Riddle

*I can maintain a clean xp system without any viruses or bugs

*I am a multitasker. I need to be able to easily access all my applications at the touch of a button(ie. window's task bar, ctrl- hotkeys, middle click, right click, scroll wheel)

*I like everything orderly, and easy to navigate, like window's hierarchy of folders. (everything is accessible through explorer, including window's system files and program files)(I like when things follow a rule, and work consistantly)

*I like to be compatible.

*I like choices. I don't always like what they want me to use. (Like microsoft's disasterous *internet explorer*)

*I don't usually play games on my computer

*Am I a Mac? (I don't know yet)




ok... I'm set on either the W3J or the macbook pro. I did some reading, and almost everyone says that theres no reason not to switch to mac, ever since apples could dual-boot windows at regular speed.
I tried out some of the older mac's at my school. library, lab, teacher's personal mac, for a couple minutes, and I found it's missing a whole lot of stuff that I use with windows on a daily basis. Stuff like the taskbar, the start menu, rightclick, scroll, middle click, control panel, desktop properties... and was wondering if mac had alternative features to replace all these, that work just as well.

wasn't sure which topic to put this under. I put it in software because it was comparing operating systems

 

you can find almost all those on a mac. if you use a regular mouse you can right click, double finger on the trackpad is scroll. i personally prefer windows over the mac OS j ust because i'm so used to it. others love the interface of the mac. if you like really FUN things go for a mac. if you don't want to play around with all those extras just go for a w3j

 

Mac's cant maintain a clean XP system.
And both Mac's and Windows, and anything else, has bugs.

Personally, I'd avoid the Macbook, simply because there's been so much trouble with those, and because I don't appreciate the way Apple has handled it. Other than that, I personally would have loved the added flexibility of being able to run Mac OS *and* Windows *and* Linux.

 

This is a really tough one for me. If I hadn't gotten my M90, I was going to get a W3J. And I've always wanted a MacBook as a spare, more portable notebook with OS X. There are several things to consider. First, the MacBook has OS X. It may be a different OS... but it's very nice. And as schwann said, it has pretty much all those features that Windows has. Plus, it can dual boot XP pretty easily, so you have compatibility when you need it and stability/security when you need it (OS X). Currently, there are no major viruses for OS X... something XP cannot boast by a long shot. Plus, OS X tends to have a user interface that is a little more friendly and... how shall I say it?... elegant. OS X's Aqua just has XP's Luna demolished, hands down. But coming from Windows, the file structure will be pretty different seeing as OS X is built on UNIX. But the W3J has an x1600... although you say you don't game, so that might now matter much. Also, the MacBook (not MacBook Pro) is a bit cheaper than W3J for similar specs (minus the x1600) in a smaller size. But then to run Windows, you're gonna have to buy a copy of XP, which is gonna set you back over $100 at the least for a copy of XP Pro.

As to the features you stated, the taskbar is in the dock... open programs will show up there. The start menu is combined into the Finder menu at the top of the screen and the dock, where applications are launched from. You can use a standard mouse with OS X as well, giving you the ability of right click, scroll, middle click, etc, and the mouspad on the MacBook emulates these as schwann said by using things like using two fingers = scroll, Ctrl+click = right click, etc. And the Control Panel/Desktop Properties are Windows things, but their closest equivalents are in the System Properties app located on the dock.

Personally, I'll suggest going for the MacBook. With it's ability to use both OS X and XP, it's sleek looks, lower price, and fantastic quality, it's just a great all around machine. I wouldn't necessarily suggest the MacBook Pro. To me, it's just too expensive, and it has several problems with heat and so on. But the MacBook is a fantastic machine worhty of anyone's consideration.

 

Yeah, PC's tend to have that problem too.

 

Yep. Anything running XP is pretty much by definition unable to maintain a clean XP system... Whether it's a PC, a Mac, or a pocket calculator

And anything *not* running XP is also unable to maintain an XP system, clean or otherwise

 

why is everyone questioning this person's ability to maintain a virus free xp? it is doable if you have half a brain and know how to use it.

 

Well unless you want OS X, there is no reason to pay the extra money for the same hardware.