Mac VS PC

[GrandPhoenix]

This is just my response to an earlier thread which I chose not to respond to, but rather to copy/paste my response in here and to continue it in a different direction so nobody feels hurt.

K then...

I just feel like... for every one person who's openly satisfied with his Mac that there's at least 15 people who are satisfied with their PC and have no need to express that satisfaction openly. I'm starting to feel like more people buy Macs to be different than for the simplicity of it all or their supposed "superiority". Now personally, my dad has been with Apple since the early '80s and still has some artifacts from a lost era in our garage. GO GO GADGET CAMERA PHONE!!
http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?pictureid=3527&albumid=477&dl=1215121970&thumb=1 (http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=477&pictureid=3527) http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?pictureid=3526&albumid=477&dl=1215121970&thumb=1 (http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=477&pictureid=3526)
So I'm not exactly biased when I say what I do becase I grew up since I was born with 3 different early Macs... but I'll tell you right now, compared to a well-built PC, a Mac is just a contender. There's just too many PC companies out there today making less than decent computers (eMachine... I hate you SOOOOOOO much...) while, for the same price of a Macbook, you could get a Laptop custom built by Dell that's just as powerful or better or for the price of an iMac build your own desktop that runs just as fast (and has more than 1Gig of RAM), if not better than it's Apple counter part. And I don't come here to flame, or to rip on anyone, I just think that it's more complicated than Mac "just makes a better product" :mvsad: There's only 1 Mac (company) and I'm completely aware of that. They're different and they're great. But there's dozens of PC companies and their prices and styles and qualities and components all differ so it's not always consistant where to go for what type of parts and how well each will run for what you need to do.

Macs have gained a reputation for their outstanding performance with media. Pics, movies, graphics design, web layout, movie production, movie playing, etc. etc. That's what a Mac works best for, but a PC is customizable in so many more ways. It's flexible and changable for things that you need more than others.

http://alexcarpenter.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/imac.jpg


How, exactly are you supposed to put a new video card into this? How are you supposed to install more than 2Gb of RAM. (if you bought the $2100 model, that is...) The most embarassing thing is this :
http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?pictureid=3528&albumid=478&dl=1215123632&thumb=1 (http://www.pmsclan.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=478&pictureid=3528)
I put some $60 RAM into my $300, 2 year old eMachine, installed a $176 graphics card (GeForce 9600 GT) and a new DVD-ROM and surprise, surprise, WoW runs better on my PC than on my friends brand new, store-bought Mac. And as far as being able to play Age of Conan... nope nope nope. "Games for Windows" :mvshock: Personally, I think that if Mac would stop playing the whole... "OUR COMPANY WAS FOUNDED ON OUR CUSTOMER'S INABILITY TO TURN THE COMPUTER ON" card and actually introduced... idk... realistic upgrades to their computers, and maybe lowered the price of the technology, they could actually contend... but for now, I wouldn't trade my eMachine... EMACHINE... for a brand new, out of the box iMac.

thoughts?

questions?

concerns?

beliefs?

opinions?

[Comon]

Ive owned by a MacBook and have used tons of Windows Laptops. It pretty much comes down to preference.

I used the many Windows Laptops for games, browsing the internet, and movie editing (Only because Vegas is so much better then Final Cut, but this is my preference.) I used my MacBook for Photoshop, and thats honestly about it. I played some WoW on it, but I never got into it.

The reason why I hate my MacBook, is that its so damn expensive to get it fixed. My screen broke, and because its a custom cut screen from Apple, I have to go directly through them. Pretty much, it will cost you $700 - $800 (CAN) to replace it. A complete rip off in anyones eyes.

So it comes down to if you have the money to maintain a Mac.

Personally, I find that the dividing factor to why I'm buying a PC.

(Well, that and Counter Strike =D)

[PrOFuSiiONz]

Macs now have Boot Camp software available on their OS's. This basically means that you can install windows to run on a macbook aswell, all legally of course and the best thing they fully support firmware from 2000 to Vista Ultimate. The only downside is having to pay £200+ ($420+) for the operating system if you don't like using torrents. But who doesn't like using torrents? It's the best thing since sliced bread :D

[GrandPhoenix]

Yes but the whole thing about running PC on a Mac is that it's a score for the PC side : they've got software that even Mac users want/crave. If Mac software was on a PC, now that would mean people want the "superior" operating system along with the proven more customizable hardware and equipment.

Again, PC is EVERYWHERE and Mac just has Macstores or their Calibase to fix things. Everyone and his brother is either a fully certified tech support for PC (everyone I care about, at least) or knows someone who is... We're entering an age where EVERYONE, even stupid kids know more about computers than 90% of the population did 15, even 10 years ago, while most people still can't even figure out how their iPod opens!

[PMS SuperSpade]

Do you understand Linux? How about, do you understand Ubuntu? Or how about FREE?? Even better, do you understand VIRUS FREE?? I feel that you were bashing Linux as an operating system in your poll options. Meanwhile, everyone else can pay $500 for photoshop, but I will just use GIMP for free. In case you don't undrstand my operating system, I will break it down to you. BTW, I am not bashing anyone or trying to cause drama, I just want you and others to understand that Linux is not complicated. My 70 year old grandmother uses it for crying out loud!

Linux has been around since the early 90's. It is open-sourced and still has yet to be plagued with virus's. Boot-up speeds are magnitudes times faster than Windows, not to mention that it has a true multi-user environment, which Windows still fails to do correctly. "Linux, other / What is progress? What is technology? / Wooden Computer" go to youtube and do a search for compiz fusion.

Moreover, we don't do a dual-boot on any of our 14 PCs. We are completely dedicated to Linux.

[Bitter Joyrok]

Ugh I'm bias against macs, those dumb machines break and just decide not to work whenever they feel like. As for the power of macs, they are very nice but I could just build a computer just as powerful as a mac with less money. The user face system is nice, but again I feel like I'm restricted in some way unable to set up everything I want and trust me I live near silicon valley I'm in mac central. Which is probably why I hate them so much, they always fail on me, take WEEKS for the mac company to fix, and require an absurd amount of patience. I take my PC which I built nearly 3 years ago, never really had to modify it at all. Dusting occasionally, but it's never failed to start up... and I want to say it never froze... but I'm thinking it had to happen once or twice... seeing as how I don't remember that's proof enough. Build a solid computer and your solid. I don't even own any virus software, haven't got a virus, because I'm smart where I download my stuff. Macs are nice, expensive, and fickle as hell. But their design and stuff inside is nice, not worth the price but nice.

[H2O TankBusta]

Don't bash linux - Linux is sweet for word processing and internet. I dual boot linux for everything but gaming and vista for gaming. But it is not true about viruses and linux, they exist and you can get them.

I love how everyone bashes windows too, I really don't have any problems with viruses or spyware or general windows errors (But I reformat every 4-5 months and I am a security freak)

Mac's and bootcamp... it sucks with the lack of support and drivers. Again, great for using applications but horrible with anything DirectX and OpenGL related.

PC > Linux > Mac imho

[TechIsCool]

Well i have to go on the side of everything i have on my desktop right now

OSX, WINDOWS XP, WINDOWS VISTA,
and KNOPPIX but have also run Ubuntu both live cds but use them regularly enough to have the live cds as iso and bootload them...
http://techiscool.com/Pictures/Forum_Images/DSC_0434.jpg

im using the OSX partion to bootload the disks so dont even say there are only 3.

so why are you going MAC vs PC when you even start talking about Linux the freeware and tools are what makes Linux priceless...

how could i like everything and i run everything it not like there is a reason do dis Linux it just kinda makes a fool out of your self.

I have run everything from Linux to command line shells and they all have there own purpose so we should all get along and stop fighting about who has the better system or my Operating system is better than yours

oh yah and well its not just a mac...
http://techiscool.com/Pictures/Forum_Images/DSC_0431.jpg

[H2O Forester]

hmmm thats a hard one it depends on what you want to do with your computer

[TechIsCool]

you got that right its not what you have its what you use it for

[H2O Bunnys]

Few Examples:
Gaming = Windows
Media= (arguably) Apple

So ya it really depends on what you want to do.

Also Techiscool out of just pure curiosity why would you want multiple OSs?

[TechIsCool]

because then i don't have to have 3 computers on my desk running the different OS's

I use vista for MCE only and testing things
XP main for running all my docs and files
OSX for just messing around

[H2O Bunnys]

lol couldnt you just mess around on XP? i just find it pointless to have 3 OS.

[TechIsCool]

they both have 10 gb for osx and 25 for vista 250 for xp :)

[H2O Bunnys]

hmmm i c sorry but i still see it pointless lol

[Phrascal]

i personaly prefer both depending on what i use them for i own a mac and pc, mac for work and pc for games, just how it goes i guess, but macs to me are really reliable OS and hardware in general and don't need much upgrading when new things come out since macs have been using 64bit processing for years and pc's are fairly new to it. pc's on the other hand i enjoy for gaming for the fact theirs only games on it...that i play... but every year i constintly buying new hardware keeping up with todays demands on games. but i get my use out of both, i do all my graphic arts on my mac so its not really a burden to use.

[Stasis]

I personally despise macs

I keep hearing everyone say "They're more user-friendly"
User-Friendly MY ASS, try fixing a broken mac and THEN say they're user-friendly
then theres the high prices, I can get a BETTER pc for less than half the price if I build it myself

I'll NEVER willingly buy a mac unless the prices drop by at least 60% and they make them easier to fix...

[Cortana Siffow PMS]

I hate macs. I love my PC. And my right click button. Ctrl + Click my butt!
http://www.xclouds.com/images/front/wert.jpg
(I'm kidding on that one)

I'm learning coding and such. And a lot of stuff is centered around Microsoft products or ones related to MS. Kinda goes to prove that PC and Microsoft is everywhere!

[H2O Sonik]

Wow.. that picture is inappropriate.
And that is a Dell XPS 410
400 series were made in like 1910.
I have the 400 and it barely holds up.

Apples are very good computers.. BUT
I like my right click.

[Stasis]

uggg, dell... thats one of the few occasions that I choose Mac over PC

[H2O Tyrant Sparda]

uggg, dell... thats one of the few occasions that I choose Mac over PC

:mvagree: Totally agree. As for me, I use PC, but. My Shiz is custom. http://www.fiberoptikz.tk/creed/GIFS/actingcool.gif

[Arbee]

Ok, well I decided to chime in on this one... Unfortunately nowadays, macs have become far more trendy then they really are useful, and there are so many people who don't understand the reasons in using a mac and have one just to have one. It definitely depends on what you want to use it for.

I used to work in the music industry, and by far preferred Macs for high end multimedia work. I think they have better software (Logic, Final Cut, More robust Pro Tools, software synth/plugins), and before they decided to become more and more like a PC, they were far stronger in running multimedia apps then the old PCs (and can still be). They are nowhere near as widely used, so there are far less viruses written for them and have a lot less background crap to slow down the system. However, the two are more and more becoming alike, however I still think the way it handles multimedia is more efficient then the PC. And btw, you have been able to run Windows on Macs for a long time using Virtual PC, however as an emulator you couldn't do higher end stuff through windows.

However, I still don't see why that unless you are need to interface constantly with a Mac environment or are doing high end multimedia (at a high level or professionally) that you would get a Mac over a PC. There is a reason that they control the computer market, as they are cheaper, have more available software, and much easier to upgrade. Plus you can still run very good multimedia applications for a learner, enthusiast, or even mid-level work. For gaming, forget about it Macs don't really even exist and why would you spend $3k on a computer you can build for half the price on a PC and will need to replace in less than a couple years anyways if you are a hardcore gamer? And for the average user, you have far more software options unlike mac in which you get THEIR version, and maybe one 3rd party option. Not to mention the tons of open source, and free software available these days.

Having used macs for many years, I can see both sides but I think too many people get caught up in the huge fad that Mac is now and don't think clearly on what really suits their needs best. Coming from the music industry, now working as a programmer and always interested in gaming I will always do 90% of my stuff on PCs that I can build for far cheaper then a Mac. If i ever get back into high end production, or when I am able to build a new studio for myself, I would most likely use a mac for that but thats about it.

Just my two cents. Neither is horrible, and both are great. People just need to learn to get what best suits their NEEDS.

[GrandPhoenix]

Wow I've been away from a few days but this M/F has grown. Where to start? Uhhh... Oh, I know

~This isn't an argument starter or a drama-engine. This is a debate. This is opinions and past experience brought together to bring incite to others.

~Macs aren't invincible. Perhaps you've heard of "macfixitforums.com"? Perhaps? Macs have viruses too. Ever hear of 'OSX/RSPlug'? Nobody? One of the worst Mac trojan viruses in history? Nobody? I had 6 friends back east whose Macs were whiped completely clean by OXS/RSPlug and I lolololol'd all the way home cuz they always gave me **** about how "PC's have so many viruses!!!!!"

~Macs can use right and left clicks. Even without bootcamp, a Windows mouse will work for a Mac. My friend uses his Razor mouse and it works just fine for both his Mac and his Windows Laptop. Windows, DOES have the patent on the right click tho. :mvcelebration:

When I was 12 or 13, I got my first brand new compy. A little later that same year, I discovered Kazaa and my entire computer came to a screeching halt. Things got worse and my entire hard drive got deleted. Then it happened again. Lateron, I discovered that you can just... choose NOT to upload files and you wont get viruses, etc. It's just that simple. And maybe once in a while (just like with rooms, houses, cars, offices, etc.) you should clean your compys files. Disk defrag, virus scan, etc. are all good ideas once every few weeks just to keep things at their best.

~Also dell makes really, really good laptops. I'm sick of people thinking HP and Alienware are the only good compys out there. It's ridic. Common doesn't mean crappy. Common means it's good enough for MANY people sooo many people are going to buy it.

((My new compy in the works is custom built tho... I've had 3 Compaq/HP Desktops, 1 HP laptop, 2 Dells, some generic piece of crap and some number of Macs and even a gateway at one point... I'm sick and tired of being a slave to pre-build comps... -_-)

Uhhh... I really can't think of anything else that I can really say... maybe there'll be more tomorrow *shrug* g'night happy people

[Helghast H2O]

Ok so here are my thoughts, when it comes to gaming pc have it with a wider array of compnents ans the ability to upgrade easier than with a mac, indeed when it comes to CAD drafting, or many of the animation processes macs have it. but you never hear of the "next big thing" on mac computers. Macs are more stable than pcs are that run windows. then you have those that run linux or any other version of that Os and you will be looking for many drivers for days. So yes when it comes to what is better it all depends on what you are going to use the computer for in the first place.

[Domination]

Macs all the way......well if you're going to do video editing. Using Final Cut pro is so easy and not only that but it's easy to pick up and learn.

[H2OSilentCid]

Ugh I'm bias against macs, those dumb machines break and just decide not to work whenever they feel like. As for the power of macs, they are very nice but I could just build a computer just as powerful as a mac with less money. The user face system is nice, but again I feel like I'm restricted in some way unable to set up everything I want and trust me I live near silicon valley I'm in mac central. Which is probably why I hate them so much, they always fail on me, take WEEKS for the mac company to fix, and require an absurd amount of patience. I take my PC which I built nearly 3 years ago, never really had to modify it at all. Dusting occasionally, but it's never failed to start up... and I want to say it never froze... but I'm thinking it had to happen once or twice... seeing as how I don't remember that's proof enough. Build a solid computer and your solid. I don't even own any virus software, haven't got a virus, because I'm smart where I download my stuff. Macs are nice, expensive, and fickle as hell. But their design and stuff inside is nice, not worth the price but nice.


I work on both Macs and PCs for customers, I had to do a class just to get some knowledge on them. I will always be a PC person that's the way I was raised and was born with.

Since we are talking pros and cons of both systems here. I'll post some good points about a mac. There's too many post with assumptions that mac can't do that or this. Just to level the play field a little.

The newer macs are upgradeable.
Nvidia are now pushing to make more graphic cards for them. Most models have Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs in them.
The more expensive one uses combined Server class Xeon chips that give you a total of 8 cores with it.
The operating system uses a modified unix system.
There isn't any viruses out that could damage your system. People can feel more at ease about it.
Most of the time troubleshooting broadband networking problems for customers, the elderly and people new to computers in general have an easier time finding stuff that I ask for.
Apple's wifi system called Airport is much easier to setup than setting up wifi on Microsoft's Windows XP.
Tech Support love working with Macs because the system doesn't differ from every mac owner, making it easier to isolate the problem vs PCs which thousands of hardware combinations.
All your network tools are in one easy to use place, with windows try telling a customer to type the word ping or ipconfig at the command prompt.
Linux uses can find that GUI is almost identical to what they are using now.


Myth about Macs are:

They are not a lot of programs for it right now. Which is untrue now. Ever since Intel came into the spot light you can actually install a program called bootcamp on it which you can dual boot to windows. They even have virtualization software which can run a windows shell while being on mac's OS. The newer version of the Mac OS X called Leopard has bootcamp already integrated inside.If a program requires windows it will automatically switch to it. Every piece of hardware on the Mac is fully supported in the windows environment. Which the drivers can be found on your OS disc of leopard.
Can't play games on it. This is an false statement here too. Like I said before ever since intel came into light it acts a bit more like a PC.


I'll list more when I have the time but don't need to point out the pros and cons of the PC. You people already know what those are.

[FantomexX H2O]

I've been using PC's ever since I was about 11 years old(started with DOS and Windows 3.1). Became a computer technician and custom builder, took my MCSE and Cisco certification. etc...

I always used to tell myself that I would never become a Mac user, infact I detested macs for years. However, that opinion changed quite drastically in the past 2 years since I've "Switched".. lol

While PC's with Windows are still king of gaming(gaming on PC doesn't concern me as I'm a hardcore console gamer anyways)... that is all they are really good for... For everything else.. Windows on PC is a royal pain in the @$$ and headache..

I personally don't like trojans/viruses being found by my virus scanner everyday, having to reformat my harddrive to reinstall windows every few months, deal with constant hardware/driver incompatibilities, BSOD(Blue Screen of Death) on a regular basis.. weekly and sometimes everyday at random hours.

The problem with PC's is that the market is far too congested with 1000's of parts by many different 3rd parties... While being able to customize a PC to perfection may be great and make a beast of a computer, but that will usually come at a cost or sacrafice which is "stability"...

In all my experience over the years, finding all these perfect parts and putting them together on paper looked good in theory.. but when actually following through with it, its just a nightmare.. I guess one might as well shell out for a Dell XPS or some Alienware model which are expensive as fudge..

Nevertheless, a good friend of mine swayed me over to Apple's macs, and I finally have found the perfect balance and stability. Mac OSX Leopard "just works".. (no pun intended).

I have yet to get one of those fabled virii (virus), My Mac OSX OS has only crashed or frozen like 2 times in 2 1/2 years(tho that was partly my fault cause I did something to the kernel.. lol)... compare that to 200+ BSOD's in the same amount of time for windows.. just absurd.

Also, Mac OSX Leopard has more eyecandy than Windows Vista..

Anyways, I do still use Windows.. but ever so rarely... I have a Toshiba Satellite Windows vista notebook which I on occasion have to use, simply because I don't believe in wasting precious partition space for bootcamp on my Mac's dedicated HDD.

[PHiNiX]

what it comes down it is what your forte is hardcore gamers are going to use pc. people who are more into media arts are going to choose the mac. but a mac is hard to catch on yes it has some good features but i like my right click..and i did over the phone tech support and i hated when people had mac problems..i would have someone else help im not fluent with it but from what even the people who work on them say windows is easier to diagnose a problem on

[FantomexX H2O]

The mac(depending on if you use the new Mighty mouse) now has a right-click that is just as intuitive as windows pc right-click.

You can even customize the right-click menu with a nifty program called "OnMyCommand"

As for diagnosing problems.. I find Windows comes across more problems than Mac OSX.

[H2O Forester]

i haven't really used a mac that much but i mainly use a pc

[Megasoft Office 2001]

I love the iMac pseudo-minimalist interfaces, which makes them well-suited for content creation. But that doesn't make them inferior to Linux or Windows. Likewise, buying a simplistic Apple iPod instead of a better-built Zune doesn't mean you are light in the loafers.

[Pandabaa]

OMG! I built my SLI PC for about $1,000. (Damn you video cards) I love my machine and don't intend to upgrade it for a long time. Out of all the OS's I installed I still unfortunately use Vista insted of Ubuntu the most however (Ugh).:mvshakefist: P.S. I wouldn't buy a Mac for all the tea in China.:mvboogie::mvdj::mvboogie:

[H2O 1MPUR1TY]

I'm not a die-hard PC guy, but I just don't really like macs; their inability to play games, upgrade....and the zombified users.....

macs lies aside, I build a lot of computers (for me and for other clients) so windows is my OS of choice.....but if I feel like being a showoff....like I need something flashy and animated for a LAN, I boot up Ubuntu Linux on another partition....it's small, it runs just about everything, and it looks better than OS X ever will

that's just me though

[Siktech101]

I completely agree pc over mac any day!!!! Mac should just stick with the ipod and other iproducts!!!!