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 elses 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 Im 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 Im 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, Im 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 Adobes current web design, graphics, photo, and video/DVD production software; and Maxon, Maya, SoftImage, and Z-Brush 3d graphics/3d animation software. Im 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-dont-make-me-learn-that-computer-stuff spousal unit whose computer use is frequent but involves little more than Office Word, Quicken, and the Internet.
* * * * *
Ive 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?
I await your learned counsel.
Ping.
A thing of beauty......
Well worth the premium price and light years ahead of windows.
Buy a maxxed-out Mac with BootCamp. That way you can still run Windows on it.
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.
I treated myself to a MacBook Pro for Christmas and got rid of my old Dell. I’m very happy with my choice!
I treated myself to a MacBook Pro for Christmas and got rid of my old Dell. I’m very happy with my choice!
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.
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.
I’ve had a Mac for about a year. I have no regrets!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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