What's so good about macs besides retina display?

I'm trying to switch from pc to mac. However when I read the specs is not worth the cost. For example I can build my own pc for about $1200.00 with a core i7 processor and 16gb ram. I'm trying to comprehend why $3000.00? I tried over and over again. Is like buying a z06 corvette for $45000.00 and then trying to justify paying for a Acura $65,000.00. Mac displays are awesome I love them but man they are charging a grip and only using i5 Intel processors.

Mac guys help me understand what I'm not understanding? I never ever used a mac.

They have a cool logo.

The biggest advantage is how they process images and how little resources they take to do it. You're wasting you time comparing specs between PC and Macs as they perform totally different.

For example I have a early 2008 Mac, which is entry level specs of like 4gb RAM etc, yet it runs and processes the massive 50mb images my D800 makes with no troubles or annoying slowness even at 8 years old.

Contrast that with Windows based machines, which clog themselves up and start to run unbearably slow after usually 3-5 years.

I work with Windows machines 12 hours a day, coming home to the simplicity of the Mac is just so stress-free and a nice experience too.

I switched from PC to a macbook pro as my primary machine mainly because I needed access to Final Cut Pro. Honestly, probably the the best thing going for the Macbook pro is the build quality. PC laptops that feel as well put together are few and far between.

Apple hardware updates tend to be a little behind the curve, and right now just about everything is towards the end of it's life cycle. The Mac Pro is particularly behind the times if that's what you're looking at...this is why people run a hackintosh. Mac product lines should get a significant refresh this year and be a little more competitive.

This is a handy guide: http://buyersguide.mac​rumors.com/#Mac

If you consider yourself a PC power user and know how to keep your machine running fast and clean, I'm not sure I'd make the switch unless you have a particularly compelling reason to do so. For a desktop class machine, I'd build a Windows 10 PC without hesitation. For a laptop, it would be hard to give up my macbook pro, but it looks like there are finally some PC laptops hold their own vs. the MBP (Dell XPS 15 among them).

I own two off the shelf Windows LapTops that were reduced to bricks with the upgrade to Win10. Not the fault of Win10, the fault of a manufacturer that build for marketing not computing. Caused me to go to Apple and I would not let go of my Macbook Pro - it is awesome. It performs at the standards I expected and was told I would get when I bought it.

If I were to go back to MS then I would build my own so I could assure the hardware is built to handle the OS and software I plan to run. Or I would pick up something like a Surface, built by MS and designed to run the Operating System. MS has tons of manufacturers out there building machines, not all build to a good quality standard. Be careful what you purchase and know what you are getting.

With Apple they manufacture their own hardware and do not allow third parties to make them look bad. To me I find Apple to be a safer purchase, however the Microsoft Manufacturers are putting out some really good stuff lately. As long as you stay out of Costco and Walmart (unless you really know what you want) and do your research there are some great Windows machines out there at better prices than what Apple charges.

To me it's the whole experience... build quality, industrial design, simple OS, beautiful GUI, sync compatibility with other devices, seamless integration with other i products, lack of virus's.

My previous life was as a graphic designer so I grew up with Apple and have never looked back. Dealing with PC type gear is just a frustrating experience, for me.

It's really hard to explain. It's something you have to experience. The extra cost is worth it, to me.

I recently purchased an i7 Surface Book and after a few weeks with it I've decided to sell my mid-2014 15" rMBP and move completely the Surface Book. The display is easily just as good as the MacBook, if not better. And so is the build quality. And I MUCH prefer the Surface Book's 3:2 aspect ratio over the MBP's 16:9. The Surface Book is a 13.5" display while the MBP is 15.4". So at first you'd think the MBP display would be much bigger but that's not really the case at all due to the aspect ratio. Sure there's a noticeable difference in display width, but the Surface Book display is only just barely shorter from top to bottom than the MBP.

Also for me personally I'm just more productive in Windows over OS X. I feel that task switching works better (HATE that OS X doesn't let me task switch to minimized apps), snapping apps side by side works a ton better, aero peek, jump lists, etc. I just have a lot of little quibbles with OS X that make me feel like it was designed with sexiness in mind instead of productivity.

With Regards to laptops I was having to buy a new one every year just after the warranty expired, I had toshiba, HP, Sony & Ace and they all broke on the hinges and or the power connector within the laptop, they tended to overheat and I felt as if they had a self destruct countdown at 13 months old. Continuous Windows based issues both with laptop and PC and always having mouse issues......I just had bad luck.

3 years ago I purchased a new Retina Macbook.....My pictures seemed to come alive. They are built to last. I don't need any security software, SO reliable and a pleasure to use. Yes Apple products are expensive but I will never go back to a Windows based PC/laptop ever again. I also use a 5yr old iMac which I purchased used, again an absolute pleasure to use. They take a bit of getting use to but you will not regret the purchase. Updates I have set to take place at midnight and have not had any issues at all. I run Photoshop CS6, Photomatix Pro, Canon DPP, Lightroom, & recently downloaded all the free NIK Collection all work perfectly.

I was hesitant at first going over to Apple which is why I tried several brands before I made the jump. It was only because of the initial cost......I have demonstrated my apple products to friends and family not intentionally getting them to change but was surprised they did and they too love their Apples.

Over the course of my work career, on multiple occasions I have worked for companies that had Apple products as well as those with Windows base computers. The outcome of my own prolonged experiences with both is that I find...

• neither truly has any particular advantage over the other as a general statement
  
• Apple, while touting its stuff as 'intuitive', still requires some orientation and training to use effectively, or you still blunder about and waste just as much time searching for things buried in its design...it is largely marketing BS about more 'intuitive' design
  
• Apple compatible stuff is more expensive to buy because there is less available from sources other than Apple itself.
  
• Apple does indeed have an edge in general graphics-oriented handling...e.g. it better scales text to remain readable in spite of high pixel count monitors; 4K monitors are better handled by Apple O/S than by Windows
  

That's right I forgot about the software to buy to protect pc. As far as laptop goes I can't even argue the Mac is for sure the best. Mac Desktops a nice one is 2700.00. And for peace of mind it won't die.

I build my own pcs I won't be building anymore. I do plan to try to purchase a mac desktop with large monitor and try that out. I love the displays they are crisp. Thank you for your input. God bless

98kellrs wrote in post #17975793
The biggest advantage is how they process images and how little resources they take to do it. You're wasting you time comparing specs between PC and Macs as they perform totally different.

For example I have a early 2008 Mac, which is entry level specs of like 4gb RAM etc, yet it runs and processes the massive 50mb images my D800 makes with no troubles or annoying slowness even at 8 years old.

Contrast that with Windows based machines, which clog themselves up and start to run unbearably slow after usually 3-5 years.

I work with Windows machines 12 hours a day, coming home to the simplicity of the Mac is just so stress-free and a nice experience too.

this is pretty much exactly what i was going to say. My past experience with macs told me that i really didn't need to spring for the high end gear. Past experience working with windows told me that I did not want to invest the time in maintenance that they usually require.

I use a 2009 MacBook that was the cheapest they offered at the time, $999 USD. I have it set up with an external monitor and use the Mac's display for pallets or finder windows. Of course I have since maxed out the ram, and added a SSD, but I cloned the old drive and have never re-installed or done any maintenance to the original OS/Adobe CS/ETC install.

If you need a tower, you don't have many choices with the mac so that might be a different story. I will say that there are a few recent threads here from someone who built his own PC and has apparently spent days/weeks doing it. Although I am one who likes tinkering around with things, I don't even come close to having the patience to put together a PC. Whether it is being efficient with initial set up, or processing and maintenance inefficiencies over time, i just like a mac. Hell, only time my fan comes on is when I am streaming music and batch processing a bunch of 25MB RAW photos.

It's easy to run Windows on a Mac but not as easy to run OSX on a PC (yes I've built 3 hackintoshes, I know of what I speak). Both are good to be honest. Software is nearly identical. I do find OSX to be more stable and easier to hack because of code on which it's built (FreeBSD).

That being said certain software still lacks OSX support like the tax software that I mistakenly purchased! I just loaded up VMware and an installation of Win 7 and I'm in business but what a pain.

Wilt wrote in post #17976015
Over the course of my work career, on multiple occasions I have worked for companies that had Apple products as well as those with Windows base computers. The outcome of my own prolonged experiences with both is that I find...

• neither truly has any particular advantage over the other as a general statement
  
• Apple, while touting its stuff as 'intuitive', still requires some orientation and training to use effectively, or you still blunder about and waste just as much time searching for things buried in its design...it is largely marketing BS about more 'intuitive' design
  
• Apple compatible stuff is more expensive to buy because there is less available from sources other than Apple itself.
  
• Apple does indeed have an edge in general graphics-oriented handling...e.g. it better scales text to remain readable in spite of high pixel count monitors; 4K monitors are better handled by Apple O/S than by Windows
  

I think this sums it up pretty well.

As for those who said that windows laptops break because they are cheap and flimsy have probably never have had a business grade Windows laptop in their hands. Most of the stuff I have seen on the shelves at places like Best Buy look like cheap toys compared to what I have seen and been working with at work. But even with that said, Apple does still take the cake in build quality over others like ASUS, HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.

Get the surface pro

Macs last forever. In 12 to 18 months that pc you built will either be burned up or something major will have broken in it or it will be slow and outdated. Meanwhile, the Mac you bought will be running like a new one.

I'm sure what I said will fire up the pc fanboys, but just buy a Mac and try one because once you've used a Mac, you'll never go back.