Mac or PC for 11yr old?

[Guiness]

Ok, open the debate that's been going on since the 80's

I'm getting my 11 yr old son a laptop for Xmas, and am debating getting him a Macbook.

We have a Windows box at home that he uses, and is fairly proficient on. They have both Windows and Macs (?why?) at his school...Macs in the library, but the have a trolley of Windows machines that they bring around to the classrooms. So school wise, I don't think it matters.

I'm leaning towards the Mac, because I've used them on occasion over the years, and have always enjoyed them. Haven't touched one since they went to the Unix/Linux based OS though.

Price wise, there's a fair amount of difference - I can get a used 2Gig Macbook for about $1000, or a brand new Dell for $600. Honestly, that's not going to affect my decision too much.

Anyone want to offer some guidance?

Tx!

[GBRulz]

Sure. don't buy a Dell.

I'd go the mac route though. Don't have to worry about the kid picking up viruses from anywhere, either. The new OS will be on the new Macs, too. Sure Mac's cost a bit more, but what some don't realize is that alot of the necessary software that is commonly used (a good photo editing program, for example) is already included. Where as with PC's, I find myself having to buy more software. Plus they get outdated quickly. In the long run, are PC's really cheaper.... I don't think so.

I just sold my imac, only because I'm going the Macbook Pro route myself. Anyone want to buy a Vaio laptop?

[]{ilr]3]

Get a PC.

There cheaper and far more upgradable and they are more likely to learn something usefull from it. The buisness world is not going to change to use Macs, EVER! Let them learn the most marketable things that they can take with them to the job place.

Buying a Mac is like learning a dead language.... Whats the point....?

[digitaldean]

Macs a dead end?? Then please explain their growth in the market over the last 2 years, please?

Get the MacBook and get VMWare Fusion to run a copy of Windows Vista? Parallels is another one that allows you to run the Mac OS and the Windows OS. You also can get the free software from Apple called Boot Camp. (a little less versatile but otherwise OK option).

As for the business world not switching to Macs ever, I doubt that. More and more businesses are switching to Macs. Even more business colleges are switching to Macs because of their overall lower cost to maintain and prevent viruses, malware, spyware, etc.)

I admit it, I am biased. I have worked on Macs since 1987. I have a Dell desktop as well as testing my website development work and for my wife's schoolwork (she's going back to college to get her HR degree). But everytime I work on a PC it's the most frustrating bunch of clap trap there is.

[]{ilr]3]

Macs a dead end?? Then please explain their growth in the market over the last 2 years, please?

Get the MacBook and get VMWare Fusion to run a copy of Windows Vista? Parallels is another one that allows you to run the Mac OS and the Windows OS. You also can get the free software from Apple called Boot Camp. (a little less versatile but otherwise OK option).

As for the business world not switching to Macs ever, I doubt that. More and more businesses are switching to Macs. Even more business colleges are switching to Macs because of their overall lower cost to maintain and prevent viruses, malware, spyware, etc.)

I admit it, I am biased. I have worked on Macs since 1987. I have a Dell desktop as well as testing my website development work and for my wife's schoolwork (she's going back to college to get her HR degree). But everytime I work on a PC it's the most frustrating bunch of clap trap there is.

Are you kidding?

They have a 4% market share even after this so called growth and thats only because of Ipod users.

Macs are generally fluff pieces. And the idea that they are more secure from viruses only proves my point. Even hackers ignor them because they dont want to waste there time going after such a small market

[Zool]

Mac's are far from a dead language, but their % of market is still under 10%. A Macbook is a good option if you want to spend $1400, but if you want a functional system for much less get a PC. Mac OS is better than windows functionally and visually, but they will not penetrate the business market anytime soon if ever.

And the argument that running them both is the answer is patently false. Why spend the extra money for Mac hardware that is not upgradable? I own both a PC (homebuilt) and a Mac (Dual G5 2G) and can honestly say that I prefer the Mac OS, but the hardware prices are too much for the average person.

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

[Partial]

{ilr]3]Get a PC.

There cheaper and far more upgradable and they are more likely to learn something usefull from it. The buisness world is not going to change to use Macs, EVER! Let them learn the most marketable things that they can take with them to the job place.

Buying a Mac is like learning a dead language.... Whats the point....?

Disagree completely. The child is going to learn how to use a PC in school and in most life situations on their own. I would get them an Apple computer and let them be ahead of the game and have experience with both operating systems.

By the time an 11 year old is 25, it is very likely that Linux and Unix will be much more relevant in business usage beyond simply networking and programming. I would not be surprised at all to see a linux workstation 14-15 years from now with all the free software available. OS X will give a good introduction to this

[Partial]

Mac's are far from a dead language, but their % of market is still under 10%. A Macbook is a good option if you want to spend $1400, but if you want a functional system for much less get a PC. Mac OS is better than windows functionally and visually, but they will not penetrate the business market anytime soon if ever.

And the argument that running them both is the answer is patently false. Why spend the extra money for Mac hardware that is not upgradable? I own both a PC (homebuilt) and a Mac (Dual G5 2G) and can honestly say that I prefer the Mac OS, but the hardware prices are too much for the average person.

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

How many Windows-based laptops are upgradable? If anything, the MacBook is more easy to upgrade with the ability to add ram (4 gb max) and a tool-less hard drive upgrade (which doesn't void the warranty). You cannot upgrade the hard drive on very many other laptops without voiding your warranty.

It is ridiculous that the intro-level MacBook doesn't have a DVD-burner.

While they're more expensive, you get superior build quality, a luxury product in OS X (you can use it right outta the box, you don't need to spend hours removing gigabyte after gigabyte of junk software).

[Zool]

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

[Partial]

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

Why? I completely disagree.

[Guiness]

Some interesting positions...maybe I should go with the third option, put Slackware and KDE on a laptop!

Anyways, some interesting perspectives. I hear you GBR, I don't think Dell makes a very good business class laptop anymore (their D series sucked ass) but this machine doesn't have to be reliable - it's essentially a toy. Although I'd be interested in hearing who you'd recommend? I've got an IBM IBM, but don't think I'll replace it with a Lenovo IBM.

On the software side, I guess you can save a bit of money with the Mac, because, for example, the imaging software they bundle isn't Microsoft Paint. But I don't generally have to pay for PC software because my company buys me licenses.

I'll be honest, I'm also thinking of getting this 'cause I'm interested in it myself!

Keep the comments coming!

[]{ilr]3]

Mac's are far from a dead language, but their % of market is still under 10%. A Macbook is a good option if you want to spend $1400, but if you want a functional system for much less get a PC. Mac OS is better than windows functionally and visually, but they will not penetrate the business market anytime soon if ever.

And the argument that running them both is the answer is patently false. Why spend the extra money for Mac hardware that is not upgradable? I own both a PC (homebuilt) and a Mac (Dual G5 2G) and can honestly say that I prefer the Mac OS, but the hardware prices are too much for the average person.

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

How many Windows-based laptops are upgradable? If anything, the MacBook is more easy to upgrade with the ability to add ram (4 gb max) and a tool-less hard drive upgrade (which doesn't void the warranty). You cannot upgrade the hard drive on very many other laptops without voiding your warranty.

It is ridiculous that the intro-level MacBook doesn't have a DVD-burner.

While they're more expensive, you get superior build quality, a luxury product in OS X (you can use it right outta the box, you don't need to spend hours removing gigabyte after gigabyte of junk software).

They are not uust more expensive, they are twice as expensive.

You can get a really nice Windows based laptop with a DVD burner and a gig of RAM and a nice graphics processor for under $600!

Use that $500 to buy all the software they will use until they graduate. Or better yet, save that moeny for there college fees and they can learn on a system they will actually be using someday.

[Partial]

BS. They are not twice as expensive. Maybe 10%. And that is all put right back into your pocket in bundled software, quality of user-experience, and build quality.

Who would want to spend 1000 on a 2" thick machine with a lower dpi display, less intelligently laid out ports, crappy keyboard, etc. when they can spend an extra 100 bucks and get a far superior product?

You could drive a new kia or a 3 year old honda civic for the same price. Which would you choose?

[Charles Woodson]

Get a PC, unless you need something Mac specfic or money is no object.

Why? I completely disagree.

you disagree cause your an apple bitch,
My siblings all have dell laptops and they all love them, they range in age from 20-26... my parents and i have dell desktops, and have since forever, ive never had a problem with them..
So i agree with zool, unless hes going into editing or something specific, get him a dell

[Charles Woodson]

BS. They are not twice as expensive. Maybe 10%. And that is all put right back into your pocket in bundled software, quality of user-experience, and build quality.

Who would want to spend 1000 on a 2" thick machine with a lower dpi display, less intelligently laid out ports, crappy keyboard, etc. when they can spend an extra 100 bucks and get a far superior product?

You could drive a new kia or a 3 year old honda civic for the same price. Which would you choose?

well in this case, the mac would be used so it would be the civic, and the pc would be the new kia... id go with the new kia