[ConeyIsBabe]

I'm considering purchasing a Mac laptop and am in the research-mode.

If you're a Mac user, can you share some information - what model you have, how is it different from the computers we've all become used to, ETC. ?

Thank you for any responses.

[starflyte1]

I have had a MacBook for 18 months and love it. Right now, we live 18 miles from a Mac Store , so I was able to buy their one on one, 52 1 hour learning sessions with a Mac representative. Also, if I have a question about something, I take my Mac to the store and the workers show me how to do it.

Moving to TV, I won't have the Mac Store so close, but they have good phone support and perhaps best of all is their Apple.com web site that has a support group with forums. There you can ask any question and shortly some other Mac user will reply. You can go to that site now, before buying a Mac.

I bought a MacBook with 1 gb memory. I would have bought the larger memory one, but the staff told me I did not need it. So far, all is well.

The main reason I prefer my Mac over my Toshiba, is I could go forever and not figure out how to do something on the Toshiba, where with the Mac, I just have to ask.

[Golf-Tinker]

This link takes you to the Villages Macintosh Users' website.

http://www.thevillagesmug.org/

[tony]

Babe,

Don't worry about researching it. Just buy it with all the memory you can afford or that will fit, whichever comes first. (That's pretty much the same with any computer.)

I have a Macbook, as does my wife. We each also have a Mac mini on our desktop. I have invested zero amount of time in keeping these going. Nothing. Zero. Unlike the PCs we used to have.

If you have specific software you want to run, let us know we will try to find answers for you. It would be helpful to know what you want to do with it, also.

I will answer to my best, and promise not be an evangelist, which inevitably starts religious wars.

[JeanneBeannie]

So glad this question was raised! I also have a Toshiba laptop and it got zapped two weeks ago from the lightening. Stupid me had the antique computer protected with the surge protector. Long story short it cant be fixed. A good friend of mine recommended Dell today...I guess its time for me to start shopping as I cant take using this antique...and its a Gateway! Only four years old! But I heard on the news recently that the life of a computer is three years. That is crazy! Nothing like money down the drain! Thanks for all the tips! I will check it out!

Originally Posted by starflyte1

I have had a MacBook for 18 months and love it. Right now, we live 18 miles from a Mac Store , so I was able to buy their one on one, 52 1 hour learning sessions with a Mac representative. Also, if I have a question about something, I take my Mac to the store and the workers show me how to do it.

Moving to TV, I won't have the Mac Store so close, but they have good phone support and perhaps best of all is their Apple.com web site that has a support group with forums. There you can ask any question and shortly some other Mac user will reply. You can go to that site now, before buying a Mac.

I bought a MacBook with 1 gb memory. I would have bought the larger memory one, but the staff told me I did not need it. So far, all is well.

The main reason I prefer my Mac over my Toshiba, is I could go forever and not figure out how to do something on the Toshiba, where with the Mac, I just have to ask.

[starflyte1]

Golf, one of the reasons we are moving to TV is the Mac group (s). There is one in Naples, FL that I belong to, but it is down town at the library, and during season, it is just to far to go.

[diskman]

Originally Posted by ConeyIsBabe

I'm considering purchasing a Mac laptop and am in the research-mode.

If you're a Mac user, can you share some information - what model you have, how is it different from the computers we've all become used to, ETC. ?

Thank you for any responses.

We used a PC for 11 years and our son has been a mac user from day one. Occasionally we would get a virus on the pc or have other issues and it drove us crazy. You will not have to deal with a virus on a mac. They are faster and easier to use ours has the OSX 10.4 system it is several years old our daughter bought one last year that has the intel pc chip.
Good luck from another wanna be couple.

[kit9240]

CIB - I bought a Mac laptop 2 yrs ago system OS 10.4. This is my 2nd Mac. I had the 1st one for 8 yrs and never had a problem. Everyone in my family has a Mac and we love it! No problems ever. The only thing I couldn't get used to was the mouse so I bought a wireless mouse and it is so much easier. I guess it's all what you get used to! I never get spam mail or popups, but that may be my provider (optimum).

I'm happy to hear there is a Mac User Group in TV. There is much more that I would like to learn to do, especially photo editing. Can't wait to get there......another wannabe!!!!

Kathy

[bobfl]

I've had a 20" Imac for about 20 Months now and I find everything is just easier to deal with. It just RUNS and does what I want it to do with no drama. I would highly recommend it. Check out Macmall.com for good deals

Bob

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by JeanneBeannie

So glad this question was raised! I also have a Toshiba laptop and it got zapped two weeks ago from the lightening. Stupid me had the antique computer protected with the surge protector. Long story short it cant be fixed. A good friend of mine recommended Dell today...I guess its time for me to start shopping as I cant take using this antique...and its a Gateway! Only four years old! But I heard on the news recently that the life of a computer is three years. That is crazy! Nothing like money down the drain! Thanks for all the tips! I will check it out!

Three years on a computer used to be the norm because of ever increasing speed, RAM and storage but now it is probably closer to 7 as things have leveled out some.

.

[ijusluvit]

I'm no evangelist either, but there just isn't anything like a Mac. I have a Powerbook G-4 which, as of last week is now three "generations" old. That's about 4 years, but with a small investment in upgrading memory and the Leopard operating system, I am still close to being state of the art. I love photography and I have almost 10,000 photos on the computer. Every one has been edited, which takes quite a bit of processing space, but I have no problems. I've also imported a number of audio books to I-tunes, ready to move to and enjoy on my I-phone. You don't get viruses or other operating problems on Macs, and the help sources are fantastic. I also, subscribe to one-to-one, which has actually done the impossible; I am approaching the geek-knowledge level! There has just been a revision in the one-to-one program. Three- hour work sessions are offered for small groups. The closest Apple store is in Tampa, but the drive is worth it to be able to get that much help at one time. I am now scanning and restoring hundreds of old family photos and making on-line albums for my kids.
Everything described above cost me less than $2000. The newest Macs have much more power and have taken a significant price drop, but I will continue to be able to use my machine indefinitely.

[starflyte1]

A trip to the Mac Store is a destination. I love to go there. If you check on the web site, you can be there when they give group presentations.

[joannej]

Not only are MAC's virtually virus-free, you don't get the "pop-up" ads as often as you get on a PC. We used to have PC's but then our daughter got us using MAC's (computer and laptops), and we just love them. I don't think you can go wrong with any model. It just depends on how much you want to spend and the memory, speed, you want. The MAC reps at the MAC store are good to talk to. They are all computer geeks and can help you choose a good model that will fit your needs. BTW, if you get Microsoft Works put on your machine (or the latest Microsoft wordprocessing package put on your computer, the attachments that are sent to PC users are "PC" friendly. Never had a problem opening other files either. Good luck and enjoy your new MAC!!

[mitchbr47]

I don't know if you just want to go on the web and check your email. Maybe a PC might work. Then all the virus iues and virus updates will drive you crazy. Maybe Windows 7 will be better.
A Mac laptop might cost more, but you get a quality product. If a problem arises the tech support is great. My laptop needed a new logic board. I had it back in 3 days. I had a row pixels on the screen that died just before the ant expired. They replaced the 17 inch screen and installed a new battery. Things happen to all computer. Hard drives, batteries, and memory are made by the same vendors.
Consumers Reports gives macs high ratings. Customer satisfaction tops Dell, Toshiba, and HP.
Things just work, scanners, printers, cameras, etc.
My wife and I both have Mac laptops. I have an older G4 Powerbook and she has a newer Intel based macbook. My laptop is 4 years old and is a bit sluggish due to having only 1 GB of memory. Both run the current OS Leopard 10.5.7. We have NEVER had a virus, malware, Trojan horse. I can open just about any file. Another advantage is that if you needed to run an application that is only available on Widows, you could run Vista or XP on your Mac. I wouldn't. My son does for a few work related needs.
They come loaded with software, not trial versions that is common on many Windows computers.
On a laptop consider an extended warranty. Shop around at places like Amazon which discount the warranties. You can save a bit there. Attend a user group and ask more question. Go to Barnes and Noble near LSL and browse a few Mac books. Test drive one at the Apple Store. I don't know if the Best Buy in TV carries Macs yet. Some stores do.
One more thing. some of our friends live in Santo Domingo. Her PC was really acting up. Fragmtation problems, constant malware problems, email problems in Outlook. Our son had ad G4 tower. I put in a bigger hard drive, installed the operating system (Tiger 10.3), then picked up an Acer monitor and a new mouse. This is a 6 old computer. It works great for their needs. I would call her a novice regarding technology. She caught on real quickly to the desktop and using the dock.

[chelsea24]

They say "once you have a Mac, you'll never go back!" And how right they are! I love my iMac. I wouldn't go back to a PC if they gave me one free! There's simply no comparison. Just the sound of "Windows" make me shutter! (No pun intended!) Haha! Don't worry CIB. You'll love the ease and reliability of a Mac.