Well, I had a dream last night where I got a new computer to replace my 6 year old P3 800mhz clunker that sits to my right. Ever since I bought my first iPod (a 10GB 3G, now a 30GB video) and my visit to the first of 7 apple stores I have been to I have wanted a MAC. They just seem so cool! I don't have to worry about spyware or viruses (not that I worry or have any now). They are expensive (more than a PC), thats the downside, plus I cannot play Flight Sim 2004 on a Mac. My current computer is too crappy in the speed and video department for FS to run correctly as it is.

What do FTers think? Should I step over to Mac. My parents (who are not really computer literate) say I should go for what the majority uses. What should I do? Build a PC or buy a Mac?

If I was you I would get a Mac
but only if that make you happy

I have a few Mac and one samsung Q35

if i had a budget to buy a notebook computer now.. i'd go with a mac.

I was in the same position as you last year, and I took the plunge. And returned it 2 weeks later.

All the current generation of Macs use Intel processors now; the result is that you can configure the computer to 'dual boot' to Windows. There's nothing at all to stop you installing a small partition with Windows on a Mac for specific applications you may need to support (i.e. Flight Simulator 2004 in your case! )

The technology is called Boot Camp, and I believe it's still considerd "beta" quality; I've used it though, and it's really pretty simple.

Depending on what you are planning to use it for, you can get a Mac Mini for about $800 that includes (built-in) Wifi, Bluetooth, DVD (dual layer) reader/burner/re-burner and lots of software that is both free and good. I don't think that is so expensive, do you?

If you have programs or data files that only run under windows, you can download (for free) a program from Apple called Boot Camp that will let you install a Windows partition on your hard drive. You will, of course, have to supply the Windows installation disks your self.

From what I have read, the Mac Mini is a faster Windows machine than a number of more expensive Windows machines. I don't see where you can go wrong on this. If you need a new computer, you will have a hard time finding a PC that has everything the Mac Mini has (including the size) at even the same price, much less lower. And, if you can't stand the Mac OS (it's not Windows), you can just install Windows and be done with it.

Apple. Better Computing through Marketing.

Besides Boot Camp, if you install Parallels you'll be able to run Windows and Windows applications on an Intel Mac as well.

I've been with a PowerBook for about 2 years now and personally I like the way I don't have to configure this and that setting, especially when getting connected on the road. It's nice too how it starts up in a couple of seconds after awakening it from sleep. The less maintenance I have to do to keep virii and spyware out is as you note, another benefit.

Clients complimenting me on my cool notebook is also an added plus ^

When I bought my iBook two years ago, it was difficult to adjust to the OS X operating system because I was no longer able to use certain programs that were Windows-only. Now that Intel Macs are able to run Windows as well as OS X, I think that switching is most likely a much less complicated process than it was before, since you can still keep using all of the programs that you've become accustomed to as a PC user.

Having said that, I can't recommend Macs highly enough. In the two years that I've had my iBook, I've only had one problem with it (and even that was my fault; basically, I didn't buy an external hard drive to store some of my excess files until it was too late). My advice would be to spend some time really using a Mac if you can, like maybe at a local library, so that you can get a better feel for what it's like to use the operating system for everyday tasks. I realize that you can always try out the display models in the Apple Store, but IMO, it just isn't quite the same as sitting down with it in a more realistic situation and seeing exactly whether or not it's a good fit for you. When I tried out the models in the store, I was always so much more focused on all the cool features that Apple wants its customers to know about and be amazed by, and it was only after taking my new laptop home and using it for real that I understood just how different the operating system was and what kinds of usage changes I would have to make.

Nonetheless, I have absolutely no regrets about getting my Mac. Going into it, though, just make sure that you're aware of what the differences are and whether or not it makes sense for you to switch over to a different platform.

That's unlikely to be an appropriate solution for games.

Since when has the majority been able to make the good choices?

Anyway, I think you should consider a Mac. Nowadays they are not really more expensive than _comparable_ PC's -- the difference is that you can build a crappy, cheap PC or a very, very expensive PC but there are only one kind of Macs in the middle.

Now that Mac's use Intel CPU's, you could either install BootCamp and boot between MacOS X and Windows to play your favourite games or install a software like Parallels Desktop for Mac to run Windows on top of MacOS X (not sure if they have all the graphics supported yet).

As far as software is concerned, try to think about what tasks you need to accomplish and find Mac tools to do them -- don't expect to find exactly the same software for Mac and Windows. Some special software may not be available to Mac, though. And the argument that you can find thousands of free applications and tools for Windows is pretty much nonsense, no one wants to go through 100 different utilities for the same tasks when all you really need is just one good one.

LOL! Knew it was coming

Go with a Mac.

PC users who complain about "difficult to do this or that" don't realise that Mac's either work with another piece of hardware, or they don't. There's not that gray area of "sort of functioning" as with PCs. Same is true of the OS. If you like to go under the hood and tinker and hugely customize beyond the radio button options presented in the control panels/preferences, then Macs are not the way to go for you. That said, it seems like reliability is much better than PCs (given the variations of internal components in PCs).

And you can get X-Plane for flight simming.

Bottom line, better hardware and a better OS with the ability to run windows if you have to...

I know I'll get slammed considering the batteries and the overheating, etc... but compare apple guts to dell guts...try and build a dell using the same specs as a Mac and 9 out of 10 its more expensive.

The OS is just a pleasure to work in too...

If you are savvy enough, you can compile and run pretty much anything thats
out there in the freeware community. The underlying UNIX OS gives you a lot
of options.