posted on March 6, 2007 06:50:38 AM
A friend is computer-less, but has been chomping at the bit to get one. He wants it mostly for research, for emailing photos of things he has for sale, and not necessarily for eBay selling. Gateway has a laptop on sale for $499, which has Vista. Will he be OK with that for what he wants? I have to teach him, so will I be OK with that?
posted on March 6, 2007 07:07:37 AM
I purchased a new desk top computer which has the Vista Home Premium program. Works great! Especially digital camera loading of photos and burning to CD's and DVD's. Vista takes a little getting familiar the new graphics on screen. The help section that comes with the Vista program is most helpful too. I do recommend the Vista Home Premium program.
posted on March 6, 2007 08:32:09 AM
Sounds like your friend will be doing mostly online surfing and email. Despite Vista's claims to be better at security... most of the reviews have shown that there are some major shortcomings still.
My best recommendation would be to suggest an Apple. They do not have viruses, spyware or adware. Unless you want to be over at your friends every month cleaning up the MS problems... an Apple is a much better choice.
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posted on March 6, 2007 10:07:30 AM
Snork. Do point the way to a brand-new Mac laptop for $499. I'm sure lots of people would love to buy one, me included. My last one cost me $2199.
The problem with getting Apple religion is that it blinds you to the realities of other peoples' lives.
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Mar 6, 2007 10:08 AM ]
posted on March 6, 2007 10:26:18 AM
A friend of mine just got an apple computer for her children. It's awesome. There is no tower and the monitor has the camera built right in. Right now I have a Dell PC, but if I go the way of a laptop I will definitely be looking into a Mac.
My advice is to steer clear of Vista until all the bugs are worked out of it. Remember all the bugs with Win 98 and XP? Let those who are rushing to get the program onto their computers find all the bugs first.
I never said Apple computers would be $499. But then, I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. You can get Apple laptops starting at $1099 (or less if you have academic/government or other discounted pricing). It may be more expensive than the $499 bargain-basement laptop, but I can pretty much guarantee several things:
1) It will have higher quality components
2) It will have better support
3) It will have more features (both hardware & software)
4) It will WORK!!!!
When you figure that half the time working on a Windows computer is spent trying to figure out what's going wrong with the computer, investing in a computer that WORKS the majority of the time is worth it. Slowly people are beginning to realize this, as Apple's market share has been increasing lately.
And for the record... I'm not blinded to other people's lives. In fact, quite the opposite. I can guarantee brigittaw that if they are assisting a WINDOWS computer novice that they will have to provide a CONSTANT supply of support. With an Apple, I've taught many people how to use them, and within a month or less, they're completely self-sufficient.
So, you can either recommend a cheap computer, get a cheap product, and expect to pay/provide a lot of support. OR, you can invest a little money up front, get a quality product up front, and get something that will actually work. Not a tough decision for me... but to each their own.
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posted on March 6, 2007 11:18:13 AMWhen you figure that half the time working on a Windows computer is spent trying to figure out what's going wrong with the computer
Absolute nonsense.
Look, hon, I have a PC and I have a dozen Macs. I know whereof I speak. 85% of my workday is spent working on the PC because it is faster than any of the Macs, including the 1.5 Ghz PowerPC Mac Mini running OS X. I only bought that one because it was a Costco bundle and the price was too good to resist. (It's not like you see a bargain on a Mac every day.)
I do images on the Macs. That is what they are good at. For production auction listing, forget it.
Every time this topic comes up there are a half-dozen Mac addicts chiming in about how fabulous their computers are. Well, I'll tell you. 9 of my Macs are unplugged and idle because of various problems, mostly incompatibility between the OS they can run and the version of application software they'd need to run in order to be useful.
Apple has a horrendous record of quickly obsoleting their computers. When you make the hardware AND the OS, you have the power to do that ruthlessly. And they do.
For all the bad rap Bill Gates gets, Steve Jobs is much more of a tyrant.
A computer is a tool. It's not God-in-a-box.
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Mar 6, 2007 11:19 AM ]
I support a college campus with FAR more than the dozen computers you support. I can assure you that it has been OUR experience that the Apple computers work better, last longer, and are well worth any additional up-front cost.
Frankly, I don't care what YOU think (never have cared for your style of posts, nor your self-righteous attitude). Advice was sought in an area that I am a paid professional in. In the spirit of our community, I contributed my professional advice (free of charge, and nothing but well-intentioned). I am sure that birgittaw will assess any and all advice given while making their decision. If I did nothing else than help them consider an Apple, then I feel my post has been of help. Not sure if you can say the same about your posts... which seem to be simply used to antagonize.
Regardless, Cheryl's advice to stay clear of Vista 'till the bugs are worked out is excellent advice. Our campus will not be using Vista on college-supported machines for at least another year. There are already too many problems with it. If you must get a Windows computer, get an XP machine.
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posted on March 6, 2007 12:05:42 PM
I am familiar with Macs, since I was in publishing once -- excellent with graphics, no question.
Appreciate the comments on Vista -- that was my REAL question. Friend is not completely illiterate, and probably remembers some windows tricks, and it would make it simpler to talk him through any application over the phone if I'm on the same page. He really only needs basics at this point -- and wants to take it when he goes to auctions, stops at antique shops etc. I have a Verizon wireless card, and will probably suggest that he uses one also since mine worked fine at his (very rural) house and everywhere I go (except Alabama).
Anyone have an experience with any other providers' wireless services?
posted on March 6, 2007 02:00:13 PM
birgittaw wrote: A friend is computer-less, but has been chomping at the bit to get one. He wants it mostly for research, for emailing photos of things he has for sale, and not necessarily for eBay selling. Gateway has a laptop on sale for $499, which has Vista. Will he be OK with that for what he wants? I have to teach him, so will I be OK with that?
Vista should be fine as long as you are comfortable with it - since you'll be the teacher. If you are more comfortable with XP, then get a cheaper PC as some are on clearance.
fluffythewondercat wrote: 9 of my Macs are unplugged and idle because of various problems, mostly incompatibility between the OS they can run and the version of application software they'd need to run in order to be useful. Apple has a horrendous record of quickly obsoleting their computers. When you make the hardware AND the OS, you have the power to do that ruthlessly. And they do.
Complete FUD yet again from her fLufFness. I'm typing this on a beige Mac G3 (circa 1999) running the latest Mac OS X 10.4, yet also capable of running older Mac OS 8.x/9.x software from the early 90s. Yes, a computer is a tool - but only as good as the person using it
posted on March 6, 2007 03:32:25 PM
Birgittaw, the only advice I can add to this energetic group discussion is for you and your friend to stay away from anything that has Gateway printed on it.
I bought a mid-line gateway laptop and it is the shoddiest piece of junk I have ever owned.
I seriously use my laptops. They travel, are subjected to temp extremes and get plugged and unplugged multiple times a day since I no longer smoke in the house.
I have owned Toshibas that still looked new when they died of old age and Compaqs that were sturdy enough to last 3 years before I dropped them enough times to destroyed them. This Gateway started breaking down within the first 3 months. Weak keys, cheap finish that shows every scratch and the screen hinges broke after just 6 months. the cd tray has never stayed closed and the battery failed in the first 6 months. Fortunately most of the problems have been covered by the service warranty, but who has time to take their system into the shop and wait 3 weeks to get it back?
posted on March 6, 2007 03:51:25 PM
Actually, I think you're absolutely right about Gateway ... my mid-line one a few years ago had exactly those same problems. Exactly (except for the hinges!) Glad for the reminder! So we will take a look at another brand -- thanks!
posted on March 6, 2007 04:35:58 PM
Yep a lot more incompatibility in the new OS. I am sticking with XP I imagine for long time.
************** I married my wife for her looks, but Not the one she gives me lately!
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posted on March 6, 2007 06:06:06 PM
Hey Fluffy, just a thought. If you have a bunch of old Macs that can't run the latest OS X (for speed or graphics card or whatever your reason is), have you ever tried Linux?
Yellow Dog Linux works on Macs, even older ones. If you have several old flavors of Mac, you could theoretically install the same YelloW Dog Linux on all of them for consistency. You very possibly could run a modern, current operating system with all the latest doo-dads on your older machines.
Yes there is a learning curve. Yes there will still be software you cannot use. BUT you'll get additional useful life of the old machines with the many things they WILL be useful for.
I guess it really jsut depends on HOW OLD those machines are.
posted on March 6, 2007 08:42:20 PM
Interesting isn't it, that when somebody supports or recommends an Apple, we're branded as "Mac Addicts", yet the Pee-See crowd is allowed to recommend their lowball computers till they're blue in the face with no recriminations. I too have multiple machines here on the ranch. Macs and Linux machines run my business software and are connected to the internet 24 hours a day and have NO virus or malware protection. They don't need third party popup blockers or any of the other nonsense that our year old Windows XP machine needs. It has been taken off the internet due to it's chronic ability to contract every single infection out there. It's sole purpose these days is sitting around waiting for me to have time to install Linux on it and get rid of the last vestiges of anything even remotely related to Micro$oft.
I'll second eauction's recommendation. If your bottom line is a cheap computer out the door, you'll get what you pay for.If you want a cheap computer, buy the PC and you'll be happy. After all, misery loves company.
posted on March 6, 2007 08:48:40 PM
Second also to agitprop's refutation of fluffy. This message is being typed on a Blue and White Macintosh Yosemite G3 tower, purchased new in 1999. It runs the latest iteration of Apple's OS X operating system. In addition, I recently turned down an offer of 650 dollars for it, more than I could hope to get for the year old Dell that sits spinning it's wheels in the other room. It's been in continuous service since new. So much for Apple's quick obsolescence.
posted on March 6, 2007 08:54:19 PM
Meant to add: It will also run legacy applications that were written for Mac OS 8.6, an operating system that is nearly 10 years old. Try running your Windows 95 proggy's under Vista.
Oh, and BTW, my new MacBook laptop will dual boot Mac OS X as well as Windows Vista, which I have installed not because I ever plan to use it, just because I CAN.
posted on March 6, 2007 09:02:23 PM
OK - Apple may be the better technical product, but that does not corelate with the best buy and never has. If your needs exceed what is available through Microsoft - go Apple! Otherwise, accept the many benefits Windows/Vista offers and move on.
[ edited by pixiamom on Mar 6, 2007 09:03 PM ]
posted on March 6, 2007 11:02:26 PM
Someone recently - here?? - said to wait until the first service pack comes out for Vista before commiting any money to it. So. . . that's what we're doing in our house, sticking with XP for a while longer.
_____________________
People who want to share their religious views with you almost
never want you to share yours with them.
posted on April 9, 2007 07:28:41 AM
Since you all were so generous in sharing your opinions, my friend ended up with an Everex widescreen from Circuit City at $399 after tons of rebates. Great screen, good keyboard, and Vista. After a month, he is now quite comfortable with it and hasn't hollered more than once or twice, neither of which was about Vista. Suspect if you haven't used anything else, it is not puzzling. Perfect for what he needed, and not a bad buy.
I married my wife for her looks, but Not the one she gives me lately! 
[ edited by pixiamom on Mar 6, 2007 09:03 PM ]