"So . . . PC or Mac? The lady or the tiger?"...PiNG!
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
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?
There's a serpent in every Eden..........
I’ve used Mac since ‘89. I had to use PC at work in the 90s, and lost productivity accordingly. I’m on my fifth or sixth Mac and will soon upgrade again. It’s Mac hands down.
I have a zillion year old iMac and a few months old Dell laptop running XP.
Although the Dell/XP is very good, I much prefer the iMac.
Why did I get the Dell? It can run my thousands of dollars CAD program.
If I had the decision to make right now? I’d get an Intel based Mac...
I used to edit on AVID on Mac - crashed like a MOFO.
Now I run AVID on HP Workstation 8400, NVidia cards, 2.5 TB raid system...Love it! Fast, fast, fast!
I also have 2 Alienware laptops that run AVID Mojo (use them on remote jobs).
I love them...no crashes, boot up fast...& all on PC.
I want to buy 2 more systems (depending on how the IRS will wack me this year).
I’ve been editing for 10 years.
That said AVID seems not to work as well on Mac. Just my experience.
My opinion is Yes!
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.
As far as usage that won't make any difference on a Mac. What word processor do you use? MS Office is available for the Mac and is generally considered superior than the PC version. However, I've found printing on the Mac to be a much better experience. If you're doing presentations, I hear Keynote is sweet!
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.
For browsing you get Safari and Firefox, both great browsers. You know about the design programs, and there are a lot of 3D graphics/animation programs for the Mac. For video you'd probably like the Mac's Core Video, which lets a program apply various effects in real-time for previews without needing a real-time video card.
If you are doing any programming and want to have real fun, Core Animation basically does Flash stuff within the OS itself, all GPU-accelerated.
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.
There are loads out there for the Mac, but many of the administrative ones are already included since much of OS X is built on open source software. If you're not afraid of the command line or using X11 (UNIX graphical interface), there are thousands of UNIX apps available (look up "Fink" on Wikipedia).
However, I'd suggest searching for the Mac equivalent of specific ones you want. Sometimes they're unnecessary, sometimes they're not available or are shareware.
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.
That's a hard one, no support from work. My experience in networking with my PC home computers has been pretty good. It's brain-dead easy if you install the Bonjour (zero-configuration networking) client on the PCs. Doing that made it easier than networking two PCs.
Otherwise, you just have to get used to a slightly different way of doing things. One menu bar across the top, different key combinations to do things, etc.
As far as which system, you're definitely looking at a MacBook Pro since you go on the road. The Air doesn't have enough power for your heavy work, and the graphics/animation/3D tools are a lot easier to use on a bigger screen.
If you get one, DO NOT buy the memory from Apple. Apple charges $700 to go from 2 GB to 4 GB (what you'll want for that graphics/3D work). You can buy two 2 GB modules for about $100 and throw away the included 1 GB chips, or sell/give them to another notebook owner, they're standard memory modules.
"So . . . PC or Mac? The lady or the tiger?"...PiNG!
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
Drive Savers, as with all credible data recovery firms, will recover information from Mac (Journaled HFS formatted) drives exactly as they will Windows (FAT, or NTFS fomatted).
A situation that might hinder that is if the user turned on disk encryption -then, if you lose a portion of the disk, you might very well lose the whole thing. This is the SAME under Mac OS X AND Windows.
Macs and PCs use the same exact hard drives in them. They both fail at the same rate, and it is equally stupid to not back up either system. The difference is that Mac OS X has a "simple as pudding pie" backup feature built right into the operating system.
I had a horrible experience with Mac about two months ago and I couldn’t wait to get back to my PC. I purchased the hype. I didn’t find it to be one bit superior to my PC. The tech support was hideous. I spent a total of 15 hours on hold over the course of three days and they still couldn’t diagnose my problem. They came up with all sorts of reasons I had my problem, but none of the “Geniuses” understood what the real issue was. Mind you I had the most expense service contract, but that didn’t seem to matter.That wouldn’t happen with Dell.
I finally went online to a Mac site and found the problem immediately. Of course Apple has yet to fix the problem because which an issue since Leopard came out.
I really could go on, as the story doesn’t end there, but it will aggravate me too much.
I may be in the minority, but I will never have a Mac again.
You might consider making the switch "incrementally" - that is, one platform at a time. I'd suggest you start with a MacBook Pro. Avoid the MacBook Air, as it is "limited by design" in many ways, as much "style" as "substance" at this point. With a MacBook Pro, you get plenty of substance and power along with a dose of styling, too.
With the incremental approach, you don't cut your ties behind you. Of course, you can partition the MacBook drive and install either BootCamp or Parallels. I think the Parallels approach is better because with it, you can have BOTH OS X and Windows running "side-by-side". A MacBook will run Windows as well as any PC laptop, as Apple is pretty much using industry-standard Intel hardware now, although Apple boards have [I believe] a few additional chips or circuits to support the Mac OS.
You might also consider one of the big-screen iMacs as an alternative to the Mac Pro. They are getting very good, and I say that as someone who never cared for the "iMac" product line previously, UNTIL the Intel-based iMacs came out. I like them so much that I bought one for myself... :).
Also disregard what you may hear about "Macs not working with non-Apple hardware". They pretty much work just fine with almost anything you can attach to them. I use a Logitech mouse and Dell monitor with my PowerMac g4. Even though the particular mouse I bought (MX-610) is not even supported by _Logitech_ for Mac use (i.e., no drivers, etc.), I plugged it in and OS X recognized it immediately. This could be a consideration with the MacPro desktop, as you may pretty much be able to just disconnect your current PC box, connect the MacPro to everything else on your desk, and boot back up into OS X.
And virus/spyware/adware? Forget about them, literally. I've been a Mac user since 1987, and have never (repeat, NEVER) had a virus infection, spyware, adware or anything like that infect my computers. I don't even use virus protection software any more - why bother?
Talk with other users - ESPECIALLY others who have "made the switch" already. Their opinions will be the most telling of all.
- John
LOL!
I bought a IMac last year and last week I bought a Mac Book Pro. I have never looked back. As a matter of fact I bought Paralells to run PC software, I have never installed it! I love my Macs.
I bought a IMac last year and last week I bought a Mac Book Pro. I have never looked back. As a matter of fact I bought Paralells to run PC software, I have never installed it! I love my Macs.
I now have both an iMac for home use and a Macbook Pro for a notebook/travel machine. Love them both. They DO crash every now and then, but not often (one problem I am having with my MacBook Pro is that sometime when I put it to sleep, the display will not come back on after opening it -- have to re-boot).
The biggest advantage of the new Macs is that you don't have to give up any of your favorite programs -- Apple's Bootcamp allows you to boot directly into Windows (XP or Vista) and it then operates as a normal computer. There's also Virtual Machine technology (e.g., Parallels) that allows you to run a virtual Windows machine inside your Mac machine. Very nice -- you can have your cake and eat it too.
Apple stuff seems to be well made. Their support isn't great, but neither is Dell's or HP's. Mac users are FANATIC true believers -- any problem that you might have -- hardware or software -- you can find generous help on any of the numerous net Mac discussion boards.
I'd go for it. You won't be sorry.
I bought my first PC in 1984 and have not lost any data—admittedly, I always do backup. University IT was unable to locate a company that could retrieve said data from the Mac belonging to my friend and the external backup was not operating properly, hence the reason for the loss.
I’m an engineer. I actually spend most of my time not in Windows, but Linux. So let me be that official voice that you can have things not suck on a PC without Windows...Ubuntu is very user friendly.
That said, it’s not as friendly as a Mac. But what interests me in Mac (the BSD nature), is unlikely to mean anything to you. If money were no object, I’d buy Macs. But I cringe at the idea of spending more than 8 or 9 hundred dollars on a computer. If this is not an issue for you, go for it. But then again, I have hacked MacOS on to my $900 PC that’s faster than the $2000+ Mac Pro ;)
Mac. I’m at work now, but will post my changeover story later this PM.
Then they are incompetent, and lacking even base Google-search curiosity. Drivesavers. Drivesavers.com.
IT departments have always been pretty worthless, but if they can't type "Mac data recovery" into Google as I did, then they should be summarily fired. For that matter, your friend, too, if he's willing to allow years of data to be thrown out as the cost of not doing that 5 second search.
I call BS.
That is literally not true.
While you can buy a PC for less money than a Mac, that's because Apple simply does not compete in the bargain basement. However, when comparing like systems with matching or similar hardware, the Apple is competitive and often less expensive than the PC models.
Sometimes the price difference is dramatic. When the Mac Pro came out, it was $1367 less expensive than a Dell built to duplicate the features (without the software suite) of the Mac. Nine months later the Mac was still around $700 less expensive. The apple all-in-one iMacs are consistently better equipped and less expensive than the PC alternatives.
As to a "lock in of hardware/software" and "eliminating choice," that is absurd since the Mac can run 100% of Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac OSX software... all at once if you desire.
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