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Is this the right motivation for buying a Mac (iMac)?

Sir Loin Steak

Sir Loin Steak

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 2, 2009
258
0
England
Not exactly sure where to put htis, but why not here in the iMac section?

I've had PCs for as long as I can remember - certainly since the early 1990s. I have taken them apart, rebuilt them, added and subtracted components and have been happy doing this.

I have also just about accepted that the damn things fall over now now and then, that they get viruses and do other unstable things that I am now fed up with!

While it may not be a fault of the PC (currently using XP SP2), my partner and I have both fallen foul of internet fraud - one involving a straightforward theft from a bank account, the other a PayPal theft of password (I think). Indeed, it may be that I simply haven't taken enough care to protect the PC in the first place that has led to these events.

Either way, I am desperate for STABILITY! Would I be barking up the wrong tree in thinking that a Mac (and I love the look of the iMac 2.8ghz 24"), would make me a happy user?

I surf a lot, use eBay a lot, buy stuff. I also use a computer for spreadsheets (excel) and basic office-type things. I have heaps of photos of the family which I like to edit/improve as well, and a few films of the same thing.

Getting an iMac or a Mac of any kind would be a big leap for me - not least the weird mouse thing!

What you think of my motivation? Ill-considered or smart?

Many thanks all for reading.

Loin
 
In the Buyer's Guide, it recommends not buying now as an update (for the iMac) is due... anyone know when that is due?

Another question, where I'm familiar with swapping out parts in a PC, is this the same in a Mac? Such as memory upgrades?
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
Don't hang about answering! :eek:
Click to expand...
:confused:
Sir Loin Steak said:
In the Buyer's Guide, it recommends not buying now as an update (for the iMac) is due... anyone know when that is due?

Another question, where I'm familiar with swapping out parts in a PC, is this the same in a Mac? Such as memory upgrades?
Click to expand...

Yes, refresh is imminent, I would guess within the month. Maybe hold off 'til then if you want the latest/greatest. But about swapping parts, it will be a lil' harder on an iMac, because they use notebook components. :)
 
sounds perfect for you OP, you dont even need antivirus software :)

wait until the upgrades, otherwise you might regret it.. because you have had experience with hardware im sure you will notice the difference.
 
Huh? Don't need anti-virus?

That's the first thing I had to consider when setting up a PC OS for the first time on the 'net. I currently use AVG (full, not the 'free' version), but someone else is recommending that I use some software called 'ESET'.

Macs don't (need?!) run anti-virus?

Are they still susceptible to to other attacks, like keyloggers, for example?
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
Huh? Don't need anti-virus?

That's the first thing I had to consider when setting up a PC OS for the first time on the 'net. I currently use AVG (full, not the 'free' version), but someone else is recommending that I use some software called 'ESET'.
Click to expand...

no, they do not need anti-virus! so many people cannot get this.. just dont be an idiot and torrent files, or watch an incredible amount of pr0n and you will be fine!! windows viruses can get into your mac, but cannot infect it.. they can only be passed on in say, a chain mail.

Macs don't (need?!) run anti-virus?

Are they still susceptible to to other attacks, like keyloggers, for example?
Click to expand...

well, if your stupid enough to let somebody install a keylogger on your computer then your an idiot! there is no way to get into the mac externally though.

i have mentioned on the anti virus thread to use your main account as a "general" user, this means that for any tasks that are "administrative" you need to enter a password. i find this most pleasing, it ensures that i have pretty much full control over my computer because if a person got the user name of my account they still would not have the admin account.

have a read here, i explain my view better: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/635248/
 
DoFoT9 said:
well, if your stupid enough to let somebody install a keylogger on your computer then your an idiot!
Click to expand...

Don't hold back! :) I can't be sure a keylogger got installed, that was just the first option I turned to when desperate for someone or something to blame.

Just in passing, then, could a keylogger be installed on a Mac? If one was on a PC and I didn't know it, or did not know how to prevent it happening, how could I prevent it happening on a Mac?

I'll check your link out, DoFo., thanks.
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
Don't hold back! :) I can't be sure a keylogger got installed, that was just the first option I turned to when desperate for someone or something to blame.

Just in passing, then, could a keylogger be installed on a Mac? If one was on a PC and I didn't know it, or did not know how to prevent it happening, how could I prevent it happening on a Mac?

I'll check your link out, DoFo., thanks.
Click to expand...

haha sorry, just impulse..

there are keyloggers for mac, and im certain there would be some kiddies running around trying to spread keyloggers. so yes it is possible.

to beat it i would suggest
1. using a "general" account.. works a treat, this would only let the virus/trojan etc infect your files, not the whole computer.
2. update regularly.
3. do not go to websites that are silly
4. make sure there is always the Padlock sign up the top righthand corner of the safari window (this ensures that the website is secure and encrypting your login details). ((note, this point is VERY important!!)).
5. dont be silly
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
Don't hold back! :) I can't be sure a keylogger got installed, that was just the first option I turned to when desperate for someone or something to blame.

Just in passing, then, could a keylogger be installed on a Mac? If one was on a PC and I didn't know it, or did not know how to prevent it happening, how could I prevent it happening on a Mac?

I'll check your link out, DoFo., thanks.
Click to expand...

The keyloggers that are available are designed for watching young ones or other not so guardian like uses. They however require you to consciously install the software and will make you jump through several security hoops before completing. As for getting one from surfing the net? No. Anything that prompts you for the admin password should only happen when you are consiously installing a software package or driver (kext).
 
Trip.Tucker said:
As for getting one from surfing the net? No.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I know this is getting off the original subject... I had only suspected my PayPal account was compromised (could only think of a keylogger), but perhaps the ebay account was compromised. Then again... the crook would have to have supplied a PayPal password to make the final purchase.

I've got my money back from this fiasco, thank gawd, and thought I might spend it on a iMac - that's what I'm asking about really... I might be familar with PCs in a way that I am not with Macs, but I am still fed up with the wobbly nature of PCs. Or even Hotmail for that matter.

Cheers
 
Chances are that your password was taken from clicking on an email link. This can happen on any platform (although modern browsers like Safari and Firefox will now flash up a phishing warning).

There are virtually no viruses for OS X and you do not need anti virus.

Also consider the merits of OS X and the machine. Spend some time looking through the Apple site - with any luck you'll think it all looks pretty exciting and new, and that the products look really tasty and classy.

If you're going to splash out, it should be because you want to. Don't consider it like buying a new washing machine - think of it as treating yourself to something you really want.
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
I've got my money back from this fiasco, thank gawd, and thought I might spend it on a iMac - that's what I'm asking about really... I might be familar with PCs in a way that I am not with Macs, but I am still fed up with the wobbly nature of PCs. Or even Hotmail for that matter.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I had never even touched a Mac before last summer when it was time to upgrade my system and we have a lot of iMacs at work so I had a bit of a play on them and decided to make the switch. I'd been thinking about it for a while but never dared to take the plunge before then and I am so glad that I did. I've been using Windows exclusively for about twenty years but I found the Mac incredibly easy to pick up and with sites like MR and Apple's own resources, you can usually find the answers to any questions you have..

My husband still uses a Windows PC and I do at work and I feel as though the Mac is generally a lot more secure and stable, it's certainly not given me any problems as yet!

I would never imagine a time when I would want to go back to Windows for personal use and if you do make the switch, I hope (and believe) you'll have the same smooth experience!
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
Don't hold back! :) I can't be sure a keylogger got installed, that was just the first option I turned to when desperate for someone or something to blame.

Just in passing, then, could a keylogger be installed on a Mac? If one was on a PC and I didn't know it, or did not know how to prevent it happening, how could I prevent it happening on a Mac?

I'll check your link out, DoFo., thanks.
Click to expand...

Just don't download anything illegal (ie : pirated softwares) and you should be fine.
 
Sir Loin Steak said:
I've got my money back from this fiasco, thank gawd, and thought I might spend it on a iMac - that's what I'm asking about really... I might be familar with PCs in a way that I am not with Macs, but I am still fed up with the wobbly nature of PCs. Or even Hotmail for that matter.
Click to expand...

You'll suffer two agonizing weeks of not being comfortable with the way OS X does things, not properly finding everything you need etc. -- much like the first time you visit a friend's new house.

Even the first day though, things keep dawning on you.
There are a few tools that really help you along in the beginning though, with Spotlight being the biggest.

It indexes documents, email, system preferences, applications etc., meaning if there's something you're looking for -- chances are Spotlight knows exactly where it is.

The important thing is keeping an open mind about the way OS X does things, rather than PC-fying it the first time something goes wrong.
More often than not, it's possible to see the way Apple reasoned regarding certain features, and once you see why it might be a good idea it won't bother you as much.

Enjoy the iMac and OS X if you decide on buying one.
I switched back in 2006 and haven't looked back.
My time is worth too much. I simply can't be bothered building computers, worry about antivirus etc. -- I'd rather spend that time doing something useful or fun!
 
PeterQC said:
Just don't download anything illegal (ie : pirated softwares) and you should be fine.
Click to expand...

The reason Peter mentions this is because some recent pirated software contained a Trojan.
Some applications need administrative privileges to install, and it's easy to modify a programs installationscripts to include a Trojan/keylogger/etc.
If it's installed with administrative privileges, it can affect all the users -- whereas if it's not, it'll only affect the user who installed it (and even then should be very easy to remove).

In the odd event that a OS X virus shows up, the security model of the OS limits the virus from doing too much damage.
 
There are no viruses for the Mac that install themselves. You have to actually install them yourself.
 
FWIW, Sir Loin, I just went back to a Mac after a little over 6 years exclusively using a PC. I am happy to say that things have been going along super. I can read all of my PC files, including pictures, videos, MS Office docs, etc. For the last, Openoffice (www.openoffice.org) works perfectly and it's free! I also downloaded VLC for Mac (also free) to handle any odd video or audio not already working via Flip4Mac. I think I've used it three times, so far.

The only special software I have had to buy is Flip4Mac (under $30 USD) so Quicktime recognized and plays .wmv and .avi files seamlessly.

I am still experimenting with Darwine to play a couple of Windows programs. Due to an upgrade in the Mac OSX, it worked one day, but not the next. Great timing on my part, huh? I only have one or two games from the PC I want to keep so I felt that using Boot Camp and Windows or a Linux variant wasn't really worth the effort.

I was able to use my back-up PC hard drive to transfer all of my data files to the Mac. OSX reads the NTFS and FAT32 drive formats with no problem although it will not write to NTFS. I have another external drive I have formatted in the Apple HFS format I now use for back-ups.

Finally, I did download a free anti-virus program (iAntiVirus) because there have been a very few Mac virus incidents. Very rare, true, but it was yep, free, so why not?

The good news is, so far, I have not had even one system crash. In fact, when I was running Macs and PCs side-by side for years, I would have more problems on the PC in one week than I would have on a Mac in a year.

So the answer is, go for it! You will have a little learning curve, but not bad at all. Discovering the new and delightful features that come with OSX is more of a happy adventure than anything else.
 
Some great replies, guys, thanks.

I've just been up to PC World for another play with their iMac 2.8. Nice not to be bothered by the staff for a change - I needed some time with the machine on my own.

It made quite a difference to my experience there thanks to the replies here on the rumours forum and other threads on this site.

Cheers folks.:)
 
Most of us here have been right where you are now. I know my story is exactly like yours, but I started into PC's even earlier than you did. Trust me when I say you will not regret switching. The Mac is a vastly superior machine and is as reliable as it gets. I've had my iMac for two years now and I have zero regrets. Wait for the update(s) to the iMac as others have suggested and then DIVE IN!:D Get as much machine as you can afford, and get the AppleCare plan.

Rich :cool:
 
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