you should still use the disk utilities on a mac like the defrag jobby, and a firewall...virus protection is less of an issue though...and on the flip side, bloomin' expensive getting new software for everything if you switch platform, and for some, there's isn't a choice as mac just doesn't do the stuff people need...average home user would probably be all set though.

I agree

And - does Vista run 16 bit programs?

My spreadsheet/word processor is Fireworkz for Windows and all my files are in the .fwk format. I'd hate to have them inaccessible!

WOL doesn't want to end up FWKED

You agree with what? The OP is asking about upgrading their XP PC laptop to Vista. So you think they would be better off dumping the laptop and buying a whole new Mac just to do the usual web browsing, documents and spreadsheets. You honestly think in the process of emigrating to Australia it is a good use of a couple of thousand quid to buy a mac?

Really?

Get a grip, the straight forward answer is, if XP is doing you fine stick with it, nothing in Vista is worth the price.

And for the mac zealots, nothing in OSX is that great either if all you do is the day to day stuff of writing docs writing emails, surfing the web and viewing porn doing spreadsheets

JTL

No, just dont buy it. There is really no advantage to owning Vista and it screws with your digital media. :curse:

Hold on tight JTL:

New MAC for 399 quid, feel the 1500 quid extra in your pocket

"BYODKM

Mac mini makes it easy to upgrade from an older system or set it up side-by-side with another computer. Just BYODKM — bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse."

I'm not a zealot and not interested in a flame war. But, if you buy a car, you don't just look for a Ford coz they shout the loudest....(i appreciate that the car analogy is a dodgy one in the world of computing however!).

If thats all you want to do you'd be best off saving your cash and running something like Ubuntu Linux. Has the stability and security of OSX and the ability of Windows to run on any PC.And its free

Now you're talking. I use Debian, with VMWare for any windoze packages I need to run, like FrameMaker. It's great. Completely stable, unbelievably reliable, virus free and also completely free, with oodles of online support from the people who wrote it.

Open source really is the way forward.

S

Since some posters were on about shopping for a new PC its only reasonable that some of us "mac zealots" point out the superior system designs and operating system is all. Nobody suggested the OP rush out and sell thier PC that they were wanting to clearly upgrade in favour of a mac.

I'm not on some icrusade about it. A horse and cart will get you from A to B so why bother forking out to buy a new car eh ?

As to whether or not someone considers if that is value for money, that would be down to the person involved.

I have Suse as a dual boot on this machine. Its ok, took a bit of tinkering to get everything set up, but no biggie.

However, I work with non-techies in my job, I wouldn't dream of suggesting any flavour of Linux to them. I don't know if the OP is a non-techie or not, but to save a lot of hassle, I'd always suggest XP... It has all the drivers end of story unless you know every printer modem wifi and graphics card they are using.

JTL

I've nothing against Macs, they are nice, and OSX is a nice operating system. Your answer was kind of irrelevant to the question.

If I asked which was the best cart for the new horse I'd bought, I wouldn't really want the reply "buy a car".

JTL

maybe you should have read what i was replying to... i included the post

yes i have a mac, yes i prefer it to a windows machine, it is stacks better and more stable than a windows machine, so what do i need to get a grip of ??,

if i wish to spend my money or more money on a machine that suits me what the *&^& has it got to do with anyone else ??

Clear that Norton rubbish off the machine completely and use AVG and you'll have a much better running machine.

Jeez whoops There was me thinking you were trying to help the OP rather than just push Apple Inc

How about next time if someone asks if a Ford is better than a Holden, you don't post that you have a BMW and they're the best, and they must sell their current car and buy one

You do have a BMW dont you?

JTL