Look at the bigger picture
by
blue_box
·
about 15 years, 11 months ago
In reply to Mac/PC Different, not better…right?
I think you’ve begun to answer your own question with all the points you
make in your post. It *does* matter what you’re going to use any
computer/OS for, in deciding which combination to use. Programmers/web
developers might have to use all of them (for obvious reasons), and a gamer
might only need to use a Windows pc (or an Xbox/PS3/Wii) if that’s the limit
of functionality (or budget) for them.
Given that, the argument for purchasing/owning only one *computer* to run
multiple *systems* has been made by Apple, and from my experiences (20+
years of nearly everything), simply offers a better platform for getting it all
done on one box. I work in a scientific R&D business, and find the usefulness
of 100% compatible and compilable open source software extremely
valuable, particularly when it is running on an extremely stable unix base. I
don’t care how OSX originally came to be (although I’m well-rehearsed in its
history), I only care how good it is now. Microsoft has a lot to learn, and
Linux (even Ubuntu, arguably best-of-breed) still has a long, long way to go
when it comes to consumer-friendliness (basically, almost none).
If you’re a programmer, learning new languages is a given, and in most
cases, a necessity. When a compelling alternative presents itself, particularly
in a segment with a growing base of customers and fewer competitors, it
could be lucrative to boot. The best reasoning I’ve seen on why
Windows/.NET programmers should consider programming on OSX is from
Kevin Hoffman at The .Net Addict’s Blog
http://dotnetaddict.dotnetdevelopersjournal.com/tags/?/osx where, over
the past couple years, he’s compared the two platforms very fairly.
As for your points;
“mac apparently is good for Music and Video editing” – got that right, but
there’s a lot more than that. (too much for this post)
“Theres also tons more games for a PC than Mac” – no doubt DirectX is the
main reason, along with the plethora of available video cards. Doesn’t mean
a Quad MacPro with the Nvidia 8800 card can’t kick some serious rear-end
(running XP in BootCamp). Then again, these Macs are workstations, not
playstations. Benchmarks show the MacBook and MacBook Pro run Vista
faster than any other laptop in their category, including price.
“A PC is more versatile” – in what way? If you don’t know what OSX really
offers, how is running a pc that’s limited to Windows/Linux more versatile
than all of them on a Mac? If you are referring to hardware, why do we need
a hundred sound cards, a thousand video cards, etc. to be called “versatile”,
when a couple GPU’s and the Mac’s built-in audio hardware cover more than
the necessities?
“A mac doesn’t get viruses….because there are none. That doesn’t make the
mac better.” – Tearing your hair out for hours, wasting time trying to rid
yourself of the latest virus/worm/trojan *would* make it better? 😮
“Linux just has a better firewall etc. to keep viruses out.” – So, not having any
viruses is worse than having a better firewall to keep out viruses you do have.
!?!
“A mac doesn’t necessarily have a good firewall.” – In fact, it has a *very*
good firewall, and it’s getting better. Fact, as you say.
“Its easier to find software for a PC.” – It is easier to find a thousand different
variations of the same crapware for Windows that the equivalent 5 or 10
quality programs do on the Mac. Yes, you’re right, if that’s what you meant.
🙂 And please don’t bring up Access, Project, AutoCAD, etc. Even though they’re not
necessarily the best in their categories, that’s what VMWare
virtualization or BootCamp are for.
“software to totally transform my UI into MacOS” – LOL – you’re only
mimicking the eye candy, and badly at that. I think you really do need a Mac,
just so you can look beneath the surface to see what I mean.