Ipod Quality = Thoughts of leaving Windows

[cadman83]

I have got to admit it, I am a user of windows. When i purchased my Ipod I was really impressed by the build / packaging quality of my new toy. After purchasing some Ipod accessories I realized that Apple takes that care with all of their products (rather they make it or someone else). For the first time I started looking at Apple computers and other accessories for their computers. I must say I am really impressed. Seeing as how Mac computers can also run Windows Xp (so I can still play my games) I think my next upgrade is going to be a Mac.

[zerock]

if you are talking about running windows thru virtualpc, the current version sucks at games, it slow, but this year apparently there is a new version coming out, which is faster, supports, video card acceleration and well it makes quake playable at last.

[MikeM]

If you're really into games on the computer but want a mac, you should really look to have both. Make the pc a dedicated game machine and do everything else on the mac.

[cadman83]

I went out to Compusa last night to see what mac had in store for me. As it turns out there is a somewhat decent assortment of games for the mac, at least they have Unreal Tournament 2004 and quake available anyway. And i have got to say the 21 hd monitor sure was nice when playing ut.:D

[jahwork328]

I'm going through the same thing... esp. since I have been playing less and less games on the computer (and I'm eyeing the next generation of consoles ;-)) I'm really feeling the ibook.. since it's in my price range...

[W9FIF]

No games here Kids! Surfing, Ham Radio an' MP-3s. A G-5 dual processor is on the short list!

[Justin]

Yea I used windows forever then i got my ipod and decided to go look at some apple products i have an imac and an ibook and couldnt be happier with them

[MOCKBA]

I use Intel platforms mostly, however not always Windows.

[enjoilax]

Yea i'm switching back.... But i'm looking only for a computer powerful enough to do editing in GarageBand.

[hardkohr]

Don't fall to the dark side. I love my Ipod, but Mac systems can't compare to PC's. I tech support both OS's and absolutely can't stand the Mac platform.

[enjoilax]

Isnt that your personal opinion?

Now if you had said something like:
"I dont reccomend going Mac because...."

Then i might have listened. Add to that the fact you only have one post, PLUS I have used both platforms equally, and to me there is no visible difference to go either way.

Anything a Win can do a Mac can do.

How i reccomend it is like this. Power users go: Windows (more customization and utilities, ALSO more problems) Avg. Users go Mac (Easier to figure out, comes prepackaged w/ AWESOME software,

[kelvinz]

this is the best reason to swtich to a mac ever.

http://webdev.o1.com/rvb/movies/switch/RvB_switch.mov

-Kelvin

[nddl05]

Originally posted by kelvinz
this is the best reason to swtich to a mac ever.

http://webdev.o1.com/rvb/movies/switch/RvB_switch.mov

-Kelvin

hahaha

[Beltaine]

Yep... Great vid. Gets lots of laughs at the lan parties.

I'd love to switch to a mac, but I love my games.
Addicted to FFXI right now, won't see that one on a Mac for a while if ever. (But I guess I could always go buy a PS2 and the HDD for $300 total.)

Didn't EverQuest finally come out for Mac last year?

Maybe I'll just get an iBook, and keep the tower for games...

[ElPapa]

Y'know I think the mac is *very* cool. That said, when I look at a computer I have to look at what I need it for. Everything I do works with tools that only run on Windows. For example, I use JBuilder X. The current MacOS release of JBuilder X is not available in an Enterprise version. Why? Because there are no J2EE servers currently in general release for MacOS. Why? Because Apple constantly lags in it's JDK support.

Apple really needs to release their efforts to the JCP or Blackdown and let others work on getting the JDK developed for the Mac....

But I digress. The rest of what I do, the tools only run on Windows. So I'd need Virtual PC anyway.

So... I look at price tags next. A powerbook with the equivalent features as my Dell Inspiron 8600 would cost me about US$4000. My Dell cost me US$2000. I can't justify the extra 2k just because the Macs are 'cool'.

When Apple lowers their prices - I'll take a more serious look. Otherwise I'm planning on upgrading my desktop for about 500 bucks... again.. for WindowsXP..

[IlIlIlIlIl]

here's my take
if you want a mac, wait for a bit for the PowerBook G5's to come out. A Mac with Virtual PC can run virtually anything a Windows PC can and a Mac just handles it so much better, no virus, no spyware to distract your computing experience and you get a nicely designed OS that's updated pretty much every year (unlike Microsoft's Longhorn which won't get released until 2006~2007).

As for the Virtual PC compatible with video card acceleration thing, where did you hear about that? For gaming now, you can get an XBox or PS2 (with FFXI available) and they will pretty much take care of your gaming needs.

Also, El Papa, your price estimation is grossly exaggerated....I configured a similar laptop from Dell and Apple (using top of the line CPU, 15" screen, 1gb RAM, 80gb HDD, 3 year warranty) and the Powerbook came out to be around $3300 while the Dell is around 2800~2900.its more like a 500 dollar diff and that doesnt take into the account that Apple will update their Powerbook line with G5 sometime in the near future which will kick the prices of the G4 down quite a bit.

[zippy]

If money were no object (oh if only)... then I would definately get a Mac for digital video editing - they've consistently stayed a couple of steps ahead of PCs in this area. As for the rest of the computing I do, the PC works great and is alot cheaper - especially since I build my own!

[ElPapa]

I don't think my estimates are exaggerated at all. I looked at the configurations for a powerbook and they came out in the 4k range.

OTOH, I *paid* just under 2k for my i8600.

Now, YMMV, of course but my experience is that the Powerbooks are *very* expensive...

I'll grant you tho.. G5 Powerbooks may just change everything...

[pdantic]

I did the same thing. Based on a purchase of an iPod, about a year later I ended up buying a PowerBook G4 12". It's a wonderful and very fast little machine, and I can use it for just about everything I need to do. The only thing I can't do (and still need a PC for) is use MS FrontPage to update one website that still only supports FrontPage.

I find it totally fascinating that I rarely see application bombs on the PowerBook, and the only applications that DO die are usually the Microsoft apps that are on the device (MSN for Macintosh, MSN Messenger for Mac).

Note that I am NOT what I'd consider a Mac bigot; I still have a PC at home (running WinXP) and I use a PC at work (in fact, I work for a large IT company with a 3-letter acronym for a name...). I just think that Apple does a very good job of building a quality product.

One other comment; I looked at buying a Dell laptop (because I can get one at less cost than I could get a laptop from my employer on the employee purchase plan) and found that getting a Windows laptop that did similar functions at a similar speed would actually cost me more. It never ceases to amaze me how fast Panther runs on my PowerBook considering the "slow" speed of the CPU, and I have been able to do amazing things that would take a much more powerful Windows PC to accomplish.

[enjoilax]

Right now, pricing is my issue.

I barely game anymore with my computer.... so whats the point if i do Photoshop/illustrator, Word, and other basic computing tasks?

To me there is no benefit to getting one or the other. Each has something that balances the other out.

Honestly, if i didnt have any problems with my Dell i would be happy, but i have had so many messups with my laptop i am at my wits end. As for now though i will have to stay Windows as a Mac is out of reach....

[quiller]

I echo the thoughts on Windows-only applications. I run a lot of various freeware and open-source apps that just aren't available on Mac OS.

The Mac OS is a very attractive, well-designed system. On the other hand, though, I still think Windows has the edge when dealing with a lot of applications being used on a regular basis-- the dockbar in OS X is really slick, but when I'm using anywhere from 20-30 applications (almost) literally every day, I don't find the Windows interface much more efficient.

As some have said: Windows and Mac both have their places and their advantages, but they also have their disadvantages. While price is generally a bit higher on Mac, it isn't a clean-cut advantage because, as a few have mentioned, the same "speed" Mac generally runs a bit "faster" than a PC-- that's an objective and hard to measure statement in itself, though...

Bottom line, for me: Windows is a requirement; my iBook is for testing (I'm a web developer) and "coolness."