Not wanting a fight, BUT.

[Young Simmo]

We are a pair of oldies and have a desktop each and are thinking an upgrade might help. We have had Windows since 2000 but, have been reading a bit about computers and are starting to think maybe we should look at Apple. What are peoples thoughts regarding simplicity, ease of use, reliability Etc, Etc. Also with Apple what is the equivalent Apple name compared to Windows 8 and are there any hair raising differences in Internet and E-mail use?

Only using Windows because I did an 8 week course at the old Centrelink, around 1997-8, which was a training course on Windows 95. Centrelink is the Australian version of the Gov't Dole Office slash Pension Office.

 

[voyagerfan99]

Depends on if you want to shell out the money for Apple hardware. It's really good, but fairly expensive depending on what you buy.

What are peoples thoughts regarding simplicity, ease of use, reliability Etc, Etc.

Compared to Windows, OSX has a lot of backround and configuration options hidden, as most people don't need to modify that kind of stuff. So essentially there's a lot less for someone (to put it bluntly) **** up with the OS. Granted with the growing number of Apple users these days, you can still occasionally get infected with adware, spyware, etc.

The latest version of OSX is 10.11 El Capitan. It's been out for over a year and is pretty stable. Quite a while ago Apple adopted the "Every OS Upgrade is free" scheme (where do you think Microsoft got the idea from?) so you can be on the latest software and not worry about it not being supported.

any hair raising differences in Internet and E-mail use?

No. You can use either the built in browser in OSX (Safari) or any other browser of your choice (Firefox, Chrome, etc.). The built in mail app in OSX works perfectly fine.

Also since all Apple hardware runs on Intel processors (and has for the last X number of years) you can also install Windows if you ever need to, alongside OSX with the built in bootcamp utility, or as a virtual machine (I use Parallels myself, as I can't always run the applications I need on OSX natively)

 

[Punk]

Ok as far as complexity goes, Apple is easier. If you don't want to look at the price, then I would say go. But that also depends on your ability to get used to another OS. You say you're on Windows 8, I hope you are on 8.1, because the upgrade is free and makes the OS more stable and easier to use.

Back to the point, I would suggest actually going to an apple store and trying it out.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Get a Mac Mini. It is Apple's cheapest computer. Pair it with a cheap (used?) monitor and you're good to go.
Try out Mac OSX (Apple's desktop operating system) at an Apple store and see if you like it. If you do, get a Mac Mini and then go somewhere else to buy a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, if you need those.

Macs hold their prices up over time too so when you are ready to upgrade you can probably get almost half what you paid back for the computer.

 

[strollin]

I took that route several years ago, bought a Mac Mini in order to find out how wonderful the Mac world and OS X was. I ended up truly disliking Macs and lost lots of money in the process.

I got a Mac Mini, keyboard, mouse and extra memory to the tune of around $1,000. I can say that the Mac Mini performed just about as well as a $400 Windows machine would have. I couldn't find anything about the Mac that I liked better than a Windows machine, it didn't perform better, it wasn't easier to use, it wasn't more reliable, it was just more expensive (and slower).

I used it for about 6 months then decided I didn't like it so gave it to my daughter. She used it for a couple of months then begged me to get her a Windows computer. After that I tried to sell the less-than-1-year-old Mini, I had $1,000 invested in it so attempted to sell it for $500. No takers. However, I got plenty of lowball offers in the $100-$200 range. I finally traded the Mini for a Toshiba laptop and felt I got the better end of the deal.

Based on my experience, I learned that just about everything I had heard about Macs was BS and that they didn't live up to the hype.

 

[EINREB]

I also have been told that there are a lot of programs out there that are written for Computers running Windows, but not for the Apple. As long as you stick with generally popular, or business type programs you are OK, but if you like to try out other things, you will be much more restricted with an Apple.
I can not verify this, for I decided not to gamble and get a Windows computer, but others may tell you the same.

 

[voyagerfan99]

She used it for a couple of months then begged me to get her a Windows computer.

I also have been told that there are a lot of programs out there that are written for Computers running Windows, but not for the Apple.

Ya know, you can install Windows on a Mac

I wouldn't have bought a MacBook if I couldn't also run the Windows applications I need occasionally. That's what Bootcamp/Parallels is for.

 

[strollin]

Ya know, you can install Windows on a Mac

I wouldn't have bought a MacBook if I couldn't also run the Windows applications I need occasionally. That's what Bootcamp/Parallels is for.

Of course. Once I installed Win 7 on the Mini, I almost never used OS X again. This made OS X redundant and completely unnecessary.

 

[ian]

I think the older mac mini's with the upgradeable RAM and Hard drive are great.
Everybody has different use requirements, some people may argue they are no good because of their performance, but not everybody requires the latest cutting edge performance. For older people who are new to computers or for people who are not tech savvy, I think they are excellent.
After dealing with constant problems with my dad managing to wreck his windows computer just about every other week, I gave him an old mac mini and he has had essentially trouble free computing for years.
I dont like any of the imac's. And dont like the way they dont have upgradeable RAM on the newer mac mini's, I have seen the reasons apple have quoted, but I think it is just a case of corporate greed, forcing you to pay inflated Apple prices for extra ram, or finding yourself with a computer that needs to be upgraded a lot earlier than might otherwise be the case because the RAM cant be upgraded.