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A dilemma - Should I sell my Mac?

I would just like to agree with the fact that hardcore gaming is life wasting. I used to be among the best player in EQ on my server and wasted over 24 PLAYED DAY in 14 months to this game! Thats about 17% of my life during this period. I had no life. I guess your case is not as extreme as mine but once I droped my gaming habit my life improved by 200%.

First of all, I lost weight and complete my master thesis. Then, I got a mac which confirmed my desire to stop playing and I finaly understood the real use of computer: creating content! I now spend most of my computer time playing with digital photography, making film (final cut) or programming. So when I go to sleep I can say to myself that I truly did something PRODUCTIVE while working on the computer. And the best part of it is that its fun to do! I scanned and digitaly restored all the pictures of my parents when they were kids. Seeing how happy they were when I showed them the pics, it really worthed it all.

Of course, I still play a bit but mostly on PS or XBox. And on the mac, I mostly play turn based strategy game so my computer is way fast enough.

So for a week or two, try to not play any games and go out have fun and the next time you are in front of the computer, ask yourself how you could do your creativity to do something. Just dont turn your brain off by playing games, there are way enough idiots in the streets already!
 
You might want to wait.. I just saw on www.macbidouille.com that the next version of Virtual PC will have DirectX call the graphic card without any emulation. Basicaly this mean that any DX game will be playable on a mac and with speed almost as good as on PC. This is a BIG news...
 
So for a week or two, try to not play any games and go out have fun and the next time you are in front of the computer, ask yourself how you could do your creativity to do something. Just dont turn your brain off by playing games, there are way enough idiots in the streets already!
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Actually, I have not really played anything for nearly 5 months now. The only Mac game that I own which runs natively is War3. I also spent a bit of time playing Heroes of Might and Magic II over DOSbox, which was a ton of fun. But for the most part, I have not played anything. And while I sometimes don't mind not playing anything, other times I really wish I still had my PC around so I could play something.

And about the VirtualPC emulation bit - its of really no interest to me. Even if the next version DID somehow support full DirectX w/ 3d card support (although I find that doubtful), the emulation would still be painfully slow, and would most likely not be an enjoyable experience. Remember, JIT emulation of x86 -> PPC will be slow no matter what.

On top of that, i'm not all that sure DirectX emulation is all that great a thing either. For example, developers might take it as a sign to say "Hey, Mac users can just buy VirtualPC and emulate our game, so why spend the development time and money making a real port?". I believe it could actually hurt Mac gaming more than help it.
 
nyprospect said:
Is this the only issue with macs.They cant play games well.I hear the g5 crashes alot .im looking forward to the convention .
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What sources say the G5 crashes alot? If it's based on the people who report on having problems here on MacRumors then I don't think you should give that too much weight. Many people post here if they have problems because there are many here who can and like to help out.

That said, it may very well be possible that the G5s crashes a lot. I've just not seen any reliable statistics to back that up, but it would be interesting to see statistics on this kind of problems.
 
Yeah .. that is quite a disturbing thread when you read it, but there's only 4 of them, so it's not really anything that can back up a trend there. My old PC used to freeze up on some 3D games. That was quite annoying considering I actually paid for the games and they were useless. I don't really know what the problem was, but now I have a Mac that has never freezed on me and I'm quite happy.

Like I said, it's not good to take impressions from a forum and use them as facts or as relevant statistics because posts on forums can usually ble placed in one of two categories:

A: People like me who for some wierd reason started to enjoy discussing mostly meaningless things with others, voicing their opinion and correcting other people when they think others are wrong :D

B: People like you who have a question or a problem and are trying to get some help and information.

So when there is a thread with a particular problem, then people with that problem will flock to the thread. That particular thread does not make a representative selection of G5 owners. And like I said I would really be interested in some genuine info on this, but I guess that's difficult to come by. This news article refers to a Consumer Report survey that puts Apple at the top on support for desktop computers. The G5 had been out for 6 months, so I guess they can't be that bad.
 
Jigglelicious said:
Finding somewhere to stash it isn't the problem. My concern is that would use would I be getting out of it. I love OSX and I wish I could continue to use it. But there is no point for me to keep around a $900 computer just for web browsing and chatting online.
For now, I think i'm going to keep my eMac around. I'll build my PC and see how having both works out. If I don't have room, i'll probably try to sell the eMac.
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I know someone else has mentioned this, but I think it is a good idea. Keep the eMac to use on the internet: surfing, messaging, email; and use it as a firewall to keep that delicate PC away from all those viruses, worms, and hackers. You can also use it as a server, a jukebox, a backup system, etc.
You may find that iLife will actually do some interesting things in the future for you.
It's too bad you can't play all the games you would like on the Mac, I've always liked consoles better so it's never been a problem, but I see where you're coming from. Good luck.
 
I have a PC and a Mac. I use the mac daily, for pretty much everything, even gaming...

The PC, sits on my desk 24/7 and folds... although I am thinking of running a game server from it....


My suggestion: Keep the mac. For gaming, go to a LAN gaming place, there's probably one nearby, the trouble is finding it... If you really *want* a pc (I didn't want mine, I needed it for a programming class and it was cheaper to buy the PC than to buy VPC) then go and buy one, but don't give up your mac...


Oh, and nice job OCing the macs! I don't think I would be brave enough to do that to my mac... but the PC, overclocking that saves about 8 minutes per frame when folding.... now if only I had proper cooling...

Care to hand out the secrets to OCing a mac? (and not screwing up...) What's different from OCing a PC? Are you using jumpers? Cooling? VCore? I want to know more! (Where did you get a motherboard manual if you are using jumpers?)
 
here's your $45 solution, it's not pretty but it's cheap: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...at=103150&type=1&dept=4044&path=0:4044:103150
0004266601218_215X215.jpg
 
cjc343 said:
I have a PC and a Mac. I use the mac daily, for pretty much everything, even gaming...

The PC, sits on my desk 24/7 and folds... although I am thinking of running a game server from it....


My suggestion: Keep the mac. For gaming, go to a LAN gaming place, there's probably one nearby, the trouble is finding it... If you really *want* a pc (I didn't want mine, I needed it for a programming class and it was cheaper to buy the PC than to buy VPC) then go and buy one, but don't give up your mac...


Oh, and nice job OCing the macs! I don't think I would be brave enough to do that to my mac... but the PC, overclocking that saves about 8 minutes per frame when folding.... now if only I had proper cooling...

Care to hand out the secrets to OCing a mac? (and not screwing up...) What's different from OCing a PC? Are you using jumpers? Cooling? VCore? I want to know more! (Where did you get a motherboard manual if you are using jumpers?)
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Building my own PC is already a given - something I have to do. I want to start level designing again, so going a console route isn't an option. Plus, I just hate console games :)

As for OCing a Mac, its not all that hard if you have the info on how to do it. There is plenty of information out there for overclocking eMacs. But the main reason why I was able to go from 800mhz -> 1.4GHz without any heat or core voltage issues was because Apple was actually underclocking the newer G4 chips, to keep their more expensive Powermacs and iMacs in demand. The eMac could have easily ran at 1.4GHz over a year ago, but Apple didn't want to put that much power in a cheaper computer. All I did was simply unlock that hidden power :)
 
True Multitasking

You know, you don't have to restrict yourself to a single computer.

The last time I had only one computer was in 1986. True multitasking means multiple computers. You should have however many computers you need, plus one. Call it a test and development box. Don't you ever try out new operating systems, new programs, new tricks? With a spare computer, you can play with impunity.

Call it an "In Case of Emergency, Break Glass" computer. Having only one computer presumes that computers are as unchanging, reliable, and optional as a kitchen toaster. Weeks could go by in my house before I ever realized the toaster was busted. Days would pass before I'd find out the television was on the blink. My computers, on the other hand, are vital tools, both personally and professionally. I need a failover.

Call it a server. My older boxes tend to migrate to other purposes. My former Big Box (prior to the dual G5) is now running as a mail server (with antivirus and antispam), a file server (NFS, Samba, and Appletalk file sharing), a print server, et cetera. Linux can keep an older box running productively for a long time.

Call it a Significant Other box. One of the secrets of marital happiness is to never share a computer. They're called "Personal" for a reason. No significant other? Do you keep a spare toothbrush and a spare bath towel just in case there might be? If not, you're already spending too much time playing computer games - turn off the computer and go out!


:)
 
Raven VII said:
I'm in the same circumstances as you. I'm a gamer. And I love OS X.

What did I do? Get both! :D I have a iBook G3 that I use for everyday things - web surfing, mail, etc. And a monster of a rig that I built last year with Windoze XP installed on it. I keep the ethernet cable unplugged much of the time, as the rig is purely a gaming rig now - no AIM, no antivirus, no AdAware, no thing. Just Windoze and an army of games. A super-fast boot up into the desktop, and right there are icons to all the games on the HD. Almost as easy as a console! Which is what the PC essentially boils down to. A glorified console :D
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Thats exactly what I do. I had a Mac first, but really wanted to play PC games, so I also built myself a gaming PC. Now I just use my PC for gaming and watching TV, and use my PowerBook G4 for everything else. :)
 
Keep the mac

Jigglelicious said:
About 6 months ago, i ditched my PC and got my first Mac. While I love Apple's products, I would normally never have switched, since i'm an avid gamer, and to put it mildly - Macs aren't all that great for games. While it took some getting used to, I've come to love OSX and my Mac, and I couldn't imagine parting with it.

Now comes the problem: I'm having gamers withdrawal. I guess old habits are hard to break, but I need a PC to quench the gamer in me. Not to mention, i'd also like to take up level design again. I can easily build a top of the line PC for about $500, and I pretty much intend to soon. The problem is, what should I do with my Mac? As much as I hate to admit it, there is really nothing I can do in OSX that I can't do in windows. And far more I CAN do in windows compared to my Mac. As much as i'd love to keep both, I don't really have the desk space (although I could buy a new desk), and I don't see the logic in keeping my Mac around for something as simple as web browsing and IMing, which I can do just fine on a PC.

I've put a lot of hard work into customizing my Mac, and I'd hate to sell it. But i honestly don't have a need for two computers. The electric bill alone is worth only keeping one. Does anyone have any advice? Maybe I should just bite the bullet and keep my Mac after all? While i'm not really short on cash (I can afford both), I simply don't have the NEED for both. Does anyone have more than 1 computer in the same room? Or both a Mac and a PC? How do you use them?
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I have a 1st generation Powermac G4. I also have a rev b 12 inch powerbook 1 Ghz. I do have one lonely pc. It is currently collecting dust. I am going to open it up and that will be my gaming on the pc. Disecting it. Removing its proccesor, opening up its HD. That is my form of gaming on a PC. Just keep the mac. It has pretty good games on it. When VPC 7.0 comes out get it.
 
Jigglelicious said:
And about the VirtualPC emulation bit - its of really no interest to me. Even if the next version DID somehow support full DirectX w/ 3d card support (although I find that doubtful), the emulation would still be painfully slow, and would most likely not be an enjoyable experience. Remember, JIT emulation of x86 -> PPC will be slow no matter what.
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You did not just call the PowerPC slow. My rev b 1 Ghz powerbook G4 had beaten my brothers friend 3.2 Ghz dell in every speed test we did. Did you ever heard of the MHz myth. By the sounds of it I doubt it. Here is a video link explaining what it does.

http://www.apple.com.au/g4/myth/
 
quagmire said:
You did not just call the PowerPC slow. My rev b 1 Ghz powerbook G4 had beaten my brothers friend 3.2 Ghz dell in every speed test we did. Did you ever heard of the MHz myth. By the sounds of it I doubt it. Here is a video link explaining what it does.

http://www.apple.com.au/g4/myth/
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Sorry, but that made me giggle a bit :)

Yes, i've heard of the megahertz myth. And its very true. The problem is, it applies more to AMD's processors than it does to Apples. No matter how hard you wish, a 1GHz G4 will not beat a 3.2GHz P4. Hell, it wouldn't even be able to beat a 2GHz P4. I'm not trying to bash PPC, because even 1GHz is enough for just about anything you do on a computer except for heavy gaming or other processor intensive tasks. But the G4 is just NOT that fast. The only time a G4 would have a 1.5x speed advantage over a P4 would be in heavily vector optimized tasks (Altivec), and this isn't all that often.

Now AMD's processors on the other hand are *very* efficient, and are a clear indicator of the MHz myth. For example, an Athlon 64 running at 1.8 GHz easily beats a P4 running at 3.2GHz. Even Intel is starting to move away from the "more MHz = faster" deal, with their recent change to use the Pentium M core (which is actually their old Pentium3 core, which was far more efficient than their P4 core, but couldn't clock as high).
 
The megahertz myth tends to only be relevant for Intel CPUs...and really only the Williamettes (the "bad" P4's), and NOT at the Northwoods (B, C processors, 533 and 800fsb respectively). If you want to compare sockets, Socket 423 = Williamette; Socket 478 = the rest (Northwood B and C). If you are buying for someone, for the love of god, do NOT touch the socket 423, even if its only if they GIVE it to you for free *_*

When i comes to it, however, its not the IPC that counts, but the cost. Who cares if it takes the P4's more clock cycles than a G4? The 1.7 P4 is obsolete now. The 2.8 or 3.0 P4 are now only $160 and $200 and give you essentially mid-high end gaming machines (used to be closer to $350-$500 just last year). Furthermore, these SINGLE CPU processors remain competitive with MP G4 systems (1.25 and 1.42) even to this day! Again, cost (and ironically processor efficiency... 1 vs. 2) come into play here.

The reason I'm an AMD fan and have been for the last 5 years is b/c AMD one ups Intel by being EVEN cheaper, and MORE EFFICIENT. Efficiency. Notice that AMD has not exceeded 2.4ghz this past year and for the last 3 years, not exceeding 2.2 ghz while maintaining a superior price/performance ratio.

-edit-
Notice I said price/performance, and not just performance. P4's were winning with the P4 3.2 (800fsb) in performance until the Opteron 146/FX-51 were released in September. But again, price/performance--as a consumer, these should be the top 3 concerns for us. The FX-51's were exorbitant in cost, but the cheaper Athlon 64 2800+ / 3000+ ($170 and $210 respectively) reintroduce price/performance again, while pure performance is retained by AMD through FX-series...for now :)
 
Jigglelicious said:
...... Does anyone have more than 1 computer in the same room? Or both a Mac and a PC? How do you use them?
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I do. I use the other for 24/7 downloading via Bittorent. The new one (G5), is babied, but the 'ol laptop is now a worker bee. Since it's the "old one" i don't mind leaving it on all the time as I collect interesting stuff from online.
 
what's the problem???

If you don't want your Mac, sell it for God's sake..!

there are a ton of people out there, eager to take that machine of your hands. I don't understand why you are bitching about how poor that eMac (and the Mac platform in general) is and how great your soon-to-be-gamin'-PC will be...

stop whining, sell that Mac and get your PC, if you think it fits your needs better, but don't try to start a Mac vs. PC flame war...

just my 2 Eurocents

peace

vSpacken
 
Jigglelicious said:
Does anyone have more than 1 computer in the same room? Or both a Mac and a PC? How do you use them?
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yep, I've got three boxes (and an AE basestation) on a T100 network that I use on a regular basis...

- an 1Ghz tiBook w/ superdrive, Airport, running Panther, that is my main machine...
- an self-built 1Ghz Celeron PC, that my dad gave to me last X-mas... it has XPpro on it, two HDs and even though it's hooked up to to a decend 15" TFT, it's sitting in an closet. I access it with MS Remote Desktop Client from my tiBook and I use it for PC-only applications and as an iTunes music sharing server...
- the second computer in my room (besides my tiBook...) is my trusty and massively expanded Mac SE/30 (128MB Ram, 9GB HD, ethernet card) with a slimmed-down version of System 7.5 that serves as an eyecatcher, word processon & exel spreadsheeder (yes, I use that box for my word processing needs), as well as oldskool gaming machine... Shufflepuck, Prince of Persia, Indy III and so on... I'm currently modding a spare case and when that project is finished, I'll put netBSD on the second and third partition (each 4GB)

I also have a performa/PPC 5400/180 with TV card, video in, network, that I bought not long ago, but I don't have that much need for it and so I will probably sell again on eBay...

I have no problem with owning a PC, even though I personally would never use a PC with XP as my main machine (oooooooooooh, how I love Os X :D)

vSpacken
 
vollspacken said:
- an self-built 1Ghz Celeron PC, that my dad gave to me last X-mas... it has XPpro on it, two HDs and even though it's hooked up to to a decend 15" TFT, it's sitting in an closet. I access it with MS Remote Desktop Client from my tiBook and I use it for PC-only applications
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Are there any limitations in accessing the PC with MS remote desktop client? I couldn't get a straight answer on this last winter and it kept me from switching. I need to remote access my PC network at work. Thanks-- and on the thread topic, I have to agree with the "gaming is a big waste of time" posts....
 
rosalindavenue said:
Are there any limitations in accessing the PC with MS remote desktop client?
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well, I access the PC over Airport, so there is a slight lag when large amounts of data have to be moved (like watching a movie), but over T100 or even T1000 there should be absolutely no problem...

In fact, I'm typing these lines on that said PC on Firefox and I got so used to it, that surfing the web on MS RDC feels just like a normal browser for me... (right now I'm also listening to MP3s streamed to iTunes from that PC at the same time, no problem here)

...I wouldn't play games via RDC or edit pictures though (of course not... ;)), but I think this works better than VPC (I sold my copy of VPC6 about 1 1/2 years ago but needed a PC again) and it does not cost you anything if you happen to have an older PC somewhere...

I hope this helps, I can't say how this would work in some kind of protected corporate network though, but I assume there a ways of setting this up, too. what exactly do you want to do?

vSpacken
 
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