I have had two PC laptops in the past. The first went kaput a few days after the one year warranty lapsed. The keyboard went out on the second unit (an HP) about four months after I bought it.

I kept buying the PC laptops because they were inexpensive and could run my timeslips program. I stepped up to the MacBook Pro because of the reviews and my experience with Mac products.

There is simply no comparison. The Mac boots and shuts down about five times faster than the PC. The battery life is longer. Once you get the Mac scheme down, you can fly around the applications.

Two features that I especially like are the magnetic power plug and the lighted keyboard. The magnetic plug works well. I keep my MacBook plugged in on my den desk. My yellow lab will often come in to the den for a visit with the predictable tail wag (the one that will clear a coffee table of all breakable items). The tail hit the power cord and, because of the breakaway magnetic connection, the cord simply popped lose. The laptop did not move.

Self-employed for 5 years……

And I’m mostly sober…… 8^)

Two things to add. My last virus protection software was in last modified 1997.

What do you do for backup? It can be so much easier on the Mac, with many easy-to-use options. I would be happy to help you on that.

All that being said, switching will be harder than starting with a Mac. If you regularly use keyboard shortcuts, prepare to learn new ones. Window controls are different and in different places. The better you are at using a PC, the more jarring the transition will be.

I really hope you decide to get a Mac, we can use the market share. But be prepared, there will be bumps. The added cost will be offset by the longer life. My SE finally gave up the ghost, but I only replaced my G4/400 after almost 7 years because I wanted some newer software, mostly games, that the G4 couldn’t handle.

By the way, I turn 60 this month, so I bought myself a 24 inch iMac to celebrate. Good luck, whatever you decide.

I’m a hard-core computer guy. Programmer, administrator, etc. I use Linux, also, but my notebook is a Mac.

It costs a little more- if your time is worth nothing. Note, too, that when people compare price they always “forget” to throw in the anti-virus software and other junk that you have to buy for Windows to get it working.

Seriously, it just works. Go Mac, and you’ll never go back.

Last fall, when my wife’s 4 year old Dell desk top started to die AND my daughter’s 3 year old DELL Inspiron (already had a hard drive replaced) also started to act up I wanted something that would easy to use, trouble free and safe.

iMAC for my wife. iBOOK for my daughter.

iBOOK fast easy – my wife spends so much more time on the INTERNET saving us money. No viruses, no virus scan no ad ware.

iBOOK wonderful machine fast easy. Light.

Go MAC, let everyone catch up

Listening to a PC user is like trying to take the advise of a liberal. Windows is trying to become Mac OS like and they are better than it used to be, but far from being as intuitive or user friendly as the Mac. Forget the price, just do it. Just pay what it takes. I have and would in the future. Don’t care for Steve Jobs, but the product is wonderful.

Good luck.

Stay with the PC, but DO NOT USE VISTA! A buddy of mine just bought a new laptop. we immediately scrubbed the harddrive clean, partitioned it, and loaded Windows 98 Special Edition (probably the best edition of Windows ever released) AND Ubuntu. That laptop rocks!

Thanks for yer great work on this blog.
Take care,
n