MAC OR PC???? HELP!
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- jharbort
hey guys,
i've been researching the mac vs. pc issue for quite some time now. I'm trying to get a new computer for a grad present/christmas present. Unfortunately I can't afford a G5 w/ xeon processor so its either the standard imac w/ one MB of memory upgraded (2MB) .. or a customized Dell perhaps XPS 210 w/ 4MB of memory, equiv or better processer than the imac ( 20" digital flat screen upgrade as well) .. for about the same price
any suggestions or considerations would be greatly appreciated .. right now i'm leaning toward the dell because i can get more for my money.. also .. how big is the issue of viruses on macs vs. pcs?
thanks
jared
- M0NEYCIDE0
depends on who's using it but a well invested dell or hp are great
- jharbort0
60% print design 40% web design
- ********0
I use a brand new Sony VAIO at work, not sure of the exact specs (i should mention that my boss isn't "cheap")... but i hate the damn thing with a passion. The color accuracy on the monitor blows (what actually prints out is much different). Mac monitors seem to be more accurate. With the PC I'm always having to go back to rework the colors after I've driven to the printer to see the ugly proof.
Hate the PC interface & experience. I feel like I'm still in 1995. Pixelized icons? wtf?! Brick patterns for the background are still an option?? WTF!
And of course the viruses that you have to fight off. Also hate having to deal with a "security program" such as Norton. Everytime I start the thing up it gives me 2 pop ups in a row saying "you're computer might be at risk". I swear Norton and all these companies create these viruses just so you can buy their shit.
I realize these things could be fixed. But that's the thing with PC's... once you fix one thing, you have to deal with another problem.
It's just the little things that all add up... which eventually will drive you insane.
Usibility is ass. Workflow is ass. Efficiency is ass. PC's are trash.
Sure, the specs may say you get "more" with the PC. However, the overall happiness/satisfaction/inspirati... factor with the mac is much higher.
I love my iMac. It's like a friend.
75% print, 25% web.
- welded0
I don't mean to sound rude, but you don't sound too tech savvy so I would bet that just about ANY new machine will perform to or above your expectations. Personally, I use a PC at work and a Mac at home and I prefer the Mac. It can be hard to quantify the reasons, but I find most aspects of it easier to use and much friendlier on the eyes which DOES count for something.
I wont be glib and say that you don't have to worry about spyware or viruses on a Mac, but the truth is you wont have to concern yourself every damn day with them. A smart user will almost never have a big problem, PC or otherwise, but simple statistics will tell you that you run greater risks on Windows.
All the apps you need to do design work are readily available across both platforms, so that probably isn't an issue for you, and with Bootcamp you can reboot into Windows if you want to get the occasional game going.
Anyway, this post is getting pretty long and I need to get some food. And don't sweat the decision too much - it's not the hardest choice you'll ever have to make. ;)
- THA0
Mac. You'll be happy at the end. I had a PC for 5 yrs before I got my Powerbook & I'll never go back.
- tomkat0
if you do more print, get a mac
and you can install windows
- rafalski0
Mac, mostly because it is both now. I used to email files to a friend in Netherlands for mac-testing, how absurd was that?
You install windows via bootcamp and then you can either reboot into it or launch it as a mac window through parallels.
- lnu0
I'd get a mac. I'm an old PC fan but the past year I've been working on a mac at work.
The main reason that I prefer the mac is that the OS never gets in the way of what you want to do. I can't explain it better than that. On a PC it just feels like you're working the OS about 30% of the time you spend with the computer...
As a PC-user, you migth find some aspects of file handling stupid in OSX, and there ara a few small bugs there that I can't believe why they haven't worked out yet. However, the possibility to run windows on a mac pretty much seals the deal for me.
- rafalski0
The main reason that I prefer the mac is that the OS never gets in the way of what you want to do.
...
As a PC-user, you migth find some aspects of file handling stupid in OSX, and there ara a few small bugs there that I can't believe why they haven't worked out yet.
lnu
(Dec 20 06, 01:00)Funny you should say that lnu,
file handling sometimes gets in a way of what I do and sucks big time, ie. I can't budge a file that I transferred from my pc a month ago and had not opened in two years - the system says it is being used or something about privileges. I tried unlocking, repairing permissions.. Because of this one stupid file buried in a folder tree I cannot copy the tree's root folder.Total Commander people are skipping a huge market here, by not porting to osx.
- modern0
Check out the colour picker on osx with its cross application custom colour libraries and built in eye dropper.
Compare this to that kids toy that windows calls a colour picker and you'll know which is the right choice.Plus it comes with some decent fonts, not a bunch of shitty ripoff fonts. So its already saving you money! and will continue to do so because you don't need antivirus subscriptions or 200+ pound operating system licences
- trevedda0
I'm a dedicated PC user - been on one for years. Dabbled with a Mac four years ago - it was crap - just bought another MacBookPro (last week) and now I'm definately NOT dedicated to the PC. There are issues with both systems BUT thing like networking and logic are just so much better on a MAC. It also feels a much more sensible interface. Agree very much iwth the virus/firewall issue too. Having installed win on the MAC I can't believe how much faffing about I'm doing loading Nortans etc. And every day (when I start up windows - I get updates and stuff which changes all my settings).
Get a MaC - if you need windows get parallels or bootcamp - and then you'll see how hard the win OS is to maintain.
- jamble0
I use a PC desktop at home and a powerbook laptop and to be honest, for my needs, either is perfectly good for the job. As long as what you're buying is reasonable spec one way or the other I don't see that there's much difference.
That said, apple hardware does look prettier.
- paraselene0
i would have thrown this bloody pc out the window about fifty times in the 18 months i've been here if there wasn't a dedicated systems guy to deal with all its bullshit.
that said, macs aren't at all what they used to be. my pb had a massive meltdown a few months ago, and i'm only just recovering.
- ********0
Oh yea.
"file cannot be deleted because it is being used by another program"
(with no apps open) ARGH.
"file cannot be saved because it is already open"
ARRRRGH. No PC for me!
- HelixDnB0
Mac - I made the potential switch in June with a MBP and to be honest I never use my PC anymore unless I want to play Battlefield2 or grab MP3s off my PC. I was a faithful PC user for 16 years but just 1 day on the MBP and I'm set as a Mac user now for life. I say good riddance to bad rubbish. Basically everything just works the way it should, everything flows and functions the way it should, everything just does its thing the way that it should - and I couldn't be happier with a computer :D
- st33d0
If you don't know what you're doing you should be buying a Mac. All of the design stuff you make on it is guaranteed to work on PC anyway but not so the otherway round.
If you do know what you're doing, get a PC and install Linux on it. Be the geek you say you are.
- DSTND0
::: yawn ::: - how many threads .... does it take ... is google that hard?
- DSTND0
but yeah.. get a mac.
- IRNlun60
get more for your buck at this point. If price wasn't a factor I'd say a Mac but since it is... get a PC.
- canuck0
if you're doing web work, get a pc.