Can someone please explain in plain english how a Mac is easier to use? I assume there are similarities like the use of file architecture and ''windows'', but why is Mac's way of running say Photoshop Elements better? Why, specifically, is the Mac OS better than Windows if you take out the virus/spyware issue? BTW, maybe I'm lucky, but in the 3 months I've been running XP, I haven't had a single crash, blue screen, or virus. Of course I'm knocking on wood!!;-)
Thanks!
Reply 1 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6568126976002236046 not only is telling about the trend in complexity but how the Mac OS and Windows differs. You may or may not enjoy this video but I think most will.
The interfaces on today's machines and software are sometimes idiotic. I agree that we need to feedback more about this.
Bob
The interfaces on today's machines and software are sometimes idiotic. I agree that we need to feedback more about this.
Bob
Reply 2 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
The answer to your question might be found in asking yourself whether you would prefer to live in the old USSR or the USA/UK etc.
In one, the state runs you and the other you run the state.
Moving to Mac is exactly like moving out of the USSR into the free world.
Mac is easier because it dosn't interfere with you or your work. It exists to serve you, nothing more nothing less.
With Windows you must look after it. With Mac OSX it looks after you.
I could go on and on and on but you get the message. There are a million little things that go to make up the differences between Mac and PC. But the overall affect once you make the change and live with it for a week or two the difference is huge.
I really suggest you try the Mac to see for yourself. If you don't I can assure you you will kick yourself for not switching earlier - like I did.
In one, the state runs you and the other you run the state.
Moving to Mac is exactly like moving out of the USSR into the free world.
Mac is easier because it dosn't interfere with you or your work. It exists to serve you, nothing more nothing less.
With Windows you must look after it. With Mac OSX it looks after you.
I could go on and on and on but you get the message. There are a million little things that go to make up the differences between Mac and PC. But the overall affect once you make the change and live with it for a week or two the difference is huge.
I really suggest you try the Mac to see for yourself. If you don't I can assure you you will kick yourself for not switching earlier - like I did.
Reply 3 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
Since I am about ready to replace my PC laptop, I read your reply with interest. However, the software I use a lot, Delorme mapping & GPS, photo editing, and CD/DVD making are all written for PC. How would the new MAC handle PC software? In the past, I seen people complain that the MAC did not do a easy job of simulating the PC. HAs something changed with the MAC notebooks to make it work better with PC written software?
Reply 4 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I'm of course speaking about things of which I have no experience with, but sounds like your talking about Virtual PC, which I heard didn't work too well. However, when Apple went to Intel processors the whole world for them changed. Now, from what I've read you can install Windows on an Intel-based Mac. Then run either Bootcamp, where you have a dual-boot config between Windows and OSX, or Parallels where they run simultaneously. That way you can run your Windows programs. BTW, what photo editing and CD/DVD software are you needing to run? I heard Mac's own software does a pretty decent job.
Reply 5 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
Macs now run on Intel processors which means they can run Windows on a separate partition. Using Apple's Boot Camp software, "www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" you can make a separate partition on your own hard drive and run Windows natively.
The other option for running Windows on a Mac is Parallels Desktop "www.parallels.com" which is a virtualisation software, letting you run Windows in a separate window within Mac OS X.
My suggestion would be this, since both Boot Camp & Parallels require you to have a fully licensed copy of Windows, you might want to try to find alternative software that exists on the Mac. CD/DVD burning is built into OS X and you can get Photoshop, GIMP, Fireworks or any number of photo editing software for Mac.
Udayan.
The other option for running Windows on a Mac is Parallels Desktop "www.parallels.com" which is a virtualisation software, letting you run Windows in a separate window within Mac OS X.
My suggestion would be this, since both Boot Camp & Parallels require you to have a fully licensed copy of Windows, you might want to try to find alternative software that exists on the Mac. CD/DVD burning is built into OS X and you can get Photoshop, GIMP, Fireworks or any number of photo editing software for Mac.
Udayan.
Reply 6 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I currently own an Upgrade copy of XP for my Dell. Is it likely that Microsoft will allow me to install this if I choose to buy a Mac? I heard they will sometimes allow installing on a second computer.
Reply 7 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
Hi, I'm a Mac owner at home and a Windows Tech by day.
Once you have "activated" your copy of Windows XP on your Dell, you aren't allowed to install it on another PC (or Mac). This is obviously a feature set in place by MS to keep pirating from happening. It used to be that one could have 1 copy of Windows and go around & install it on as many PC's as you wanted. No longer.
Once you have "activated" your copy of Windows XP on your Dell, you aren't allowed to install it on another PC (or Mac). This is obviously a feature set in place by MS to keep pirating from happening. It used to be that one could have 1 copy of Windows and go around & install it on as many PC's as you wanted. No longer.
Reply 8 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
And rightly so. I just thought they would let you activate on one other machine, not multiples.
Reply 9 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
You have and upgrade which will look for the original and your original is an OEM which can not go anywhere else.
Buy Windows XP operating system with service pack 2 and you will be in business.
I have an iMAC. You will also need to download Boot Camp from Apple before installing the WIN XP. By next year when the apple operating system leopard comes out it will include boot camp -- which allows dual boot.
Buy Windows XP operating system with service pack 2 and you will be in business.
I have an iMAC. You will also need to download Boot Camp from Apple before installing the WIN XP. By next year when the apple operating system leopard comes out it will include boot camp -- which allows dual boot.
Reply 10 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
When I installed my Upgrade version of XP I used my OEM version of Windows ME that came with my Dell. I was assuming I could do the same with a Mac.
Reply 11 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I have a mac mini duo core runs all my windows software as well as my dell xps and some time better under bootcamp which is just as fast if not faster.
Reply 12 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I have been a Mac user my entire life, my family always had the new mac. i always thought, hey why do i have the computer that never works with anything? (games, software, internet) i decided to buy a pc, i bought a cyberpower laptop for $1400, at the time it was better by a lot than the $2500 macbook pro. i messed around with all kinds of stuff on the pc enjoying the freedom to do anything and there were a few things that didnt work out. i NEVER ONCE CRASHED. i thought that the OS worked great, all the programs worked all my games worked, there was like one window error that i saw a few times. i had heard about the mac OS and how amazing it is. I thought that because of all the hype about the mac OS i thought i should give it a try. i open my black macbook with 2.2 ghz and 4 gigs of ram and remember watching the video that said you can transfer everything from a mac to a pc with a usb cable. what they meant was that macs let that happen, even if the pc's had no way for that type of transfer to occur. that didnt work, i bought a hard drive and did it like that after over 4 hours of on the phone with mac to try and figure it out, i never thought to call pc because i needed mac to solve the problem, and they couldnt. the OS on the Mac (10.5.2) works great. i thought that there were all kinds of new things i could try out, but there werent. the "spaces" system simply dosent work. how can you assign something to a space and then open a window and move it from one space to another when that window can only be in the other space? the "show all windows" button is cool, and so is show the desktop, but all it helps with is a cool little animation of the windows that people think are cool and dosent actually help. "spotlight" is amazing. props to apple, thats works. ive had countless errors in MS Word 08 which is supposed to be the new and completely re-done version of the software, it crashes, recovers wrong, the cursor disapears, the spacing is screwed up constantly. should this software be FLAWLESS if all the freaking hype about macs is how good the OS is? the hardware is a joke, mac LIES on their website "the new macbook pro features the LATEST core 2 due processor" (2.4 ghz) oh but wait, intel seems to have made a 3.0 or higher core 2 due laptop chip............
all in all, the PC can do SO much that the mac cant, which the mac has some cool visual effects that make the windows shift which i guess makes people seem more organized or makes them think they can work better. but the PC can get almost any program, you can fool around with programs that mess with videos, music and games, which a mac can do as well, but for hundreds of dollars in software.
oh another thing, my computer was 1600 with another few for the ram which i bought myself, and the best macbook pro is over 2500... you get what? .2 ghz more of processing speed, a useless motherboard upgrade, and a graphics boost up to MINIMUM for most games and some shiny casing? whats that about???
im not mad, just disappointed that the mac dosent work like i thought it would.
all in all, the PC can do SO much that the mac cant, which the mac has some cool visual effects that make the windows shift which i guess makes people seem more organized or makes them think they can work better. but the PC can get almost any program, you can fool around with programs that mess with videos, music and games, which a mac can do as well, but for hundreds of dollars in software.
oh another thing, my computer was 1600 with another few for the ram which i bought myself, and the best macbook pro is over 2500... you get what? .2 ghz more of processing speed, a useless motherboard upgrade, and a graphics boost up to MINIMUM for most games and some shiny casing? whats that about???
im not mad, just disappointed that the mac dosent work like i thought it would.
Reply 13 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
This was an enjoyable, but absurd comment. The USSR is the Mac people... Since everything is controlled by the govt (MAC) you have limited options at much higher costs. My brother, an avid Mac fanatic, and I love to argue PC vs MAC. He has yet to come up with anything of substance that it does better.... Yes I agree that virus' arent a big issue (yet) and that the O/S built on Unix can be considered a bit more stable but the costs dont outweigh the benefits. My MS system hasnt blue screened in 5 years.
What MAC does really well is marketing and design. Stuff looks great. The MacMini is very slick. Software can be 'pretty' and easy to use but you pay for it and again your options are few. I prefer that I have 6 affordable choices of Photo editing software than say 2 at a high price. I am on my name brand laptop typing this out which I paid less than $500 for a year ago. No Mac user can say the same.
When Vista releases the 6% marketshare will stop and/or dwindle. While mac's compatibility wiht PC is getting better its still has issues when sharing data, docs, email, video, between the rest of the world and, like or not, the rest of the world is on pc.
I owned a Mac for a while as an fyi.
-a pragmatist..
What MAC does really well is marketing and design. Stuff looks great. The MacMini is very slick. Software can be 'pretty' and easy to use but you pay for it and again your options are few. I prefer that I have 6 affordable choices of Photo editing software than say 2 at a high price. I am on my name brand laptop typing this out which I paid less than $500 for a year ago. No Mac user can say the same.
When Vista releases the 6% marketshare will stop and/or dwindle. While mac's compatibility wiht PC is getting better its still has issues when sharing data, docs, email, video, between the rest of the world and, like or not, the rest of the world is on pc.
I owned a Mac for a while as an fyi.
-a pragmatist..
Reply 14 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
keep it to yourself.
First, MAC is not a company. Apple Computer is. MAC is not a computer. Macintosh - or Mac is... MAC is Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is used to provide the data link layer of the Ethernet LAN system. Please refer to <http://www.erg.abdn.ac.uk/users/gorry/course/lan-pages/mac.html>.
Microsoft has lots of people convinced that their software is "standard". It is not. It is common, yes, but not standard as in IEEE or ANSI or any particular national or international standards-body sanctioned software. Windows System Discs from one manufacturer of Windows-compatible hardware typically does not work with another manufacturer - that is, you'll have a pretty tough time installing Windows from a Toshiba box into an HP... or a Dell... or Acer or whomever. Becaue the BIOS and other drivers are different to differentiate them. So... It is non-standard. And a diverse ecosystem is healthy. When the Windows machines at my office are infected with the virus/spyware/trojan du jour, I get on my Apple Macintosh and get work done.
If you think Kensington and Belkin and Canon and HP and the hundreds of other manufacturers of MacOSX-compatible hardware and software are owned by Apple, you'd better check again - they aren't.
If you think the Apple "appearance" - design - is all they are good for, check again. Apple was first to implement SCSI for peripherals. Apple was first to use a peer-to-peer network (localtalk). Apple was first to mass-market the GUI. Apple was first to use a mouse. Apple was first to use USB as a "normal" interface. Apple was the force behind FireWire (also known as IEEE1394). Apple was first to build-in wireless LAN (802.11). There's more, but you should get the point by now...
Are their machine designs pretty? Yes - but they are also forward thinking and have a lot of front-edge technology implemented before the mass-marketer Windows folks. And you know what? I'll pay for that because it helps me be WAY more productive. And I know I won't have system conflicts. Be happy Apple is around because without them, you would not see these improvements in your Windows machines - Remember, it was Bill Gates who said that computers only need 64K RAM... That's why the DOS/Windows architecture had to struggle so long with RAM, Expanded RAM and Extended RAM issues for so long.
Don't get me wrong - I admire the richest man in the world for fooling so many people for so long... I was an IT manager - and I drank that koolaid... and I came to the conclusion that my job security depended on the fact that Windows was SO tough to support, they HAD to keep my department around - but that was not ethically correct, so I resigned. I make more money and have more fun doing what I do now... and I have less of a chance of being outsourced - offshore.
You want 6 affordable Photo editors? I only need one or two that actually work and are easy to use. One of them is bundled with the Mac (iPhoto). That's pretty affordable to me. I also have PhotoShop. I've been doing HD video editing for OVER a year on my Macintosh. The first app I used was bundled with the computer - again, pretty affordable. I have since purchased a new video editor because the additional features are worth the money. Windows versions of HD video editors came out only a few months ago. All are extra $. None do what my apps can do (iMovie HD and FinalCut Studio).
A $500 laptop is great for typing forum replies and doing minor photo editing and some word processing. Try Video editing on it - better yet, try HD Video editing on it - and burn a double layer DVD of 115 minute video when you are done editing. I do that pretty regularly.
So... I am willing to pay for good technology from a good company that makes my life easier and more productive... And when I need a word processor, I'll think about that $500 laptop - but I'll probably stick with my Apple Macintosh. It's fun to use. And it looks cool.
When Vista comes out? That is hilarious - I have every confidence it will be released in my lifetime, but at this point, I believe it is... 5 years late? Maybe 6 by the time it is actually released. The next version of MacOSX is around the corner - and it will, once again, be on time.
I heard there's Vista viruses already around. http://news.com.com/First+potential+virus+risk+for+Windows+Vista+found/2100-7349_3-5819428.html on an unreleased OS. Looks like there more of the same to be expected from Redmond. Have you updated your viruses definitions recently? Most Mac users I know don't even bother with anti-virus software. Most of the viruses are from Microsoft office - don't use that, don't get infected - Use NeoOffice or one of the many other applications which fully compatible (without infections) with the proprietary MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint applications.
You have no idea about "Mac compatibility", do you? I regularly transfer files between my Mac and my Windows XP Professional based Dell. But it takes about 8 clicks and kestrokes to turn on file sharing on the Dell and 3 for the Mac. Or I can email files or I can upload/download from a server - the biggest problem is that Windows does not understand "data forks" which is why we still have to use those stupid file extensions.
Did you know that the Microsoft Office version for MacOSX has MORE features than the Windows version does? Go figure.
You so quickly dismiss the virus issue - OK - whatever. But while your system's got a keylogger on it to record your keystrokes for passwords and User IDs, I rest assured knowing that I don't need to worry about them...
Good luck with that $500 laptop - by the way, I suspect you'll need to spend some money to get it to run Vista, so your pricing model just got flushed down the drain. In the meantime, my Apple Macintosh is ready for the next couple of OSX releases. No upgrades required.
So - go for it. I'm happy you like Windows. You know it is all about choice - I like what I like and you like what you like. Knock youself out. I'll be having fun doing my HD video editing. BUT DON'T EVER FORCE ME TO USE TECHNOLOGY with the argument of, "because everyone else uses it". I won't force my religion on you. I won't force you to watch the movies I like. I won't force you to watch the TV I watch - or the car I drive - or the microphones I use or the cell phone company I use or whatever...
So... if anyone said something absurd, jlang66, it is you.
First, MAC is not a company. Apple Computer is. MAC is not a computer. Macintosh - or Mac is... MAC is Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is used to provide the data link layer of the Ethernet LAN system. Please refer to <http://www.erg.abdn.ac.uk/users/gorry/course/lan-pages/mac.html>.
Microsoft has lots of people convinced that their software is "standard". It is not. It is common, yes, but not standard as in IEEE or ANSI or any particular national or international standards-body sanctioned software. Windows System Discs from one manufacturer of Windows-compatible hardware typically does not work with another manufacturer - that is, you'll have a pretty tough time installing Windows from a Toshiba box into an HP... or a Dell... or Acer or whomever. Becaue the BIOS and other drivers are different to differentiate them. So... It is non-standard. And a diverse ecosystem is healthy. When the Windows machines at my office are infected with the virus/spyware/trojan du jour, I get on my Apple Macintosh and get work done.
If you think Kensington and Belkin and Canon and HP and the hundreds of other manufacturers of MacOSX-compatible hardware and software are owned by Apple, you'd better check again - they aren't.
If you think the Apple "appearance" - design - is all they are good for, check again. Apple was first to implement SCSI for peripherals. Apple was first to use a peer-to-peer network (localtalk). Apple was first to mass-market the GUI. Apple was first to use a mouse. Apple was first to use USB as a "normal" interface. Apple was the force behind FireWire (also known as IEEE1394). Apple was first to build-in wireless LAN (802.11). There's more, but you should get the point by now...
Are their machine designs pretty? Yes - but they are also forward thinking and have a lot of front-edge technology implemented before the mass-marketer Windows folks. And you know what? I'll pay for that because it helps me be WAY more productive. And I know I won't have system conflicts. Be happy Apple is around because without them, you would not see these improvements in your Windows machines - Remember, it was Bill Gates who said that computers only need 64K RAM... That's why the DOS/Windows architecture had to struggle so long with RAM, Expanded RAM and Extended RAM issues for so long.
Don't get me wrong - I admire the richest man in the world for fooling so many people for so long... I was an IT manager - and I drank that koolaid... and I came to the conclusion that my job security depended on the fact that Windows was SO tough to support, they HAD to keep my department around - but that was not ethically correct, so I resigned. I make more money and have more fun doing what I do now... and I have less of a chance of being outsourced - offshore.
You want 6 affordable Photo editors? I only need one or two that actually work and are easy to use. One of them is bundled with the Mac (iPhoto). That's pretty affordable to me. I also have PhotoShop. I've been doing HD video editing for OVER a year on my Macintosh. The first app I used was bundled with the computer - again, pretty affordable. I have since purchased a new video editor because the additional features are worth the money. Windows versions of HD video editors came out only a few months ago. All are extra $. None do what my apps can do (iMovie HD and FinalCut Studio).
A $500 laptop is great for typing forum replies and doing minor photo editing and some word processing. Try Video editing on it - better yet, try HD Video editing on it - and burn a double layer DVD of 115 minute video when you are done editing. I do that pretty regularly.
So... I am willing to pay for good technology from a good company that makes my life easier and more productive... And when I need a word processor, I'll think about that $500 laptop - but I'll probably stick with my Apple Macintosh. It's fun to use. And it looks cool.
When Vista comes out? That is hilarious - I have every confidence it will be released in my lifetime, but at this point, I believe it is... 5 years late? Maybe 6 by the time it is actually released. The next version of MacOSX is around the corner - and it will, once again, be on time.
I heard there's Vista viruses already around. http://news.com.com/First+potential+virus+risk+for+Windows+Vista+found/2100-7349_3-5819428.html on an unreleased OS. Looks like there more of the same to be expected from Redmond. Have you updated your viruses definitions recently? Most Mac users I know don't even bother with anti-virus software. Most of the viruses are from Microsoft office - don't use that, don't get infected - Use NeoOffice or one of the many other applications which fully compatible (without infections) with the proprietary MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint applications.
You have no idea about "Mac compatibility", do you? I regularly transfer files between my Mac and my Windows XP Professional based Dell. But it takes about 8 clicks and kestrokes to turn on file sharing on the Dell and 3 for the Mac. Or I can email files or I can upload/download from a server - the biggest problem is that Windows does not understand "data forks" which is why we still have to use those stupid file extensions.
Did you know that the Microsoft Office version for MacOSX has MORE features than the Windows version does? Go figure.
You so quickly dismiss the virus issue - OK - whatever. But while your system's got a keylogger on it to record your keystrokes for passwords and User IDs, I rest assured knowing that I don't need to worry about them...
Good luck with that $500 laptop - by the way, I suspect you'll need to spend some money to get it to run Vista, so your pricing model just got flushed down the drain. In the meantime, my Apple Macintosh is ready for the next couple of OSX releases. No upgrades required.
So - go for it. I'm happy you like Windows. You know it is all about choice - I like what I like and you like what you like. Knock youself out. I'll be having fun doing my HD video editing. BUT DON'T EVER FORCE ME TO USE TECHNOLOGY with the argument of, "because everyone else uses it". I won't force my religion on you. I won't force you to watch the movies I like. I won't force you to watch the TV I watch - or the car I drive - or the microphones I use or the cell phone company I use or whatever...
So... if anyone said something absurd, jlang66, it is you.
Reply 15 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
quite a well constructed argument. Touche'
Reply 16 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
you know, i understand your point, but i am guessing you have easy access to the latest software protection and fixes, and aren't stuck in fry's w/some geek selling you $119 software you can't return that doesn't fix your computer but in fact makes it worse.
all i want is a bloody machine that works. i will never again spend 8 hours on new years eve (literally) fixing my inlaws computer because wdws is SO vulnerable (they will have to go to compusa). just to have them call in a week from another state and say it stopped working.
to be able to freely download mp3 and not have to search the internet to find a converter (add that to my software bill of yearly Memberships to antivirus and all the other crap they scam you for try to fix their software bugs) for what? a 2 year system that is slower than molasses?
Life is too short to spend it discerning software bugboos created by a bizzillonaire (for profit?)
all i want is a bloody machine that works. i will never again spend 8 hours on new years eve (literally) fixing my inlaws computer because wdws is SO vulnerable (they will have to go to compusa). just to have them call in a week from another state and say it stopped working.
to be able to freely download mp3 and not have to search the internet to find a converter (add that to my software bill of yearly Memberships to antivirus and all the other crap they scam you for try to fix their software bugs) for what? a 2 year system that is slower than molasses?
Life is too short to spend it discerning software bugboos created by a bizzillonaire (for profit?)
Reply 17 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I am a windows user that has just switch to mac. Apple dose thing the way the average user think. I spend my time using the mac not trouble shooting problem caused by microsoft upgrades. Iphoto and Imovie dose all the thing that I want which comes with the mac. I have a dell xps and it cost me 400 to set it up so I could watch my videos on tv my mac mini cost 19.95. The help when need is with people that speak understandable English and are the highest of the tech support. The mac mini runs microsoft windows as well as the xps under boot camp the best of both worlds.
Reply 18 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I've been a windows user since version 3.1 I have argued for years with numerous other family members about their use of Macs and the lack of available applications BUT after watching Steve Jobs demonstrate OS X Leopard I just know my next system is going to be a Mac. I have been bouncing back and forth between my PC Laptop and a friends new iMac and the useabilty of the Mac is just unbelievable. It performs all the tasks I require better and faster, (especially photo editing) although not cheaper. The price of admission is well worth it. GO MAC YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT
Reply 19 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
After having supported Macs and Windows machines for MANY years I think I have a pretty good handle on what defines "better"...
Since you have pulled the virus and spyware and hack vulnerability card off the table, lets investigate what other items may still be lurking...
Admittedly, XP has been a great improvement on the stability discussion. That said, there are still a number of "quirks"...
1) Not necessarily OS-related, but for your consideration: If you want to be on the front edge, typically, Apple has brought it to us - They were the first to bring SCSI to personal computing; they were first to go beyond they were first to bring Post-script based laser printers to mere mortals; they were first to lose the standard, built-in, 3.5 inch removable disc; they were first to really jump into USB; they were first to bring us FireWire (IEEE1394, aka iLink); They were the first easy to implement peer-to-peer LAN (localtalk); they were first to go beyond 256k RAM - and later first to go beyond 1 meg RAM; They were first to productize the GUI; they were first to make available to consumers HD video editing... the list is endless, and I am pulling this off the top of my head without approaching a strain. I could go on - and while many of these item have been rolled out to the industry, they are many of the items that made the computing experience better for everyone.
2) Consistancy in the Operating System: As you go through the various configurations on a Windows or Macintosh machines, pay attention to the similarites and oddities... Single click, double click and click/drag is pretty consistant throughout the Mac OS environment - but continue to be variable through *certain* Windows areas... Its gotten a LOT better in XP to the point where the differences require you get pretty deep - but there are a few still out there... This carries over to *some* applications, but generally speaking, those applications which don't follow certain rules don't get too popular.
3) To answer one of your questions directly, "why is Mac's way of running say Photoshop Elements better?" There probably isn't any difference unless you get down to the application's guts - which most people don't (and shouldn't) do. Many mainstream multiple-OS applications from mainstream developers will run identically - from an end-user's perspective. They need to in order to be truly cross platform for the end-user moving files between machines - and perhaps to different machines. I don't recall anyone ever saying certain cross-platform applications ran any better or worse - though it should be noted that Apple generally uses pretty high-end graphics cards (available at the time the machine is designed and produced), so its ability to deal with very precise color calibration and presentation caused many users requiring that sort of capability to the platform. This then spread to video.
4) MacOS does not have to deal with any equivalent of Windows Registry... That used to be a much bigger difference prior to OSX, and now with OSX's Library it is getting closer, but "normal" people need to stay away from the Library and Registry... I have had my share of Registry issues - typically caused by viruses and spyware - those things you said to stay away from - but I have also had problems there due to applications' conflicts or an installer causing a problem that resulted in Registry brain surgery. I have not yet had that similar problem in the Mac OSX Library environment. For the most part, applications just install and run... Generally, they do in XP - but there are still occasional conflicts that are REALLY painful to resolve (and Registry corruption resolution continues to be an occasional necessary evil).
Beyond these relatively high-level items, there are a few more... Faster start-up time in MacOSX than in XP given similarly aged machines, easier File-sharing on/off in Mac OSX, easier firewall configuration in Mac OSX...
Your comment "BTW, maybe I'm lucky, but in the 3 months I've been running XP, I haven't had a single crash, blue screen, or virus" is awesome - My wife's Apple Macintosh G4 "QuickSilver" tower has not crashed or locked up for YEARS (yes, nearly daily use)... and my G5 has not locked up or crashed for the year and a half I have had it... neither has my son's G4 PowerBook... and over the same 1.5 or so years, I have had several lock ups and crashes of my company issued Dell running XP...
The bottom line is what you - as the end user - are going to do with the machine. Are there unhappy Mac users? Sure. Is Mac OSX perfect? Nope. Is Apple hardware perfect? Nope. But the same can be said for any hardware manufacturer or any operating system or any application. If you are happy knowing what you know - and that you *might* need to do Registry surgery and that three whole months of stability is good, then why change? "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" On the other hand, you could move to a Mac and learn why so many Macintosh users have been so darned smug for so long.
Whichever route you choose will be the right one - because it will be your decision. But good for you for having an open mind.
Since you have pulled the virus and spyware and hack vulnerability card off the table, lets investigate what other items may still be lurking...
Admittedly, XP has been a great improvement on the stability discussion. That said, there are still a number of "quirks"...
1) Not necessarily OS-related, but for your consideration: If you want to be on the front edge, typically, Apple has brought it to us - They were the first to bring SCSI to personal computing; they were first to go beyond they were first to bring Post-script based laser printers to mere mortals; they were first to lose the standard, built-in, 3.5 inch removable disc; they were first to really jump into USB; they were first to bring us FireWire (IEEE1394, aka iLink); They were the first easy to implement peer-to-peer LAN (localtalk); they were first to go beyond 256k RAM - and later first to go beyond 1 meg RAM; They were first to productize the GUI; they were first to make available to consumers HD video editing... the list is endless, and I am pulling this off the top of my head without approaching a strain. I could go on - and while many of these item have been rolled out to the industry, they are many of the items that made the computing experience better for everyone.
2) Consistancy in the Operating System: As you go through the various configurations on a Windows or Macintosh machines, pay attention to the similarites and oddities... Single click, double click and click/drag is pretty consistant throughout the Mac OS environment - but continue to be variable through *certain* Windows areas... Its gotten a LOT better in XP to the point where the differences require you get pretty deep - but there are a few still out there... This carries over to *some* applications, but generally speaking, those applications which don't follow certain rules don't get too popular.
3) To answer one of your questions directly, "why is Mac's way of running say Photoshop Elements better?" There probably isn't any difference unless you get down to the application's guts - which most people don't (and shouldn't) do. Many mainstream multiple-OS applications from mainstream developers will run identically - from an end-user's perspective. They need to in order to be truly cross platform for the end-user moving files between machines - and perhaps to different machines. I don't recall anyone ever saying certain cross-platform applications ran any better or worse - though it should be noted that Apple generally uses pretty high-end graphics cards (available at the time the machine is designed and produced), so its ability to deal with very precise color calibration and presentation caused many users requiring that sort of capability to the platform. This then spread to video.
4) MacOS does not have to deal with any equivalent of Windows Registry... That used to be a much bigger difference prior to OSX, and now with OSX's Library it is getting closer, but "normal" people need to stay away from the Library and Registry... I have had my share of Registry issues - typically caused by viruses and spyware - those things you said to stay away from - but I have also had problems there due to applications' conflicts or an installer causing a problem that resulted in Registry brain surgery. I have not yet had that similar problem in the Mac OSX Library environment. For the most part, applications just install and run... Generally, they do in XP - but there are still occasional conflicts that are REALLY painful to resolve (and Registry corruption resolution continues to be an occasional necessary evil).
Beyond these relatively high-level items, there are a few more... Faster start-up time in MacOSX than in XP given similarly aged machines, easier File-sharing on/off in Mac OSX, easier firewall configuration in Mac OSX...
Your comment "BTW, maybe I'm lucky, but in the 3 months I've been running XP, I haven't had a single crash, blue screen, or virus" is awesome - My wife's Apple Macintosh G4 "QuickSilver" tower has not crashed or locked up for YEARS (yes, nearly daily use)... and my G5 has not locked up or crashed for the year and a half I have had it... neither has my son's G4 PowerBook... and over the same 1.5 or so years, I have had several lock ups and crashes of my company issued Dell running XP...
The bottom line is what you - as the end user - are going to do with the machine. Are there unhappy Mac users? Sure. Is Mac OSX perfect? Nope. Is Apple hardware perfect? Nope. But the same can be said for any hardware manufacturer or any operating system or any application. If you are happy knowing what you know - and that you *might* need to do Registry surgery and that three whole months of stability is good, then why change? "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" On the other hand, you could move to a Mac and learn why so many Macintosh users have been so darned smug for so long.
Whichever route you choose will be the right one - because it will be your decision. But good for you for having an open mind.
Reply 20 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
I also run support for PC's and Macs. At my job most errors I have run across are user errors. Though our three PC users have each crashed at least once this year due to a virus. While our eleven Mac users have not had any crashes due to virus attack for the last four years. I spend around 4x as much time on our three PC's than I do on our Macs.
The one MISHAP on my Mac was due to me spilling my Dr. Pepper on the keyboard. LOL Lesson learned? Keep the lid and straw secure on my Big Gulp!
The one MISHAP on my Mac was due to me spilling my Dr. Pepper on the keyboard. LOL Lesson learned? Keep the lid and straw secure on my Big Gulp!
Reply 21 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
Thanks for such a detailed response. I need to buy a new computer to replace this old Dell (Pentium III from 2000) so I can move it to my shop. It was my first ever computer and I learned Windows (ME is what was pre-installed) from a combination of trial and error and forums like this and Delltalk.
I was originally thinking of building my own PC but have developed a little voice inside my head that says ''Try a Mac''. I guess it's a combination of curiosity and wanting to try something new and ''cool''.
Learning Windows without a formal class has been both fun and an excercise in total frustration. I know there is still much I don't know about Windows, but I feel like I'm ready for a change.
The main thing besides Internet access I will use whatever I end up with is photo/video editing, DVD creation, and perhaps a bit of music, all things Macs excel at. I have a dozen or so Mini DV tapes I have taken of my two year old son that I need to edit and burn to DVD. My current PC doesn't have the muscle for rendering video so I haven't bothered to try, but I have been dreading learning video editing software. I guess a Mac would solve all that.
My main apprehensions over jumping to a Mac are being able to bring home work I do on my PC at my shop. I intend on using Quicken to keep track of records and Word for my price lists etc. These files (burned to a CD) need to be able to be edited on both machines.
My other concern is probably unfounded, but I'm a little suspicious of the iMac's combining all the components in such a small housing. I keep thinking heat generation will lead to reliability/longevity problems. With a PC tower, if something goes out (which nothing has except my Monitor's power switch) I can easily replace it. If for example the monitor or DVD drive goes, I can just get a new one. Can this be done with an iMac? If a faster DVD drive comes out, can they be swapped? I wish the darn Power Mac towers were cheaper!!
Another thing, can an iMac be used as a music server in conjunction with my Yamaha home theater setup? And if so, wirelessly. Is it possible to get a TV tuner and maybe watch HDTV on an iMac?
I was originally thinking of building my own PC but have developed a little voice inside my head that says ''Try a Mac''. I guess it's a combination of curiosity and wanting to try something new and ''cool''.
Learning Windows without a formal class has been both fun and an excercise in total frustration. I know there is still much I don't know about Windows, but I feel like I'm ready for a change.
The main thing besides Internet access I will use whatever I end up with is photo/video editing, DVD creation, and perhaps a bit of music, all things Macs excel at. I have a dozen or so Mini DV tapes I have taken of my two year old son that I need to edit and burn to DVD. My current PC doesn't have the muscle for rendering video so I haven't bothered to try, but I have been dreading learning video editing software. I guess a Mac would solve all that.
My main apprehensions over jumping to a Mac are being able to bring home work I do on my PC at my shop. I intend on using Quicken to keep track of records and Word for my price lists etc. These files (burned to a CD) need to be able to be edited on both machines.
My other concern is probably unfounded, but I'm a little suspicious of the iMac's combining all the components in such a small housing. I keep thinking heat generation will lead to reliability/longevity problems. With a PC tower, if something goes out (which nothing has except my Monitor's power switch) I can easily replace it. If for example the monitor or DVD drive goes, I can just get a new one. Can this be done with an iMac? If a faster DVD drive comes out, can they be swapped? I wish the darn Power Mac towers were cheaper!!
Another thing, can an iMac be used as a music server in conjunction with my Yamaha home theater setup? And if so, wirelessly. Is it possible to get a TV tuner and maybe watch HDTV on an iMac?
Reply 22 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
"iMac be used as a music server in conjunction with my Yamaha home theater setup? And if so, wirelessly"
Please look up AIRTUNES on google.com
Very nice.
Bob
Please look up AIRTUNES on google.com
Very nice.
Bob
Reply 23 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
You made some observations - and shared a little more about what you plan to do with a new machine - which may be an Apple Macintosh... Using the magic of copy/paste, here are your additional questions - and my responses...
You already know that Macs are great machines "for photo/video editing, DVD creation, and perhaps a bit of music" but you also realize that your "current PC doesn't have the muscle for rendering video..." So I get the impression that th current PC is operational - which means you *could* keep the PC for work and Mac for - well - serious computing.
If you really want to "bring work home"... and "intend to use Quicken to keep track of records and Word for price lists etc. These files (burned to a CD) need to be able to be edited on both machines..." well you seem to be in luck... for MS Word, Microsoft makes a Macitosh version - or you *could* go open source and check out http://NeoOffice.org - and you may even get something bundled with your shiny new Mac that can read/write MS Word files anyway... as for Quicken, it looks like Intuit is running that cross platform... http://intuit.com/ - though I don't know what the implications are of going cross platform on this, I suspect a local Mac User Group or even a consultant might be able to help you with this. Worst case: Don't bring work home! Spend it with your family as you do today or do your video and photo editing!
"[Your] other concern regarding the iMac's combining all the components in such a small housing" is fair. You keep thinking heat generation will lead to reliability/longevity problems... There are fans inside. Keep them - and the intakes and exhaust areas - free from blockage. No big deal. I don't know what sort of "shop" environment you have - but keeping dust away from the cooling systems is a good idea for any computer regardless of manufacturer or operating system.
"With a PC tower, if something goes out (which nothing has except my Monitor's power switch) I can easily replace it. If for example the monitor or DVD drive goes, I can just get a new one. Can this be done with an iMac?" There are some things that you can replace if you need to (especially when the warraty is expired... When you take the back of an iMac off, you can see RAM, Hard Drive, DVD drive... you probably don't want to replace the montior yourself if it goes out. For peace of mind, you *could* just invest in the extended warranty in AppleCare... that way, THEY fix/replace stuff. Perspective: My nearly 1.5 year old G5 iMac flat panel is usually off from 10am until about 6pm on weekdays because that is when I am at work. When I get home, I fire it up and if I am not video editing or whatever, it crunches stuff from seti@home (using BOINC) all night and on weekends. So, it is used a LOT.
"If a faster DVD drive comes out, can they be swapped?" Maybe - but you could also get an external and connect via Firewire. I guess it also depends how long you expect a machine to last... I figure Windows-based machines to have a life of about 2 years - may 3 if I push it. Macs *can* go for 4-5 years - depending on what you want it to do... It coould be that when you are ready for that "faster DVD" (actually, I'm thinking BlueRay or HD-DVD), it will be time for a new machine!
"I wish the darn Power Mac towers were cheaper!!" Me too! Maybe the refurbs at http://apple.com are more palatable? Are you a registered student or a teacher? Would there be value taking a class at the local community college? The education discounts can be quite generous...
"Another thing, can an iMac be used as a music server in conjunction with my Yamaha home theater setup? And if so, wirelessly." Bob (R. Proffit" provided a good response... The Airport Express with AirTunes connects to the audio jacks on the stereo and can connect wired (10/100baseT) or wirelessly (802.11 a/b/g, I think) to your Mac... the iMac has wired (10/100/1000baseT) and wireless (AirPort) built in, so you're good to go - using FrontRow... iTunes and a Remote! Very nice.
"Is it possible to get a TV tuner and maybe watch HDTV on an iMac?" This one I have not looked into... I do know that the video I shoot on my Sony HDR-HC1 (HD 1080i) edits great... I *think* if I could connect my iMac with HDMI I could - but I can't (older model and all...)... and the current iMac Core Duo has a couple of mini-DVI ports - and FireWire 800 ports... so, depending on your HD TV's inputs, it *might* work - but the tuner part I just don't know about... nor am I aware of any specific tuners to connect up... an internet search using Macintosh +"tv tuner" turned up a couple of items, but nothing I think I might buy...
By the way, I am not an Apple employee - nor do I work for a company that makes anything related to Apple products - but over the years, my observation is that Mac users tend to be REALLY helpful - which is why the User Groups do so well...
You already know that Macs are great machines "for photo/video editing, DVD creation, and perhaps a bit of music" but you also realize that your "current PC doesn't have the muscle for rendering video..." So I get the impression that th current PC is operational - which means you *could* keep the PC for work and Mac for - well - serious computing.
If you really want to "bring work home"... and "intend to use Quicken to keep track of records and Word for price lists etc. These files (burned to a CD) need to be able to be edited on both machines..." well you seem to be in luck... for MS Word, Microsoft makes a Macitosh version - or you *could* go open source and check out http://NeoOffice.org - and you may even get something bundled with your shiny new Mac that can read/write MS Word files anyway... as for Quicken, it looks like Intuit is running that cross platform... http://intuit.com/ - though I don't know what the implications are of going cross platform on this, I suspect a local Mac User Group or even a consultant might be able to help you with this. Worst case: Don't bring work home! Spend it with your family as you do today or do your video and photo editing!
"[Your] other concern regarding the iMac's combining all the components in such a small housing" is fair. You keep thinking heat generation will lead to reliability/longevity problems... There are fans inside. Keep them - and the intakes and exhaust areas - free from blockage. No big deal. I don't know what sort of "shop" environment you have - but keeping dust away from the cooling systems is a good idea for any computer regardless of manufacturer or operating system.
"With a PC tower, if something goes out (which nothing has except my Monitor's power switch) I can easily replace it. If for example the monitor or DVD drive goes, I can just get a new one. Can this be done with an iMac?" There are some things that you can replace if you need to (especially when the warraty is expired... When you take the back of an iMac off, you can see RAM, Hard Drive, DVD drive... you probably don't want to replace the montior yourself if it goes out. For peace of mind, you *could* just invest in the extended warranty in AppleCare... that way, THEY fix/replace stuff. Perspective: My nearly 1.5 year old G5 iMac flat panel is usually off from 10am until about 6pm on weekdays because that is when I am at work. When I get home, I fire it up and if I am not video editing or whatever, it crunches stuff from seti@home (using BOINC) all night and on weekends. So, it is used a LOT.
"If a faster DVD drive comes out, can they be swapped?" Maybe - but you could also get an external and connect via Firewire. I guess it also depends how long you expect a machine to last... I figure Windows-based machines to have a life of about 2 years - may 3 if I push it. Macs *can* go for 4-5 years - depending on what you want it to do... It coould be that when you are ready for that "faster DVD" (actually, I'm thinking BlueRay or HD-DVD), it will be time for a new machine!
"I wish the darn Power Mac towers were cheaper!!" Me too! Maybe the refurbs at http://apple.com are more palatable? Are you a registered student or a teacher? Would there be value taking a class at the local community college? The education discounts can be quite generous...
"Another thing, can an iMac be used as a music server in conjunction with my Yamaha home theater setup? And if so, wirelessly." Bob (R. Proffit" provided a good response... The Airport Express with AirTunes connects to the audio jacks on the stereo and can connect wired (10/100baseT) or wirelessly (802.11 a/b/g, I think) to your Mac... the iMac has wired (10/100/1000baseT) and wireless (AirPort) built in, so you're good to go - using FrontRow... iTunes and a Remote! Very nice.
"Is it possible to get a TV tuner and maybe watch HDTV on an iMac?" This one I have not looked into... I do know that the video I shoot on my Sony HDR-HC1 (HD 1080i) edits great... I *think* if I could connect my iMac with HDMI I could - but I can't (older model and all...)... and the current iMac Core Duo has a couple of mini-DVI ports - and FireWire 800 ports... so, depending on your HD TV's inputs, it *might* work - but the tuner part I just don't know about... nor am I aware of any specific tuners to connect up... an internet search using Macintosh +"tv tuner" turned up a couple of items, but nothing I think I might buy...
By the way, I am not an Apple employee - nor do I work for a company that makes anything related to Apple products - but over the years, my observation is that Mac users tend to be REALLY helpful - which is why the User Groups do so well...
Reply 24 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
" I do know that the video I shoot on my Sony HDR-HC1 (HD 1080i) edits great... I *think* if I could connect my iMac with HDMI I could - but I can't (older model and all...)... and the current iMac Core Duo has a couple of mini-DVI ports - and FireWire 800 ports... so, depending on your HD TV's inputs, it *might* work "
The current iMac does not have Firewire 800 ports, in fact none of the iMacs have Firewire 800. It has two Firewire 400 ports and will connect seamlessly to iMovieHD which comes with ALL Macs. I note that your camera has Firewire output. All you need is the correct Firewire cable, mini on one end for the camera and full size on the other for the iMac.
SIt back and watch iMovie suck in your HD tracks.
Google for the TV tuner, it does exist.
P
The current iMac does not have Firewire 800 ports, in fact none of the iMacs have Firewire 800. It has two Firewire 400 ports and will connect seamlessly to iMovieHD which comes with ALL Macs. I note that your camera has Firewire output. All you need is the correct Firewire cable, mini on one end for the camera and full size on the other for the iMac.
SIt back and watch iMovie suck in your HD tracks.
Google for the TV tuner, it does exist.
P
Reply 25 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
Thank you MrMacFixIt!
I stand corrected on the iMac FireWire ports... There are indeed only 2 FireWire 400... I must have been drooling over a tower...
And I agree about the connectivity to the Sony HDR-HC1... I've been doing HD editing for quite a while using iMovieHD - and recently purchased Final Cut Studio... Ah, the learning curve!
"Google for the TV tuner, it does exist." These externals do look promising... http://www99.shopping.com/xPP-input_adapters-mac_tv_tuner
I stand corrected on the iMac FireWire ports... There are indeed only 2 FireWire 400... I must have been drooling over a tower...
And I agree about the connectivity to the Sony HDR-HC1... I've been doing HD editing for quite a while using iMovieHD - and recently purchased Final Cut Studio... Ah, the learning curve!
"Google for the TV tuner, it does exist." These externals do look promising... http://www99.shopping.com/xPP-input_adapters-mac_tv_tuner
Reply 26 : Difference betweet Mac and PC
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10166_7-6461377-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ate
Though you did indicate you wanted HiDef - and maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anything about HiDef in the specs or description... but at the manufacturer's web site, the EyeTV Hybrid does say it does 720p and 1080i - if you use it on Dual PowerPC G5 or an Intel Core Duo processor-based machines. Looks like the EyeTV500 is only available as refurbed...
Though you did indicate you wanted HiDef - and maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anything about HiDef in the specs or description... but at the manufacturer's web site, the EyeTV Hybrid does say it does 720p and 1080i - if you use it on Dual PowerPC G5 or an Intel Core Duo processor-based machines. Looks like the EyeTV500 is only available as refurbed...
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