PC or Mac, what would you get?

[DialMforMummy]

Hi,
current laptop in on the blink, so we are thinking about getting a new one. We have a budget of about a grand but could stretch to a bit more if we are to get a Mac.
I tend to lean towards a Mac as people have said that they are quick to start and don't tend to slow down after a few years as PC do.
DH leans towards a good PC as he finds Mac expensive (you get a 17' screen size for the price of a 11' Mac) and we have to buy software on the top of the computer (we can get office and other stuff for free from work).
We use the computer mainly for browsing and Office.
Are Macs worth the extra money? Are they more durable than PCs? Or are they just fashionable and grossly overpriced?
Any advice and thoughts gratefully received.

There still seems to be a view that Linux is hard to use and you have to be a hardcore techie. As a techie myself, it's a bit hard to judge how things seem to ordinary users, but ISTM that the main problem is picking the right version of Linux (distribution).

My own view is that Linux Mint is probably a little easier to use than Windows 7 in everyday use. Also, it requires less care and maintenance than Windows.

Ubuntu is probably the easiest linux IMO, you can get a live disc anyway (use it without installing it so you can see what it's like).

I like KDE anyway you lot are backwards, Linux is easier then Windows, at least it makes sense, everything is laid out in a logical manner, unlike windows where you have to learn where things are because it has no logic to it's GUI design what so ever. couldn't abide that it's just confusing.

Wow thanks niceguy - I just paid £99 for Home and Student which only has a handful of packages on it and is only for one pc. £37 reduced from £429 - where's the catch I wonder...

As long as you satisfy the software4students criteria - ie you've got a school pupil or student living with you or you are a student yourself, it is entirely legitimate. Microsoft even link to software4students from its own website. I've bought a number of things from them and they are absolutely fine.

I must read this all properly, but I also have a dying PC and intend to get MacBook Pro (I think). Long time since I've used Macs but DH uses both and everything he says reminds me why I used to love Macs so much more.

DH says that the future of OpenOffice is in jepardy, though? Also, I know from experience it can't handle complicated spreadsheets. But adequate for my purposes.

I'm so tempted to go mac, but it's a huge expense - to replace everything. Maybe the new MS software at home and an ipad for fun?

Blimey Snorbs - I don't see why they charge £99 for a handful of packages for ONE pc called 'Home and Student' when you can get the whole shebang of Professional for £47 if you are a student!

"DH says that the future of OpenOffice is in jepardy, though?"

It's gone through some "interesting" times and a separate branch of it was created called Libre Office (www.libreoffice.org/). OpenOffice's owners say that development of OpenOffice will continue but not in a Commercial fashion, and that's no bad thing.

So it's something to watch anyway, but the formats the documents are saved in are an open standard that should work the same no matter what piece of software you use to edit it.

So you've got both OpenOffice and Libre Office as well as many other free pieces of software that handles the files.

So I really wouldn't worry.

"I don't see why they charge £99 for a handful of packages for ONE pc called 'Home and Student' when you can get the whole shebang of Professional for £47 if you are a student!"

That's another strike against Microsoft, their quite ridiculous pricing strategy. It's so hard to know what version of a piece of Microsoft software you need (Proffesional? Ultimate? Enterprise? Developer?) you need. Apple's software is just Apple's software, you get it all. When I buy a new version of Mac OS X I don't have to ask myself "will I ever need it to do X and what version supports that?" like I do with Windows.

Thank you for your input. We have decided on a Mac pro. Did you know that people in education get a discount? 8% in our case. It's still pricey but better than nothing.

"We have decided on a Mac pro"

Do you mean a MacBook Pro? A laptop? There is a Mac Pro and it's a serious piece of equipment that I think most people would never need...

Well, yes a laptop. In terms of value for money, it's a bit more performant than the other one and not that much more expensive. Will have to wait next payday though!

Yikes. This is all impossibly tempting. MS software is absurd. It took me half an hour to find a template that would print out squared paper the other day.

Congrats on your new Mac DialM, I look foward to hearing how it works for you.