Buying a computer

[rusty_nail]

Rust-nailed it in one sentence!
Way overpriced for what you get. And there is no future-proof whatsoever, in terms of a desktop unit. For the price of a current range of iMacs for instance, you could build or get your self built a latest specced PC, and still have $ left over to splash out on other stuff.... OR $ left over to buy upgrades in the future. Whether that may be a CPU or a video card or larger hard drive etc...

Apple stuff is good. But in my opinion, it's one case of "You don't get what you pay for."

thank god! i was beginning to think i was the only non-apple fanboy on here lol!

[Hodge]

thank god! i was beginning to think i was the only non-apple fanboy on here lol!

haha I'm not a so called non-fanboi. I don't mind "some" things they have. One of them, is simplicity, or user friendliness if you want to call it that. Although this may seem like a huge positive to some people, you have to look a a more larger picture.... There are cons.

But the major reason I don't like Apples computer range, way overpriced and way too restrictive IMO.
My original career was IT. Building PC and audio systems into audio and video studios, including implementing many Apple iMacs and Mac Pros.
I got fed up with people splashing out big dollars on the Apple stuff, then realized it's way too restrictive from a software spectrum, and on countless occasions I had to go back weeks later and convert the setup to a PC or Linux based system. I still mess with PC's, its' remained as my hobby, building and OC-ing, pushing them till they sweat lol.

Anyways, this shit won't help the OP.

My 3 cents worth... I reckon, You'll be wasting $$$ buying Apple when right now out there there was laptops and PCs that will blow the highest specced Mac available out of the water, at a fraction of the cost. If you're not too PC savvy, go the Dell way... Good value and good warranty service if things go sour.
I'll just leave that there.

[rusty_nail]

haha I'm not a so called non-fanboi.

sorry thats not what i meant haha, i meant that everyone else is an apply fan boy, not that i specifically dislike apple lol

[Cuppa]

It should be noted that I specifically did not recommend that anyone else buy a Mac. I have no reason to get into a Mac vs PC debate.

Bottom line is “yes” I have paid more for my Macs than I would have for PC’s, & have done that since my last PC (a 486 & Windows 98) because I find using the Mac way more pleasant & they do all I ask of them. Like I said “not for everyone” though. I have tried a few later versions of Windows (I think the last was Windows 7 Professional on a work provided laptop my wife had) & hated it, although I’ll readily admit that much of that had to do with unfamiliarity. So yes I’ve paid more but with it I get the ease of familiarity & what for me is a much more user friendly experience, plus reliability & longevity. I know I could get more for less, but am stuck in my ways. Maybe it’s a bit like folk who pay extra for an ST or a Ti over a DX? All horses for courses stuff. This is my third computer/third laptop/third mac since that 486 - each one has cost $3k (never paid the price on the Mac site).

Of course things do go wrong. I was in the UK in mid 2012. My laptop (bought new in Australia via ebay in 2007) had it’s main logic board give up the ghost & the screen image became unintelligible psychedelia. I took it to an Apple shop thinking “well out of warranty - probably too expensive to get repaired’. They checked it out, confirmed the main logic board had karked it & said “The bad news is that replacement will cost 700 pounds (approx $1500)”, but in the next breath added “but it is a ‘known fault’ with that model so we’ll replace it cost free”. Now I reckon that was pretty damn good on the other side of the world on a machine well out of warranty & bought at a discounted price off eBay! And as I’ve said my wife still uses it daily.

Increasingly over the years I have become irritated by Apple’s moves to tie all their products together. I put up with not having the continuity that many Apple owners because I don’t need it. I won’t pay the ridiculous amounts they want for an iPhone for example, ‘cos I only use a phone as a phone...... you know ...... that old fashioned thing to make calls with. So I only have a cheaper android on an Aldi pay as you go plan & rarely if ever use any apps on it. Only got it because the touch screen made text messages easier to type.

Recently I downloaded the latest version of OS X (El Capitan - dumb name eh?) & found that it didn’t play well with my 3rd party VPN client & crashed & would not reboot. I suspect this is because the OS looks for a network in the early stages of booting up, rather than booting up & then asking what network I want to join. I have since reverted back to the fully functional previous OS from a back up.

So.............. I am gradually thinking less of Apple if I’m to be honest ................. but not enough to yet force me to swap to another OS or brand of computer.

[katwoman]

So, Matt. What they are saying is buy a desk top/laptop, mid range for between $600-$1200.

[rusty_nail]

snip...

" plus reliability & longevity" - come on cuppa, did you not read what i said above? they are identical hardware... what makes you think they are more reliable or have better longevity?

"Maybe it’s a bit like folk who pay extra for an ST or a Ti over a DX?" - its not the same thing... you noticably get different 'hardware' in the different models of are you saying the DX comes out with central locking and leather seats? haha...

but in the next breath added “but it is a ‘known fault’ with that model so we’ll replace it cost free” - most companies with known faults will repair their product free of charge... similar to the nissan airbag recall... sorry to burst your bubble but its not an exclusive trait...

oh, and john... im still waiting for your address in a message mate haha

[rusty_nail]

So, Matt. What they are saying is buy a desk top/laptop, mid range for between $600-$1200.

thanks kat, thats what ive been trying to say since my original post haha, but the apple peeps got us off track and im always up for a debate haha

[Cuppa]

I’m not disputing anything you’ve said Rusty, just making the point that I’m happy with my choice.
Any & all choices are made for many reasons ...... reasons which would see others make different choices & still be happy.

I was interested in what you said about being able to use the Mac OS on non Mac machines “if you really wanted too”. I’m not someone who generally pays more for stuff than I need to provided I can see value for money & so would be interested in an equivalent machine to run the OS I’m happy & familiar with just so long as it didn’t involve a huge learning curve to make it work ......... when the time comes for my next upgrade. What is involved?


I’ll take back what I said above, I will dispute one thing , hmmm in light of your last post since I started typing this .... make that two.

Comparing air bag recall to the service I received is a bit of a stretch. I may be wrong but would be very surprised if any/many other computer manufacturers would have given that service.
As to who got us off track - I’d say if a post had to be picked it would have been #8, but as I’m not into pointing fingers I’ll acknowledge that my response to you only served to push us further off track. It’s all good, I’ve quite enjoyed our little exchange of views & am quite happy to acknowledge your greater knowledge of ‘under the hood’ computer stuff than I possess.


EDIT: Just read this - doesn’t sound easy. http://www.howtogeek.com/178031/why-...l-os-x-on-pcs/ & I also read of something called Virtualbox which allows you to run OS X under Windows - don’t think I’d like that - seems it negates the advantage of a low resource using OS if you have to run it under a more resource hungry OS.

[rusty_nail]

Comparing air bag recall to the service I received is a bit of a stretch. I may be wrong but would be very surprised if any/many other computer manufacturers would have given that service.

ill answer your other questions later i dont have time for a full response now, but ok another example... i logged a job with google for my nexus 4 mobile phone 20 months after i purchased it brand new, that it wouldnt turn on... and they sent me a BRAND NEW ONE, like i mean completely brand new... with another 2 years warranty on it, they even sent me a label to put on a box to send the old one back to them so it cost me nothing! its not a competition but come on, you had to take it into apple all i had to do was make a phone call haha

[rusty_nail]

EDIT: Just read this - doesn’t sound easy. http://www.howtogeek.com/178031/why-...l-os-x-on-pcs/ & I also read of something called Virtualbox which allows you to run OS X under Windows - don’t think I’d like that - seems it negates the advantage of a low resource using OS if you have to run it under a more resource hungry OS.

nope nope nope nope nope, just wait for me to get back to you. ill let you know soon