Windows 7 or Apple?

I'm thinking of buying a new computer, mainly use it for the internet & have never owned anything but PC's. I hate virus protection software programs as they always need updates & seem to cause more problems than they fix. I've been told that Apple computers don't need virus protection since very few viruses are written to attack them, but they are very expensive compared to PC's. I've been waiting for Windows 7 which is now here but still haven't decided which way to go.......PC or Apple.
Any thoughts?

I've always opted for Windows on my PCs. I played with Linux once, kinda nice, but it makes you relearn how to ride a bike. The cost of the Apple and the fact you have to relearn everything all over again, is why I never bought one.

People have started wars over this simple question..
I agonized over that same issue a few months ago when wanting to upgrade my old XP machine.
I wanted to buy an Apple for the perceived ease of use and reliability, but I couldn't justify the cost after having the many cheap PC's I've owned since the beginning of time, and it may or may not run some things I wanted even with their fine emulators.
All I wanted was a fast machine to play a few 'first person shooter' type games, and browse the internet safely.
Unfortunately, the 'good' games are usually Microsoft Vista/Windows 7. And some people think Microsoft is an internet target for bad things.
So, I went to Newegg.com, bought all the parts and built my own box, which is now stupidly easy to do. I loaded Ubuntu on one disk drive for my main email/internet machine, and Windows 7 on another disk for my games and some old XP programs.
So, for a few hundred dollars I put together a mid-high end box ( 8Gb ram, Tri-core 64bit AMD cpu ) that would have cost thousands in an Apple store. A hard decision since I like Apple alot, as in their Iphone and company stock!
That being said...
I ran my Windows/ Microsoft boxes for years, and still do, with no virus problems by using readily available anti-virus programs, some free, some commercial.
When I come to this forum it is on the Linux side using Mozilla Firefox, and it is much faster than the IE8 on the Win 7 side...
For me it was a cost vs function issue..
May not be the black and white answer you are looking for ... sorry

The Apple boxes are technically superior in some ways but this is not as important as it once was due to the cheapness of storage devices and the improvement of the Microsoft OS. Given that most program are written for PCs and getting them to run on Apples requires an interface program you are probably better off staying with PCs. Also, hackers and phishers have not generally targeted Apples in the past due to their low market share but this is changing. Apple owners tend to be affluent and they are seeing more and more virus issues. Apples are not technically more resistant to viruses, just a smaller target.

PC's are relatively inexpensive to build and maintain due to the abundance of cheap spare parts. I have Windows 7 beta installed on my main PC along with WinXP 64. In my opinion, I see no compelling argument to move over to Windows 7. WinXP is a relatively stable operating system in all it's iterations. Win 7 offers a prettier interface and more security but runs most of my programs noticably slower. This will probably change as more native Win 7 or Vista applications become available. I don't know how well Win 7 runs old DOS programs but you can use DOSBox to do this if needed.

What it really comes down to is a personal choice and most people stick with what is familiar.

Like others have said a Windows PC is less expensive and for most the best choice. For simple turn key solutions I like Dell business class computers order via their web site. Business class computers do not have all the trial version software junk pre-loaded on them. Long term satisfaction with any personal computer is really about protecting your data. Protecting it from virus attacks, hardware failure or natural disasters. That's best done with a network attached storage (NAS) unit. It's a second piece of hardware that has a network connection to your computer. Ideally it's a RAID device, multiple hard drives that automatically write two copies of your data. Given such a configuration when that dam impossible to repair virus strikes your computer you just re-load the operating system and the applications and you are good as new. Yes, it's work perhaps a lot of work, but your data (files, e-mail, pictures, etc.) is still safe because it's on your NAS. A NAS is a much harder target for virus writers and because most don't have them, it's a target they ignore. Don't be misled by cheap backup drive attachments. They don't have the RAID features.

For secure online banking I boot my computer from a CD using Knoppix, a free version of Linux. By running the computer from a read only CD any virus cannot be written to your hard drive because your are not using it at all. The computer runs exclusively from the CD and the computer memory. When you turn the power off all the contents of memory is lost.

You have to accept the fact that at some time you will have virus trouble, perhaps one sent you in an e-mail from a trusted friend or by some clever phishing scheme. The object is to minimize the pain it inflicts.

I was at the same turning point 2 years ago.
Same arguments, PC or Mac. I took the plunge and bought the cheapest iMac and have never regretted it for a moment. In fact I love it.
I do my surfing and email and office work on the mac side and reserved 32 gig of the 230 gig hard drive for Windows XP and my favorite windows programs that are not written for Mac.
Mac's iWorks office program seems to work well integrating with MS Office Word Excel.
And you simply will not believe their tech support if you ever need it.

I've had Apple Computers for the last 7 years now, and have not regretted it once. Yes, they are more expensive but you get what you pay for. I still have to use a PC for work (company provided) and the Mac is a much nicer machine. That's my opinion.

I have no experience with Mac's What exactly is nicer about Mac's?

Overshadowed by Iphone and Ipod, I had almost forgotten Apple made computers. I remember the introduction of Ipod was considered a godsend to their failing sales. Their market share now is barely 10% . I am pretty sure it was 7% in the mid nineties. Why the slow growth if they are so great?

Apple is like betamax, technically superior for most of it's life but constrained by corporate policy. Apple has tried to maintain it's niche status for most of it's life. It briefly licensed out some of it's technology and manufacturing under the last CEO (Scully?) but Jobs pulled the plug as soon as he was back in charge. This is why Apple will never rise above 10-15%. Back in the 80's most of the interesting (game) software was written for Apples. As PCs became more capable and popular this changed and now virtually everything is written for the PC. Don't know if this answers your question or not.

I argue this topic with my son. He is computer science major. I am using his PC which he built. Super fast, for the most part, trouble free but at times it acts up. I want an Apple. I don't want to have to screw with the system. I just want it to work, 100% of the time. A computer this day an age should be like a kitchen sink. Just turn it on and it works. No nonsense.

Obviously he want s me to stay with a PC.

He told me once, an Apple works so well cause it is not a device which is put together with parts from all different manufactures. Apple parts , built by Apple for Apple. PC' parts built by many different manf and put together. Not always a perfect fit.

Cap wrote:He told me once, an Apple works so well cause it is not a device which is put together with parts from all different manufactures. Apple parts , built by Apple for Apple. PC' parts built by many different manf and put together. Not always a perfect fit.

Good point but not 100% true, Apple does not make disk drives for example. You can do pretty much the same thing with a PC by using Intel made motherboards. That way, as in the case of Apple, most of the major components are made by Intel.

It really depends what you want to do with it. If all you're doing is surfing the web, and doing email, a netbook is hard to beat (especially for the price). If you're a gamer you need a MSFT box. If you're leaning towards more media stuff (music/video) a mac makes more sense.

I write this as I sit in my lab at home with 2 OSX macs, a headless linux SBC, an old SGI O2 running irix, and a PC running XP. (and those are just the machines that are booted up).

In any case look hard at components. For instance, Apple tends to OEM Western Digital hard drives, I have had such bad luck with those drives that as soon as I (or my company ) buy a new mac we open it up and replace the drive with a seagate barracuda.

Don't get too hung up with specs (unless you're a gamer). Processors are ridiculously powerful now. Massive storage is dirt cheap (you can get a terabyte drive for under $100).

I think both are pretty good. I use my Mac for Music Production and Recording. The new Win 7 seems to be it bit more stable than the previous version. It also runs on my Mac. If you'd like a mac I'd go for the mac mini only if you're not going to get into software for doing films and major Photo shop work. But if you're a PC guy try Win 7. Macs aren't virus free either. Yet, I've had my mac for almost 2yrs and I haven't had any headaches. Don't get me wrong I don't think Macs are perfect but my workflow is much easier now. I think anyone who may have a 64 bit PC should look into Windows 7. I'm enjoying my windows experience again. Hope this helps. These are just my opinions.

I just upgraded to Windows 7. So far, it pretty amazing. But time will tell.

windows 7 is the best. apple is good but its like you are just a part owner of it