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Mac laptop

pa_traveler
Explorer
Explorer
Im sick of these computer problems ,seems like they should run trouble free for longer than they do. Have a Lenovo for a few years now,already took it to get it cleaned up ,so it would function. Now again hardly working freezing up ect. Went to best buy they said for two hundred they could probably get it working right again.It cost around 6 hundred about three years ago. So was looking at a dell intel pentium2127u laptop for three hundred,im thinking maybe this is a better way to go think of it as a throw away after a couple seasons?. Anybody know if this is a decent laptop? Then I looked at a mac the cheapest was around $900. Im not familiar with the mac,will it be much different and user friendly? Any suggestions the dell vs a Mac.If I knew the Mac would remain virus free and not bogged down for 6 or 7 years would maybe try it.Someone said they are more trouble free. Want to buy some kind of replacement by the weekend,any helpful input appreciated. thanks
32 REPLIES 32

Janss
Explorer
Explorer
LittleBill....I was simply replying to the OP's latest question regarding a Mac. Wasn't saying anything about PCs. As stated in my earlier post, I also do not have an anti-virus program on my PC laptop.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 32V
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara

cleo43
Explorer
Explorer
Why do people think of MS and Apple as the ONLY options ?
Ubuntu or Linux Mint on your old slow-like-a-turtle PC is the cheapest.
Next is Chromebook with Ubuntu installed. Most Chromebooks are dirt cheap, but this option is much more difficult unless you have some help.
The upcoming Acer 720P Chromebook is quite powerful and cheap.
With XP support drawing to a close, think about

jumping ship

burlmart
Explorer
Explorer
1492 wrote:
OS X is resistant to viruses by design, but there is no such thing as being immune to malware. This has become an urban myth. Vulnerabilities can crop up in OS, third party programs, or in clever social engineering malware. Keeping the system updated is the key defense.

Macs already come with "basic" anti-malware protection built-in XProtect(File Quarantine) since Snow Leopard. Apple also provides guides for hardening security on older OS X versions. Personally, I prefer and have installed a full AV package on all my Macs, several which are available for free. I've had no issues or noticed any slowdowns on my MacBook with them installed.


Is the relative risk worth 3X the $ for OP? Not to mention the effort not taken to delve into Windows must be substituted w/ efforts to do all the same things in a new ecosystem that includes iTunes.
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy

1492
Moderator
Moderator
OS X is resistant to viruses by design, but there is no such thing as being immune to malware. This has become an urban myth. Vulnerabilities can crop up in OS, third party programs, or in clever social engineering malware. Keeping the system updated is the key defense.

Macs already come with "basic" anti-malware protection built-in XProtect(File Quarantine) since Snow Leopard. Apple also provides guides for hardening security on older OS X versions. Personally, I prefer and have installed a full AV package on all my Macs, several which are available for free. I've had no issues or noticed any slowdowns on my MacBook with them installed.

burlmart
Explorer
Explorer
OP

If you haven't hit the mall yet, I just remembered one of the most importantn PC fixin' tool recommended on this thread - Ccleaner. It is safe and free, and just learning what it will let you do (all optional), teackes you where the problems w/ your PC lie.

Play w/ your sluggish PC 1st.
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy

burlmart
Explorer
Explorer
I have always used and programmed some type of computer as a student, engineer, and last gig teaching it (civil). But only since retiring these last few years have I begun to pay attention to the machineโ€™s software maintenance โ€“ I have learned a lot right on this forum.

We have an โ€™06/7 gateway laptop that was very cheap then - $550 โ€“ like the OPโ€™s Dell (which is my vote). The laptop was always quirky w/ McAffee, MS Medis Cemterโ€™s tentacles, and too little memory (512). From '04, also hane what was then a good midlevel HP desktop system - $900. It too had issues w/ low memory and some software clashes as we learned wi-fi.

When we worked, IT people took care of work issues, and also sometimes advised on home problems (not much).

Both these machines are running faster and flawlessly like they never did โ€“ and both are XP. Adding a another 512k memory in each machine ($30 ea.), Removing all unused programs, clearing un-needed programs from the startup, cleaning and defragging HD, and using the free MS Security Essentials.

I have become attached to them. Plan to keep w/ XP as long as I can. I have some linux distros that really zip on them, and that is running from the CD/DVD!

About the OP and Dell. If you do not wish to โ€˜meld w/ your PCโ€™ as I described, "dude, get a Dell."

Martha has been using a $280 Dell w/ W8 for many months w/ no problems. I like that machine too - I donโ€™t mess w/ it as Martha has watched me fix many issues in the past and applies this and her work experiences, plus it pretty much self-maintains.
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy

LittleBill
Explorer
Explorer
Janss wrote:
To the OP....I have never had any anti-virus program on my Macs in 25 years.


i never had a virus program on my pc for 25 years whats your point?

they make them for both operating systems

i can also provide all the horror stories about mac as well.

personally i know 3 people who went mac and came back as pc users

hardware wise they are identical. thats what ticks me off about mac the most

and for those of you that think mac just works, is quite a joke.

people with mac's call just as often, as those with pc's

to each their own, but neither is superior

Janss
Explorer
Explorer
To the OP....I have never had any anti-virus program on my Macs in 25 years.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 32V
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Happytraveler
Explorer
Explorer
Cube58 wrote:
WyoTraveler wrote:
My last Dell came DOA. No more Dell for me. For a home system I have a ZT system. Great system. Trouble free. DW has an Acer laptop and it has been trouble free. Mac? I know some people love them. No thanks. Mac has a great idea that is working. Give Macs away to schools so kid's parents buy them. It seems to work to hold the price up. For now anyway. Software is pricey and limited. Mr Apple was an icon but he is gone now.


What a load of nonsense. Clearly written by a person who has never even looked at Mac & just spouts old worn out stories from the '90s & myths from his mac hating buddies.


Not only schools have iPads, but Choc's Hospital has iPads for the children to use. So cute the nurses play games with their patients.
Charlie, a male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Katie, a female Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Cube58
Explorer
Explorer
WyoTraveler wrote:
My last Dell came DOA. No more Dell for me. For a home system I have a ZT system. Great system. Trouble free. DW has an Acer laptop and it has been trouble free. Mac? I know some people love them. No thanks. Mac has a great idea that is working. Give Macs away to schools so kid's parents buy them. It seems to work to hold the price up. For now anyway. Software is pricey and limited. Mr Apple was an icon but he is gone now.


What a load of nonsense. Clearly written by a person who has never even looked at Mac & just spouts old worn out stories from the '90s & myths from his mac hating buddies.

Spleenstomper
Explorer
Explorer
Our MacBook Pro is 5 years old and still going strong. But once you go mac, you don't go back. We now have 2 iPads, an iPad mini (don't recommend that one), an IMac, MacBook Pro and 5 iPhones.

I find mac is more user friendly (though it will be different at first) and the lack of pop up windows is wonderful.
Jennifer plus Hubby empty nest and two spoiled English bulldogs

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Happytraveler
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2007 Macbook Pro that I gave to my son two years ago and it's still going strong. The only reason I gave it to him because his pc crashed and I figured he could get by with the Mac for a little while. Actually, I should have kept it. I thought after 5 years I should buy a new one, LOL. I did get a nice discount on my new Macbook Pro because my son is a teacher.
The only problem I had with my new Macbook Pro is when my husband turned it upside down or on its side in the motorhome. Well, it died! The Apple Store had it fixed in two days, didn't ask any questions.
Charlie, a male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Katie, a female Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

paulcardoza
Explorer
Explorer
I use a PC at work and a MacBook Pro at home. Bought the MacBook in the fall of 2008. Been through 3 desktop PC's in the office during that time. The Mac was more expensive up front, but it looks and runs like the day it was new. Two of my 3 PC's over that same period, are now in some landfill.

Unless you are a power MS OFFICE user, I'd say the Mac is your best option. Even then, you CAN run Windows on a MAC if necessary.
Paul & Sandra
Plymouth, MA
2014 Heartland Cyclone 4100 King

RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
I've been living with a Dell M90 Laptop for the past many years. Got two of them from a OFF-LEASE site. $500-600... They came all loaded up with programs and work great. One still had the DELL Warranty left on it... These are no longer on the market now and are replaced by the M6500 series high-end LAPTOPS...

These are using the Microsoft XP-PRO operating system and I am just hearing this will no longer be updated by Microsoft after July 2014.

Will probably update to WINDOWs 7

These work with the DELL DOCKING stations and I have both RV and Home OFFICE setup much the same. Just unplug LAPTOP from one place and plug into the other. All ops pretty much the same at both locations... Very seldom open the laptops up as they run on external monitors and keyboard connected to the docking station ports. My same LAPTOP goes where I go.... About the only difference between the home setup and the RV setup is the speed of the internet. I use the Verizon MIFI setup for internet with the RVs...

Roy Ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
Roy - Carolyn
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