• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

Mac vs PC - Serious considerations...

aries2580

aries2580

aries2580

Associate
Joined
1 Apr 2009
Posts
413
Ok hey all. I apologize in advance for the hate this thread my potentially unleash...

Ok So atm i own an old 17" Macbook pro (2.5GHz Core2Duo, 4GB 667 CL4, 250GB HD, 8600M GT)

I'm looking for a serious upgrade.

I would consider myself a 'Nerd/geek' whatever you want to call it. I know my way around a computer, regardless of the OS and built a few PC's in the past which i have sold on.

Umm uses for the computer would be -
Photoshop CS4
Lots of high quality movie encoding (something which at the minute i have to wait AGES to complete, so i have given up)
Games (not just casual gaming. I would see myself as being quite serious about gaming.)
Listening to music (i have a few music projects on the go, nothing serious but they do exist and i swear by Logic for the mac)
Programming with VB atm but i hope to move onto bigger things once i have mastered the basics. iphone SDK is very tempting.

But i have really been questioning the whole mac vs pc thing...

And as i see it at the minute the pc wins...

1. Photoshop - runs on both platforms, yet with the pc i can customize my hardware and get the very latest processors and GFX cards... With a Mac i'm left with what mr jobs tells me to use. :mad:

2. The only games i play on my Mac are WOW and SC... Hardly a gaming nirvana. I know that you can run windows natively, but yet again. I'm left with the crappy hardware that MR JOBS tells me to freaking use... :mad: (apart from the MacPro with its i7Processors and ATI 4870 - Yet all horribly over priced. Maybe the TCO is greater i dunno)

3. Video encoding. Quad cores.... All the mac lineup are dual core processors unless i decide to spend 2 grand on a mac pro... Which is not bloody justified.

4. for all my music work on logic and possible iphone SDK work in the future i have my current macbook pro...


I really FAIL to see where all the crap about "mac = designer" comes from. With a PC i get the choice of MY hardware and all the software runs on it anyway... With a mac I get the EXACT same software but lesser hardware which i have to pay through the bloody teeth for...

I can see the advantage of a mac for music and video editing. Final cut and Logic are brilliant programs and their use in the industries that they occupy are a testament to how great they are. (but note the people are all using mac pros)

There are two things I can see that benefit the mac.

1. OSX - It is better. No matter which way you look at it.
2. Security

And to be honest. With windows there are usually two rules of thumb i used to stick to. Never use IE, and dont visit stupid sites... Never have had a virus attack in all my years...

It seems like i have been rambling for a while but if any of you have an opinion or would like to help me decide what the hell to do please post.
 
D D Danneh said:
But it just works!

Uhm, yeah. I'd go for a PC any time, unless I absolutely needed a mac (although technically a mac IS a PC - personal computer). Not because I prefer windows, definitely not, just because it's so much cheaper to get the same performance.
Click to expand...

the same and often better in my eyes... Unless Photoshop magically runs faster on a mac?

From what i have read it is a ported PC version anyway... so not likely
 
You're sounding like a spoilt brat in all honesty...
Click to expand...

So because i worked hard and saved for my computer i'm spoilt?
It took me a long time to get this computer and i treat it better than anything i own
I just fail to see why 'macs are for designers' and 'PC's are for business people & gamers'
 
I dare you to post this in the apple forum.
Click to expand...
you are forgiven :D *shakes hand*

You see i can see your point about using it for Aperture...

Ok here is a question. on your unibody. Would you notice a difference in photoshop tasks compared to pc's you have used in the past etc?
 
This will get messy
Click to expand...
linked :D

When snow leopard comes around though the story will change, adobe will be forced to code 64bit and hopefully use OpenCL which will speed it up considerably!
Click to expand...

Snow Leopard *drools* If Photoshop was significantly faster when released for snow leopard... Its something to think about. Correct me if im wrong, windows 7 and Snow leopard are gonna be released around the same time near the end of the year?
 
Logsi said:
EDIT - In the O.P you say you have an "Old" 2.5GHz 17". I have a 17" 2.33GHz and it is still a very capable laptop! I have still got it! I could still sell it for near enough a grand and that a 2 and a half year old laptop! Compare that to a PC laptop for example. I also have a PowerMac Dual G5 which i can sell for £500, that's nearly 6 years old!
Click to expand...

I'm not saying it isn't. :) Its a bloody awesome crazy piece of computing sex. I do a sexwee every-time i look at it.

But for video encoding and gaming... Its not quite there is it.
 
Yes, they will be released around the same time!
Click to expand...

Well i think then taking into account everything. I will be best to wait and see what both companies have to offer. (It will also give me time to gather funds lol and hopefully apple will pull out their fingers and offer some sort of blueray support!)
 
Concorde Rules said:
My Mac Pro :) Some cards and some monitors it seems have issues where by the keyboard/mouse keeps pausing every few moments.

Was first picked up by people flashing PC versions of the cards with a modified mac BIOS.

I am unfortunately one of a few who has a monitor/GPU combination that makes it do it.

Had a 2nd replacement machine already and hoping 10.5.7 fixes it otherwise I really think an upgrade is in order after having a £2k machine for 3 weeks when I can't use it for its intended purpose (its currently folding 18/7)
Click to expand...

Thats awful... :(
 
*reads*

I would happily pay the premium for the mac pro and as someone suggested run windows on bootcamp... But then you see that the premium is an extra £1000!!! Can a 'non pro' user really justify this cost... *thinks*
... I will be waiting to see what happens with the new OS's... I guess that will ultimately govern my choice of hardware in the not so distant future...

and thanks for everyone who has participated so far! :D
 
hughythomas said:
Since Apple bought Emagic, Logic can only be run on macs. Fair enough it isn't considered industry standard for music production (unlike Pro Tools which is avalible on both Mac and PC) but if you are say, a music producer/engineer like myself, Logic is a fantastic DAW. I'm interested to see how far open source Linux distro, Ubuntu Studio can go as it is based on the same core technology UNIX. Although, as far as I am concered, as long as "PC"s are running Microshaft PCs they only good for two things; gaming and overclocking. Stability or security not even entering into the sentence.
Click to expand...

I see you use macs for logic and as I said it really is a testament to how great it is.

The issue at hand from the OP wasnt whether or not you or I are "big persons" but more "What, given my current setup, would be the best upgrade path for me? Mac or PC?"..
Click to expand...

Yup :D

In terms of flexibility I definately agree that the PC wins hands down. But this thread wasn't originally based upon "what would run crysis better - Mac or PC?" OR "What boots quicker/responds from hibernation - Mac or PC?". I hope my post hasn't come across as being too opinionated here!!!
Click to expand...

And i couldn't agree more :)

Although on a side note, I have enjoyed the debate as well :D

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom