What's the life expectancy on a current iMac?

[wawanarchist]

One virus can't do anything but when there is dozens, hudreds, thousands it start to really slow down. And usually there is more than 1 virus. Other issue is that I don't want that tracking cookie steals my credit card number.

And reformating is the most annoying thing to do

Thats very true, many times one virus opens up a proxy node for many more to enter. And reformatting can be very time consuming. But people saying that a pc 'dies' because of virus' is a far stretch... Also, I'm using a PC laptop right now that has been run daily for 2 years now with no spyware protection or virus protection at all, with no problems at all... My secret? Stay off of pron sites. When you limit your internet use to trustworthy sites, virus' are not a problem

 

[plinden]

Other issue is that I don't want that tracking cookie steals my credit card number.

Hmm ... a tracking cookie can't do anything. It's just some text that a server sent back to your computer. And, since all browsers on all OSs handle cookies in exactly the same way any vulnerabilities that may be in cookies will be present in OS X.

I've been using PCs since the IBM XT days, 22 years now. I've had the grand total of 1 virus infection in that time, back in the mid-80s, when someone else used an infected floppy disk on my PC at work.

You need to change your online behaviour. You seem to be the type who would have been infected by the iWork 09 torrent trojan.

 

[skye12]

Someone in my family is still using my old 5+ year old ibook. The limiting
factor is how long the software is supported as browsers etc. update
year after year.

The computer hardware will likely last longer than your desire to use it.

 

[Hellhammer]

Hmm ... a tracking cookie can't do anything. It's just some text that a server sent back to your computer. And, since all browsers on all OSs handle cookies in exactly the same way any vulnerabilities that may be in cookies will be present in OS X.

I've been using PCs since the IBM XT days, 22 years now. I've had the grand total of 1 virus infection in that time, back in the mid-80s, when someone else used an infected floppy disk on my PC at work.

You need to change your online behaviour. You seem to be the type who would have been infected by the iWork 09 torrent trojan.

Sorry I meant key logger not tracking cookie, my bad. I'm again in kinda bad mood, 9 hours school and 2 hours floorball after school.

I'll try to behave, sorry if I've insult someone.

One thing still, anti-virus programms really eats your computers performance, in worst cases over 50%. Now I stop talking shitt, lets talk about rumors they are always fun😀😀

 

[riker1384]

I was just wondering about the life expectancy of the hardware, since my eMac just died. I just mentioned the PC because it's a year newer, and also it can be repaired more readily.

The PC is a system that I tried to make into a working Hackintosh, but I wasn't able to make everything work. I'd been told be Hackintosh folks that it would be easy, but it wasn't. I wasted a bunch of time on it. I might be able to sell it to a local Hackintosh enthusiast, since I built it with parts that are supposed to be ideal for that. But, I was also thinking of maybe switching to Windows because I could sell the iMac for more, and I'd have a newer, faster computer.

 

[armoguy94]

Who keeps a computer more than 1-2 years now-a-days? You have to keep buying new ones/updating them to keep up with all the new technology!

Wow. Please tell me this was a joke. Not everyone has $1,000+ to spend on a Mac nowadays, especially in this economy. And as much as it would be nice to keep "up to date with technology" it is nothing but a waste of money to update under 3 years after purchasing a computer. I'd like to keep this Aluminum iMac I got in September '08 until September '13 or '14. It'll do just fine.

 

[Yamcha]

2 of PCs have died for a virus. You know nothing about viruses, my uncle works for Lenowo and he knows how to make viruses. (he told me about a virus you download and your computer will never start up anymore.

When my laptop's (which I'm using now) HD died first time, I didn't have to pay anything but second time (a year and 2 months after bought) it didn't have warranty left. I had to pay 70e for new HD and send it with my laptop to Acer and pay all shippings and wait 3 weeks. And laptops are not upgradeable.



I know Macs and PCs use the same ****ing hardware! Reformating my PC didn't help me at all, only had to install everything again.

Problem is that in PCs you buy computer from one manufacturer and OS from other and anti-virus from 3rd party + all the other SWs you download/buy.

Only few laptops even has HW that passes Vistas recommended HW.

I'm not Apple fanboy, I'm just sick to crashing Windows!

You spelled Lenovo wrong, Im pretty sure you uncle is wrong, there is only one known virus called CIH that targets BIOS chips on the motherboard, but the chances of getting it is like lightning hitting you, and when it does happen you simply replace BIOS chip, or in some cases motherboard. And remember viruses aren't attracted to PC's they are here because of Windows, if you install Linux or OSX on a PC you won't get any viruses.. If you run Windows Natively on a Mac the same thing is gonna happen, you'll get viruses.. has nothing to do with a PC..

I've been using PC's for 10years!! I have never encountered anything like that, but you seem like you don't know how to use Windows, of course there are tons of viruses for Windows, you have to take some pre-cautions.. I don't download from P2P like i did 6yrs ago.. never open files attached to your mail if you don't know the person.. better yet don't try to run them.. I mean you must be a complete noob if you get so many viruses..

And never buy name branded PC's they rip you off, get a custom one built.. I can understand laptops don't have much warranty because they are branded.. but if u were to get a custom PC each individual part has 3yrs warranty.. thats something you can never get from Apple..

PS: Bios chips have antivirus's, especially these days, so it effecting your motherboard is very slim.. oh and I forgot to mention that a virus can't physically destroy hardware!! the CIH virus targets BIOS Software!! but without a working Bios the computer wont turn on or you'll probably get a blank screen, but again u can replace the chip or the motherboard..

 

[Hellhammer]

You spelled Lenovo wrong, Im pretty sure you uncle is wrong, there is only one known virus called CIH that targets BIOS chips on the motherboard, but the chances of getting it is like lightning hitting you, and when it does happen you simply replace BIOS chip, or in some cases motherboard. And remember viruses aren't attracted to PC's they are here because of Windows, if you install Linux or OSX on a PC you won't get any viruses.. If you run Windows Natively on a Mac the same thing is gonna happen, you'll get viruses.. has nothing to do with a PC..

I've been using PC's for 10years!! I have never encountered anything like that, but you seem like you don't know how to use Windows, of course there are tons of viruses for Windows, you have to take some pre-cautions.. I don't download from P2P like i did 6yrs ago.. never open files attached to your mail if you don't know the person.. better yet don't try to run them.. I mean you must be a complete noob if you get so many viruses..

And never buy name branded PC's they rip you off, get a custom one built.. I can understand laptops don't have much warranty because they are branded.. but if u were to get a custom PC each individual part has 3yrs warranty.. thats something you can never get from Apple..

PS: Bios chips have antivirus's, especially these days, so it effecting your motherboard is very slim.. oh and I forgot to mention that a virus can't physically destroy hardware!! the CIH virus targets BIOS Software!! but without a working Bios the computer wont turn on or you'll probably get a blank screen, but again u can replace the chip or the motherboard..

I have nothing against PCs, they are same computers as Macs, Windows is the only thing that I hate. I haven't got viruses for years, only when I was noob with computers and anti-virus programms were bad.

I needed a laptop when I bought this and it's kinda hard to build it by yourself. Next one will be iMac, then maybe if I need I build up a desktop for me.

I was very tired and in bad mood yesterday when I wrote those posts, please people don't take 'em so seriously, I'm not God so I don't know everything and propably most of you guys knows a lot more than me.

 

[Bad Paper]

You spelled Lenovo wrong

He didn't spell it wrong; he spelled it differently. He lives in Finland.

 

[tom.]

How long is a piece of string?

This really is down to how you are using it, what conditions it is kept in, etc. In a low-dust, smoke free and cool haven you might find it will last indefinitely, but by the same token the hard drive might go tomorrow.

PC's are easier to replace parts for, but you can't really live in fear of that!

 

[timestoby]

ur mac will last you as long as it does wot you need it to do. unless of course the screen or hdd burns out but those are replacable.

 

[Aintawerd02]

I'll happily take a Mac off anyone who doesn't need a two-year old one.

No problem.

RIGHT! lol, you can upgrade to the new iMacs and you can give me your G5 Intel w/ isight 😀

lol

 

[auto123]

I would say stick with the pc. if you were to have asked me a few months ago I would've said the mac because even though it would become dated, they are just too stubborn to die.

I bought a used imac g3 in march 2008, and it was used frequently at a school and has been going now for 8 years 😎

however because you asked now I say the pc because windows 7 will be coming out soon, and it is more... light weight than vista. so if vista runs fast on the pc, win 7 will only run faster.

or if its an intel mac, then check to see if a future version of boot camp will support win 7, then you could have to best of both worlds and the 2 computers would be evenly matched.

it's a very tough decision,
-Tyler

 

[Hellhammer]

I would say stick with the pc. if you were to have asked me a few months ago I would've said the mac because even though it would become dated, they are just too stubborn to die.

I bought a used imac g3 in march 2008, and it was used frequently at a school and has been going now for 8 years 😎

however because you asked now I say the pc because windows 7 will be coming out soon, and it is more... light weight than vista. so if vista runs fast on the pc, win 7 will only run faster.

or if its an intel mac, then check to see if a future version of boot camp will support win 7, then you could have to best of both worlds and the 2 computers would be evenly matched.

it's a very tough decision,
-Tyler

Windows 7 isn't so cool, I got the beta on my laptop. It's little lighter than Vista, but in reality it's just service pack 2 to vista, nothing more.

You can't compare iMac G3 to new PC.

Have you even used W7?

 

[auto123]

Windows 7 isn't so cool, I got the beta on my laptop. It's little lighter than Vista, but in reality it's just service pack 2 to vista, nothing more.

You can't compare iMac G3 to new PC.

Have you even used W7?

I wouldn't think of win7 as vista service pack 2, after all vista service pack 2 is in a public beta phase right now.

I wasn't comparing an imac g3 to a new pc, I was just using it as an example for how long a mac can live.