I have been struggling with the fact that I think our learning has evolved to more tech exploration. After attending Podstock 2013, I realized that Windows operating system is going to be costly to get some of the apps and software we need for my kid to pursue his curiosity. I will be bringing home another child next year and they have had much less homeschooling experience and even less opportunity to pursue their areas of interest. As a result, it saddened me to think that we may need to go Apple. While I personally love the Apple OS, they are very expensive products. As I have been unemployed for several months, money is even more of an issue than before and we just do not have the funds to make the transition a smooth one for quite some time. Do any of you know have a preference to Android or Apple? I am trying to research and get more a feel. So far, other forums I've tried offer little or no opinion. Peanut gallery, I'm calling out for help! Your opinions matter much! Thank you, in advance!
There is no way I could afford anything Apple. Our PCs are both running Windows 7 and my tablet is an Android. I can't even afford an Apple mp3 player... lol
We can't afford Apple either. We have an old PC with Vista (ugh!!) and a newer laptop with Windows 8 (bigger ugh!!) We have a Kindle Fire (android).
I would look at things purely economically if you've been out of work. Is the cost of the Windows apps greater than or less than the cost of the Apple Apps PLUS the new Mac to run them on?
I agree with Amie. I have windows xp on one computer, 7 on another, and all the phones are androids. We can use things on all 3 without out problems. My family member who has a Mac has a hard time connecting it to her Android phone. So she is going to buy an iphone to fix that issue. I think it would be cheaper to just stay in the non-apple products.
We are a Mac family. We are also a one tiny income family. We usually buy refurbished which makes our computers more affordable. From our experience, we are able to use Apple products for much longer than PCs and have them work just as well as when first purchased. My husband is a web/graphic designer and needs a dependable computer that will work hard and for many years. We have both used Windows and definitely prefer the ease of use and dependability of Apple. We don't prefer Apple products because of fads or anything. We are some of the least in style people we know. Ha! So my opinion is definitely performance based. I understand the cost issue. I would advise you to check out refurbished products first to see if you can get what you want cheaper. If not, please don't go into debt over technology. I'd never advise that, no matter how much I love Apple.
Sadly, I must use Windows for work. It stinks: updating without warning, subject to viruses, gets slower and slower or time, .... Apple's operating system, on the other hand, does not suffer from viruses and, from what friends tell me, never slows down. Honestly, the main reason I get a new laptop every two years is because of the slowing problem.
Windows can be kept clean and speedy with the right maintenance. THe updates can be downloaded and only installed at your command. There are emulators that run under windows that allow android apps to run on a pc. If you want a tablet experience, Kindles and Tablets that run android are very cost effective. The amount of free and almost free apps is amazing.
