Author Topic: Mac users? (Read 388 times)

2400wattman · « **on:** December 18, 2007, 09:47:25 AM »

I must buy a new laptop and I've been looking at Macs. I've heard how superior they are to pc's but I'd like to know in what way. They're very pricey and for the features I could get a well equipped pc far cheaper. On the other hand I'm not looking forward to Windows Vista and all the issues I've been hearing about it.
I've not bought a computer for about four years or so and I'm just way out of touch with everything new. Can anybody steer me in the right direction? Thanks in adavance

0vid · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2007, 10:37:41 AM »

You can run Windows on the new macbook pro and switch back to OS10.5. leopard.... so end of decision making. I do this only because MAC software seriously lags behind in one area - dictation. In all other areas, ...it depends on the software provider. Protools would issue updates only to MAC users first at one point. I use a MAC in my studio as well. Frankly if you are used to using a PC, use one, the difference is really not as much as most people make it out to be.... and this coming from a dedicated Mac user. I don't personally like the Windows interface and more importantly I don't want to learn how to work it, I just like growing with my macs. I don't like the in-elegance of the windows system whatever anyone may say. Still, if 99% of your time is spent working on software that would run on either system (say Pro tools, MS Word, Photoshop), the differences are smaller than they were say 15 years ago. It is only when you are navigating the machine otherwise where the differences show up.

olieoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2007, 10:59:45 AM »

I purchased a Mac Pro for my music room about 3 months ago and I was surprised at how easy it was to convert from Windows.

I have yet to have the MAC crash, freeze or become unresponsive. I use Cubase 4 for recording and have had my XP system freeze and need to be rebooted and lose what I was working on. This has not happened with the MAC yet.

I still have XP on my every day use PC at home and work but will probably go with MAC's when they need to be replaced.

As for the price difference. If you get a PC or Notebook with the same specs as the MAc there isn't that big a difference in price.

Olie

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2007, 12:10:11 PM »

To some extent it matters what you plan on doing with it. A great deal of music production software is only available for Mac. A great deal of other software is only available for a PC. Mac users rave about their computers, but I have never cared for them as a matter of personal taste. I like to be able to get into the guts of the operating system and fool around in ways a Mac won't allow.

edwin · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2007, 12:16:12 PM »

I have seen this mac/pc thing played out over many years. I went with mac originally (1991) because that's what my friends used and I wanted to be able to share files easily. For a time, macs were more expensive, but now they are pretty competitive. When you look at what they include built in and add it all up, they can even be cheaper. What is also nice is that everything works since it all comes from one manufacturer. I have lots of friends who are switching over in the music world these days, including some very hard core PC power users, who only built their own computers up until now (which used to make me jealous, both for how much money they saved and how cool it would be to build a computer). So, unless you have a very compelling reason to go with PC, I'd say get a mac. I have never once gotten a virus, as well!

Edwin
PS I have had my mac freeze, but much more rarely with the latest OS and intel chips.

edwin · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2007, 12:16:51 PM »

I have seen this mac/pc thing played out over many years. I went with mac originally (1991) because that's what my friends used and I wanted to be able to share files easily. For a time, macs were more expensive, but now they are pretty competitive. When you look at what they include built in and add it all up, they can even be cheaper. What is also nice is that everything works since it all comes from one manufacturer. I have lots of friends who are switching over in the music world these days, including some very hard core PC power users, who only built their own computers up until now (which used to make me jealous, both for how much money they saved and how cool it would be to build a computer). So, unless you have a very compelling reason to go with PC, I'd say get a mac. I have never once gotten a virus, as well!

Edwin
PS I have had my mac freeze, but much more rarely with the latest OS and intel chips. I can't remember the last time it happened.

jbybj · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2007, 09:50:20 PM »

Been using Mac since system 6 OS, and occasionally forced to use a PC, but I never bothered to remember which version of windoze. Mac OS 10 is the most stable OS I have ever used. Blows away all previous mac OS's and anything windoze can dream about. Oh yeah, and then there is the money you will save by not buying virus protection, not to mention the bother.

Another point, I have a four year old iMac, it still performs up to par for my needs, and still works well with the current OS.

Mac products are freakin cool too. The only reason people use PC with windows is because that happens to be how they were first introduced to computers, and they just got used to being abused by their PC, they think it's normal. They will rationalize, like an abused spouse, it's not his fault, I made him mad..... oh, I guess I shouldn't have installed that new cool sound card..... They just need help, and understanding, and a little love. Would you rather get a hug from Steve Jobs or Bill Gates?

best of luck, JBY

jazzyvee · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2007, 12:07:52 AM »

I've converted to mac 4 years ago and that was mainly that I was fed up with windows continually crashing at the most inappropriate times. ( not that there is an appropriate time to crash). Where I'v worked it's always been pc's. Due to the work I do, ( software development), they have always been very high specification machines running the latest versions of windows and software, all the latest windows patche, bonafide software etc.

Even with that, for me, they are always locking, crashing and slowing down. Today my computer at work was continually crashing.

I decided to go for mac for personal use because I didn't want to be my own hardware and software support team at home. Macs have given me a breath of fresh air.
Yes they do crash occasionally but usually it doesn't crash the whole machine. I have found it to be a very stable platform and easy to use even for a non mac user. Somethings are a bit fiddly though.

I read a quote somewhere that Macs are for the stuff you want to do, PC's are for the stuff you have to do. :-)

I personally will stay with mac's and not go back to using a PC for my personal computing be that music or just general home computing.

That said, if all you are doing is surfing and using MS office and simple use of computers it doesn't really matter which you use. Although if someone was asking me for advice, I'd say get a mac. So far 4 of my close friends have made the switch and have not regretted it.

Jazzyvee

grateful · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:27:36 AM »

Even Bill Gates admits the best version of Microsoft Office is the Mac version; and I've never crashed Mac OS X in three years.

dannobasso · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2007, 11:23:34 AM »

I've been a dedicated Mac user since 96. In that time only one drive went bad and that was in a Performa. The iMac snow 500 G3 I gave my nephew after I upgraded still works with OSX. My 4 yr. old g4 macbook still runs great, my dual 800 G5 runs my protools, I have a Mac Mini single with my home entertainment system an a new Macbook at work. I was issued a Dell that has virtually nothing on it and I can't get the simple programs to function correctly without locking up. So I just don't use it. Life is too short to wait for Windows.

2400wattman · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2007, 03:07:54 PM »

I'm seeing a pattern here.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2007, 04:43:15 PM »

I jumped ship this year after a half dozen PCs. Not looking back so far, nor have I siezed up or gotten any viruses yet. I can't even count how much of those things I'd have spent time dealing with on a PC...

tbrannon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2007, 04:51:28 PM »

I'm the same- I used PC's through my college and post-grad studies. Most of the science applications we were running were PC based so I got comfortable with PC's.

I got married in 2001- my wife is a artist/graphic designer. We bought a G4 (which I'm typing on now) and have added a 17 G4 laptop and a new G5. I'll never go back.

pace · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2007, 05:21:18 PM »

All my Macs are circa '99-'02 (ibook, G3, and 2 G4's)..... OS X runs fine on all of them. Aside from the standard OS X apps, I run Protools, Reason, and a couple of other music programs. Ive been waiting for a reason to go buy a new quad core G5, but I dont need it yet.

lbpesq · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2007, 05:35:55 PM »

O.K, you guys are convincing me to try some time on my wife's Mac. One question though - is there anyway that I can run WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS on a Mac? I know it's old and outdated, but it also just happens to be the best word processing program ever developed.

Bill, tgo