linux, windows or mac ?

[la Huerta]

don't really know what better or worse and what's most ideal for the average user...

could someone enlighten me...

[craigb]

don't really know what better or worse and what's most ideal for the average user...

could someone enlighten me...

Boy, I bet this thread goes on and on and on.....

It depends on your prejudices.

[rockola]

don't really know what better or worse and what's most ideal for the average user...

could someone enlighten me...

I use all three, but then again I get paid for it. There's really no easy answer to this question, and you'll probably get votes for each.

That being said, Macs have given me the least amount of frustration.

[zenwood]

There's no doubt in my mind the Mac system is far more user friendly than Windows. They run all the standard applications (Office, Internet browsing, Email, Chat, etc, etc), and you can easily share files with your windows colleagues. Pretty much everything an 'average user' would want - ? You also get iTunes, iPhoto, etc etc.

[Bob38S]

Have used Mac's since 85 - almost bullet proof - never had a problem with viruses/trojans/worms etc.
Have had the misfortune to have to use Windows on occasions - would have to say that it equates with using Darkside tools - ie they will do the job but today there is something more efficient.
Bob

[Michael Breen]

I have been a Mac user from my computer beginnng in the 70s. I have found them excellent and as frustrating as any operating system you will use. But I doubt there is an average user any more than an average woodworker. Arguments between the systems inlcude criteria like: cost, compatibility with other machines around the world, speed, protection against viruses etc. There are arguments for and against all aspects. Someone once said, "The differnce between a good and a bad piece of software is how much you become familiar with it". For my part, I find Mac good for these reasons: Because there are fewer mac users there are fewer virusses aimed at Macs. I like the design of the Mac machines and their screens. Mac often gets an innovation first and then is copied by others, such as dropdown windows. And I have become used to Macs and find them less angular than the alternatives. From what other operators tell me the mac seems to have less crashes than Microsoft products. And I will own the arrogance of this, but I believe that anything which is very popular cannot be much good. You could look up the records of Icon, which comes out in the Saturday SMHerald and find an article, last year, I think, on comparing Mac and Windows systems and comes out in favour of Macs, after some hard questioning and objective scoring. Not sure if that was what you were after.

could someone enlighten me...[/QUOTE]

[Shedhand]

My wife is the barometer of computer choice.

I run a PC wireless network at home. She has a Toshiba Notebook running WinXP Pro and all the windows products. I reckon I spend an average of 10 hours a week explaining how to do things on it to her.

At her work she has Mac running OS X (high end machine used for cartography). She has never had to ask directions from her boss and she is very competent on the machine. Prior to working there she had never used a Mac.

I have a new HP/Compaq nc8000 with all the big bells and whhistles and an IBM Net Vista (5 years old) as my server. I never have any trouble with the windows stuff.

Having said all that, if you want to take it out of the box plug it in and start working, go the Mac.

If you like tinkering and taking things apart and rebuilding, tweaking and stuff..go Windows PC.
Cheers

[DavidG]

What was it?
Mac if you want to work.
Windows if you want to play games.
Linux if you want to be a computer geek.:eek:

[PuppyPaw]

for the real avarage user, go with windows, it is simple to use and heaps of expandability, and not too expensive at all.

and I'm very tired of hearing people constantly complain about stability of windows. Pair windows with hardware thats well made and compatible and Windows will be very stable. My XP has never crashed and I have had it since it was launched and its never been turned off (never gotten updates either but then its not accessable to the internet).

Macs, they are good, expensive but good, and if you get an Intel CPU based powerbook or what ever its called, they are fast!!
Find it funny tho all the security holes being found at the moment and the first thats just been found.
Yes Macs are very stable, but you should expect that when Mac locks the hardware down to what it wants and you have very limited upgradability!

Linux, well, its really not yet for the avarage user at all yet, as much as linux geeks was you to believe they are, they really really arnt yet ready for prime time!!!!

[la Huerta]

sounds like a toss up...perhaps sticking with what you know is best...on the other hand sometimes you got to take a risk and try something new...

been sniffing around at a new pc for a while, i have windows 98 now and may just go xp, mainly internet and email for work , but love watching movie trailers when i have the time and playing with pics editing, video editing would be nice too...

don't know what the macs are worth but windows based systems seem to be good value, it's suprising what you get for little money...

[woodbe]

My XP has never crashed and I have had it since it was launched and its never been turned off (never gotten updates either but then its not accessable to the internet).

And there by the donkey hangs it's tail. 99.999% of security threats on a windows box are borne on the internet. Actually, same goes for any operating system, but Windows is just more likely to cop it...

[PuppyPaw]

very true woodbe, very true indeed, however running the computer properly (any computer) should be users top priority, a good firewall and a virus filter aren't that hard to use, don't use IE use firefox or opera.

think of your computer as a house, tidy it up, install a security system and give it a little tender loving care and it will give its best for you..

that sounds so corny

[Shedhand]

very true woodbe, very true indeed, however running the computer properly (any computer) should be users top priority, a good firewall and a virus filter aren't that hard to use, don't use IE use firefox or opera.

think of your computer as a house, tidy it up, install a security system and give it a little tender loving care and it will give its best for you..

that sounds so corny

Corny..but very true.

[woodbe]

very true woodbe, very true indeed, however running the computer properly (any computer) should be users top priority, a good firewall and a virus filter aren't that hard to use, don't use IE use firefox or opera.

think of your computer as a house, tidy it up, install a security system and give it a little tender loving care and it will give its best for you..

that sounds so corny

It does, and it's good advice.

The problems occur when people treat their computers like appliances. They wipe the outside sometimes and hardly ever clean the insides. and not everyone sees value in a security system or tidy house...

Windows might not be the best thing to give someone like that

How many crumbs are at the bottom of your toaster?

[PuppyPaw]

Crumbs in my toaster? Absolutely not!!
hahaha but I have this wang fangled one that makes it real easy to keep clean!

Very true woodbe, however Mac still does need a cleaning from time to time just like windows, and I wouldn't want to run Mac without a firewall of some kind (not just anything thats built in either) however for simplicitys sake where the buyer doesn't need to really put a ton of thought into there computer for stability and security Mac would deffinatly win hands down in that regards.