Guest Peter F Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Hi All, Please could someone help. I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for my son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac as opposed to Windows.? I have no idea what apple/mac is. Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two companies, systems, applications? Kind Regards. -- Flinty
Guest Richard in AZ Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac The Apple Company makes computers (MacIntosh - - MAC) that use entirely different Operating System. At this time, their system is totally proprietary and there are no clones. You must buy from Apple and you will pay a premium for these units. You will also have to buy software written for the MAC, Windows based software will not generally work on them. Apple computers have less than 10% of the world market of computers. That being said, they do make a very good computer and good software is available for them. If you ask which is better, Windows or Apple, it would be like asking a Ford dealer and a GM dealer which has the best car! The opinions are slanted to say the least. "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for my > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac as > opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? > > Kind Regards. > > > -- > Flinty
Guest R. McCarty Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac Apple is the company name. Years ago Apple produced a computer called a Macintosh ( type of Apple, get it ? ). It is now generally truncated to just a "Mac". Apple computers use an operating system called OS X. This would be the direct comparison between OS X and Windows. A notebook from Apple will be called a Mac Book. Apple is OK as long as you can afford it. There's a fair bit of status symbol associated with Apple products. Would be worth a trip to Best Buy to see/try out Apple PCs now that Best Buy has a new working relationship with them. Just look for the giant Apple display - won't be hard to find. "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for > my > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac > as > opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? > > Kind Regards. > > > -- > Flinty
Guest DL Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac You need to find what if any requirements the school has first, as generally an Apple requires Apple specific software. i.e. First you find what software is required / recommended / used then you find the PC to run it - not the otherway round Be aware that in certain circles having a Mac is no more than a Fashion Statement. Also unless you are a money no object type of person the latest all singing & dancing laptop is almost certainly OTT for secondary school. Another thing to consider, Laptops in a school environment are fragile items, that dont take kindly to bashing around. "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for > my > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac > as > opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? > > Kind Regards. > > > -- > Flinty
Guest HeyBub Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac Peter F wrote: > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) > for my son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to > me that he would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is > what is Apple/Mac as opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? > > Kind Regards. He has been captured by a cult. You should investigate a de-programming camp. Apple has about 7% of the installed computer market and for the things it does, it does them pretty well. It just doesn't do a whole lot. Used to be, Apple was the system of choice for graphics-intensive application and the PC was the number cruncher. Artists vs accountants. In the intervening years, Apple has gotten better at so-called commercial applications and WinTel machines(Windows/Intel) have gotten MUCH better at graphics. Apple/Mac is a closed platform. All the hardware comes from Apple and so does virtually all of the software (although Microsoft wrote most of it). Comparing the two is like comparing, um, Tiffany's and WalMart. Still, with a high-school boy, forcing him to use a PC when all his peers are using Macs would be like making him remove his nose ring. He'll be an outcast and joining the Marine Corps instead of being a drop-out and joining the flower people.
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for > my > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac > as > opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. Apple is the company, Mac is the computer. The laptops are called MacBooks and MacBook Pro. http://www.apple.com/mac/ The operating system today is Mac OS X (X meaning version ten, specifically 10.5 or "leopard"). This is apparently based on a version of Unix. Mac is short for Macintosh. > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? Apple is the *only* manufactuer of both the Mac and its OS. This is extremely unlike the history of the PC, where the main developer, IBM, released the system hardware specifications in the early eighties. This allowed other companies (and individuals) to easily make compatible hardware and caused their market to not just grow, but explode in size; not only can you get thousands of different brands and types of PC, they can all run many different operating systems - but not the Mac OS. Apple kept their secrets close and thus stayed small to the point of being marginalized. What saved them, probably, was the iPod. Until recently, Apple used non-intel processors, but now have shifted to Intel systems, which allows new Macs to also run Windows. Macs are most commonly used in arts contexts, where sound and graphics are important. However, most standard business applications are available for both Macs and PCs. You will find all the word processors and spreadsheets and browsers you need. And it will be easy to record audio and video; because Apple development is done in such a small circle, compatibility tends to be high. You do want to take some quality reviews of the particular models you're looking at. Some laptops, and this applies to non-Macs too, can get *very* hot, and this can be a problem. Macs tend to be focused on "ease of use", which can sometimes be frustrating for those who want more control over the system. For a long time, Mac mice had *one* button, which to me is an indication of the kind of restrictions Apple intends to place on users. But that could just be me; I use a command line pretty frequently. For school use, Macs are just fine, and in some ways are better - there are fewer (which does not mean none) viruses and assorted malware targeting the Mac OS, so you may find that when your son is out chatting and browsing and downloading - and be sure that this will happen - there is less chance of system-damaging infections. But this does not mean that there is no chance of such things. The word processing programs you get for the Mac need to be able to save in the same document formats that PCs use. This is *easy* to test for; write something, save it, open it on a PC with MS Word installed. If it opens, it's fine. I would suggest that you ask the school for their recommendations on Macs and PCs. It's likely that they will list both, which means that either is acceptable. In the end, what is important is that the computer can do what it is intended for, that the applications needed are available, and that the user is comfortable with the system. Hope this helps. -pk > > Kind Regards. > > > -- > Flinty
Guest PA Bear Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac I can assure you that your son knows the difference, Peter. Have you asked him? His teachers? -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User) AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.org/ Peter F wrote: > Hi All, > > Please could someone help. > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for > my > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac > as opposed to Windows.? > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > companies, systems, applications? > > Kind Regards.
Guest Peter F Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac Hi All, Thanks very much for all your replys. They have all been informative and interesting. I like what was said when the comparison was of Tiffanys - Wallmart :). Anyway still undecided what to do. I will start pricing up on the internet soon. Once again, thanks very much for taking the time out to reply to my questions. Kind Regards. -- Flinty "Patrick Keenan" wrote: > "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... > > Hi All, > > > > Please could someone help. > > > > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) for > > my > > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that he > > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is Apple/Mac > > as > > opposed to Windows.? > > > > I have no idea what apple/mac is. > > Apple is the company, Mac is the computer. The laptops are called MacBooks > and MacBook Pro. > > http://www.apple.com/mac/ > > The operating system today is Mac OS X (X meaning version ten, specifically > 10.5 or "leopard"). This is apparently based on a version of Unix. > > Mac is short for Macintosh. > > > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two > > companies, systems, applications? > > Apple is the *only* manufactuer of both the Mac and its OS. > > This is extremely unlike the history of the PC, where the main developer, > IBM, released the system hardware specifications in the early eighties. > This allowed other companies (and individuals) to easily make compatible > hardware and caused their market to not just grow, but explode in size; not > only can you get thousands of different brands and types of PC, they can all > run many different operating systems - but not the Mac OS. > > Apple kept their secrets close and thus stayed small to the point of being > marginalized. What saved them, probably, was the iPod. > > Until recently, Apple used non-intel processors, but now have shifted to > Intel systems, which allows new Macs to also run Windows. > > Macs are most commonly used in arts contexts, where sound and graphics are > important. However, most standard business applications are available for > both Macs and PCs. You will find all the word processors and spreadsheets > and browsers you need. And it will be easy to record audio and video; > because Apple development is done in such a small circle, compatibility > tends to be high. > > You do want to take some quality reviews of the particular models you're > looking at. Some laptops, and this applies to non-Macs too, can get *very* > hot, and this can be a problem. > > Macs tend to be focused on "ease of use", which can sometimes be frustrating > for those who want more control over the system. For a long time, Mac mice > had *one* button, which to me is an indication of the kind of restrictions > Apple intends to place on users. But that could just be me; I use a > command line pretty frequently. > > For school use, Macs are just fine, and in some ways are better - there are > fewer (which does not mean none) viruses and assorted malware targeting the > Mac OS, so you may find that when your son is out chatting and browsing and > downloading - and be sure that this will happen - there is less chance of > system-damaging infections. But this does not mean that there is no chance > of such things. > > The word processing programs you get for the Mac need to be able to save in > the same document formats that PCs use. This is *easy* to test for; write > something, save it, open it on a PC with MS Word installed. If it opens, > it's fine. > > I would suggest that you ask the school for their recommendations on Macs > and PCs. It's likely that they will list both, which means that either is > acceptable. > > In the end, what is important is that the computer can do what it is > intended for, that the applications needed are available, and that the user > is comfortable with the system. > > Hope this helps. > > -pk > > > > > Kind Regards. > > > > > > -- > > Flinty > > >
Guest RJK Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Re: Apple/Mac Worth consideration is the fact that the VAST range of application software written for MS Windows will not run on an Apple/MAC. ....and there is a whole galaxy of career opportunities in the IBM PC compatible / Windows arena, when compared to Apple ! Very strangely, I think the BBC makes side use of Apple's, what a GROSS waste and abuse of t.v. license payers money ! ....then there's that strange thing called Linux ! ...I understand the some of the UK Police systems use Linux because it's supposed to be more secure, ....cough !!!! regards, Richard "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:D91E8093-DD52-4DBF-BEFF-7C040631065B@microsoft.com... > Hi All, > > Thanks very much for all your replys. They have all been informative and > interesting. I like what was said when the comparison was of Tiffanys - > Wallmart :). > > Anyway still undecided what to do. I will start pricing up on the internet > soon. > > Once again, thanks very much for taking the time out to reply to my > questions. > > Kind Regards. > > -- > Flinty > > > "Patrick Keenan" wrote: > >> "Peter F" <PeterF@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:CAB21681-38FC-4554-9A21-F52D27625C63@microsoft.com... >> > Hi All, >> > >> > Please could someone help. >> > >> > I am in the process of trying to identify the best solution (Laptop) >> > for >> > my >> > son who has just started secondary school. He has explained to me that >> > he >> > would like an apple laptop, what i wolud like to know is what is >> > Apple/Mac >> > as >> > opposed to Windows.? >> > >> > I have no idea what apple/mac is. >> >> Apple is the company, Mac is the computer. The laptops are called >> MacBooks >> and MacBook Pro. >> >> http://www.apple.com/mac/ >> >> The operating system today is Mac OS X (X meaning version ten, >> specifically >> 10.5 or "leopard"). This is apparently based on a version of Unix. >> >> Mac is short for Macintosh. >> >> > Would-could someone explain what the difference is between the two >> > companies, systems, applications? >> >> Apple is the *only* manufactuer of both the Mac and its OS. >> >> This is extremely unlike the history of the PC, where the main >> developer, >> IBM, released the system hardware specifications in the early eighties. >> This allowed other companies (and individuals) to easily make compatible >> hardware and caused their market to not just grow, but explode in size; >> not >> only can you get thousands of different brands and types of PC, they can >> all >> run many different operating systems - but not the Mac OS. >> >> Apple kept their secrets close and thus stayed small to the point of >> being >> marginalized. What saved them, probably, was the iPod. >> >> Until recently, Apple used non-intel processors, but now have shifted to >> Intel systems, which allows new Macs to also run Windows. >> >> Macs are most commonly used in arts contexts, where sound and graphics >> are >> important. However, most standard business applications are available >> for >> both Macs and PCs. You will find all the word processors and >> spreadsheets >> and browsers you need. And it will be easy to record audio and video; >> because Apple development is done in such a small circle, compatibility >> tends to be high. >> >> You do want to take some quality reviews of the particular models you're >> looking at. Some laptops, and this applies to non-Macs too, can get >> *very* >> hot, and this can be a problem. >> >> Macs tend to be focused on "ease of use", which can sometimes be >> frustrating >> for those who want more control over the system. For a long time, Mac >> mice >> had *one* button, which to me is an indication of the kind of >> restrictions >> Apple intends to place on users. But that could just be me; I use a >> command line pretty frequently. >> >> For school use, Macs are just fine, and in some ways are better - there >> are >> fewer (which does not mean none) viruses and assorted malware targeting >> the >> Mac OS, so you may find that when your son is out chatting and browsing >> and >> downloading - and be sure that this will happen - there is less chance of >> system-damaging infections. But this does not mean that there is no >> chance >> of such things. >> >> The word processing programs you get for the Mac need to be able to save >> in >> the same document formats that PCs use. This is *easy* to test for; >> write >> something, save it, open it on a PC with MS Word installed. If it opens, >> it's fine. >> >> I would suggest that you ask the school for their recommendations on Macs >> and PCs. It's likely that they will list both, which means that either >> is >> acceptable. >> >> In the end, what is important is that the computer can do what it is >> intended for, that the applications needed are available, and that the >> user >> is comfortable with the system. >> >> Hope this helps. >> >> -pk >> >> > >> > Kind Regards. >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Flinty >> >> >>
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