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[scotty Friend scottyJoin date: March 2008Posts: 2339Downloads:0Uploads:13 Thanks: 76 Thanked: 827 times in 595 posts]

#136075

A new iMac!

I’ve never used one of these. Ever!

Last weekend I was in my local electrical shop and they had some on display. WOW!!! What a beautiful piece of design. The brushed steel, the super big screen (24″) the super slim keyboard. Just a stunning looking piece of kit. It was love at first sight!

I’m not one for gimmicks etc and would never choose a computer based on looks but I know that Macs are widely considered better than PC’s and have set the standard for graphics & design professionals for years.

I know a few members here use them so my question is… from a Joomla site designers point of view….

Are they worth it compared to buying a PC for the same money?

I’ve been looking at this deal in particular for €1,300 ($1,700)

Also if you made the change from PC to MAC what was your experience of it? Are you still glad you did it?

[bennitos Friend bennitosJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1717Downloads:0Uploads:39 Thanks: 39 Thanked: 474 times in 407 posts]

#281819

If you look purely on hardware alone then for that kind of money you can get a MUCH much better pc hardware wise.

Mac’s are very expensive for the hardware you are getting. Sure they look nice but for me the hardware thats in it that counts.

Mac’s used to be no1 for graphical design but in my opinion they lost that status years ago. Now almost every software suite that is available for the mac are also there for the pc. But the pc has alot more software suites that are not available for the mac.

When looking at the operating system alone i would prefer Mac OS for being it more stable and secure, but then again im not a fan of windows so 🙂

If you want to do some design and also play games and other things then the Mac is not a good choice for you as there are hardly any available. If you are a user who uses a lot of tools and programs you will most likely not find them for the mac wich only leaves you with the option on running windows in vmware on the mac.

But im facing that same problem on the pc as i prefer using linux over windows, have to use dual boot or vmware to use a lot of windows programs.

Im a bit afraid this topic will end up in a mac vs pc war like it usually does. Got to hand apple one thing their marketing is top, everyone wants an ipod when most ppl would be better of with a normal mp3 player 🙂

Myself i used Mac’s and pc’s over the years but i will pick a “normal” pc over a Mac without a doubt.

Mac OS is stable and solid but your quite limited software wise.

Matter of personal taste i think.

[questbg Friend questbgJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1912Downloads:0Uploads:1 Thanks: 146 Thanked: 339 times in 197 posts]

#281860

I’ve used Mac since the very early days (SE30) way back in 1988. I now have five in my office (the nice one in scotty’s pic above), a 17″ iMac and a load of lap tops.

Over the years I’ve had a few PC’s (Windows 98 and Windows XP) and I HATED them. Crashing all the time, reinstalling Windoze, picking up virus, etc. I only ever used them for checking web sites, but the hassle wasn’t worth it.

Also, the Mac is ‘out of the box’ built in USB, Firewire, Wireless, VideoCam, Mic, all out of the box. No cards and software to shove in.

However, as bennitos said, over the years, the gap has narrowed. A few years ago I had to use a Mac as I wanted to use Quark XPress, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc., nowadays, they’re all available on PC. And, as bennitos also said, a lot cheaper to get a similar powered PC than a Mac. Plus a wider choice of software, games, etc. available.

Having said that, I’m sticking with the Mac. It’s reliable, it syncs perfectly with my iPod and it looks cool 😎

Oh, I also run Windows XP on a partition on one of the iMac’s, so I don’t need a PC anymore to check internet sites!

I guess it’s all down to personal choice … me, I choose Mac every time!

Cheers
Chris

[gtrew Friend gtrewJoin date: November 2008Posts: 25Downloads:0Uploads:6 Thanks: 5]

#281881

Some good points raised in the posts so far. I was a die hard PC user until I was forced to use a Mac at design school. Now I have 3 Macs, and a family PC. I have the one that you are admiring, Scotty, and I have loads of Windows software on it (Bootcamp), but only really use it when I want to check out uploaded sites on I.E. and listen to Brighton & Hove Albion getting humiliated each week, as their website registration for the footy is Mac unfriendly (I now live in Canada and still follow my old team).

I absolutely love using the Macs, and have never had any problems with them, whereas the newish family PC is a pain in the butt from time to time. The screen resolution is absolutely amazing, it’s fast, reliable, and lots of fun. No worries about viruses or Trojans either.

The biggest problem would be having to purchase the new Mac software, which would cost a bit, unless you’re loaded. I’m not so bothered about Games, but you can always run them on the Windows partition, and the video card is quite nice too.

I do some work with a programmer who would rather eat his own feet than to have to use a Mac. There again, I’m a graphic designer, not a programmer, and I’d rather eat his feet than have to endure life without the Mac.

Both are good, but I’d much rather use a Mac .

[questbg Friend questbgJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1912Downloads:0Uploads:1 Thanks: 146 Thanked: 339 times in 197 posts]

#281888

<em>@gtrew 94245 wrote:</em><blockquote>I have loads of Windows software on it (Bootcamp), but only really use it when I want to check out uploaded sites on I.E. and listen to Brighton & Hove Albion getting humiliated each week, </blockquote>

😀

I’m using Bootcamp too and only use the Windows partition for online banking as my bank here in Bulgaria haven’t sorted it our for Mac yet.

[asdasdasd Friend asdasdasdJoin date: July 2006Posts: 7Downloads:0Uploads:0 Thanks: 11]

#281947

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply.

[questbg Friend questbgJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1912Downloads:0Uploads:1 Thanks: 146 Thanked: 339 times in 197 posts]

#281966

:confused: Strange.

Guess that’s a Windows user 😀 😀 😀

[sunrise Friend sunriseJoin date: February 2007Posts: 920Downloads:0Uploads:5 Thanks: 103 Thanked: 166 times in 114 posts]

#282000

Mabye, it’s the 3rd post by asdasdasd with the same “message”.

I’m sure Macs are better and all that. I used them some before, but now do volunteer work in Thailand with a tight budget and stick to PCs and Windoze. It gets the work done too. Mabye not as cool, or as fast, but nevertheless…

[sunrise Friend sunriseJoin date: February 2007Posts: 920Downloads:0Uploads:5 Thanks: 103 Thanked: 166 times in 114 posts]

#282001

<em>@questbg 94337 wrote:</em><blockquote>:confused: Strange.

Guess that’s a Windows user 😀 😀 :D</blockquote>
Yes, very strange. It is the 3rd time today that I see asdasdasd post the same “message”

About Macs, I have used them in the past and would really like to have one. But they are more costly, adn I do volunteer work in Thailand on a small budget, so for now I stick to PCs. They get the job done too you know. Now quite as cool, but they’re OK.

But Scotty, it’s almost Christmas. Just be a good boy and wait for Santa….

No, I think that for sure most of the time people who have used Macs will tell you they are better. I think they are and if you do a lot of web work or graphics, go for it. You’ll love it and enjoy the time you sit by the screen more.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

[ShannonN Friend ShannonNJoin date: July 2006Posts: 1947Downloads:0Uploads:9 Thanks: 16 Thanked: 172 times in 49 posts]

#282004

Having used macs and sold both Mac and windows based PCs these days there is little difference in performance re software, The mac is way overpriced for what you get hardware wise, has different screen resolution to a PC when you look at the dot pitch etc making web design a big pain. The one advantage is you can allocate individual programs extra memory from the total system ram. A big plus.

But as a system builder for the price of the mid range mac I can build 3 high end PCs that out perform
🙂

[scotty Friend scottyJoin date: March 2008Posts: 2339Downloads:0Uploads:13 Thanks: 76 Thanked: 827 times in 595 posts]

#282428

Thank you all for the honest opinions. I think the general consensus these days is that the gap between the Mac and PC has definitely closed. I love the style of the iMac but that alone is not good enough. I tend to push computers to their limits and need something that will take some abuse and is easily upgraded (I believe the mac isn’t?) even if it does crash now and again 🙁

I also believe that the iPod and iPhone are vastly over priced and can see no reason why this is not the case with the iMac.

Ohh well…

[bennitos Friend bennitosJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1717Downloads:0Uploads:39 Thanks: 39 Thanked: 474 times in 407 posts]

#282432

There are some really nice pc cases available too as alternative for the shiny mac? 😉

Still wish you a very good xmas ofcource with or without the mac 🙂

[nefar Friend nefarJoin date: December 2007Posts: 434Downloads:0Uploads:2 Thanks: 78 Thanked: 42 times in 1 posts]

#282433

When you’re talking PC vs MAC what you’re really comparing is an operating system. You are paying a much higher cost for apples eye candy packaging, OS10, and for hilarious commercials (Go Go Apple PR bandwagon). You will also pay an extremely high premium on software to use with the MAC.

In the end I think it really comes down to preference and how much money you want to invest. I build all my own systems and I could easily build two or three boxes for the price of one MAC and they process just as well. I want performance vs cost and the best ratio for that is build your own.

If I was so inclined I could put OS 10 on any of my boxes but that is not going to happen. I’m no MAC hater and I am by no means a Windows OS fan. I hate windows from a performance standpoint. I have never had to many issues with it stability wise as some have, however I also keep my systems clean and do formats every six months. (Quick & Easy with Ghost)

What do I want for Christmas?

The money that Mac would cost so I could build myself some new work machines 😉

[bennitos Friend bennitosJoin date: May 2008Posts: 1717Downloads:0Uploads:39 Thanks: 39 Thanked: 474 times in 407 posts]

#282435

im going for a big lcd tv 😀

[didima Friend didimaJoin date: September 2007Posts: 394Downloads:2Uploads:6 Thanks: 12 Thanked: 31 times in 3 posts]

#282697

<em>@asdasdasd 94316 wrote:</em><blockquote>Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply.</blockquote>
windows works perfect and you cant win the windows mate

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