| Author |
 Topic  |
|
glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
 Posted - 11/17/2003 : 12:56:51
|
Who here uses PC? Who here uses a Mac? (Or Linux, maybe..?) Any strong feelings either way?
I would have to say that I like my PC better. I use Macintosh at school; in fact I'm typing this on one of them. But if I have a choice I would use PC. Maybe I've just gotten used to them; I don't know. I might feel different if I got to use the new G5's.
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.
Carl Sagan
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 13:09:58
|
PC unless we're talking laptops, then the mac is the way to go. But don't even think of getting me near a desktop mac. I hates them! Hates them!
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
 |
|
|
apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 13:10:15
|
All three.?! My husband is still trying to get around to setting up our Sun and NEXt boxes, too. I put my foot down before the move (I'm actually sorry I did) and asked him to please get rid of 3 of the 4 AT&T Unix machines we had collecting dust in the basement.......saaaaaaaaddd ...and all those boxes of huge floppies and tapes are in the new basement now!
I have fights on a regular basis with both our G4 and PC - though I much prefer the world that is mac - personal aesthetics, and also because it's a better graphics/music production platform. I am a mac slave, who doesn't mind the occasional beatings between the good times....I'm still pissed off at OSX - I guess I'll get chewed out for that.
PC? Well, overall, actually, I think it sucks - BTW, Bill Gates has put out a $5 million bounty on virus writers. mwahahahahahaha!
Our poor linux server is languishing in a corner - haven't set it up since the move. If I were a better Unix/Perl scripter, I think I would enjoy Linux even more than I do now. I am still below a novice. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 13:12:40
|
i used to have a PC but earlier this year got a Powerbook G4 (15 inch baby!) and fucking love it.
i think it really depends on what you're using your computer for.. |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 13:13:54
|
See, I'd think someone who games or upgrades their machine once in awhile would like a PC...
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 13:15:29
|
| ummm, those -are- nice, floop. I have been coveting one for a while. Did you use mac before OSX? Do you find it easy to deal with? |
|
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 14:07:54
|
| I'm a PC person, but that's how I earn a living so at least I have an excuse. Fixing M$ products is what we call job security. I know a some Linux and a little Mac, as well. |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 14:08:12
|
| I spend my work days on a Wintel piece of shit and my evenings on a five year old, OS9.2.2 iMac. Intend to get a new OSX Mac soon. PCs are so jerky and nonintuitive. If the Mac had existed first, the PC would NEVER have even gotten a toehold in the desktop computing world. Mac plays mammal to PC's reptile. |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 14:29:33
|
I'm afraid that Mac's demise was as inevitable as that of Beta videotapes, except that Microsoft bailed Mac out. Anyone that proports to make a proprietary system with no licensing options, etc to others will be supplanted. Mac wanted a monopoly on all aspects of the PC world, hardware, OS, everything.
Microsoft's dominion (over simply the OS) has been long and will not die easily, but mark my words, it's end will come too. Of course, the Mac users tend to forget the reason Mac is where it is and now hold it up as some sort of underdog pariah shining out against the tyranny of the evil corporation. Which I find amusingly ironic.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 14:37:50
|
As soon as we find a good way to do graphics/music/video production within Linux, I think our pc and mac will be very lonely. If any of you are interested, this interview from Wired magazine with Linus Torvalds re: the open source community is pretty interesting:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.11/linus_pr.html |
Edited by - apl4eris on 11/18/2003 06:52:45 |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 14:47:23
|
As soon as Linux realizes the reason that Microsoft made it big in the first place, over Unix, and then over all the other OS'es, they will dominate.
The reason: ease of use. A clean OS that hides a lot of the tech/programming interface that most people are intimidated beyond belief by. Good and plentiful drivers. Intuitivity.
Mind you, later versions of Red Hat and a few other blends are getting there.
But:
If they lose the power that the technically proficient users have come to love, as Microsoft has, well, they'll be no more popular soon. Except by loyalty, which is what will make it hard to topple Microsoft now. The power needs to be under the hood but still wide open to the user with a quick, easy, and accessible pop of the hood.
With growing popularity will come a growing software base - graphics, music, video, gaming, etc. And growing driver support. And THEN Microsoft can be toppled. It's an exponential climb and we're still in the shallows of the curve.
That's how I would approach it.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 15:20:14
|
Where were you lot when I had to write an essay on this two years ago?
I would go with PC, although only cos I can't afford one of those purdy-lookin' new Macs...
 "I have joined the Cult Of Frank/And I have dearly paid"
|
|
|
|
darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 15:39:04
|
So were covering all of the major issues that divide people (religion, politics, parenting, Mac vs. PC). We were pretty well behaved in religion, let's see how it goes here.
I'm a devoted Mac user. I've got a G4 at home and brandnew G5 at work running 10.3. That baby is fast. At my job I've been forced to use PC's more often and I'm getting use to them, but I still feel more productive on the Mac. By the way COF, my Mac at work has no Microsoft software on it.
The Mac lags seriously behind in the availability of games, which mattered more to me 5 years ago but it still matters some. |
|
|
|
mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 17:10:37
|
i think that the only two reasons that macs still exist are: design(excellent,nothing to do with the ugly assembled machines) and customer loyalty.seems that who buys a mac never changes it pretty much like what happens with the alfa romeo owners (alfisti in italian).they don't care much about the car as a car,they are more into what the brand rappresents.perhaps macs have less conflicts between components since they are factory configured and not just assembled by a store(though win xp is a lot better,recognises almost everything)but that's about it.my opinion is that macs don't worth their money.
1 for the same price you can get a 50-100% more powerful pc.
2 you can upgrade your pc with new components for reasonable prices
3 the majority of people uses windows so there are less compatibility problems(pen-drives,external hd's,lan configurations)
4 i'm not sure about macs but for windows you can find warez copies of any program pretty easily
5 most freeware programs are for windows only
said that i agree that the future is in linux once they risolve the user interface problems.windows is so popular because you don't have to type anything to make things work,but it costs an absurdity plus you have to pay extra for stupid things like the office pack,that instead of a simple writing program makes you pay for stuff you don't want and you will never use.i would prefer to pay for a linux os if it was equally user friendly and compatibile with popular software and hardware.
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 19:00:33
|
Oh gawd..not THIS discussion!! Ah well, we made it over a year without it..hahaha
I've been using PC's for years, and i'm pretty happy on them. Windows XP is a tremendous upgrade, and really does blow the pants off all the other versions of Windows in every respect. I can't believe how happy i am. (2yrs on an XP install on two machines, still no desire to reload it, even tho i'd have to reinstall everything after 6mos on W98..bleh..)
Mac's are great, in and of themselves, but PC's are more versatile, and waaay cheaper.
The 'uglyness' is easy to overcome if you want to spend Mac prices. But who really cares what the box in the corner looks like??
Also, i record music on my PC, and it's great, and i don't know why anyone would chose a Mac over this. Rock solid, works like a charm, fast..
My two cents. =) |
|
|
|
darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 19:25:09
|
quote:
Originally posted by mun chien andalusia
1 for the same price you can get a 50-100% more powerful pc.
Can you get a more powerful pc than the G5 dual? Perhaps you can. I don't know. I run mathematical models, so speed is the key and dual processors help.
quote:
3 the majority of people uses windows so there are less compatibility problems(pen-drives,external hd's,lan configurations)
But with the Mac you don't have find, load, and install the drivers. This might not be a big deal if you're comfortable on a PC.
|
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 20:08:10
|
The truth is that macs are more powerful in many regards and simply talking cycles per second is not enough.
Another key element in IBM's success that I didn't bother getting into is that their architecture is TO THIS DAY backwards compatible with that first 8086 built in the late 70's and marketted a few years later. Mac's approach was to totally revise everything.
What this means today:
1) Mac has the superior system architecture. It's stronger, faster, leaner, cooler, and more efficient. It outperforms it's PC brothers in many respects.
2) PC is the dominant platform. Users couldn't be bothered to purchase their expensive software all over again every time they upgraded their computers. IBM/Intel didn't make them. Apple did.
So a 1 GHz Mac will generally perform better than a 1 GHz PC.
Now will a 2 GHz PC outperform a dual 1 GHz Mac? About 95% of the time yes. And for much cheaper. Why? Because very little software is optimized to be multiprocessed. If you are doing some SERIOUS graphic work, you'll definitely feel the Mac advantage. Many programs from Adobe to Maya are optimized for exactly this. If you're playing a game or running most standard end user programs, no. The 2 GHz PC will blow the socks off the Mac.
Now, I might sound like I'm undecided, but I'm just trying to present an unbiased picture. In the end, for what I do day-to-day, and for the interface that I know (and I have used both), for the compatibility, the cost, and the sheer sexiness of the biege box, I will take a PC every time. I said before somewhere I would buy a Mac laptop, though, and the reasons are all the same, plus more. Battery life. Heat. Functionality. Oh, and replace beige with titanium.
I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything, but I think that it's clear that you get the computer you need, and the sales graphs show who understands what the lions' share of the market needs.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 21:35:55
|
| Another advantage of the Mac is that with OS X you can run things in UNIX and when you do I believe it's using the multiprocessors. I realize that's not a huge selling point for many people, but do think software developers like it. |
|
|
|
MangyKid
- FB Fan -
170 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 21:59:45
|
| If I wanted to pay $2000 for a computer that couldn't run 90% of the programs I run on a daily basis, I'd pick a mac. And who can say no to only getting 10% of the programs out there and waiting longer for them to be released anyway? How about upgradability? next to none. Sure, windows sucks, but only if you don't keep it in order, and 2000/xp are a huge improvement (I run 2000, eats less memory). Don't get me wrong, macs run fast, but it's all because they're completely proprietary. apple releases a few computers a year, that's plenty of time for planning, design, and optimization. But frankly, a G3 still costs $700+, and for that I could build something with a nice video card and say an athlon xp 2200+. I'm a PC kind of guy, I'm resting my legs on a 200 mhz cyrix mediagx based pc, with my chair against a 386. Unfortunately, being young and jobless, I only have a 750 mhz duron. I'm going to upgrade soon though, I think one of those cheap 1.6 ghz durons, kt266a mobo, 256 megs of ram, and a refurb radeon 9600 pro would be good and cheap. I think this stupid 200 mhz comp is going to be either maybe a crappy little linux webserver or I'll just put windows 2000 on it and call it a day, once it detects the hard drive and CD-ROM (argh! ancient bios!). The 386 comes in handy when I want to play commander keen. Whenever I've used a mac I noticed it takes a long time to save stuff. admittedly, I haven't used any lately, but do macs still have terrible hard drives these days? I know scsi drives are supposed to be good, but... |
|
|
|
mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 22:02:25
|
i'm not an expert but a G5 dual is far more expensive than a p4 ,3 ghz.(APPLE PowerMac G5 1.6G 256M 80G GF FX5200 SDrive 2.278,80eu- a p4,3g 512 120g and with a 128mb graphic card costs aprox 1000eu both without monitor))and for most users is more power than they will ever need.perhaps with a mac you won't have to look for drivers but when a friend of mine needed some stuff from my pc and brought his external hd we found out that it was mac formatted and there was no way to pass data in it.i suppose that macs are usefull for some particular applications since a lot of expert people use them but i don't think they are of much use for an average user.i have a p3 600 (bought used)and it works fine (though a bit slow with video editing)price:250 eu
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
|
|
|
El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2003 : 22:06:48
|
PC of course. Never used a Mac. As far as PC operating systems are concerned, I'm an XP user. Windows 2000 was the first Windows I absolutely loved. I've used Linux off and on every now and then, most recently with Mandrake 9.1. I was really floored at how Linux has come along. Installing and configuring was a snap compared to the other Linux distros I've tried. Much easier for the average person to use. The fact that there are so many great programs available for FREE for Linux is a huge plus. I think I would use Linux 24/7 if it weren't for one thing: gaming. I'm a big gamer. Can't live without game compatibility. I think that's what's really holding Linux back in a big way. Hardcore gamers are usually big computer geeks, and big computer geeks dig Linux. Now, once game compatibility breaks through, I envision a flood of users heading towards Linux. Compatibility is the biggest issue. Ease of use is getting better every day.
 "I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
|
|
|
miguel
- FB Fan -
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 02:49:02
|
Less than a year ago I converted to mac because of all the hype. The aesthetics, reputation and seeing how all I use a computer for is art, music, video I thought it must have been made for me.
I think I had it for 3 months and I sold it on ebay. I don't care what they look like, I'm focusing at whats on the screen but, they do have style. For me XP pro has been great and, I swear, that my power mac not only crashed on me frequently but that spinning rainbow wheel drove me nuts. My wife converted with me and bought an ibook. We had to send it back to mac twice.. once for a faulty power plug and once because it would lock up and crash leaving you with only japanese writing on the screen. It's fixed now but it is slowing down. I just bought system works for it and the hard drive was said to be seriously fragmented but even after defragging it's the same. I'm just going on my personal experience. I found myself missing my favorite PC programs too.
"... it's a pill, that gives worms... to exgirlfriends.. you just don't get it"
|
|
|
|
Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 03:06:31
|
Macs were always the industry standard for graphics, audio, video etc., which is why, I think, they still hang around. Now you can do everything you need to on a PC, so its just a question of personal preference.
I have this thing where any technology I come into contact with dies a horrible death, so they both crash constantly on me!
"I have joined the Cult Of Frank/And I have dearly paid"
|
|
|
|
benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 03:09:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by mun chien andalusia
seems that who buys a mac never changes it pretty much like what happens with the alfa romeo owners (alfisti in italian).they don't care much about the car as a car,they are more into what the brand rappresents.
nice analogy...
my brother owns 7 of those filty alfas...
they drive like a dream when they're going, but u're fucked if u wanna fix it.
at the moment, actually, he's redesigning the chassis of a 1983 sprint veloce to fit a 3 litre 164 engine in the rear....
only a alfisti could conceieve of such madness.
oh, and i like PC's more - but thats maninly cause i like to play games every now and then. |
|
|
|
mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 04:18:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by benji
quote:
Originally posted by mun chien andalusia
seems that who buys a mac never changes it pretty much like what happens with the alfa romeo owners (alfisti in italian).they don't care much about the car as a car,they are more into what the brand rappresents.
nice analogy...
my brother owns 7 of those filty alfas...
they drive like a dream when they're going, but u're fucked if u wanna fix it.
at the moment, actually, he's redesigning the chassis of a 1983 sprint veloce to fit a 3 litre 164 engine in the rear....
only a alfisti could conceieve of such madness.
oh, and i like PC's more - but thats maninly cause i like to play games every now and then.
yeah i know the type.he would never throw away an old trashed car,he prefers loosing time with these impossible projects(i guess it's a hobby like any other).probably in the 80's he even bought an alfa 33 or 75.a friend used to have one and it was full of rust after a couple of years but he would not admit that was a shitty car.he would go on talking about how good the engine was and how cool it was to drive an alfa and how japanese cars sucked(though for the same money they were full optional,the alfa's didn't even have the right rear view mirror plus his alfa wouldn't start when it rained ).just like loyal mac buyers.they will never admit that you can get more for your money.i've never been loyal to a brand,i prefer buying something that worths the money even if it's made in afganistan.
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
|
|
|
bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 04:30:45
|
Does anyone remember the Lancia Beta from the 80's? I swear that you could see them rusting before your very eyes. They might have had a good engine but that's not much good if your wing falls off as you go round a roundabout.
 "I have been enslaved by the Cult of Ming / He is ever so merciless" |
Edited by - bedrock_barney on 11/18/2003 07:06:38 |
|
|
|
mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 04:41:59
|
yep the italian cars of the 80's (do you remember the fiat ritmo?they even had the courage to make a cabrio version of that)ruined the fame of the italian automobilistic industry created by the rally victories from the 30's to the 70's.a lot of people old enough to remember these attrocities on 4 wheels wouldn't drive italian cars even if they were free.though i must say that the modern models are as good as others of the same price(european union standards and competition did them good)
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 08:31:44
|
I use a PC for games, word processing, and internet, but for hardcore audio, graphics, and video work you can't beat a Mac. Which is precisely why they'll never go away completely.
Neither OS is that great. There are things I like and hate about each one.
"Join the Cult of Clootie / and you'll get more booty!" www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 12:25:47
|
choosing between a mac or a PC is essentially deciding whether you want to be attractive to the opposite sex or not.
sure, a Ford Echo might be more economical and reliable..
like your beige Dell laptop
but don't you think you'd look more cool in this?
 |
Edited by - floop on 11/18/2003 12:28:55 |
|
|
|
MangyKid
- FB Fan -
170 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 12:30:56
|
| Not when it's raining. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 13:16:55
|
| it doesn't rain in LA |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 13:21:49
|
He's referring to that acidy liquid that occasional comes from the haze. How are you guys doing on reducing smog, btw?
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 13:58:29
|
the smog is improving actually.. but yes, that is a major problem here unfortunately.
i'm lucky to live near the coast, so it doesn't get smoggy..
today is a beautiful clear day in all of LA though..
|
Edited by - floop on 11/18/2003 14:06:22 |
|
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2003 : 15:26:57
|
Smog is nothing like it was in the '70s. Back then we'd have "second stage smog alerts" many times a year. I remember how dark the skies used to be. My eyes and throat would burn. At school we weren't allowed to go outside for recess on those days. Lately I can't even remember having a second stage alert.
I don't look at Macs like Ferraris. It's more like a new VW Beetle. Not only have they had identical ad campaigns, but they both appeal to the sort of person who wants a flowerpot on the dashboard. |
Edited by - BLT on 11/18/2003 15:30:11 |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2003 : 11:32:51
|
quote:
Originally posted by BLT
I don't look at Macs like Ferraris. It's more like a new VW Beetle. Not only have they had identical ad campaigns, but they both appeal to the sort of person who wants a flowerpot on the dashboard.
For me the beauty of the Mac has little to do with visual appeal. It's in the fingers, and how the operating system intuits the launch of software appropriate to the file. As I said above, having a PC is like having a reptile or a fish for a pet. Look into its eye: it lacks a dimension of depth. But with a Mac it feels like you're dealing with a mammal, something warm-blooded like yourself. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2003 : 11:56:11
|
it's a statistical fact that male Macintosh owners between the ages of 18 and 34 have casual sex with women in the 7 - 10 calibre range 78% more than PC owners.
it basically comes down to intercourse for me. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
