MAC or PC

Section 37 · 07-01-2005, 01:54 PM

I'm not really up on the tech talk, I'm a plug and play kind of guy and cannot argue the true merits of computer systems.

With that said, I'm a Mac guy because Macs are sexy as hell. Since I don't understand the tech talk anyway, and since my usage is lightweight consumer stuff, I go for looks.

In the looks department, there is only Mac. With Macs this hot, I don't know when I'd ever buy a PC.

montgjules · 07-01-2005, 02:03 PM

Not sure if it's all comparable....

*Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2 edit
*Processor AMD Sempron(TM) 3000+ operating at 1.8GHz edit
*Memory 512 MB DDR / PC3200 (1 DIMM) edit
*Hard Drive 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive edit
*Primary CD/DVD Drive 48x max. CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive (48x32x16x48x) edit
*Front Productivity Ports 2 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, + Front Audio Ports edit
*Monitors Compaq CV7500 17" CRT Monitor edit rebate form
*Graphics Card Integrated SIS Mirage2 Graphics edit
*Sound Card Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ Front Audio ports edit
*Keyboard and Mouse Compaq Keyboard & Scroller Mouse edit
*Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0/Money 2005/MSN Encarta Plus

Grand total: $499.98

I don't know about the video editing software. That wasn't listed as one of the options. The video card looked like it had comparable ram, etc. Don't know about the cache stuff and it was not a widescreen monitor.

montgjules · 07-01-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section 37

I'm not really up on the tech talk, I'm a plug and play kind of guy and cannot argue the true merits of computer systems.

With that said, I'm a Mac guy because Macs are sexy as hell. Since I don't understand the tech talk anyway, and since my usage is lightweight consumer stuff, I go for looks.

In the looks department, there is only Mac. With Macs this hot, I don't know when I'd ever buy a PC.

Congratulations to all those in the world who can afford to buy for looks and not care about their budget! :D

That being said, even if I had the moolah, I wouldn't see any reason to really make a big deal over getting a Mac. This from a former Mac user. We had a Macintosh in the '80s, thank you very much, and I used one exclusively through 1997 or 1998. Still have that model upstairs collecting dust. I just don't have any reason to care about it anymore.. Anyway, I don't want to push the whole PC/Mac debate too far. I was on the Mac end of it, getting harrassed for years before I changed my tune. (Hey bordy, be sure to thank the Mikes for that. Now one of the aforementioned loves to play devil's advocate and tell me how crappy my PC is.)

DadOf8 · 07-01-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section 37

I'm not really up on the tech talk, I'm a plug and play kind of guy and cannot argue the true merits of computer systems.

With that said, I'm a Mac guy because Macs are sexy as hell. Since I don't understand the tech talk anyway, and since my usage is lightweight consumer stuff, I go for looks.

In the looks department, there is only Mac. With Macs this hot, I don't know when I'd ever buy a PC.

I have a laptop that looks like a Mac. Sharp makes it. I get asked all the time if it's a Mac. I personally need a PC for school. I'm not sure I could do most of the stuff I do for school on a Mac since there is specialized software that they want me to install. My first computer was a Mac, so I'm not putting them down by any means, I think they are nice machines. I just feel like there is more that you can do with a PC because the majority of software and hardware out there is designed to work with Windows and an Intel Processor.

DadOf8 · 07-01-2005, 02:12 PM

One more thing: As much as I can't stand Super Dell's ads, he makes a good product. You'll pay a little more for it than if you were to buy from another OEM like Dell, Compaq, or Gateway, but I think you get what you pay for. I personally would never buy from him, simply because I build my own, but if you want a fast computer for a reasonable price, go see Totally Awesome computers. They should pay me now for the endorsement.

devNull · 07-01-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montgjules

Not sure if it's all comparable....

*Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2 edit
*Processor AMD Sempron(TM) 3000+ operating at 1.8GHz edit
*Memory 512 MB DDR / PC3200 (1 DIMM) edit
*Hard Drive 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive edit
*Primary CD/DVD Drive 48x max. CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive (48x32x16x48x) edit
*Front Productivity Ports 2 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, + Front Audio Ports edit
*Monitors Compaq CV7500 17" CRT Monitor edit rebate form
*Graphics Card Integrated SIS Mirage2 Graphics edit
*Sound Card Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ Front Audio ports edit
*Keyboard and Mouse Compaq Keyboard & Scroller Mouse edit
*Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0/Money 2005/MSN Encarta Plus

Grand total: $499.98

I don't know about the video editing software. That wasn't listed as one of the options. The video card looked like it had comparable ram, etc. Don't know about the cache stuff and it was not a widescreen monitor.

Yeah, this machine isn't as good as the Mac. The processor is a Sempron which is one of the processors crippled w/ a small cache. The monitor is a CRT and not a LCD. The integrated graphics card won't be nearly as powerful as the ATi card in the Mac. I would bet that if you went out to Dell's website you could get an equivalent machine to the $1300 Mac for $600 or $700. You can get a similar video editting suite for under $100. PCs are much cheaper...that isn't a surprise.

devNull · 07-01-2005, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DadOf8

I just feel like there is more that you can do with a PC because the majority of software and hardware out there is designed to work with Windows and an Intel Processor.

A sad state of affairs in my opinion. I wish more developers would got to the effort to make their stuff cross platform. Why lock people into the Wintel monoply...

Stucki · 07-01-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devNull

A sad state of affairs in my opinion. I wish more developers would got to the effort to make their stuff cross platform. Why lock people into the Wintel monoply...

In education, we get quite a bit of software that will work on both platforms. Why don't companies in other sectors do this?

devNull · 07-01-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucki

In education, we get quite a bit of software that will work on both platforms. Why don't companies in other sectors do this?

I am not sure. The software that we create for research doesn't have a fancy graphical interface or anything, but we make sure it runs on Linux, OS X, and Windows. It takes a bit of work, but isn't really that bad. I haven't spent enough time in the "real world" to know why developers aren't willing to play nice with more platforms.

the Bardguy · 07-01-2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DadOf8

I just feel like there is more that you can do with a PC because the majority of software and hardware out there is designed to work with Windows and an Intel Processor.

Didn't they say that Apple was going to go with the Intel processors soon?
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jun/06intel.html
If so, won't more things become cross platform, at least in theory?