Is a mac worth the extra money over a windows?

Uhm well I wouldn't exactly post it on an Apple forum, but I think most people here are professional enough to answer honestly...

the reason you buy a Mac is because of OS X (and face it, they are pretty LOL)...I recommend going down to an Apple store or somewhere that sells Macs and try them out...not a smart move to make an investment in something with such a large price not knowing whether you like it or not....

I made the switch to mac a few weeks ago actually, and I must say I will not go back 🙂 although it isn't everyone's cup of tea

You are posing a weighted question here because this is a forum for Mac users, so that chances are that most respondents will favor Mac since, by virtue of being part of the forum, they are, at the very least, owners of one Mac. You can find computers on both platforms with similar hardware configurations and at similar price points (mainly because of the hardware). You must choose the configuration that affords you the least worry for crashes based on the computing tasks that you ask of it. CPU speed with multiple cores; dedicated GPU; adequate RAM; adequate internal HDD for speed and reliability [I/O] and storage. That should be your first consideration. The next is the all-important question: Which OS is the easiest for you to manipulate, understand and interact with? Why not give both platforms a test-drive? The Macs at the Apple store are usually loaded with pro-level softwares, the staff are knowledgeable and willing to help you make the best decision and choice for your needs. The hands-on experience can be the deciding factor.

Team

Forget about the techincal jargon you're reading in this thread. If you don't buy a Mac, and your'e skeptical, go buy a Windows computer, and after you've installed all the services packs, and all the security updates almost daily, and when you're dealing with viruses and malware, and when your windows registry is screwed up, and when you're tired of waiting five minutes for your computer to boot up (in contrast to the 12 seconds it takes a Mac to boot up, at least in my case it takes 12 seconds) then you might wish you had purchased a Mac.

A 15" Mac Book Pro is more than enough for your computing needs. And it will continue to serve you well years from now.

If you want the best computer......well, you draw your own conclusion.

Joseph

I use both every day in a professional environment. I honestly don't prefer either. Both perform similarly doing coding, word processing, database design, and other functions.

If I were you, I would do as others said, try both at the store.

Another consideration, make sure that the applications you want to use are available for the computer you decide to buy. For example, if your coding includes .NET, C#, etc. and you want to use Visual Studio and SQL Server, an Apple is probably not for you. Similarly, if you plan on doing iPhone or iPad application coding then a Windows PC is not for you. Of course you could get the Apple then install Windows 7 to run your Windows only applications.

If money was an issue, I would opt for the Windows PC. If money was not an issue I would opt for an Apple with Windows installed.

But again, you should figure out exactly what you will be using the computer for (applications) then make the decision. Don't buy the computer first then try to figure out what you can do with it or what applications/tools are available for it.