The Great Computer Debate
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Mac vs Pc on Amazon.com
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Apple iMac Desktop with 20" Display MA876LL/A (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)
Price: $1,459.00
List Price: $1,099.00 |
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HP Pavilion M9040N Elite Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
Price: $1,399.83
List Price: $1,504.00 |
Check back for updates in this series
There will soon be many brothers and sisters to this post so be sure to check back soon and vioce your opinion on the other areas of the great computer debate.
Part 1: Mac vs PC
So it turns out I'm in the market for a new computer. My gateway laptop is almost 3 years old and is giving me major problems. In fact, as I type this it is on its way to Texas to be repaired. Enough is Enough.
And that brings me to the point of this hub, well... really series of hubs, I'm looking for all of your advice on which side I should go with in the many great techno-rivalries out there.
Now before all hell breaks loose let me just lay some ground rules...
- Fanboyism is ok as long as you back up your statements with facts or at least reason.
- Whenever possible use common language so that everyone who may look at this can understand it.
- If you're talking about information you found online please provide a link.
- Keep the conversation friendly. Don't be an idiot. Because... after all, nobody likes an idiot.
Ok here we go...
Lets start off by debating the first choice in my search for a new computer. The operating system.
In other words... lets have a good old Mac vs Windows throw down.
Which system is better and why?
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Comments
I agree mostly with the person above. Get a Mac computer and install Windows XP as well. That way you can install both Mac software and the abundant Windows software available.I wouldn't install Vista as not everything is compatible with it yet since it's still very new to the market. Go safe and dependable with XP. As far as Linux goes unless you're going to use your laptop as a web server I just don't know what else you'd use that OS for and there's no sense in wasting hard drive space for something you're not likely to make use of.
Those are both interesting takes I didn't really consider. I know that you can run windows on a mac but I've never really seen it as an option before. And since I'm leaning toward windows (thats what Ive grown up on) and I don't want to spend much more than about 700 dollars... Ill probably stick with a pc.
But I am definitely still open to more arguments as to why I should switch to mac...
I've had no problems with a MAC, ever.And they look beautiful.They're expensive, it's true, and it's probably not worth it,but like I said, I've never had a problem and it runs faster.I'm also a sucker for a book with a pretty cover...
I just went through his same debate myself.
One of the most helpful comments I got was from an IT guys (who knows both Mac and PC) He said to consider what resources you will have should a problem arise.
If you know folks who know their way around a Mac, then you have some options; however, if you opt for Mac and things turn sour, you have only what Apple can provide - at the time table and level of service they are willing to provide it.
Whereas with PC, there are many people who know their way around and can be of service should you run into something you have not yet encoutered in your technological PC history.
As much as I was tempted to venture into the artistic world of Mac, having only knowledge on PC, I opted to be practical and chose a PC. And the above comment turned out to be the primary rationale for my decision.
Call it fear-based, but I truly see it as a matter of practicality. I don't have time to be "stuck" and not have any clue how to get out of a techno predicament. And to rely on tech support...the thoughts of endless hold...limited hours of contact and whatever other issues there might be....holy toledo, Batman. No way.
I myself have an HP, and have since converted a couple friends from Dell to HP as well. My laptop has always worked beautifully for me without any problems (I've had it 2 years and I use it almost 24/7). Oh - and most HP computers come with printers or monitor upgrades free of charge. My only complaint was that it came with a lot of unnecessary software, but it took maybe 20-30 minutes to clean that off. Ever since the battery-explosion incidents a couple years ago, in addition to complaints from friends, I've been Dell-wary because they tend to use cheap parts to minimize costs.
I've always heard that if you engage in a lot of high-level media, such as photo editing, web page design, gaming, etc, that Mac's are great. Just one note to keep in mind - if you do engage in web page design, Mac's color pallette is different than that of PCs, so the web pages you create might not match what other viewers are seeing.
Personally, I find Mac's pricing quite intimidating and unrealistic. I can get a great computer that does everything I need for a good 25-50% cheaper than the comparative Mac... (plus the additional cost of buying Windows). And, another important note, a lot of programs don't run properly through Macs either, and as Mystic Biscuit stated, you are a lot more limited in your options for tech support.
I've been running on now for a bit, so I'm going to cut myself short. If I think of anything else major, I will return to post again :-)
working
eaglegordon says:
3 months ago
Well how about the best of both worlds a Mac and Windows. Get a mac laptop and with bootcamp install windows. Presto get the best of both.
A friend of mine, who does a lot of media work, and records our church services has a Mac laptop. Boot Camp is installed and from that uses her Windows (either XP or Vista I haven't confrimed).
You might even be able to put on a Linux system, a triple operating system.
As for me, I don't have a mac but I do love my Linux system (Ubuntu), however because of certain softwares I also an XP Pro computer.(wouldn't go vista till it has proven itself). With my XP pro I have set up virtual box to access a Linux version also.
Sorry if I didn't just say go with one system. Why not have your cake and eat it too!!!