Why I Went Mac But Still Keep My PC

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I boycott anything made by Apple simply out of principle. They stole the Linux kernel and didn't contribute anything back to the open Source community. For that, they get a life time boycott.
 
I love seeing MSSQL messages on those sites!

And btw - virtualization - ya sure they cause performance losses, but they can be so slim you won't notice it! 80% of all our servers are running on a total of 12 ESX servers, and if it wasn't for the nifty iso mount feature in the vc client I'd be unable to tell wether they were real or not. Anyhow, ofcourse they can't do games with an emulated vga adapter, but then again - anyone buying a mac knows he's saying no thanks to gaming in advance, so vmware fusion does make sense.
 
looking for Expose on your pc? Try Topdesk http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/

It was one of the few things I found more "productive" when working on a mac (for graphic design), but not that big of an advantage. Topdesk has the expose style setting and a vista type flip thingy also, and is customizable with key settings and such.

Problem solved.
 
I have nothing against Mac's, I've tried em before, honestly i didn't find anything special about OSX. Not to mention the Apple hardware or in apple's case their "Consoles" is not special, oooOOo ECC memory wow!.....And my favorite line "Well Apples can't get viruses"... they most certainly can, why would anyone want to waste their time, (Like i did reading this article as an example) to code a Virus that affects what 7% of the Computer population? Yea Windows does require more maintenance, but if u have a high end computer, you should already know how to defrag your machine, erase temp files. increase your SWAP file size n so forth. And whats the point of this article? Whats like the bang? I wasn't convinced at all, not 1% of your mac adventures convinced me to even consider going your route. And no firewire 800 is not gonna sale me. Macs are just cool little toys, if i ever have extra cash and just wanna b on both worlds, I might consider one just so I can say "I know macs" But I guarantee you I'll be on my PC gaming and and graphic designing 90% of the time.
 
[citation][nom]stm1185[/nom]If apple would sell a powermac desktop at a competitive price, with the option of getting a $100 OEM copy of Vista installed as well in dual boot, I would be interested.Why cant Apple sell a powermac with the following:Q9450 $3004GB PC800 $100P45 Mobo $150500GB HD $100DVDRW $35Ati Radeon 4870 $300Case with 500+ Watt PSU. $200.So around $1200 for components,Sell those components, with a dual boot of OSX/Vista installed; and I would buy for $1500.[/citation]

Because thats the only way apple can make money is by keeping the USER strapped down to their Apple based hardware. They can set whatever price they want. And people wonder why the OS is so cheap, It better be cheap if ur paying 3000 for crappy hardware and getting 1000 worth.
 
[citation][nom]KyleSTL[/nom]apple.com -> Store -> Mac Pro -> Configure NowWhere is the BluRay option? And TV Tuner card?Could you provide a link proving your assertions?To my [limited] knowledge of Mac you can only buy accessories/upgrades/etc from them to maintain your warranty (and have driver support). Correct me if I'm wrong.[/citation]

Like a lot of PC vendors, Apple doesn't offer the drive directly yet, but You can purchase one here.
 
I tried an HTML link up there, but the forum greyed it out:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/06/fastmac-debuts-blu-ray-drive-for-your-fast-or-slow-mac/

That's the link.
 
"High cost Barrier", i find its not really the cost that is the problem, it is that most people who read these forums knows that Apple is screwing people over charging $300 for a 750gb harddrive, $300 for 4gb of ram. I am not opposed to dropping $3000 on a Mac, I am opposed to dropping $3000 on a Mac with the hardware of $1500 Dell.

The benefits of the Mac platform are for school children and senior citizens. An adult with a working brain should not find Windows dificult, and should not download and run malicious software, and should not spend 3x as much for Intel based hardware, because it comes on an Apple.
 
I've seen some people mention that for college students a mac is great, but i beg to differ. Maybe for some college students it is but I'm a EE major and mac simply wouldn't cut it for me. Mac doesn't even offer a system with the recommended system specs i need much less the compatability I need to work with the software provided by the school or the school's network. Sure if you're going into political science or elementary education a mac would work fine (especially if you can afford to spend an arm, a leg, and your left nut) but for someone going into an engineering, computer science, technical, or even business field a mac just won't cut it in my opinion. Granted you can solve the compatability with bootcamp or parallels but Cost of Mac + MS OS + MS Office = outrageous price. Just my opinion.
 
yeah, he failed to point out the basics: Macs are loved by graphic designers, musicians and other "creative" professionals because it's faster/easier to use. The interface never gets in your way, it helps you, and is beautiful :) And it crashes a lot less than a XP/Vista machine with a few apps picked from the "great sea of PC software".

You can let your children use a mac without trouble, they'll find their way. On windows they won't know what to do after the first error message. Then if you want more power you are free to go up to the shell. got it?
 
Wow, this article has met with some histility. I think some get a little emotional about their machines. I am a graphic designer and occasional gamer. I use PC at home and Mac/ PC at work. Simpy put, OSX is great, and in the artworld, don't try designing on anything but a MAC unless you are very computer savvy or you will have endless compatibility, font and colour issues when going to press. HOWEVER. OSX aside, Macs are over priced, the only thing I'll say, is I still haven't found a company that makes a nicer looking, streamlined computer then the Mac Pro. PC enthusiasts seem to love glow-in-the-dark, flashy, cases and hardware. I don't. Macs look nicer, the cast aluminum case is cool, funtional and interior decor friendly. PCs destroy Macs in terms of value. My suggestion, if you have the money, are not into gaming, want a beautiful looking computer for your studio, get a Mac. If you want power, overclockabilty (is that an actual word?), gaming and unlimited access to bootlegged everything, go PC.
 
@Xuzial: there is need to talk crap you don't know. OS X is safer than windows, it's not just by the numbers. If you were right, it would have 7% the viruses that windows has, and it is nowhere near that.

Do you know the benefits of ECC memory? Did you know all manufacturers stopped using ECC on 286/386s for cost savings? It was standard back then. Get to your system perfomance monitor (on Vista for example) and check out how many memory errors you get in A SECOND, then you'll realize what ECC is for.

The point is some people don't want to or don't have time to defrag, configurate and caress their hardware like a baby. They want a useful machine, a solid tool for work that doesn't need fiddling with setups everytime you want something to just work. Macs are good for that, they are reliable and require less maintenance.

And actually they charge you $3000 for $1500 hardware because you get the most amazing OS + tech support with real people at an Apple store. And show me how you're going to cram all that high-end stuff inside your LCD by yourself.

@stm1185: my ass. Most artists use Macs because of the advantages I already stated. Heck, go check out "Googleplex" videos and you notice that coincidentally 90% of people in there have a MacBook Pro.

It's not just "downloading malicious software". Windows crashes, windows hangs, windows doesn't like apps you install depending on what you have installed before. The registry is a big funky mess. You get errors that don't make sense all the time. You have a hard time killing a crashed app.

If you knew anytyhing about engineering/computer science you would be praising macs, not the opposite. Please don't talk people off of it just because you don't know it.
 
[citation][nom]anonymouse[/nom]@Xuzial: there is need to talk crap you don't know. OS X is safer than windows, it's not just by the numbers. If you were right, it would have 7% the viruses that windows has, and it is nowhere near that.Do you know the benefits of ECC memory? Did you know all manufacturers stopped using ECC on 286/386s for cost savings? It was standard back then. Get to your system perfomance monitor (on Vista for example) and check out how many memory errors you get in A SECOND, then you'll realize what ECC is for.The point is some people don't want to or don't have time to defrag, configurate and caress their hardware like a baby. They want a useful machine, a solid tool for work that doesn't need fiddling with setups everytime you want something to just work. Macs are good for that, they are reliable and require less maintenance.And actually they charge you $3000 for $1500 hardware because you get the most amazing OS + tech support with real people at an Apple store. And show me how you're going to cram all that high-end stuff inside your LCD by yourself.@stm1185: my ass. Most artists use Macs because of the advantages I already stated. Heck, go check out "Googleplex" videos and you notice that coincidentally 90% of people in there have a MacBook Pro.It's not just "downloading malicious software". Windows crashes, windows hangs, windows doesn't like apps you install depending on what you have installed before. The registry is a big funky mess. You get errors that don't make sense all the time. You have a hard time killing a crashed app.If you knew anytyhing about engineering/computer science you would be praising macs, not the opposite. Please don't talk people off of it just because you don't know it.[/citation]

Here's my reply to your response
"wah wah wah...wumph wumph wumph"

"And actually they charge you $3000 for $1500 hardware because you get the most amazing OS + tech support with real people at an Apple store. And show me how you're going to cram all that high-end stuff inside your LCD by yourself."

Are you serious? So I should go and pay 3000$ for a mac because they have excellent tech support? I shouldn't need tech support unless my hardware is failing, and since they have the Most Amazing OS I should be able to figure everything out without the help of Apple, I never called tech support in my life for anything. never needed em.

Windows crashes hangs and bla bla, is all user error, If your a moron installing 4th party apps, then you get what you deserve.

"If you knew anytyhing about engineering/computer science you would be praising macs, not the opposite. Please don't talk people off of it just because you don't know it."

This is my favorite one, hey if you knew about economy, you'd know that you can pay half the price, get more and still run ur crappy Adobe suite on a PC.
 
[citation][nom]anonymouse[/nom] Macs are loved by graphic designers, musicians and other "creative" professionals because it's faster/easier to use.[/citation]

First, let me start off with some "facts" that are actually... factual.

Macs are loved by graphic designers because they have been marketed to them. I know a lot of graphic designers and other "creative professionals" who wanted to buy a Mac ONLY because everybody else was using one and they felt left out. Not because it was better.

Furthermore, here are my trades:
Music production
Web design
Video Production
Computer Building

So, by that token, I fit into all the categories you listed. The only problem is, I know too much. I know enough to know you're full of shit. You see, I own a computer building business and know a lot about both software and hardware, as well as all the applications that the "professionals" use, because I use them myself. And I can heartily say that you are full of shit. So tell me, jackass, what are your credentials? What do you bring to the table with your expert opinion?

[citation][nom]anonymouse[/nom]If you knew anytyhing about engineering/computer science you would be praising macs, not the opposite. Please don't talk people off of it just because you don't know it.[/citation]

Actually, if you knew anything about computers, you would be intelligent in your dicussions.

You assume that the reason certain people use Macs is because they're better. Well, by that logic, most of the world uses Windows-based machines, so therefore they are automatically better.

Mac crashes, Macs hang, just as Windows do. Don't try to pretend that there is a single operating system impervious to errors.

About being able to cram all that "high-end stuff" into an LCD... I have friends that build touch screen windows-based flat panel machines for fun. Your point is moot.

Your baseless attacks have nothing to stand on and your argument easily falls apart. There's no need to go further to poke holes in an argument that has more holes than anything else. Get a clue, you propaganda-eating brainless Mac-head. You make my friends that use Macs ASHAMED.

So, come back to the discussion when you actually have a damned clue what the hell you're talking about.
 
[citation][nom]jordany[/nom]I still haven't found a company that makes a nicer looking, streamlined computer then the Mac Pro....Macs look nicer[/citation]

Uhh, how much do you know about computer cases? Do you think that Apple is the only company that uses brushed aluminum cases for their systems? Are you kidding me?

Anybody who knows anything about computers will know that all the hardware of a Mac is the exact same stuff that PCs use. Mac happens to put stringent control over their manufacturing processes, but not unlike other manufacturers who make PCs. The only REAL difference is the operating system, and the benefits of that are questionable at best. The fact of the matter is, to most people it's all about GUI and in fact has nothing to do with any benefits of architecture or speed. A Mac does not run faster off of the same hardware simply by virtue of the fact that it is a Mac.

Seriously, are people that brain-dead?
 
[citation][nom]deck[/nom]I boycott anything made by Apple simply out of principle. They stole the Linux kernel and didn't contribute anything back to the open Source community. For that, they get a life time boycott.[/citation]
Um, OK...though I thought OS X was based on FreeBSD, and even that, on the Mach 5 Kernel. And when last I checked, FreeBSD was NOT Linux. And yes, they have supplied quite a bit to the OSS community. Webkit development for one, as well as a lot of underlayer compatibility between different networking protocols. Sure, they don't headline any big projects, but the base OS without the GUI and application layers is available for free (as OpenDarwin), and Apple developers are key players to a lot of OSS development efforts, from direct involvement in projects, to contributing through testing and submitting patches.

By the way, not to pick nits, but it is Mac, short for Macintosh, and not MAC, which stands for Machine Address Code and is key for several networking topologies. Just want to make sure you know the distinction.

When I purchase a new work machine from Apple, I always purchase the base unit with as much processor as I can afford. I add in RAM and hard drives myself, and I have discovered that I get a lot more machine for my dollar that way. Anyone who would just buy a configured box from ANY integrator (not just Apple, but Dell and HP too) is just asking to get charged a premium. If I could order the machine without RAM and a hard drive, I would.

For your information, you can add any PC video card you want to to the Mac Pro. When you boot into Windows, you can then use that video card to play whatever video game you want to as long as you load the appropriate drivers. Sure, you aren't going to set up a crossfire or SLI box using a Mac, but it might be possible if you feel like being experimental (Apple uses Intel-standard chipsets, so crossfire might be a possiblity).

Another thing to weigh is that while a PC is cheaper initially, a Mac retains its value better over time. If you decide to sell your Mac 18 months from now when you are ready to upgrade, you will discover that you could actually get nearly 2/3 of what you paid, while a similar PC will only be worth roughly half of the initial investment. And this gap widens significantly over time. There are Macs over 10 years old that still sell for $300, and you couldn't even give away a PC from that same era.

Of course, I apologize if I come across as an Apple Fanboi, but I am actually quite far from that. I appreciate any good product, no matter who makes it, and had to chime in when I saw the unwashed masses weighing in with their uninformed opinions. Of course, the old adage holds true, that opinions are like rear ends...everyone has one, and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks.
 
@Houndsteeth: No need to apologize at all; being a Mac user is not a crime. Liking Macs is not a crime. I like Macs, I just can't stand the endless propaganda about their supposed superiority. As long as one understands and like or dislikes a Mac for what it is, I've no problem with it.

@Xuzial: Do they make porn for Mac users? 😉
 
[citation][nom]resonance451[/nom]Uhh, how much do you know about computer cases? Do you think that Apple is the only company that uses brushed aluminum cases for their systems? Are you kidding me?Anybody who knows anything about computers will know that all the hardware of a Mac is the exact same stuff that PCs use. Mac happens to put stringent control over their manufacturing processes, but not unlike other manufacturers who make PCs. The only REAL difference is the operating system, and the benefits of that are questionable at best. The fact of the matter is, to most people it's all about GUI and in fact has nothing to do with any benefits of architecture or speed. A Mac does not run faster off of the same hardware simply by virtue of the fact that it is a Mac.Seriously, are people that brain-dead?[/citation]

No, people are just Apple-Fans. And will pay $2000 dollars even if Apple told them they liquid cooled a Dual-Core Celeron processor using Apple-based technologies causing it to run faster than a Q6600. Mac's look cool? ok, just buy a Lian Li case. done.
 
[citation][nom]resonance451[/nom]@Houndsteeth: No need to apologize at all; being a Mac user is not a crime. Liking Macs is not a crime. I like Macs, I just can't stand the endless propaganda about their supposed superiority. As long as one understands and like or dislikes a Mac for what it is, I've no problem with it.@Xuzial: Do they make porn for Mac users? [/citation]

Of course, porn on the mac looks crisper than on a PC, and even runs faster!
 
loool!
"My grandma can use a mac"
I love that sentence, i can navigate a Mac os with my nutsack, whats the damn point?
 
[citation][nom]Houndsteeth[/nom]Um, OK...though I thought OS X was based on FreeBSD, and even that, on the Mach 5 Kernel. And when last I checked, FreeBSD was NOT Linux. And yes, they have supplied quite a bit to the OSS community. Webkit development for one, as well as a lot of underlayer compatibility between different networking protocols. Sure, they don't headline any big projects, but the base OS without the GUI and application layers is available for free (as OpenDarwin), and Apple developers are key players to a lot of OSS development efforts, from direct involvement in projects, to contributing through testing and submitting patches.By the way, not to pick nits, but it is Mac, short for Macintosh, and not MAC, which stands for Machine Address Code and is key for several networking topologies. Just want to make sure you know the distinction.When I purchase a new work machine from Apple, I always purchase the base unit with as much processor as I can afford. I add in RAM and hard drives myself, and I have discovered that I get a lot more machine for my dollar that way. Anyone who would just buy a configured box from ANY integrator (not just Apple, but Dell and HP too) is just asking to get charged a premium. If I could order the machine without RAM and a hard drive, I would.For your information, you can add any PC video card you want to to the Mac Pro. When you boot into Windows, you can then use that video card to play whatever video game you want to as long as you load the appropriate drivers. Sure, you aren't going to set up a crossfire or SLI box using a Mac, but it might be possible if you feel like being experimental (Apple uses Intel-standard chipsets, so crossfire might be a possiblity).Another thing to weigh is that while a PC is cheaper initially, a Mac retains its value better over time. If you decide to sell your Mac 18 months from now when you are ready to upgrade, you will discover that you could actually get nearly 2/3 of what you paid, while a similar PC will only be worth roughly half of the initial investment. And this gap widens significantly over time. There are Macs over 10 years old that still sell for $300, and you couldn't even give away a PC from that same era.Of course, I apologize if I come across as an Apple Fanboi, but I am actually quite far from that. I appreciate any good product, no matter who makes it, and had to chime in when I saw the unwashed masses weighing in with their uninformed opinions. Of course, the old adage holds true, that opinions are like rear ends...everyone has one, and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks.[/citation]

Pretty good post. I am not an Apple fan, but I must admit you made a lot of good points. Unlike a lot of other Mac users (including Tuan Nguyen, the guy that wrote this article) you do not repeat the same brainwashed mantra of "it just works".

I have to disagree with some of your points though. Sure the price of computers built by all OEMs does go up, but I find that with Dell, HP, and Lenovo the price goes up only a fraction of what the upgrade costs for Macs are.

I don't buy your argument about the worth of a Mac lasting longer than another OEM built computer. I would love to see this 10 year old $300 machine. Anyways, Apple is talking about completely moving away from the x86 architecture, which would effectively make the current x86 Macs be worthless in the near future (No more support, no new OS).

Lastly, I think you are forgetting something with today's graphics cards. Size. I doubt any of them would fit inside of the Mac case. Not to mention the heating issues. Even if you did get the card to work in boot and fit inside the case, you would have to use a different card once you are back in the Mac OS. Sorry, but good discrete graphics cards in the Mac is just a no go right now.
 
[citation][nom]Xuzial[/nom]loool!"My grandma can use a mac"I love that sentence, i can navigate a Mac os with my nutsack, whats the damn point?[/citation]

The problem is that there are a lot of users out there with less intelligence than your testicles.
 
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