Dell or Apple?

I have almost always had Dell computers. The companies I worked for used Dell computers and in my personal life I have always purchased Dell computers. But now I'm thinking about trying Apple. So I would like to see what folks have to say, Apple, Dell, or other?

Which computer brand do you prefer and why?

 

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Other!

Build your own...you can choose the components you want to include and the quality of those components.

By building your own (BYO) you learn quite a bit, and down the road you have the ability to "upgrade" or at least be able to 'troubleshoot' and/or 'repair' any issues that may arise.

There are 'sites' on the 'net that package basic "starter kits" , and from there the sky is the limit.

For the same price of a pre-built *ell or especially an *pple, you can build a higher quality and better performing 'puter.

Plus, you get to enjoy the boost to your "self esteem" by BUILDING YOUR OWN !!

p.s. ...shouldn't this be Posted in the Technology/Computer Science & Culture sub-forum?

 

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Did

I agree, this post belongs in the forum 'computer science and culture'.

Did you also install Linux, DMOE?

 

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You ask, DANSHAWEN, as if you believe that I have only 1 'puter, or that I have only built 1 'puter...
...I currently have 'puters with Linux on them, and some with Windows on them...also 2 that are different flavors of "Hackintosh"...

Whatever would lead you, DANSHAWEN, to think that a Metrologist would only own 1 'puter?

p.s. I also possess 2 Macintosh's that were built in 1984 : http://www.oldcomputers.net/macintosh.html

 

I would assume that if you have always used Dell then moving to Apple would entail purchasing new versions of any software you might have?
If so, you'd need to filter that into the cost, I suppose.

But I would always favour customisable PCs - choosing the components you want - rather than going with a brand for the entire computer.

 

You aren't 'dumb' at all. The 'dumb' ones are the ones who trust Microsoft to 'innovate' in the best interests of consumers. This is a risk to most garage computer tinkers and fumblers who make their own hardware, and trust that the version of Windows they install does not have an agenda.

Microsoft has always had its own agenda, and making profits from a computer hardware hacker's gullibility (which includes Dell) is a line item. So is profiting themselves and their partners by selling out consumer's privacy and security. 9 out of 10 updates from Microsoft is to enhance the security of Microsoft products, and there are so many of them, it's hard to miss that the computer you paid for is maintained for the benefit of Microsoft, not you. Microsoft holds the software patent on the super cookie. What does this tell you about how much they are concerned about your enhanced browsing experience? Microsoft has finally realized, the days of having a "registry" to protect their interests, and an integrated browser are over, and this is one reason, Windows 10 will be the last gasp of that dead end track. Good riddance.

Apple almost always has the consumer's interests at heart, but for a price. Their engineering, integration and packaging are hard to fault. They did not hesitate for an instant to switch from Motorola to Intel when Intel had the better chips for longer mobile device life, nor did the late Steve Jobs hesitate to rail against Adobe for sabotaging that effort with an intrusive version of flash player that mitigates such hardware and battery life improvements.

Guess who voted for Apple?

Linux also works to the benefit of consumers and in particular the developer community, and is open sourced and for free, but you will need to do some of the work to keep it that way, and contractually that work is done for free and provided with a uniform license to all who help to develop it.

At the end of its life, I might have expected Microsoft to throw in with Linux in some manner, if for no other reason, to keep their partners in hardware development afloat. I only hope that whatever else happens, the evil that was Microsoft does not poison the businesses of more trustworthy computer, software and mobile device manufacturers. Consumers come first. If they do not, corruption, thy name was Microsoft.

 

Me too. I've used Dells at work and have owned a couple of Dell laptops and a desktop. Solidly constructed and reliable. (The fact that businesses, schools and public agencies often choose Dell for quantity purchases suggest both that Dell offers the best quantity discounts and that these buyers are satisfied with Dell's capability and reliability.)

From what I've seen and heard, they are well made and reliable too. But with Apple you seem to pay more for similar quality and features. And to tell the truth, I'm a little put off by the 'coolness' factor. Judging from the evangelists that Apple attracts on the internet, sometimes it seems more like a cult than a company. The media hysteria whenever they announce new products speaks to the same thing. So I'm inclined to leave something like that to the kids. When I buy an electronic device, I'm not looking for a fashion accessory.

I don't really think that brand makes a whole lot of difference in hardware terms. Computers are commodities these days and just about all of them have similar quality and reliability.

What seems to make more difference is features, specs and software, and these can vary within brands as well as between them. I guess that the big difference with Apple is that you will be purchasing the proprietary Apple OS and more or less committing yourself to the Apple ecosystem. Some people loudly insist that Apple is vastly better in those regards, but Windows has always done what I want it to do.

It's a matter of taste, I guess.

I still have an old 1990's Toshiba laptop that continues to run like a tank. I'm posting from it right now.

I guess that all of the major brands are worthy contenders. My decision would be based largely on price, what's the most computer that I can get for the least money?

 

One of my computers may be a Dell; I don't know and I don't care.

The one I use most is an HP; the only complaint I have is that the back panel is made of spit and spider webs - the speaker jack comes loose on a regular basis; I actually moved my desk so I could get at it easier to fix it.

 

Going to Apple wouldn't be so much just giving up Dell as giving up Windows (unless you've been using a Linux OS on Dell computers). The good thing is that there's far more third-party software that has been adapted to Apple products than has been to Linux. But you still ought to check that the favorite third-party programs and apps which you've been using do indeed have versions compatible with Apple. An Apple computer is obviously better than a Windows OS when it comes to the hassle of security and other maintenance.

But as far as classic brands that output desktops and laptops that cater to Windows -- Yeah, I probably prefer Dell to HP, etc. A more costly Dell computer designed for office can be refurbished after a few years of heavy work, and still potentially run another 5 years or more when sold cheap to a household. Though gamers would have to augment the limitations of the usual or older office computer (at least, that was the case in the past).

 

On rare occasions, it has done what I want it to do, but usually that was a battle with unreasonable defaults on every OS and application they ever made.

Microsoft's flagship product, Word, tried to please everyone, and in so doing, pleased almost no one. I would have actually paid them to pare down the number of "features", and also complicity with "collaboration" software.

While you weren't looking, Windows was just doing a whole lot more than you knew it was doing, and if you knew what it was doing, it is very doubtful you would have approved.

 

My son built his own laptop and he swears by it. He likes doing that kind of thing. So it works for some people. For me, I probably don't have the patience. But it is certainly something to think about. I think one can take some pride in something if you put it together yourself, and that is important. If I have time I might just do it.

My Dell XPS has been ok. I rate the speakers a "C-". I've had the laptop for a little over 3 years now. I haven't had much trouble until a few weeks ago when the keyboard became inoperable and I had to switch out the keyboard with a new one. I have had trouble with the operating system and some of the Microsoft programs. Now my laptop hard drive spins inexplicably so if left unattended for some period of time it locks up. I'm not sure what it is trying to do or what program is running. Nothing unusual appears in the Task Manager window. It appears to be tied or related to IE Explorer. I have current antiviral software and scan it often and nothing ever shows up. So I'm a bit perplexed.

Additionally, I'm not very happy with Dell support. Sometimes I would rather go to the Department of Motor Vehicles than call Dell support. There is a language problem and nobody seems to be able to help. They seem to have that stovepipe thingy going on. Now maybe that has changed. I haven't called Dell support for years....and thank God for that.

But I'm thinking Apple might be a little better in all those aspects, a little better hardware, software and support and the machine maybe a little less vulnerable to viruses, worms and other vermin. Of course, we all know Apple is more expensive. But I'd rather pay a little more in order to have fewer headaches. For years, I too have decried Apple as a cult, and I didn't understand the love many folks have for the brand. But now I'm thinking maybe I'll give Apple a try. Maybe I have been too quick to judge Apple. Apple has programs which will allow me to run my favorite MS Office products and it even has a parallel Windows software which allows Apple to run Windows programs. I do like MS Office products, although all the shortcut keys in products like MS Word are a pain in my derriere.

 

If I only had a nickel back for every hour wasted eliminating viruses, registry crap, malware, and installer problems with Windows computers, I could afford to pay twice what Apple asks for the equivalent hardware / software, have money left AND have time to spend it on something else.

In fact, I probably do, since I've depended on Apple computers since 1987, and can count all the equivalent kinds of attacks on one hand and have fingers left.

 

...patience...time...meh
...build it with your Son, you'll both benefit

"hackintosh"...you may just thoroughly enjoy building your own *pple...

 

Well, that isn't all that easy. He is in the Coast Guard and travels a great deal.

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"easy" - another one of then there '4-letter' words

 

Agree with this. I had Windows PCs at work (company policy) all my working life, but when I retired and had no corporate firewall or IT dept to babysit me, I went for Apple Mac. I have to say, my experience is that these machines work the way you expect your domestic washing machine or fridge to work: no dicking around, taking off the back panel (or its software equivalent )and replacing things that fail. How different from the Windows experience. And perhaps best of all, these crooks who ring up offering to remove non-existent malware always say they have "found a virus your Windows computer". Of course I don't tell them I don't have a Windows computer......

And of course the integration with iPhone etc is seamless.

 

I get lots of those calls from help desk crooks. One reason they are so prevalent with Windows is that when Apple got the upper hand on market share with iPhones, Microsoft terminated all direct telephone support for Windows. The direct offshoot of this is that if you get a call from anyone claiming association with Microsoft now, you can be certain, it is a scam.

Windows 10 is now released. Before upgrading Windows 7 or 8 to that OS, the first phone call I would wish to make to Microsoft would be: "Exactly how long does Microsoft plan to support this OS?" Do you believe they would have an answer anyone would wish to hear?

 

Fwiw
I have Apple IPad and it works ok,however many times I get a message sayin: Safari is unable to open page requested..
One against IOS
Also I'm not sure if it has any protection against malware viruses etc,since it crashed while visiting topix.com while back and I had to reset all the settings,,it's still kinda sluggish and closes the window occasionaly when more then one is open

when I used Windows don't recall the name of the PC it was way back then it would always give me a warning sign to AVOID a questionable site that had bugs..and when I fkd up it was fairly easy to reboot and fix and continue..
One for Windows
Tried a little el cheapo Asus w windows few days back and it was pretty good,,bit too small to work on comfortably though..
Apple is bit too expensive and not really worth the cost imo ,PCs worth half the price will work just as well..maybe better

I don't get those Apple fanatics who keep buying new IPhone every year when it's basically the same old thing with just bit more speed and memory..
Id sooner go with Samsung or even Blackberry before IPhone..and now they even make tablets I just might get that

 

I can't really speak for iPad: my son has one and it has given no trouble, but his use of it is not that great (we enforce the school's rule of <1hr/day screen time). Certainly OSX on the Mac can give warning of dodgy sites - I have had one once. I also, somewhat in defiance of Apple, run Sophos virus protection software. This slows Safari down somewhat, as it checks everything as it goes, but not unacceptably so. I've run this Mac since 2010 and have not had any virus issues.

 

Sophos has saved me more than once.

Windows now depends on third party security to protect from malware; MalwareBytes and super antivirus. This is primarily because they have lost the ability to distinguish between malware and their own proprietary software.

This is no exaggeration. After installing MalwareBytes, the second malware it flagged was a "legit" Microsoft update.

Microsoft's vision is that all personal computers will run malware in the cloud 24/7.