.
MBP is the standard off-the-shelf model, 2.53ghz/4gig/500gig/glossy 1440x900. I upgraded the HD to a 7200rpm Seagate (which I had purchased prior to the MBP) and a Speck shell and a sleeve. Purchased through AAFES and after talking the the salesperson into pricematching the student discount, grand total was about $1950 or so.
For $500 more for the MBP, I don't have to deal with an utterly garbage trackpad with horrible drivers, a creaking case with horrible build quality (you could actually take your fingernail and pull apart the bottom part of the LCD frame from the panel itself, with minimal effort), keyboard flex, case flex along the frame above the slot-load blu-ray drive, and a palmrest area that felt like it had been polished with bacon fat. The speakers, while loud, crackled and popped, the system was loaded with bloatware, and even after a clean install, the factory drivers were just as horrible. The blu-ray software that is required to actually use the drive in Windows 7 is a hobbled, budget version.
Ubuntu actually ran stellar on the Dell...however, it negated the point of having a blu-ray drive, since all the current methods of using it in Linux are unacceptable. So, again tied to Windows to have actual usable functionality which I paid for.
So, while the specs of the Dell (on paper) roughly matched up with my MBP, I could never quite escape the feeling that I had paid a nice chunk of cash for a cheap laptop. Buying a system is more than the sum of its components. I'd gladly pay a few hundred more for something that gives me a better overall experience, neither of which Windows 7 nor Linux could provide. Last week I sold the Dell to a coworker for $475, and while he's pleased with it, I just can't seem to keep him from wanting to touch my MBP...
TLDR Version: sometimes its worth paying more for what you want, if the overall experience is better and you feel your money was well spent.
Dell had a blu-ray drive, a 2.4ghz Core i5, 4 gigs of ram, 500 gig HD, 15" screen @ 1366x768, all the normal little ports and whatnot that they cram onto the side of most PC laptops that the average person never uses. E-sata, HDMI, etc etc...I never used them once.
MBP is the standard off-the-shelf model, 2.53ghz/4gig/500gig/glossy 1440x900. I upgraded the HD to a 7200rpm Seagate (which I had purchased prior to the MBP) and a Speck shell and a sleeve. Purchased through AAFES and after talking the the salesperson into pricematching the student discount, grand total was about $1950 or so.
For $500 more for the MBP, I don't have to deal with an utterly garbage trackpad with horrible drivers, a creaking case with horrible build quality (you could actually take your fingernail and pull apart the bottom part of the LCD frame from the panel itself, with minimal effort), keyboard flex, case flex along the frame above the slot-load blu-ray drive, and a palmrest area that felt like it had been polished with bacon fat. The speakers, while loud, crackled and popped, the system was loaded with bloatware, and even after a clean install, the factory drivers were just as horrible. The blu-ray software that is required to actually use the drive in Windows 7 is a hobbled, budget version.
Ubuntu actually ran stellar on the Dell...however, it negated the point of having a blu-ray drive, since all the current methods of using it in Linux are unacceptable. So, again tied to Windows to have actual usable functionality which I paid for.
So, while the specs of the Dell (on paper) roughly matched up with my MBP, I could never quite escape the feeling that I had paid a nice chunk of cash for a cheap laptop. Buying a system is more than the sum of its components. I'd gladly pay a few hundred more for something that gives me a better overall experience, neither of which Windows 7 nor Linux could provide. Last week I sold the Dell to a coworker for $475, and while he's pleased with it, I just can't seem to keep him from wanting to touch my MBP...
TLDR Version: sometimes its worth paying more for what you want, if the overall experience is better and you feel your money was well spent.
A Mac or a Windows machine isn't a choice of lifestyle. It isn't some club or clan that you are inducted into.
It is simply a tool. You choose the tool that you can use the most, and to be the most productive, and to achieve your purposes.
That's how I counter each and every one of these silly arguments.
It is simply a tool. You choose the tool that you can use the most, and to be the most productive, and to achieve your purposes.
That's how I counter each and every one of these silly arguments.
large numbers of pc users convert to mac every day. I have yet to meet a single mac user in real life who wants to go back to using a pc. I think that speaks for itself
Well can you at least delay it until the next generation of MacBook Pros come out?
honestly most of those people are just jealous but is your money and you can do with it as you please. As long as they are not paying for it their opinion is irrelevant, Someone who doesn't have a mac will not understand why we love our macs, until they actually get one.
you tell them, I bought a mac because I want to look like a hipster, I'm a bandwagoner and I believe that buying what apple sells will get me more friends.
Your friends will think you're so stupid that they won't bother ridiculing you anymore.
Honestly though, who cares, it's your life, your money and your choice at the end of the day. Having built pc's before, I'm well aware I can spend 50% less on a hackintosh machine (infact that's what I'm planning to do when I finally finish school and switch my primary computer to a desktop) that will match the specs of a mac pro. But it's my money, my decisions, so who cares? Get some new friends who don't judge you so vainly.
I personally bought my first mac back in 2007 when not many users even considered apple machines. I just found OSX to be really cool, one demo from a friend of mine (who funny enough now works @ the apple store as a genius) convinced me that a mac would be a good choice for a laptop as i graduate HS and move on to college life. I'm now on my second laptop from apple and I still like it just as much as i did back in 2k7. It doesn't matter what people say about your laptop at the end of the day, as long as you're happy with it it shouldn't matter.
Also, I don't hear much of those arguments anymore. Mostly what I hear is things like "omg macs are so pretty! I want one too!" >.> . Bah.
Your friends will think you're so stupid that they won't bother ridiculing you anymore.
Honestly though, who cares, it's your life, your money and your choice at the end of the day. Having built pc's before, I'm well aware I can spend 50% less on a hackintosh machine (infact that's what I'm planning to do when I finally finish school and switch my primary computer to a desktop) that will match the specs of a mac pro. But it's my money, my decisions, so who cares? Get some new friends who don't judge you so vainly.
I personally bought my first mac back in 2007 when not many users even considered apple machines. I just found OSX to be really cool, one demo from a friend of mine (who funny enough now works @ the apple store as a genius) convinced me that a mac would be a good choice for a laptop as i graduate HS and move on to college life. I'm now on my second laptop from apple and I still like it just as much as i did back in 2k7. It doesn't matter what people say about your laptop at the end of the day, as long as you're happy with it it shouldn't matter.
Also, I don't hear much of those arguments anymore. Mostly what I hear is things like "omg macs are so pretty! I want one too!" >.> . Bah.