I am with bootedbear on this.  Once you go MAC, you never go back.  I have had a MAC laptop for over a year and I haven't even had one problem with it.  I play Warcraft fine on it (actually, it plays better than my Dell did) and I haven't even had a single virus (I may have had a virus, but it never affected anything). 

Some might think the OS is a little difficult to use, but once you get the basics down and understand what everything is, it's a lot easier, in my opinion, than a Windows. 

As for some of the software, obviously Office and other things like that are expensive, but since MACs are generally cheaper than Microsoft computers, it pretty much evens the price.  Being a college student, I need to have Powerpoint and Word, but I found a way to get them for free (I can't exactly tell my sources, because they may be a bit "shady"). 

The greatest thing about MACs: NO MORE ERROR MESSAGES!

I am with bootedbear on this.  Once you go MAC, you never go back.  I have had a MAC laptop for over a year and I haven't even had one problem with it.  I play Warcraft fine on it (actually, it plays better than my Dell did) and I haven't even had a single virus (I may have had a virus, but it never affected anything). 

Some might think the OS is a little difficult to use, but once you get the basics down and understand what everything is, it's a lot easier, in my opinion, than a Windows. 

As for some of the software, obviously Office and other things like that are expensive, but since MACs are generally cheaper than Microsoft computers, it pretty much evens the price.  Being a college student, I need to have Powerpoint and Word, but I found a way to get them for free (I can't exactly tell my sources, because they may be a bit "shady"). 

The greatest thing about MACs: NO MORE ERROR MESSAGES!

I don't know why this is so, but I'm just gonna come out and say it.  People on the internet who talk about Apple computers as "MACS" just really piss me off.  I don't know why.  I think I'm just obsessive compulsive or something.  Nothing against you Cory, but I figured I'd correct one person at a time.  "Macs" is not an acronym.  It is a contraction of "Macintosh".  So it doesn't need to be capitalized.  You're not guilty of this one, but another thing people say that pisses me off is when they replace "Apple" with "Mac" and say sh*t like "If Mac would just make their computers cheaper I'd get one" or some sh*t.  Just generally talking about the company Apple but referring to it as a machine.

And thirdly, Cory, if you look into this, you're gonna love me man.  Put Powerpoint away and look into Apple's "Keynote" software.  Check out a tour of its capabilities at http://www.apple.com/iwork/keynote/ .  It's part of the "iWork" package which consists of Keynote, Numbers (an Excel competitor, I have no experience with it though, I stick with Excel), and Pages (A word competitor, I have no experience with it though, I stick with Word).  But Keynote just DESTROYS Powerpoint dude.  It's terrible.  In my Biomechanical Engineering class, my group let me be in charge of the presentation at the end of the semester, and using my Macbook Pro and Keynote, our group won the 500$ second place price (if you're curious, 1st place won because their invention was better), and I solely credit Keynote.  After seeing bland Powerpoint after bland Powerpoint, our Keynote presentation made the entire class take notice.  Look into this dude, get the most recent one, and if you're interested in the "free .99" price, get at me and I'll hook you up with some information.

Quote from: mojim on March 29, 2008, 08:00:13 PM

Quote from: TomS on March 29, 2008, 09:08:18 AM

Hey guys, I was just wondering what kind of computer operating systems everyone uses.  I assume the answers will mostly be windows, but I'd like to know which version of windows it is.  I'll start it off.

I mainly stick to Linux, Ubuntu mostly, and I dual boot windows xp on my desktop because I haven't gotten around to making the full switch. 

I am using Vista on my work laptop, but Xp on my home PC...I have thought about Linux but was afraid to make the leap...Is it worth it?  I do not do play games, just basic excel, pics and music...regular crap you know....

Man, it's TOTALLY worth it. Never crashes. I don't use antivirus, no need. No need to restart, as Linux has MUCH better memory management. Plus, (most) anything you want to do on Linux.. is free! Like I said, after getting used to Linux you'll realize how bad Windows really is. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am in no way a Microsoft hater, I just prefer Linux MUCH more.

Just download and install it is it that simple?

Windows Vista Home Premium. No problems.

And thirdly, Cory, if you look into this, you're gonna love me man.  Put Keynote away and look into Apple's "Keynote" software.  Check out a tour of its capabilities at http://www.apple.com/iwork/keynote/ .  It's part of the "iWork" package which consists of Keynote, Numbers (an Excel competitor, I have no experience with it though, I stick with Excel), and Pages (A word competitor, I have no experience with it though, I stick with Word).  But Keynote just DESTROYS Powerpoint dude.  It's terrible.  In my Biomechanical Engineering class, my group let me be in charge of the presentation at the end of the semester, and using my Macbook Pro and Keynote, our group won the 500$ second place price (if you're curious, 1st place won because their invention was better), and I solely credit Keynote.  After seeing bland Powerpoint after bland Powerpoint, our Keynote presentation made the entire class take notice.  Look into this dude, get the most recent one, and if you're interested in the "free .99" price, get at me and I'll hook you up with some information.

I can't use anything other than Word and PPT at the moment, since I am a college student.  Most of the computers on campus have Windows, and the ones that do have Apples use Office, so when I turn in papers and give projects to the class, I have to use something that is applicable.