Macs used to be Macs!

Dev2 · 22 Aug 2006 at 17:47

The only thing to me distinguishing a Mac from a PC is the Operating system. Macs now use PC hardware,Graphics Cards,CPUS,Hard Drives,RAM. The only thing left is the sexy cases and OSX and motherboards. I could well be mistaken as I often am, but I was just hoping somebody could clarify this to me.

Will there come a day when Apple will develop software and hardware seperately rather than the two being synonymous? Thoughts?

barnettgs · 22 Aug 2006 at 18:00

Dev2 said:
The only thing to me distinguishing a Mac from a PC is the Operating system.

Exactly, haven't you ever tried using Mac OS X?

Anyway, apple used processors from IBM which is PC manufacturer and due to lack of development, apple switched to Intel for much improved processor power etc. So from the hardware point of view, not much has changed apart from processor.

I think Apple do build their own motherboards and use mac-only specified components such as graphic card, ram etc from pc manufacturers. However, the experience you will have with mac system is very different from what you get with Windows based system.

tom_e · 22 Aug 2006 at 18:03

the things such as Graphics cards are the same on pc and mac only the firmware is different

Dev2 · 22 Aug 2006 at 18:08

not much has changed apart from processor

I think thats where I was confused. I thought that Mac used to use a whole range of different manufactures and that over the years they are slowly becoming PCs adopting Hitachi Hard Drives and ATI graphics.

*Please don't say Macs are PCs. You know what I mean.

barnettgs · 22 Aug 2006 at 18:28

Dev2 said:
I think thats where I was confused. I thought that Mac used to use a whole range of different manufactures and that over the years they are slowly becoming PCs adopting Hitachi Hard Drives and ATI graphics.

*Please don't say Macs are PCs. You know what I mean.

I still don't get what you are saying but Mac have been like this for years and they were the first to use firewire etc.

Believe me, it's best to pop down your local computer store and face to face with mac, you will soon forgot the complicated thinking you have!

Will_3rd · 22 Aug 2006 at 18:50

rofl, people who don't get macs say such strange things

Echo toxin · 22 Aug 2006 at 20:48

Dev2 said:
Will there come a day when Apple will develop software and hardware seperately rather than the two being synonymous? Thoughts?

As in will Mac OS X be made to run on any Intel/AMD hardware, like Windows? I think maybe if Apple was about to go bust, Steve might do it. But even then he appears so selfish that he would let the company go under rather than let OS X run on non-Apple gear.

LanceCrossfire · 22 Aug 2006 at 20:58

define PC... personal computer... what is a mac? a computer... for business or personal use... hence a mac is a PC...
the difference your refering to is the similarities in the latest hardware used in windows based machines and mac based machines...
Nothing in a macbook, macpro, ibook etc... is made by apple, it is an assemblement of parts and devices created and designed by different companies, to apple's specifications... just as a windows based PC is, the only thing developed by apple is the OS.
Obviously pieces of hardware are designed to work with different OS's for example a ATI X1900CF card wont work in a mac but will on a motherboard designed for use with a windows OS... it has been like this since the war began but its all slowly coming together with the introduction of new interfaces and software(ie bootcamp, PCI-E).
What do I think a mac is?
I think a mac is a personal computer with a fantastic operating system and brilliant design, which is still unmatched by(and i use this word loosley)conventional PC's...

unknowndomain · 22 Aug 2006 at 22:03

Apple doesnt release mac os x to every one because it would also be very difficult to build such a substantical database of drivers for all the mish mash of components out their which windows uses, I mean you can't tell how manys out there but its a lot of devices and no drivers in a world where standards arent standard and arent used as often as you might like.

themask70 · 22 Aug 2006 at 22:52

Hmmm well i quite like the fact that they now use pc parts, i find the intel processors to be faster than the g4s and i just think they're becoming more compatible with windows which is another thing i like.

M0KUJ1N · 22 Aug 2006 at 23:18

unknowndomain said:
Apple doesnt release mac os x to every one because it would undermine the (not unsubstantial) margin on their hardware sales

Sorry thought I would correct that for you

Seriously though, although there is no real technical reason why you cant run Mac OS X and I dont even think the driver argument holds much water, other than Apple having to share information on their OS with hardware manufacturers in order for them to write OS X drivers. Hell, if a completely-free operating system written by a rag-tag group of hippies can provide driver support for a myriad of hardware combinations, Im sure a company with Apple's resources could do the same if they really wanted to.

And therein lies the point. Apple have no business reason to do so, even though they are now in a position that their product line is comparable in terms of specification and price with competitors such as Dell it would ultimately hurt their profits and their brand image.

barnettgs · 22 Aug 2006 at 23:36

People seemed to forgot that Apple are attractive because you can buy machine with both specific hardware and software designed by Apple, knowing that your machine have exactly same driver/hardwares as other people machines and have confidence that they should work as expected. As soon as there is any issues or bugs on your mac, the chances are that Apple would probably know by now especially that they uses same hardware as you have.

With windows, it is more complicated because there are millions of combined hardwares along with drivers = unforeseen problems, more time ironing out problems.

I think that with specific hardware in mind, apple can focus much more attention on making OS X to work exactly the way they want it to be.

It is much more difficult to do that with Windows especially that it will be running on millions of combined parts, regardless of the cost or quality of parts.

Johny Boy · 23 Aug 2006 at 00:38

So a question for the mac converts, what would be the defining reason to choose a mac over linux on a regular pc.

Is it simply the ease of use and lack of needing to configure things?

I'm a die hard pc fan but the idea of a mac laptop is growing on me, altough I use ubuntu on my laptop now and I've got to say it's pretty seamless.

Even things like bluetooth work with my phone with zero configuration, just one search of synaptic for bluetooth and I can sync files with my phone. Wireless works out of the box with my atheros and prism based wireless cards.

Of course I'm still dual booting on my main rig for games.

barnettgs · 23 Aug 2006 at 00:42

Johny Boy said:
Is it simply the ease of use and lack of needing to configure things?

Hmm, it is very much ease of use I guess. If you want to remove application from mac, all you have to do is to drag it to the bin...thats it! And theres so much more to mac as well.

Dev2 · 23 Aug 2006 at 11:31

Thank you, for all the replies.

*Note: I'm aware Macs are PCs but by reffering to them seperately I hoped to encompass all the other combinations classified as PCs out there for the sake of making the thread easier to read.

I have used Macs before but have never owned one or looked inside one. I don't want to sound negative but some people here seem to think I don't "get" Macs. Which isn't true. I'm just confused about one issue and I think it's my fault that I didn't word/phrase it properly. Anyway over the years I have slowly noticed that Macs were taking on a more PC appeal to them ie. the hardware was becoming similar to that of a PC. You could exchange parts provided you changed firmware.

Hmmm well i quite like the fact that they now use pc parts

This quote sums up my confusion. Do Macs use PC hardware? Intel Processors,Hitachi Hard Drives,ATI Graphics, PCI-Express technology etc.
If they do use PC Hardware surely you must be able to change parts (changing firmware is allowed). If they don't use PC hardware you couldn't change parts. The answer thats seems right is that Apple use a combination of PC hardware and Mac only Hardware.

Dublove · 23 Aug 2006 at 16:40

I don't quite understand what you are saying even reading this whole thread.

Apple have always designed the motherboards, cases & displays.

The ram they use is off the shelf ram (its' always been like this) - The same with the hard drives, optical drives, graphic cards etc etc. However, while the hardware is the same the firmware is changed.

What happens when you plug a Pioneer dvdr110 into a mac? It says its a superdrive. Except you have not bought a 'superdrive' just a plain old dvdr110 from ocuk.

Dev2 · 23 Aug 2006 at 23:17

Well even if you don't understand what I'm saying your post cleared it up for me.

Apple have always designed the motherboards, cases & displays.

The ram they use is off the shelf ram (its' always been like this) - The same with the hard drives, optical drives, graphic cards etc etc. However, while the hardware is the same the firmware is changed.

Thats all I wanted to hear. I'm sorry for all the confusion which is due to me not understanding what I don't understand. Nevermind...I'll just make things worse by blabbing on. Thank you again.