Why buy a Mac?

[Alpha]

I agree with with everything you said Max, but I would like to point out that apple moving to Intel was a good choice, IBM was really floundering with their processor development. and It caused the whole Powerbook stagnate with G4 processors long after their prime. and the new 10.5 runs faster on Intel than an PPC

I never said it was a bad choice. For laptops, you're absolutely correct. If you ever saw the heatsink for the G5, it's no wonder they had a hard time trying to fit the processor into a laptop. All I meant was that since OS X is now running on intel chipsets, there's no longer a functional hardware distinction, whereas before I would have said that a multi-processor G5 desktop was unequivocally better than a PC desktop for image editing.

I have yet to have anyone demonstrate to my satisfaction that the Mac is intrinsically better than a PC.

I never said it was intrinsically better. I said it was intrinsically more stable, which is an empirically demonstrable fact.

 

[domromer]

Or red is better than blue.

 

[Patrice]

This is starting to resemble a Nikon/Canon debate. I'll wait for the outcome with bated breath all the while getting something done using my Mac.

 

[Iron Flatline]

I used to be a big defender of Microsoft in these kinds of conversations. I just bought a machine with Vista though, and I absolutely dislike it.

 

[shorty6049]

My opinion. I have no real problems running vista on my PC laptop. I feel that there are a LOT more choices in PCs as far as configurations and colors and styles and options, than there are for Macs. I agree, vista could be a heck of a lot faster. I'm running it on a core 2 duo processor with 2 gb of memory and its running about the same speed as my XP computer ran with a single core and 1gb memory. I like the look of vista (say what you want about how they copied apple) , I dont really ever have hardware compatabilitiy issues, I use solidworks (3d cad modeling program) wich only runs on windows right now, so i kind of have no choice in that aspect. I like being able to right-click on things and i'm very used to how windows is laid out. There are things i like about macs, such as their sleek looks, and pleasing user interface, but for ME, i find a lot of little things that bug me about the mac os, so whenever i'm done using one, i just find myself wanting one less. I also dont like how owning a mac has almost become some sort of status booster or something, kind of like only the rich artsy people can have macs, because they're smarter than everyone else or something. This fire is fueled by the constant commercials aired depicting PCs in a bad light. Who will defend the PC? nobody. Nobody OWNS the PC. Sure, Microsoft could make an ad bashing Macs, but instead they try and highlight the features of vista and their programs rather than out the competitor. Sorry for the tangent, they just kind of annoy me sometimes... Anyway, My laptop has a built in webcam, altech lansing speakers, built in microphone, and some quickplay touch buttons. Mac doesnt include a lot of those things for the sake of making thier computer look as simple as possible. I have always felt like they may sacrifice too much in this quest for simplicity. I've yet to see a macbook with a built in card reader. But like everyone says, this is basically the canon vs. nikon debate, because theres really no winner, its just whatever YOU personally like more. So dont let anyone make up your mind for you, just take it all in, and make an educated decision.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Windows XP is a STELLAR operating system.

It will work on hundreds of thousands of different system configurations with little to no problems. All of the problems I have personally seen with other peoples systems was user error related. 90% is just people practicing bad internet habits (aka. downloading porn from sketchy websites).

I have been using XP for about 4 years now and have not had a single issue with it that was not related to user error.

XP is compatible with more software than any other OS.

the only OS that comes close to the quality of XP is Windows 2000 in a close 2nd. I still think 2000 one of the best OS's for networking. Plug a cable in or connect to a wi-fi network, join the workgroup and that's it. It just works.

 

[Alpha]

I download from some very very sketchy sites on occasion, though I'm very careful about it.

 

[shorty6049]

haha... ok max. valuable contribution... ;-)

 

[DSLR noob]

I like being able to right-click on things and i'm very used to how windows is laid out. ............. Anyway, My laptop has a built in webcam, altech lansing speakers, built in microphone, and some quickplay touch buttons. Mac doesnt include a lot of those things for the sake of making thier computer look as simple as possible. I have always felt like they may sacrifice too much in this quest for simplicity.

Above is the incorrect misinformed information on Macs, the rest of your post was pure opinion. First of all, all macs can right click. On laptops if you hit "command" and click it is a right click, or you can put 2 fingers on the track pad and click it works. On desktops, you can do it the keyboard way, or buy an apple mighty mouse which acts as a 4 button mouse (left click, right click, left side squeeze, right side squeeze, and a scroller ball for up down and left right) as for the other thing. All mac laptops have a built in camera, microphone, speakers, and a better usage of the F keys to act as one touch buttons as well a Expose, a program that can pre-assign functions to taking the mouse cursor off of the 4 corners of the screen(each corner having a function). It helps to go into an argument when you know both sides. I actually have a Windows computer, soon I will have a Mac computer. See the thing is, most Windows owners who bash a Mac either have never used one, or only used it for a few minutes before giving it up just because it's different, for most Mac owners that bash windows, they've actually owned both systems before. I think one has every right to trash talk an object when they've used both first hand, however pure fanboyism that trashtalks when you've only used one is immature. So don't let it piss you off that PC is bashed so much, most people who bash them were tormented by their screwy antics themselves.

 

[Stranger]

i went from a windows user my whole life (19 years old) and just bought my first mac. I can say the OS is so much smoother and quicker to navigate. instead of going to "my computer then cdrive then my name then my documents to get to music" i just hit "finder > music" I didnt own vista this is straight from xp... Just so much more user friendly i think.

Only problem is lack of software for somethings

 

[shorty6049]

yes dslrnoob , that WAS my opinion. I dont consider pushing more than one button right clicking. i like being able to RIGHT CLICK, its intuitive and every apple mouse i've used either has that feature turned off, or doesnt include it. i'm not saying those are reasons not to buy a mac, i'm just saying i have more reasons to keep my PC. but yes, its mostly opinion, just like i can say that every mac user holds the opinion that their computer is better than a pc, whatever, they are entitled to think that, i'm not claiming pc's are better or worse, but all the mac users just seem WAY too over zealous about their computers...



whatever, this isnt worth arguing. i still uphold the statement that you shouldnt let other people tell you what kind of computer to buy though. You need to make your own informed decisions by actually reading up on it, and going out and trying them out. because people, will screw you over if you let them.

 

[DSLR noob]

oh I agree with that, when I get my Mac I'm not going to go around telling others "buy a Mac, blah blah blah" just what you said that was your opinion I left you to, no worries there, it seemed that the other things were tended to be factual and didn't align with the reality of things. I think what operating system you have doesn't matter. As for the "most PC user who bash Macs haven't tried it thing" that goes towards your specific words "Sorry for the tangent, they just kind of annoy me sometimes..." in that a lot of Mac vs PC are fueled with some Pc owners saying a generic misinformed comment like "Macs are gay, owning a Mac makes you gay" that contains no value, I say that Mac owners, who usually have experience in both fields, have a right to step in, as does anyone in any argument where they've seen both sides. I don't thin kanyone should just start an OS fight for no reason though.

 

[shorty6049]

i'm not required to like macs. I dont think owning one makes you gay . I just dont know if i personally would want one. I'm comfortable with a windows based PC, so thats what i'm going to keep using. You can get a killer PC for the same price as just an ok mac, and i dont think thats fair to the consumer.

 

[DSLR noob]

As for the price difference, Macs are on the pricy side for the same thing when hardware is compared, but the tradeoff is worth it for some who love OSX or the iLife suite, I've personally just been given too much trouble from my Dell, mostly user error though, my software sources are questionable, I still used the computer for a few months after my firewall expired, and I leave it on all the time. For clumsy people like me, a Mac just seems to be lower matenance, and I too love the OS feel and layout, even if some Windows actions are programmed into my brain from years of use.

 

[monkeykoder]

And for those of you REALLY into customizing your operating system there is LINUX!!!!!! Yey penguins!!!!! I'll have to say most Linux's are not for everybody Ubuntu is getting there but not yet. It has a lot of the same problems as MAC (software compatibility) but everything is YOUR choice if you want it to act a certain way you just need to be able to tell it how to and it will. Sorry but in a thread having to do with operating systems I figured the Linux crowd had to chime in.