Which Operating System Do YOU Use?

[enduraguy]

Reflecting on the "Which Browser" thread, I was sitting here eating my Subway, and thinking why not post this thread? ;) After being a Winblows user for over a decade, I have recently become a passionate Linux convert. I won't go back. You could not pay me. After going through I dont know how many versions, and 'upgrades' and 'software patches', system crashes/restores, blue screens of death, down right total LOCK UPS that required a manual shut down....not to mention spyware, and viruses, after having my system supposedly protected by the "best" anti virus software...I just got sick and tired, of being sick and tired. I'd heard about Linux in the past, but never got a chance to try it out. I'm happy to say, I'm very pleased so far. I use "Ubuntu" (pronounced oo-boon-too). Talk amongst yourselves!

[Padawan]

Macintosh OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

[David Lowry]

I currently use Windows XP w/SP2 exclusively. However in the very near future I will be buying a Mac to replace my current Windows computer at home.

I'm tired of Windows XP, I'm tired of Microsoft, and I'm tired of all the stupid BS that comes along with Microsoft products. Vista is the icing on the crap cake. I can buy a 5 pack of OSX for what I would pay for Vista Ultimiate Edition Full Version. No way. Plus, I'm tired of the way that Microsoft and other companies like Dell partner together and preload crap on your systems. Every Dell I've installed for a friend or customer I have had to physically reload right out of the box to make sure that it gets rid of all the extra BS that they don't need. It's a racket. I will gladly pay a little more for a Mac to not have to deal with Windows anymore.

I should say that I personally don't ever have a problem with my home PC but I have used a Mac in the past and I found it to be a much better much more stable OS. Of the people I support the ones that use Apple have far less problems. Apple is the stuff.

I plan on getting a 17" or 20" iMac with some extras. I will probably buy it in the next couple months.

[Padawan]

I plan on getting a 17" or 20" iMac with some extras. I will probably buy it in the next couple months.

Nice choice. I was recently at the Apple Store and was checking both of those models out. For now though, my 15" PowerBook fits my needs perfectly.

Something else you might want to consider, especially if you'll be switching or upgrading from your PC, would be the Mac Mini. It's surprisingly powerful for its size, and since you already have a display, keyboard, mouse, etc., it would be more economical.

[David Lowry]

Nice choice. I was recently at the Apple Store and was checking both of those models out. For now though, my 15" PowerBook fits my needs perfectly.

Something else you might want to consider, especially if you'll be switching or upgrading from your PC, would be the Mac Mini. It's surprisingly powerful for its size, and since you already have a display, keyboard, mouse, etc., it would be more economical.

Much appreciated but I want to get a nice new Apple Keyboard and mouse with my new Apple computer. I looked at the Mac Mini but I don't want to pay for the Apple displays yet. :) If I could I would buy a Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema display. Can't do that right now though. :)

[Padawan]

Much appreciated but I want to get a nice new Apple Keyboard and mouse with my new Apple computer. I looked at the Mac Mini but I don't want to pay for the Apple displays yet. :) If I could I would buy a Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema display. Can't do that right now though. :)

I completely understand. The Apple peripherals definitely add to the "experience" (they're functional, but also very attractive), and the iMacs have quite nice displays. Best of luck with your upcoming purchase. :)

[zenheretic]

Whenever computer geeks start talking about Apple, I think of the Souhpark episode about the fart sniffers...ahhhh good stuff.

[Padawan]

Whenever computer geeks start talking about Apple, I think of the Souhpark episode about the fart sniffers...ahhhh good stuff.

I'm definitely no "computer geek", and the discussion wasn't very involved. I just happen to like what Apple offers (as do many others), just like all of us here like what Spyderco offers.

The Benchmade forum folks have had more than a few laughs about Spyderco fan discussions, too. To each, his own.

[Slvgx]

I'm a big computer Geek. I listed myself as Mac OS X (10.4.X Tiger). I just put a Vista partition on just to see what it was like. I have have Ubuntu sitting around too, so one of these day's I'll set up another partition and have a triple boot machine. Linux and Windows would be just for fun though, OS X is all I really use, and all I feel I need.

Good choice with the iMac David. That's a good starter Mac. Just wait a little bit because the iMac product cycle is rather long right now so there will be product line upgrades very shortly.

[cgjones]

I currently run Debian GNU/Linux on all my computers. I too grew tired of the games I had to play with Windows. I like what I've seen of the OS X interface, but I can get the same features for free with Debian.

[hornshwangler]

I'm a die hard Mac user for the last 4 years and will never, by choice, go back. I'm writing this response on a dell notebook as the client I'm currently doing some work for requires I have one of their 'certified and secure' notebooks. The apple products are, IMHO, superior to anything you'll see from MS, dell, HP, Lenova, or any other traditional PC manufaturer. That being said, I have used intel based computers almost from their inception though not willingly.

all the best
Dan

[dedguy]

I've been a OSX user for the past year or so after having been a microsoft OS user for the previous 20 years or so of my life. I don't see myself going back any time soon and honestly find it painful to use Windows now. Especiall Vista.

[silverback]

Interesting how this thread became about the Mac.
I use an iBook, which is my second Mac, with OSX 10.4.8 and I'm never going back. Sure I will have to use Windows machines at work, but be glad when all the problems don't follow me home. :)
Funny how you only hear this kind of happy talk from Mac and Linux users. :D

[Padawan]

Funny how you only hear this kind of happy talk from Mac and Linux users. :D

Indeed. I don't recall anyone ever saying, "I really love Windows, and I just can't imagine ever wanting to use another OS." :rolleyes:

[dedguy]

You must be careful though to not become one of those asshole mac users who tries to push his OS on everyone else and looks down upon those that don't. This sort of mac user kept me away from macs for years. That and OS9 sucked.

[silverback]

You must be careful though to not become one of those asshole mac users who tries to push his OS on everyone else and looks down upon those that don't. This sort of mac user kept me away from macs for years. That and OS9 sucked.
You are right. But right now the Linux users are far more obnoxious, especially at Universities around here. :D We're safe for the time being.
And OS9 wasn't that bad, but let's not discuss that here. :)

[cgjones]

But right now the Linux users are far more obnoxious, especially at Universities around here.

Hey now, not all of us are obnoxious. But on a serious note, USE GNU/LINUX! I'm just kidding, use whatever you want, as long as it isn't Windows.

[wec12]

I'm still using XP but really want to buy a MacBook Pro... Things keep me away from Mac are movie format... Can you guys play .rmvb and .avi in Mac? I am really heavy movie watcher:p .

[dialex]

I have no problems with Windows, really. I tried them all, from Windows 2.0 :eek: to XP. Still have to try Vista, but there's no rush. Never liked too many coloured artifacts on an OS.
At home I have a slower computer, that's why I use Win98. At work, also depending on the machine, I have Windows 98, 2000 and XP. I agree that without MS the world may have been better - perhaps, but surely much boring ;)

[vampyrewolf]

18yrs of playing in dos systems (from dos 3.31 to xp pro), went to linux in january... I'm still keeping the winblows boot, knocking it back from 25gb to 10gb this weekend most likely (just o/s, sp2, ati & lenovo drivers... maybe a game). I can build and repair a dos system in my sleep, do most of that repair work with ppl telling me what's wrong and me giving them ideas and directions off the top of my head.
Some things I'm not quite comfortable doing in linux yet, but that list is getting a lot shorter little by little.

When my laptop crashed after I had it a month, I almost didn't put winblows back in here after I found Ubuntu 6.10... found the kde desktop about a month ago, have gone back to gnome a couple times but pretty much stay in kde.
Have 6 towers (7 if my sister doesn't want her semi-working win98 one), spare mobo and parts... could easily toss together 4 working machines. Think I'll be tossing a 700mhz p4 133fsb system together for a knoppix comp (have 8-9 disro's in my book). Wouldn't get more than win98 running on there :p

With a 'high end' version of Virus Intrusion Spyware Trojan Adware going for $500 (or $200 for an upgrade from xp pro), I'd rather build a high end comp for $1K and put linux in there. STILL going to blow anything a vista user can do out of the water (and be cheaper ;) :p )

[The Deacon]

Guess I must be either very lucky, or just more sensible that some folks about what I download and install. Have been running Win XP since shortly after it was released and have never had an O/S related problem. Couple hardware failures, but only the most rabid of the anti-MS bigots would suggest Windows was responsible for them. Going back a bit further, in the several years I ran Win 98 I only had one lockup that was not caused by either hardware issues or code I had written.

[Ted]

Windows Vista rulez!

Very few people appreciate the complexitiy and intelligence of the Microsoft OS'es. I'm glad that I do ...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/02/VistaKernel/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/03/VistaKernel/

[Padawan]

You must be careful though to not become one of those @sshole mac users who tries to push his OS on everyone else and looks down upon those that don't. This sort of mac user kept me away from macs for years. That and OS9 sucked.


I suppose that's true, but you also have keep in mind how many Windows users feel compelled to say to Mac users, "Macs are stupid" or "Macs are slow", or "Why would you want a Mac?"

You'd be surprised how often you get a response like that when someone asks you what sort of computer you have. And the fact is, it's often hard not to explain the virtues of Mac OS when a Windows user is experiencing some sort of problem or is talking about which anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-everything application is his or her favourite.

Oh, and while I agree that OS X is leaps ahead of 9, I wouldn't go so far as to say it "sucked", at least no more than the Windows version of the same era.

[Ted]

One thing that I'm pretty sure of is that if the installed base of Mac or Linux would be as big as Microsoft currently is, that they would experience the exact same problems. All operating systems are vulnerable to virusses (unwanted stuff in general).

[silverback]

One thing that I'm pretty sure of is that if the installed base of Mac or Linux would be as big as Microsoft currently is, that they would experience the exact same problems. All operating systems are vulnerable to virusses (unwanted stuff in general).
No argument here. No one ever said that OSX is bulletproof, I am aware that it's just that no one is taking aim at it. Regardless, let me state that my problems with Windows had nothing to do with Viruses. And please do not mistake my comments as attacks on Windows. It's not that I hate Windows, just that I like OSX so much. :)

[Slvgx]

I've only been a Mac user for 5 years, with the rest of my life being raised on Windows machines. I think most OS X users are Pro-Mac rather than Anti-Windows. They don't really HATE Windows, as most OS X users are not fortunate enough to have OS X at work, so they do experience Windows and do see it has some bonuses. I think the majority just feels they've "found" something better and wants to share that with friends. Some also get defensive because so many people have these preconceived notions of what a Mac is. People use a Mac for a few hours and think they understand the OS.

As for OS9, sucking? I don't think so. If you're going to compare OS X to OS 9, yes, but you're talking about different eras of computers.

[gordonk]

For me, being a software test analyst...it depends:) Desktop at work is XP/SP2, home - win2K. Test centre runs the gamut from Unix to WIN2K3 R2 64 bit depending on product. No immediate plans for Vista, though we've had it since pre-Beta - too much other stuff ahead of it.

- gord

[dedguy]

Guess I must be either very lucky, or just more sensible that some folks about what I download and install. Have been running Win XP since shortly after it was released and have never had an O/S related problem. Couple hardware failures, but only the most rabid of the anti-MS bigots would suggest Windows was responsible for them. Going back a bit further, in the several years I ran Win 98 I only had one lockup that was not caused by either hardware issues or code I had written.
System stability has a lot to do with how you use your computer. Your average web/Office user will experience far less in the way of issues than a gamer, graphic designer, video editor, etc. Those sorts of software are much more demanding to system resources than the sort of program the (now) average computer user uses. In the Windows 95 days I would experience occasional crashes, possibly once or twice a week. Windows 98 was *very* unstable crashing on me multiple times a day and requiring frequent reboots. Windows 2000/XP was a godsend and to this day a very stable OS as it was built on the bones of Windows NT which was always a far superior OS to the '95 family (95, 98, ME). Windows 2000 and XP I could run for months without a system crash. I don't know too much about Vista but my brief exposure with it trying to help my dad with his PC gave me the feeling of Windows 98 all over again.

As far as OS9 sucking for me that whole era was a dark period of Apple. Granted OS9 was better than 98 but I feel it was the Windows 98 of the mac world. It wasn't terribly stable and gave me an unexplainable icky frustrated feeling when trying to use it.

[The Deacon]

I suppose that's true, but you also have keep in mind how many Windows users feel compelled to say to Mac users, "Macs are stupid" or "Macs are slow", or "Why would you want a Mac?"

You'd be surprised how often you get a response like that when someone asks you what sort of computer you have. And the fact is, it's often hard not to explain the virtues of Mac OS when a Windows user is experiencing some sort of problem or is talking about which anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-everything application is his or her favourite.Funny, I rarely, if ever hear Windows users call Macs or Linux by disparaging names. On the other hand, it seems like almost every Mac and Linux devotee feels compelled to insult Windows. You need look no further that the OS names in this poll to see that.

[dedguy]

Funny, I rarely, if ever hear Windows users call Macs or Linux by disparaging names. On the other hand, it seems like almost every Mac and Linux devotee feels compelled to insult Windows. You need look no further that the OS names in this poll to see that.
I've been on both sides of the debate and there's plenty of name calling on both sides. I don't like to pick sides. I say use what you're comfortable with or what you need to use to get your job done. An operating system is just a tool to do things. It's not a way of life.

[The Deacon]

I say use what you're comfortable with or what you need to use to get your job done. An operating system is just a tool to do things. It's not a way of life.Amen to that! I must admit I envy those with enough "mental flexibility" to use more than one O/S regularly. Am having a hard enough time right now trying to work in both a procedural language and an object oriented one to further complicate my life. For the record, while not a gamer, graphics designer, or video editor, I do "play with" Oracle development tools at home, and they're both memory and processor intensive. Am rather amazed at how smoothly they run on XP-HE since they're not certified for it.

[dedguy]

Like I said, the NT based windows OS's are very stable. Windows 98 and ME where a nightmare though.

[Slvgx]

The last thing I'd call any Windows OS is stable. Some distros may be more stable compared to other Windows distros, but overall I would never say they are more stable than various Linux distros or OS X. I'd add that XP and Vista are major improvements over the past versions of Windows that subsequently lead me to look for alternatives.

I have Vista on my MacBook and I will say that I'd be overjoyed if I were a Windows user. Windows does have it's uses, as over 90% of the world uses it, there can't be anything catastrophically wrong with it.

As Ted pointed out, a major reason for less problems for Linux and OS X is the fact that 90%+ of the world uses Windows. Obviously you have less malicious people using Linux and OS X because you have less users total. You can't hold that against Linux or OS X though. That makes it all the better IMO.

[OuchThatsSharp]

Apple Man, through and through. 20 inch iMac running OS 10.4.8 Tiger.

[The Deacon]

Obviously you have less malicious people using Linux and OS X because you have less users total. You can't hold that against Linux or OS X though. That makes it all the better IMO.Or you have most, if not all of the maliciious people using Linux, OS X, etc, and having the good sense not to sh!t where they eat.

[Slvgx]

Or you have most, if not all of the maliciious people using Linux, OS X, etc, and having the good sense not to sh!t where they eat.

I suppose that's entirely possible too. I'm not sure of the numbers, or even if there are reliable sources that show the people who create malicious viruses etc., versus what OS they use. I doubt that most or all of the malicious people use alternative operating systems and are so disgruntled to the point they try and harm Windows. I'm sure it's happened, but saying most if not all is a bit harsh IMO.

It makes sense that Windows has to deal with more attacks than other operating systems. If someone had it in them to make some horrible virus, of course they'd want it to get to the most people out there, which is not going to be the few million Mac/Linux/BSD users, it's going to be the billions of Windows users. I just don't think you can hold that against OS X/Linux/BSD etc. That is a major bonus in my opinion. Most Windows users have gone through the ordeal of having to clean out viruses, spyware, etc. I know I read a survey recently, I wish I had the source, but it said the avg. Windows user spends about 10 hours a month trying to clean up the system from various things they picked up online over the month. In the 5 years that I've been running OS X I've never had a single virus or any spyware. I bet if OS X had 90% of the market, then I wouldn't be able to say that. But that's what I mean, you can't really hold that against the smaller operating systems, from a user standpoint it's great.

[dedguy]

The security of an OS is important but not the most important aspect for me. Ease of use and available software is. Something that is always brought up from a Windows perspective is how little software is available for the Mac OS. This may have been true several years ago but these days is only really true for some games and small software packages. The thing I rarely hear mentioned is all the great software that's only available for OS X. Applications like Textmate and Quicksilver I can no longer function without.

[Slvgx]

Quicksilver I can no longer function without.

How long have you been a QS user? It's by far and away my favorite app for OS X. I'd love to see Apple make the new Spotlight more like QS (a bit more efficient). Almost everyone I know IRL is a Mac user. As I've been a user for over 5 years, I've talked to my friends and let them play with my Mac until they bought their own, yet none of them will use QS. I may have even mentioned it to you on here before? It has a heavy learning curve, but I can't live without it. I even have a dedicated flash drive that I carry in my pack for when I go over to help out on a friend's Mac. I have different "levels" I use my computer at. When video editing/encoding I drop every app using resources that I don't need, and I can't bring myself to drop QS even then (it can be quite a resource hog). I LOVE LOVE LOVE QS.

[dedguy]

I've been using QS since I've been using macs (about 1.5 years). I can't really use a computer these days without QS. When I do I feel like an idiot.

[Gollum]

I've been using QS since I've been using macs (about 1.5 years). I can't really use a computer these days without QS. When I do I feel like an idiot.

NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!
Time for me to chime in.
I've had several "Mac Moments" since picking up a MacBook about 6 weeks ago and making a few upgrades: 160 gb hard drive and 2 gb's of RAM. Best computer I've ever owned. (been Mac for about 4 years).
Quicksilver was one of first of those moments, great program!!!
Got a new job recently that starts out with about 6 weeks of intensive training and I've discovered how easy to use and useful Keynote is as a study aid.
Just today as I was struggling with the clunky, bloated MS Word for Mac, I got frustrated and moved all my info over to Pages. First time really using it, and it has some great features I can really use.
Can't wait for 10.5, iWork 07, and iLife 07.

[Slvgx]

Just today as I was struggling with the clunky, bloated MS Word for Mac, I got frustrated and moved all my info over to Pages. First time really using it, and it has some great features I can really use.
Can't wait for 10.5, iWork 07, and iLife 07.

Check out NeoOffice, it's an open source free alternative to using MS Office apps.

[dedguy]

Pages is a better program for type-setting imo. Pages is almost more akin to something like InDesign than Word. Neo-Office is great because it's free and open source but it's bad because it's well... bad. It's okay for those rare moments when I need to open a spreadsheet but other than that I stick with Pages.

[The General]

Hmmm lets see, I use XP Home SP2, with Nod 32 and a good third party firewall.

It does not crash, it works perfectly, its reliable and it works. Yes it works.

I have no problems with it what so ever.

Why change? :confused:

Vista I will give a pass until its had at least its first or even second service patch... and I can afford to update the gaming computer.

[KSDbass]

I feel out of place, right next to Deacon. I've been running XP for 2, 3 years? I've had 2 viruses, not NEARLY enough spyware to make me even bother getting angry, I honestly don't know what a BSOD looks like, AND I'm a heavy gamer. My dad has a mac, I use it sometimes, and I still come back to XP. I installed a Linux partition which I forced myself to use, and I still came back to XP. It's very rare I don't heavily stress my system, and it runs like a dream.

My stance on Mac vs. Windows vs. Linux is different strokes for different folks. I like gaming, so I'll take XP. Dedguy likes photoshop and such, so he likes OSX. VampyreWolf wants XP without the spyware and stuff, so he likes Linux.

[steeltiger]

Dad set up linux for us in the house, much easier to operate than windows, dad runs on xandros, learned from a self taught computer_____ (don't know what you would call him) and robotics engenier that designs stuff for microcryslallography, even his job description is over my head, so please don't ask me exactly what he does.

[vampyrewolf]

My stance on Mac vs. Windows vs. Linux is different strokes for different folks. I like gaming, so I'll take XP. Dedguy likes photoshop and such, so he likes OSX. VampyreWolf wants XP without the spyware and stuff, so he likes Linux.

And I still managed to crash my laptop twice in 2 months with linux :p

Ubuntu 6.10 has optional drivers for 3D... apparently that starts with 64Mb cards, not the 16 I have.... found out after I changed my settings over that it wasn't supported :o

6.10 (edgy eft) has been out since october.... 7.04 (fiesty fawn) is still in development mode... rev 5 to be precise. 7.04 herd 5 didn't work with the automatic download/update from the terminal.... wouldn't mount my filesystem. Went back a kernal, got it booted, downloaded the sucker... reinstalled off a cd, it's running now, but missing a whack of drivers. Going back to 6.10 before I go to bed tonight. 7.04 isn't supposed to be out of alpha/beta testing till april 19th :rolleyes:

[catamount]

I am a Mac user, and have been for at least 10 years. I can't remember the last time I used Windows. The Mac OS is certainly not perfect, but I have absolutely no desire to try anything else.

For an interesting comparison, find an application, or peripheral driver software, where both Mac and Windows versions are included. Notice how long the Mac installation instructions are. Now look at the Windows section ;)

[The Deacon]

I am a Mac user, and have been for at least 10 years. I can't remember the last time I used Windows. The Mac OS is certainly not perfect, but I have absolutely no desire to try anything else.

For an interesting comparison, find an application, or peripheral driver software, where both Mac and Windows versions are included. Notice how long the Mac installation instructions are. Now look at the Windows section ;)Well, you did say you have not used Windows in a while. Any software I've installed in the last few years, either at home or at work, has either been - download the installer to the desktop, click on the icon, then drag and drop the installer to the recycle bin once it's done its job - or - put the CD in the drive and let the installer do its thing. You mean installing on a Mac is easier? Will check when I get to work but I could swear that out of 120 pages of "installation notes" for Oracle 10g, 100 or more of them are for Unix systems Does not run on Macs, so I guess the install instructions for it would be short and sweet - "DON'T!".

[Vincent]

i run freebsd

[dialex]

...For an interesting comparison, find an application, or peripheral driver software, where both Mac and Windows versions are included. Notice how long the Mac installation instructions are. Now look at the Windows section ;)
I'm afraid I don't get the point... :(

[Gollum]

I'm afraid I don't get the point... :(

I'll try and explain because this one of the major reasons why Mac is considered by many a more stable operating system.
When you install a Windows program, the installler makes changes (entries) to the Windows registry.
The registry is (using Wikipedia):

"The Windows registry is a database which stores settings and options for the operating system for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versions and Windows Mobile. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, users, preferences of the PC, etc. Whenever a user makes changes to Control Panel settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the registry."

The problem is the program you just installed is making changes to a major part of what the Windows operating system is using to run which can lead to stability problems.
Also, when you uninstall a program, entries to the registry can be left behind and cause stability problems.

In OSX, applications are installed (most of the the time) by simply dragging and dropping from a mounted image file or disc to your applications folder (or wherever you want) and you're done.
They can be thought of as operating independently or on top of the operating system rather than changing it, OSX has no registry.
When I said most of the time, some apps like Adobe use an installer to install the program and it's support files in a library folder called "Application Support" among others.
Again not changing anything in the operating system.
When you uninstall a program in OSX, you simply drag the app to the trash (if you installed it by dragging and dropping), or if it was installed using an installer, you use the installer to uninstall which simply removes the app and it's support files, which you can do manually if you know were to look.
Hopefully I explained this correctly, if not I'm sure someone will correct me.
All good just different, right?

[Chucula]

I use Win XP with sp2 purely for computer games.

Mac elitism...buh. If it wasnt for this, I would probably have a mac.

[Vincent]

here is nothing elite about OSX and OSX is nothing without freebsd.

[severedthumbs]

i have been running vista for a while now and have not had a crash yet. the whole elitist stance of the osx people really puts me off.

[dantecubit]

Currently using Linux. I like the free aspect of it (free as in free beer and free as in freedom), although a few things like printer drivers just don't work properly. If I had a ton of money to burn I'd buy a new OS X machine.

If Spyderco made operating systems they would be virus/spyware/crash free, come with free upgrades for 10 years and unlimited 1-800 # tech support.

[JD Spydo]

Whenever computer geeks start talking about Apple, I think of the Souhpark episode about the fart sniffers...ahhhh good stuff.

Zen you got my curiosity peaked :confused: What is it about APPLE computers that you find so appalling? I will admit that I have had limited use of them but the times I've used them I have been very satisfied with what I had to use them for.

I was actually thinking of getting one of their notebooks but I definitely want to hear both sides of the story before I do. The one thing that I don't like about MAC computers so far is the lack of availability of software and other accessories here in my area. And there doesn't seem to be very many retailers there to accomodate those needs ( at least that's the way it is here in the Kansas City Missouri area).

But the friends I have that use their equipment simply swear by it. Now I did get an update from a friend of mine who is an APPLE USER and has been for many years. He told me that he got his first virus in an e-mail here recently. Up till then he had never gotten a virus on an APPLE. But if there is something horrible about them please fill me in on the details because I would like to know :)