Mac vs. Windows

[TheGeek]

I told my dad I was thinking about buying a Mac Mini and he laughed at me and said that Macs are only good for artsy stuff (movies, pictures, etc.) and iPods. Being under 18, I need his credit card to buy it, but he said that he wont let me "waste my money. I am trying to build up a case for Macs so he'll let me buy one. So, what are the advantages/disadvantages of a Mac/OS X vs. Windows XP/a Windows PC, not counting gaming?

 

[flamingspinach]

"Besides gaming"? Um, gaming is a DISadvantage of Macs... >_>

All I can think of is that MacOS X is based on open-source software. w00t. Apart from that, IMHO, Macs have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

-fs

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: flamingspinach
"Besides gaming"? Um, gaming is a DISadvantage of Macs... >_>

All I can think of is that MacOS X is based on open-source software. w00t. Apart from that, IMHO, Macs have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

-fs

im saying dont use gaming in your criteria against macs or for windows.

 

[JPMNICK]

OS X is a very stable and secure OS.

Personally I run windows, and if adminstered correctly, you will never have problems.

If you want a gaming rig, the only thing to get is windows.
//Edit just read the above post, so disregard this as a plus.

And do not get a Mac Mini. they are really still overpriced for what you are getting. You can build a much better PC for that price, or buy one from Dell and maybe even get a free 17" flat panel depending on the deal.

 

[TheGeek]

I wont buy a Dell. Period. Look at my sig, I dont need a new Windows PC.

 

[JPMNICK]

If you want to buy it and are using your money, you can go to a Mac Store and get one, or open a bank account where you are able to have a debit card linked to a credit card and use that to order.

If you feel that strongly about it, get it.

 

[Amaroque]

Arguing for a Mac is a difficult thing to do. umm ... Nice OS, IIRC based on Posix.

And uh ... Apple makes very nice monitors.

 

[twitchee2]

if you have noticed many games noadays are mac compatable. u can also run virtual pc if u really wanted to but its up to you

 

[killershroom]

Originally posted by: twitchee2
if you have noticed many games noadays are mac compatable. u can also run virtual pc if u really wanted to but its up to you

Virtual PC for games? :Q I hope not.

 

[Nocturnal]

How about save your own money and buy it yourself? You can easily save the cash, walk into an Apple store and purchase said Mac Mini.

 

[TheGeek]

i dont care about gaming at all

 

[Childs]

The software you get with a Mac is fairly comprehensive. You have the lifestyle suite, dev tools, productivity software, and a state of the art OS. You can't really get the equivalent on a PC with Windows without spending much more.

When you take games out of the mix there really is no tangible reason not to have a Mac, except general software availability. I'm not sure how big of a deal that is, as I've built PCs for 15 years and I don't really use all that much software, so having 10K versions of a chat client or media player doesn't really do you any good.

The cost of hardware is in a PC's favor, but eventually you are going to want to do something with that hardware. If it aint games then there is no reason not to consider a Mac, specifically the mini. My 3 A64 systems have been lonely since I got the mini. If I could actually get some resale value out of my PCs I'd sell all but the fastest one, but because the hardware is so cheap I might as well just turn them off and not spend money to keep them on.

 

[TheGeek]

Thanks Childs. Does anyone know of a site that compares a Mac/OS X to a PC/Windows? Im looking for the advantages/disadvantages of both.

 

[killershroom]

http://www.xvsxp.com/

 

[TheGeek]

sweet

 

[halfadder]

I love my PowerBook and now my Mini, but I still have to say that is this purchase is going to be your first computer, I would recommend getting a PC.... they are more flexible and repairs and upgrades are much cheaper. I think Macs make great "second desktop" or portable computers, and they're a great first computer for your uncle or grandpa. But if you're a computer geek like the rest of us, I think your first computer should be a PC.

That said, one of the strengths of a new Mac is all of the Software that Apple bundles in. Some Macs come with Quicken 2005, World Book Encyclopedia, and other applications. But all new Macs come with iLife '05 which is composed of Garage Band (music making / editing software), iTunes, iMovie (DV and HDV editing), iDVD (DVD authoring and burning), and iPhoto (photo sorting, burning, printing, and minor editing). Even PC Magazine had good things to say about these applications:

Garage Band
iPhoto
iDVD
iMovie

("click to read full review")

 

[blackinches]

why do you need another computer? seems like the one in your sig is pretty nice.

but why do you have a system that nice if you don't care about gaming?

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: halfadder
I love my PowerBook and now my Mini, but I still have to say that is this purchase is going to be your first computer, I would recommend getting a PC.... they are more flexible and repairs and upgrades are much cheaper. I think Macs make great "second desktop" or portable computers, and they're a great first computer for your uncle or grandpa. But if you're a computer geek like the rest of us, I think your first computer should be a PC.

That said, one of the strengths of a new Mac is all of the Software that Apple bundles in. Some Macs come with Quicken 2005, World Book Encyclopedia, and other applications. But all new Macs come with iLife '05 which is composed of Garage Band (music making / editing software), iTunes, iMovie (DV and HDV editing), iDVD (DVD authoring and burning), and iPhoto (photo sorting, burning, printing, and minor editing). Even PC Magazine had good things to say about these applications:

Garage Band
iPhoto
iDVD
iMovie

("click to read full review")

I've been using PCs for years. In fact, I built my current PC. This would be a second computer

Originally posted by: blackinches
why do you need another computer? seems like the one in your sig is pretty nice.

but why do you have a system that nice if you don't care about gaming?

I meant that my current windows PC would be used only for gaming, so I dont care how the Mac performs with games

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: blackinches
why do you need another computer? seems like the one in your sig is pretty nice.

but why do you have a system that nice if you don't care about gaming?

You forgot to talk in the third person.

 

[Jeffyboy]

Just tell him how much he'll save on his power bill switching to a Mac Mini. The Mac has a nice and secure OS... altho in the long run..you'll prolly be wasting more money on a mac than a pc.

Jeff

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Just tell him how much he'll save on his power bill switching to a Mac Mini. The Mac has a nice and secure OS... altho in the long run..you'll prolly be wasting more money on a mac than a pc.

Jeff

lol. that might accually (sp?) work

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Just tell him how much he'll save on his power bill switching to a Mac Mini. The Mac has a nice and secure OS... altho in the long run..you'll prolly be wasting more money on a mac than a pc.

lol. that might accually (sp?) work

Not to mention the space savings:
http://www.mjkweb.com/macmini/d.html

 

[TheGeek]

the fact that the mac mini would explode if a game was played on it might turn in my favor, b/c my dad always blames my grades on my video game habits.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Childs

Originally posted by: blackinches
why do you need another computer? seems like the one in your sig is pretty nice.

but why do you have a system that nice if you don't care about gaming?

You forgot to talk in the third person.

LMAO! :laugh:

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek
the fact that the mac mini would explode if a game was played on it might turn in my favor, b/c my dad always blames my grades on my video game habits.

Don't let him see the Quake3 and RTCW benchmarks! They're old games, so someone on xlr8yourmac.com was getting 90 - 100 fps on the 1.42 GHz model.