Should I convert the house to Apple?

Spurshot · November 9, 2014

...or maybe just add a Macbook for our finances?

I've been a PC guy since the late 80's/early 90's. I've built them and bought them, hot rodded them and fixed them for a long time. They're kinda comfortable to me. But, I recently had a bunch of bugs in our home desktop, which is a 4-5 years old, i7 920, dual 1 TB Raid 1, 12GB RAM, dual ATI Radeon 5750 Vid cards, 27" Samsung monitor. No slouch of a PC, but it's getting dated.

Over the years, I've had to reformat and reload operating systems to purge unwanted bugs. It takes a lot of time. I just did this yesterday and I'm continuing to load all the stuff today. What a pain.

I'm thinking we should put all our finances (bill paying, banking, etc.) on a separate computer that only gets plugged into the net for finances and then unplugged. No surfing. ...and keep this ole PC for surfing.

I'd like to hear opinions.

kstruckcountry · November 9, 2014

Are you comfortable with Macs? I don't like the Mac ui at all, I'm not comfortable with them and just using one makes me go crazy. For me it's just personal preference. But if you like them I don't see why not, other than the price.

I don't think it's necessary to unplug it, it will be fine. I've had my current Dell laptop 2 1/2 years and other than Defender I don't use any antivirus. Only issue I've had is it getting dropped and wrecking the hard drive.

I know many people who swear by Macs so if you think it'll last and the price tag doesn't bother you, go for it.

Duelin · November 9, 2014

We have had Macs since 1986 and never had a problem. My wife was the big fan and user. I wasn't too interested until we got the internet. And since we have had the internet (I think 1989) we never had a virus even to this day on the Macs. By the way I leave my Mac connect to the internet 24/7. A few years back my wife needed a PC because of the research she was doing. So I bought her a PC laptop. We got it home and she sat down and started to configure it to get on line. Within 2 minutes of being on line The PC was infected with a virus. Now she is constantly paying for different software to keep it from becoming infected. Needless to say all of our finances are on just one of the Macs.

Squirrely · November 9, 2014

If you already build PC's then I wouldn't change. As you know, your options are much greater in the PC world. And a Mac that will do what your current machine already does will be friggin expensive.

Save your money, don't buy the hype.

Almost forgot. I also build my own machines and control all the updates. keeps things tidy.

SarahsGMC · November 9, 2014

Macs run fast and clean I love em but they're alot more limited than a pc.

waumo1 · November 9, 2014

Sounds like you need a good image backup program vs reformatting and reloading everything from scratch.

Keeping your finances and important work on a PC not used for games, by kids, etc is also a good idea.

MikeNH · November 10, 2014

Macs run fast and clean I love em but they're alot more limited than a pc.

Maybe for gaming but that's probably about it in terms of limitations. A few times I've used my MacBook to do spreadsheet reports for work because it's a pain in the ass to use our database on my work laptop since it requires me to port in using a Remote Desktop connection and then continuously flip back to the real desktop to use excel. So I run them side by side and so long as I save it in the right format I can go between the two easily.

99silveradoz71 · November 10, 2014

Got the wife a Macbook Pro a couple years ago after her HP laptop which was only a couple years old died. I still had my old Gateway laptop which was about 3-4 years older than hers. Since the Macbook arrived, the Gateway died and I now use an Asus Transformer. I suppose it's all a matter of what you're used to. The wife enjoys her Mac, I like my pc.

CANDenali · November 10, 2014

Before you jump on a Mac take a look at a Surface Pro 3 and an Office 365 subscription. Microsoft is late to the table with it's cloud ecosystem but I personally believe it surpasses Apples offering and is only getting better. If you add an Xbox One to the household even better. Ohh and the hackers are slowly getting to the Apple devices as well they wont be safe forever. Just my humble opinion.

Sent from Windows Phone.

SarahsGMC · November 10, 2014

Maybe for gaming but that's probably about it in terms of limitations. A few times I've used my MacBook to do spreadsheet reports for work because it's a pain in the ass to use our database on my work laptop since it requires me to port in using a Remote Desktop connection and then continuously flip back to the real desktop to use excel. So I run them side by side and so long as I save it in the right format I can go between the two easily.

No. You don't use a mac book for gaming.

I used them all through college on all of Microsoft Office programs and I did all my graphic design work on them. And they ran flawlessly where as my pc locks up nonstop.

Ianf · November 10, 2014

Coming from both worlds, both owning and programming, I will never go back to MAC. I am a poweruser and absolutely hate the MAC interface as I cannot just use keystrokes to get where I want to go. I hate taking my hands off the keyboard to use that handicap device (the mouse). Much more software is available for the PC platform and cheaper as well. Getting a virus or malware has nothing to do with the platform, just where and how you surf the net. I have several PCs and keep my finances on a separate PC that is not on the net ever. Sounds like you have a lot invested in your PCs and it would cost you more than double that to get the same functionality out of a MAC platform.

cobrajet84 · November 10, 2014

i would say just get a dedicated computer for finances and the only thing that goes on it is your programs for finance, PC or Mac whichever your more comfortable with.

MikeNH · November 10, 2014

No. You don't use a mac book for gaming.

I used them all through college on all of Microsoft Office programs and I did all my graphic design work on them. And they ran flawlessly where as my pc locks up nonstop.

That's what I said. Or at least what I was trying to say- that gaming is the Mac's only weak point and it's not for lack of power either. I was trying to ask what you feel the limitations were. I've had a few other friends who did/do graphic design and Apple is the standard there.

chuckl1218 · November 11, 2014

So there you have it...it just depends. [emoji2]

I switched a long time ago to MAC and haven't looked back. I don't game and like the ease of use. I take care of ours and my parent's MAC. They are in their 80's and the maintenance is MUCH better than it was with the PC...so, it depends.

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