Fed up - Seeking New Computer Advice

[TonyK]

Regarding hardware, there is no contest. A less expensive box can be built to run Linux.

BUT, and you knew there was one coming, OS X is more than just about hardware but encompasses the entire computing experience. By being closed loop there is tighter control and fewer issues overall.

After spending the last 15 months away from Windows at home I do not see myself returning. Professionally I still have to support it but that is someone else's money.

To put some perspective on this, I've been in and around computers since 1976 while in high school. I've ran many different systems and from 1990 until 2008 I ran one flavor of Windows or another. When Vista got in my way and I was going to have to make investments in software anyway, I decided it was time to revisit my whole desire for computing at home.

But because we have strayed away from the OP's original request, let me suggest we drop this as you won't change my mind, I can't change your mind and we've not yet dropped in to the sewer fighting a holy OS war.

Here, have some popcorn.

Originally Posted by dryadsdad

...

One other item which I didn't mention earlier is that despite it all, I can still build a much better box for much less to run Linux or Windows than I can Mac OS. Well, I have to buy the Mac of course which is the rub. I screwed together the equivalent of a medium end Mac Pro for the cost of a low end iMac - including a much better display. My heart wanted to go Mac, but my mind kept me in Windows. Then there was the license issue too.

[dryadsdad]

Popcorn invite accepted!

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by Stercus Vultus

I.o.w. JDart's comments are 100% off the mark: I am running OSX, Win7, and Vista on a Mac, on this Mac, as we speak. Check here: Apple - Get a Mac

Why have a Mac if you're going to run Win7 and Vista? Are you telling me there's no performance penalty when running Windows apps in, what, emulation?

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by TonyK

BUT, and you knew there was one coming, OS X is more than just about hardware but encompasses the entire computing experience. By being closed loop there is tighter control and fewer issues overall.

and you forgot to mention higher cost overall: less competition=higher prices. That's always been the problem with Macs, and it continues to be--that an availability of software.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by JDArt

and you forgot to mention higher cost overall: less competition=higher prices.

BS! Since Macs have the whole PC universe to compete with they have exactly as much competition as PCs do. So there is not one iota less competition, and consequently there can also be no higher prices because of it. In fact the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of a Mac during its economic life is less than that of PCs.

That's always been the problem with Macs [...] --that an availability of software.

Not true: that's a moot point since 2 years, my friend! And you know it full well! With BootCamp, Parallels, VirtualBox, VMware, etc. you can run more software on Macs than you can on standard PC boxes. Natively or virtualized. User choice.

Sorry, JD: your Mac bashing is pathetically off-base.

Apple - Get a Mac - Watch the TV Ads

[jhawk1000]

MAC vs PC, Canon v. Nikon, Mercedes v. Lexus--will it never end?

Mel

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by jhawk1000

MAC vs PC, Canon v. Nikon, Mercedes v. Lexus--will it never end?

Not as long as fake arguments are used.

[Athena]

I don't want to argue one side or the other. Even if I buy a mac I'll still have a pc laptop.

Anyway, thanks for your help with the suggestions guys.

[jhawk1000]

Originally Posted by Stercus Vultus

Not as long as fake arguments are used.

But-----whose argument is fake? Depends on ones viewpoint as far as I can see.

Mel

[felix.reichardt]

Go for a PC (BYO with quality components) and install Win 7 RC. Win 7 final should be available end of this year I think. It's a fantastic OS.

[dryadsdad]

I'm running Windows 7 64 Bit Ultimate. There is no question that it a huge improvement over XP or Vista. The issue isn't that, but rather what issues Athena had / has with her Windows and if those issues will be addressed by Win 7.

Frex, color management has not even been discussed with this Windows but its media handling (MM) has been improved quite a bit.

What Win 7, especially 64 bit, has changed, is the performance equation even more. Dollar for dollar, the performance king is far and away Win 7. To get this performance in a Mac, I"d have to go Pro and even headless, the cost would be double what I have into this Win 7 box including the nice 24" Synchmaster display.

[Athena]

headless??

I like my head...

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Athena

If you were going to get a new computer what would you get?

HP PC.

Good product worth it's price, good service, many choices.

All our servers and 800+ desktops/laptops in our company are HP, they have proved to be very reliable, and very serviceable if anything went wrong, which more often than not is the end-user's fault (dropping laptop, spilling soft drink/coffee/tea over laptop/keyboard/desktop unit etc... )

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Vedauwoo]

Originally Posted by jhawk1000

MAC vs PC, Canon v. Nikon, Mercedes v. Lexus--will it never end?

Mel

I can agree with *some* of those comparisons....but....a Lexus is no where near on par with a Benz...

[dryadsdad]

Originally Posted by Athena

headless??

I like my head...

Headless is US Tech talk for no monitor included. Owell....

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by jhawk1000

But-----whose argument is fake? Depends on ones viewpoint as far as I can see.

This is not about "viewpoints", but about facts, jhawk: 1) Fact: Macs have exactly as much competition as PCs do. Because Macs are PCs. They operate in precisely the same market. And therefore under exactly the same price pressures. 2) Fact: Macs, off the shelf, do run Win7, Vista, XP, Linux, and MacOSX. Natively or virtualized, and simultaneously, and side-by-side on-screen. Your choice. PCs, off the shelf, simply can't do that.

[jhawk1000]

Stercus, My but you are a zealous advocate for Mac. Which camera do you fancy? Is it also the best. But---why did you assume that my choice was PC? Do you know what they say about Assume--makes an ass out of you and me. Might surprise you that I have a PC at home and use a Mac at work. Both work for me. Both get the job done and both are quality products. I do know the Mac costs more though.

Mel

[jhawk1000]

Originally Posted by Vedauwoo

I can agree with *some* of those comparisons....but....a Lexus is no where near on par with a Benz...

Well, I have owned a Mercedes and I think Lexus is on par and maybe even a little ahead. When it hits you is when you get the Mercedes serviced and have to take out a loan.

Mel

[dryadsdad]

Perhaps we may be of better service to Athena if we discuss the relative merits of various systems.

I will add that one advantage the Mac has and that's exclusivity. We are a hardware group. We like hardware which is why we are photographers rather than something else artistic. The design of the Mac, the feel of it, and the general sense of use is very high end and satisfactory.

When I shot RB67 a friend bought Hassleblad. I said he is wasting his money on that delicate Euro thing & he says he shoots much better with his fine instrument than he would with my clunk of a truck camera. I am still on Windows; he still on Mac. We are still best of friends.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Why have a Mac if you're going to run Win7 and Vista?

Because I run MacOSX 99% of the time. With Win7, Vista, XP, and Linux I simply have more choice, don't I? Choice you don't have on a PC. In practice, though, I haven't yet ever actually needed Win7, Vista, XP, or Linux to do something I couldn't do in MacOSX.

Are you telling me there's no performance penalty when running Windows apps in, what, emulation?

Correct: there is no performance penalty when you run Windows (apps) natively (Bootcamp) on a Mac. Quite the contrary in fact: Windows runs faster on Macs than it does on PCs! In benchmark tests the MacBook Pro is acknowledged as "the fastest Windows running laptop on the market"...

Apple MacBook Pro 'fastest Windows XP notebook' ? Register Hardware