Making a switch...Mac for me...PC in trash

[racingpinarello]

After having a reputable computer store (John's favorite - Central Computer) build me a monster computer.

AMD 64bit 2.4ghz processor, ATI FireGL T2-128 video card, and 4mb of RAM I thought this would be the end of my computer needs. Alas... ATI sends me a new driver to update my video card and BAMM, no more computer. It corrupted my registry, and although they were able to fix it at a cost of $400 dollars, I'm done with PC's. Never touched the computer after I bought it to prevent owner created problems.

I believe it was bad Intel kharma because my mom worked for Intel for 25 years and it had an AMD chip. Now that Apple uses Intel chips I plan to make the switch. I'm tired of drivers, virus protection, and device conflicts. Since I don't use much software anyways it shouldn't be too painful to switch.

Just have to save some money....but I plan to buy a Pro Mac by the end of the year.

Sorry..I will put my violin down..

Loren

[mjs1973]

Once you go Mac, you'll never go back! I'm still a PC user at home, but I have been working on a Mac at my job since December. My current work machine is a G5 with dual 1.8ghz processors and 2.5 gigs of RAM w/ a very nice Apple monitor. In the 10 months that I have been working on a Mac, I have had it lock up on me to the point of shutting down the system once. I'm sure that it was something that I did to cause the machine to freeze up and not a problem with the machine. I have thought about making the switch myself, but it won't be in the budget anytime soon.

Just for kicks, I went to the Apple sight and build myself my dream Power Mac a couple weeks ago. I gave it the best of everything I could, including 16gigs of RAM and dual 30" monitors. The price came to over $16,000 by the time I was done! It's nice to dream.

[deckcadet]

Congratulations on making the decision to jump! You won't regret it.

There are a few stages for the experienced PC user, and what makes it MOST difficult is the nagging suspicion that there HAS to be something you're missing, it can't be that easy.

Trust me it is.

Join up on some mac forums (i frequent macrumors.com as Silentwave) and read the OS X tutorials on the apple website. there are a few programs you might want to get. I use Syngergy for a menubar iTunes remote, and Tigerlaunch for an easy drop down programs list. AppZapper is also good for removing programs and all the associated files.

You might want to hold off just a bit more on the Mac Pros, the next line of Intel chips will be out around the beginning of the year. I'm expecting the update no later than Macworld San Fran, in January. These are quad core chips, so you can have up to 8 cores running.

[schrackman]

I went Mac three years ago and haven't turned back. I will never own a PC again. You'll have to shoot me first. If PC works for others, I have nothing to say against them...but for ME, a Mac is the only way to go.

Gosh, now that I think about it, not only do I need a camera upgrade, I need to upgrade to a new Mac!

[Sebastian]

One word:

APERTURE

[jorgemonkey]

So, if ya are just gonna throw it in the trash, wanna send it my way? I'll find some good use for it

[Brian001]

i need to invest in a good desktop, i have a laptop i do all my work on...it works but i think i should head over to a tower and moniter.....ill also be investing in a mac within the year

[RP Racing]

Now that Apple uses Intel chips I plan to make the switch. I'm tired of drivers, virus protection, and device conflicts.

Just wait until macs marketshare increases. Then you'll have to deal with more viruses and malware. Macs are not immune. Just not as popular so the virus/script kiddie clowns dont bother with them as much. Same with linux.

$400 to fix a computer? What the hell did they replace? A local computer store did that to one of my uncles and his wife. CHarged them $400 and all they did was reformat it. Found that out when I went over to setup their new wireless setup. Found out the new laptop they bought (from the same place that fixed their computer) didnt have the Original quick restore disks (Acer). The store they bought it from gave them burned copies. I told her to go back and get the originals and if they give her grief, tell them then they can give her all her money back. $600 for a laptop and it BETTER come with ALL the original disks. Theres no legitamate reason they should be keeping any original disks for anything.

[racingpinarello]

Well I got news, and it's still not fixed. The video card went bad due to a corrupt device driver, and the power supply was underpower. I had an expensive video card so that's the big price.

If they cannot fiqure it out soon, I'm returning the items and selling the remaining parts.

It's true that Mac's are not immune to viruses but it seems that people want to bring down the Microsoft empire. I like Windows, just have some bad luck. My wife has a Mac and loves it, so it's in part to having the same platform at home.

Loren

[Photo-John]

Well I got news, and it's still not fixed. The video card went bad due to a corrupt device driver, and the power supply was underpower. I had an expensive video card so that's the big price

When I built my current computer the first component I chose was the power supply. That's one of places big computer companies cut corners and you never know until it's too late. So my current machine has a nice big power supply with a couple fans on it. I also bought the cheapest video card I could find since I can't see how it makes much difference unless you're doing video or playing games.

[freygr]

Well I got news, and it's still not fixed. The video card went bad due to a corrupt device driver, and the power supply was underpower. I had an expensive video card so that's the big price.

If they cannot fiqure it out soon, I'm returning the items and selling the remaining parts.

It's true that Mac's are not immune to viruses but it seems that people want to bring down the Microsoft empire. I like Windows, just have some bad luck. My wife has a Mac and loves it, so it's in part to having the same platform at home.

Loren

Well thats what you get from bad stores, and the macs are not immune form bad stores either. A driver can't make a video card bad, they mess of zapped it with static elect.... it only takes 25 volts with the newer ICs to send them to IC haven and you can't even feel the discharge and it doesn't even have to discharge it's the voltage feild that zaps the ICs. I would be complaning to the BBB, and just being nasty.

[racingpinarello]

Thanks for the information... even though I changed the powersupply to a 550W and bought a new video card (super cheap) the problem continues. Could the motherboard be zapped also?

[livin4lax09]

it's true that mac's aren't immune to viruses, there are less than 10 that effect os X though. os 9 has quite a few more than that. I like apple a lot, and currently have a macbook, 4 ipods, had a mac mini, before that a g3, and before that some grey mac tower. My parents currently have an imac g5, and before that a g4, and before that, some grey tower again. Been using mac since I learned how to use "paint" or the mac equivelant of it. That was before color printers were widely circulated! I know I know, I'm a young'n.

Though I will talk apple products up more than a lot of people you meet, I'm slightly frustrated with their service right now. My sister bought a macbook and got a free nano, and my parents had it delivered to their house and then shipped it to NZ for her. I decided a needed a laptop so I got the same combo. But now, about a month and a half after I sent the rebate in for the nano, I was told it was denied because I filled out the claim for my parent's house since I was living at home this summer. So I'm not out 180 dollars, and currently trying to get in touch with Apple, but have only succeeded in getting put on hold for a long time. I'm just pissed they didn't make it clear. If they change it, and send the rebate to my college address, I'll be even more happy. After all, I paid for all of my computer, and my parents paid for my sisters, so it's not like my parents are getting the rebate. Oh well.

Oh and I'm currently trying to dual boot windows vista and os x 10.4. I need to get an XP install disk though. like the ad says, it's really the only computer you'll ever need.

[Greg McCary]

What's it doing? If all else fails reload windows.
Another thing that I have found. If it works DON'T UPDATE IT.

[racingpinarello]

I've reformatted and put on a clean copy of XP Home. Problem still exists. Haven't touched anything else.

The video will get stuck, and then reboot. I get the error message, video device driver stuck..

I do agree with the don't fix it if it ain't broken theory...

Loren

[Greg McCary]

Do you have the original driver? Sometimes XP will try and load an in home driver other than than the one that the manufactor sends. Go into device manager and delete the current driver and then load the one that came with your video card. Don't let XP use it's driver, force it to take the other....