Mac vs. PC vs. Linux (poll added!)

[Wales]

I think when you buy a Mac, you're clearly buying the brand. The laptop I'm using right now is the first laptop I've ever paid for out of my own money. I've always used the family's desktop computer up until 3rd year uni. For a small period of time I used an old af second hand Mac that my mum's friend gave her, just to browse the internet before it got too old too use.

So when I was buying this laptop I did as much research as I could. I learned basics like the difference between SSD and normal hard drives, what RAM meant, what a processor was and what difference quality of processor made to computer functioning and so on... looked at the specs of basically any laptop sold in electronic good stores within the $1100 to $1800 range.

The offering of "PC" laptops were broad and came from many brands, which could get confusing. Some I'd heard of - Toshiba, for example (seriously considered a Toshiba touch screen laptop), some I hadn't. But I knew the Apple brand. They had a reputation for good customer service, for moderate levels of reliability etc... Whereas for PC brands - farout. Even if I wanted to do my research, where would I start. I think for me, the extra $200 or so, as an uninformed consumer, was worth paying just to have a central brand that I could 'trust' and not experience buyer's remorse.

(Also, forgot until now, but lower risk of viruses was also a big selling point for me. Growing up I could barely use a fucking website without my Dad lecturing me about TROJAN HORSE MATE BE CAREFUL OF THE FKN TROJAN HORSE DON'T CLICK ANY LINK EVER NO MATTER WHAT ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET OR YOU'LL GET A TROJAN HORSE). Seriously. Trading some GP on RuneScape? Trojan horse. Sending a smiley face on MSN? Trojan horse. Playing Sims/Age of Empires without even connecting to the internet? TROJAN. FUCKING. HORSE.

Anyway. My 2c.

My Mac's 2.5 years old at the moment and still going suppppper strong. Unless I physicall damage it, feels like I could keep using this laptop for a very long time. I'll run it into the ground and probably buy another Mac again when the time comes. (And yeah, after using PCs for 21 years, after adjusting to a Mac, it seems infinitely easier to use, but that probably has something to do with Windows updates since I transitioned to a different OS).

Macbook Pro 2016's the biggest ripoff I've seen yet it was so compelling to buy. The brand really does carry it's weight in gold.

I like a mix though, Windows at home and Mac for work. The keyboard and touchpad on the Macbook Pro alone makes it worth

Viruses..I dislike using a anti virus but hey, it keeps you safe I guess. Never liked paying $12139023 for it ):

[jamonwindeyer]

Macbook Pro 2016's the biggest ripoff I've seen yet it was so compelling to buy. The brand really does carry it's weight in gold.

I like a mix though, Windows at home and Mac for work. The keyboard and touchpad on the Macbook Pro alone makes it worth

Viruses..I dislike using a anti virus but hey, it keeps you safe I guess. Never liked paying $12139023 for it ):

Yeah I think the same of the new MBP's!! They are overpriced, for sure, but I do think they are a fantastic laptop (all of my work on the road is done on a 13inch MBP 2016, handles anything I throw at it like a champ)

[Wales]

Yeah I think the same of the new MBP's!! They are overpriced, for sure, but I do think they are a fantastic laptop (all of my work on the road is done on a 13inch MBP 2016, handles anything I throw at it like a champ)

Pretty much. Too expensive but too damn nice to use. *hifive*

Doesn't it feel weird turning up to a Engineering course or computer science course with a Macbook though?

I feel like I'd be heavily judged in a Computer Science course with my Macbook lol

[sweetiepi]

Mac for sure!

I was so accustomed to using Windows, and yes, like @insanipi, I also broke a computer a child (don't ask)

Yes I don't know how I broke a computer but it had something to do with sticking something into the CD slot - never leave a 3 year old  next to a computer guys XD

We have time for another story
*the suspense is real*

[jamonwindeyer]

Doesn't it feel weird turning up to a Engineering course or computer science course with a Macbook though?
I feel like I'd be heavily judged in a Computer Science course with my Macbook lol

My first Computer Science lecture, my lecturer was giving instructions on how to set up our laptops to compile our programs, etc etc. He said:

Mac Users: "Do X,Y,Z" (it was very simple)
Windows Users: "Buy a Mac."

I'd say a good 60-70% of people in my course have a Mac laptop (a sizeable portion of the remainder would own a Surface). Every Computer Science lecturer I've ever had has used a Mac (because it is Unix, which is close to Linux, and Linux is bae). You definitely won't feel out of place

[Hydroxyl]

We have time for another story
*the suspense is real*

(P.S.-  You can't leave us in suspense @Hydroxyl ...
Not asking, just telling you, lots of sympathetic ears in the forums.  )

SORRY GUYS FOR LEAVING YOU IN SUSPENSE
I think I've built it up long enough

So basically, I was playing around with the computer in my parents absence. I was always fascinated by the tower, the screen, the games - practically everything about it. It was... amazing. So I was playing on the computer thinking I knew what I was doing, and I found it super cool how if I pressed the Eject CD Button, the little slot would come out. I would play with it continuously (when my parents weren't around, of course) until I found a doll of some sort. I think I broke off its arm (quite savage) and then just stuck in the drive.

Alas, that was the last memory of that computer. I'm still reminded of it today! Haha

[brenden]

SORRY GUYS FOR LEAVING YOU IN SUSPENSE
I think I've built it up long enough

So basically, I was playing around with the computer in my parents absence. I was always fascinated by the tower, the screen, the games - practically everything about it. It was... amazing. So I was playing on the computer thinking I knew what I was doing, and I found it super cool how if I pressed the Eject CD Button, the little slot would come out. I would play with it continuously (when my parents weren't around, of course) until I found a doll of some sort. I think I broke off its arm (quite savage) and then just stuck in the drive.

Alas, that was the last memory of that computer. I'm still reminded of it today! Haha

Hahahaha so cringworthy.

On old computer screens - I'm not sure if this is still the case, or whether the Year 12s on these forums would even remember "old" computer screens - but they were magnetic. I dunno how, or why. If you put a magnet on the screen, it really fucked it. That area of the screen just got destroyed.

Once, I put a magnet on the computer screen. Luckily, with a high value for order and things being in their 'place' as a child, I put the rectangular magnet in the top right corner of the screen because it "fit" perfectly. So for a while, our computer screen displayed nothing in the top right hand corner hahaha. Mum was pissed.