Dumb Mac question

[displace]

My laptop is almost kaput. I'm pondering a new laptop computer for Thanksgiving sales. We have Apple phones and iPads, first because of popularity, now because of a lot of things for print disabilities are incorporated.

 

On my PC laptop: DS does some school work (typing, sometimes science, documentaries, audiobooks). I watch DVDs (haha, I don't have time for that!), record portfolio for homeschooling on OneNote, use Word, and sometimes PowerPoint, plus internet and photo storage. Most documents I open are pdf but I do have a specialty program for copywork (startwrite for HWT printwork- windows only), and I do taxes, which should be fine.

 

Should I stick with a windows based computer? Can I do most everything on a Mac? The laptops I get tend to only last a couple of years. They are flimsy lasting but expensive. I hate how they work and break (slow, mostly). Will it be a pain to try to convert things to a Mac? I'd really love an iPad to do everything on, but I'd have to set up a keyboard, an external DVD player, etc. I doubt that'd be worth it...

 

Anyone make the switch and regret it? Anyone keep a PC windows who did research and knows it would be a mistake? Are there any laptops that are reliable?

Edited November 19, 2017 by displace

[mamaraby]

I do everything you listed in your post on my Mac. Dh makes presentations for work in Keynote on the Mac and saves them in Powerpoint form to use at work without any issues.

 

It took very little time to move files over from my Dell to my Mac. My mom had more difficulty because she decided to ignore what I told her to do and used some option her Mac gave her which maybe works for other people, but was disastrous for her. I put my files from my PC that I wanted on an external hard drive. I plugged it into my new Mac, copied them over, and five minutes later I was done.

 

Get the Mac. My old Dell is still sitting in my bedroom closet from when we put it there such a long time ago just in case. I never needed it and now I don’t know how to securely get rid of it nor do I know if it will even start up.

 

The only exception I know of is Quickbooks. I have sometimes considered starting a side hustle as a bookkeeper, but word is Quickbooks on the Mac is not compatible with the PC versions.

Edited November 19, 2017 by mamaraby

[Jann in TX]

I have never regretted my switch to Mac.

 

I host online meetings, make powerpoints (usually in Keynote then save as powerpoint)... I use Pages to create my word documents (can open and save as Word if need be).  I have my photos organized with Photos... I also use QuickBooks-- but the newer "QuickBooks Online"... so my bookkeeper sister can help me using her Windows PC. 

 

Macs are not 'gaming computers'-- but they are extremely reliable! 

[Lanny]

Our family buys Refurbished or Used (Incomplete) "Enterprise" grade Dell Laptops. They certainly last more than 2 years. I think the one I am using at this moment was assembled in 2010?  Enterprise grade machines are designed for, and sold to, Corporate and Government customers. They are not sold in Retail Brick & Mortar stores. Those machines are "Consumer" grade, which is a lower quality machine.

 

The first 3 Dell Laptops we bought were Refurbished Dell Latitude E6400 machines, from Blair Technology Group, in KY. Blairtg.com  Blair is a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher and the machines they sell have a New, Fresh, Legal copy of Microsoft Windows on them. When we bought those machines (2 in 2014 and 1 in 2015 I think) they had a one year warranty on everything except the battery. I think now their warranty is very short, 30 days or so, but you can pay them  extra for a longer warranty. We have a very good impression of Blair Technology Group and their Support. 

 

Good luck, with whatever you decide to buy!

 

Note: We do have 2 "Consumer" Grade Laptops in the house. The newest one is an ACER Mini Laptop my wife bought for DIL to carry around in her backpack when she works so she has it when she goes to school at night. Works fine. it is 2+ years old.  My Stepson bought a Dell Inspiron Laptop, Used. I think that was about 6 or 7 years ago.  Both machines work.

 

ETA: We have 6 Dell Enterprise grade Laptops in the house. 5 are Dell Latitude models (E6400 and E6410) and one is a Mobile Workstation, a Dell Precision M4500, which is like a Latitude E6410 on Steroids.

Edited November 19, 2017 by Lanny

[Nemom]

I switched to a MacBook Pro exactly a year ago.  Oh my gosh, I have never looked back.  There is absolutely nothing that I miss from my windows based systems. 

 

I initially bought one to share with my two kids who had used them in public school and swore they were so much better.  I never believed them.  Within two months, I had purchased one for each of us.  

 

 

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

You can do all the things on a Mac as well. 

 

Some individuals have a small learning curve getting used to where everything is on a Mac but since you use iDevices already I don't think it'll be steep.

[zimom]

I second what everyone else has said.  The only thing I will add is that I am still a fan of Office products, Word, Excel, etc., over the Mac equivalent (Pages, etc.) so I chose to pay the $10 a month subscription to keep using them on my Mac.  There may be other options besides the monthly subscription program.  For $10 a month I am able to keep the Office products on all my home computers.

[Janie Grace]

I second what everyone else has said.  The only thing I will add is that I am still a fan of Office products, Word, Excel, etc., over the Mac equivalent (Pages, etc.) so I chose to pay the $10 a month subscription to keep using them on my Mac.  There may be other options besides the monthly subscription program.  For $10 a month I am able to keep the Office products on all my home computers.

 

I agree with all of this. The Office for Mac stuff is great. My MacBook Air doesn't have a DVD drive but I don't miss it. We stream everything and dh's MacBook Pro has a DVD drive if we really wanted to try to watch one of our old (probably scratched) movies.

[domestic_engineer]

The newest version of Startwrite is only for Windows. I don’t think they are developing new versions for Macs.

[PeterPan]

Yeah, the issue is going to be your disability software. Everything else, sure it will be a joy on a mac. You don't have included dvd players anymore on any laptop. You either stream or you buy a USB drive to play it. They're $28, easy peasy.

 

What software does he use for his work? That's what I would check. As long as you're a go there, you're golden. And I'm asking what software you're using, because then I could use your list to see what I should be doing. :D

[Alessandra]

I can't imagine going back to a PC. I switched to a Mac about nine years ago.

 

If a desktop Mac is a possibility, look at those. The big screens are wonderful.

[Sandwalker]

I like Linux machines: cheaper, faster, less bloat, less spying.

[DawnM]

My macbook is dying.  I am trying to make it last for another year, but I am not sure it is going to make it.  It is an early 2009 version.

 

I will replace it with another macbook.  No way I am switching to a PC.  

 

 

[zimom]

For a desktop Mac, look at the Mac mini.  Much, MUCH cheaper then the other Mac desktops and then you add whatever monitor you want.   I have a Mac mini with external hard drives plus other extras and then Mac laptops.  

 

If you have the need for a DVD drive for your laptop, it is an easy fix of an external DVD drive at around $25.