Regardless of the price, I've heard the horror stories of both Macs and PCs. In the end, I say iWon't be buying one of these.

Apple does make good computers. I've owned a couple and appreciate the solid, quality design.

However, I speak with experience. Apples crash, too; and a lot of peripherals don't have drivers for MacIntosh.

The new iMac is great BUT WAIT until osX 10.5 comes out - then it will be THE hot-button PC competiton

it seems everyone knows the quote:

"Once You Go Mac, You'll Never Go Back" - Steve Jobs

iThink the new iMacs are great, but i wont be getting one for a while.
If you wait until October, osX 10.5 will have been released, making the new Apple computers run more smoothly and with newer features than the current release, 10.4. Oh, and by the way ANY Apple product will outcompare the PC knockoffs.

If you are upset about the price, look at it this way - you will not have to spend a day setting it up, it's as simple as opening the box and plugging it in, you wont need to make any calls to tech support - because it runs beautifully, and you wont be complaining about the newest virus - because Macs are virtually insusceptible to viruses, spyware and trojans.

If all of the above doesnt convince you, then go to the Apple website and watch the funny TV advertisements comparing the Mac to a PC.

And, I'm sure we've all heard the quote:

"Once You Go Mac, You'll Never Go Back" - Steve Jobs

Macs are great, if you don't want to do much on your computer. If you don't mind crap like bootcamp, and the fact you can only play several year old pc games on it, or like WOW mac edition, they're the computer for you.

But they sure look nice despite the lack of relative functionality.

James, I really hope you know that the Macs are nowhere near immune to getting viruses. Viruses on Macs aren't popular because, as of yet, Macs have not been as popular as PCs. This doesn't mean they won't soon put the PC into a race, giving it a run for its money... but at the same time, as the Mac grows more popular, so too will the amount of threats directed toward it.

Nothing in this world that draws this much attention is safe for long. There are people on this planet who live simply to ruin it for others and that is precisely what will eventually happen to the Mac once it becomes popular enough.

One more thing. The Mac vs PC commercials are all about bias. They ignore many of the better features of the PC in order to sell their own product. EVERYONE does this when in competition with someone; it's known as marketing. Marketing is ugly and unfair most of the time and Mac's commercials are no exception.

You should look up the other side to the arguement without taking a side. This way, you'll be able to see that both have their benefits and both have their misgivings.

At anyrate, I've said enough. :D

Why is it a selling point that macs can now use the programs PC has been able to use for decades?

Sounds to me like James is already on the bandwagon :p Anyways, to each their own.

Good points from Carolyn and Garet. Apple is, in a sense, playing catch-up with PC's so they figure they can get people to switch by making PC's (and ultimately you and me) seem "uncool". Personally, I get put off by those Mac commercials. Just tell me the pros of owning a Mac and spare me the mud-slinging.

Mac commercials are no different than political commercials. They always say how the opposition is so bad, but never how the candidate,who the commercial is for, is any good.

I personally enjoy those commercials for their humourous value... but they grate on me a bit as they make the PC seem so ungainly. Try watching the PC Version of the PC vs Mac argument on YouTube. Those commercials are hilarious... including the poking at Linux.

I read the various pros and cons from those above regarding an iMac or Macs in general and I can only say...buy what you want and live with the consequences. Personally, I found the comment regarding Bootcamp very stupid and ignorant. For those that do not know, Bootcamp allows a Mac to run Windows native to the machine just as it runs on a Dell or similar machine. Now how bad can that be? Furthermore, there are several emulator programs that run nearly as fast as Native (as with Bootcamp) but have the decided advantage of running BOTH WINDOWS AND MAC SOFTWARE AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME WINDOW! Folks try that with a PC! I never had OSX crash once since the second version came out in 2002..Occasional software crashes happen of course but it does not take the computer down and therefore the hard drives and so forth are unaffected. It is not perfect but pretty close. By the way...I still use a 2001 model for serious work.slowish but steady and stable and also have a year old laptop as well. I have used Macs since 1994 and would never go back to Windows...period.

Wow, it never ceases to amaze me how worked up people get over the Mac v. PC debate. To each their own. I have owned both and can see the value each. I have decided for my lifestyle and work that the mac best suits my needs. I have owned it for 4 years and it has never let me down. As stated previously everything just works straight out of the box. The integrated iLife makes sharing photos, and stories to family easy. Wireless connections are simple. No need for an IT degree.
The selling point Garet is the fact the mac can run BOTH OS's on the same machine. You can have the best of both worlds with a one time investment.
If you consider that most people use a computer for browsing the web, e-mail and basic word processing/ office functions then it really comes down to preference. Both machines will perform those functions very well.
While the mac isn't immune to viruses; as stated in a previous blog, they are less susceptable at his point because fewer people are writing malicious code for them. This means the average user doesn't have to worry about maintaining anti-virus software.
Try both and form your own opinion.

I used to think Macs were pretty ridiculous, but my wife bought one a few years ago and it really is better than any Windows machine I've ever owned. No more messing around with virus scanners, trying to find the right drivers to make your stuff work, reinstalling the OS every six months because something is irretrievably broken, cleaning out the spyware, etc. etc.

Garet is right insofar as there are not a lot of games for the Mac. If gaming is your thing, don't buy a Mac. Or if you do buy a Mac, buy a copy of Windows too and just reboot into Windows when you want to play games.

Carolyn is correct that Macs are not technically immune to viruses. Nothing is. But it is a fact that the first EVER virus for Mac OSX was discovered in 2006, and there has never been a major outbreak.

Somewheres along the line of:

Mac-Hey PC let's linkup through our network
PC-Sure!Great idea!
Linux-Hey guys can I join?
Mac+PC-NO!

And as a side note, I've made enough comments on MAC on the MAC blog. Not going to start rambling again.

I WANT TO KICK STEVE JOBS IN THE NADS!

The iKick!

I really despise reading comments on the lines of "Macs are less susceptible to viruses, PC's are." These comments show an absolute lack of understanding between the various components of a computer, the hardware, and its software. It is Windows that is susceptible to viruses, and, similarly, Mac OS that, apparently, is not susceptible to viruses, as yet (because viruses, being software, affect the coding, not the hardware). However, a so-called PC running a different operating system, such as, for instance, Linux, BSD or other UNIX variants has the same advantages... so if you're just buying a Mac because its 'not susceptible' to viruses, and it looks nice, you're likely being cheated of a good amount of cash. Like any decision, whether or not to by the so-called PC (by which we actually mean IBM compatible, which is the proper term) or Mac should be based on what you intend to use it for. And, Mac computers ARE PCs ... according to the definition any desktop computer, terminal, laptop, palmtop, and even cell-phone or microwave is a PC...

A computer is a mechanism which provides a platform for tools (software or hardware) to be used to create a product or provide a service.

Buy the right tool for your need first, your wants second and you'll be happier for it.

C= Amiga Forever!
8P

I use both a Mac and a Windows machine, and I much prefer the Mac. Essentially, as the marketing says, it just works. Yes, there are occassional crashes and issues. However, it is FAR more stable than Windows.

Also, there is far less tinkering that needs to be done with the OS to keep the computer running smoothly. On my Win PC I found that I was spending too much time on maintainance tasks (virus checks, spyware checks, defrags, etc, etc) when I really just wanted to focus on doing what I needed to do.

I think a lot of the people who prefer Windows are the type that like to tinker with their computer.

Garet, you're dissing a book you've never read.

Naturally! Windows has been around MUCH longer, so it has gone through many more tinkerings than the MAC, which already knows basically what people want, thus delivers. It's not super popular, thus it isn't being taxed upon so much by the stresses that are most definitely going to come get it.

Erika, we've all been to elementary school, and as such, had enough experience with Macs.

But I used them for graphic arts a few years back. That and music are about all they're more useful for.

I only have one thing to say about Macs,

Macs Rule PC's Drool. I had a Mac years ago and I am considering going back over again I just need to save up a little bit more money.

As a graphic artist, I have to agree with Garet. MACs work beautifully with simple programs... but they go straight to hell in a hand basket when you think of using them for a more complex program. That fancy handle on the MAC? More than once I've contemplated if it was made just for graphic artists who've got the urge to lob the thing at a brick wall.