I wish I had a Mac. Please share your buying experience!

[TheSuperSteve]

No problem; now by no means am I referring to the quality of either machine; I love Macs personally and will probably stay with them for many, many years to come.

Didn't know you were outside the US; I'd love to offer some advice but I don't really know much about the networks outside the US; if you have an option of phones that you would like to know about and what's better or anything, feel free to send me a PM, I know all about phones (both Android and iPhone).

But... you can buy refurbished Macs... I talked to a guy at an Apple store in Jacksonville and he stated they do have refurbs in the store; I would have to call ahead to get it customized but if it was a base model that they sold online they had it also in the store; if you can give them a call and see what you can do. You can also use the education discount in the store as well, although it's only for a new machine, you can't get a discount on a refurb :/

I see! I think i'll send you that PM once i look at my Android phone options! Thanks!

I dont wanna derail the thread any longer or anything, but yeah. No Apple Stores in Puerto Rico. Unless Best Buy sells refurbs. I'll need to call and check. We have Best Buys with tiny little Apple sections and an empty genius bar (Never seen anyone behind the counter). I'm like a fat kid in a candy store when on Best Buys, just playing with the Macs while the employees give me weird looks from across the room. Hahahaha.

 

[RichardBeer]

Bought my first mac in 2009 with an educational discount. I'd wanted a mac for a long time before, I had an old PC running XP which I hated, I later switched to Ubuntu which if it supports your hardware, is awesome. And I had a great experience with it but OS X ran more of the applications I wanted and was as fast and easier to use.

 

[Young Spade]

Don’t you wonder what has so many people buying Apple Macs lately? I recently bought a used white MacBook off craigslist. I’ve been contemplating buying a MacBook for awhile. I’ve also been saving my money so I could pay cash.I had been watching craigslist for awhile to get an idea of what used MacBooks were selling for. I figured that I might even find one of the aluminum models for sale after Christmas. Some people buy Macs and then find they don’t use them, need the cash or prefer to go back to Windows. I thought this might be an opportunity for me.

From,
vinegarwoman

For more details please visit http://www.vinegarwoman.com/

People are always buying Macs, you're just now starting to notice.

 

[englishman]

People are always buying Macs, you're just now starting to notice.

In the UK there has been quite a change over the last few years where the proportion of Macs especially in notebooks has increased.

You can see this in colleges. It used to be the odd one or two students maybe in design who had one. Now its about 1/3 or so have Macs.

 

[Young Spade]

In the UK there has been quite a change over the last few years where the proportion of Macs especially in notebooks has increased.

You can see this in colleges. It used to be the odd one or two students maybe in design who had one. Now its about 1/3 or so have Macs.

Definitely; there's obviously a trend in growing Mac sales, I just stated that psychologically, he (or anyone here) will notice Macs more after they get one themselves.

 

[RUGERMAN]

Windows

I started with an touch to interface with ripped music to a squeezebox. ipeng is great. I had internet access in my pocket anywhere in the house, checked by FFootball scores, email, etc...all from my pocket.
Then I got a phone4, even better.
12-2010 bought an imac. Great screen, kids love the imove/camera thing on the front, I HATE the usbs in back tho. The imac comes with a bunch of fun software but it takes a bit of use to get as familiar with the file systems, and finding things.
After that I bought a Optiplex 390 so I'd have windows.
Would I do it again maybe...or maybe a 390 and ipad.

Why have another computer sitting around? Just put Windows on your Imac if you feel the need.

 

[r0k]

My first Mac was a hand me down Quadra. I tinkered with the thing and while it was fun, it wasn't really practical. I stared longingly at Macs while continuing to waste money on HP, Compaq and Dell stuff that didn't hold up well because I always went for bottom end machines. When Mac Mini came out, I bought one on just about the first day. I have used Linux for years and feel right at home in Terminal. When I got the Mini I tinkered with it a lot more than I tinkered with that old Quadra, but I didn't go "all in" until I got my early 2008 white Macbook.

Now I'm hooked. I probably would have had to replace one of my "bottom feeder" PCs twice in this timeframe and I found I could just pop in a bigger HDD and more RAM for under $200 and wait for next year's Macbook Pro refresh. I'm out of AppleCare but it's no worry. Meanwhile, I've picked up Macs for other family members and we are all happy with them. When I go on a trip, I only take along my iPad. No more need for a netbook or even a notebook these days so I might be looking at either an iMac or even a Mac Mini for my next Mac.

 

[glenthompson]

Started with an iPod Touch. It was my "gateway" Apple. Both my wife & I had one. Then we were given a MBP by her sister, and both started using it lightly. She get iPad and uses it for almost everything. I start using the MBP as she finds it too heavy and prefers the iPad. She gets iMac this spring when they were refreshed. I now have screen envy - 17" MBP next to a 21.5" Mac looks tiny.

At 60 years old, I've been using MS/Intel computers longer than most here have been alive. The switch to OS X was no harder than the move from XP to Win 7. Still using XP for work but almost all my personal stuff has been moved to the Mac. Still have a few things that I have to use Windows for.

Glen

 

[Gav183]

My son put me onto Mac in 09. I was a PC user and he was/is a Mac user. I liked the look of his laptop because it crapped all over my PC in looks and performance. So I bought a 13" MBP in 09. But it didn't stop there cos now I am turning into a Fanboy and NOW I have, as well as the 13", a 21.5" 2010 iMac, 15" 2011 MBP, 11.6" 2011 MBA and an iPhone4. Dang. And now I have bought a Speck case for the 15" and an Otterbox Commuter case for the iPhone4.
I know I have a slight problem LOL and I am trying to sell some of them but it's hard to get rid of with all the new stuff coming out all the time. Oh well, I guess I will just have to put up with having all this great stuff.
Boys toys LOL.
Anyway, that's my yarn.
Cheers

Gav

 

[GoKyu]

First experience on a Mac was when my brother went to college in '86, and got a Mac Plus - pretty cool, but I was too young to really get into the monochrome screen and all - I still had my Commodore 64

Fast forward 20 years through many iterations of DOS, OS/2, many, MANY versions of Windows, and a very healthy dose of Linux...

I was tired of Windows and decided to get a Mac for its UNIX-based OS. Since I don't like all-in-one computers and I was used to PC desktops, Mac Pro was my only option. No, I had never paid over $1200 for a machine before, but I took the plunge, and it's literally the best computer I've ever owned (even over the custom boxes I built.) it's also the quietest.

Silent, powerful, choice of monitor (matte, thank you), and serious longevity are why I bought this machine. Ok, just for fun, I'd also classify it as "Beast-like"

Purchased in January 2008, I can easily see myself using it for another 2-3 years at least.

 

[CD4287]

Got a $1500 check on graduation day from a scholarship. Went to Apple Store the next day and purchased a MBP. Dad says I'm too impulsive and should have gotten a laptop. I say it was the best darn investment I have ever made.

Why'd you downgrade from MBP to MB?

 

[CD4287]

I see! I think i'll send you that PM once i look at my Android phone options! Thanks!

I dont wanna derail the thread any longer or anything, but yeah. No Apple Stores in Puerto Rico. Unless Best Buy sells refurbs. I'll need to call and check. We have Best Buys with tiny little Apple sections and an empty genius bar (Never seen anyone behind the counter). I'm like a fat kid in a candy store when on Best Buys, just playing with the Macs while the employees give me weird looks from across the room. Hahahaha.

You said you go to Florida. On your next trip actually go to one of the Apple Stores. If you are a student you can get the student discounts in store.

 

[[DL]]

Why does the topic starter have nine thumbs-down? Am I going to get thumbs-down because I pointed this out?

Anyway, I waited years to get a Mac. I'm rather glad my Dad wouldn't let me spend my money much (seriously, I was pretty rich for a nine to 12 year old). After being fascinated by Macs for years, my Dad finally let me get one. I got it for 100 bucks off.

The thing came in the mail in the rain, but it was fine. We went to a farm, and I wasn't allowed to open it because I didn't memorize my Bible Verse (oh, god). Eventually I did, and when I turned it on and heard the Welcome video, I fell in love with it.

 

[-tWv-]

Got my MacBook as a christmas present two years ago, I'm using Macs for life now

 

[Young Spade]

You said you go to Florida. On your next trip actually go to one of the Apple Stores. If you are a student you can get the student discounts in store.

I live in Florida... you know what that means!?!?!!?

MacRumors FORUM MEMBERS MEETUP!!!!!!!

An awesome day with fellow MacRumors members where we eat, drink (mostly drink, coffee preferably), and laugh while enjoying each others company as we talk about the newest rumors, products, and Mac lifestyle.

WOW!!!

Haha tell me that didn't make anyone laugh

 

[CHSeifert]

Started last year with an iPhone 4.
Then got an iPad I for Christmas.
Then got a MBA for university/work.
Then bought an iPad II.
Now got an iMac 27" Ultimate with extra Apple LED Cinema 27" display.
Just bought an iPod Nano Touch 16 gb in orange for the gym.

I still run Win 7 on the MBA and iMac. Love Win 7 and also like OSx - have never had any trouble with windows based machines. Build my own PC's for years, but was ONLY attracted to Macs because of the design.

Will probably stay with Mac, but as other have stated - they just look good, nothing else really makes them THAT special.
It still is just another computer in a nice looking chassis.

To be honest - if not for the clean good design, I would NEVER EVER have bought a Mac. My windows based computers simply run too well for me to change for other thing than the great design

 

[englishman]

Will probably stay with Mac, but as other have stated - they just look good, nothing else really makes them THAT special.
It still is just another computer in a nice looking chassis.

To be honest - if not for the clean good design, I would NEVER EVER have bought a Mac. My windows based computers simply run too well for me to change for other thing than the great design

Agreed and for me as a developer/educationalist its just another platform I need to know about an work with. Linux, Windows (from 3.1), Unix, even CP/M (remember PIP) - all just platforms nothing fundamentally different even down to the components in China.

That said they are nice machines.

 

[Sackvillenb]

I got into Mac when I worked in a mac-based science lab. After using them for a while I realized that the OS was really nice. Not perfect, no, but waaaay more reliable and less annoying than Windows. I've been a windows power user from back in the day (3.11 FTW!), but, as cliched as it sounds, the Mac "just works". When Apple upgraded the default imac ram to 2gb it made them not-a-rip-off and I considered buying one for home use, and for music recording. And then I bought one, and the rest as they say is history.

I'm still using the same imac, but I also have a macbook pro and and ipad. The iOS device are a little more tricky (they have certain specific limitations that really bug me) but they're computers are excellent. And designed well. Are they perfect? No. But they are way better than what the competition has to offer, all things considered, even with the extra expense.

OP, you should save up some money, and buy an apple computer when you can. I doubt you will regret it!

 

[talmy]

When I headed off to college Jobs was still in grade school, so no Mac for me (I had a nice slide rule though!)

First Mac was a 17" G5 iMac, shortly after they came out, which I bought as a Christmas gift for my wife. She was ogling them at the Apple Store. Six months later I bought an iBook for traveling and to get some Mac experience myself. But it took the Intel change before I could actually "switch" at home because I need to run some Windows software not available on the Mac. I got a 20" iMac and version 1 of Parallels.

Still use a Windows machine at work though.

 

[Cloudsurfer]

First Mac: 2006, was an iMac 17". It came with UPS, and opening it up after months of saving up (I was a student) was a magical moment. Booting into state of the art OS X Tiger It was the best computer I ever owned, and I kinda regret selling it.

Second Mac: 2007, a second hand MacBook. It was an impulse purchase, it was basically a refurbished unit. I was so happy with it, but it was soon haunted with battery problems that kept coming back, so I sold it again a year later.

Third Mac: 2008, I bought a 15" MacBook Pro. It was the replacement for that MacBook I bought the year before. It was a gorgeous computer for sure, and always worked well until it died from 8600GT complications

Fourth Mac: 2010, the MacBook Pro in my signature. This was the best buying experience ever, because I bought it the day it was released online. But because of the Ash clouds in Europe, it wasn't sure when my order would arrive. So I spent weeks here on MacRumors discussing when it might arrive. It ended up being 3 weeks late Best laptop I've ever had, to this day I've had no problems with it. I'm going to keep this one until it dies.

 

[wickedking94]

Love It

I got hooked on Mac a year ago. I was in an advanced education centre in my school, and the only computers in there were white plastic macbook's. putting my dislike of mac aside, i decided to give them a chance.

I was blown away. these 2 year old macbook's worked faster and better than my parents computer that had way higher hardware specs. And it never froze, crashed, or had any problems what so ever.

So the following summer i worked every day and managed to save up enough money for my own 13 inch MacBook Pro ( Mid 2010 model) its a dream. It does every high end video task i want without the slightest problem, it plays all my favorite games (like Halo) at full graphics settings.

Macs are well worth the money. to get a Windows machine that would perform this well you would have to spend at least 2000$

 

[TheSuperSteve]

While risking being slightly off topic, my 2 month old HP P6710f started getting BlueScreens regularly now. I swear i havent done anything to it. I just do what i always do.

Haha, now i really wish i had a Mac!

 

[jmortiz024]

Mac for life, i've been converted

Bought an iPhone in 2007, fresh out of high school, been an iPhone user ever since. Used a mac once or twice through high school, never in college. Since I've loved every iPhone I have ever had, iphone, iphone3g, iphone 3gs, iphone 4, i decided to buy an iMac with the recent release in may. I could not be happier, I look forward to coming home and working with a computer that is so user friendly, and works perfectly with my iphone. The setup was easy, OSX is amazing, the preinstalled programs are a plus, plus apple support is top notch. I will be purchasing a new Macbook air when it is released. I have ranted and raved about it since i got it, no complaints.