Are Mac's worth the price premium?

[gerardo2068]

Funny thing is my friend (with the Apple Tv -like device) keep hating on Apple for no reason. Then I just watch in silence every time he wants to do something and for some random reason something just has to happen. He has a new Dell computer with windows 7 and just bought in best buy and competition of the Apple Tv. Just looking at him struggle setting up that little box! Wow, just wow! finally he called costumer service and he a got some crazy answer that the thing was not compatible with the model he has??!!

I bought my Apple Tv, open it, plug it in and input my iCloud email. 2 minutes later I was enjoying all my content on my HDTV and surround (Love Airplay!)

 

[mjhoward]

All I know is for the 2 1/2 years I've had my MacBook Pro it's virtually identical in performance, battery life and overall condition than when it was new... Granted my hard drive is almost full... I've got every route with a PC laptop. Fujitsu, Toshiba, HP... All crapped out somehow in under 2 years. I'm not very nice to my laptops, they have to put up with a lot. I hate dicking around with computers, I don't have time for that crap. I just want them to work. I whip out my MAC, turn it on and go to town. It just works.

I made a similar post earlier on... i've had mine for 3 1/2 years where I normally feel the need to ditch one after about 18 months. So for $400 more than my previous laptop, I've gotten more than twice the life and it still looks new. So really, my Macbook was about half the price of a PC notebook I'm guessing I could get at least another 2 1/2 yrs without feeling like I NEED to get the next one.

 

[gerardo2068]

All I know is for the 2 1/2 years I've had my MacBook Pro it's virtually identical in performance, battery life and overall condition than when it was new... Granted my hard drive is almost full... I've got every route with a PC laptop. Fujitsu, Toshiba, HP... All crapped out somehow in under 2 years. I'm not very nice to my laptops, they have to put up with a lot. I hate dicking around with computers, I don't have time for that crap. I just want them to work. I whip out my MAC, turn it on and go to town. It just works.

I made a similar post earlier on... i've had mine for 3 1/2 years where I normally feel the need to ditch one after about 18 months. So for $400 more than my previous laptop, I've gotten more than twice the life and it still looks new. So really, my Macbook was about half the price of a PC notebook I'm guessing I could get at least another 2 1/2 yrs without feeling like I NEED to get the next one.

I spent more in windows computer because I just buy a new one pretty much every year. Now my laptop still the same since 2009 and I still have my first Mac! 2006 Macbook pro, Still works! I don't want to let it go.

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

So for $400 more than my previous laptop, I've gotten more than twice the life...

THIS!

 

[gerardo2068]

That pretty much goes to all their products, i'm reading this forum in my iPad 1! (2 years old and still working just like it did the first day it got released to the public!)

 

[usayit]

Anybody care to reply? Can Win-doze or Linux do anything like this?????

I don't think so... This was one of the features that sets them apart. IIRC extra meta data was one of the reasons why MAC OS X uses its own filesystem rather than borrowing from other Linux distros (ext3, reiserfs, vxfs, ext3, etc..)

Linux on the other hand is a different story. Its more flexible than MAC OS X (much more than Windows) BUT as I mentioned earlier flexible doesn't always mean more intuitive. I think Mac's interface is a nice balance. Unlike Mac's integrated file manager (Finder), linux can integrate any number of file managers. I can't remember off the top of my head but I am almost 100% sure that one of the file managers implement something similar. You don't like the window/desktop look or behavior? Linux guys can change it with any number of Windows managers.

Don't expect answers... (see previous post) All I want is to recursively search all the files of a particular pattern in a file system and append ".old". I can do this in one line in shell... thus Linux and Mac OS X but I haven't figured it out in Windows yet.

 

[cardonalj]

MAC vs Windows is a debate that's been going on since I was a wee kid (I'm 29). The choices is ultimately up to you. Personally j could careless about color coding files. I know where I keep everything and if I need to find it its as simple as opening the folder.

What I find fu.ny is everyone talking about the life of their computers/laptops. I've had the sane laptop since 2008. I don't have to worry about viruses bc I'm fairly competent in knowing what to Download and what not to Download. It may not run as fast as a MAC but to be honest that's all semantics. I'm not doing batch editing on 1000s of photos.

I can tell u why I went with Windows. The sole fact that I can swap out parts is a Def selling point for me. Upgrading ny desktop when the time comes means a new mobo and processor and RAM for a fraction. Of the price than buying a new desktop. Be it MAC or Windows.

What no one has hit on is upgradability factor. Whats the easiest in terms of components.

 

[Derrel]

I'd like to steer this back to USABILITY and CONVENIENCE for photography use. Is there any Windows operating system, or Linux system, that allows the photographer to color-code or "label" his or her files? Is this possible under Windows or Linux? Can the user of any Windows or Linux system COLOR-CODE or LABEL files, and arrange them by color or label, or search for them by color or label?

I just searched for "Images" labeled "Orange", and searched 5,287 image files, and came up with 270 images I have labeled as "Orange", or essential, exceptional, or first-rate.

I just searched for "Images" labeled "red", and searched 5,287 image files, and came up with 548 images I have labeled as "red", which means A-list images.

I just searched "Images" labeled "Blue", and searched 5,287 image files and came up with 327 images labeled as "Blue", which means Backed up to another drive or copied to removable media.

I just searched "Images" labeled "Green", and searched 5,287 image files and came up with 462 images labeled as "Green", which represent RAW .CR2 or .NEF files that need to be processed into "Red-quality" images.

Of course, the above color-coding is all of MY OWN creatiuon, and applies only to image files. Music files follow a similar color-coding, but are of course searchable separately, if desired.

Under Mac OS X, when I open a folder full of say 1,000 .CR2 files, I can visually SEE, by color code, which are the better images, without having to see any thumbnails...just by the color-code I can tell which files are the best, second-level, or backed up, and even which are CRAP...I can also look at files that are Blue and KNOW for SURE that they have been copied to another disk, or backed up to removable media. When I open a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM disc and see BLUE-colored folders, I KNOW for SURE, that is not the original back-up disc, but is a SECOND COPY of my back-up or offload disc, and not the "original" disc.

Does Windows or Linux support this functionality?

Anybody care to reply? Can Win-doze or Linux do anything like this?????

I don't know if you can do that in Linux because I have never tried... Honestly, I don't think it would be a feature I would use, so I'm not going to waste a lot of time finding out how to do it...

I delete the 'crap' photos, so I would never have a need to find them all later on. I guess If you just put everything in one big folder, color coding everything would make sense. I don't do that though. I create different folders for different things...


Sounds like a nice feature, but one that I would never use...

Your response is hilariously short-sighted and frankly, stupid. You are a nice guy and everything Josh, but your comments make you seem, well, dense. Have you ever heard of organizational methods? Is the phone book all just "one big letter"? Is a filing cabinet all filed under "One Big Effing Mess?" lol Ah...WiN-dOzE...the colorful clown suit for DOS...

The idea that separate folders for "everything" is the way to organize things is laughable Josh! You might want to think about this: the color-coding of files allows a person to sort, search,organize,delete,move,re-move,delete, update,back-up,or re-name files according to the CHATACTERISTICS or properties OF THE FILE....not simply by their location or according to their "name"!!! My God...Windows users simply have no clue about the potential power of a Macintosh in terms of getting work done, and instead spend all their time working around the lame file-management limitations of Win-doze! Hilarious! And I say this knowing full well that you are a sincere, wonderful person Josh... See, the idea is that by labeling files, or folders, or applications, the ****USER***** can make the computer his or her own system ans can get chit done efficiently...AND that more than one person can look at files, and can KNOW what has been done to them, or needs to be done, based on simple color-coding/naming of the file's "characteristics" or "state of progress".

Download a wedding to the computer....label the files say, Brown....tell assistant to open the brown files and edit them, and then once edited, color-code them Green...with 1,300 fikles, the ability of two, or three people to simply glance at a folder of images and KNOW, not guess, but KNOW what state the files are in is simply invaluable...

When sitting down with a client, you can tell the absolute best pictures, from the B-list, form the C-list images....without the need to ever open one single image...and this goes on and on over many types of situations.

...the inability to sort files on Windows, is such a limitation of a crude, outdated computer system. My mind boggles to think that WIndows users cannot even imagine how this feature would be useful. I'm laughing right now!!

Quick--find and locate ALL the images that have been readied for printing on your hard drive, in 15 seconds, across 6,000 folders....that's probably impossible on a Win-doze box. If I search for "images" labeled "Gray"...I can find every single file in 6,000 folders, and have them in a list on my desktop in 15 seconds...no matter where they are, across multiple drives, and no matter what the file names are. I find it amazing that you do not "get" how that feature would be useful. Oh well, enjoy that file management system composed of chewing gum and baling wire!!! (A joke that's probably about as old as you are...)

 

[Dao]

Derrel, I am not disagree with you. But lightroom do a pretty good job on organizing and managing the photos for me so far. I just bought it not too long ago so I am still learning. So I really not see color folders is a must have feature for me. Maybe it is good for others.

There is a reason why Windows was popular. And for the same reason, Mac is getting popular nowadays. The reason is "Marketing". Microsoft may not be a best tech company in the past, but sure it is a great marketing company. Windows 3.0 back then was not the best so call OS, there are better one on the market at that time. But MS did a great job market that product. (Then Win95 -> 98 ....)

Apple now, personally. I still believe it is a great marketing company. Anyone recall their commercials? Mac vs PC? If you do, then their marketing works. A lot of time, what people believe and thought that is his/her opinion. Well, it was what the corp. America want you to believe.

The cool people get the Mac, use iPhone and iPad. Anyone get that idea? I wonder who I got that idea from. One of my co-worker asked me about buying a computer for his daughter (going to college). He was looking for $500 to $600 (which is great for Net surfing, typing papers stuff). But at the end, her daughter choose the Apple. She had no clue how to use one, but it sure looks cool in college. Imagine go to the class and take your computer out and VA LA .. it is a MacBook Pro. She must be a cool person that into style stuff.

What about in Starbuck? Look at that guy sitting at the corner, he is using a .. what ... a bulky PC running Windoz ...wait a min, is that a desktop or laptop? What a loser!

Anyway, Macs are cool while PC (Windows) are great and Linux are for geeks (Those 3D desktop from Linux are just so cool, but nobody market it of course).

 

[Nikon_Josh]

Mac is worth the premium for the OS in my opinion! I couldn't go back to the clunky Windows system again now and this coming from someone who knows alot about Windows and knows how to resolve and fix numerous issues. I just prefer the simplicity of the MAC OS though overall. I love my Mac! BUT I am NOT a MAC fanboy, I realise Apple are actually a nasty company who like to overprice their products at every turn.

My problem now with Macs is the fact they are getting more popular.. which means all of the moronic mac users who always say 'MAC's don't get Viruses' will be left looking like the idiots that they are. Admittedly at the moment, there are still not many viruses designed to attack MAC users. But when the marketshare increases.. the more likely it is that you will see ALOT of viruses being designed to attack MAC computers. And I am hoping Apple will be able to deal with this as alot of the time they are actually very slow to react to many situations that matter. It was only a few years ago that Apple would claim that you couldn't hack a MAC and that MAC's can't get a Virus, then some nerds found they could hack a MAC in little to no time. Let's hope Apple don't approach this matter with their usual arrogance.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Mac's are only for those who refuse to purchase "second best products"

 

[Dao]

Nikon_Josh,

I agree with you on the virus issue. From I what I learned, since Mac is getting popular, so attacker will use them. In fact couple years ago, I saw the news that Botnet people already start using Mac. It is all about money. If someone need to create a botnet army, they will go with the one with the larger market share. If botnet operator#1 has 2 million zombies windows box while botnet operator#2 only have 200,000, who is going to hire the botnet operator#2.

Last time I read, they charge about 10K a day for DDoS a site. Of course, spammers use Botnet too. So as long as money is involve and Mac market share is still low, number of new virus made that target Mac will still be lower than Windows market.

It is not hard to hack a system as long as human is involved. How to gain access to a computer? Sometimes it is as easy as ask the computer user to install the virus nicely. i.e. A email from the company IT admin found a trojan in your computer, please run this program to get rid of it.

 

[Nikon_Josh]

Nikon_Josh,

I agree with you on the virus issue. From I what I learned, since Mac is getting popular, so attacker will use them. In fact couple years ago, I saw the news that Botnet people already start using Mac. It is all about money. If someone need to create a botnet army, they will go with the one with the larger market share. If botnet operator#1 has 2 million zombies windows box while botnet operator#2 only have 200,000, who is going to hire the botnet operator#2.

Last time I read, they charge about 10K a day for DDoS a site. Of course, spammers use Botnet too. So as long as money is involve and Mac market share is still low, number of new virus made that target Mac will still be lower than Windows market.

It is not hard to hack a system as long as human is involved. How to gain access to a computer? Sometimes it is as easy as ask the computer user to install the virus nicely. i.e. A email from the company IT admin found a trojan in your computer, please run this program to get rid of it.

Yes I agree, I hope your right. The virus issue will remain small on the MAC due to the still much much lower market share, having to use anti virus software will take away some of the joy of mac use!

Tell me about it though, I spent 3 hours the other day sorting out the computer of a lady I work with, she installed the trojan fake antivirus program and paid for it when it came up and told her she had 33 viruses on her computer. But it was an easy mistake to make if you are not computer minded, she thought it was her existing anti virus program bringing up the prompt. It would seem a good business move for the hackers, that was 40 pounds profit whilst offering nothing. They do a good job of making the software look authentic aswell, only when you read the way they write stuff do you know its a complete scam i.e 'Your computer is going to crash at any second due to viruses, install this before you lose all your data!'

These particular trojans seem to be the most common right now from what I can tell, my Dad has had two, my Mum has had one and now the lady I work with is the fourth computer I have had to sort out for this particular issue! Getting tired of it.

 

[Josh66]

Quick--find and locate ALL the images that have been readied for printing on your hard drive, in 15 seconds, across 6,000 folders....that's probably impossible on a Win-doze box. If I search for "images" labeled "Gray"...I can find every single file in 6,000 folders, and have them in a list on my desktop in 15 seconds...no matter where they are, across multiple drives, and no matter what the file names are.

Well, since I keep things in separate folders (silly me...), it would be pretty easy. I could just open that folder.

If all I needed was a list of the files, I would just type ~/Pictures/Print ls -R. Pretty sure I could do that in 15 seconds...

Edit
Actually, that's wrong - should be:
ls -R ~/Pictures/Print

 

[shootermcgee]

Hell yes they are worth the premium. I have never had any viruses with my macs (last 3 years) and never a problem. Before them I had PC's that always got viruses or issues and were just junk in comparision. I don't have to have a computer tech as they never break down. They are just so hassle free and if did have any problem apple will take care of it for you quick.

Computer guys don't like them as they think they can build something better but I haven't seen it yet.