wilkes

I used to be a PC-only person until I installed Ubuntu on my PS3. Now I have a linux machine I use for my media server, and my windows machine I use to download most of the movies.

IMO, once you get used to the Linux/Unix interface, you probably won't want to go back.

First of all...a Mac IS a PC! This whole "Mac vs. PC" thing drives me nuts. Mac is an operating system, not a religion. It can be run on a PC (with a dongle that may be illegal). Windows can be run on a Mac as well. So it's Mac vs. Windows, not "Mac vs. PC". Still, that's the terminology everyone uses!

If you're willing to pay the "Apple Tax" (you realize you could have had more powerful PC hardware for the same amount of money, or PC hardware of the same power for far less), then go for it. Today's hardware is so powerful that, frankly, the differences in CPU speed etc. are largely meaningless to the average user. What matters is your computing experience. If you find this a more friendly environment, then good for you. It's certainly more secure (in terms of viruses, etc.)

I'll stick with Windows. The programs I use every day are mostly "Windows Only".

Beware that getting Linux to work with the wireless cards on many laptops is no trivial thing! But with a desktop, it pretty much works (accessing the internet via ethernet) with no tweaking.

I have no problems working on any of the three main platforms but I would not give up my Mac, ever.  It's not for everyone but I disagree that it's not for techies.  I have several cron jobs running on mine and routinely write korn shell scripts to perform various tasks to make my life easier.  Plus, there are things I can do from the terminal very simply that I would have seek out entire software apps to accomplish on the Windows platform.
The biggest issue on the Mac platform for some people seems to be either the lack of games or very specialized software that hasn't been ported yet.  If you don't have a need for either of those, a Mac can work for you.
One last thing, I keep all my Mac computers up and running for 100+ days at a time before a reboot and I actually use the machines heavily.  The only time I need to reboot the machines is if I install a major update.  This is something the linux community has been used to for awhile but Windows users rarely find this kind of stability when they tax their machines.

Thanks HN!

"it is free to download this OS right?"

The vast majority of Linux distributions are totally free. Ubuntu will even mail you a CD free of charge if you can't download the file.

"Can you take a computer that has windows on it and install Linux to change the OS?"

Yes. You can also dual-boot (ie have both Windows and Linux on a computer).

Linux question ... it is free to download this OS right? Can you take a computer that has windows on it and install Linux to change the OS?

Man, I hate system wars. If you want to do anything you want on a PC, do it. If you want to do anything you want on a Mac, study harder and don't give the cop out that you can't do it on a mac. Or Linux for you linux guys out there.

An article in the Winston-Salem Journal about Mac vs Windows laptops.

http://www2.journalnow.com/...

Note the conspicuous absence of Linux in the article, and how the article tends to equate PC with Windows.

http://blueridgeguy.googlep...

Gotta wait until the end for the good stuff.

It's worth it...

BMFB - If you love a mac, you are not a technical person

Eh? You think?

I consider myself a techie and i run both. I use my Mac for photography work.

Until the pc and mac merge, I'll never use a mac. *shudders* the ones i've tried using don't make any sense to a long-term advanced techie. pc's have a bad rap because they let you do anything you want, and people are generally ignorant and thus easily mess up these machines. macs know that people are ignorant, and that's how they approached their design and user interface, which is why people either love or hate them. If you love a mac, you are not a technical person, more an artist. not coincidentally, that's why mac machines and accessories look more like art than machines ;)

I think this might answer you question better.
http://antivirus.about.com/...

yea i would have to say that not quite right here is a list of some of the viruses.
http://antivirus.about.com/...
and here http://antivirus.about.com/...

Visit sites like www.TUAW.com and www.MacDailyNews.com. That's the best source of information on whether there are any viruses. It may happen, but so far Viruses have not been found in the wild. Trojans on the other hand are another matter. If you get those? Well, you did it to yourself and no virus protection can help you there.

yea read the link i posted

I have been wondering if I should protect my Mac with virus protection or not. Any suggestions welcomed!

I would like to re-word that, but its to bad this site will not let me edit a post.

the safety for other OS's is shrinking read this report from Techrepublic http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/...

Time for the resident Nix-head to chime in.

Mac is Linux that you have to pay for.

My opinion: You got hosed.