PC vs MAC. Any advice?

lastlaugh · 24-08-2006, 16:39

Hi

After years of using laptops with the constant hanging and virus problems that pcs have, I'm wondering about buying a macbook. Has anyone made the switch, and what's it been like. I have an external drive that I can copy my files onto, but would I be able to access them with a mac? I need word processing and spreadsheets a lot, as well as good picture and video handling.

Am I just falling for Apple's spin?

evildrneil · 24-08-2006, 17:03

I've recently got a macbook through work and still think it's fab after a month (surely a good sign!) that being said I'm more of a unix user than a windows user

Old_Bloke · 24-08-2006, 17:11

There are very few platfrom specific file types - you just need the correct programme to open them with. If you have Word and Excel docs, they will open just fine using MS Office for Mac. Same goes for video, audio and whatever else.

If you get a MacBook and decide that Mac OS X just isn't for you, you could always install Windows XP and use it like any other PC laptop. Or have both installed so that you can use OS X for most stuff, but if there's one of two specific programmes which you absolutely must use and which aren't available for the Mac, you can use Windows.

Rich · 24-08-2006, 17:16

Only thing with Macs is that if you're a games fanatic, I would avoid Macs like the plague, as in my limited experience you just can't get games software for Macs apart from using PC games under a Windows emulator maybe.

headup · 24-08-2006, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlaugh

Hi
I have an external drive that I can copy my files onto, but would I be able to access them with a mac? I need word processing and spreadsheets a lot, as well as good picture and video handling.

I'm pretty sure a Mac would be able to 'see' the files stored on your PC format external HDD. There's some weird conflict with FAT32 and NTFS, but I can't remember what it is.

Anyway - Mac all the way for pretty much anything non-gaming. You can get all MS Office programs for Mac and with the new Intel-based machines, I can see more PC games coming to Mac anyway.

I love playing games on PC, but Mac is just sweet, sweet butter for everything else.

Meaks · 24-08-2006, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Only thing with Macs is that if you're a games fanatic, I would avoid Macs like the plague, as in my limited experience you just can't get games software for Macs apart from using PC games under a Windows emulator maybe.

Not strictly true.
I agree you are more limited with a Mac but many PC games are also released for Mac albeit at a later date.

Macs aren't as compatible as Apple would like to think, but much nicer OS to look at and use.
I miss mine.

adaline · 24-08-2006, 18:18

I bought a mac mini after using windows computers only. It does everething you would want a computer to do other than high-end gaming and some specific applications (which probably have mac counterparts anyway) as others said. The best bit tho is the experience and feel of using OSX, its just amazing!
I think OSX can only read NTFS drives, can read/write FAT32 drives. You can of course use MS Office, but apple's own office suit (iWork) is waaay nicer, plus you can always downlaod and use Open Office free

mr chris · 24-08-2006, 22:40

Yes, NTFS can only be read, not written by Macs (is this a UNIX thing?). I bought an external drives for backing up stuff on my client's G5. I had to reformat the drive as whatever it is Macs use.

Still, CDs and things are fine... So far.

If your external drive is Fat32, no probs. If it's NTFS, maybe more problems, although I can read and write to a networked NTFS drive ok.

Macs are fun. It's all just a bit strange.

Cyclone · 25-08-2006, 06:32

Get the macbook, install xp as well and have the best of both worlds.

Or get a better(technically) laptop for the same price, and install a variant of linux and xp as well.

To be honest though, if you're suffering crashes then it's normally badly set up hardware or software. My laptop is rock solid with xp sp2, and so is my SO's, and my desktop at work only gets rebooted about once a month with nary a problem.

probedb · 25-08-2006, 08:31

Do what Cyclone said and get one of the new Macs with Intel hardware then use Bootcamp

I plan on doing that when I can afford one.

Also as said if you suffer from viruses and crashes then you've got a badly setup system and you haven't got your anti-virus and spyware sorted properly. I've had my PC for 9 years (not the same one obviously) and never had one virus or bit of spyware....touches wood in a superstituous(sp?) kind of way

lostnfound · 25-08-2006, 12:31

I've got both an iBook and a Vaio. I mainly use the iBook at home for surfing and WoW, which I barely ever play anymore

Love the iBook. Really easy to sure, and still find it amazing how fast it boots up and shuts down

defstef · 25-08-2006, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by probedb

Do what Cyclone said and get one of the new Macs with Intel hardware then use Bootcamp

...A potentially better option would be to use Virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop which allows you to run other x86 operating systems in a window in the Finder. At the moment, applications run at about 75% of the speed the would if you actually booted into XP using Bootcamp, but I'm sure the lag will be shortened in time.

Definitely get a Macbook. As for the games situation, most popular titles come out for the Mac - sometimes a few months after, granted. But well worth the wait!

probedb · 25-08-2006, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by defstef

...A potentially better option would be to use Virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop which allows you to run other x86 operating systems in a window in the Finder. At the moment, applications run at about 75% of the speed the would if you actually booted into XP using Bootcamp, but I'm sure the lag will be shortened in time.

Definitely get a Macbook. As for the games situation, most popular titles come out for the Mac - sometimes a few months after, granted. But well worth the wait!

The problem being stuff like if you intend on doing any graphics and stuff as the 3D stuff in Parallels is really slow. But it'd be interesting to see what happens

PuressenceUK · 25-08-2006, 15:42

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5283424.stm

Apple are recalling 1.8m batteries same as Dell did.
Last Updated: Thursday, 24 August 2006, 22:56 GMT 23:56 UK

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Apple recall on laptop batteries

The machines hit are iBook G4 and PowerBook G4
Computer giant Apple is recalling 1.8m batteries used in its laptop computers worldwide after overheating complaints.
The announcement affects laptop computers - the iBook G4 and Powerbook G4 - sold between October 2003 and August 2006.

Just a word of warning!

Old_Bloke · 25-08-2006, 15:54

Which follows nicely from Dell's recall of 4.1million batteries last week.

It's all Sony's fault because they make the individual cells which Apple, Dell and other companies use to make the batteries for their laptops. Sony is going to have very big compensation claims from Dell and Apple...

Anyway, the new Intel based Apple laptops are not affected by this recall.

steev · 25-08-2006, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Bloke

Anyway, the new Intel based Apple laptops are not affected by this recall.

No, they've just got this problem, as well as potentially the 160-odd bugs Intel have just written about in the Core Duo 2 processors.

JRRT · 25-08-2006, 22:07

Possibly a bit early to buy a macbook - let them iron out the bugs & get one next year when the new OS comes out. They'll probably have come down in price by then.

On second thoughts, let them have six months to iron out the bugs in Leopard...

(And I'm a Mac user but sticking to my i-book for a while longer)

Old_Bloke · 25-08-2006, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRRT

Possibly a bit early to buy a macbook - let them iron out the bugs & get one next year when the new OS comes out. They'll probably have come down in price by then.

On second thoughts, let them have six months to iron out the bugs in Leopard...

That sounds suspiciously like my plan too... my PowerBook is fine for the time being

djeglin · 25-08-2006, 22:58

Macbooks are quite nice now... there were a few problems with the first shipments (the notorious "whine" problem etc), but apart from that from what I have seen they are pretty solid. Add to that the fact that you can run windows on them now, and you're fairly set.

The only thing I will say, is if you plan on playing any games, regardless of whether you intend to use osx or windows to do it, Macbook's probably aren't for you... They don't seem to have quite enough graphics power to really pull it off very well. Still, the top level Macbook (as opposed to the MBP) is a steal in terms of price...

David

lastlaugh · 26-08-2006, 08:46

Thanks for the advice.