Mac vs Pc.

[Shane W]

So, can someone point me to where I can see a side by side comparison of Macs vs Pcs? Maybe something that can translate PC speed into Mac speed and viceversa.

[AAlgar]

Macs are better.

The end.

[xyzzy]

http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6484737.html

[TheKraken]

So, can someone point me to where I can see a side by side comparison of Macs vs Pcs? Maybe something that can translate PC speed into Mac speed and viceversa.

As far as processors go, Mac speed and PC speed are the same thing since Apple switched to Intel.

[Ryudo]

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

[Shane W]

As far as processors go, Mac speed and PC speed are the same thing since Apple switched to Intel.

THIS is the exact info I was looking for, thanks!!!

[Smokinblues]

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

the ads are bullshit.

it all depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to pay for it.

[PhilipClark]

http://www.mac-switcher.com/wp-content/images/mac-pc-tv-ads.jpg
Come on, the choice is obvious. Look how much better dressed the Mac is. The PC looks like a total dweeb.

[Shane W]

http://www.mac-switcher.com/wp-content/images/mac-pc-tv-ads.jpg
Come on, the choice is obvious. Look how much better dressed the Mac is. The PC looks like a total dweeb.

The Mac looks like a slacker though.

[Skatonic10]

The real difference between the two? Price. Macs are way more expensive, and no less inexpensive to care for, keep up, or upgrade.

And their marketing is full of shit.

[Mr. E!]

The Mac looks like a slacker though.

No...he's independant and artistic, not some buttoned down corporate drone! He's EDGY! He's, dare I say, Goddardesque!

[PhilipClark]

The Mac looks like a slacker though.
:lol:

Seriously, though. I've been a Mac guy for a sometime. Especially for creative stuff, Macs rule.

[Smokinblues]

The Mac looks like a slacker though.
they've actually gotten some pushback because people think mac guy is an asshole and pc guy is likable.

[Pat Shatner]

Those mac commercials fill me with such rage and disgust. I want to eat that hipster fuck for dinner.

[Shane W]

No...he's independant and artistic, not some buttoned down corporate drone! He's EDGY! He's, dare I say, Goddardesque!

I think he's going to get down to some serious slacking any minute now.

[Smokinblues]

The real difference between the two? Price. Macs are way more expensive, and no less inexpensive to care for, keep up, or upgrade.

And their marketing is full of shit.

bing!

[Pat Shatner]

they've actually gotten some pushback because people think mac guy is an asshole and pc guy is likable.
That, on the other hand, makes me very happy.

[Shane W]

I'm not worried about which one is perceived as better, i just know what my wife wants for starting her Master's, which is a Mac.

I just want to make sure I know what the equivallent in PC power is.

[Beatle]

Honestly, Macs are MUCH more reliable. I used to have a PC back in 99-2000. I got a MAC in 2001 when I became a professional illustrator. It is nearly impossible to crash and there are little to no viruses for it.

I suppose there is not much difference but since PCs are much more common, then more viruses are written. I think most errors are user errors.

[Shawn_Kehoe]

I switched to a Mac last March after 12 years of owning MS-based PCs. I don't plan on going back.

The operating system is so much better than Windows - stable and more customizable. Lots of the benefits are smaller things that you only notice later - for instance, the standard Print dialog includes an option to print to PDF, and this is available in all programs. No more printing of online receipts for me, I just save the PDF for future reference.

Also, you can install Windows XP on 2006 macs too. You can either install it using apple's Boot Camp, which is free and lets you choose which OS to run when you boot up ... or use Parallels Desktop, a $90 program that allows you to run Windows XP in a window on your Desktop. Or windows 98, 95, 3.1 etc.
So you can get the benefits of the mac without losing access to key software.

I agree that the Mac marketing can be a bit snotty at times, especially for those who feel protective of their PCs. But the product seems to be living up to the hype.

Shawn

[Hate_Prime]

If you like things that are pretty, impractical and be mostly limited to (very good) first party apps, then a mac is for you.

If you want customize ability, versatility, substance over style and access to 99% of all software (most are crap) out there including and most importantly video games, yet be vulnerable to every malicious script and virus under the sun, then go for the PC.

[Hollingsworth]

Macs are better.

I'm currently running Windows, Mac and Linux at home. They all have their merits.

Things to consider, though:

Windows cannot use more than 2 gigs of RAM in the regular 32 bit version. I am not sure of the 64 bit.

Macs can use 4 gigs from what I've heard (I only have two gigs on the Mac so cannot verify). If you are doing high end CG or graphics, the Mac can use more RAM. Macs are also based on Free BSD, which is a variation on Unix/Linux. It's rock solid, stable as hell. Windows, on the other hand, is not very stable at all. I presonally like the UI better in Windows, but that's about all. Macs don't generally have viruses written for them either, though that will change over time.

Also, even though they cost more, the construction on the Macs is often way more solid. My old Mac is now my stereo because it's so old. It's from 1999 and is only 400 Mhz. But I have never had a single problem with the OS or the hardware. The PC, on the other hand, is a high end Dell Workstation, and I've had trouble with it nonstop for the three years I've been running it. After about a month of having it, a plastic fanblade broke off and flew into the other fan and stopped it too, lodged in there. Had to take it apart, order a new fan and install it. If I open this Dell next to the Mac, it's embarrassing. All plastic crap, not very solid at all. The Mac looks like a Porsche engine by comparison. And, the Dell wasn't any cheaper than a Mac. I bought an internal HD for the Dell, installed it and it failed. Installed it inside the Mac and worked great. My scanner will no longer work with Windows either, even though I have the latest driver. Using it with the Mac, I never even had to install a driver.

Personally, I like to run all three OS's jsut in case. And, I've read about people doing that very thing on a Mac and it's not possible on a PC.

My two cents.

[TheKraken]

http://www.mac-switcher.com/wp-content/images/mac-pc-tv-ads.jpg
Come on, the choice is obvious. Look how much better dressed the Mac is. The PC looks like a total dweeb.

But John Hodgeman is really funny, whereas the other is... uh... that kid from Ed...

[Modok Gas]

Here's why you should switch to a Mac.

http://www.podbrix.com/dimages/540842596_1.jpg

http://www.podbrix.com/dimages/540842596_2.jpg

[xyzzy]

Here's why you should switch to a Mac.

Hah! Classic.

[Foolish Mortal]

The real difference between the two? Price. Macs are way more expensive, and no less inexpensive to care for, keep up, or upgrade.

And their marketing is full of shit.
You're correct that Macs' are more expensive. But as far as maintenance is concerned, I've spent far less money maintaining my Mac than a PC. And they are no more expensive to upgrade than a PC.

[B3NN3TT]

I still have my Mac desktop from 1998, and I use it almost every day.

Show me a pentium 2 that's still viable.

The Windows OS is CONDESCENDING and ANNOYING. It tries too hard to be helpful, and intrudes on me too often, and when I DON'T want its help.

The Mac OS is useful and stays out of your way until you need it, and it doesn't fall over itself trying to exercise its self-importance like Windows does.

I look at it like so: The Windows OS is like someone who you don't even know, who is following you around, opening doors for you, and being a little TOO nice. Making you uncomfortable. The Mac OS is like a friend who knows you very well, and is always there for you when you need him. He's willing to help you do anything you ask for, but stays out of your way until you call.

[Modok Gas]

The Windows OS is CONDESCENDING and ANNOYING. It tries too hard to be helpful, and intrudes on me too often, and when I DON'T want its help.

http://www.elecdesign.com/Files/29/2839/Figure_05.jpg

http://wuzzadem.typepad.com/wuz/images/postpic/c1.gif

http://www.smashsworld.com/uploaded_images/searchdog-714947.JPG

[Modok Gas]

Here's an awesome comic about Oregon Trail (A popular learning game in the old Mac days):

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/oregontrailcomic.jpg

[xyzzy]

Here's an awesome comic about Oregon Trail (A popular learning game in the old Mac days):



Oregon Trail precedes the Mac by quite a bit. Funny strip, though.

[t00lverine]

Fucking Macs. Ironically, the new classroom we got equipped with macs had an incompatability issue with the projector in this new classroom at the college I work out. Then, I'm trying to tell a classroom full of students to right click using their Macbooks. No fucking dice, apparently there is no right click. Ugh.

[BWC Boston]

they've actually gotten some pushback because people think mac guy is an asshole and pc guy is likable.
I didn't know PC was supposed to be UNlikeable. I thought we were supposed to like and pity him.

[John Drake]

I didn't know PC was supposed to be UNlikeable. I thought we were supposed to like and pity him.

I never liked him, I did think he was supposed to be unlikeable.

I love those commercials just because they make me laugh.

[Hate_Prime]

http://www.cad-comic.com/comics/20060513.jpg

http://www.cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060513

[Foolish Mortal]

http://www.cad-comic.com/comics/20060513.jpg

http://www.cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060513
:lol: I know that's supposed to be a slam on Macs, but it really comes across weak.

[Hollingsworth]

Sure there is. You just have to buy a mouse with a right button. And they're pretty cheap these days. Don't know WHY Macs don't default to that. But, I use, funnily enough, a Microsoft three button mouse with mine and it's fine.

Just because YOU don't know about Macs doesn't mean they suck. It just means you don't know about Macs.


Fucking Macs. Ironically, the new classroom we got equipped with macs had an incompatability issue with the projector in this new classroom at the college I work out. Then, I'm trying to tell a classroom full of students to right click using their Macbooks. No fucking dice, apparently there is no right click. Ugh.

[t00lverine]

Sure there is. You just have to buy a mouse with a right button. And they're pretty cheap these days. Don't know WHY Macs don't default to that. But, I use, funnily enough, a Microsoft three button mouse with mine and it's fine.

Just because YOU don't know about Macs doesn't mean they suck. It just means you don't know about Macs.

I'm not going to buy mice for forty students, that's just foolish. I was there to give a software demo on the Windows side. I ended up using somebody's Gateway PC because it was actually able to interface with the projection unit. So, it wouldn't matter what I do and don't know about OSX (your assumptions are telling). Nice try, though.

Love your work, by the way.

[Hollingsworth]

Hey,

Wasn't saying you should buy all those mice for your students. But, you stated that the Mac cannot do right click, which is in fact not accurate. I assumed that you don't know Macs because of this, because they CAN do right click, as long as they have a third party mouse. They *should* have that in their own mice, and why they don't I don't know. Probably some kind of stubborn BS.

There is no try! There is only do! (in Yoda voice!)

;-)

There really is no denying that OSX is far more stable than Windows, though. Being based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (Free BSD, Unix based) really assures this.

And thanks for the kind words.




I'm not going to buy mice for forty students, that's just foolish. I was there to give a software demo on the Windows side. I ended up using somebody's Gateway PC because it was actually able to interface with the projection unit. So, it wouldn't matter what I do and don't know about OSX (your assumptions are telling). Nice try, though.

Love your work, by the way.

[Alex(sadly)Maleev]

Logitech MX 510 is the mouse I have had for over a year. Guess what? It has a right click and OSX drivers.

[Alex(sadly)Maleev]

Macs are better.

I'm currently running Windows, Mac and Linux at home. They all have their merits.

Things to consider, though:

Windows cannot use more than 2 gigs of RAM in the regular 32 bit version. I am not sure of the 64 bit.

Macs can use 4 gigs from what I've heard (I only have two gigs on the Mac so cannot verify). If you are doing high end CG or graphics, the Mac can use more RAM. Macs are also based on Free BSD, which is a variation on Unix/Linux. It's rock solid, stable as hell. Windows, on the other hand, is not very stable at all. I presonally like the UI better in Windows, but that's about all. Macs don't generally have viruses written for them either, though that will change over time.

Also, even though they cost more, the construction on the Macs is often way more solid. My old Mac is now my stereo because it's so old. It's from 1999 and is only 400 Mhz. But I have never had a single problem with the OS or the hardware. The PC, on the other hand, is a high end Dell Workstation, and I've had trouble with it nonstop for the three years I've been running it. After about a month of having it, a plastic fanblade broke off and flew into the other fan and stopped it too, lodged in there. Had to take it apart, order a new fan and install it. If I open this Dell next to the Mac, it's embarrassing. All plastic crap, not very solid at all. The Mac looks like a Porsche engine by comparison. And, the Dell wasn't any cheaper than a Mac. I bought an internal HD for the Dell, installed it and it failed. Installed it inside the Mac and worked great. My scanner will no longer work with Windows either, even though I have the latest driver. Using it with the Mac, I never even had to install a driver.

Personally, I like to run all three OS's jsut in case. And, I've read about people doing that very thing on a Mac and it's not possible on a PC.

My two cents.

3.5 Gigs DDR SDRAM working like a charm here.

[Hollingsworth]

Macs have nicer tits too. It's true.

[ArmyMonkey]

I'm not going to buy mice for forty students, that's just foolish. I was there to give a software demo on the Windows side. I ended up using somebody's Gateway PC because it was actually able to interface with the projection unit. So, it wouldn't matter what I do and don't know about OSX (your assumptions are telling). Nice try, though.

Love your work, by the way.


To right click on a macbook or macbook pro without a mouse:

Place two fingers on the touchpad; click the button

or

Hold the "control" key; click the button.

Either works fine, for future reference

[ArmyMonkey]

Oh, and toolverine, in the Windows side, if you're using boot camp to boot into it, you hold the right command key(the one with the apple on it right next to the spacebar) and click for a right click.

Oh, and Macs can address up to 16gb of ram currently, although with future motherboards they will be able to handle up to 64.

And, they're not "more expensive," either. If you compare two similarly configured machines, say a MacPro to a Dell both using high end Xeon processors, the MacPro comes out considerably less expensive, like 1000-1200 less. The MacBookPro comes out the same way. Plus, only the Macs can run BOTH OS X and Windows.

For example: on Apple's site I just configured a MacPro:
2 3.0Ghz Dual Core Xeon Processors
1gb 667mhz ram
250gb sata hard drive
NVidia Geforce 7300GT 256mb vram
16x Superdrive (multi-format DVD/CD burner)
Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse (left and right click, 360 degree scroll ball, two programable buttons)
2 Gigabit Ethernet ports (included in all MacPros)

All that was $3299.

Dell:
2 3.0Ghz Dual Core Xeon Processors (had to add second processor)
1gb 667mhz ram (had to customize higher end ram)
250gb sata hard drive (had to bump up from 80gb)
NVidia Quaddro FX450 128mb card (Lower end graphics card, still a bump)
16x (multi format) DVD/CD burner (bumped up from CD-Rom drive...they still make those?)
1 Gigabit Ethernet port (had to add)
USB Keyboard
Optical Mouse w/scroll wheel (had to bump up to optical from ball mouse)

All that for $4,644

That's nearly 1,400 dollars MORE EXPENSIVE for the Dell. Oh, and they're both running 64bit OSes to make it as even as possible. Bare in mind I didn't include the $100 for Norton Internet Security so that the Dell doesn't crash twenty minutes after connecting to the internet.

So, while you can say "macs are more expensive," When you look at actual facts, and line them up as close as possible power wise, they obviously are in fact much LESS expensive, not to even speak of Total Cost of Ownership, in which this number gets even FURTHER skewed in favor of the Mac.

Just thought I'd drop that little tidbit. :D

[Smokinblues]

Oh, and toolverine, in the Windows side, if you're using boot camp to boot into it, you hold the right command key(the one with the apple on it right next to the spacebar) and click for a right click.

Oh, and Macs can address up to 16gb of ram currently, although with future motherboards they will be able to handle up to 64.

And, they're not "more expensive," either. If you compare two similarly configured machines, say a MacPro to a Dell both using high end Xeon processors, the MacPro comes out considerably less expensive, like 1000-1200 less. The MacBookPro comes out the same way. Plus, only the Macs can run BOTH OS X and Windows.

For example: on Apple's site I just configured a MacPro:
2 3.0Ghz Dual Core Xeon Processors
1gb 667mhz ram
250gb sata hard drive
NVidia Geforce 7300GT 256mb vram
16x Superdrive (multi-format DVD/CD burner)
Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse (left and right click, 360 degree scroll ball, two programable buttons)
2 Gigabit Ethernet ports (included in all MacPros)

All that was $3299.

Dell:
2 3.0Ghz Dual Core Xeon Processors (had to add second processor)
1gb 667mhz ram (had to customize higher end ram)
250gb sata hard drive (had to bump up from 80gb)
NVidia Quaddro FX450 128mb card (Lower end graphics card, still a bump)
1 Gigabit Ethernet port (had to add)
USB Keyboard
Optical Mouse w/scroll wheel (had to bump up to optical from ball mouse)

All that for $4,644

That's nearly 1,400 dollars MORE EXPENSIVE for the Dell. Oh, and they're both running 64bit OSes to make it as even as possible. Bare in mind I didn't include the $100 for Norton Internet Security so that the Dell doesn't crash twenty minutes after connecting to the internet.

So, while you can say "macs are more expensive," When you look at actual facts, and line them up as close as possible power wise, they obviously are in fact much LESS expensive, not to even speak of Total Cost of Ownership, in which this number gets even FURTHER skewed in favor of the Mac.

Just thought I'd drop that little tidbit. :D


and it's a useless comparison. no home user is going to order such high end machines. those are high end server level machines. in the ranges where real people buy computers the only values in apple land are the mac mini and maybe an imac.

[ArmyMonkey]

So just cause it proves you wrong, it's a useless comparison? Oh, and these would be machines multimedia pro would use, I have no doubt about that. Sorry if I didn't clarify that was what I was gearing this particular comparison towards.

Also, Alienware makes ALL their money on "home users" buying these high end machines, and they're as far as I know a fairly successful company doing so.

[TheKraken]

http://www.cad-comic.com/comics/20060513.jpg

http://www.cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060513

My favorite one of those is the one where the PC has the evil PC and the good PC influencing him, and the evil one says, "We tried fun once, it was nothing but pain and suffering!" Considering one of the reasons casual computer users avoid Macs is the lack of games, the whole "PCs aren't fun" angle is really funny. Most of those commercials have a somewhat valid point, but that one was backwards...

[t00lverine]

To right click on a macbook or macbook pro without a mouse:

Place two fingers on the touchpad; click the button

or

Hold the "control" key; click the button.

Either works fine, for future reference

I want the friggin' button built in, but that'll do. Thanks for the info.

As to any price comparisons you hope to do, Mac has no BYO option, which makes PCs become that much more viable.

[Smokinblues]

So just cause it proves you wrong, it's a useless comparison? Oh, and these would be machines multimedia pro would use, I have no doubt about that. Sorry if I didn't clarify that was what I was gearing this particular comparison towards.

Also, Alienware makes ALL their money on "home users" buying these high end machines, and they're as far as I know a fairly successful company doing so.
Alienware sells top end gaming computers. I don't imagine they sell many dual xeon machines. I know mac users aren't familiar with games on computers, so it's understandable how you might miss that.

[TheKraken]

I want the friggin' button built in, but that'll do. Thanks for the info.

As to any price comparisons you hope to do, Mac has no BYO option, which makes PCs become that much more viable.

You can customize the hell out of a Mac Pro before you buy it. It's not building it yourself, but it's almost as good... You have the option of getting it with 2 terabytes of storage, even. :D

[ArmyMonkey]

OK, iMac vs. Home Dell PC time!
iMac 20" Standard Configuration:
2.16ghz Core 2 Duo
1gb 667 DDR Ram
250gb SATA HD
ATI Radeon X1600 128mb
16x Superdrive
20" Display: 1680 x 1050 Resolution
Remote Control for quick access to multimedia
Built-in webcam
Built-in Speakers
Built-in Mic
Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
iLife: iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Garageband, iWeb- full programs
$1499

Dell XPS 210 (chosen for the smaller chasis, most similar to the iMac)
2.16ghz Core 2 Duo (upgrade)
1gb 533 DDR (667 not available, even as upgrade)
250gb SATA HD (standard..nice)
8x DVD-RW drive (16x not available, even as upgrade)
20" Widescreen monitor (upgrade)
ATI Radeon X1300 128mb (X1600, better for VIDEO GAMES, not avaliable, even as upgrade)
Dell USB Multimedia keyboard (added for volume control)
Basic, included Speakers
Remote (upgrade)
Logitech Quickcam webcam (upgrade)
Anti-virus included (nice)
Basic and Trial of Corel Photo Album and Yahoo Music (included)

Total: $1578

So, once again, the Dell, with some things missing compared to the Apple, is still more expensive. Even if you drop some of the extras like the webcam and remote saying "I don't need that stuff," it only brings it to about 55 dollars less than the Apple, and a year later when you rebew your internet security for 69 bucks, you've eclipsed that (and you don't have your Remote and Webcam).

Does that one, comparing two HOME computers suit you better?

[ArmyMonkey]

I want the friggin' button built in, but that'll do. Thanks for the info.

As to any price comparisons you hope to do, Mac has no BYO option, which makes PCs become that much more viable.


Yeah, I wish they'd go to a two button mouse on the laptops, too. Especially since their desktops come with a multi-button mouse now, it's kinda ridiculous.

I totally agree on the Build it yourself deal. That's one thing I wish I could do, buy the mobo seperate from Apple (with the fused on piece that allows OS X to run, even though they're Intel boards), and go from there.

[ArmyMonkey]

http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/MJ-12_8550i/mj-12_overview.aspx?SysCode=PC-MJ12-8550I&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

That's an Alienware computer that uses the dual core Xeon, just to prove a point (as if the points haven't been proven).