New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Apple vs. PC

post #1 of 78
6/26/04 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
Hi All!
Newbie here.
I'm in the market for a new laptop. I DJ part time and have been using Windows-based systems forever but have an opportunity to purchase an Apple Powerbook G4 for a great price (1.04GHz;1GHz RAM; DVD +R-R etc.).
Can I still use my programs or am I looking for trouble???
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 78
6/26/04 at 10:41pm
more recently, the gap between apple and pc as far as apps are concerned has gotten much smaller. as far as specific apps, you could ask the company who makes the software, look on the website for specs, etc. If a particular app can't work on an apple, you can get a modulater to make it work, i think, but I am not sure how that works. I was in your same situation, only with architecture, and CAD programs, etc. I love the powerbooks, but I am going to school this fall, and it just wouldn't make sense for me
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 78
6/26/04 at 11:28pm
As far as running emulated XP on a Mac, it SUCKS...very slow...(based on my experience with my friend's 2nd gen G3 iBook)...if you MUST run windows apps, get a windows machine
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 78
6/27/04 at 12:35am
dont emulate xp, emu 98 or 2k, they are not as heavy. but hibby is right. if you need a windows prog, use a pc.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 78
6/27/04 at 1:12am
What if we just have to run word processors, games, MP3, videos and have to surf the net?

I hope Imac won't have problems there, or will it???
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 78
6/27/04 at 1:14am
no, apple is great for those, just like a pc would be
infact, apple's itunes is one of the best music programs i have seen, imovies is great too...and you can get internet explorer for mac, and even word if you want

games are limited to what is out for mac...alot of the popular ones (Halo, GTA, etc) are out for mac, but some aren't...it depends on what you are looking to play
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 78
6/27/04 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ankurjain
What if we just have to run word processors, games, MP3, videos and have to surf the net?

I hope Imac won't have problems there, or will it???
Nope, Mac has solutions for that...in fact word runs on Mac as far as I know...

The only problem with that is you would now have a very limited view of a computer. I wouldn't go with mac just for this reason, the lack of support of great pc features such as games (though most usualy come out on mac eventualy)...
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 78
6/27/04 at 1:38am
to me getting a mac nowdays is 98% pointless, really the only reason i could figure someone would buy them is for the look or the name. they definitly are not better for media editing, most apps are more up to date on pc, macs just have the artist "image", like one of those beatnik hats and a goatee, it might make you look like a stereo typical artist but it doesnt make you any better.

some people say macs are more stable than windows pcs, which is probably true, but if you want stability, buy a pc and use linux.

what mac specific apps would anyone want to use that the pc doesnt have something better for?
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 78
6/27/04 at 2:19am
mac vs pc software library comparison is a no brainer. thinking about mac or pc is like thinking playstation or nintendo. there is not a single nintendo game that there isn't the same exact one for playstation, or even a better alternative on the PS over the N. Macs just dont have the software to get the job done. PC, freeware, shareware, careware, retail software, even warez are all the different ways to grab some software!

system wise, its BS macs (pre x) are more stable than winnt (nt, 2k, xp). X is linux stuck in a mac body so idealy you get the same stability as you would using mandrake, suse, or debian on a pc.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 78
6/27/04 at 4:08am
Technically, it's Darwin, which is an Apple variant of FreeBSD.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 78
6/27/04 at 4:34am
the only reason i'd buy a mac because of the powerbook design, which no pc notebook can really emulate right now (asus is trying really hard with the w1). a few of my friends who are hardcore pc users at home bought them just because of the screen / weight. you just can't find a 15.4'' widescreen with the kind of stunning clarity as a powerbook at 5.5 lbs.

i would never buy a mac for work/software purposes, unless in the very specific circumstance that i was a graphic designer / video editor that could make use of programs like FinalCut, etc. and not need to use ANYTHING else. that's just my opinion, of course.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 78
6/27/04 at 4:35am
In reality, Mac based systems are not as bad as you guys make them out to be. OSX is a very nice and stable operating system, just like Windows XP or 2000. Moreover, plenty of software is available for the mac, so that shouldn't be much of a problem... unless you need to use some custom PC applications.

The only issues that I have with Apple is that their products are insanely overpriced, and generally lack customizability. Furthermore, I'm not a big fan of Steve Jobs' vision of what computers should be, i.e. closed-system appliances like the original Macintosh 128k.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 78
6/27/04 at 4:44am
I'm a PC user.

Did Apple EVER add a right clicking button?
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 78
6/27/04 at 5:01am
See....if people have a legitimate concern for chosing a PC over Apple....that is ok...

But as a diehard Apple fan...reading comments like what Initial just mentioned pisses me off!!! No, Apple DID NOT add a right clicking button to their mice...but right clicking is enabled/supported in the OS....so just buy a third party mouse from Logitech/Microsoft as they are far superior anyhoo.

Beepa, what specific programs are you wanting to use on that Powerbook? Even if they aren't supported you might be able to purchase something equivalent to it.

That Powerbook has fairly decent specs....so I would weigh all your options of course....but if you really want it/can benefit from it/use it then please, please do yourself a favor and purchase it! You WILL NOT be disappointed.

AND Apple is unveiling OS X.4 on Monday....and let me assure you that it will run circles around just about anything.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 78
6/27/04 at 5:08am
As Tomasz said, the main reason I didn't buy a Mac was price. Even with the developer discount, a 15" Powerbook would still run over $2000. I think that is a fair price considering what you get. Apple's regular prices are rediculious. But my BIGGEST problem is that every upgrade they release for their OS costs $99. I'm not talking whole new versions, but revisions within the version. OS X came out two or three years ago. They are now on OS 10.3, and every upgrade from 10 to 10.3 was $100.

Windows XP came out around the same time as X and since then they have released one Service Pack and are soon to release a second. Along the way Microsoft constantly releases updates for their software, all of which is FREE. While I hate to support Microsoft, charging people for basic updates in functionality is just wrong, especially when they pay SO much for the original computer. Microsoft has gotten it right with this aspect.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 78
6/27/04 at 8:24am
Shaun....you are totally missing the point.......

Apple does provide BASIC updates for free...same as Microsoft.

Every revision of OS X...including the new one X.4 to be announced this coming Monday.....is a MAJOR revision......big time.....with typically 100-200 new applications, developer tools, features, and whatnot included in each one.

Yeah...$100 dollars is a tad steep....but it is worth every penny of it.....XP only wishes it could do what OS X can.....
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 78
6/27/04 at 8:41am
Me thinks someone is exaggerating here...100-200 NEW applications? CMON give us a break!
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 78
6/27/04 at 9:55am
Considering that Apple will be previewing OS X 10.4 Tiger on Monday which will be available by the end of the year the Apple OS will be way ahead of XP. Longhorn is not scheduled to be released until at least 2006. Even reviews of the beta Longhorn builds say that Microsoft is trying to copy Apple.
That said if you take care of XP meaning update antivirus frequently and defraging at least once a month XP should remain stable. I've had no problems for months with XP.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 78
6/27/04 at 10:43am
Just like what someone else said here, I believe apples are WAY overpriced and there is really no point in paying so much for one when a cheaper pc laptop can do everything just as well. The only pluses i see in getting a mac are the OS, less viruses i guess, and it comes with iLife which i have to admit is some pretty cool stuff (yeah i know you can get similar stuff for the pc but its not free). To me that stuff still doesn't justify paying for one. And yes i know i just paid $2300 for an IBM t42p and for that price i could have gotten a mac, but the IBM is way more versitile in terms of programs (and we all know how long IBMs last too).
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 78
6/27/04 at 12:34pm
Mac to me makes no sense...I already have 3 pcs (all of which where less then 1500). Now you just can't do that with a mac. My laptop was 1250 before tax, and it has quite the power. Can someone explain how mac would be worth it then? Sure, you get some free software (most of which I don't use), but to buy a Mac just to use this basic software makes no sense. PC's are much more competitively priced, and continue to grow cheaper. Mac on the other hand was supposed to be the inexpensive computer for our cheap public schools, but even they moved to PC. Not to support windows or anything, but it seems to me that Microsoft spends MUCH more money then Mac just to keep their system updated. I don't think its possible to go into all the advantages of PC's, and we certainly don't have the time to even start...
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Apple Notebooks