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Vanity: Should I switch to Mac (somebody else is paying)?
Vanity - Self | January 30, 2008 | Scoutmaster

Posted on 01/30/2008 8:29:57 AM PST by Scoutmaster

Please excuse the vanity, but I know many of you have very definite (and often informed) opinions about PC v. MAC.

I have an opportunity to upgrade my home desktop and laptop with designated funds from work. In other words, somebody else’s money, enough to seriously soup up a Mac Pro desktop and a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. If I choose PC, then I'll upgrade only my laptop. No need to upgrade my PC desktop - the drudgery of re-installing software far outweighs the little jump I'd make in PC desktop technology.

If knowing about my PC use is helpful, read on. If not, then just skip to the asterisks below.

Me? PC user since I bought my first desktop in 1991 but have since built about a dozen PCs for my family, the last couple with fairly high-end Core 2 Duo-type specs. I have a better working knowledge of the Windows XP Pro OS and PC hardware than most computer users, but in a room of IT people I’m a lightweight. My kids can call from college with a Windows OS or software problem and I can usually talk them through the fix or the installation of new or replacement hardware. No real Windows OS problems, perhaps because I’m finicky about regular maintenance of the OS, cleaning unnecessary files, fixing minor registry errors, defragging, optimizing the start-up processes, removing all remnants of programs I no longer use, etc. Feel as though I would be starting from knowledge point zero if I switch to a Mac.

Job involves lots of writing, so for work purposes my PC is a basically a word processor/research tool which I use for hours each day.

At play, I’m a heavy Internet user, a moderately heavy web design/video/graphics/Flash animation user, with a developing knowledge of 3d graphics/3d animation.

Often use my laptop for graphics, video, and animation play when on the road.

When I start to think Mac, my practical side reminds me that I have a metric Peruvian buttload of Windows software to support my graphics/animation addiction (software acquired at educational prices, a minor blessing) – such as most of Adobe’s current web design, graphics, photo, and video/DVD production software; and Maxon, Maya, SoftImage, and Z-Brush 3d graphics/3d animation software. I’m a sucker for 'superior' after-market (Open Source, if possible) administrative/maintenance software alternatives to the standard Windows programs - Diskeeper Pro, Firefox, Opera, GetRight downloader, etc.

Our family operates on a pass-down hierarchy of computer technology, so my switching to Mac would eventually result in Macs for three PC-savvy kids and for a please-just-do-it-and-don’t-make-me-learn-that-computer-stuff spousal unit whose computer use is frequent but involves little more than Office Word, Quicken, and the Internet.

* * * * *

I’ve read what I can find from technical pros and everyday geeks who tried and documented a test-run switch to Mac – some of whom drank the Mac Kool-Aid and some of whom stayed with a PC.

Spoke with several of our IT people. Mac would be compatible to network with work, but they warn that they are notably unsuited to assist with any Mac-related compatibility issues.

* * * *

I realize I could acquire the Mac versions of the video production, animation, and graphics software I use most often. I realize a Mac would run Final Cut Pro and other respected Mac-specific software titles. I also realize that in a pinch I can set up the Mac for dual OS and keep running the Windows version of that software.

What practical advice would you give to help me make an informed PC v. Mac decision?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computers; help; mac; pc; windows
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So . . . PC or Mac? The lady or the tiger?

I await your learned counsel.

1 posted on 01/30/2008 8:30:04 AM PST by Scoutmaster
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To: Swordmaker

Ping.


2 posted on 01/30/2008 8:31:23 AM PST by MaryFromMichigan
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To: Scoutmaster

3 posted on 01/30/2008 8:31:26 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Scoutmaster

A thing of beauty......

4 posted on 01/30/2008 8:32:37 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Scoutmaster
Switch to the MAC, it will be the best electronic move you make. I switched to the MAC in June 2007 after 15 years of the PC and am an ecstatic customer. No crashes, no viruses, boots up in 10 seconds, superb graphics and a rock solid OS. About 95% of the software you would want to use is on the MAC now and for graphics, pics, videos it is absolutely superb.

Well worth the premium price and light years ahead of windows.

5 posted on 01/30/2008 8:33:17 AM PST by Maneesh (A non-hyphenated American.)
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To: Scoutmaster

Buy a maxxed-out Mac with BootCamp. That way you can still run Windows on it.


6 posted on 01/30/2008 8:34:30 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Scoutmaster
If someone else is buying ... go for it. Especially if they'll front for the software too.

I use a Mac Pro quad core for design and tons of video editing (Final Cut Pro). This is a seriously fast machine. When I got this one, it was an upgrade to my G4 Powerbook. Speed difference was absolutely amazing.

7 posted on 01/30/2008 8:34:36 AM PST by al_c (Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity)
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To: Scoutmaster

I treated myself to a MacBook Pro for Christmas and got rid of my old Dell. I’m very happy with my choice!


8 posted on 01/30/2008 8:34:41 AM PST by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Scoutmaster

I treated myself to a MacBook Pro for Christmas and got rid of my old Dell. I’m very happy with my choice!


9 posted on 01/30/2008 8:34:41 AM PST by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Scoutmaster
FWIW..
I bought 2 MacBook Pro’s for my kids for xmas. They run both OSX and WinXP very nicely. There have been no complaints whatsoever, and their friends are insanely jealous.

I have had no problems with either one, and my son managed to figure out how to slip ubuntu linux on to his also (3 operating systems on one laptop) — go figure.

10 posted on 01/30/2008 8:34:55 AM PST by xcamel (Two-hand-voting now in play - One on lever, other holding nose.)
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To: Scoutmaster

As an engineer who has “converted”, I now preach loudly.

If you want infinite reboots, lots of virus checks, unreliable operation, get a Microsoft product. My office machine: Windows. Crashes/reboots: around 2-3/week.
My home machines; Apples. Reboots: Well, I’ll tell you when I have to do do it. 5 years, 4 machines, and counting: none.

If you need a tool, not a toy, get a Mac.

Go to any institution full of physicists...and see what they use.

Preaching now turned off.


11 posted on 01/30/2008 8:35:12 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Scoutmaster

I’ve had a Mac for about a year. I have no regrets!


12 posted on 01/30/2008 8:36:39 AM PST by pnz1
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To: Scoutmaster; rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

13 posted on 01/30/2008 8:36:40 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Scoutmaster

I bought a macbook pro last January and have never regretted it. It was my first mac and even though there are some differences, everything on a mac seems to be where you would intuitively look for it. So I say go for it!

marinamuffy


14 posted on 01/30/2008 8:37:34 AM PST by marinamuffy ("..pacifism ensures that cruelty will prevail on earth." - Dennis Prager)
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To: Da Coyote

Thanks for your insight. My only peeve is that Apple is a big Gore supporter - but I guess old bill Gates isn’t much better.


15 posted on 01/30/2008 8:37:57 AM PST by mallardx
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To: Scoutmaster

My son is in the tech world in San Francisco - worked at Yahoo, started his own online business and is now at Bebo. He does his coding on his Apple laptop and used it so much he even wore off the silver by the mousepad. I asked him the same question and he told me to get a MAC so I’ve got a MacBook laptop and a PC desktop and I use Office for MAC on the laptop which translates my Word Documents and Excel between the MAC and PC without problems.

I love my Mac. You do have to get used to it however. I’ll just get another one when this one dies.


16 posted on 01/30/2008 8:38:02 AM PST by Aria (NO RAPIST ENABLER FOR PRESIDENT!!!)
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To: Scoutmaster; rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

17 posted on 01/30/2008 8:38:03 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Scoutmaster

I can’t address your PC software question, for we are Mac users.

I really think you should give the Mac a try. You should make a serious effort to see how much you can do with the installed Mac software, and learn the Mac way of doing things to really understand why most graphics people prefer Macs.

Also, buy “Pages”, and really give it a good run.

Read up on the software that comes free with Macs... you might be surprised at how much you can do without spending a lot of money on extra software.

Just my opinion, and I will be interested to see what others have to say.


18 posted on 01/30/2008 8:38:36 AM PST by jacquej
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To: Scoutmaster

I’m in the same boat as you are with regards to long-term PC usage and knowledge. I’d lose too much time and productivity throwing away all that knowledge and trying to start from scratch.

If you already have PCs, the software you need, and are a knowledgeable user, switching doesn’t make sense from a cost-benefit perspective, IMHO. I know someone else is paying for the computers, but are they paying for the new software, the time you’ll need to learn the new system, lost productivity from not knowing all the little tricks you know now, etc.? Plus, it seems to me that even if your company is paying, you could get one heck of a laptop for the same amount they’d pay for a new Mac desktop and laptop.

On a side note, I’m about to be flamed terribly by the Mac people for posting this, and I imagine you will be too, for considering PCs.


19 posted on 01/30/2008 8:39:08 AM PST by Turbopilot (iumop ap!sdn w,I 'aw dlaH)
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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