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?

Incorrect

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.

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!

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. .

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.

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...

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%

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.

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

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.

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

:bowdown:

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

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.