Apple vs Microsoft

[Country Joe-PG-]

I have a friend who's in his 70's and is wanting to replace his 2002 Dell
computer.
He went to Staples thinking they'd explain things to him but all they did
was confuse him even more.
He saw a 400 dollar Dell but the salesman started adding things on that,
in his opinion, he felt my friend needed.
The final cost would have been double had he bought one that day.

I did tell him he could go to Walmart and buy the same Dell machine he saw
at Staples without the salesman pitch and offered to set it up for him if
he chose to buy one there.

He only uses his computer to surf the web. No banking or e mail.

He doesn't understand anti virus protection or the importance of keeping
it updated. I know it can be set to update and run automatically but
there are times you need to intervene and he's clearly not doing that on his
old computer and doubtful he'll do it with a new one.
Fortunately he's not encountered and problems over the years but the guys
at his barber shop told him Microsoft will quit supporting Win XP come April
so now he's looking at his options.

I've talked over the years with many of the graduates of of the University
of Arizona. They advocate Apple computers because they are attacked
less than Microsoft systems.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with Apple and what your views are
versus Microsoft.

Thanks,
CJ

[JUST-DIE]

correct they are attached much less then a windows system. the biggest reason is there are far fewer apple systems out there then windows. if he is coming from a windows based system, it probably would be much easier to make the switch to the new computer to keep it a windows based machine. even with win 8.1 you could have the tiles he uses on the start screen.

[huntor]

I agree with prob staying with windows. However the problem would be finding a pc that still has 7 since he is coming from xp. JD is right about less attacks however I wouldn't say they are different as far being secure.

If you do get a pc with 8.1 you could bypass the tile screen all together. It will go straight to desktop. XP support is being dropped. They been trying to drop it the last 5 years

[blueleader2-PG-]

CJ,

I've used a Mac for the past seven years. The noticeable difference vs. Windows is that it never crashes and without a registry, files don't fragment and it doesn't slow down. Compared to Windows, there are very few updates to the operating system itself; most updates are program related. Since security updates are few and far between, JD is certainly right about the danger level out there for a Mac, but, viruses targeting Apple machines are out there. Firewalls and anti-virus are still needed. I wouldn't run it without anti-virus protection, if, for no other reason but to scan files/programs I've downloaded. No different than Windows as far as security concerns.

Windows 7 PCs are still available if your friend wants to order one online. Amazon and Tiger Direct still have them. I would guess Staples would have them as well, probably just not for same day pick-up. A good friend of mine bought his parents a new computer as a surprise, but didn't notice he had bought Windows 8. They looked at that computer screen like deer in headlights. He ended up giving them his Win 7 machine and keeping the new one with Win 8. They, as well, used the computer for Web access only, but they had zero comfort level with the new interface.

blue

[Country Joe-PG-]

Thanks for the feed back JD, Huntor, and Blue.

My eldest son is also a Mac user and wholeheartedly endorses Apple.

[viiper]

if all he does is web surf get him a chromebook.