Mac is better or window pc ? Consider to buy mac. What are the goods and bads (normal use not for game)?

Let say you go to below address first:

http://www.apple.com/getamac/

Then if still could not decide, come again here

of course...strong UNIX foundation..virus/spyware free...

however u need a Macintosh machine not an IBM compatible PC

i will say better compare to windows

vista is good in visual but really bad in term of performance.

Mac OS is always 2/3/4/5 steps above compare to windows.

can see alot of newly developed and launched windows VISTA is still base on Mac OS X tiger which was 2 years ago.

try it out yourself and if you regret, buy a window based pc next time. you will never know until you experience it.

better try Mac , bro

I started to love Mac since i play around with Linux desktop at first .

then i wish to something more kick ===>Mac

Mac has all what i need from shell terminal to gaming.

p/s need to upgrade my memory module ..need more memory maaa

a VERY wrong question to be asked here...
and YES...mac is better!
dun think...juz jump on board with us!

Well, it depends really .. on what you need to do. If you're talking about normal internet browsing, document editing and light stuffs .. then Mac is better. But since Microsoft commands the world, getting some Windows applications on Mac is damn hard (because some of them are not available on Mac platform). However, there is still a way .. through virtual machine which lets you run Windows on Mac machines.

This post has been edited by wiraone: Sep 5 2007, 08:30 AM

Due to testing purposes, I also have a PC on my desk.

It's quite irritating when those little blurbs pop up from
the taskbar telling you that your thumb drive can be
removed or that you've disconnected from the net.

I mean, on my Mac, the thumb drive icon just disappears
when you eject it. When I go offline, the ethernet icon
just turns grey. Mac OS doesn't get in your way liike XP.

Most ppl who switch from windows to mac never switch back to windows.

Go figure

There few windows programs that doesn't have a good or better equivalent in osx. But there are many quality mac programs that you can't find in windows. I speak as a person who runs a business and as a programmer.

The only thing I miss from windows is visual studio and C#. But that is no longer a problem, because with the Intel macs, you can run both windows and osx.

For example, I have a Core 2 duo windows pc, but I like working on my old mac, G4 ibook, better.

new mac user here .
what i can say is .

microsoft windows is like a file cupboard , everything in it's place and formal .
mac os x tiger is like your own desk , everything is reachable .

compare both , got pros and cons .
windows is formal , mac is personal .

if you want me to say a fair word , vista visual is overhyped . too many visual effect theme which actually makes the interface messy. the glass effect doesnt really work on me , and closing windows with the "sinking" effect doesn't work on it , it looks like very slow and sometimes it makes my eye feel blur-ish .

---

Added on September 5, 2007, 9:39 amnew mac user here .
what i can say is .

microsoft windows is like a file cupboard , everything in it's place and formal .
mac os x tiger is like your own desk , everything is reachable .

compare both , got pros and cons .
windows is formal , mac is personal .

if you want me to say a fair word , vista visual is overhyped . too many visual effect theme which actually makes the interface messy. the glass effect doesnt really work on me , and closing windows with the "sinking" effect doesn't work on it , it looks like very slow and sometimes it makes my eye feel blur-ish .

This post has been edited by BridgestoneRE711: Sep 5 2007, 09:39 AM

Learning to use MAC takes a few minutes to read thru the manual and guide
- to learn some of the basic short cut keys (or usage of the super Macbook's touchpad)

Getting used to it depends on how often you used it. "Apple" key is sort of like "Ctrl". Ctrl-C for copy becomes "Apple-C"
- this takes some time to get used to... as i often switch between OSX and Windoze, i still always use "Ctrl" ......

Talking about visual fanciness, i don't think that Vista is way ahead. OSX looks great in a much more .. erm... simple and elegant way.

Programs Availability...
Well, it might be some problem to certain groups, but there are always "replacement" for the OSX. e.g i am using NeoOffice instead of Microsoft Office

Yoo,
Definately go for apple mac...
The latest Imac is so ......nice...
thelatest Ilife is awesome......
I like the latest movie maker in the latest ilife...is so easy and it is so much fun...

Btw, I am a PC user.....
I already hav a desktop pc..........
and Vista is really....
go for MAC if you want something that realiable......
but for budget..go for window base PC

What attracted me the most if the memory management system. I can open lots lots lots lots lots lots lots and lots of program yet it doesn't HANG or lagging badly.

In my case when the OS X started up it only consume about 150-230MB+ of ram only. Living with 1GB on MAC is still possible for me.

As for 1GB on VISTA =.=" ............................... ..............................Fill in the sentence please.

This is just my point of view. Oh yes ... No Turning back for me too .. only reason for me to support Windows is because of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and nothing else I am a flight simming addict.

ah.. the same old question.

coming to a user forum and shooting general questions is a sure way to confuse yourself. the guys and gals here love their macs simply because it works for them. but our needs are never the same, as well as our expectations.

IMHO, the best thing to do is to consider your needs first and foremost. what are you going to do with the new machine? that'll help us help you decide. you wouldn't wanna (blindly) purchase something just because other people say it's good or vice versa. find out why is it so good for them, and decide if it's good enough for you.

on a more personal note, OSX offers a rather different computing experience. it's fun. i have yet to be able to afford a mac (soon, i hope), but i've had a few experience using one. not extensively, though. don't take it from me, give it a try and that'll help you decide

if you don't have friends with a mac, you can experience OSX at any apple retail store (i.e Machines Midvalley) .

cheers!

P/S 1: to the mods, how about having a sticky to help users decide whether 'to mac, or not to mac?'. that'll save them from asking the same questions all over again. just an opinion.

P/S 2: to threadstarter, this might be of help. http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...0491&hl=why+mac?

This post has been edited by fortynine: Sep 5 2007, 10:57 AM

In terms of interface, OS X is definitely better than Windows XP or Vista. In terms of performance, Mac is no doubt much better than Windows also. Boot up & shut down is way faster than windows. Launching and using application is definitely better and faster than Windows.

There is only one short fall for me, application availability. Preloaded Mac OS X already provides you sufficient usability. I got a Mac mini as my home media center, absolutely happy about it. Watching movies using Front Row with apple remote, I see a whole new world! In terms of UI, performance, ease of use, there is no way Windows media center can compare with Front Row.

one thing im not satisfied is why itunes doesnt support avi ? or is there a way to bypass it ?

Yes of course. You need:
www.perian.org
http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/

visit http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/04/08/get-fr...vx-3ivx-videos/

In your movies folder, either copy all your movies in that folder, or create an alias. For me I put all my videos in my external usb hdd and create an alias to be able to watch my movies (divx, xvid, mkv) using front row n apple remote

millions thanks !!!

Don't mention it, its my pleasure to be able to share with you

OT : how do i create alias ?

select the folder or file you want to make as alias, then right click or cmd + left click, choose alias.

Can i make the videos in the movies folder appear in itunes ?

million n billions thank you to u all. I am going to get a used macbook to try.........
thanks again..

When you buy a MAC, you are not buying the machine. You are buying their lifestyle. Their ways of doing things. Their World on their own. If you think you can change from Windows, go for a Mac because it's just more reliable. There's nothing a Mac can't do compare to a Windows. It's just another way of doing it.

If you are not a kind of person who can change, stick to Windows. You will have less worries and short term headache.

i would sugguest u go parallely so u can have both windows and mac function

i bought one and i was ready to use it .
2 weeks after that , i can handle most of the things already .
it will really make you think something differently .

I find it funny when people say that... Seriously, it's just a computer.

As a long time Mac/PC user, I wouldn't say Mac is necessary better than PC. I've been using both platforms for years and they both serve me well for different purposes. Who says you gotta stick to one platform?

hi munky,
unfortunately you can't add any movie files (other than standard quick time files) to itunes. Movies still accessible via movies folder (either physically there or via alias). For me itunes is nice for songs.

i totally agree with those guy that comment Mac is better...but one more factor for you...cost

good thing not cheap, cheap thing not good

Yet the saying goes that the best things in life are free.

Why not look here if you're really interested in OS X vs. Windows operating systems?

http://www.macvswindows.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

sry to hijack this thread, but are iMac or Mac Pro suitable for gaming ? or just doing some coding, movie, music stuff ? lol cant decide too .... hmmmm =X

Mac Pro is a over-powered machine, it using 2 server processors. In other words it is considered as a server computer.

iMac is a ripOff "desktop". Basically it is not consider as a desktop machine like normal generic pc. It using laptop board and everything (processor, gc, ram.. etc.) comes from laptop.

Ok.. that's the little overview of the iMac and Mac Pro. Now the question is what type of gaming? Hardcore like Oblivion or FPS games? Or just normal games like maybe nfsCarbon and etc? If hardcore, of cos that iMac cannot handle. You need that overpowered server-based machine (Mac Pro). If you really into gaming, i suggest you go buy a pc la.. Cos' the current Mac Pro graphic card is very no-no.. for hardcore gamer.

amen brother. i've used linux, mac and windows a great deal and to be honest they all do basically the same thing. its hard to find what they do different!
i wouldnt say go get a mac straight away, get a feel of the MacOSX. borrow somebodies comp and try it out.
windows treats you like and idiot, mac treats you like a child, linux treats you like a genius (which you are probably not)
the mac PCs are very slick though, so upside to getting a mac is, if you dont like OSx, just install windows or linux


---sidenote---
i think im the only one on this forum that finds the moderation appalling. post are constantly hijacked and some topics are just outright perverted.

This post has been edited by praveenmarkandu: Sep 8 2007, 01:24 AM

i like games, and i would like to learn graphic, coding and stuff < -- ppl say that iMac are better in graphic/ codding..... but i also wanna play games.. sigh.

issit possible to install Mac OS X into a PC ?

design programs on mac =design programs on pc
coding on mac = coding on pc
games on mac < games on pc
video editting on mac >video editting on pc (my opinion)

you can install osX on your PC, but i dont know how well it will run. sometimes it has problems detecting hardware. http://www.osx86project.org/

so it only mean that Mac come with those ilife or smth, which is better in video editing and stuff.. gotcha .. thanks


This post has been edited by cusx: Sep 8 2007, 11:55 AM

i use both pc and mac. even i'm a solaris servers system admin. what can i say is everything have pros and cons. for example for hardcore designer they will go for mac and hardcore gamer will go to pc.

i use windows laptop for work because well....that's what my boss gave me. some software that i use just dont work on mac. i have a tukun pc at home (5 years old pc) to play game. but not extensive game. just arcade game. for games i use my xbox 360. last but note least i have 2-3 years old ibook G4 for personal use. it's just great.

but a great no-no for me goes ultimately to vista. LOL

what you mean better in graphics? I don't think so, seriously. You can ask those "Pro" designers, 2D or 3D field. Both platforms (Windows and Mac OS) using same software. WHat i mean is both using Photoshop, Maya, etc..

The thing is iMac is using laptop board, which is considered low-end machine in the pc world. In gaming, graphic card is the most important thing. But for laptop gc, they sure lower down the clock/core speed due to the heat problem, the gc will become low/mid range. In other words, it is not really good for hardcore/FPS games, but normal games sure can handle without problem.

Ya. it is possible install mac osx in a generic pc. btw, i using that now But it is totally illegal.

my graphic is in term of using photoshop maya etc.

illegal ar ... Sad ....

Though the programs used are the same, there is a reason why professionals continue to use Mac's as opposed to PC's. The iMac used to use laptop components, but now its moving away from that and using desktop components too. The new iMacs have the Core2 Extreme which is definitely not a laptop proc.

Check this site out before you posting anything. If iMac is using desktop components, i'm sure even more ppl will move to apple machine. It is because apple only make 2 categories, one is SUPERB-HIGH end machine, and other 1 is SUPERB-LOW end machine. There ain't mid-range. Just look at apple laptop. And there ain't any desktop component for apple machine except Mac Pro, again server based.

if i more in playing games then i think apple is not the right choice eh?

You will need to find games that runs on Mac OS or either run BootCamp to get the Mac machine to be on Windows.

true. then choose windows for games.

of course
1. no virus
2. fast
3. high class

i was in this situation b4. dunno which one suits me well.
but after i try mac, its a love at first sight.
there's always solution to compatibility prob.
juz ask any veteran mac user, that will do.

TRUE!! ...im one of them

me too... cannot think of any reason to go back to windoz

i will experience it soon when i get my first Mac
hopefully it wont let me down
i had been with windows users more than 10 years

Actually, i do no much of editting work but microsoft office on Mac, it's way faster than windows i must say, and every feature is just way better than windows

I just got my mac osx, loving every single features of it

I stand corrected haha. Uhm I don't understand what you tried to say. So you're saying that the iMac has "SUPERB-LOW" end components? Please find me another computer that has the same dimensions as the new iMac, then we can talk. For all intents and purposes, the Mac Pro is a workstation. Yes it is server based, but then again its because its the only chasis that excepts dual quad core for the moment. Please, have you seen SUPERB-LOW end. Even the MacBooks are NOT considered low end in the general PC market.

This is a debate that will go on for years how about counting in Linux? Besides Mac is built on Linux (Darwin).

It is somehow common for 'wanna-to-try-mac' user to open 'this kind of thread' and ask 'this kind' of tricky question.

And the debate will goes never end...

I am a MAC and PC user. It is hard for you to say which is the best. At some extend, even to answer which one is better (in certain segments) is hard.

1. I would like to say: Google. Do not jump into forum and hope that your troublesome need-to-make decision from others posts. Read through all the details, the review, preview and whatever you found. Yeah, posting the question here surely will help you but it definitely cannot make up your mind to choose. There are TOO many things that you need to know, and then consider if you really want to choose the winner.

2. I have gone through a phase of 'desperateness'- when I desperately want to choose between pc and MAc. What I can say: calm down. Do not rush in buying. If you have not playing around with Mac, have a visit to Mac Centre and try the machine yourself. You need time.

3. It is all about you. Others word may impress you and make you dream. But in the end, what do you want? I like Apple because it looks 'cool' to me and it hardly affected by virus. However when it comes to gaming, I like PC more. Thats me.

Yes, sometimes ago, I was a wanna-to-try-mac user too And someone had give me almost the same guideline

cill .. your answers are spot on!!

I agree with cill. Basically all I can say is, if you do have the means try Mac at least once in your life. Some people really do prefer windows and I am sad for them but it does not mean that I look down on them. For me, I just prefer using MacOSX. To me, it is currently the best representation of what a good OS should be. Linux is fast/stable/unique(with the correct extensions and such) but it takes too much tinkering and messing with the command line. Don't dismiss Macs because you're scared of venturing into new territory. There will always be people here to help and guide you if you have any problems or you could visit any Mac store in KL. They are generally nice and helpful people.

Yea, me too, having Parallels with XP (with a programme for accounting on), itune, Aperture, Pages, Keynote, and most of all the Handbreak, which i use for ripping dvd to mp4 for storing. and Handbreak will sucked up everything the Core2Duo can offer, but nothing hangs. lol. and i still got around 146Mb of free ram to work with.

urm.. 1Gb ram here!

I'm not saying that iMac is superb-low.. I trying to say taht iMac is not a replacement for desktop machine.

"Low-end" machine which mainly refer to the graphic chips/card component. Graphic card is very important, not only for gaming but for multimedia apps as well. iMac? You can just compare to any generic laptop.. Don't fool by the "Extreme Processor" cos' the rest of the components are mobile-based. I said again. Desktop/workstation components are not same as mobile/laptop based. Mobility always does lower down the speed of all the components in order to minimum the power usage. In conclusion, iMac is just like macbook pro(High-end mobile machine).

As for macbook, you don't think it is "low-end" machine? Powered by intel GMA950. Even the older mobile machine (G4 or whatever) uses a dedicated graphic card (Both ibook and powerbook). If you compare in 3d benchmark, i doubt macbook can overpower ibook.

And now? Where's the midrange machine? Desktop machine? Where? ... Please do the math..

PS: I'm end my *though* here.. If you've read international mac forum, load forumers will say Apple don't offer "mid-range" machine(desktop machine or a better macbook)

This post has been edited by allvin: Sep 14 2007, 05:51 PM

being a mac / windows / linux user - i'd say the debate is endless. there's no clear winner.

Point taken. I do visit "International Mac Sites" and I am active on them too. Thing is Apple is very clear about its product lines. One for consumers, and one for the pro line. Hence the vast difference between the iMac and the Mac Pro. On the laptop side, its not that clear cut I guess since they use practically the same components but the MBP has a dedicated GPU. That being said however, the GMA 950 is no push over. True that it probably will be outperformed by even the Mobility Radeon 9200 that was in the previous iBooks BUT people have successfully run games on it albeit with lower resolutions. Again, the MacBook is a consumer laptop. Apple is not catering to gaming freaks, they're catering to people who want to use their computers for basic daily stuff (surfing the web, emailing, IM-ing, maybe an occasional game or two). And yes this "mid-range" computer for Apple does not exist because again like I said Apple caters to two distinct categories of customers. Consumer and Pro. They don't have any Pro-sumer (so to speak machine). Now I for one am all for a headless iMac with upgraded specs over the iMac a midsize tower so to speak but I don't see Apple doing that kind of thing. There is no "math" for me to do. Its just plain economics and clear market strategy. Apple doesn't have like 2385719836719834 different product lines. Just two or three for each product segment. Clear and simple.

And yes I also agree with goldfries. It just depends on the user themselves. Some people like the control they have on the components they have when they build their own PC's, people like me like my computer system to "Just work" with minimal hassle.

The 'great' thing of this 'close-ended' thread like this is when the old boys start to debate Things got hotter, technical jargons jump in and in the end, all the confusions which should be removed, have been increased

why can't these 2 OS exist side by side?
or 3 OS exist side by side?

are there anymore OS?

They can. Sort of, you can install Windows, Linux, Solaris almost anything you can think of on the new Macs side by side with MacOSX. I say, use whatever you're comfortable/proficient in

i am not quite sure am i posting at the right thing .
but as far as i know form my friend who runs photoshop alot .
the mac is definately running much faster than windows based computer .
such as rendering in photoshop .
my guess is , althought the grahpic and the core does play apart of the role . but basically apple's circuit board architecture maybe is designed well for graphical stuff.

Why not? I'm running WinXP on top of my MacOS .. in my Macbook Pro. I've successfully running MacOS, Ubuntu and WinXP .. all of them at the same time using VMWare Fusion.. there .. happy?

well welcome to mac family , mac definitely better than windows

Mac hardware is better than windows (PC WORLD reports MBP fastest VISTA notebook ever tested by them)

mac hardware cheaper than pc (configure a similar spec dell with macbook and you will see why)

mac os is the best in the world (think about it, you dont need to buy an antivirus for goodness sake. whats more, its beautiful!!)

there is pro n con on mac ..i just switch from pc to mac so far i m still learning to use it ...
if u ask me which is better i think mac at the moment
i never regret to buy my first mbp

4. yau Yeng.

5. Gaya
6. Mutu
7. Keunggulan

i switched from dell to apple then to IBM.

Dell was too plasticky.

Apple was too retarded (not enough supporting apps)
...my ibook has crashed a number of times btw. Ok, the crashing screen in OSX looks way better than windows with a nice transparency effect and a message in like five languages but fvck it's still a crash.


And btw, windows XP SP2 is quite stable. I've had no real problems with it for over a year now.


The only thing i really miss with OSX is Expose. The ability to flick the mouse to a corner of the screen and instantly see all open windows is really really handy for multitasking.

but i think windows OS is more user friendly..used windows for 10 years++

well, no point arguing or debating here. most of the users here have Microsoft OS, be it the latest or not. if you are capable of getting a Mac, be it Mac Mini or Mac Pro, give it a shot. you judge the overall usability yourself.

I'm all-the-while Microsoft user, but I never regret to own a Mac not long ago. now Mac has the best of both world - bootcamp~

I'm enjoying my Mac Mini very very much.

This post has been edited by breonwei: Nov 16 2007, 03:43 PM

er.. i had been window user since 10 years old... but i never like window cause i need reformat often cause of system crash, virus , spyware and so on... my family will always come to me whever the comp got problem.. however, i get to try to use mac when my sis buy a macbook... the best part of mac surely is no virus and spyware, boot time fast and nvr exp system crash! however, what i can say about mac is is good for daily usage, but if you are heavy gamer, go for window. Is not worth to own a mac just to look cool but you always run window on it...

All you guys are comparing is the looks, the components, the cost and so on. The difference most people overlook in comparisons of PCs and Macs are they way both the OS runs things.

You know why PCs tend to overheat more often than Macs? That's because of the algorithm PCs are programmed as. Like for instance, why do Macs can have hundreds of windows opened and yet it doesn't lag? And it does on a PC?

Why most PCs konk out faster than Macs? That's because programs in PCs often strain their hardware to the max. All due to the algorithm the OS is programmed. In PCs, to open a file you need to have this is order, that in order before the .exe can be executed, while most programs on Macs are stand alone where it doesn't depend on anything.

And if you do not delete a program nicely in PCs, you can have .dlls all over the place (in hidden folders, registry, etc) but not for a Mac. That's why a Mac always out lives a PC.

This post has been edited by Peanutz: Nov 18 2007, 01:54 AM

totally agree. not to mention the simplicity when someone need to uninstall an application.
i just love the idea of drag-n-drop thingy.
i ran xp and vista on top of my tiger few months back, but then i realized.
why do i need to use windows when all the best i have is right in front of me?
and there when it begins...