The Mac Lounge forum: Advantages of Mac

and much, much more, here:

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6126_102-550552/windows-to-mac-why-did-you-switch/?tag=contentBody;threadListing

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Being an artistically creative person, I much prefer using a Mac to a PC. The advantages of using a Mac is mainly its versatility, and the degree to which you can organize and view files as you would want to see them. The Mac seems more intuitive and organizes files in a way that you would in an actual space. With a PC, everything is organized in a more linear way with fewer options to find and organize them. Also much fewer viruses find their way into a Mac than into the PC. However, PCs can be less expensive than Macs for the same amount of RAM, ROM, GHZ and level of operation, while certain programs and files used on a PC won't operate on a Mac. Nevertheless, Macs and PCs keep on changing and improving. Hope this information helps.

Mac is far better in any terms of multimedia, style and GUI. Multimedia is its biggest selling point so if you will not use programs like Final Cut, Photoshop, Premere, or the like then go with a PC, more compatibility.

Best Regards,
Steven

Heya. I thought i'd post my thoughts on this subject because I get asked the same question all the time by friends and family.

I have been in the Mac world since the beginning of time, so of course I am a LITTLE biased, but here is my pat answer to anyone and everyone who asks.

The first thing I say is, buy whatever your kids are using at school. Some schools run pc, some schools run mac.
Second, on a financial scale, the pc world will always be less expensive. Less money for software, less money for games, less money for peripherals, etc. etc.
Third, however, on a production level scale, Mac wins. On a keystroke per keystroke basis, Mac users don't have to type as much. And when you consider the number of keystrokes you do per day in the production world, keystrokes=money.
Fourth, Macs are so seriously user-friendly, that buying extras like peripherals of ANY kind, are easy-peasy. Not so in the PC world.
Fifth, Macs are NOT only for the graphics industry. They are hard-working lean machines that get ANY kind of job done. BUT. If you do come from the "artsy" world, then of course Macs are the only way to go, because they are THE standard printing/publishing/graphic industry standard workhorses.

From someone who uses both... Jus' sayin' ... Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

If you use design programs, powerful grafics and video software, the Mac is the best solution because it is intuitive, organizes files in a way that you want and these program operate quickly and smoothly. Macintoshes use a more graphics-based interface, while Windows is more focused on text.

Hardware : Macs are ideal for number crunching. Number crunching is generally associated with advanced/involved/long processes, which are generally associated with video, sound, and picture editing. Unless you are performing computer work where you are having to wait a significant amount of time for things to process, then Macs hold no major advantages over alternatives. Cases generally look aesthetically pleasing and are always made of a heavy metal alloy (not plastic); if you wanted an equivalent PC case, you would have to look for one (a lot come in plain plastic cases) or customize one, which could be seen as a disadvantage (and advantage of Macs) for time-strapped individuals. There are not as many equivalents for Mac laptops; Sony VAIOs and Alienware laptops are the only equivalents I can think of as far meeting stability AND aesthetic standards set by Mac laptops.

Software / OS : Mostly personal preference; many people find the Mac OS more intuitive, so a new computer user may learn to use a Mac more easily. There is some Mac software unavailable on PCs, but none are functionally unique or superior to others available on non-Macs. Organization is a big advantage of OSX, and is much better than any native Windows. Software and OS are more stable than Windows; this may be important if running important tasks, or for new, non-educated, or time-strapped computer users as less upkeep and maintenance is needed. To say that Windows is unstable is an overstatement; this lesser stability generally refers to Windows viruses being more commonplace (especially important for naive users; with a proper antivirus program and common sense most people go for years without getting anything; seriously malicious viruses are a thing of the past, now its mostly benign adware=popups), random hangups caused by incorrectly configured hardware/software/etc (generally customized PCs), and the potential need to search for drivers for peripherals and other hardware (again generally customized PCs).

To summarize, Get a Mac If : Video, Sound, or Picture Editing (Number Crunching) and/or Maintenance/Upkeep is an issue


As I'm sure you can guess, I heavily favor non-Macs The disadvantages of Macs (believe me I could list a few) outweighs its advantages in most users, but it essentially comes down to personal preference and what you need it for.