PC advice please

pooley

pooley

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Mike
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Hi,

First up, I don't want a PC v Apple debate- thanks!

Its upgrade time. I currently have a mac mini 2012 which has served me well. However, its coming to the end of its shelf life, and I believe it will not support a 4k monitor.

I'm looking at an upgrade and am happy with the current Apple options. They are, though, a lot more expensive compared to PC, so I'm wondering if its worth switching.

My main problem is I remember having PCs in the past and was always having to run updates and worry about anti-virus slowing things down etc. Its probably me, but apart from my knowledge of running the required programs I don't know much about the 'geek' side of computers.

What I basically want is something I can plug in, and do as little faffing about as possible - off line editing and some internet and email usage and that's about it.

Is that a viable option with PCs or will I need to keep on top of them myself?

Looking at i5 or i7 with 32gb RAM and 4k monitor support.

Please keep responses simple - pretend you're talking to your 90 year old granny!

cheers

Mike
 
Windows 10 has 'Defender' which is a pretty decent start and can be set up to run scans and keep itself updated without much hassle. I also like to run Malwarebytes as well as 2 programs are better than one.

Since budget is a concern for you I'd suggest looking into Ryzen chips instead of Intel. They benchmark very well for multicore tasks and can work out a lot cheaper.
 
Cheers Andy,

It's not that budget is an issue per se, it's more that if I dont have to spend the cash then more for other stuff!

As a guide, my 2 apple options are a specced up imac, or my first choice - a mac mini, which with add ons will be around £1450 before the screen

Cheers

Mike
Andy Into The Wild said:
Windows 10 has 'Defender' which is a pretty decent start and can be set up to run scans and keep itself updated without much hassle. I also like to run Malwarebytes as well as 2 programs are better than one.

Since budget is a concern for you I'd suggest looking into Ryzen chips instead of Intel. They benchmark very well for multicore tasks and can work out a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...
 
This will always end up a V thing.

But from my experience (moving from pc to mac at work and then at home)

IMHO if you just looking for simplicity that works, Apple have that pretty much down, been 4 years at work, and 3 plus at home with iMacs and they just work, my office worker using a pc is needing to upgrade again, it’s laggy, stutters and requires a restart on occasions, mines still almost as quick now as it was then. (Yes cost wise mine was almost double her’s)

But both have for and against but I think the macs just work, iOS is steady and seems to run faultlessly and Apple care/help is second to known.

Pound for pound a pc will always be quicker.
 
Cheers Scott,

This is my thinking, just want to make sure I'm not flushing pounds down the pan

Mike
scott199 said:
This will always end up a V thing.

But from my experience (moving from pc to mac at work and then at home)

IMHO if you just looking for simplicity that works, Apple have that pretty much down, been 4 years at work, and 3 plus at home with iMacs and they just work, my office worker using a pc is needing to upgrade again, it’s laggy, stutters and requires a restart on occasions, mines still almost as quick now as it was then. (Yes cost wise mine was almost double her’s)

But both have for and against but I think the macs just work, iOS is steady and seems to run faultlessly and Apple care/help is second to known.

Pound for pound a pc will always be quicker.
Click to expand...
 
I have had a similar experience to Scott I use both Windows, Linux and Apple systems in work. I have far more problems with the windows systems requiring more attention and the occasional reinstall to keep things running. Personally I bought a MacBook 4 years ago and it is pretty much as fast now as then, no hiccups or issues, my next personal purchase will be a MacMini and Intel NUC. The Mini for photo editing and the NUC so my wife can run Windows at home.
 
pooley said:
Hi,


What I basically want is something I can plug in, and do as little faffing about as possible - off line editing and some internet and email usage and that's about it.

cheers

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike, if you want what you say above, then the Apple way is your best bet, and as you are used to the OS it will be loads easier to stick with Apple, I have used Macs since system 7 (lol, years ago) and I sometimes have to use a PC a couple of times a week and it is so frustrating using Win 10. It is no way as user friendly as the Mac but maybe that is because I'm used to the Apple way of doing things. What I do in 5 minutes on my Mac takes about ten-fifteen minutes on the PC.

Probably opposite for PC users though having to go from Windows to OS X
 
Even though I am a Windows advocate the path of least resistance might be iOS.

To be fair to Windows though, in the 4 years I have been running Windows 10 I have yet to have a hiccup or need to refresh/restart the machine.

I use the installed defender which works great. The OS updates have always applied without issue.

What I would say about Windows machines though and this applies more to a prebuilt global brand, is bloatware - get rid of it. It's a waste of space and resource.
 
pooley said:
Thanks everyone, looks like I'm better off sticking with what I know, even if it is a few quid more.

All comments and advice has been much appreciated

regards

Mike
Click to expand...
dont forget to look at Apple refurbished, may save you some pennies and still comes with apple warrenty.
 
pooley said:
My main problem is I remember having PCs in the past and was always having to run updates and worry about anti-virus slowing things down etc.
Click to expand...

Since a Mac is essentially a PC made by Apple and running OSX, I'll assume you mean "a PC running Windows" (rather than linux, BEOS, NetBSD, Haiku etc).

The anti-virus built into Windows doesn't appreciably slow it down. If you buy a pre-built brand name computer it might come with a third party AV software installed that does have a negative impact on performance, because the manufacturers subsidize the cost with the kickback they get from the AV supplier for shipping their computers with the AV installed - better to get something with a clean Windows installation, or install Windows yourself . Updates are applied automatically (just like on OSX as I remember from when I had a Mac mini), you don't have to "do" anything except wait for them to configure at shutdown / startup. They typically happen on the second Tuesday of the month (so-called "patch Tuesday").

Windows doesn't slow down with time, though some users install so much crapware on their Windows systems that it does affect performance (this can happen on OSX as well). My old machine, which I just replaced, was built by me in 2010 to run Windows 7, took the free upgrade to Windows 10 and has not been "re-installed" or "cleaned" or "defragged" in all that time, and was still running at full speed over eight years on when I retired it.
 
onomatopoeia said:
Since a Mac is essentially a PC made by Apple and running OSX, I'll assume you mean "a PC running Windows" (rather than linux, BEOS, NetBSD, Haiku etc).

The anti-virus built into Windows doesn't appreciably slow it down. If you buy a pre-built brand name computer it might come with a third party AV software installed that does have a negative impact on performance, because the manufacturers subsidize the cost with the kickback they get from the AV supplier for shipping their computers with the AV installed - better to get something with a clean Windows installation, or install Windows yourself . Updates are applied automatically (just like on OSX as I remember from when I had a Mac mini), you don't have to "do" anything except wait for them to configure at shutdown / startup. They typically happen on the second Tuesday of the month (so-called "patch Tuesday").

Windows doesn't slow down with time, though some users install so much crapware on their Windows systems that it does affect performance (this can happen on OSX as well). My old machine, which I just replaced, was built by me in 2010 to run Windows 7, took the free upgrade to Windows 10 and has not been "re-installed" or "cleaned" or "defragged" in all that time, and was still running at full speed over eight years on when I retired it.
Click to expand...

That's the thing - I'm sure its me and not the computer or the software itself, but any form of PC I've ever had has always been shop bought. I know what basic specs I want - processor and RAM and the like, but when it comes to other things I'm out of my depth, and there is that much conflicting advice around its difficult to know where to start.

All I want is a simple but fairly powerful machine, and if I could get a better pound for pound option with Windows I'd have no problem using it - its getting clear advice in simple terms that's my problem!

Mike
 
pooley said:
Hi,

First up, I don't want a PC v Apple debate- thanks!

Its upgrade time. I currently have a mac mini 2012 which has served me well. However, its coming to the end of its shelf life, and I believe it will not support a 4k monitor.

I'm looking at an upgrade and am happy with the current Apple options. They are, though, a lot more expensive compared to PC, so I'm wondering if its worth switching.

My main problem is I remember having PCs in the past and was always having to run updates and worry about anti-virus slowing things down etc. Its probably me, but apart from my knowledge of running the required programs I don't know much about the 'geek' side of computers.

What I basically want is something I can plug in, and do as little faffing about as possible - off line editing and some internet and email usage and that's about it.

Is that a viable option with PCs or will I need to keep on top of them myself?

Looking at i5 or i7 with 32gb RAM and 4k monitor support.

Please keep responses simple - pretend you're talking to your 90 year old granny!

cheers

Mike
Click to expand...

The first part:
Yes. It used to be like that in the past. There were far more PCs with Windows and far less of Apple Mac, so people write virus for Windows because there's plenty of PCs around. Therefore you're always updating Windows and anti-virus software to keep it safe. But now there are more and more Apple Mac around, so some have started writing virus for Apple computers. And not even Apple is free from the continue stream of updates after updates because Apple as well as third party software companies wants to improve their software to catch up with the modern world. So you may feel like it hardly make much different if it's Windows or Apple as you'll be updating the softare either way.

The second part:
It sounds like Apple would suit you, they're more suited for people who just want off-the-shelf, plug it in, and play. Windows is kind of off-the-shelf, plug it in, add on some extras and change some parts of it, then play.
 
Presumably, if you already have an Apple machine, you will have macOS software running on it. That would be a deciding factor for me.
 
Major Eazy said:
The first part:
Yes. It used to be like that in the past. There were far more PCs with Windows and far less of Apple Mac, so people write virus for Windows because there's plenty of PCs around. Therefore you're always updating Windows and anti-virus software to keep it safe. But now there are more and more Apple Mac around, so some have started writing virus for Apple computers. And not even Apple is free from the continue stream of updates after updates because Apple as well as third party software companies wants to improve their software to catch up with the modern world. So you may feel like it hardly make much different if it's Windows or Apple as you'll be updating the softare either way.

The second part:
It sounds like Apple would suit you, they're more suited for people who just want off-the-shelf, plug it in, and play. Windows is kind of off-the-shelf, plug it in, add on some extras and change some parts of it, then play.
Click to expand...

I think you're right on all counts, it's just the thought I could save a few hundred quid going with a PC - its like getting a free laptop for when I'm out and about!

But yes, I think I'll end up with something Apple, either mac mini and top notch screen or an imac - but that's a debate for another time!

cheers

Mike
 
john.margetts said:
Presumably, if you already have an Apple machine, you will have macOS software running on it. That would be a deciding factor for me.
Click to expand...

I do currently use a mac and have been happy with it, but the computer to me is just somewhere to store the programs I use - if that makes sense - I don't go into the workings of it all as I have no interest there, so from that perspective switching platforms isn't a major issue

Mike
 
pooley said:
I do currently use a mac and have been happy with it, but the computer to me is just somewhere to store the programs I use - if that makes sense - I don't go into the workings of it all as I have no interest there, so from that perspective switching platforms isn't a major issue

Mike
Click to expand...
I was thinking along the lines of having to buy all new software if you change platforms - could be expensive.
 
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