[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by MrChip72

I would say that maybe 10-20% of Apple customers are "fanboys" or cultlike, but it's really not much different with the brand loyalty that Harley Davidson, John Deere, Stihl, Yeti, or Milwaukee tools has with their user base.

Personally, I use a Mac as my main computer and that's it as far as Apple products. I use it because it just works and no hassles from Windows to deal with anymore since I switched 15 years ago.

I have seen hundreds of Apple groupies lining up at a mall to buy a new IPhone release at the mall. That is what I refer to as cult-like.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have seen hundreds of Apple groupies lining up at a mall to buy a new IPhone release at the mall. That is what I refer to as cult-like.

And Taylor Swift fans, too?

[Freehiker]

Originally Posted by Robbb

Macs are good for viewing not good for creating. Windows all the way. Let the hate mail fly.

Incorrect

[JoelJohnson]

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan

A lot of great advice on here, but the machine that you use really should depend on what your needs are currently. For me, now that I am retired, I don't need all of the bells and whistles. I switched to a Chromebox and love it! It's very user friendly and does everything that I need, so if all you are doing these days is surfing the internet, you may want to consider a Chromebox. It's similar to a Mac Mini in that it's a small box that you can attach to the back of your monitor. It has easy access to all of the Google apps--I don't even use Word anymore--Google Docs is great and it's free! The base model is usually around $300, and they sell that at Amazon.

I started using a Chromebook when they first came out. With over 50 years in the IT community, I found the Chromebook to be safe (can't get a virus), easy to use and dependable (everything you do goes to the Google drive, so that if anything should happen to the Chromebook while using it, all you have to do sign on to any pc with chrome and everything comes right back).

I have a used Chromebox (from a friend that passed away) and am willing to let anyone try it. If they don't like it,all I have to do is do a factory reset and all personal information is erased.

[huge-pigeons]

A big thing to consider when buying a computer is the total environment you live in. For example, do you use a tablet? If so it’s probably an iPad. Do you use a cell phone? It’s probably an iPhone. If you own a newer car, you probably have Apple car play. You probably use/have used iTunes. If you use any of these Apple technologies, they will be easier to integrate together using a Mac instead of trying to get windows to work well with them.

Read this article from PC magazine: Windows Computers Were Targets of 83% of All Malware Attacks in Q1 2020

Windows Computers Were Targets of 83% of All Malware Attacks in Q1 2020 | PCMag

Read this article: What Is the Most Secure Operating System? Updated a couple months ago, Microsoft is the least secure OS

The Most Secure OS: What is the Safest OS Available?

As for innovation, let’s see which company (Apple vs Microsoft) is the leader:
1. What’s more common, a Microsoft tablet or iPad. Microsoft failed here
2. Do you use a Microsoft phone or an iPhone? Oh, forgot, Microsoft failed miserably here too
3. Apple was voted the #1 innovation company in the world for many years, Microsoft, never!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

In 40 years of using a Mac every single day, I have never seen a virus, lost data or had any corruption of my computer, nor have I ever spent a single dollar on anti-virus or any other sort of protection, nor on Tech Support. ZERO losses, ZERO for protection. ZERO support.

FACT CHECK SAME TIME PERIOD: TRUE

unfortunately, same experience over the same time period comparison between my wife's mac and my pcs. I have never lost so many files as I have working at my former job on Office 365 at any other time or machine or software.

For me the hardware choices and the increased software availability for the PC over time won me over to the PC. However, in retirement, other than the python investment courses i am currently taking, there is nothing I have on the PC which isn't on the MAC, other than experience and familiarity.

Since the P in PC is personal, its a personal choice and its really up to you and your use case and your budget. .

[harby]

We have been long time customers of Apple products (iphones & Mac)...we have from minimac, iphones, laptops, ...to Mac desktops. We love Apple because we always get fast reply from Apple (not from robotic answers!) via phone whenever we need assistances and they always do their best to solve before hanging up.

[JMintzer]

This thread isn't a Mac vs Windows thread...

The OP has decided he wants to purchase a Mac and is looking for info on which model to buy...

Yet, the Windows "Fanbois" just had to put in their $0.02...

[kendi]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Depends on what you're going to do with. I'm at least my 20th Mac and it's a PowerBook Pro. This is the last one I'll buy. When this is done, I'll buy an iPad & Magic Keyboard. That will do most anything you might want to do and runs a simpler system (iOS).

if you're just doing occasional web surfing, shopping & email, I'd give consideration to an iPad. I also wouldn't worry about SSD space. Hardly anyone depends on Hard Drives any longer, everything is remote (Cloud) storage

I use external hard drive for back up. That way I know I will always have my information regardless of hackers, connectivity issues etc. don’t like my personal info in the cloud. No matter how safe they say it is, I don’t believe it’s ever 100%

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

I was in computers for 40+ years and an Apple user since the Apple 2 in the early 80’s.
Windows sucks. Windows has plug n pray, meaning you have a 50% chance of a driver working, so you are praying each time you install 1.
Windows is the most hacked environment, not Apple, not Linux. Every hack you hear about has involved windows. Every apple computer can run windows (if for some reason you have an app that requires windows), and it can run any version of Linux, and it can run multiple releases of osx.
The best cpu you can buy is the apple silicon m1/m2/m3 which is in every new mac/ipad. Hands down beats any intel cpu and AMD cpu (getting close).
Innovators use Apple products, followers use windows.

You didn’t say what your requirements are for a computer. We use multiple Mac computers and multiple iPads/iphones/Apple Watches in our home. The iPads are used for hours every day and I think an iPad could do 99% of what a normal person would ever need a computer. You can hook up a 27” monitor and a keyboard/mouse to the iPad. Get the 12.9” iPad. With at least 256g of storage if not more.
I use Mac’s for personal use and as a server that runs the whole house automation, keeps all the important docs, backs up all Apple devices, and streams music and videos to all TVs/stereo systems and all the cars.
If you need help there are many people here in the villages that can help you convert from windows to apple

in computers? nothing you said was anything IT related, very user driven since if it were IT related experience you would already know that Linux has been very hackable. Also OSX is hackable just that no one that hacks really cares 2 dumps about anything apple related. Also x86 machines are completely able to run linux without issues.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

I was a developer/system programmer/database guy/storage guy/network guy/engineer for solid state devices/ and numerous other positions since the mid 70’s. I went to work for a major website company and you were not allowed to use windows computers because of bugs/security issues/on and on. I also had 2 windows people working for me and they had to patch windows every month while we had Solaris/aix servers running that haven’t been rebooted for over 365 days.
For decades, if you have to use word/excel/powerpoint/office, you don’t need a pc, you can run all of them on a Mac. Get an iPad 12.9” with the attached keyboard/trackpad and never look back

seriously the 70s as a comparison to now? ugh.......

[markhollis]

I sold MacPractice in 2020 supporting 30,000 users in medical, dental, chiropractic, and eye doctor practices using our Mac-native software developed for Macs, iPads and iPhones. Of course many clients were forced by their hospitals to use and communicate with Windows and even Unix-based software, and they did. So I think you are making a good decision to change.

BTY, numerous third party devices like keypads, mice, etc. connect wirelessly using Bluetooth, should you choose to incorporate one into your environment.

Once you use a Mac, you may find that you will want to do all the things you can on the Mac everywhere you go, so I do recommend you consider a capable MacBook or MacBook Pro. I just purchased a MacBook Pro 16". Get more than enough memory and storage for what you want to accomplish.

The best feature of Apple's products is the Apple environment. To get the fullest benefit from the Apple experience and as other devices require replacement, you will probably want to incorporate an iPad and iPhone (and maybe even an Apple Watch) as your mobile devices over time. When you have all 3 (or 4) you can choose to set them up so you can, for example, answer a phone call on your iPad in the shower even when your iPhone was left in your car or elsewhere in the house. You will be able to start a task on any device and continue with it seamlessly when you arrive home to sit at your desk where you have a mini or iMac or your MacBook Air or Pro connected to a monitor, etc. as you choose.

Best wishes for your adventure with Apple products as Apple continuously enhances your security, functionality and capabilities. Apple updates their FREE MacOS, iOS, iPad OS, and WatchOS, every year with easy to implement upgrades throughout the year. Apple users love to keep their software current, and Windows users statistically dread it.

Anecdotal evidence sometimes to the contrary, when reaffirming your personal decision to opt for Mac, I suggest you Google search 'Macs at IBM' and read what the company that supports 500,000 users has discovered as they have migrated their employees, 80% of which preferred Mac. I think you will find tremendous value that saves them untold money for every Mac user. They estimate $535 saved Mac v. PC in just the first 3 years.

[Taltarzac725]

Thanks for all the posts. Lots of useful information here.

[ibistony]

Got the Mac Mini M2. Can't beat the deal and the product is outstanding. Stick with the Apple Eco System.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by huge-pigeons

A big thing to consider when buying a computer is the total environment you live in. For example, do you use a tablet? If so it’s probably an iPad. Do you use a cell phone? It’s probably an iPhone. If you own a newer car, you probably have Apple car play. You probably use/have used iTunes. If you use any of these Apple technologies, they will be easier to integrate together using a Mac instead of trying to get windows to work well with them.

My tablet is a Samsung, using an Android OS. My previous tablet was a Nexus, which used an Android OS
My cell phone is a Google Pixel, which uses an Android OS. My previous two cell phones were both Samsungs, using Android OS.
My desktop is a Windows machine. My laptop is a Windows machine. I don't use iTunes, I use YouTube Music and AmazonPrime music. For my car, I have CDs, the radio, and and my first cell phone, which I've converted into an MP3 player.

If you gave me the newest, most expensive, gizmo and gadget-equipped Apple and Mac, I'd donate it to a school and buy an Android or Windows machine.

If you paid me $500,000 to keep an Apple or Mac, I'd take your money, and use the devices as lawn ornaments.