Vanity: Should I switch to Mac (somebody else is paying)?

Vanity - Self | January 30, 2008 | Scoutmaster

[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?

[martin_fierro]

Better still than "bootcamp" is Parallels. Win apps running right there on the Mac desktop next to Mac apps.

 

Mongo not know 'bout no Parallels.

Mongo just Pawn in Game of Life. 

[Mamzelle]

I'm a Mac user mostly because I started out that way and can't stand PCs. But if you're a game player, you might not like a mac. You sound rather a committed PC user.

Macs are particularly good for generating computer artwork.

On the other hand, you ought to head to a store and try out Jaguar. (Or is it Leopard, now?)

[redangus]

I just remember other little annoyances. When you open Word it opens on the left hand of the screen not centered where your sight line and keyboard are located, the format task bar doesn’t open automatically. When you open Word it takes 3 click to get to the blank page, it takes one on a PC. The font size on the screen is small and can only be enlarged by changing the resolution on the monitor, whereas a PC has the ability to enlarge the fonts by changing to large, extra large or custom while keeping the higher resolution. We had to buy a new keyboard because the one that came with it was very uncomfortable to use(purty, but unusable). Even my step son who is a Mac user didn’t like it and recommend the older style keyboard. None of our other 3 USB keyboards would work with it because it’s a Mac. We had to buy a Mac keyboard for the Mac store.

I could go on, but the list would probably be never ending and just listing them all is p*ssing me off. I am happy you guys all love your Apple products, but I don’t like mine. I consider the purchase of it a huge mistake.

[Fishrrman]

Plus, it’s REALLY, REALLY dumb advice for anyone to run naked on the internet without some sort of FW (hardware or software) on the point of entry to thier home network....regardless of the OS they run on thier machines. Especialy a home user. There are alot of even HW level vulnerabilties out there.

I've been a Mac user since 1987, online since then (started with a 300bps Panasonic telephone/modem with a home-made cable!), on the net since '95. I've used Macs from the early "SE" right up to my current Intel iMac and this PowerMac g4.

I use a router to connect everything together (with whatever firewall protection comes from Network Address Translation), but other than that, I use no (let me repeat that for empahsis, NO) virus protection software, nothing at all.

I download freely, open attachments left and right.
Without worrying.

And... in twenty years of Mac usage, I have NEVER had a virus, trojan, adware, spyware, ANY of that stuff.

Perhaps there is always a first time. If there is, so be it.

But Swordmaker's post was appropriate. The "average" Mac end user can connect to the net with nothing more than the default Firewall protection included in OS X, and not worry any more than I do about "protection". BTW, I don't even have OS X's firewall running. I don't need it.

A far, FAR, F-A-R cry from the world of Windows.... :)

- John

[Crusher138]

Was only up to 160 messages when I wrote that. It took a bit to type all that up...

So how does it feel to be the one out of over a hundred that didn’t like the Mac? Did you try Fusion for those nagging Windows programs?

I make my living off computers. As I said, I used to hate Macs. They now have a superior product and, as a professional, I will use the best tools available to me.

BTW, when Vista runs Mac in a window, and Linux in another, and I can drag and drop stuff from one operating system to another, I’ll give MS another shot...

[antiRepublicrat]

The whole cutesy names thing with Mac is very childish. Call a process what it is.

Examples? I can make a case for cutesy Windows names, such calling a daemon a service, the cute Notepad instead of TextEdit, Active Directory instead of LDAP, Narrator for text-to-speech, and the whole horribly cutesy "My Computer" "My ..." thing.

Who needs a program that takes a picture, allows you to play around with it like being in a fun house and then email to your adolescence friends, I’ll pass.

Almost every PC web cam software comes with the ability to take still images. The iMac comes with a web cam. You piece it together.

It also takes movies, the equivalent of putting your video camera in front of you. It even integrates with IM. It's actually more advanced than the competition, for example the ability to do chroma keys without the need for a green screen behind you.

[blu]

So, I can see you’re pretty unhappy with your mac. How much you want for your used and (obviously screwed up) Mac? ;) I’ll take it off your hands, cheap of course!

[antiRepublicrat]

the debate is whether that is due to better inherent security in design....or simply being a small target.

Probably both. But remember that back in the extremely low marketshare days of OS 8 and OS 9 the Mac had over a hundred active viruses in the wild easily infecting computers. Now Apple has more computers out there, a bigger marketshare and much higher visibility. By target size calculations it should have far more, but it doesn't, not one dangerous virus running active.

The main difference between the two times is throwing out the old OS and using UNIX. So architecture must have a lot to do with it.

[blu]

I don’t consider last October to be many years ago.

But you do see what a major minority you are in this thread, right?

My Intel based MacBook Pro does more than I can keep up with! I use Office 2004, never had a problem (on any of the Macs). I got this Pro so I could run Windows apps....and am not surprised at all at how few Windows apps I actually use. This week's grand total: 1.

Excuse me for saying this, but I detect a slight bias on your part, and suggest that the problems you are having with your Mac stem from those biases.

[Turbopilot]

Just looked it up, expires in two years from date of issue or two years from date of last activity on iTunes, whichever is later.

Excellent, thanks. The card says it has no value until activated at the register. Since I assume the person who gave it to me bought it in late 2006, it should still be good.

This thread inspired me to do a little research. I found a link saying that Apple will close your iTunes account if you email them, which was one of my original reasons to avoid using this gift card. Wikipedia says Windows Media Player for Windows Mobile will play AAC files, but there's a document on the Microsoft knowledgebase that says Windows Media Player 11 (desktop version) won't play .M4A files, which it says use AAC. Would a music file be called "songname.AAC" or "songname.M4A", or am I completely off track here? If I could figure out that I could treat AAC files like MP3s (play them on my computer, on my phone, and burn them to CD), I might use the gift card myself.

Also, do you know if every song is available without DRM for $1.29 or just a selection?

[jack_napier]

A Core 2 Duo at 3.2 gHz is not faster than a Xeon at 3.2gHz.

Please read the post I was replying to. He said 2.8GHz. There are numerous benchmarks out there where a 3.0 or 3.2 GHz CPU beats an 8 CPU beast of slightly slower speed. “#3: IO, the hard drive is usually the speed bottleneck, not the CPU. Apple has the standard drives or the expensive SCSI option. I have 10k RPM SATA drives. They’re noticably faster than the standard; sometimes just as fast as the SCSI options. But certainly cheaper.” Outdated info, as is to be expected from a PC user, I suppose... Apple uses SATA in all currently shipping products, with the exception of the MacBook Air. In addition, the Mac Pro and the servers have the option of SAS 3GB drives at *15,000* RPM, which makes your 10K drives look, well, slow.

I'm going to ignore the personal dig. You said "SAS 3GB drives". Do you know what SAS stands for? Serial Attached SCSI. What did I say in my post? SCSI. I never implied that Apple doesn't use SATA drives; anyone would know this as Intel doesn't even have PATA support in their chipsets anymore. However, I digress: simply put, the 7200RPM drives the Macs have are fast. But something like the WD Raptors are faster. And yes, you can pay $800 a pop for fast 15k drives. But no, they don't make the 10k drives look slow, because rotational speed isn't everything. If you *really* think I'm wrong, then please show me something that gives the same level of in depth breakdown as http://www.storagereivew.com. I'm willing to be convinced that the SCSI option for a Mac *could* be good, and is probably better (although marginally) in many if not all applications. But at more than $2 a GB., it better be.

[Grumpy_Mel]

John,

That’s really bad advice to give anyone. If your router is performing NAT then there is a decent chance it has some FW capabilties built-in...or at the very least is not exposing other network enabled devices to the public internet.

In any event there are quite a number of OS-X exploits and this list is growing. Not to mention the fact that many MS-Office Macro viruses will function equaly well in the Mac version of Office. Furthermore, there ARE as I’ve pointed out, plenty of hardware vulnerabilties for network capable devices. If you haven’t gotten hit it’s because you’ve been lucky....and also probably because your router is not exposing any devices except itself to the public internet... and blocking broadcast packets from coming onto your private network.

Furthermore, most people who’s computers are compromised never actualy know it. It’s not like every piece of malware out there is going to pop up a big banner saying that you’ve been hacked or erase your HD.

Forgive my forwardness...and I’m not saying you have been... but if you haven’t been running a FW, virus monitor, spyware scanner etc.... how do you know you’ve never actualy been compromised?

[GRRRRR]

There is no question.
Get the Mac, as much as you can get.

Been on a mac for almost two years...used to build my own PC’s and just got tired of all the fiddling about with Windows crap. All the MS OFFICE stuff works, even better on a Mac.

Do it.

[antiRepublicrat]

Would a music file be called "songname.AAC" or "songname.M4A", or am I completely off track here?

The AAC format is more formally known as MPEG-4 Part 3: Audio, thus m4a. MP3 is named so because it's MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3.

You can play MPEG-4 video (usually mp4) and audio (AAC) files in Windows Media Player if you install the MPEG-4 codecs. Microsoft isn't too interested in directly supporting such ISO standard video and audio formats that compete with their own formats. I believe FFDShow is what you're looking for.

Also, do you know if every song is available without DRM for $1.29 or just a selection?

Only for those labels that have allowed Apple to make them available that way. And the songs are 99 cents now just like the rest.

[antiRepublicrat]

#1: Having 8 CPUs does not make you eight times faster than someone with one. How multi-threaded does a non-server need to be?

1) More and more programs are becoming multithreaded. Even the small shareware video apps on Mac will use any processors you have.

2) Running development instances of application servers can really use multiple cores. VMWare gives each instance the option of how many cores it wants to use.

3) It can help even a single-threaded application. Accessing some OS X libraries, for example Core Animation, automatically spawns another thread even if the application doesn't know about it.

4) The cache is the key to the high performance of the Intel Core line. A Core 2 Duo normally comes with 4 MB L2 cache. The Xeon line in the Mac Pro comes with 12 MB L2 cache, 6 MB per pair of cores, 50% more cache. Even on a per-core basis it should be faster.

5) Xeons also tend to run on a faster bus.

6) However, they may be slower for certain latency-intensive benchmarks. This is because of the FB-DIMM memory modules have a much higher bandwidth at the expense of latency.

[Fishrrman]

That’s really bad advice to give anyone. If your router is performing NAT then there is a decent chance it has some FW capabilties built-in...or at the very least is not exposing other network enabled devices to the public internet.

It has the same NAT and Firewall capabilities as nearly every other wired router out there. It's just another cheap wired router. I don't do wireless - unauthorized access to wireless networks is an entirely different game, and I realize that. I'm a desktop/wired guy.

In any event there are quite a number of OS-X exploits and this list is growing

Nonsense. I'll call you on that one. Name one - JUST ONE - that has affected the Mac community at large. By "at large" I mean general users doing ordinary things through everyday connections - NOT programmers and geeks in a special environment.

Not to mention the fact that many MS-Office Macro viruses will function equaly well in the Mac version of Office.

I don't use Microsoft products, other than a VERY old copy of MS Works from about 1993 that STILL RUNS under "Classic" on OS X 10.3.9 fully 15 years after its final release!

Forgive my forwardness...and I’m not saying you have been... but if you haven’t been running a FW, virus monitor, spyware scanner etc.... how do you know you’ve never actualy been compromised?

Because there is no spyware in the wild for OS X. No viruses, either. There was note of some kind of Trojan that tricked you into launching it, through some kind of porn site. Not interested.

Back in the days of OS 9, I used John Norstad's free "Disinfectant" INIT and application, and that was it. Oh yeah, had an old copy of Norton Anti-Virus for OS 9, actually ran it a few times. Never found anything, so I stopped runnng it.

Didn't Norton exit the anti-virus market for modern Macs? Who needs it? I'm guessing there really isn't much of a demand for Macintosh anti-virus software at the moment.

If my Macs have been "compromised", I hope the compromisin' keeps on comin', because they run pretty durn good! This g4 is still on its ORIGINAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE installation from back in 2004. I've done the periodic updates through "Software Update" from time to time, and have defragmented and optimized my boot drive, but that said, it's never had a "re-install" of the basic System. No need to!

I stand by what I posted:
For most Mac end users, all they need to do is take the Mac out of the box, plug it into their DSL or cable modems, go with the OS X "default" firewall protection, and stop worrying.

Having written that, I'll call out to the other Mac users reading this:
If you are on OS X, how many times have you been troubled by a virus, adware, spyware, etc.?

- John

[Mr. Blonde]

I really prefer the Mac version of Office. I have just convinced one of my friends to get a Mac and he is using the 2008 version of Office for what is essentially an Office class. The book for it naturally covers the Windows 2003 version. Helping him with it and showing him how it is different really highlights how much better the Mac version is.

[Turbopilot]

Thanks for your help. I downloaded and installed FFDShow and tried to play a sample .M4A file I downloaded, but WMP didn't want to play it. I then Googled and found a plugin called Orban; after I installed it WMP would play the sample file. I then put the sample file on my phone and WMP Mobile played it also.

I may be tempted to make a temporary iTunes account and use this card myself.

[antiRepublicrat]

I then Googled and found a plugin called Orban;

Thanks for that tip. It's probably going on the PC.