Talk me out of OS X

Shure · 19 Aug 2006 at 21:25

The time has come where I need a new PC and due to my purchase of the xbox360, PC gaming is pretty much dead and buried for me. I will only use a pc for work purposes (i.e. just need broadband to "dial in") internet, email, odd photo's and mainly music.
Looking around nothing seems to beat a macbook for the budget I want to pay but I am dubious about taking the plunge away from windows! Are there any pitfalls that OS X doesnt perform very well, any fuctions of windows that are not possible? or should I just go ahead and do it...

Syphon · 19 Aug 2006 at 21:37

Go for it and if you don't get on with it (unlikely) install windows on it anyway

uchuff · 19 Aug 2006 at 21:58

OSX is really nice and the Macbook hardware is too, be prepared for a slight learning process though obviously. For the tasks you mention I wouldn't go back to using a PC, I tend to use Windows now only at/for my job.

Beansprout · 19 Aug 2006 at 22:03

I run OS X with Parallels, so I have XP minimised to the Dock. It's fantastic!

Then if I need full performance (2 cores, graphics) I reboot into Windows (Bootcamp.)

Seriously, if you have £700+ too spend on a laptop get a Macbook. You get everything and more, not to mention the sexy design

Spyhop · 20 Aug 2006 at 01:25

It's impossible to fully disable font anti-aliasing/smoothing in OS X. If, like me, you really hate it, this can be a big annoyance.

AJUK · 20 Aug 2006 at 01:38

OS X > *

Once you've had Mac you don't go back.

28ten · 20 Aug 2006 at 08:29

AJUK said:
OS X > *

Once you've had Mac you don't go back.

So true. I could never go gack to windows. i run either osx on macs or linux on my old pc boxes

M0KUJ1N · 20 Aug 2006 at 11:28

/me reads thread title

OK, I'll talk you out of it.....

If you use a Mac, ponytails are mandatory.

Did that do it?

Will_3rd · 20 Aug 2006 at 13:19

switch to a mac you won't regret it, I have a pc (for gaming) and a ibook, I use my ibook most the time!

V F · 20 Aug 2006 at 14:44

wush said:
It's impossible to fully disable font anti-aliasing/smoothing in OS X. If, like me, you really hate it, this can be a big annoyance.

You can change the fonts though with Silk http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/silk and its Universal!

bigredshark · 20 Aug 2006 at 18:19

I got myself a powerbook for my photo work (aperture mainly) and i use it for a lot more now, it's a wonderful bit of kit. wouldn't go back now!

Echo toxin · 20 Aug 2006 at 18:32

I think Mac OS X is a marvellous OS - it's just the software written for it which doesn't match what you get on Windows.

e.g. I don't think Unison is as good as Newsleecher. Toast isn't as good as Nero. mac:Office 2004 isn't as good as Office 2003. Safari isn't as good as IE. Apple DVD player isn't as good as PowerDVD, etc. etc.

It's things like that put me off a bit. I used it when Panther first came out and I found it frustrating to say the least because it always seemed to take two steps to do what I wanted whereas in Windows it took only one.

I'm going to get a Mini though at the next revision and see if things have improved somewhat in the two years I've been away.

Shure · 20 Aug 2006 at 18:53

Its looking more like I'm going to be getting the macbook this week but I have another couple of questions if anyone can answer them please...

Does the macbook have a digital out port or is an adaptor needed? if so how much should I expect to pay?

Does Garageband come free or is it a trial app?

Echo toxin · 20 Aug 2006 at 18:56

GarageBand will come free as it's a new hardware purchase. iLife always comes free with new hardware.

From Apple's Macbook page:

Audio
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in omnidirectional microphone
Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)

Shure · 20 Aug 2006 at 19:05

I did see that bit of info on the Apple site but I'm assuming you need a minijack adaptor which I don't think is included

uchuff · 20 Aug 2006 at 20:44

chrisstevens said:
I did see that bit of info on the Apple site but I'm assuming you need a minijack adaptor which I don't think is included

You are correct that there isn't one in the box, unsure how much they cost though. Think it's a "mini toslink" connection.

Echo toxin said:
Safari isn't as good as IE. Apple DVD player isn't as good as PowerDVD

I'd strongly disagree on the former, and the latter is a touch unfair as you don't get any DVD software included with Windows.

V F · 20 Aug 2006 at 21:20

PowerDVD7 and previous versions just look hideous compared to Apple's DVD app. Toast and DVD Player looks so nice plus it looks well designed compared to windows apps. Either way it still gets the job done.

Windows apps just feel so tacky when you've used OS X for so long.

JimmyEatWorms · 21 Aug 2006 at 13:31

For me OSX only has tiny niggles with 3rd party apps. For example, no webcam support in MSN. Now I know that this is hardly apples fault but it can be frustrating. But even if you abolutely detest OSX (which i doubt you will), you can always pop XP onto it using BootCamp and you'll have a very stylish laptop with the best of both worlds.

leezer3 · 21 Aug 2006 at 13:52

chrisstevens said:
I did see that bit of info on the Apple site but I'm assuming you need a minijack adaptor which I don't think is included

The port in question is an absolutely standard 3.5" (Headphones jack- I think I've got the designation right?) optical out port. Same as that which is on the back of plenty of soundcards.

-Leezer-

Shure · 21 Aug 2006 at 14:07

Another question I have is regarding the DVD burning capabilities. I am looking at getting the £899 model with the superdrive but is there any software that comes with this capable of burning AVI's to DVD or will I need to buy seperate software?