Mac users opinion?

[bryanthompson]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Dude not again, cruising the net is probably one of the least intensive things that you can do with any computer and does not heavily task them at all. It's by no means a benchmark to use to compare any computers.

Some sites require plug ins that you have to hunt for to make a Mac work? That's the biggest load of BS I've heard.

So prove me wrong and name them. Cause I've yet to come across a site that required an additional plug-in download on my Mac.

Scott

Same here. Also consider that Mozilla is standardizing the plugins so that even if you do need one it's ridiculously simple to download and install.

[stomachmonkey]

Link for the Hitachi 7200 Notebook drive.

I really can not stress how much of a difference they make in notebook performance.


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1009919&CatId=0

[jyl]

stomach (I know, that's Mr. Stomach to me), does the higher rpm drive affect battery life at all?

I'm getting ready to upgrade my wife's iBook's HDD and looking for a 100GB drive.

[stomachmonkey]

John,


I have not noticed a difference in battery life.

Here's a powerconsumption chart vs. a 5400 rpm, it uses .5v more on spinup and .2v less on writes so overall it's a wash.


# 60GB/5400 RPM vs 60GB/7200 RPM:
Max (startup/spinup) - 5W vs 5.5W
# Seek (avg): 2.6W for both
# Read (avg): 2.5W for both
# Write (avg): 2.7W vs 2.5W
(7K60 slightly lower)
# Performance idle (avg): 2.0W for both
# Active idle (avg): 1.3W for both
# Sleep: 0.1W for both


My 17 in originally came with an 80 gb drive and I opted for less space for better performance and you can always get an external usb case for the original drive and make it portable.

Something like this, you can find them USB powered or powered by an adaptor. I have also seen one or two firewire cases and there is one out there that runs on rechargeable batteries.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/NST-250U2.htm

The cases are only slightly larger than the drive itself.

scott

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Dude not again, cruising the net is probably one of the least intensive things that you can do with any computer and does not heavily task them at all. It's by no means a benchmark to use to compare any computers.
I totally agree. That's why I said it would be foolish to spend the kind of money it takes to buy even the cheapest ibook when any windows computer, even a Celeron, would work fine. Better yet, heshould just get a better e-mail provider-for free.

Some sites require plug ins that you have to hunt for to make a Mac work? That's the biggest load of BS I've heard.
So prove me wrong and name them. Cause I've yet to come across a site that required an additional plug-in download on my Mac.
Yeah-that's exactly what you said last time we discussed this. Then I said "Kazaa". Then you said "They suck anyway" Then I said "That's not the point is it?"
I named one, and in my experience there are others including any site that requires Windows Media Player. I didn't write them down and since I ditched my Mac, I haven't had to worry about it. I'm not making this stuff up. It's based on REAL experience from having owned a flaming piece of crap for just about a year. Do we really need to do this again? Let see-Emachine that works great-$600 vs Ibook that smokes a logic board every 6 weeks $1500. To me it's a no brainer.


Scott

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
Same here. Also consider that Mozilla is standardizing the plugins so that even if you do need one it's ridiculously simple to download and install.

And my final point on this worn out topic is that WHY SHOULD I go to Mozilla and do ANYTHING when my windows computer does it right out of the box......FOR LESS MONEY!

[Deschodt]

>And my final point on this worn out topic is that WHY SHOULD I go to Mozilla and do ANYTHING when my windows computer does it right out of the box......FOR LESS MONEY!

2 words: Tabbed browsing - you don't know what you're missing ;-)
IE is a piece of junk. And that's from a PC user ;-)

[jyl]

I have not noticed any unusual trouble getting websites to work with the Mac versus with various Windows PCs. All of them require a plug-in occasionally, e.g. the Windows PCs need Quicktime, RealPlayer, updated Flash, updated Windows Media Player codecs, etc.

The bigger difference in my web surfing "experience" is the particular browser used. Internet Explorer is not my favorite, mostly due to the absence of tabbed pages, but I keep a copy as occasionally a commerce or online banking site wants IE. Safari is my favorite, with Opera and Firefox runners-up.

On Mozilla, I think it is a great thing. Thunderbird is a really nice email client. Firefox ditto for web. I like OpenOffice as a Microsoft Office replacement. And these are all free applications, can't spend less money than that.

The iBook logic board problem is on certain older iBooks, not the current or recent ones. It shouldn't have happened, but at least Apple does the repair free - this is on machines as much as 3 years old and long out of warranty.

[stomachmonkey]

Actually what I asked specificaly and exactly in the other thread was

Software incompatability? Please clarify, do you mean that more software is available for Windows? I've asked this before, name 1, just 1 commercially available piece of software that the average consumer could need that does not either have a Mac version or comparable alternatives.

To which you replied Kazaa,

to which id10t replied,

of course kazaa doesn't work on a mac - its a win32 product. but limewire does, and its not spyware laden. and, it connects to the same gnutella network.

and my reply was,

Kazaa is P2P, chock full of fun stuff from the Gain Network that loads your PC with so much advertising crap that it hurts.

I would not use it if it was available for the Mac, I prefer Hotline, Limewire, Bearshare or any of the other P2P services readily available and devoid of annoying "add ons"

So you failed to answer my original question, name 1 commercially available piece of software that does not have a MAC version OR COMPARABLE ALTERNATIVES. In terms of P2P software Kazaa is one of the less desireable pieces of software available.

You, not me, keep bringing up the software issue and it's not true so I call you on it and you have not been able to support your position.

You had a bad experience with a MAC, that's really unfortunate. You are basing your entire opinion on a limited experience, hardly conclusive. My opinion is based on 20 years of experience owning both platforms. In my house right now I have 4 Macs and 2 Windows boxes running.

I will agree with you that if all that you are doing is surfing the web, sending emails and using word processing that you can buy just about any computer and have a perfectly satisfactory experience, in fact if someone asked me I'd say go get a $400 emachines or equivalent Windows box, you can get monitor, cpu and probably even a printer in a package deal.

But part of the price you will pay is vulnerability to adware and viruses that from my point of view take to much time and effort to deal with in the face of an alternative that alleviates me of that hassle. Which is actually the topic that started this thread.

If they already had a monitor, keyboard and printer and were looking to just replace the PC itself then I'd also suggest looking at the Mac Mini.

As I've said numerous times before and repeated in one of my posts on this thread, both platforms are perfectly capable of any task you put before them, it's more a personal preference with respect to the User Interface. I prefer the Mac interface because I think it's better, you may not. I would encourage anyone to investigate all of their options before making a choice. What's wrong with that?

And BTW, in terms of a MAC costing more? I don't agree but let's say it's true. I'll leave you with something I posted on the last thread.

I can't tell you how many people look at me strangely because I drive a car that leaks oil, has a notoriously tempramental shifting mechanism, has a pathetic excuse for a back seat, is certainly not as cheap to fix as a Honda or Chevy, is less fuel efficient than my Tahoe, sounds like a sewing machine once a year, has a unique bolt pattern limiting my wheel options, etc....., you get my point.

At the end of the day it does the same thing as a $10,000 Hyundai or a $100,000 Benz, gets me from point A to point B.

How I choose to get there and what I decide to put up with during the journey is a matter of preference.

Based on your logic for not buying a Mac I'm surprised you have a Porsche.

[SLO-BOB]

My Porsche is a toy. I can afford to compromise my recreation. My other cars, like my computer, are mainstream, reliable, machines, suitable for business-unlike Mac or Porsche. If my biz computers crashed as often as my ibook, I would be in a world of hurt. Conclusive? For me it is. Why would I buy, OR recommend, something I have had multiple, miserable experiences with? I'll remind you that it was 2 computers that burned up. The so-called "genius" at the Apple store likewise had one that burned up repeatedly. So what if Apple makes good on them? It's still a major headache. If you like that kind of performance-stay with them.

I'm sure most, if not all, programs can be made to work on a Mac. My question is-why bother? PWD's needs hardly dictate the kind of performance you guys seem to need. I will give you this-I know some proffessionals that absolutely love their Mac machines for doing their catalogues. They have not had the problems that I did. However, they spent 25k on their systems and software. PWD simply wants to cruise the net and open e-mails without a Viagra sales pitch. One not need spend "Mac" money to do that.

Thanks for clarifying who said what btw. Memory fails as age increases. All you cult guys start to blend together. Just funnin with ya.

[stomachmonkey]

Thread about an experience with Alienware very similar to yours.

http://www.str8dog.com/articles/182.aspx

It does really suck that you had that much trouble but every computer manufacturer out there has had and will have these line issues from time to time.

No one is immune to it.

Your experience, undeniably frustrating for you was really more of an exception than the rule.

But it is still a valid experience.

I just get the feeling that you perceive all Macs to be the same and that this kind of thing does not happen to PC's which it does.

As far as software "can be made" to work on a Mac you should remember that excell, photoshop, illustrator are just several examples of software that was originally only available on Macs and was "made" to work on PC's.

In fact I actually applaud MSFT as I feel their current Office suite works better on the Mac than it does under Windows, except for Powerpoint which is just the biggest piece of junk on any platform.

If IBM had not provided the catalyst in the form of 2 critical business decisions, licensing DOS from MSFT instead of buying it outright and using off the shelf components instead of proprietary hardware in their first PC then I have no doubt the computer landscape would look very different today and Bill Gates might very well not be the richest dude around.

Someone shot this poor thread, it deserves to be put out of it's misery.

[stevepaa]

Originally posted by Sebring77
My Porsche is a toy. I can afford to compromise my recreation. My other cars, like my computer, are mainstream, reliable, machines, suitable for business-unlike Mac or Porsche. If my biz computers crashed as often as my ibook, I would be in a world of hurt. Conclusive? For me it is.

Not to start something, just a personal and business perspective.
I started with PDP 11 machines, then Vax, and then was given my first PC, a 386 in 1992. It was down at least 4 days when the techs tried to change a board. I went out and bought a Mac for home use right then. All the kids have had their own. Never had a breakdown. Over 16 different Macs spread among 4 people in some 12 years. List right now is 2 Ibooks, a flat panel Imac, a G4 tower, and a G3 powerbook. Similar experiences for my brother and sister, but with fewer machines.

Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale was all Mac until a merger with Martin and Martin executives thought it would be a cost saving to conform to Martin policy of IBM-PCs. Well, we all know now it is more costly to have PCs. So the idea that Macs can not be used in a business or that PCs are less costly is bunk.

[930addict]

OK fellas. I am an IT professional and was a staunch WinTel proponent until a few years back when I made the switch to a G4 Mac with OS X. I haven't regretted it a day in my life. The thing just works. Out of the box you can do awesome video editing with iMovie, organize your photos with iPhoto, Organize and play your MP3's with iTunes (plus your connected to apple music store), and then put it all on DVD using iDVD. One might argue that the new PC's can do the same - I will tell you that they can't do it as good as a MAC. I've used both now for video editing and my MAC runs circles around its PC counterpart. Have a digital camera? Plug it in and watch as iPhoto opens and xfers the pics to your MAC automatically.

Web browser is a non-issue. Safari is awesome. The only sites that I have problems with are the special microsoft sites - no matter cause I can get the video feed from other places. Tabbed browsing is really cool, so is Expose - the mac window system. I do have norton antivirus for mac just to be safe.

Can you tell that I LOVE my MAC? Buy one - you will not regret it. BTW - no affiliation with apple.

[930addict]

BTW...the notion that MACs are not meant for a businees is ludicrous. Do you think Apple uses PC's to run their business? No way. OSX is actually a UNIX based operating system. Unix worstations are work horses. The beauty of OS X is that Apple managed to build an inuitive interface on top of the geeky unix os. Way better than Linux (IMHO).

Also, and I think most will agree, Porsche's business is racing cars - I think it does it's job fairly well.

[SLO-BOB]

You guys are right. I, and the majority of the computer using public, are totally wrong. We just can't seem to get it through our thick heads though. You say Safari is great, and yet I can't stand it because it always "unexpectedly closed". Iphoto? Don't get me started. It sux-period. Just buy Adobe and get what you really need. You say Macs are great biz machines and yet all universities have courses in Excell, etc, but not all have Apple apps courses and most businesses use windows machines. You say Itunes is wonderful, and again, I hate it. Maybe that whole, you can't just click "copy disk" thing due to Apple's fear of copyright suits. But then again, you guys like cars that leak and shift badly. Oddly enough, mine does neither.

Face it-Mac is the beta VCR of computers. It may do some things better than windows, but the overall pain in the a*s and extra cost (which is soooo documented, how can even the most staunch mac user argue that point?) Were it not for iPod, Apple would have the second foot following the first into the grave.

I have no problem with cult followings. Viva Le difference! But, trying to drag some guy into that mess because he doesn't want spam....well. Let's just say you're not doing him any favors.

[stevepaa]

Most MS software was first developed on the Mac and then rewritten for the IBM-PC.

It is not sooooooo documented. Cost including support is more for PCs than Macs. Cost over time for personal use is more for PC than for Mac.

PC is the prevalent machine not because of any inherent betterness of a PC, but because Apple would not allow other people to make an Mac.

yes, spam may not be a reason to go Mac. But it would not be a disseervice to suggest it.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by stevepaa
Cost over time for personal use is more for PC than for Mac.

Not saying you couldn't find some "study" saying so, but why? I have never had to sink any real maintenance money into a PC and I've had many. What should I have been buying?

[930addict]

Originally posted by Sebring77
You guys are right. I, and the majority of the computer using public, are totally wrong. We just can't seem to get it through our thick heads though.


Not a matter of right or wrong here. Microsoft is very clever with there marketing. The WinTel alliance has spent a lot of money making sure people think that their solution is the best.


You say Safari is great, and yet I can't stand it because it always "unexpectedly closed".


Don't know what's going on there. But if you think netscape or explorer is not without crashing you haven't got a clue.

Iphoto? Don't get me started. It sux-period. Just buy Adobe and get what you really need.


Adobe what? iPhoto is not built for editing photos. It's simply a way to organize them. I've been using it for three years now without issues. I use photoshop if I want to edit photos.


You say Macs are great biz machines and yet all universities have courses in Excell, etc, but not all have Apple apps courses and most businesses use windows machines.


Again we're talking about marketing and money. Microsoft established itself as the standard early on. Universities cater to the technologies that are prevelent in the market. Just because a university teaches with one particular tool doesn't mean that tool is the best one.

You say Itunes is wonderful, and again, I hate it.

Your the first one I know of that hasen't liked iTunes. I'm sure there are many others but I find that interesting. Why?


Maybe that whole, you can't just click "copy disk" thing due to Apple's fear of copyright suits. But then again, you guys like cars that leak and shift badly. Oddly enough, mine does neither.





Face it-Mac is the beta VCR of computers.


You obviously do not have an intimate knowlege of either.


It may do some things better than windows, but the overall pain in the a*s and extra cost (which is soooo documented, how can even the most staunch mac user argue that point?)



For what you get it's worth the money. As for being a pain to work with, I recommended my friends mother (62 yrsold) to get one and she set it up by herself. Maybe the problem lies somewhere between the chair and the keyboard in your case.


I have no problem with cult followings. Viva Le difference! But, trying to drag some guy into that mess because he doesn't want spam....well. Let's just say you're not doing him any favors.


Neither are you. Each system has it's strengths and weaknesses. I've had many years (15) on WinTel and about 4 on MAC now. I prefer the MAC.

[stevepaa]

Joel
The added cost on a Wintel machne comes about when buying software. New system software is usually around $300 for Wintel and usually around $100 for a Mac.
And usually one does not need to upgrade on the Mac because some software requires the latest and greatest system upgrade. And there is some really good mac software that is either free or minimal cost, while I have not found the same to be true for wintel

[lendaddy]

OK, that makes sense I guess. I don't use my computers the way most do I guess. I hardly ever buy software. The only stuff I buy is work specific. My PC's have always come with office, though I imagine I'm "paying for it" one way or another.

The last time I bought anything like Iphoto, Itunes, Imovie, Itimebandit, etc.. was literally over 5 years ago and it was some music software I never used.

I am considering PS Elements though, looks neat!