<p>
Um, yes, because the people who know what they’re doing don’t need to contact your business in the first place. There are clueless people on both platforms.</p>
<p>[No, I’m not computer-illiterate–I’ve been designing websites (in Photoshop and Notepad/TextEdit) since 2000. Just figured I should throw that in there.]</p>
<p>Believe me, I’m not complaining at all about this! Just saying cuz all of the “Macintosh is so intuitive” boneheads…Clearly it isn’t (to them). And believe me, there are LOTS of Mac people who fit into this category! Easy to fix, and Easy to please. Works for me and works for them, but its pretty clear evidence of how people swallow the whole “Macs are so intuitive” garbage…Some of my best customers are Mac devotees and I love them for it…</p>
<p>It is troubling when the customer support for Mac is unable to help you, even tho you’re paying some big bucks for their “help.” We were very upset that they couldn’t suggest how to get the addresses from my sister-in-law’s old Mac to her newly purchased one. That really soured us–we hoped it was just one or two people who didn’t know what to do, but we spoke to quite a few different folks on the customer support line & talked for well over an hour with them. They were also unable to help at the Mac store. :(</p>
<p>I have never taken a computer class and I have owned computers for 19 years. Installed my own ram- harddrive software airport card etc.
Only had to have it fixed when the monitor was damaged.
Some people just know what they are doing and some people don’t</p>
<p>We were very upset that they couldn’t suggest how to get the addresses from my sister-in-law’s old Mac to her newly purchased one
did you try filesharing?</p>
<p>I just moved to an iBook after owning a Compaq laptop for five years.</p>
<p>The reason for the move was the plethora of virus threats for Windows (I did have to have my PC repaired after an attack) and the iBook iPod compatibility (this for my daughter rather than for me).</p>
<p>Despite my expectations, the iBook has not been particularly intuitive, nor is the accompanying documentation worth much. I am still trying to figure out simple things like how to check disk space and how to expand the word processor to full screen to work on documents.</p>
<p>Also, I was very surprised that Appleworks doesn’t convert any native Microsoft documents. (When attempting to open one, you are offered a free trial on Microsoft Office for Macs.)</p>
<p>We have already encounted the chat virus for Macs mentioned above.</p>
<p>The iPod compatibility has been a plus; I’ve also heard that it is easy to edit videos with a Mac, and, if I ever ended up figuring out how to do it, that may be another advantage (we need to make ballet audition videotapes on occasion.)</p>
<p>The virus issue for Windows is a real one, though. It is true that you can purchase antivirus software, and this software is effective, however you do need to pay to keep it upgraded so that is an ongoing expense and hassle one is spared with Macs (at least, so far).</p>
<p>.I am still trying to figure out simple things like how to check disk space</p>
<p>Have you found your disk utility?
*and how to expand the word processor to full screen to work on documents.*click on green dot on left top corner of window
you can also resize by dragging corner of window- right bottom</p>
<p><a href=“http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To%20The%20Mac[/url]”>http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To%20The%20Mac</a></p>
<p>I have been using the imovie application since it first came out and have bought upgrades all along. I have the new one but haven’t installed it yet. I have students at my school using it, and the iphoto, garageband, itunes applications, moving between applications to create amazing little films for class projects and the like. I have created books for birthday presents. I mean high quality products full of family stories and photos. That said, I have spent hours learning the applications over the years. For downloading film clips and editing them the best thing is to run through the training programs they have on the Apple website. Do simple projects and then add more skills as you move along. You won’t regret it. What fun. You’ll be surprised at what fabulous things you can create. To me, my computer is a magic tool.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4 - yes, but if you do these things the document still does not fill the screen – there is a blank space to the right of the document which fills about 25% of the window – and this is space I hate to lose with such a small screen to begin with…</p>
<p>Thanks for the hint about the disk utility. I found Services, then Disk utility, which invited me to do a “check sum,” the next screen suggested repair but I clicked on a small Info button – and did find the information I was seeking.</p>
<p>I do consider this an example of how the Mac is not especially intuitive.</p>
<p>I suggest finding browsing at a book store until you find a Mac manual that you like, if the ones that came with it aren’t helpful. There are lots of after-market manuals that are designed to help you get the most from your computer. (I used to write user manuals for computers. I realize most people don’t read them, but there’s LOTS of useful information in there. Same with the one that came with your car.)</p>
<p>isnt disk utility in your tool bar?
all you have to do is open it up- check the drive you want to know how much space it has
and at bottom of window it says how much is used and how much is available</p>
<p>( you can also go to apple menu- click on about this mac- and get info)
the link I supplied also has info for people switching as once you learn something one way, it can be difficult to switch to another way</p>
<p>Lets see…the new Mac with the intel processor is $500 more than the HP version with the same processor.</p>
<p>that is just goddamn ridiculous.</p>
<p>Then don’t buy a Mac.</p>
<p>We have a Mac and a PC about eight feet apart. For certain work-related applications, I have to use a PC. I prefer to use the Mac those things that I can. The Windows environment feels as if it were designed by a dysfunctional committee; the Mac environments feel as if they were designed by the crew that wrote the King James Bible…both functional and elegant.</p>
<p>I too use both interchangeably (and with total compatability with Word, Excel, etc). Best thing about the PC: Great value for the price; latest Windows close to the Mac look and feel. Best things about the Mac: OS-X (its reliance on underlying UNIX, which keeps processes separate so that if one program freezes up or goes crazy, it doesn’t affect the other programs. I’ve had my Mac on for over two months straight. Another good thing: NO VIRUSES. Bad things: PC: VIRUSES; MAC: Some browser compatability problems (e.g., FAFSA, IRS) and some backward compatability problems with programs (old version not working on new OS and vice versa, and the worst offender is Apple itself). For example, the latest Quicktime from Apple will not run on my Mac with OS 10.2, but will run on my older PC. Also files created with the current version of ITunes will totaly confuse my Mac. Go figure. My recommendation, though: a Mac. Just be prepared to upgrade the OS at least once every 18-24 months.</p>
<p>well bob… that’s because HP makes crap. So does emachines. and gateway. and dell. and compaq. the only PC i would ever buy would be a Sony, or one i’d build myself. I recently purchased a Sony Vaio (about two weeks ago) and I absolutely love it. I also have a Toshiba laptop… which is awesome…</p>
<p>I wanted to buy a mac, but they just were a bit too pricy… and no, i wasn’t looking for something cheap (sony’s arent cheap)… maybe in a few years once it’s time for a new laptop…</p>
<p>
i completely agree, TheDad, my powerbook g4 is like my life. i just love apple sometimes.</p>
<p>I just love a message coming up on my desktop asking if I want a video connection with my son and I click the button and there he is and we carry on a conversation!..it makes 8000 miles seem somehow closer.</p>
<p>So, back to the original question, regardless of which machine is functionally better for one use v. another, is it possible to say that with respect to durability and reliability, a MAC is on the same plane as a pc built by a good company (Fendergirl touts Sony, maybe also Toshipba) but superior to pcs built by, say HP, Compaq, Dell…?</p>
<p>well my daughter school pushes macs but says that if PC then Dells are preferable
I know that they have had problems with toshiba</p>
<p>In my class last year, students had every make and model of PC’s from IBM thinkpads, toshiba, HP, etc. It was my experience that they all had problems across the board - part of it was the wacky program we were working on called 20/20 but part of it is PC’s. I’m not sure it is just a matter of finding a quality built machine - the Mac is a fundamentally different operating system that is easier to use on a basic level- that’s what I mean by intuitive- it doesn’t mean you can figure out everything without reading help manuals but it does mean that once you learn it you don’t have to go back to the manual 10 times to finally get it. TheDad described it very well as did Digmedia. The steps and thinking behind the PC’s is just convoluted sometimes and it makes it difficult for non computer geeks to use.</p>