Question about a Mac

[sr71blackbird]

I have been having occasional problems with my PC and I am intreagueed by how everyone says there are no real virus issues with Macs and e commecials seem to say that you can use Microsoft Office on a Mac now too.&nbsp; The only Macs I have played with (a few years ago) seemed to really irritate me especially for the mouse and lack of familiarity with &quot;their&quot; system over what I am used to in a PC.<br />Have Macs really gotten easier for PC familar people?&nbsp; Have they fixed the mouse? (By that I mean being able to use a wheel to scroll)<br />Also, what am I looking at as far as cost to but a nice one?&nbsp; I have a nice flat monitor, and if I can use my mouse and printer etc, what is the cost for just the unit without all their stuff?&nbsp; Do they even sell it in pieces?&nbsp; The Apple site didnt seem to have any prices...

[Gvac]

<p>If you'd prefer to use your existing mouse and monitor, it wouldn't make any sense to get a self-contained unit like the iMac.&nbsp; You'd be much better off getting a <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=B3C47B0&amp;nclm=Macmini" target="_blank">Mac Mini.</a> </p><p>The operating system is ridiculously easy, and you can even install windows on it, though I have no idea why anyone would want to do that.&nbsp; You can do anything on an Apple that you can do on a PC these days.&nbsp; </p>

[sr71blackbird]

Well, I am interested in it.&nbsp; I think I would go for a full system if the price was good.&nbsp; I'd need it to be fully media ready.&nbsp; What would be a reasonable price for a system?&nbsp; I remember my brother going into an Apple store for his iPod and they seemed like there is no negotaiting with these people. Is this still true?&nbsp; Should I look for a system on eBay?&nbsp; am I better off buying online or in an Apple store?

[Doctor Z]

Get a Mac.&nbsp; Worse comes to worst, you can always just run Windows on it.

[SatCam]

Also, what am I looking at as far as cost to but a nice one?

a second mortgage on your house

[Glück]

They do cost more than your average PC, but well worth it. The system takes about a week to get used to but once you get the hang of it you can see that it is alot easier and faster than a windows computer. The lowest priced mac they have is a Mac mini, which is awesome if you don't plan on playing video games. If you want to play games buy an iMac. the mini is $599(noscreen,keyboard etc..). You can still use your PC mouse with it as well.

[Gvac]

<p>The <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore" target="_blank">Apple Store</a> lists the prices and specs for everything. Generally the salespeople aren't willing to budge on prices, but you can usually get something thrown in for free if you drive a hard bargain. </p><p>I have a 17&quot; iMac and it's plenty for me.&nbsp; Cost = $1,199.00 </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p> Specifications<br /><br /> <br /> * 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo<br /> * 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512<br /> * 160GB Serial ATA drive<br /> * SuperDrive 8X (DVD+R DL/DVD&plusmn;RW/CD-RW)<br /> * Keyboard &amp; Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English<br /> * ATI Radeon X1600 128MB SDRAM<br /> * 17-inch widescreen LCD<br /> * AirPort Extreme<br /> * Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Gvac on 2-3-07 @ 9:41 PM</span>

[Don Stugots]

right now i would to take the MAC laptop in throw it at someone.&nbsp; the plug and play sound board and software to install &quot;just in case&quot; are not working.&nbsp; since wednesday night i am trying this, including last night when i came home from bar 9 and the side trip of taking sheepy in NJ.&nbsp; HELP!

[Gvac]

I have no idea what the &quot;plug and play soundboard&quot; you speak of is, Stugots, but maybe it requires X11 to run?&nbsp; Certain applications require it, and it's a free download.&nbsp; I had to install it in order to get Gimp to run, which is a free piece of software that mimics Photoshop.

[Don Stugots]

i thought that too but it doesnt need it.&nbsp; by plug and play i mean the computer is supposed to find the mixing board and then the installed software (which doesnt work) will incorporate the two to work together.&nbsp;

[sr71blackbird]

<p>What I have now is a Sony Viao, and it is awesome.&nbsp; It's great for movies and music and surfing the net.&nbsp; I want the Mac to be the same, ready to do everything.&nbsp; I do not do any gaming (maybe Solitare once in a while), but it is very important to me that this thing be ready to work right out of the box.&nbsp; I don't know anyone that uses a Mac, so if I did get this, I wouldnt have any support.&nbsp; <br />Is it really true that you don't have to worry about getting a virus?&nbsp; I would appreciate any feedback on the virus and anti-virus aspects of it.&nbsp; I use Norton and AVG on this machine.</p>

[sailor]

<strong>Don Stugots</strong> wrote:<br />right now i would to take the MAC laptop in throw it at someone. the plug and play sound board and software to install &quot;just in case&quot; are not working. since wednesday night i am trying this, including last night when i came home from bar 9 and the side trip of <span style="background-color: #ffff99">taking sheepy in NJ.</span> HELP!<p>&nbsp;<font size="2">that explains a lot.&nbsp; eww.<br /></font></p>

[sailor]

<font size="2">and dammit, i thought this was going to be about big macs, or s'macs mac and cheese, or even davey mac.&nbsp; bah!<br /></font>

[Gvac]

<strong>sr71blackbird</strong> wrote:<br /><p>What I have now is a Sony Viao, and it is awesome. It's great for movies and music and surfing the net. I want the Mac to be the same, ready to do everything. I do not do any gaming (maybe Solitare once in a while), but it is very important to me that this thing be ready to work right out of the box. I don't know anyone that uses a Mac, so if I did get this, I wouldnt have any support. <br />Is it really true that you don't have to worry about getting a virus? I would appreciate any feedback on the virus and anti-virus aspects of it. I use Norton and AVG on this machine.</p><p>Bro, there's no computer on the planet that comes more &quot;ready to use out of the box&quot; than a Mac.&nbsp; EVERYTHING is preloaded on there, from iTunes to iMovie to Garage Band.&nbsp; You can watch and burn DVD's and even score your own soundtracks without downloading anything extra. &nbsp;</p><p>I've been using Macs for 8 years and have never had a problem as far as viruses go. &nbsp;</p>

[douchebagsean]

<strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br /><p>The <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore" target="_blank">Apple Store</a> lists the prices and specs for everything. Generally the salespeople aren't willing to budge on prices, but you can usually get something thrown in for free if you drive a hard bargain. </p><p>I have a 17&quot; iMac and it's plenty for me. Cost = $1,199.00 </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p> Specifications<br /><br /> <br /> * 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo<br /> * 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512<br /> * 160GB Serial ATA drive<br /> * SuperDrive 8X (DVD+R DL/DVD&plusmn;RW/CD-RW)<br /> * Keyboard &amp; Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English<br /> * ATI Radeon X1600 128MB SDRAM<br /> * 17-inch widescreen LCD<br /> * AirPort Extreme<br /> * Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR</p> <span class="post_edited">This message was edited by Gvac on 2-3-07 @ 9:41 PM</span><p>&nbsp;i agree imacs are the way to go.&nbsp; by the way gvac youre mod pic thingy just made me break out the dire straits records from the vault...awesome </p>

[Meve]

If you have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse then you should definitely get the 2.0 ghz macbook so you have a portable option as well as have the option to hook it up like a desktop unit. I just converted to mac and got a macbook pro for my graduation. I immediately fell in love with it and told my girlfriend and she got the macbook. She has nothing but good things to say about it.

[sr71blackbird]

<strong>douchebagsean</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br /><p>The <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore" target="_blank">Apple Store</a> lists the prices and specs for everything. Generally the salespeople aren't willing to budge on prices, but you can usually get something thrown in for free if you drive a hard bargain. </p><p>I have a 17&quot; iMac and it's plenty for me. Cost = $1,199.00 </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p> Specifications<br /><br /> <br /> * 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo<br /> * 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512<br /> * 160GB Serial ATA drive<br /> * SuperDrive 8X (DVD+R DL/DVD&plusmn;RW/CD-RW)<br /> * Keyboard &amp; Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English<br /> * ATI Radeon X1600 128MB SDRAM<br /> * 17-inch widescreen LCD<br /> * AirPort Extreme<br /> * Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR</p> <span class="post_edited">This message was edited by Gvac on 2-3-07 @ 9:41 PM</span><p> i agree imacs are the way to go. by the way gvac youre mod pic thingy just made me break out the dire straits records from the vault...awesome </p><p>&nbsp;I went to the apple store yesterday and checked out the iMac.&nbsp; I think I like the 20'' size.&nbsp; I am going to compare gvacs power to the one I looked at.&nbsp; After all the frills the guy was saying I'd be better off with, it seem,ed the price was closer to 2 grand...</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Glück]

It is very powerfull, while it wont run something like Battlefield 2 it will run most games like quake4 and world of warcraft....

[sr71blackbird]

Thats the thing, I do not play any games at all, so I want it to be more along the line of an entertainment center, plus have lots of power and memory and quickness, while needing little or no maintenence.&nbsp;

[Glück]

You're picking the right thing. With the mini, and imac you get a little remote control, the size of an ipod shuffle, and you can control all your music and videos from there.

iMac is more than enough power(unless you want to video edit). It is beautifully programed and smoth, while the specs look low, the mac runs like a charm.

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Gl�ck on 2-6-07 @ 9:27 AM</span>

[Doctor Z]

<p>Take it from Gluck... That som'bitch can turn this message board inside out if he felt like it.&nbsp;</p>

[furie]

Macs can seem cost prohibitive, but to me, they've always been worth it.