MAC vs. PC

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:40 pm

Looking at a new laptop, and I'm wondering if anybody has any MAC "time"? The MacBook looks like a good way to go?

yyz monkey · Post by **yyz monkey** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:00 pm

Macbook is going to be my next purchase, replacing my current Toshiba.

Nice computer, good setup, relatively stable. My girlfriend uses one and she thoroughly enjoys it. A lot of the features currently available on the Macbook are what Windows Vista will be capable of doing. And you have the option of getting a Mac with Windows if you prefer.

Obviously, there's a bit of a learning curve, if you go with OSX, but not that big.

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:10 pm

I got a macbook pro back in febuary. I like it but I do alot of photo and video editing. still lots of software missing on the mac side. I still boot into windows for all my work stuff and gaming. I need to buy my a couple laptops for some employees and I'm thinking I'm going to get them macbooks.

t34ag · Post by **t34ag** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:34 pm

I listened to a radio program a few months ago about a company that takes in old computers ..refurbish them and then donate them to school etc.etc.
The man being intervued said he had never refurbished a Mac as they don't come into his store. Laptop or desk model.
Going to be my next purchase ,which is going to be very soon.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:17 pm

I got my first computer in 1985 (8066, 256k memory, 2 floppies no hard drive!) and I've had a Mac for 2 years now, and apart from a few compatibility issues with PCs (very few), its been terrific. I'll never go back. Never.

The problem is, as more people buy 'em, finally there will be some virii for them showing up, so I would urge you, DON'T BUY AN APPLE!

YVR Dude · Post by **YVR Dude** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:19 pm

I too am going to get a Mac for the next computer, but the one thing I need to be sure it can do is my online training. Most of what I do online requires the windows program. As soon as I know for sure about Mac compatibility...shazam! (I know about the virtual windows, but the salesman couldn't confirm that it work work on all what I need).

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:35 pm

Doc wrote:Looking at a new laptop, and I'm wondering if anybody has any MAC "time"? The MacBook looks like a good way to go?

You're a moderator. Can't you find the right forum to post this in?

For the laptop, I say go windows. The new PCs are just as reliable as the Mac, as apple's blitz on the "Mac's never crash" campaign slowly dies off. I really tried my best to make the switch, tried both, and just couldn't justify the "pain in the ass factor" of the mac.

I have a toshiba lifebook, one of the smallest available computers and it fits nicely in my flightbag. Has never crashed (pardon the pun), and does everything I need it to. So what the frig do I need an ILIFE for?

Go eat some granola, Macmaniacs

complexintentions · Post by **complexintentions** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:11 pm

There are PC people. And there are Mac people. All I know is this. I know many people who have switched over to the Mac. I do not know one who has switched back, or switched the other way. Unless they absolutely have to run some proprietary software that the vendor was too lazy to port to OS X. In which case...they run Windows on their beautiful Mac. I use and maintain both, but I do about 98% of my work on the Mac....I keep the PC around to help those poor souls troubleshoot what's going on with their wretched beige boxes. The daily side-by-side use only serves to make painfully clear how far behind Windows is...if that wasn't obvious already from how many YEARS their latest greatest OS has been delayed. ("Is it Longhorn? Is it Vista?")

There are no major programs you can't run on a Mac. The hardware costs the same for a comparable machine (please don't insult me by claiming a $600 e-Machine pos is even in the same realm as the lowest end $1000 iMac). For the money you will have a stable, slick, virus-free, intuitive machine to use. Yes, yes, I know..."Macs don't get viruii because they are such a small market share"...oh, ok. Nothing to do with a super-secure Unix permissions system vs. the wide-open nightmare Windows registry system. Don't let technological fact get in the way of biases..

You don't NEED iLife. Not unless you actually want to make a movie, song, website, or edit a photo easily. But I wouldn't want to do much more than surf or check email on a PC anyway.

Best of luck with whatever you choose. Just make sure to budget some money and more importantly time, for the regular maintenance of your PC.

PS YVR Dude...the new Intel machines can run Windows, not just as a virtualization (ie window within OS X), but natively. Like, it literally boots up in Windows. So yes, your online programs will run.

Dash-Ate · Post by **Dash-Ate** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:01 pm

Guys, macs are for faqs

WJflyer · Post by **WJflyer** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:23 pm

With the current Mac's, you can run Apple's Bootcamp, which allows you install Windows XP on any current Mac system. Something to think about.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:25 pm

You see, that's another thing about Macs - they have a built-in, automatic spell-checker so that every time you write something, it allows you to make corrections so you don't look like a dork like Dash-Ate, who can't even insult the rest of us (or, more accurately, the best of us)without screwing up.

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:40 pm

As far as the claim that macs never crash I call bullshit. My mac crashes far more often then my pc ever did. Recovery is however much more reliable.

Dash-Ate · Post by **Dash-Ate** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:56 pm

xsbank wrote:You see, that's another thing about Macs - they have a built-in, automatic spell-checker so that every time you write something, it allows you to make corrections so you don't look like a dork like Dash-Ate, who can't even insult the rest of us (or, more accurately, the best of us)without screwing up.

The typo - q- was on purpose

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:31 pm

yyz monkey wrote:...My girlfriend uses one and she thoroughly enjoys it. ....

Oh WELL, if your girlfriend enjoys it, then it must be a good computer.

Just kidding, my experience is that MACs are better for graphics, and video editing, and PC's are better for Porn, and games. Macs don't get viruses, but hey they're about twice the price as well.

CJ

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:03 pm

WON'T RUN FLIGHT SIMULATOR NICELY...The end...what will we do?

Pleasure our loved ones? Fat chance.

Louis · Post by **Louis** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:15 am

I'm taking a very serious look at Macs for my next computer. (Which is saying something after 16 years running Microsoft OSes.)

I've been quite impressed by what I have seen so far by poking around OS X on a handful of occasions. (On a PowerPC LCD iMac)

The switch to Intel processors and the inclusion of Boot Camp pretty much removed the last hurdles that would have prevented me from switching.

Also, the Darwine and Crossover open-source initiatives mean that many Windows-only program will eventually be runnable natively in OS X. (As Wine has been doing for Linux for a number of years now)

The MacPro's layout is much better than your typical PC case, and the specs are good as well. (Imagine the Mac guy from the ads giving a roundhouse kick to the PC guy, and breaking his jaw. Ok, maybe that's a bit much, but I think you get the point.)

One the portable side the only nag for me is that the MacBook still comes with a single button trackpad, and that carrying/using an external mouse can be trouble.

(Desksgo: there's always X-Plane...

)

Goodbye,

Louis

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:41 am

yyz monkey wrote:Macbook is going to be my next purchase, replacing my current Toshiba.

Nice computer, good setup, relatively stable. My girlfriend uses one and she thoroughly enjoys it. A lot of the features currently available on the Macbook are what Windows Vista will be capable of doing. And you have the option of getting a Mac with Windows if you prefer.

Obviously, there's a bit of a learning curve, if you go with OSX, but not that big.

yyz monkey, which toshiba laptop do you have? I'm thinking of purchasing the Qosmio G-35. Any thoughts?

goates · Post by **goates** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:20 am

If you are worried about running Windows software there is also Parallels virtualization software (http://www.parallels.com/). Unlike Boot Camp, you don't need to re-boot the machine and unlike the old VirtualPC emulator, it doesn't need to emulate much. Unless you need to run a 3D app or game (the only things it doesn't do well), it would be a lot more convenient than Boot Camp.

As for the virus thing, like every other operating system out there there will be viruses for Mac OSX. There was a proof of concept one released recently in fact. However, unlike the security nightmare of Windows up to this point, I doubt they'll be as destructive or spread as easily. Vista may change this, but I'm not holding my breath.

Regarding Flight Simulator, no PC runs FSX nicely either...

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:50 am

I installed msdos on my mac using parallels so I can play all the old sierra games like kings quest and police quest.

g5 · Post by g5 » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:36 pm

what's up.

i have been running between mac and pc for the past few years. i say if you get a laptop, get a mac. because laptops are never meant to be high end computers, so they excel here for the buck because they are reliable and their operating system is solid.

if you want a desktop, for the money i think the desktop is the way to go. they are more flexible, if you want to play any of the latest games then you definately need a pc. if you want to do simple photo, internet and video editing, any mac model will suffice.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:24 pm

AIRPLANE AIRPLANE AIRPLANE!!!! There's your aviation content. Dont know why this thread was moved, but it's back! EVERYBODY here is here via their computer! All of you. Anybody EVER even visited the "computer" forum? Not I. But you ask about a MAC vs. a PC, and some seem to feel it's not aviation enough for us? AIRPLANES, (there's that aviation content again!) of today are stacked FULL with computers.
So,(ending rant, and retrieving toys scattered around stroller) the general feeling seems to run in the direction of MAC?

5x5 · Post by **5x5** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:39 pm

I use both a laptop Mac iBook G4 and a desktop with an AMD64 3400+ processor. I prefer the Mac and got the PC desktop because my wife isn't that computer savy and has to interact with a lot of other similar types so all using PCs is easier. That's the biggest shorfall with a Mac - if you have to interface or exchange files with PCs. There can be glitches.

However, for my own use the Mac is much nicer environment - programs install incredibly easier, you never get viruses, you don't need to worry about spyware, more common user interfaces in different programs, the screen rendering is much more pleasing to the eye (text, graphics, everything) and in my experience over the past couple of years, it's much more stable.

Take your PC back and get a Mac!

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:55 pm

5x5 wrote:it's much more stable.

That's not true at all. My mac crashes all the time. my windows box runs solid.

TerrainTerrain · Post by **TerrainTerrain** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:29 pm

Perhaps a silly question, but..

If you can potentially use Windows with a MAC, shouldn't you be able to use any program requiring Windows (XP for example).

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:05 pm

Any non-Apple programs that you used to be able to run with the Gs will now have to be upgraded to run with the Intels. While running Windows (crosses self while throwing salt over shoulder) you will be able to run Windows programs.

If you have any doubts that a Mac is a superior device, go to your dealer and try one.

MAC vs. PC

MAC vs. PC

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