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PC or Mac for college
- Thread starter Darthen
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Well that's not entirely true. I found CS4 to run pretty much the same on both platforms. no stability issues on windows or anything. And the very nice up and coming recording software Reaper runs better on a PC, though they have a mac version. it just destroys logic and pro tools as far as bandwidth goes. I can run twice as many plugins in reaper than in pro tools and it still functions smooth as silk. it has poor VST support on the mac version. it is very tough for me to say goodbye to it now that I've switched. it feels so weird that I got a mac that is more powerful than my old PC, but the software that runs best on a mac (pro tools/logic) runs half as optimal as Reaper.
I think the days of "apple is best for design" are coming to an end. if you take an objective look at windows 7 without letting your intense love for mac get in the way, it's easy to see that it's a little more neck-and-neck than it used to be...
Uh, why are you on a Mac forum if you are clearly a Windows lover? This is to all the Mac-haters on the board: why are you on here if you like Windows better? The rest of us are Mac users b/c we enjoy better hardware with better software that lasts longer, has better UI, performs better over long-term, is cheaper over long-term, etc. I had 1 computer for 6 years of college...a Mac, and it lasted and was exactly what I needed. My friends with Windows machines had 2 or 3 computers over the same time periods. And they were always frustrated with getting the Windows OS to work, or installing software or peripherals.
I just don't get why all of a sudden there are so many people posting that prefer Windows over Mac??? Damn stupid Intel chips, invited all these Mac wannabes.
I just don't get why all of a sudden there are so many people posting that prefer Windows over Mac??? Damn stupid Intel chips, invited all these Mac wannabes.
Just here to point out that Macs are also PCs. For some reason, people started to refering to Macs as Macs and Windows based machines as PCs. All personal computers are PCs.
Unless you have a computing major. Then you need XCode.
Or a physics major. Then you need physics software.
Or an architecture major. Then you need design programs.
Or an art major. Then you need CS4/5.
Or a film major. Then you need Final Cut Studio.
Or a major in any of the sciences.
Oh, and screw Office. Get iWork.
You don't need any of those as most school labs will have them..on more powerful hardware.
It is all based on your preferences and budget. If you really like Windows, get a PC for $400 and use Windows. (If you go this route, wait for Windows 7 to replace Vista). If you don't like Windows, don't shrug off the PC yet. Try Ubuntu, it's a free Linux operating system I use on my PCs. In my opinion, it's not as good as Mac OS X, but it's far better than Windows. I recommend you try Ubuntu for a bit, because if you like it, you can get a laptop that you like for half the price as a Mac. But if you don't like it, or like OS X a lot more, get the Mac. I have an article on my website about Ubuntu if you want to check it out. http://rossapperson.googlepages.com/ubuntu.html
If you really think Mac OS X is your favorite, get the Mac. I am not going to sit here and tell you to get a Mac because that's my decision, not your's.
If you really think Mac OS X is your favorite, get the Mac. I am not going to sit here and tell you to get a Mac because that's my decision, not your's.
hahaha! ok thank you for invoking this huge ramble...
I'm not a "windows lover" I'm just not a blind sheep of a mac lover. I like them both pretty much equally. if this was 1991 I would say macs destroy PC's for A/V related stuff. shoot me for being a realist...
how can I be a windows lover if I use a mac as my main computer? I could have easily got a faster processor and etc for less if I went with a PC. I wish you knew what you were talking about. then I could take you seriously. Macs don't have better hardware than PCs, but they have, arguably, a more stable OS. do you think apple has some magic mac hardware facility? if you buy ram, is it mac ram, made by apple? if you buy a mac hard drive is it make by apple? no. they are made by the same hardware manufacturers that supply the same hardware to PC manufacturers. even the LCDs are made by samsung (if I'm not mistaken). I like macs because they function on a more rigid and closed hardware system. If I want to use a program that is fickle with hardware support and they have a mac version, usually it will run best on a mac because the developers have only a few hardware options to test. I have a need to know and use pro tools really well because it's the industry standard in audio production. I chose a mac because pro tools doesn't run well on windows.
I never said Windows is awesome and macs suck. I said the margin is closer than it used to be. I didn't even say windows was better. it's just cheaper and stable enough to not have to go with a mac when your in the market for a laptop, and aren't even sure what you want to use it for. Apple switched to Intel processors because they couldn't keep up with the speed of PCs. Because of this (albeit wise) decision there is virtually no distinction between the two other than the fact that the mac has standardized (not to be confused with exclusive) hardware. I can run OSX on a PC, and I can run windows on a mac. most people buy macs for one of two reasons.
the first is stability. an OS based on unix is undeniably more stable than one based on DoS and that is why macs kicked PCs but for so long. but when Microsoft switched to NT, the differences in stability have become less and less noticeable over the years. I really feel I am objective when forming my opinions on things like this. I think of computers as just hardware. I don't love machines. I don't get sucked it by the marketing and image of a company I just try to observe how well they perform/what they have to offer and base my opinions on that data.
I've used PC's a bit more than macs, but I don't love PCs all that much. just try fixing a corrupt windows hive and you'll loose much love for the OS. The big and sensitive issue is about the current difference between macs and PCs. if I put linux mint on a nice intel core II duo laptop with 4 GB of ram, is it going to run much different than a macbook with the same specs? yes. is it because of the hardware? no. any well built operating system will run great on any good OS. leopard is a good OS, so is Windows 7, and so is ubuntu.
The remnant of macs competitive edge comes from branding, hardware standardization, quality of service, and having superior programs like final cut and logic studio. If you sit there and tell me no one every bought a mac because they are simply prettier than PCs I would think you were joking. I can honestly say I have never met a technology freak who bought a mac because of how great the hardware is. out of the 10 or so people I know who have them, I would say 9 of them made their purchase based on sex appeal. They're just so damn pretty. The second reason people buy macs imo is just plain looks and the mac image.
It is a shame to see that because what drew me to macs is the probable stability of pro tools, and some great apps like coda and text mate. The whole "i love starbucks and drive a jetta" image was one of the reasons I was reluctant to get one of my own actually. Not a great reason to avoid a mac, so I'm glad that aversion didn't last long. I really want to learn ruby on rails, but it all the tutorials I watched made current web centered programming look like a joy in comparison to clunky old windows. I mean ruby is ready to run out of the box. how sweet is that?!
Here's a mac strength: those who develop software for the mac just seem to hit the nail on the head. You then have 3 excellent app choices for mac osx, each of which rival windows' best offerings. you don't have 3000 terrible options and 3 good ones like on windows. you just have 3 really really good options.
I guess I just wish people would come along with me into a newer school of thought. Mac still leads the charge in the creative world, but they do it with different tools than they used to.
and P.S. I owned one PC for 8 years that I build by hand. it worked fantastic 98% of the time. PC users that need buy a whole new computer every 2 years must have no clue how to take care of one. if you use a mac and have no clue what you're doing it's fine. it's kind of like a safe option for the computer illiterate. and all that jargon about everything is better on a mac is so ridiculous. I was trying to be kind and side with you as best as I could, but after reading your post again it just makes me shake my head. I've used the following operating systems:
Windows 98SE, Windows 2000 pro, windows XP pro, windows 7, ubuntu 7 through 8.1, mint, ubuntu studio, mandrake 7, redhat, SUSE, OS 7, OS 9, OS X, and Solaris 10.
with an open mind I've tried all of these and my conclusion is that OSX is better than XP and vista, but windows 7 is going to give osx a run for it's money. Ubuntu could be a contender, but out-of-the-box it's semi-crippled because of weird licensing and copyright issues. Vista just seems unfinished, but close to a pretty good OS. So windows 7 creeping up on leopard is a good thing for everyone. it pushes both companies to make better products. I'm kind of curious to know, have you've used a mac all your life? have you ever given windows a fighting change, or are you some kind of apple zombie?