Simplify your laptop buying
Mac OS X: MAC or PC--
Re: MAC or PC--
by 198775425444042216790779840523 - 11/4/04 7:21 PM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailAll I can say is that everyone I know that has added an Mac has never regretted it. I know 8 people in the last year that have purchased either iBooks or PowerBooks.
The mac OS has so much to offer...from built-in pdf creation, to true multitasking..the the quality of the iApps. Here are 59,940 reasons to consider the Mac.
http://www.macnn.com/news/26856
Re: MAC or PC--
by chipperz - 11/4/04 8:25 PM In reply to: Re: MAC or PC-- by 198775425444042216790779840523The Mac is definitely the way to go! Although it can crash, it's only the individual program which crashes - the OS remains operating. There is much software available for the Mac, but you don't see much of it in stores. Most of the software is available on the internet. You can find software for almost any application. You can also run Windows programs on a Mac by using a program called Virtual PC. Although it allows the Mac to run Windows programs, be forewarned. It runs slower than a Windows machine will. All in all, I feel you should drop into an Apple Store or an Mac dealer in you area and seriously look at the range of Macs available.
Re: MAC or PC--
by mquinn1 - 11/5/04 1:28 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailI too have been asked this question by MANY of my freinds. The simple answer is IF you ONLY want a computer for its graphic functions then go ahead and get a MAC. BUT... WHat I tell everyone else is to go to ANY software outlet. SEE what is available for MAC and for PC... You will find that Mac software is VERY small compared to PC software.
MY advise is to get a NEW motherboard and cpu combo, a HIGH end graphics card with a buttload of onboard video ram. I like AMD processors myself. Go to a few different stores and ask questions....
Signed a PC user for life.
Re: MAC or PC--
by Jefferis Peterson - 11/5/04 5:11 AM In reply to: Re: MAC or PC-- by mquinn1I own both. Get a Mac. Primary reason: Viruses and Spyware. I spend hours trying to keep my PC clean since ALL I do is financial stuff on it, and I don't even do email on it, and I still get tons of Spyware and other invasive junk. Family, friends and clients of mine have had their hard drives wiped out, business data lost, and all sorts of serious problems with their PC's due to WINDOWS viruses. This is just not a problem for the Mac OSX. The main problem I see is that Windows integrates browser, email, and everything else into the WIN OS, and the Mac does not.
Aside from that, doing wireless on a Mac is simple, I've spent weeks trying to fix faulty connections with the WIN Laptop. I've used computers since 1985 but the WIN hardware/software/control panel options and settings are too numerous and too complicated for the average user.
The main need I have for a PC is for financial stuff, and stupid stock trading and info companies develop their services for Internet Explorer on Windows, which is the worst possible combination for security issues. But they do it because it is easiest. I try to use Mozilla whenever possible on the WIN, but still am forced to use IE at times. Even trusted sites put tons of spyware, adware, and other junk on my system.
From an IT support, maintenance, security, and downtime perspective, go MAC. I've had problems on the Mac, but I've have had more problems in 6 months on WIN systems than I've had in 4 years of Mac use.
Re: MAC or PC--
by creatms - 11/5/04 1:37 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailI'm facing the mac/pc debate here too. The advice I've received is relevant to my application - onstage performance and music editing.
My PC seller said that the MAC is most reliable and stable for music. He also said that the PC system is most versatile, but as a result of this it is less stable as it tries to be all things to all users.
My music programming/keyboard tutor has used both for years and recommends the MAC for onstage use for the same reasons as above.
So I guess it depends on the planned use - I've had PCs for years due to convenience, but reliability onstage will always triumph over any other issue.
Good luck!
Liz
Re: MAC or PC--
by callmeishmael - 11/5/04 3:52 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailAlthough the Mac and PC you mentioned are comparable in cost you must also consider the cost of replacing your applications.
You may be replacing your printer and scanner too depending on their age. Some printers and scanners, even relatively new ones, don't work with the new OS - no drivers. So be sure and check for drivers for both printer and scanner. If they aren't out there then add the cost of new ones to the changeover.
If you were starting from scratch then it wouldn't matter whether you bought a Mac or a PC but if you have a substantial investment in software and peripherals you're probably better off staying with a PC.
Re: MAC or PC--
by j10asen - 11/5/04 4:19 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailI have a PC and a MAC G3, I used to prefer the MAC but in the last 4 years have found PC system more flexable, stable and less expensive.
Take the time to learn about building your own PC at a local College or technical school. You can build them for a whole lot less. Right now my Mac G3 is useless! I paid 1500 bucks for it and it crashes just playing an MP3. There has been so many changes in the MAC opperating system and they cost way more to upgrade than my pc does. The Mac maybe glitzy and grabs attention but its a facade with no support. Do not even think of networking MACs and PC, that is a huge hassle for not much return. I can build 3 pc for the cost of one MAC.
Re: MAC or PC--
by Phych - 11/5/04 4:35 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailOk..here's the final answer to this question..it doesn't matter what you get!
I work in a computer lab w/ both PCs and Macs and they both have thier advantages/disadvantages. On the PC side you have versatility and flexability. On the Mac side you have an easy to use platform and stability.
PC's by far have the most options as far as hardware and software goes. If you are a gamer, you need to have a PC...a lot of the high end games are PC only. You'll have a lot of choices for each piece of hardware on a PC, whether its RAM, hard drive, CPU, cooling..basically everything. It will also be easy (and cheap) to find software for a Windows platform. However, all these software and hardware options do create stability issues, which crashes the system. If you buy a PC, it WILL crash.
Macs are only made by one company, Apple. The first thing you'll notice is how gorgeous both the hardware and the software are. The computer is also very easy to use. Some of the hardware on a Mac is easy to upgrade (hard drive, RAM), however the CPU, motherboard, and other components remains Apple proprietary and there are very few options for upgrading besides getting another Mac. Software will be harder to obtain cheaply on a Mac. There are fewer vendors that make Mac applications but whatever application there is on a PC, there is a Mac equivalent. Software is also very reliable and, especially in the multimedia category, much better. Crashing is limited to mostly applications and very rarely will the actual OS crash (I've done it before...but intentionally :P ).
Overall, a PC is cheaper and easier to find softare and hardware for, but it is harder to maintain and stability is an issue. Macs are made to look and work beautifully, but they are very expensive.
Re: MAC or PC--
by rbrhrbr - 11/5/04 4:58 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailI had three tricked-out IBMs in a row before frustration over crashes and ineffective tech support drove me to the decision you're pondering. I replaced my desktop at home with a PowerBook G4 last year and am thrilled with it. I'll never go back. The machine is a tank. The functions are remarkably intuitive. I am especially pleased with the tech support. Buy the Apple Care coverage. The Apple gurus are a welcome contrast to being bounced back and forth between IBM and MS with even the simplest questions. Tremendous resource.
Re: MAC or PC--
by Freibergs2002 - 11/5/04 5:27 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailIf you dont want to spend the 1200 dollar price tag via getting a mac... Buy a windows-based PC and install Linux (eg: Redhat, Suse, or Mandrake)on top of Windows...
Just trying to help.
Shawn
Re: MAC or PC--
by ecorbally - 11/5/04 5:41 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailHiya Zack. I know this is a tough one and the cause of much controversy but here's my two cents for what it's worth (about 1 1/2 cents)!
I've been supporting both Mac and PC for 10 years. I have no axe to grind and don't care whether Bill Gates or Steve Jobs get any richer, they don't need my help.
IMHO, there is no debate. Buy a Mac. Unless of course one likes blue screens, thousands of viruses, spyware galore and cranky, unstable, clunky operating systems.
I still support both but it becomes increasingly more painful just turning a PC, even my own, on - particularly after using OS X for a couple of years. I will say that XP is the closest MS have gotten to the Mac OS but it simply doesn't compare.
As for cost, the G5 iMac is up there but it's a superior machine. A Rolls Royce costs more than an Austin Allegro. That's just life. But! You can buy an eMac for £500 that will blow away most PC's or a G4 for £800 - £1000. The "Mac's are too expensive" jibe no longer holds any water.
Just my opinion. Hope it helps.
The box said Windows 98 or better - so I bought a Mac.
Eamonn
Re: MAC or PC--
by ga2636 - 11/5/04 5:58 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailHere's the bottom line in my opinion: The vast majority of mainstream software and applications are not compatible with Macs. That fact alone will keep me a loyal PC user for life. However, I have heard Macs are better with the graphics & multimedia. Your PC isn't too far behind what's out there now, but the amount of memory you have is woefully inadequate if you are a power user in terms of multimedia apps. My folks have a Mac, and every time I fly out to see them, I'm forced to use that if I want to get on the internet. Contrary to popular belief, Macs are subject to locking up and the occasional problem (experienced 'em myself), so they're not bulletproof. Good luck!
Re: MAC or PC-- graphics the same
by Daniel Londonsvenskar - 11/5/04 6:45 AM In reply to: Re: MAC or PC-- by ga2636I started out on Macs and used Apple computers exclusively from 1992 onwards. I abandoned it when Windows 95 came out. The graphics at that time was better, and is a die hard myth unfortunately.
These days and even on a Windows 98 machine, you can get the same if not better graphics.
The reason I also abandoned the Mac was because PCs are cheaper to upgrade both in terms of hardware and to some extent software. And also the one button mouse really ticked me off, becasue it wasn't really until OSX that you could use a 2 button mouse on the machine. OSX is defenitely my favourite MacOS, but I got really pissed off with the whole 9.2 OS within the OSX, and also that you can choose to have your computer UNIX formatted or MacOS formatted. Some programs work better on one or the other, but not both.
I know apple is the new hype, but I can not see any real difference if you work on a pc or a mac. They are just as stable (haven't restarted my XP Pro system for a couple of weeks now).
As for the "no virus" on a mac myth, that is not true. Macro viruses and worms still get around, and only a couple of months ago a quite serious virus surfaced for mac. Also Apple released a fix for their OSX to plug a serious security hole.
I don't understand why hackers and scriptkiddies haven't designed more viruses for the mac, because most users don't bother with firewalls, anti virus suites or plain computer security. It would be like grabbing candy from a baby.
Last year I worked for an advertising company with a complete mac environment and one Windows XP. The antivirus on the Mac was dated 1995 and they still thought it would protect them. Also, they wondered why all webpages they did on the mac looked so crap on Windows, no matter what the browser.
Colour ranges, fontsizes, font cuts, even dpi is different depending on the platform. Basically, if you do a lot of work for web, or an audience on pcs, then I strongly recommend you to not use a Mac.
Mac or PC: Depends on the use
by Discpad - 11/5/04 6:54 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailZackmail, I support both platforms in photo labs and graphics/prepress shops, and each platform has its plusses and minuses. <i>More importantly, the answer for "Mac or PC" has swung back and forth over the last 15 years,</i> depending on the hardware and OS advances incorporated in each platform.
Since you're not a newbie or a "gamer," let's start at the CPU itself: As you probably already know, CPU "megahertz" is about as useful as engine RPM: A big Chevy V8 revs a lot slower than a 4 cylinder Kia motor, but the big Chevy puts out a lot more horsepower.
That being said, you'll want to keep in mind that Intel's P4 has 3200 "megahertz" of revs, but the IBM Power5 mainframe CPU -- Modified by Apple with a vector processing engine for multimedia -- does a whole lot more on each clock cycle.
Both operating systems are modern derivatives of mainframe systems and are equally robust when it comes to multiple CPU support, protected memory, multithreading, etc: Windows XP (Actually Windows NT 5.1) has as its heritage DIGITAL/HPaq's OpenVMS, courtesy of Dave Cutler; while Apple's OS X has at its core FreeBSD unix (BSD=Berkeley Systems Distribution).
All this being said, if the budget is tight, take a close look at the eMac, which has the still-robust G4 CPU: The G4 has the AltiVec engine, and will make short work of your video with iMovie.
Re: MAC or PC--
by Delirious - 11/5/04 7:00 AM In reply to: MAC or PC-- by zackmailI use both platforms at work and at home. I sell large format printing systems with custom configured Pcs. If there was any way of avoiding using a Pc with Microsoft software on it I would but RIP manufacturers like writing software for the "mass" PC market. That may change now that Mac OS is really Unix.
My time at home is spent trying to get a 2.6 Ghz Dell box to run as fast as my Mac 867 Mhz Titanium Laptop.
Software installers run better, software starts faster, graphics are better, and now beautiful user friendly apps are starting to appear on Macs before Pcs, ie. I-Tunes, I-Photo, I-Movie etc. Ms Office runs better on the Mac, and Internet Browsers scream. The new Dell I have is bogged down by layers of unnecessary XP overhead and garbage. It takes forever to open apps and web pages now, and it is probably something I can fix after doing a few hours of research to find the secret Bill Gates fixes. Speaking of fixes, it seems every week there are more patches to load. I don't have the time to keep track of them all. Now, out of the blue my wife is having trouble sending email. All she wants to do is turn on the computer and use it. She does not mess with any settings. I NEVER have problems like this on a Mac. You need a forum like this to keep a PC running well! It's because of Pcs that I am Delirious!
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