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Apple's I Mac

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by giacomo

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I want to know what people think about the new I mac? Would a hardcore pc user make the switch at home?

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by james r linn

I like Macs - used them since 85, like the OS better. Supported them - easier to support:same company makes the OS and hardware - nicely integrated, tends to work better.

But I will admit my Mac at home is gathering dust - though I promised it to a friend who wants to put Linux on it. My PC is used alot.

Why? I now no longer support Macs at work, so I don't have to keep up to date, and MS Windows is good enough. I like to build my own machines -options are limited with Macs.

But thereare people who prefer Macs - either for their ease of use, or the OS, or the fact that it runs apps like Photoshop alot faster than a P4. My boss has both -he bought an iMac DVD to create home movies and write them to DVD, and I'll admit the integration is sweet.

The cold truth is that the PC runs the apps I work with at the office, and the games I like. There isn't the great advantage Macs used to have - the OSs are closer than ever.

If I was buying one for a non-techie type, like say my mom, or a graphic artist - I might suggest a Mac. But for hardcore fanatics - PCs offer a wider range of options(hw, linux, more apps etc).

James

by stephen_stofflet

While you state you are a hard-core pc user, the Mac OS and the style of the new machines are simply the best on the market in my opinion. Video/multimedia/imaging work should only be done on a Mac: too many tweaks necessary for proper Windows operation. Mac interface is incredibly cool with OS X, and the Unix underlying that provides the most stable environment I've worked in to date. I support Windows for a living, due to the substantial amount of work that OS can require... Mac's are for my funtime. Also: regarding software - most Windows stuff is also available for Mac. Sometimes you just need to look for it. (Plus - the new widescreen 17" flat LCD panel Imac is the best looking thing I've seen in years!)

by james r linn

I bought my first Mac in 1985. Made a great living with Macs and PCs for years. Worked for major corporation with the world's largest Mac network. Was nicnamed Dr. Mac by many. Wrote articles for major publications on Macs(years ago granted)

But lets be real here.

If you don't have a PC already, the Mac is very attractive. Though many newbies wouldn't know why the BSD based Unix kernel is attractive. The built in multimedia software is great - iMovie etc. Its a better OS than XP.

But if you already have a PC and have gained a knowledge of the OS, I don't see what would make you drop the PC for a Mac. Yes, installing all the multimedia stuff is more hassle than on a Mac, but so is learning a new OS. The Mac is faster at some multimedia tasks, the PC is faster at most general tasks. I'm not arguing that Macs are more work to support - I beleive they are still less.

I just don't see the compelling reason to buy a Mac if you already have a PC. You can buy a flat screen and a DVD writer etc. for your Pc, and the software to use it. The Mac software may be easier and more integrated into the OS/Apple hardware, but thats an installation hassle pretty much - you get over it after a while.

I always thought the old chesnutof you can't get software for the Mac a canard - when I last sold Macs 15 years ago, there were over 5000 applications for the Mac. Sure not every game in the PC world is available but I don't own a compuetr justfor games - there were and are alwaysenough games on the Mac to keep one interested.

I don't buy your video-multimedia should only be done on a Mac. My brother in law is a professional video editor, and frankly he doesn't care which machine he uses. At home he has a PC.

james

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