a very good thought..i believe in MAC.

MAC is a good religion. it has culture and beauty. and it has length; it has been around for a very long time, over thirty years. g-ds come and go. do you remember Acer and IBM? but MAC is still around.

I have faith. i was converted in the early 1980s when the mouse first came out. But i was not converted. i had no faith.

simply put, the MAC is for the faithless, for the ignorant for the idiot. And that is what i am, faithless. it is a church for the lost and the MAC allows us faithless to do what we need to do. the MAC creedo "is for all the others" and i am in bliss that MAC works for me. with ignorance i can "copy and paste," transfer files to disks (now thumbdrives) and burn CDs.

MAC is layed out for the clueless (g-dless). i just want to useI can find everything and it is in my native language, english not greek-talk.not " to boot up"...."control-alt-delete," or "do not use upper case letters" which is nonsense.

I had mp3 players. they were unusable. too much trouble figuring out how to load and unload songs. these manufactoring g-ds treat like i am stupid,but when the MAC iPod came out, i was in the light. it just worked...easy to load and unload music; i could choose any song to listen quickly.

when i got my cell phone. it was hard just to get my messages. so many layers of buttons to push. but the iPhone is for the faithless. it is for the ignorant. it is labeled and easy to use.

thanks for your article. MAC is a church for those with no computer language skills. it is a religion that allow users harmony and hours of painless use.

DO you want to get work done? Or do you want to tweak and fuss with your computer. If the former, get a Mac. If the latter, get a PC. I am a gardener. I long ago gave up raising roses, pretty though they be, because they were as much work to tend as having another child. I switched to hostas, which are not as pretty are incredibly hardy and just grow. A PC is like a rose (only not as attractive), fussy and difficult to maintain. A Mac is like a hosta, it just grow (or works). A MacBook or MacBook Pro sounds like what you need.

Not religious, but definitely a believer. :)

I prefer Macs over Windows machines because OS X stays out of my way when I want to work. Windows has never felt like an end user product to me with its file system, excessive alerts, and clunky interface.

You can get the best of both worlds on one machine: Leopard, arguably the most modern OS around, and Windows, if you find a vital application that just doesn't run on the Mac. I prefer Parallels over Boot Camp, mainly because I'm too lazy to reboot and I usually only go into Windows to keep with the latest weekly security updates.

If you're used to MS Office, I would suggest going with NeoOffice. Free and easy. Otherwise, go with iWork. At $79 it's a bargain and opens you up more creatively than Office ever will.

From your description, a mid-range MacBook would probably work very well. I would suggest adding iWork '08 and the AppleCare policy to any purchase.

Additional RAM is easy to install, but should never be purchased from Apple.

Good luck!

I've used Windows, Linux, and Mac as my primary OS at different points over the years. They each have their own costs and benefits and those vary from person to person. I'm now a dedicated Mac user (though I use Windows at work along with my Mac). When people ask me what to get I ask them about what they plan on using it for, what existing software they have and what platforms is it available for, what software they would like to get in the future to run, etc etc.

The experience you had with the iPod may be indicative of the experience you would have with a Mac, but I've known people who just couldn't adapt to the Mac interface and opted to stick with Windows. Nothing wrong with that, the computer is a tool and you use the tools that work best for you. Since it sounds like you have access to a Mac to play around with, I'd recommend at least spending a long weeked doing everything on the Mac that you normally do on a PC and see if you'd be comfortable switching over to it.

Oh, here I am again.

Mac or PC? Eee PC!!

By the way, why is this Wired blog on PBS.org? Isn't PBS that American public service thingamagic?

We've got an iMac at home, and I use a PC at work. Even though I'm a chemist, a lot of our friends are designers and artsy types :) They definitely prefer the Mac and are part of the converted (and can be scary at times).

For me as a scientist, I look at a computer as another tool. In grad school, you may want a better [fill-in-the-blank], but you go with what you've got and make it work. The same has held true for me working in industry. The car will drive me from A to B. Just me being pragmatic.

Given the choice and no money restraints, I'd probably go with the Mac - a MacBook or MacBook Pro like AJ says. You'll probably pay a little more upfront, but the ease of use should be worth it. Also, doesn't Windows Vista run faster on a Mac? ;-)

If you do purchase one, then you should probably buddy up to at least one of the converted. They're not all zealots.

another MAC vote here. Very easy to use without a lot of tech support.

e.

Macs are overpriced PCs now. Get a PC and dual boot windows and Ubuntu. Windows is nice to have for compatibility reasons, and Ubuntu screams and looks pretty...especially once you learn to really customize it. If you want to overpay for a computer, ESPECIALLY for RAM, buy a mac.

If you're set on OS X, check out the OSx86 project.

Jimny,

Wired Science is a series on PBS (Public Broadcasting System).

I see you brought out the MACaphites.

I'm not sure in the correlation between cost and Apple, similarly equipped PC and MAC laptops have similar pricing structures. Although, yes, it is possible to buy bare-bones or bottom-market PC laptops at a much lower price.

Neither a Mac nor a PC are inherently "more efficient at getting work done" (show me multiple, peer-reviewed studies proving either). A person may be more familiar with one environment over the other, or it may play to their particular needs better.

So, the questions are:

1) Do you want to learn a new operating system, or would you rather stick with the familiar?
2) Is there software that you use that only works in one operating system or another?
3) Do you have an urge to use all sorts of peripherals from all sorts of different manufacturers?*

Ok, those are the primary functional questions, now here are the perceptual ones:

4) Do you think one company's machines look/feel/smell better than another?
5) Do you feel that one community of owners would be more receptive to you than another? (Support, customization, etc.)

I think those four simple questions really lay it all out. Seriously, the hardware's pretty much the same across the board, your software and aesthetic needs should be the deciding factor.

I like thinkpads because they're black, sleek, and have biometric security built-in. (On-board chipped integrated with OS, vs. some add-on from a third party.)

I like toughbooks because they make me feel like a man.

I think apples are cute (clearly I haven't drank enough of the kool-aid).

* - apple is notorious for limiting support of 3rd-party hardware.

A few remarks. First, to the first poster, it's Mac, not MAC. And it's an Apple iPod, not a MAC iPod.

The problem with Apple products is they are highly and hugely proprietary, way more so than Windows can ever hope to be. As a so-called hardware enthusiast (I build my own computers), the choices are virtually boundless when it comes to what processor, hard drive, video card, etc. one wants to use. You can even pick your own case to suit your aesthetic needs. With Apple products it's only what Steve wants you to have.

Furthermore, many, many of the so-called Windows annoyances can be alleviated with a few simple tweaks or configuration settings. It's not too difficult to figure out.

I'd suggest buying the parts yourself and learn how to build your own. You can put together a system that's just as stylish and personal, if not more so, than a Mac. This skill would also be a great asset to have and would make you more familiar with computers in general.

However, it seems you are in need of a laptop and you can't, as yet, build your own. In that case, there are some really solid brands out there (to the guy who said "remember IBM and Acer?", I do. I'm typing this on an Acer lappy and I work for Big Blue. We do just fine.) and I think you'd do very well with another mid-range Tosh, Dell, or HP machine.

And since Christmas is around the corner, I suspect you will find some killer deals on a new lappy this weekend. Hit the stores or head online and look around. I think you'll be pleased. Good luck.

Build a computer, are you crazy. The kid just wants a computer that works- buy a Mac. Yes, a very few people like to build your own machine and spend endless hours getting everything to work, but most of us (99%) of the population want to do something really useful with our machine and software.

Thanks to readers for taking the time to weigh in on this big decision--here and over at The Intersection too. Mac has definitely received more praise in both threads so far, and I'll keep these recommendations in mind as I make make the big decision this week.

I'm also wondering whether anyone may know when Mac is expected to put out their next laptop? If I go Apple, might it be worth holding out?

Definitely. No one should buy a Mac before January and, um, that other month when Apple usually introduces new products.

Sheril, Sheril, Sheril. You have come to the right place. The fact that you're even THINKING about a non-PC means you are already at the Apple doorstep, knocking. I am here to welcome you to the family :)

I have successfully converted my two best friends to get macs. One of them is non-techy the other is. They have no complaints, wouldn't switch back, and one of them is a mac evangelist too. It's just the way things work, because being on this side is SO GREAT once you're in. Nobody had to convince me macs are great. They just are.

Don't buy anything until after MacWorld in January. I *personally* volunteer to be your consultant for everything Mac. I even dated a Genius once, and I still keep him handy, haha. Just hit me up if you have any questions :)

Wow, I think the stream of Mac commenters proves what you stated about religious Mac evangelists. They have come in droves to convert you. There are less PC evangelists, since the majority uses them anyway, I guess they don't feel the need.

In my personal experience, I have always had PCs at home but I've used various types of Mac at other places. However, my best opportunity for comparison was when I was working for a software company last year, and I had to do all my work exclusively on the Mac, updating Mac software products. Before this, I was neutral to Macs. After, I think Macs are just irritating and an overpriced waste of money.

After the few months of familiarisation problems ended [their Ok and Cancel buttons are *reversed!*] I'm afraid I still found the Mac operating system, well, annoying. All kinds of things which could happen simply and efficiently on the PC were a pain on the Mac, even after I had customised it to match my work style as much as possible.

Worse, there's a lot less software available. And finding files for the slightly older operating systems is impossible. I was supposed to be doing various kinds of illustration, graphic editing and icon creation for the software, but the company didn't want to purchase Photoshop etc for the Macs, so I was hoping to find a freeware or shareware program to do these tasks. Simple on the PC, near impossible on the Mac! I wasted a lot of company time downloading programs which were bloated and useless.

Then, for end-users of the software with older versions of OSX, I was supposed to include Quicktime versions to ship with the products for their operating system. Well, seems Apple removes every single previous version's files from the Internet, forcing you to upgrade. Not just from the Apple site, but all those Mac evangelist file repositories!

I hope Apple had updated their help in the latest operating system. Sure, Windows help isn't the greatest thing ever, but at least searches are not Case Sensitive. Worse, some have the help as a Giant PDF file! Agh! And they return the PAGE number. Using Final Cut Pro's help on the Mac was an absolute nightmare.

In the end, to get my graphic work done, I had to use The Gimp, a Unix program, which required getting the X.11 Unix to run. [More waste of the company's time]. This seemed to tax the computer a lot. It make various applications behave strangely while it was running. [For example, it did something strange to the windowing of non-unix programs sometimes. Alert error messages no longer appeared. Since I was supposed to be debugging things whose clues were in these alerts, it was a big waste of time.]

Also, having no right mouse button is silly. Thankfully, the company provided a non-Apple mouse with a right mouse button.

So we'll outline reasons why PCs are better:
-cheaper, more powerful for a cheaper price
-since there are a range of styles, you can get one to macth your aesthetic tastes
-HUGE amounts of free and cheap software avaliable. And games.
-No stupid teething problems relearning stuff
-No Context Sensitive Help
-I hate that stupid dock. It gets in the way. At least the Startbar doesn't really jump in your way
- Sure Windows has its annoyances [I wouldn't bother getting Vista yet.] but Mac has even more
-It's easier to mod Windows to remove key annoyances and easier to customise it to your working style
-More Compatible with other people! With a Mac, you can often send or recive fiels that the other, non-mac party can't read! [I can't access a heap of work I did at that company, cause I accidently zipped it in a mac folder!]
-A huge range of peripherals [eg printers, scanners, tablets, external storage etc.] whereas Apples only have a limited range.
-Cheaper repairs, also more help online to troubleshoot stuff yourself

Reasons for a Mac:
Feel like you're part of some macish cult
Well, you might like their aesthetic design, if it fits your tastes
I don't think Macs are easier to use. A good argument in, say, 1990 but not now.
The Operating system is bloated and horrible. [Sure, so is Vista, so I'd recommend sticking with WinXP for now.]

I'll keep this short.

Just switched to Mac last week after 20+ years on PC.

The Mac runs all my window and Mac applications simultaneously so I get twice as much stuff done.

Mac runs much, much faster.

Applications never die it just runs and runs. Won't miss rebooting the PC.

Don't understand what took me so long to switch.

I'm not going back.

This is simple. You should listen to your dad :)

I've been using a Mac since the beginning, and have raised my kids on Macs, so I'm not sure how I'd take it if they tell me one day, "I was going to buy a new Mac, but then saw this great deal on a PC at only half the price!"

Interesting thread. I once worked with a man who made the statement "I hate Microsoft!" "Why?" I asked. "Because I know what an IRQ is, and I shouldn't have to!" he replied. To this day I do not know if Macs use IRQ's.

You didn't mention if you had any Windows only software you need to use. If so, buy a PC. I assume "lightweight" means laptop. "Small" screams SONY VAIO. I can't comment on their reliability. You will find the smallest ones expensive. A cheap price gets you a cheap computer. If you want reliable, cheap may not be the way to go.

A new PC will ship with Vista. I haven't used it, I'm not going to buy it. I understand not everyone is happy with it. I don't like to have to activate my software and prove it's genuine every time I update it. I would not buy another PC for this reason alone.

The current line of Mac laptops may not be small enough for you. I find the shape of the widescreen Macbooks to be awkward. I am writing this on a 2 1/2 year old, 12" 1.5GHz PowerBook G4. It is one of Apples most reliable models and has a great keyboard. They can be found used for $800-$900. It won't run Windows without emulation so I can't recommend it as a Windows machine. I am using OS 10.5 (the new one) and NO virus, spyware or malware protection. This works for now, but may not always be the case, (although I suspect it will be for the G series macs).

If a MacBook or MacBook Pro meets your size criteria, and you can wean yourself from Windows, the answer is quite simple: Go to the Apple website, click on "Store". At the bottom of the page, left hand side you will find a listing titled "Special Deals". Click on refurbished Mac. Find what you need and order it. If later you find it is not your cup of tea, you can sell it for 90%-95% of what you paid for it. The advantage of buying it from Apple is you get the full warranty. Working for a university also earns you an education discount (probably not on refurbs, but yes on applecare and new computers), you may want to call or go to an Apple Store instead. These machines will run Windows natively but you would have to add the price of whichever Windows version you would like, (and the price of virus protection, and probably a registry maintenance utility too). Microsoft will not let you move your current copy of Windows to a new computer.

Macs are not perfect, they can and do break sometimes. Apple has made faulty Macs-stay away from white G3 iBooks. Using a limited choice of proprietary parts insures that the parts will indeed work together. My daughter's PC refuses to play Lego Star Wars--apparently it doesn't like the video card I have installed, even though it meets specs. That kind of thing doesn't happen on a Mac. I also had to remove the kid's computers from the internet and remove all virus software, the virus protection was keeping some of their games from playing and you don't dare run Windows online without virus protection. By the way, if you are a gamer, Macs are not your best choice.

The reason Mac people are so zealous can be summed up this way: The day I stopped using Windows is the day I stopped cursing at my computer. Actually, in my case this was with IBM's OS/2 but since they stopped supporting it, I switched to Mac and have never looked back. I like using my computer, not maintaining it. Macs just work.

I hope this was helpful and not too weird.

I'm a Mac Priest (or in the real world, a mac computer consultant) and listening to what you want it to do I say get a PC and put Ubuntu or Kubuntu on it (that's Linux). You'll run into a bit of hassle putting programs on it (consider having them installed by a geek) but after that it'll be smooth sailing.

Here are my reasons. What you want to do is fairly simple. Software for Linux is (mostly) free and there is a lot of it out there. You should be able to easily find the tools you need to do what you want to do.

Also, Linux is the most stable platform by far. Ask the big internet companies what they use for their servers and you'll find Unix (Linux is the baby brother of Unix), Unix and Unix. That's because it doesn't crash.

Ubuntu Linux is a fairly new flavor of Linux that looks a bit like the Mac and Windows graphic interfaces. It should be easy for you to get used to.

As for the hardware, Ubuntu will run on anything. I mean that literally. My nephew got it to work on his WiFi router! I have it on a Mac from the 1990's. That means you can look for hardware independent of the OS. Find the box you like the best. I suggest PC because they're less expensive on the lower end, and they're also lighter.

Having given my recommendation, let me tell you what you won't get. You won't get the bells and whistles. For every new function you want, you'll have to shell out buck$. You want a better monitor? $$ wi-fi? $$$ internet? $$ games? $$$$$$$ It'll be a workhorse, but nothing else. You won't get a crystal clear screen. The most expensive part of any laptop is it's LCD screen. The bigger the screen the more $$$; the clearer the screen the more $$$. You won't be able to play or burn DVD's. You won't have tech support unless you have a geekey relative. In fact, tech support for the hardware make be problematical.

Despite all that, I still say run with the low end laptop--the lightest you can find--and run the stable software: Linux.

Susan