Is anybody using this? Is it horrible or great? Is it hard to use? I'm trying to decide, and the online opinions are very polarized. Don't want to get stuck with a horror, or miss out on a good thing.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
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I'm closing this topic. It is degenerating and going off on another tangent of Mac vs. Windows. You are all free to open your own topic to continue the debate. Thank you everybody for answering my original questions about 8.1
We have several computers and I simply never could make myself pay as much difference as Apple wants for theirs. Switched to 8.1 in December and have zero issues. Systems works well and has never crashed. The Apps feature for the Surface Pro 2 and 3 are nice but I don't use them much. The Skype app and program both work excellent and I like being able to use the Suite of Microsoft Products: Excel, Word and Outlook. If I were doing a ton of editing video, audio or pic files then I would take a harder look at Mac (Apple) and see how they compare. One more thing, I despise the way Apple controls the iTunes system but that might just be me. I hate feeling like a hostage.
Not only do I really like the low-cost of Windows machines, I actually like the "Wild West" environment of the Windows technology playground. There are price-points on hardware and software for everyone. Although I purchased MS Office, much of my other software is freeware, including the free version of AceMoney accounting software,which is limited to two accounts (for me, that's one bank account and my PayPal account.).
Viruses? Malware? Adware? No Problema. I did corporate desktop antivirus integration for Delta Dental HQ in SF in the early 1990's. Inexpensive anti-virus utilities have always protected me from infection on my own PC's and laptops - and I currently the free Avast! anti-virus utility available for a single computers, and it works like a charm - and it auto-updates.
I feel the same way about iTunes - Big Brother is always watching. Even when you are working with legitimate non-copyrighted material, and don't have the money to buy copyrighted material, the pressure is relentless to do so.
Apple is mercenary to the extreme, controls their Mac environment with an iron hand, and still has a cult-like following. And of course, Microsoft is also mercenary, but Windows still has a vast non-corporate gold-mine of software outside of Microsoft's control.
When I hear people insulting Apple users as "cultists" or "hostages" and claiming that Windows is somehow superior because it can run Powerpoint, I am sad because my friends are in deep denial about what is happening in the world of computers.
I grew up with English sports cars - working on them non-stop, driving them less. Many of my friends were adamant about the superiority of Chrysler/Ford/Chevy iron. When the Japanese cars/motorcycles arrived, many of these friends sneered and insulted the Japanese "rice rockets."
However, ordinary people drove them, found that they were more fun to drive, safer, more reliable and bought them in droves. We all know what happened to Detroit. Microsoft is going there now.
One thing I know for SURE about the people who claim Apple products are somehow undesirable is that they have never actually owned an Apple product.
David, get a clue - you don't NEED anti-virus software with Apple products and ALL software, from Apple or third parties, updates automatically. And Rob, ALL Apple and third party software reads and writes MS Office files. The difference is that the modern software is MUCH easier to use.
The world of computers has moved on from the old desktop PC. Apple has sold more than 600 million mobile computers, iPhones and iPads. Software development on Microsoft desktop OS applications has virtually stopped, part of their problem, and moved to mobile platforms.
Keep in mind that computer power is increasing at the rate of 1000x per ten years. Your iPhone is more powerful than your desktop of three years ago.
The future is in what computers can do for us as people, not what we have to do for them.
My grandfather immigrated to the US from Russia after the revolution and declared that airplanes were unsafe and he would never fly in one. He died in the 80s, never having flown in an airplane, taking the bus to visit his 14 children. Is that you?
Strawmen and making things up that iI did not say? I hesitate to respond to such anger, but I will try to straighten things out a bit.
Macs are fine for many people, it's just that after more than thirty years of using personal computers, including two years of using Macs at work and three months as a network professional attempting to better integrate them into a corporate network, I still prefer Windows. I am not a fan of either Microsoft or Apple,and I will continue to base my technology purchase decisions on the best value and which affordable technology will serve me the best. I'm don't feel compelled to be on the cutting edge of technology - I jut want an affordable computer system to do the things I want to do - and I've succeeded nicely with my Toshiba Satellite laptop with Windows 7.
With my skills,experience, and limited budget, Windows 7 still does an excellent job for much less money than a Mac, and is robust,reliable, self-updating and secure. To each his own.
My statement on a "cult-like following" is based on personal interactions with highly defensive Mac devotees - and things that I read. Apples and Macs, and religion and cultism has been the subject of both journalistic and academic speculation and research. In fact many Apple/Mac fans embrace the concept as seen at www.cultofmac.com, just as rabid Android devotees have their www.cultofandroid.com website. Nothing to get excited over - just more interesting cultural quirks. I own an Android SmartPhone, but I am not into the Cult of Android - nor am I offended that it exists. There are also many rabid Windows,butmost of us just make a decision on what works for us at the most affordable price point, and with my skills and experience, Apple andthe Macintosh didn't even come up for consideration.
Here is a sample of one of the many online articles about the zeal of some Apple product owners:
David, having had decades of experience in both the windows and mac world I would say that for the average non computer geek user the Mac and OSX provide an easier bullet proof environment. I agree that if you want to play with hardware and software Windows is the more flexible but for the average person who only wants the computer as a tool not as a hobby a Mac is a superior investment.
In reality most of what the average user here wants can be done with a Chromebook or Ipad. Most people here use email, skype, a web browser and little more. These can be done for a few hundred dollars on a chromebook or pad device. For more the Mac is a good solution, yes it does cost more but the quality is better. The Mac I am typing this on now is more than four years old and still runs the most current OSX version and keeps on ticking.
Also worth mentioning is the Mac OSX and it's upgrades are now free downloads! You can easily switch languages for the OS (and back) in a minute or so if needed.
Linux Ubuntu and others are free too. I use both and Linux has come far in the last few years. Runs like a champ on my netbook.
We've had Windows 8.1 for about a week and I really like it. I think it helps if you already know how to use a tablet or iPad. I am definitely no computer whiz. In fact I would say in many respects I am computer challenged. The transition wasn't difficult for me and that leads me to believe that others can do it too.
If not possible to change to a Mac is it possible to get some training from a local who is now familiar with Windows 8 and 8.1 - i.e. someone who has mastered the intricacies? This would save me a whole bunch of frustration. Thanks.
There are a number of Windows 8 and 8.1 Tutorials on YouTube
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