I think they do. Win viruses and spyware are one of the main reasons I switched to a Mac, and why I've never paid for a version of Windows. It could also help explain the rising Apple market share. I also avoid Microsoft Office as there seems to be regular exploits there, and in many cases, Open Office can do the job just as well (or the new software-as-service packages, like Google Docs).

I'm not an Apple fanboy, I think Windows, Linux and OSX all have their strengths and weaknesses.

If i find that a mac is worth it ill definitely get one. Im not against mac. then again if im seriously limited by compatibility issues theres no use spending that much money on one when my PC's working just fine. I hear pcs are more of a pain in the proverbial but I need to be sure a Mac can cater for my needs. So many people buy a Mac, then install Windows in parallel. If OSX was so 'awesome' why cant it cater for everything? Im just curious.

My own answer to that question is straightforward.

I buy a "Mac" because I know from many years of experience that I am buying a stable, well engineered hardware platform that will last.

The fact that that hardware platform comes with OS X is an added bonus, and I do 90% of my work and home stuff in the OS X environment without even making a concious effort to do so.

I have little choice to maintain Windows via WMWare Fusion because of either work requirements (Windows only software) .... or the fact that I sometimes come accross websites built by lazy, incompetent, idiotic "web designers" that only work on the latest versions of Internet Explorer or require some obscure Windows only plugins to be installed in your browser again due to the same moronic Windows only view of the world some funky web designer had. Before someone grabs it as a "I told you so" opportunity, I should point out that these sort of Windows only sites are not any of the common "popular sites" .... but more often things like car manufacturer service websites etc. where they provide special locked down PDFs that need special non Adobe viewing software.

But it's no big deal to run windows in a window .... there is absolutley no speed difference. Maybe if you're a hard core gamer, but I'm a grown up and am passed the need to run around in a virtual environment shooting aliens !

But in the end, just like the old Airbus vs Boeing debate...... there will always be two camps.

I am sure that these questions have been asked before but I wonder if some of you would be kind enough to help me please wiht some advice.
I have had several PC laptops and am tired of not being able to open all the tabs which i want to and of the computer crashing, so I lose all sorts of browsing informaiton. I thought that for my next computer I would try an Apple Air-portability, lightweight. I don't do anything very complex on a machine other than store a lot of e mails and browse.
If I buy a Mac Air, and confirgured as I like, in the US, it is about £250 cheaper than in Europe/UK. I bought a Sony PC once in the States and had total problems with warantees and no back up at all and no help at all from Sony, even though I spend all my time travelling and so there was no reason why I should not have bought a PC in the USA.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Apple warranties on laptops are worldwide, so no problem! :ok:

Applemacster

Okaaay thank you...I am a bit bitten because that is what the Sony shop at King of Prussia, PA told me about Sony warranties and that was not the case.

Hammer,

It's part of the "Global Repair Coverage" clause:

AppleCare FAQ

The only caveat is:

However, in the US, Europe and Japan , you're pretty much sorted. If you're spending a lot of time in Africa or South America, it may be more tricky to get a problem sorted without sending the Mac away. If you get the AppleCare, there is unlimited telephone support, though for the three years. Depends what you need.

Applemacster

Thank you-very kind of you and most useful information.

Airport Problem
 

Hi All

I am being baffled by a network problem.

I have 2 Macs, a MBP 17 inch running Snow Leopard and an old Powerbook G4 running 10.4. Both connect to a no security (ie no password wireless) network at home. "Suddenly" the MBP will not join the wireless network (A DSL model D-Link). Error message when running diagnostics of "Unable to join Airport network.....". The G4 works just fine.

Have tried rebooting both devices ie the MBP and the D-Link. The MBP will work fine with a cable attached to the D-Link but not wirelessly!

Any ideas?

Thanks
BF

Can the MBP see other wireless networks? Can the MBP see the G4 over wireless?

Could the wifi NIC in the MBP be faulty?

SD

That's the odd thing Saab. Under "shared" in the FINDER, I can see the Powerbook and connect to it (ie login) and access my old files there!

How do I check the wifi NIC?

thanks

If you are doing that over the wifi link (not cabled), then you have already demonstrated that it's working!

Is it possible that you have set the wifi NIC on the MBP to access Ad-hoc (Computer-Computer) networks ONLY?

Otherwise, have you set up MAC-address filtering on the wifi access point?

Are you sure that the MBP is trying to connect to your AP, and not some other one?

Another possibility is that you have set up security (WPA or WEP) on the access point. Or possibly told the MBP to use it when not required.

Given that you have no security on the wifi network, could someone else have changed anything?

SD

Thanks Saab. My wireless connection via the MBP is completely dead. So, I plug in an ethernet cable to access the net. However, via this cable, I can see other wireless devices that are connected to the router.

Here's something really interesting:

Apple - Support - Discussions - Dropping Wi FI Signal ...

A few people are having my problem. Ever since I upgraded to SL, weird stuff happens like losing effects on iPhoto slide shows and so on. I made a post a few months ago on this thread and love showing it to the Apple 'genius' folks in Apple shops that I visit.

Back to the problem, I now put on a pw on the router, everything that used to connect to it won't until I enter that password on ea of the devices, ie the Powerbook, a Vista machine and the iPhones. The MBP wireless remains dead as a dodo.

All points to a problem with Apple's AIRPORT upgrade with SL.

No one else knows how to change the router as I am the de facto tech "expert".

Any ideas? I keep defending and loving Apple products but am beginning to look silly with these SL bugs! Thanks for your help.

Given the facts you proved, I would suspect either 1) the MBP has "lost" the driver for the wifi NIC, or 2) the wifi NIC has done a Norwegian Blue (shuffled off...).

SD

Migrating from one Mac to another ?
 

Work is buying me a shiny new MBP. I want to migrate as much as I can automatically - has anyone used the Migration Assistant, and is it any good ?

What about Darwin ports and other apps (VMware Fusion, Caffeine, and the like) which add kernel extensions or startup items ?

Saab - You are right. Airport just started working again! I am baffled by it all. Many thanks for your input.

Mac Mail
 

Having a problem since I set up SL. Mail messages freeze with destination address and I cannot write message or title. Any ideas please. (also set up google apps address so wondering if that has affected Mail).
Thanks in advance for any advice:confused:

Snow Leopard Wifi Problem Solved!!
 

Saab - I thought I'd post this thread on how I solved the SL Wifi problem:

Apple - Support - Discussions - WiFi trouble since Snow Leopard Upgrade ...

It is not a hardware problem, strange enuf!

THanks BF - and I thought PCs were bad... ;)

SD