There's a really easy way to settle this.

Go into your nearest Apple store, try the entire range of hardware and the software that comes with the machines, talk to the staff to make sure they'll be able to help you after your purchase.

Next go into the Windows store and ask if you can try the whole range of machines to see which one you like, try the software that comes installed on these machines, talk to the staff to make sure they'll be able to help you after your purchase.

Simple.

 

And therein lies why there is a price premium.

 

Linux IMO isn't as easy to use as windows or osx, or software support/availability.

 

I use both, I have an iMac with Windows installed via Bootcamp.

MAC OS is a really smooth operating system, it's very quick, easy to use but it's biggest let down is the lack of software available, although that is getting much better, it's not all the way there if your used to using querky little programs from the internet.
That said, it's much more secure, you don't need to run antivirus software as it's highly unlikely you'll ever pick up a mac virus, by their nature Mac does not recognise .exe files.
There is anti virus software out there for them though if you're concerned.

Windows 7 is a great operating system, Windows biggest advantage is that like a Cheap Amsterdam Prostitute, it will just about accept anything, ofcourse thats also a major let down because of security concerns, I'd recommend Eset NOD32 antivirus or their Security Suite program.

Ultimately, my advice, do what I've done, buy an Apple computer and install Windows via Bootcamp, that way you have easy access to both!

 

Ryan makes one bad point and one good one.

Win/OSX, virus wise, are both as bad as each other when logged in as an Administrator status user - equally vulnerable disregarding quantity of viruses out there of course. the secret is to work normally as a low security user and viruses will never get more authority on the machine that your user's credentials.

and the good point? you can install any OS on a mac, but you can't install OSX on a windows machine (without effort and research).

if you're willing to spend the money get a mac and, if you get sick of OSX, install windows on it. or linux. mac laptops do look good too

 

can osk have administratot status like windows? my mac always asks for my password before it installs anything? windows does not...

 

That's a good thing

 

That's a great thing, although when asked most people will just put in the password anyhow. That's why you can in fact have a non administrator account, just like the one I'm using right now.

 

Yes it can, use Directory Utility to enable the root user, logout and login as:
username: root
password: whatever password you set for the root user

Or you could sniff around the /etc/authorization file. I know I can certainly configure some apps that have info in that file to not require admin password when they run, pretty sure you could make that change for system level auth processes as well. Thing is, you **** up that file, you won't be able to login as ANY user. If you're lucky, you could single user mode boot and undo the changes via the command line, if you cannot remember what you change, well, you need an unmodified version of that file, don't have it and cannot copy it from a machine running same version of the OS, and exact same apps, and don't have another drive with an OS to boot from, well, it's OS reinstall time.

Trust me, you do NOT want to mess with that file. The exact apps thing is true, as if an app modifies that file and the app being called is not present the OS will not let you login. It basically says "Look for file/app X, oh it's not there... repeat..." In my previous job our app modified that file and we hit that exact same problem, if you manually removed one of the components of our app, which that file called, you would not be able to login. It's why we backed the file up before doing anything, so when you uninstall the software it would switch the files around and you would be ok.

If you do make the changes you could then wonder why things stop working as you're able to very easily trash system level files, or you install that MacDefender crap and bollocks up your machine.
Root is hidden for a very good reason.

Having the admin account ask for a password when installing things and other tasks is a very good thing. Take, for example, malware. If you download a dodgy app and run it, more likely than not it'll ask for admin password, no admin password, no escalated permissions.

Being blunt, you remove this level of security and **** things up, don't expect us to do anything but point and laugh when you ask for help. Oh and if a windows user does the same thing, I'd be just as harsh as them, so I'm not being biased

 

Then you have Windows set up badly. Trouble is it's the OS that gets the blame by the Mac sheeo not the tool that set it up.

This thread is ridiculous, starting with no investment in Apple or Windows a PC is so obviously the way to go it's not worth going on about it for more than a couple of posts!!!

 

Have you decided yet Don't know if you have already but here is a link to the Apple store,if you want some info on macs.

http://store.apple.com/uk

 

If I had the money even though I'm a windows man a mac book pro dual booting would be my choice best of both and looks pimp too

 

Im a little baffled why they want to use a server board and server chips in a "home" computer, but those boards can be picked up from about 240ish quid, I take it your cpu is the 2.4ghz 1366?

Tony

 

A mac pro isn't a home computer though. Mac mini, iMac are the home computers.

 

Its not a server though is it?

Tony

 

Easy choice!
If you have loads of money and no sense get the Mac.
If you can think of something good like a two week holiday in barbados, that will be the change from buying a quad core PC with Bluray.

 

Surprising how many people don't know this simple tip, which will stop most viruses doing any harm right from the outset.

Would you believe it: Notron 2011 is now regarded as one of the best internet security suites!!!! how times change!

 

urgh Norton..

But yes the reason most people say Windows is crap is because they are given alot of control then go off clicking on things they shouldnt and running without a firewall etc etc
hence UAC and all the other stuff cropping up on windows
there has been user accounts w/o admin powers for ages, just the default was to give the default user everything

And its catching up with Macs now ive seen a few cases of malware which will infect both Pc and Mac's now

 

I know!! I used to use Notron and is was a system hog extrodinaire, not especially effective and made my system unstable!.

Now I have the NOD32 suite (which used to be the cream of the crop) and although its as light on system resorces as ever, reviewers are now saying Norton is where to spend you money!!

Massive improvement in efficiency and effectiveness together with very friendly user interface and lots of control for the advanced user in the 2011 edition by all accounts!

 

No not yet, been to busy getting ready for NBO9! Need to get 5 mins to sit down and go through all the info on both........

Whats this dual booting that keeps getting mentioned??

 

Dual Booting is installing Windows onto a Mac so you can run the software you want.

 

Bleeding hell.....you don't make decisions too quickly do you?

Let's make this easy, flip a coin.

Heads - Buy a Mac
Tails - Buy a PC

Job done!!

 

As someone seems to have removed my post wth no explanation as usual I will once again point out that this is a very expensive way to get Windows software to run as Mac hardware is rather expensive in comparison to PC hardware and not usually the optimum hardware to run Windows at its best!

 

to be fair mac hardware is pretty much identical to pc stuff now so it should run windows software fine, not like the old days of RISC procs'
You do seem to pay a premium for it in macs though..

Dual booting is just a way of having both worlds on one piece of hardware
i used to run various dual booting machines linux/windows , win2k/98 (a while ago:P)etc

 

Ahh I understand dual booting now...

Myself and the missus are offwork next Monday so we're off out to try a few different comps, PCs and Macs

 

Well we've been shopping and for us there was no contest.
I'm currently replying from our new iMac
Although theres a few commands that I'll need to learn I've found OS X as user friendly, if not better than windows OS (and I get a free update to OS X Lion when its fully available )

 

Fine choice sir.

 

What model / spec did you get?

 

The 21" 4gb/500gb iMac, with Microsoft office for Mac.
So much quicker than my knackard PCs

 

Good choice team apple 1 team pc 0

Mods don't delete this, it's a joke