MAC vs PC

[Fred Bloggs]

I just wish Apple would stop using their OS to justify the pricey hardware. I really do think Windows would have some serious competition if Apple would just release it as a general OS, or at least release it through other hardware vendors (so it can be matched with compatible hardware).

Well said, I really truly, simply cannot abide the typical evangelistic open toed sandal with socks type apple users attitude towards a computer when it is nothing more than a useful multi-purpose tool. I mean, an apple box is simply mere commodity intel hardware these days anyway so WTF is the fuss really about?

[bogeyman]

Well said, I really truly, simply cannot abide the typical evangelistic open toed sandal with socks type apple users attitude towards a computer when it is nothing more than a useful multi-purpose tool. I mean, an apple box is simply mere commodity intel hardware these days anyway so WTF is the fuss really about?

It runs OS X. Geddit?

I have never worn open toed sandals with socks either. Whereas I suspect you have never worn anything other than trainers

[Fred Bloggs]

It runs OS X. Geddit?

I have never worn open toed sandals with socks either. Whereas I suspect you have never worn anything other than trainers

So does a hackintosh..............

[MikeC1408]

It's been discussed several times here in Technical. Here's the most recent thread on the subject.

To sum up I ended up getting the 13" MBP 2.53Ghz with 320Gb HDD

Absolutely love it, glad i didn't get the plastic Sony, only wish I'd done it earlier.

Running XP with Fusion so have the best of both worlds.

Still getting caught out with the track pad gestures, but i'll get there

[scooterscot]

I think something worth mentioning that I've not read before is the cost of software. Over the years I've spent more cash on software for my XP machine than I have for my Mac. Even then the cheaper software on the mac has been far more reliable.

[d000hg]

I was looking at Macbooks the other day. They seem to have changed which models are aluminium since I got mine, the equivalent model to mine is now sold with plastic case.

[MikeC1408]

I was looking at Macbooks the other day. They seem to have changed which models are aluminium since I got mine, the equivalent model to mine is now sold with plastic case.

The Mac Book Pro comes in Unibody Ali case

[Sysman]

I think something worth mentioning that I've not read before is the cost of software. Over the years I've spent more cash on software for my XP machine than I have for my Mac. Even then the cheaper software on the mac has been far more reliable.

I have mentioned that, but maybe elsewhere on the net. When I was running Windows at home I was always buying some bit of software or other. The only OS X apps I have bought since 2002 are:

• Quicktime Pro - used for a one off project, so worth it
• Toast
• iLife '04 - mainly for iPhoto which is still going strong
• Keynote V1 - it did a good job of reading PowerPoint stuff long before OOo could
• iWork '08
• iWork '09

(The Numbers spreadsheet which comes with iWork is more form than substance, but useful for "pretty stuff"; I use OOo for serious spreadsheet work.)

The Development Kit is included at no extra cost with OS X, so nothing more to fork out there and the documentation is good. You can subscribe to the Apple Developer Network for free, but of course there are paid options available for higher levels of support if you need them.

The multilingual side is a dream too. The OS itself, all the Apple apps and many/most third party ones come as multilingual versions. You can switch languages at will; bloody useful when working in Europe or if the gf wants to use it.

[Spacecadet]

At the top end a Mac book pro is comparable in price with a Dell Precision

Only things which stop me getting a Mac over a Dell (apart from the image):

1. No real business support. Dell offer onsite support and having used the business support I really can't fault the process. After trashing my laptop keyboard with orange juice once it took a 5 minute phone call (to the irish call center) and less than 24 hours to have a replacement to me at no cost to myself

2. No 1920x1200 screens on the 15" MBP laptop.
Having used this for 2 years now on the Dell precision I couldn't get anything less. It really does feel like there is a massive amout of screen real estate at that resolution

[ForkBoy]

Hi,
I don't know too much about Mac's so not sure what the benefits are! did I mention that is a sexy looking machine?
Thanks

Posting this from a 3.5 year old MacBook. This one has been dragged round the world several times, it has several cracks in the casing and looks about as sexy as a 57 year old belly dancer with varicose veins.
The keyboard is pants, the one button mouse is annoying and a lot of the software is flaky.
On the other hand, the screen is pretty good, it beats using Windows, there's a proper terminal - which I need for work, PuTTY is not a viable option, the MS Office stuff will run OKish, it has a flaky X server and the developer tools are included in the price.
I upgraded the memory and the hard disk soon after I bought it and apart from having to send the battery back to Apple a couple of years ago I have had no hassle from it in the 3.5 years that I have been using it daily.
I wouldn't want to go back to a Windows box but I'd trade it in a thrice for a Solaris lappy if I could find one that worked properly out of the box.