Community weekly poll: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac?
- 3/30/07 9:25 AM
Mac HTPC
by rustytoo - 11/25/07 11:50 AM In reply to: Switching from a WIndows PC to a Linux PC! by baldwinlAt this point the only way i would even consider going Mac would be if it would do what my MCE2005 HTPC can do. I can watch HD or cable (it can control cable box)on my 42" plasma WHILE doing anything else on my 22" lcd. I built mine as always and wouldnt even mind buying a copy of OSX if I could put it on MY system. Vista is so out of the running for me so I figure i got a few years to get a Linux/Myth box running before M$ drops support for MCE 2005.
Hardware Failures
by brianlevyesq - 3/30/07 3:34 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am an old time UNIX and Xenix person so the O/S X is not unfamiliar to me. As for Windows, I use it only because I use special software that will not run on a Mac. However, even if I did not have to use Windows, I'd not go with a Mac for the simple reason that I've had a 100% bad experience with their iBook. My son wanted a new laptop for school and wanted to go for a Mac so got him what he wanted. He treats his stuff like it was something of worship, keyboard membrane double wrapped for transport to school; the works. The 1st unit last about 30 days and then had a problem. After 3 months with it in a Mac warranty station with it blowing eveytime they tried to get it to work, I finally convinced Mac to send a replacement unit. Meanwhile my kid was without it for 3 of the 4 months of ownership. The warranty for th replacement was for the remainder of the original purchase; you'd think they'd at least extend it for the period they had it. 1 month after the 12 month warranty ran out the fan started running continiously. Took to the Mac store and left it with them after they told me there was nothing wrong and it was normal for the fan to run from the second you turned it on (which it had not done nor had the original) and the following business day they called to tell me there was a logic board problem but there was not warranty and therefore the cost would be CDN$950 to replace it. The laptop only cost $1,200 to begin with. After going round and round with no satisfaction, it is sitting in its box on the shelf as my son does not trust it for school use. We replaced it with a H-P unit based on my experiences with H-P and Compaq. Since then, I've run into others with the same experiences from Mac who likewise have a bad taste for the company.
Practicality
by rkbush - 3/30/07 3:41 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For me, it's a simple choice--and here's why. It's something every PC user knows well...go with the one that is the more popular because there will be more add-ons and programs written for it. I know people who use Mac's for graphic purposes and art. They swear by it. In VCR's, Beta was the first out, then VHS swamped it. Only a massive effort can change who the leader is. And most of has complained to ourselves...why isn't every plug a STANDARD fit. USB seems to have helped there. Microsoft gave us that massive change--and has consistently upgraded it. "If it ain't broke--don't fix it!" The odds of Mac's taking the lead are very small. Seen a new Oldsmobile lately?
Hahahaha
by jacobtopping - 3/30/07 3:53 PM In reply to: Practicality by rkbushI just bought 2 computers for business. One is an HP laptop DV9230us, on is a Macbook pro. I run business software on both, and they're both great. I find that the Mac is better for excel, as the Microsoft office software has many more features on the Mac, that the windos version doesn't have! I also do photography and video editing on both. The Mac is better at both. I use the same printer, camera, speakers, external mouse, and tablet for both laptops. The Mac is esier to use for both. I also saved a lot of money on the Mac, because of all the extra software I had to buy for the HP, before I could use it productively. I can upgrade the graphics cards on both, and they take the same ram. The mac takes additional monitors that HP doesn't. I like the Mac better, I might get another one.
...and in the process...
by Ed-duh-win - 4/1/07 1:46 AM In reply to: Hahahaha by jacobtopping...and in the process of buying a Macbook Pro, you waste up to a $1000 more compared to a comparably equipped PC laptop...which makes up for the softwares heh? 
Comparably equipped?
by i,Jimbot - 4/11/07 11:19 AM In reply to: ...and in the process... by Ed-duh-winUh, there is no Windows laptop that is comparably equipped to what you get in a Macbook Pro. Sorry.
What about the years of use?
by shubhodeepdas - 4/13/07 12:25 PM In reply to: ...and in the process... by Ed-duh-winI have a Mac iBook, ancient one.. one of the first white bodies iBooks to come out and I am still using it. It runs the last version of OS, and yet its any day better off at Microsoft Office and Video than the latest XP. Its the 5th year running, plus I got it on a discount cheaper than a PC laptop at that time. Value for money... U bet.
I do have a PC workstation bought around a year before. Its currently in a carton in my storeroom. I think in the long run, the apple is way cheaper than their comparable PCs
Microsoft gave us the USB?????
by jimzim27140 - 3/30/07 6:36 PM In reply to: Practicality by rkbushWhere did you get your info?
Why not?
by Thppbt - 3/30/07 3:46 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you have ever grumbled or cursed about Windows, why would you not try a Mac? Now that it can run both Mac OS X and Windows, the choice is even easier. Microsoft is never going to fix their product, unless they start to lose market share. I was a Windows-only user up until only a few years ago. When I got frustrated with the arsenal of firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and pop-up blockers that I needed to run on Windows, and the performance impact they had, I finally decided I had enough. I've been delighted with my decision to switch to Mac.
Switch back and forth daily
by Randy Decker - 3/30/07 3:50 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've used MS Operating systems since DOS 4. I've used every Windows OS since then too. I wasn't at all familiar with Macs until I bought a used Mac Powerbook in 1998. I was immediately struck with the integration of software and hardware. Even though this was before OS X the machine seemed almost indestructible.
I was also impressed with how easy it was to find help. Mac user communities are very helpful. Not to say that Windows user communities are not but the chances of you finding another Mac user who has exactly the same hardware is very great since there are a limited number of possible configurations.
In 2000 I bought a PowerMac Gr tower. It was a a joy to use. It was built so that you could easily open it up and add RAM or drives or even a new processor. I sold it about 3 years later and bought a PowerMac G5. I added RAM and drives to it so that it now has 1 TB of storage and 8 GB of RAM.
I still continue to work on Windows at work though. I have no problems with file compatibility. I also have no trouble connecting my new MacBook to the Novell network at work.
PC People Can Always Fix Their Computers, Mac People Can't
by gizmac - 3/30/07 3:52 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Stick with a PC because you can always find help to fix it because PC people always need to fix theirs...ummm, that did not sound right, let me try it again.
Mac people are not much help at fixing their computers... when their computer breaks, they don't know how to fix them because they do not hardly ever break...umm, that doesn't sound right either
PC people can be a lot of help setting up a PC because it takes a lot of time and work, not to mention maintenace...Mac people's computers just work, so they do not have that experience...ummm, not quite right again.
I guess a Mac is a better choice, sorry for the confusion
Computers
by hits2b - 3/30/07 3:58 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I began on an Amiga 2000 and graduated to a 3000. I still have and use both. I actually use 10 different computers for 10 different reasons. I've been a professional audio engineer/producer for over 30 years. I also own and operate a 24 track digital studio. I think it's a matter of knowing which system to use for what job. Every OS has it's place in audio. I've used Pro Tools, Sound Forge, etc. I own every DX, VST plugin that has been introduced to the market place. When I started analog was the way. We had to create what are now known as plugins the old fashioned way. Many of our ideas became today's plugins. The digital systems of today are more of a convenience than anything to me. It's a lot easier to click a mouse than to cut and splice 2 inch mastering tape. The systems are all capable of getting the job done. It's a matter of personal taste unless you have the luxury of exploring all platforms. I enjoy Linux as much as any system out today. It reminds me a lot of the early days of the Amiga. So much open source and good programmers that really offer tremendous versatility. The real fun is exploring all of what's available. Make some mistakes. Crash a few systems. Lose some data and learn. Later.
STALLING
by dntlkbc - 3/30/07 3:59 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Macs are overpriced and underpowered, so I am stalling until they catch up with PC's.
mac / pc
by bdeblase - 3/30/07 4:21 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Using both the pc and the mac I find I like points of both, I run 2 xp based pc, 1 slackware linux based pc, and a g3 mac blue & white Yellowdog linux based mac. On the max I ran osx until I ran into the Yellowdog distro of linux. ( A apple approved os ) of all the computers I use linux ones get the most use. 1 pc and 1 mac.
All of the computers are set up looking the same and you have to look closely to tell the difference. and yes the pc's and linux have a object dock like the mac.
One of the replies said that they saw a 24 inch screen on a mac and thought it was better than a pc. just put a 24 inch screen on pc and you will notice a difference. the mac's with the intel chip now are ausome machines but then any computer that has duel processors is ausome and one with 2 duel processors on it would be the tops till someone comes out with a 2 quad processors on it. ah the days of the 8088 are long gone and many dollars have passed trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.
If some one wishes to avoid the lack of security of micro$ost and the cost of programs under o$x get a real operating system and try linux.. then again linux isnt for the faint of heart. its your operating system and you are in charge. and now linux runs on both the mac and the pc so it dosent matter which computer you have just get linux and you get one operating system for both computers
Staying with PC
by chicoharv - 3/30/07 4:31 PM In reply to: Are you considering switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a PC with windows and Linux on it, Suse 10.2 and Ubuntu. I use the XP for tax programs etc that come on CD"s and use linux for everything else as it is more secure and so far no need for 3rd pary virus and firewall, spam programs. Its also more fun to have dual OS's to compare and experiment with. I think Linux may be the wave of the future.
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