Which should I get? MAC vs. PC!?

MAC - A Personal Computer with Highly proprietary parts that are really expensive to get fixed

PC - A Personal Computer Also somewhat proprietary, not nearly as much as a MAC branded Personal Computer

The Difference is SOFTWARE. Can you justify paying the difference in cost for software and a name.

MAC...Supposedly uncrashable...YEAH RIGHT...give me 15 mins with a mac and i will show you how to make it crash.

PC - Very versatile when it comes to software. Yeah sure it can crash...but so can a MAC.

Viruses...

Ok...here's the thing...it is called supply and demand. The computer virus was created for money. Virus creators target windows machines because they have a much larger user base than Mac OS does. McAfee, Symantec, Trend...none of them would have a job if it wasn't for viruses. MAC OS can get a virus that will do the same damage as it would on Windows if the code was ever written for it.

Long Lasting...

I have had quite a few computer last me for a few good years. My current laptop is 2 years old now....the one before it was 5 years old...quality of parts varies from company to company.

Easy to use....

Well...define easy. Personally I find Windows very easy to use. To me MAC doesn't allow me as much free reign as i would like.

Now...that 2-3 year old laptop can be recovered which will save you lots of money. Back up your documents, and reinstall Windows. You will see a BIG difference in the performance. Also a RAM upgrade would probably help. It won't make it any lighter...but hey...it has lasted this long without breaking...there is no telling how much more life is left in it.

And to Add on one that "Joe" Missed...

Toshiba - I have personally had dealings with Toshiba and I am happy. I have one now that I have overclocked 36% and it is still stable...

I have had an Apple iBook for 10 years now and it still runs better and much quicker than my sisters 1 year old dell running windows XP. I have recently bought a MacBook and its the best computer I have ever bought, it doesn't get viruses, its quick, it never crashes and no matter how many programs you are running it doesn't lag. It also came loaded with useful editing software like iMovie and Garage band. I use the webcam frequently and the quality and speed is unbelievable I highly suggest buying a Mac over any PC. But if your going to buy a PC I suggest a Samsung or Sony.

Macs have ollot of security holes, this makes it worse then a well maintained PC, (cant realy maintain mac)

Defcom (hacker convention) the first computers and software to break first is almost always made by Apple (mac)

But in the end the mac is a better choice for a newbie user because, its might not be the safest and most secure, its maintained by Apple and it always seems to just work, its a premium you might consider paying for this brand name.

Windows laptops (PC) are right on Apples heals but have this nack of pissing off professionals (yearly on the clock) like for example the last round of updates from Microsoft infected EVERY mozilla firefox browser with the same garbage that makes IE 8 week on the security side and it cant be undone unless you move to 3.5.2 version or higher (3.5.2 was still beta at that time)

But if you Keep the firewall up and use something solid from AVG, use a solid browser (mozilla) In ALPHA or BETTA testing +Noscript+WOT plugins you will be more protected then any mac in existence.

Long story short, PC is really better on every single front except its ease of use, apple just takes care of everything!

so yhe, if you are a newbie by all means... mac

if you are computer literate then PC is worth it.

P.S if your gona go with PC, stay away from dell, iv bin here long enough to say people are Sketchy about their dells.

HP seems to be making a really good name for itself

Sony seems surprisingly, to have few problems (or no one buys them)

Compaq sucks but sometimes is ok for very small budgets.

Acer is great for anything made after 2008, so it seems.

ASUS and MSI are for professionals of a sort

IBM and LENOVO is for buisnessmen and rich students.

okay. with macs you dont get viruses or bugs or any of that crap.

i have had a macbook pro for a little over 5 years, and luckily it still works like a charm, and i use it hours everyday. i once sat on it by mistake. things fall on it all the time. but its still great.

you might pay a little more, but it's well worth it. never had to pay for anti virus software which is always about 100$ a year. i've saved 500$ so far.

the programs it comes with are 5stars and you couldnt ask for better.

i was stuck using a windows computer for about 3 weeks and i pray to God that never has to happen again. the windows sucked, and it had a virus that would turn off every 15 -30 minutes spontaneously. i'm quite glad it didnt catch on fire though.

so my answer would have to be a mac, fo sho

I'm in the exact scenario as you are. I'll be doing my masters in UK and I need a new laptop( was using an old Compaq desktop at university). Visit an Apple Retailer or Store and test drive a Mac for yourself. ask all your questions there. better yet, if a buddy owns a mac, borrow it and live on it for two weeks. If you still feel crippled, get a PC and don't look back.

The way I see it:

MAC

Pros: very sturdy and stable OS, no constant patching of security holes, fewer virus and spyware threats,in built iLife(movies,photo applications).my friend, who owns a macbook swears that it is as fast as the day he first bought it, no sluggishness. can dual boot windows if you want, runs Office 2007, no trial software crap bundled.

Cons: Takes a long while for us to get used to the interface, windows-only applications require you to run them in windows using Boot-camp or Parallels.

It doesnt depend on the operating system to virus protect it. It depends on the antivirus software! I cant believe you dont clear the viruses up after they have entered your system.

I recommend a PC with windows 7 or windows XP. Vista is too slow.

Also a good anti-virus software is-

Mcafee

or

AVG (this one is free)

I stopped at long lasting.

Buy a Mac.

mac is the crap

win is the win

I think the macbook would be your perfect choice.

Asus laptop.

comfortable and professional.