14 DAY TRIAL // Value for your money. If you think about it, that's all you need when you are talking about computers and the gadgets around you.
There was a time when all of us were Windows Users. Windows XP was the best and the most affordable operating system. Back then, we did not have smartphones and some of us didn't even have mobile phones. So the operating system on your computer was good for games, movies, music and even work stuff.
Years have passed and Windows XP is no longer supported. Sure, we have Windows 8 and Ubuntu or other Linux distributions are a great alternative, but there comes a time when you don't want to fiddle around anymore and just want to get to work or whatever you are trying to do.
Let's start with a question for the Windows users: when was the last time you checked your AntiVirus application or when was the last time you were worried that the software you just downloaded off some shady website was full of malware? The same applies to Android.
Modern operating systems should not have you worried about your security. They should just work and let you get on with your daily routine.
I believe Apple understood that and they came out with a solution to integrate iOS and OS X. It's not the same platform, but it's the same continuous experience. You don't get to run the same apps on your Mac and iPhone, but you don't even want to.
OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 will finally provide the solution we have all been waiting for and that is why this is a great time to be an Apple user.
OS X comes with built-in apps that offer solutions for daily tasks. There's no need to go around trying to find a good replacement for Internet Explorer, like you would do on Windows, because Safari works fine on iOS as well. In fact, it is the best browser on iOS and you have all your information securely synced.
Always in sync
iCloud makes your computer work even easier. You sign in once and all your data is transferred and backed up in the cloud and from there to all your devices.
Add a new phone number into your iPhone now and you are going to see that instantaneously in all your Apple devices: your Mac, your iPad and in the browser via iCloud. The same applies to a Calendar event, a reminder or an iMessage.
Sure, you can get the same on Android via Google, but that info won't sync right away on your computer unless you have a Chrome OS device. You can get some of that experience with Windows, but having a Windows Phone is still not the best choice for now.
Best of all, the Mac and iOS will get connected like no other mobile and desktop operating systems. When Yosemite and iOS 8 come out, you will be able to see your phone calls appear as clickable notifications on your Mac and you will receive and send Text Messages from your computer, just like you would on your phone.
"Handoff" is another great way to work in the Apple ecosystem. Your computer will know what you were doing on your iPhone and take it from there.
The (not so) Expensive Apple stuff
A few years ago, everybody was bashing Apple for selling expensive devices and computers. The value was there all along, but that was the only way to convince someone not to get a Mac or an iPad: "it's too expensive and it doesn't even have a good Microsoft Office solution."
Guess what? Microsoft Office is now on iOS and Mac and they are doing just fine. There are also millions of apps for iOS and Mac in the AppStore, so you will find a solution to do everything better than on Windows or Android. And there's no malware either.
The entry point to be a Mac user is around $590 (436 Euros) for a desktop computer and you can buy the latest generation of MacBook Air for $855 (627 euros). What do you get for that? A computer that just works, a no-hassle experience, millions of apps that present no risk to your security and an in-sync experience across all your iDevices.
Besides that, there are no hidden costs like the price of a new Operating System. OS X Yosemite is free and the next version may be priced at zero dollars as well.
You get all the apps that come with the OS and access to iLife and iWork for free. Compare that to Windows 9 and the price of a new Microsoft Office license and you might as well get a new Windows computer in two years because upgrading is too expensive.
It is a great time to be an Apple user because the software is amazing and the resale value of your Mac will stay up even after 5 years.