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Should I divorce PC and marry MAC?

By Pacita Dimacali

Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

October 24, 2011 07:54 AM

Question:

What do you recommend for a real estate professional who wants a light , reliable, versatile, long battery life computer that will last longer than 2 years?

Realtors are like road warriors--- always on the go, always in the field, need instant communications. So our computers must not only be extremely hardy and functional, they must be reliable. Hassle-free. Easy to use. And yes, also easy on the eyes.

I've always been a PC person. Always bought Dell. Always got extended warranty. And almost always changed computers nearly every 2.5 years. And after every major crash I am always in search of a new computer. This time, I'm contemplating switching to a MAC. But I want to hear from folks who switched why they did, and if they're happy with the change.

Should I go divorce PC and marry MAC.

Found this chart and wanted to share. Writer provided HTML code to paste.

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Kerrie La Guardia

ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA

Let it Rain!

My MacBook Pro has the best battery life, super light and I've had it almost 2 years and still going strong. I've seen my sister go through two PCs in that time. Mac is where it's at!

Oct 24, 2011 07:59 AM

Randy DeLaMare

Realtypath LLC - Salt Lake City, UT

Helping friends Realize their Real Estate Dreams

I continually go through the same thing every couple of years. Yet I can buy a great pc laptop for so much less than a mac I continue to buy the pc laptop. The other thing to think about is what do you want it to do in the field. I think my next move is to add an android tablet for use in the field. PC's and macbooks are slow to load up. I think an IPAD or an Android Tablet would be very useful out in the field. Everything is moving toward working in the cloud so you have access to your important docs wherever you go. This doesn't really help with the move to Mac question ecause I haven't tried it either. Mac folks sure seem to swear by their machines. Just sayin.

Oct 24, 2011 08:01 AM

Mike Carlier

Lakeville, MN

More opinions than you want to hear about.

As long as your MLS is Mac friendly, you will probably be happy if you swithc. My next computer will be Mac after the usual Dellfrustrations. I've heard that once you go Mac you won't go back.

Oct 24, 2011 08:02 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Marcia --- my Dell was practically rebuilt. They replaced the hard drive, motherboard, screen, mouse pad, DVD/cd drive...have had maybe 4 keyboards. But it's dying

Kerrie- is that 15 or 17 inch?

Oct 24, 2011 08:02 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Randy- I have an iPad but it's not a computer. Also have an iphone. And you're right when I compare cost of Dell to cost of MAC I can practically buy 2 Dells for price of 1 Mac.... But I'm more concerned about the hassles with pcs and wondering if this is a case of you get what you pay for

E.J.-- are you getting ready to switch?

Oct 24, 2011 08:06 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Hi Pacita, I too have always had PC's then I got the bug for a new phone so went Iphone, loved that experience so when my laptop cratered I went looking at MAC for a replacement but still weighed them against PC. All of the research I did told me to go MAC, however as you know a MAC is not cheap, however if you realize the life expectancy of a MAC against a PC it's really cheaper to go MAC. Long story short, I ended up with a iPad2 with a wireless keyboard instead of a laptop. Pacita, that setup is working for me, and I do love the product but as you know its not a full replacement for a laptop especially if you use a laptop for a lot of data entry, writing etc.

I will say this, when I do go to a new laptop or new desktop it will be a MAC! Im tired of PC's and I have usually had mine custom built. Go for it!

Oh this has nothing to do with the fact that my nick name is Mac. :>)

Oct 24, 2011 08:47 AM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

I have a PC running Windows XP at my office and a laptop with Windows 7 and a VIRTUAL XP program at home.....I use my Toshiba Android Thrive on the road and the PC is over 2 years old and my Toshiba laptops last longer than 2 years...,

Oct 24, 2011 08:47 AM

Kerrie La Guardia

ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA

Let it Rain!

15 inch I believe...

Oct 24, 2011 09:02 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

I posted this using my iPad while waiting for diagnostics to complete on my PC which just crashed....

>sigh<

Oct 24, 2011 09:32 AM

Mike Carlier

Lakeville, MN

More opinions than you want to hear about.

You sort of answered your own question, didn't you? You also asked if I was getting ready to switch I won't toss a working computer, but Mac will replace it when the time comes. Blackberry will soon be iPhone, the iPod is great, and best of all, the Apple stock is performing beyond all expectations.

Oct 24, 2011 10:58 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Mike.

Not quite ready to throw in the towel on pc... But my frustrations are mounting. Don't know if I'll have same challenges with MAC but MAC users swear by their choice of computer!

Oct 24, 2011 11:10 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

I think there is a shift away from PCs...darn, why did I sell my Apple stock?!!

Oct 24, 2011 11:37 AM

John M. Scott

BRE # 01442690, Scott Keys Properties - San Francisco, CA

Broker / Owner San Francisco Bay Area

Pacita, I am about to get an iPhone, and my partner has an iPad. My desktop at work is a PC, installed in 2004. Had issues with it a month ago - hard drive was failing. My geek friend put in a new hard drive and mirrored the contants, all for $100. Now it's like new again. Bought an HP PC a few years ago - the hard drive began failing within 6 months. Got a replacement under warranty. Had all my files wisked off the old hard drive and on to the new one. I love this computer - it's fast as lightning. And it's Windows Vista too, no problems. I'll be sticking with PCs for awhile - the compatibility with most buisness PCs is a factor not to be ignored. And some of my agents with MACs have had issues with the MLSs in the Bay Area.

Oct 24, 2011 02:06 PM

Sidney Kutchuk

Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA

Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

If you going to do video go Mac.

After 20 years of using a PC I switched to a MacBook Pro.
I needed to make short videos to put out on the internet and the Mac made it so easy with it's iMove software which is included with the Mac.

Yes it will cost more upfront but it will make you more sucessful. Its a must have business tool. Go Mac!

Oct 24, 2011 04:52 PM

Doug Bullwinkel

E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

I've heard nothing but good things about a MAC but I'm afraid to make the change. Software is all different and needs to be replaced and much of the business software that most companies use are PC driven. Based on your comparison chart, the MAC looks like the best bet, especially if you have to start from scratch anyway. You can be more creative with a MAC.

Oct 24, 2011 08:58 PM

John Gall

Nextage Property Solutions - Las Vegas, NV

Pacita,

Interesting post, it's definitely something to think about. MACs have a great reputation but PCs seem to remain the foundation for most users.

Oct 25, 2011 06:01 AM

Kathy Sheehan

Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA

Senior Loan Officer

My first computer was a MAC SE back in the late 80's. I loved it! But as Apple started to lose market share, I decided to go with the flow. Now I too am thinking about going back.

Oct 26, 2011 02:32 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

UPDATE:

I bought a MacAir.

Now I have an iPad as well as an iPhone

Learning curve on the MacAir, but happy I have it. Thus far, I have uploaded documents from my PC to Dropbox which I can access using any computer, including the MacAir.

Hoping I won't have to have an external drive as long as I have Dropbox...but will explore formatting my external drive to work with my PC

Nov 22, 2011 06:29 PM

Blatt + Cutino

Coldwell Banker Realty - Monterey, CA

Broker-Associate 831/206-8070*Call today*

I think once you go Mac you never go back! I just made the switch a few months ago. Yes there is a learning curve but it is worth it.

Jan 06, 2012 12:04 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Angelica

You may be right. I still have my Dell as back up...and it doesn't hurt that I'm now proficient in both.