Any Mac users here?

[mp-seventythree]

I'm guessing there must be a few. What are your impressions of Mac compared to PC?
I just ordered an iBook from Apple online, going to use it mainly for music and video...but in truth if it's any good I'll probably use it to replace all my other pc stuff.

[Freebasser]

I like macs for garageband and that's about it.

[Funky Pepp]

Yesssss!

Mac = (y) (except for games)
PC = (n) (except for games)

Allright, some things are better on PC. You'll get more "freeware".
But if you want to do creative stuff (except perhaps 3D Animation),
you really need a Mac. I've got a iMac G5 1.8 GHz and love it :)

[mp-seventythree]

That was what attracted me in the first place. I had a go on my mate's iBook and got totally addicted to Garageband. But there are so many other good things I found on there (other than the naked pics of his girlfriend), I decided I just had to have one.

[Parkey]

I use a Mac at work and my laptop, but a PC at home. I prefer Macs, but it's best to keep your hand in both pots...

[hpdrifter]

The IT guy at my work told me that macs are generally a little more robust, less vulnerable to viruses and whatnot.

I don't do anything advanced enough to necessitate one or the other, though.

I agree about Macs being better for web/music/photo/movie editing if you're into that.

[THRILLHO]

I've heard about them being less susceptible to virii as well. Why is that? Is it that the code exists in a P.C friendly environment, or there are more ports to attack on a P.C?

Sorry for th OMFG n00b line of questioning, but I was discussing this with a Mac-using friend of mine.

[Parkey]

The main reason Macs are less hassle than PC's in terms of viruses etc is that there are so few of them. Who can be arsed to write a MAC virus when with the same effort they could target 98% of the world through PCs?

[THRILLHO]

The main reason Macs are less hassle than PC's in terms of viruses etc is that there are so few of them. Who can be arsed to write a MAC virus when with the same effort they could target 98% of the world through PCs?

Cool. (y)

[hpdrifter]

The main reason Macs are less hassle than PC's in terms of viruses etc is that there are so few of them. Who can be arsed to write a MAC virus when with the same effort they could target 98% of the world through PCs?

What he said

[kaiser soze]

I don't dig the fact that mac's are proprietary, you' can't upgrade a single thing on them (besides the monitor and mouse and that's becoming inceasingly less available)

macs are alright...way too pricey for the trend value

[BGirl]

When I "switched" and got an iBook in 2002 I felt like I'd traded in an old clunker for a Jaguar, but that's just me..

Now I've got an iMac G5 as well.

By the way, PC Magazine did a very detailed study and found that Macs are cheaper to own when you take into account lifespan of the machine, maintenance, energy usage and stuff like that.

Macs (y)

[jabumbo]

The main reason Macs are less hassle than PC's in terms of viruses etc is that there are so few of them. Who can be arsed to write a MAC virus when with the same effort they could target 98% of the world through PCs?


although this is true, i was told that its really because the mac OS is built on a linux (maybe unix?) base, and they are more difficult to hack than windows...



i don't mind mac's, but i'm not a big fan of their user interface, and the lack of gaming ability keeps me away. if i ever get a real, nice laptop, it'd probably be a mac though

[BGirl]

the mac OS is built on a linux (maybe unix?) base
unix

[jabumbo]

^ either way, they are both maddening in their raw form

[Funky Pepp]

although this is true, i was told that its really because the mac OS is built on a linux (maybe unix?) base, and they are more difficult to hack than windows...
Now wait and see what happens to the new intel-Macs then...
I hope they stay safe!

[marsdaddy]

I am in the process of switching from a 6 year old PC to a iMac G5. Acknowledging that a stone tablet is faster than that old PC, the iMac is amazing. So far, I've plugged my camera and printer in, without installing any software, and the Mac recognized the hardware. On a new PC, I would have had to install software, go online for an upgrade, and maybe even breakout the Windows disk.

One reason Mac's are more economical than PCs is they run efficiently. 1.5 Gb of memory on a Mac will last much longer than 1.5 Gb on a PC, since the Mac is not a memory hog. When I priced out the comparable machines, the PC was about 15% cheaper, but that does not include life of machine.

[Documad]

I switched to macs because I wanted the original ipod. I had a lot of trouble with all prior PCs, but I'm a moron with computers and I couldn't figure out what was wrong when they were always crashing. I love my ibook, but there have been things I couldn't do because of it not being a PC -- nothing that matters to me, but I'm not a game player.

I thought about buying a new laptop (before I realized how easy it was to upgrade to tiger). Then, I read that apple is making a major change in the chip or something for all macs and that it will start in 2006. I wasn't sure what impact that would have and whether the old ones will be obsolete, but I heard that macs are cheaper now because people in the know aren't buying them. I heard the new thingy will be initially put in the laptops and then in the desktop models later. So I'll think about the new laptop after I've heard how the new thingy is working.

[TurdBerglar]

macs are not worth what you pay for them. you can get a pc for much less than a mac that is just as powerful as a mac. whenever i here arguements about macs and pcs the only good things i here about macs are: much less viruses, macs are great for creating visual things and creating music, and macs have a more visually appealing OS than windows. i don't give a fuck about creating shit and what my OS looks like and i don't have problems with viruses becuase im not a fuckn' idiot. so i see no points to macs. if macs were less money i wouldn't hate them so much. and isn't harder to upgrade macs? not as many options for upgradeing as pcs?


the only good thing that i can see about macs is that it's much much harder to fuck a mac up.

[Documad]

Yeah, macs are the prettiest. And the 10.3 has a lovely font. :)

[mp-seventythree]

Do you know if it's possible to transfer iTunes files from pc to Mac? I have loads of music in iTunes and I know that I'll have to format my iPod a reconfigure it to Mac, but are the actual music files the same on each platform?

Or am I going to have to start over with my music?

[Sarky Devotchka]

I like my iMac alright. although it's kind of annoying when it's not compatible with PC things. it's also pretty and doesn't take up much space.

[marsdaddy]

Do you know if it's possible to transfer iTunes files from pc to Mac? I have loads of music in iTunes and I know that I'll have to format my iPod a reconfigure it to Mac, but are the actual music files the same on each platform?

Or am I going to have to start over with my music?I don't know for sure, but I bet it'll be a piece of cake. That's part of my process, too -- I've got 13 Gb of music to transfer.

I know with my photos, the Mac recognized the Kodak format, then asked me to confirm I wanted to switch to iPhoto. As I said before, without me having to load any software.

PS. I did buy Windows for Mac, as I have lots of Excel, Word, and Powerpoint files for work. I also need Windows Explorer to check my work email at home. I might be screwed there.

[Lex Diamonds]

Ran in the house, and grabbed my clip
With the Mac 10 on the side of my hip

[Junker]

I dont have idea on how a mac works. I never used one. Btw, I never saw one :o

PS: Was the Mac computer created by the same guy who created the McDonalds?? :rolleyes:

[Junker]

Do you know if it's possible to transfer iTunes files from pc to Mac? I have loads of music in iTunes and I know that I'll have to format my iPod a reconfigure it to Mac, but are the actual music files the same on each platform?

Or am I going to have to start over with my music?

Dude, I accidentally entered in your profile and saw that your birthday is the same as mine. But im from 1984. (y) Cancer, right???

Real nice y'all!!!

[marsdaddy]

Dude, I accidentally entered in your profile and saw that your birthday is the same as mine. But im from 1984. (y) Cancer, right???

Real nice y'all!!!Start a singles or lost connections thread!

[Junker]

Start a singles or lost connections thread!

(y) Sorry!!!! I'll never do this again!!!

[BGirl]

Hey, do you Macsters know about the OAD thing? It's probably my favorite OS feature after Exposé, Spotlight and the Dashboard. I use it more often than any of those other features except Exposé.

Basically you do a control-apple-D and then mouseover a word, and the definition from the Oxford American Dictionary will pop up. Amazing and incredibly useful (y)

I mention it because it's one of those features you might not know about unless you subscribe to the Apple eNews email or read Mac-related publications (magazines, web sites).

[marsdaddy]

Hey, do you Macsters know about the OAD thing? It's probably my favorite OS feature after Exposé, Spotlight and the Dashboard. I use it more often than any of those other features except Exposé.

Basically you do a control-apple-D and then mouseover a word, and the definition from the Oxford American Dictionary will pop up. Amazing and incredibly useful (y)

I mention it because it's one of those features you might not know about unless you subscribe to the Apple eNews email or read Mac-related publications (magazines, web sites).Thanks...I'll check it out.

I did find out I can toggle through programs using Apple+tab or toggle through windows in same program using Apple+` (key above tab). :)

[BGirl]

I did find out I can toggle through programs using Apple+tab or toggle through windows in same program using Apple+` (key above tab). :)

That's another good one (y)

I didn't know about the apple-` though - just tried it and sure enough..! Thanks. I mostly use Exposé for that kind of thing but sometimes I'll toggle with the keys if I'm repeatedly going back & forth between two programs (or windows in the same program, now) for some task.

Also I second what you said about converting the iTunes library. Don't know but I'm sure it's a piece of cake. :)

[mp-seventythree]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess I'll find out soon enough :)

[guerillaGardner]

I'm unusual in that I like PC and Mac equally. I can't recommend one over the other particularly. But as it is I'm a Mac user because of my job (graphic artist).

I'll use whatever crashes the least and gives the truest representation on screen to how it will look as a finished printed job.

But if you have any doubts about Mac - don't have. Its pretty good and does everything PC can do, although you'll find slightly less options for stuff on Mac - games, downloads from the internet, etc.

[Documad]

Basically you do a control-apple-D and then mouseover a word, and the definition from the Oxford American Dictionary will pop up. Amazing and incredibly useful (y)
Oh My God!

[ASsman]

I've got an ever better thread idea.


Any Hispanic Mac users...

And no Mac truck drivers don't count.

[Funky Pepp]

Do you know if it's possible to transfer iTunes files from pc to Mac? I have loads of music in iTunes and I know that I'll have to format my iPod a reconfigure it to Mac, but are the actual music files the same on each platform?

Or am I going to have to start over with my music?
The files are of course the same. You can use mp3 or m4p or
waves or even aiffs, I guess. But the playlists are a problem.
You can export them from PC to Mac, but the path is a little
different: as your Data on the PC are on "C:/..." and on the
Mac "HD Mac/..." So iTunes won't recognise it. and you'll have
to doubleclick each song (they get an exclamation mark if the
path is messed up) and relocate it :(

[mp-seventythree]

That's answered my question perfectly, thanks. Once I upload my iTunes files onto the Mac all I need to do is tell iTunes the path to the new location. Easy (I hope).

[Monsieur Decuts]

I have a Mac Mini and run Pro Tools on it.

Best purchase I ever made because XP PC chunked hard on music programs.

I enjoy the default suite of apps that come with a Mac. You have everything you need to be a creative superstar.

[mp-seventythree]

Cool, mine should be delivered either Monday or Tuesday next week....can't wait :)

[monkey]

i have a lovely ibook and a lovely pc. i love them both equally, and they dont fight.

i use the ibook for writing and just taking it out and going somewhere with the computer. i like the ability to go online nearly everywhere (i <3 my airport card and wi-fi), but i like having my trusty pc for games, music and all that jazz. plus the screen on my pc is fantastic.

[mp-seventythree]

Pauli, when you're out do you ever use your iBook anywhere like Starbucks? If so, is the use of their broadband free or is there some sort of subscription?

[monkey]

starbucks has t-mobile, so if you are a t-mobile subscriber (for wi-fi), then it's free. but if you dont, then you have to pay, either a one time use fee or a monthly fee. i think it's 30 bucks a month or something.

[mp-seventythree]

Ah okay, I read up on the hotspots here in the UK, and they seem to use a similar system.

[marsdaddy]

Here in the tech capital of the world, there are lots of neighborhood coffee shops that offer free wi-fi. Also, some of the cities are offering free wi-fi.

[somefooll]

I don't dig the fact that mac's are proprietary, you' can't upgrade a single thing on them (besides the monitor and mouse and that's becoming inceasingly less available)

macs are alright...way too pricey for the trend value


All the main parts ARE NOT proprietry, its just the logicboard (or motherboard) which is proprietry, but only in so much as its a different machine so it would be. Hard drive, ram, etc etc is NOT.

The main reason Macs are less hassle than PC's in terms of viruses etc is that there are so few of them. Who can be arsed to write a MAC virus when with the same effort they could target 98% of the world through PCs?
They are also simply inherently more secure.

[marsdaddy]

They are also simply inherently more secure.How are the Intel chips going to figure in this security, though?

[mp-seventythree]

I'm guessing the chip shouldn't have too much to do with the security of the machine. The Intel Macs are stilll running OS which is a Unix based system, which is somewhere around a billion times more secure than Windows (I may have exaggerated a little there).

[zorra_chiflada]

i like PCs better. i know more about them. it's a personal choice thing.
the whole "macs are better than PCs for design" thing is a myth. i've used both and honestly don't see any discernible difference. i do have the feeling though with macs, a large portion of what you're paying for is the sleek, trendy design. i don't like it, i think it's unecessary. i like daggy old pcs.
PCs may have more problems, but when macs have problems i have no clue what the fuck to do. with PCs i can usually do something about it - or find someone who can do something. to me, PCs are just more comfortable, and it is easier to navigate with them.
they're also better for gaming.

[somefooll]

How are the Intel chips going to figure in this security, though?
The chips irrelevant, its the OS which is important

i like daggy old pcs.
PCs may have more problems, but when macs have problems i have no clue what the fuck to do.
clearly the choice of a PC or Mac is down to personal choice. The only reason Id like Windows is for a very few games, even then Id want to loose the 'windows' part and just have buttons for each game, as I find windows counter-intuitive and just plain butt-ugly to look at. I use these things 8 hours a day for work, I couldnt imagine sitting at Windows for that long without throwing it out the window. The reason you cant fix a Mac is simply down to your knowledge, or lack thereof, its got nothing to do with Macs in general. I wouldnt know where to start with Windows either.

[zorra_chiflada]

well, that's up to you if you want to spend more money on something that looks pretty. who am i to stop you?

[Documad]

well, that's up to you if you want to spend more money on something that looks pretty. who am i to stop you?
It's definitely worth it to me. :)

I think that my favorite thing about the new macbook is the way the keyboard feels when I type. That and it's a lot faster than my stupid computer at work.

[jeepgirl]

I love my mac! I've dropped it numerous times, and it still works.

[somefooll]

well, that's up to you if you want to spend more money on something that looks pretty. who am i to stop you?
I think youre missing the point, but yes it does look pretty as well as just working. Its certainly a bonus and I do put a value on aesthetics.

[YoungRemy]

i just bought the macbook pro, i am still adjusting to it, but i love it so far...

my first goal is to master Garage Band, then get Final Cut and go from there...