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Why do you use a Mac?

Consider me part of the Apple "halo effect" crowd, in a sense.

Believe it or not, my gateway to the Apple ecosystem was not hardware, but iTunes for Windows. Buggy as it was, it still performed better than just about any other Windows music player except Winamp, and could rip CDs to MP3 at full disk speed. When it was time to upgrade to a digital portable music player, I got a 2nd gen nano, and I was very impressed by the way iTunes automatically recognized my nano just by its being plugged in. With no configuration whatsoever. In Windows.

This ease of use, combined with the awesome "Luxo Lamp" design of the iMac G4, got me interested in getting a Mac. However, I had to wait until OS X Leopard to switch, as I had one music program that ran only in Windows, so I needed Boot Camp.

I got my first Mac, the aluminum Core 2 Duo iMac, in 2007, just after Leopard went on sale. My iTunes library transferred over flawlessly, and I soon discovered how much more stable iTunes is on OS X. Only a minimum of reconfiguration was needed to get my music app (Cakewalk Sonar) working in Boot Camp.

A scant couple of months later, my wife became extremely frustrated with a family slideshow DVD project she was trying to conjure on her Windows PC with its hodge-podge third party software. No matter which options she picked, the resulting disc refused to work, on the PC or on a regular DVD player. I had her save the photos to a thumb drive, then used iDVD to create a polished slideshow disc with menu and background music that worked everywhere -- in about an hour and a half.

Needless to say, my wife now has her own iMac. She uses it mainly for Web surfing, iPhoto, MacGourmet Deluxe for recipes, and iTunes to sync and backup her iPod touch.
 
I was introduced to Macs by my parents at a very young age, so throughout most of my life I've been familiar and knowledgeable about them :) While I think Windows is a decent operating system, I've never really felt the need to get a Windows machine. I feel more at home with OSX.
 
I took a job that had an LC475 on the desk, and started dating a girl who had an LCIII at home.

I have never used a Microsoft OS. What's it like? ;):D
 
I kept hearing all the stories about Mac's being well built, long lasting top quality machines that are simple to use and have little to no problems, so I thought I'd give them a go.

I've certainly had my fair share of problems with them. But overall, I'm satisfied with what I've got.
 
I've been a Unix guy since the early/mid 80s and have always leaned in that direction. Lots of sunos/solaris/linux/*bsd/etc over the years. And I simply got tired of all the maintenance that Microsoft Windows seems to require (especially when being used by teenagers).

I put a 2008 macbook pro on my wife's desk (was also shared by my teens) in '08 and haven't had to do anything to it, maintenance wise, until recently. Regular backups just in case, but nothing like have to re-imaging the system the windows box a couple/few times per year.

And I like the hardware. :)
 
First Mac was a PowerPC 9600/300. It was required at the time for use with Media100. I also got an 8-bay RAID tower for it, and it was awesome compared to the other systems I had at the time (1997). My second Mac was the one in my signature. I got it because I wanted to see how they improved over the years.
 
I only bought my Mac because at the time, there wasn't really an Apple price premium and Dell messed up my payment.

I spec'd out my current MacBook and some Dell laptop back in March 2007. They were basically the same, the Dell was probably marginally cheaper. I was in high school at the time and am independent, so I was trying to make the purchase myself. My debit card limit wouldn't let it go through. Indian CS said they'd split it into two to let it go through - they didn't.

Order failed, so I went with Apple. I had issues paying that one, too, but it eventually went through.

That's honestly it. It looked like a nice machine for a decent price. And it was/is. And I'll wait until Ivy Bridge/latest refresh to see what's the best option for the price next. I'm in the market for a new computer and far from tied to Apple. I had a HP and Toshiba laptop before my MacBook.
 
I bought a Macbook pro because I liked the way it looked. also like the OS a bit (from the pics) but didn't necessarily know the features hidden beneath.

I could have been perfectly fine with Windows, but I realized how useful OS X was now I'll keep buying Macs too. i never bought it to do the things my PC couldn't do (didn't know the limitations of the PC) but the Mac made it easier. only found out after i bought it though.
 
I had an HP laptop that had nothing but problems. I don't blame it on Windows, in fact I like Windows 7, but once it died, I decided to try a Mac. I haven't looked back since. The overall experience is much nicer.
 
I got mine thanks to Windows Vista. Due to a pre-service pack 1 error that prevented it from copying large amounts of data from one drive to another I sold my brand new Vista laptop (it was a REALLY bad day at work and I was angry) for 1/3 of what I paid for it a month earlier and went online to order parts for a linux machine, but instead went to Apples website and ordered a Macbook Pro.

I have never looked back since.

Things like built in multiple desktop support, built in ISO support, differential backup that was reliable, and a slew of other things kept me on board.
 
I was having too many issues with each Windows PC I purchased. My Dell was nothing but problems, riddled with viruses at every turn. None of the laptops in my price range excited me, and this was before Windows 7 was announced so a Vista laptop just made me cringe.

I decided to scout Craigslist for a used Macbook, and found one for $500. After a month I had adjusted to the "Apple" way of computing, and found my Macbook to be a lot easier to use and maintain than any other computer I had owned previously. I'm typing this message on it as we read these forums, and while I think it's ready for a replacement, it still handles the tasks I ask of it.

My first computer was an Apple IIc. I don't know why I ever left the platform. Lol.
 
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After. being a windows user for more than 4 years and having my computers constantly fail on me, I wanted a computer that just worked. I bought a 2007 MacBook and from the moment I turned it on, it just worked as well as I wanted it to. I never intend to go back to windows based machines if I can help it
 
Nice thread to make my 1st post in! In about 2 months, I'll go all Mac. I've been working with PC's since late 80s, sticking with DOS till Windows 98SE came out. I always had an interest in MACs, but the price-tag was the one thing that always hold me back.

What has changed? The fact I got an iPod Touch and soon after that an iPhone 3GS (and now a 4S) I fell in love with the simplicity and how smooth everything works. Add 2 Windows laptops that went into flames (literally) in the last 2 years and the more then I count Blue Screens Of Death, even in Windows 7 (and they said that wasn't possible).

After fooling around on MAC's of friends and seeing the same simplicity back as on my iDevices, I'm so done with Windows and screw the price-tag. I'm ready to convert :apple: and really looking forward to it...
 
because HP dv4000 fell apart after 3 years (and was 1500 USD with an X700 card). the paint wore off the front grills and the letters wore off the keyboard.

what a POS.

i figured that much money would buy a top-spec 13.3", so I went that next direction afterward.
 
I bought my first mac in August 2007. It was the first gen aluminum iMac. I was having all sorts of problems with my old Windows machine at the time (it was 4 years old). So I decided to try the iMac. I loved it and so did my non-techie wife. The rest is history.:cool:
 
I went from an "IBM Clone" to a Macintosh SE/30 because it was just easier. No more DOS; I just clicked on stuff and it worked.
 
Switched to Mac in 2004 because I wanted a small but powerful laptop for uni work, so I went with a 12" PowerBook.
Now I buy them because it's cheaper than buying a powerful PC and powerful Mac, as I need software on both systems, so I buy a high-end iMac every so often.

I'm not opposed to switching back fully to Windows. If Apple does go the way of "iOS on desktop" then I'll be back on Windows in a heartbeat. I just like Apple hardware and their build quality.
 
NorthDakota91 said:
Hello people! I am very curious about the reason you bought your (first) Mac. Did you get your machine for a particular task (maybe because this task is only possible/easier with OS X)? Because of the battery (Only for macbook owners of course)? Was you upset with malware? Because you already had an iPod/Pad/Phone? Was you just curious about how a mac would perform for you or was it just because "macs are cool"?

As for me, it was a "random" purchase. My old laptop fried and my choice was between a Sony Vaio and a Macbook (same price, higher specs on the Vaio). But in the end, I'm much happier with this Macbook than with any other PC and I would never come back.
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I bought one because i got my first iphone which was the 3gs then i wanted to know what macs are.I saw heaps of videos of the OS and it looked amazing and intuitive i also heard that there are no viruses,so took the plunge in 2011.Never looked back speed is amazing!!!:D
 
Raged a lot while using Windows laptops/desktops. Seemed like once a week it would stall, crash or get the dreaded blue screen of death. Hated it. But I dealt with it. Initial Apple product was an iPod mini. Thought it was pretty cool as I wanted a new MP3 player. Later bought iPhone 3G and feel in love with apple then. Fast forward about 2 years and my work decided to buy me a "gift" of sorts and my horrendous 17 inch HP wasn't cutting it anymore. Since it was on the house, so to speak, I went for a 2010 MBP and haven't looked back since. The simplicity of its design, great battery life, multitouch, and OSX pretty much clinched it for me. Now, with me iPad in hand, I'm hooked for life. With all the apple goodies I have now, everything works great together and makes for a stresss free computer experience.
 
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