Advice on a new computer

[PapaPerk]

Hello,

I'm considering purchasing a new computer to edit gopro videos, working on spreadsheets, etc.

What do you recommend? I get so irritated with Windows updates, etc. seems like something always needs done to keep windows machines running!!!

So I was considering a Mac. But unsure about using it for Excel, etc.

Thank you for any advice. I love my iPhone and iPad... They just work! And I want something that just works for a laptop!

 

[Cat_Driver]

I a lot biased. I've been using Apple computers since 1977 and the Apple II system. I've stuck with Apple through all the years they called it a TOY, said it would NEVER LAST, said no one would buy it, said you can't do business with it.
I've been running my business 100% on Apple products since the early 80's.
The greatest compliment I ever got was when I did a proposal on my Apple computer and printed it on a new fangled laser printer ( cost 5K ) and the customer DUMPED ME saying they would rather work with a SMALLER COMPANY. I never did answer that client and tell then there were ONLY TWO people in my company at the time.
I used to rent business products 99% windows products, and had nothing but problems, and all my customers had nothing but problems with them. I tried like heck to use a windows machine SEVERAL TIMES, and I'm 5 times more productive on a Mac, than on any windows machine.

My ONLY REGRET with Apple. I sold 1000 shares of their stock at $24.00 a share, and it went to $650.00 a share. I've been spending that 650K in my mind ever since.

I use Excel, Word, All Adobe products, several video editing products, and a complex 3D cad software for animation, and my current Mac Pro has exceeded my expectations.

Here's one I did for a customer - and they selected me BECAUSE of doing this work, that my competition can't or won't do. This was drawn in a 3d CAD program, then saved to a movie and edited on a Mac i-movie. Everything in the drawing was done to scale and drawn by hand. You can imagine the computer power needed to render this.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Don't feel bad... I did the same with my 100 shares!!!

Also never had an Apple Computer crash.

 

[motownbrowne]

Apple all the way. I used to be a PC guy. Never looked back after I switched. It's just like you say, they just work. In my experience they maintain functionality for years after a PC made at the same time.

 

[Fordman1981]

You can run Microsoft office on a Mac but I like apple's version better. They have numbers which is like excel, pages which is like word, Keynote which is like power point. Unless you are using custom macros numbers is a better program I feel. I just updated a 2008 MacBook Pro to the latest Mac OS Yosemite and let my mom have it. She kept breaking windows PCs (i.e. Viruses slowed and pretty much made them have to be reset to factory several times.) The 2008 Mac is faster and she picked up on the operation of it very quickly. She loves the Mac even though it is a 2008 and hasn't had any issues with it so far.

 

[/pine]

IMO...it is the way (media software) applications work with personal computers than make Mac's the better choice...it's what all (or most) professional image.video editors use...

BTW...exactly when did you sell APPL (common) shares for 25.00???...just curious...!

 

[cmore]

Apple also require u to upgrade. But when u do, u normally have to upgrade the hardware also. A mac doesn't get as many viruses or malware. Mostly because of the number of mac's vs pc's and if u r into hacking, which platform do u wish to spend your time on. Probably the one with the most computers in use.

Linux is another operating system u might want to research. It does require more effort to find programs that u want to use.

I don't like supporting either corporate coffers of MS or Apple.

 

[windy acers]

ONCE YOU SWITCH TO A MAC YOU WON"T GO BACK!!!!!!Hello,

I'm considering purchasing a new computer to edit gopro videos, working on spreadsheets, etc.

What do you recommend? I get so irritated with Windows updates, etc. seems like something always needs done to keep windows machines running!!!

So I was considering a Mac. But unsure about using it for Excel, etc.

Thank you for any advice. I love my iPhone and iPad... They just work! And I want something that just works for a laptop![/QUOTE]

 

[coffeeman]

I switched to MacBook Air after get one for Christmas 2013. I have Win 8 lap top. I hate it and ain't used it year.
I'm comfortable with my Mac. i have XP Pro at office and I'll use my 4 XP machines till they drop.

I like my Mac. Win 8 pushed me away.

Cheers....Coffeeman

P.S. I think there is a very long post right here on TBN . If I remember right you can read and learn for hours.
Search it up when you get time.

 

[/pine]

and if u r into hacking, which platform do u wish to spend your time on

That would be a "NIX" system and it is what "most" computers run on...just not personal computers...!

And just for the record...other than getting frustrated...there is nothing anyone can do with a PC running a commercial O/S that can't be done with an entirely free O/S and entirely free software...and with out all the crap that comes with commercial software...

 

[Fordman1981]

Apple also require u to upgrade. But when u do, u normally have to upgrade the hardware also. A mac doesn't get as many viruses or malware. Mostly because of the number of mac's vs pc's and if u r into hacking, which platform do u wish to spend your time on. Probably the one with the most computers in use. Linux is another operating system u might want to research. It does require more effort to find programs that u want to use. I don't like supporting either corporate coffers of MS or Apple.

Running the latest OS for Mac on a 2008 Mac book pro I recently gave to my mom it runs flawlessly with the latest OS. That is a 7 year old laptop still running in today's OS so I say they do much better than PCs on having to upgrade hardware. The battery life also continues to improve with each new OS. Mac's are the best for battery life over the lives of their devices hands down, although they do have an advantage there since they have a set hardware to to work with and perfect on.

 

[ultrarunner]

IMO...it is the way (media software) applications work with personal computers than make Mac's the better choice...it's what all (or most) professional image.video editors use...

BTW...exactly when did you sell APPL (common) shares for 25.00???...just curious...!

I sold Apple in the mid 80's... :-(

My Godparents daughter did a summer internship at apple between her junior and senior year in High School... she attended Cupertino High.

Anyway, she had an employee number under 200.

Her Dad was a aeronautical engineer in the valley and told her to put every penny she could into employee stock... later when she married she cashed it in and it was enough to put 50% down on her San Jose home... her husband still works for Apple.

 

[Scrambler82]

I switched about ten years ago.
Apples are grat in a lot of way.
All their upgrade go easy and work.
BUT... when they decide your computer has lasted long enough they tell you your machine can't be up graded anymore, sort. Like a built in switch, set for five or six years and then you are on your own.
The latest upgrade to my iPad, 8.x, Apple didn't say that the iPadII may encounter problems, I up graded not even thinking about incompatibility, we'll let me tell you, I have had nothing but problems and Apple say there shouldn't be any problems... BS !

MS office works well on the Mac, no problems, and Mac will run PC Programs with additional software you should find it an easy computer to use and upgrade to a point.
Good luck on your choices.

Even though I am a little disappointed with Apple, I can't go back, I am thinking on a Mac Mini next.

Ltr

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm using a $199 Acer Laptop for the past 4 years with win7

I was going to buy a Mac and the one I wanted with employee discount and all the bells and whistles was still going to be $1600 and change... just didn't want to risk something happening traveling...

 

[pmsmechanic]

Has anyone tried a Chromebook?

 

[troutsqueezer]

You see that you are getting a lot more endorsements for Mac than you are for PC. Does that mean it's a better machine? Nope. It just means Mac users always have some sort of attitude about their choice of machine and they jump in feet first when it comes to blowing Apple's horn. It's a badge. PC users don't give a crap. They just want the computer as a means to an end, they couldn't care less if there's an image of a bitten apple on the cover. If you can't handle Windows 8, then you can't handle Apple's OS either. Also, if you have to ask people in a forum (or any forum) about which computer to buy, you aren't going about it correctly. Hit the books, do some research. This is what it takes to master any OS.

If I were you, I'd start by looking into the Surface Pro 3 but then, it's not for babies.

 

[Fordman1981]

I switched about ten years ago. Apples are grat in a lot of way. All their upgrade go easy and work. BUT... when they decide your computer has lasted long enough they tell you your machine can't be up graded anymore, sort. Like a built in switch, set for five or six years and then you are on your own. The latest upgrade to my iPad, 8.x, Apple didn't say that the iPadII may encounter problems, I up graded not even thinking about incompatibility, we'll let me tell you, I have had nothing but problems and Apple say there shouldn't be any problems... BS ! MS office works well on the Mac, no problems, and Mac will run PC Programs with additional software you should find it an easy computer to use and upgrade to a point. Good luck on your choices. Even though I am a little disappointed with Apple, I can't go back, I am thinking on a Mac Mini next. Ltr

iOS 8.2 due out soon will greatly help on your iPad 2.

 

[the old grind]

That would be a "NIX" system and it is what "most" computers run on...just not personal computers...!

And just for the record...other than getting frustrated...there is nothing anyone can do with a PC running a commercial O/S that can't be done with an entirely free O/S and entirely free software...and with out all the crap that comes with commercial software...

Include "NUX" in that and I'm with you all the way.

OP, check out video editing software to see whether one OS's version earns the best rep for processing your vids. (speed, conversions, effects) There's probably a forum or two for every one you'd consider. Internet, spreadsheets, and favorite programs aren't that different between Win/Mac/Linux, are they? (to me they're all easier to use than a smart-phone or tablet, but I do have issues. :confused3

 

[Fordman1981]

You see that you are getting a lot more endorsements for Mac than you are for PC. Does that mean it's a better machine? Nope. It just means Mac users always have some sort of attitude about their choice of machine and they jump in feet first when it comes to blowing Apple's horn. It's a badge. PC users don't give a crap. They just want the computer as a means to an end, they couldn't care less if there's an image of a bitten apple on the cover. If you can't handle Windows 8, then you can't handle Apple's OS either. Also, if you have to ask people in a forum (or any forum) about which computer to buy, you aren't going about it correctly. Hit the books, do some research. This is what it takes to master any OS. If I were you, I'd start by looking into the Surface Pro 3 but then, it's not for babies.

Or there could be legitimate pros and cons for each system like anything else. Windows 8 was a huge failure reference link. Microsoft's Windows 8 Suffers Embarrassing Setback MSFT AAPL - Investors.com

 

[troutsqueezer]

Or there could be legitimate pros and cons for each system like anything else. Windows 8 was a huge failure reference link. Microsoft's Windows 8 Suffers Embarrassing Setback MSFT AAPL - Investors.com

Excuse me if I don't click on that and depend on over thirty years of working with OS's instead. I have many computers of both types for various reasons.

Do you buy from Amazon or at least check out the reviews on any items you might want to purchase? If you do, you'll see that for every item for sale on the face of the Earth, there are both good and bad reviews. If you heed the bad reviews, you'll wind up buying nothing at all, ever. No, what you probably do is look at how many people have given their reviews and look at the percentage of happy customers versus unhappy customers. If there are many more happy than unhappy, you can be reasonably sure that the item in question is probably going to be satisfactory. Also, the brand or model that gets the most reviews is usually the one that sells the most. Compare then, Mac's share of the market compared to PC's. We assume that most computer buyers are not stupid and the majority of them will migrate to what gives them the most value for their money. Given this huge difference in share of the market, one might weigh the evidence and make the choice of which to buy based on that, rather than anecdotal forum replies, where bias plays a heavy role.

BTW, the latest iOS that I downloaded onto my iPad? Sucks, and it's nearly ruined what is otherwise a nice machine. Want me to post a link to that screwup? Nah...that's not the point.