Mac vs PC argument

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,207
17,891
126
You're confusing OCD with being anal retentive.

And no, paying $200 more for a computer because it's "like new" is not economical.

you have problem understanding scratched up used item will sell for less than a pristine condition one.

And that has to do with mac vs pc how?
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,517
126
the whole mac vs "pc" argument is dumb in the name alone, since pc is just a personal computer. it's funny how that marketing ploy for mac made everything think pc just means windows. whether you hate or love apple, their marketing is genius.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
I will admit getting I am frustrated with the crappiness of the PC ecosystem. Seems like the last five or so PCs (laptops or desktops) I have recommended all ended up being crap. I tried to research hardware flaws once I found devices that were a good hardware value, but there is so many devices that unless there is some major obvious flaw day 1 that gets Reddit to masterbate over the failure it can be hard to discover issues like "the case comes apart after six months" or whatever. I will probably stick to recommending Macs (or Chromebooks) just to avoid having to take the credibility damage when any flaws are found. It sucks, the only thing left in Windowsland I feel safe recommending are the Surfaces.
 

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
you have problem understanding scratched up used item will sell for less than a pristine condition one.

And that has to do with mac vs pc how?

Duh. I'm saying people are reluctant to buy an imperfect computer in spite of the cost savings, yet some cite cost as the reason they won't buy a Mac.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,861
126
My biggest argument against mac is that I can't buy the mobo I want, the case I want, the power supply I want, the CPU I want, etc .. I have to buy a whole system.

That is fine for a cheap little kids tablet toy or a cell phone, but if Im building a PC, I care much more about what components I am using since I will likely keep the computer for a number of years before upgrading it.

Also, I dislike Acer, Dell, HP, and all the other preassembled PC's, so my hatred against mac is not unique.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,861
126
Duh. I'm saying people are reluctant to buy an imperfect computer in spite of the cost savings, yet some cite cost as the reason they won't buy a Mac.

Its not binary. its a scale.


a $100 item in good shape vs a $90 item in mediocre shape ... it might be worth the $10 price premium.

Comparing a "perfect condition" asus mobo, i7 cpu, 16gb ram, etc vs similar performing mac, the mac may have a price premium, but, no percieved advantage. Why pay more money for something when you can get what you want for less?
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
I will admit getting I am frustrated with the crappiness of the PC ecosystem. Seems like the last five or so PCs (laptops or desktops) I have recommended all ended up being crap. I tried to research hardware flaws once I found devices that were a good hardware value, but there is so many devices that unless there is some major obvious flaw day 1 that gets Reddit to masterbate over the failure it can be hard to discover issues like "the case comes apart after six months" or whatever. I will probably stick to recommending Macs (or Chromebooks) just to avoid having to take the credibility damage when any flaws are found. It sucks, the only thing left in Windowsland I feel safe recommending are the Surfaces.

So many manufacturers cheap out on "the little things" - but a little bit goes a long way in terms of user experience.

I wouldn't trade my MBPr for anything, even though it cost a pretty penny. Sure you can get equivalent hardware for cheaper, and the integrated GPUs suck (and only available on the uber-premium model... which I suckered myself into getting, but not really for the GPU)... but what do you get on cheaper systems? Either lower build quality, lower quality display (not just resolution, color accuracy means a lot!), terrible trackpad, keys/keyboard sucks, etc.

Remove the distraction of cheap hardware, and the whole package feels superior. Whatever you think of the OS, the hardware is fantastic. If that is worth the premium is a personal decision.

Few laptops even come close to the MBP in terms of build quality (yes there are flaws and bad units - welcome to the land of consumer electronics!), and almost always command a premium as well. When recommending to other users, you really have to stress the differences and determine where they set the bar. Get cheap if they just don't care - some laptops have pretty good build quality with some component flaws like keyboard and trackpad, but it may stand the test of time just as well.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Remove the distraction of cheap hardware, and the whole package feels superior. Whatever you think of the OS, the hardware is fantastic.

I agree with an exception for that $1300 netbook Apple should be ashamed to sell. The biggest Apple fanboy in my life is in love with the thing, "you just watch, just like the Macbook Air that thing in the future." Yeah buddy, a netbook without a detachable keyboard or a touchscreen is the future. Sure.

A Surface 3 is lightyears ahead of that overpriced piece of crap on form factor alone. But outside of Surfaces the Windows laptop market is a hot stove- you are going to get burned.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
I agree with an exception for that $1300 netbook Apple should be ashamed to sell. The biggest Apple fanboy in my life is in love with the thing, "you just watch, just like the Macbook Air that thing in the future." Yeah buddy, a netbook without a detachable keyboard or a touchscreen is the future. Sure.

A Surface 3 is lightyears ahead of that overpriced piece of crap on form factor alone. But outside of Surfaces the Windows laptop market is a hot stove- you are going to get burned.

Yeah, I have no idea what the hell the "MacBook" is supposed to represent, or who it is aimed at. It's worse than all the other MacBooks available IMHO.

And you're right, the Surface line is fantastic for that specific form factor. It has tradeoffs, but they are terrific products.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,139
1,791
126
My Mac retirement home:

IMG_7478_zpskex2txsx.jpg


20" iMac G4 1.25 GHz
15" iMac G4 800 MHz
12" iBook G4 1.07 GHz
Cube G4 1.7 GHz (Sonnet) and GeForce 6200
Cube G4 450 MHz and GeForce 6200
24" iMac Core Duo 2.0 GHz
Fire Dino Firewire 400 hub

The Core Duo is still usable as a surfing machine. The G4s, not so much, but they all still work.
 
Last edited:

Absolute0

Senior member
Nov 9, 2005
714
21
81
I like to
a) pick my own hardware
b) be able to easily upgrade that hardware
c) mod & overclock
d) use windows due to
1) software (especially scientific, modelling, engineering software)
2) games
e) I will not pay a $700 premium for them to put it together into a nice, sleek and robust package, it is simply too much extra $ for me and a-d apply

When I think of Apply, the word "proprietary" comes to mind.
 

fleshconsumed

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2002
6,486
2,363
136
My Mac retirement home:

[img removed]

20" iMac G4 1.25 GHz
15" iMac G4 800 MHz
12" iBook G4 1.07 GHz
Cube G4 1.7 GHz (Sonnet) and GeForce 6200
Cube G4 450 MHz and GeForce 6200
24" iMac Core Duo 2.0 GHz
Fire Dino Firewire 400 hub

The Core Duo is still usable as a surfing machine. The G4s, not so much, but they all still work.

Don't care about your mac collection ^_^ , but what shelves are those?
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,207
17,891
126
Duh. I'm saying people are reluctant to buy an imperfect computer in spite of the cost savings, yet some cite cost as the reason they won't buy a Mac.

you are still not getting it. That imperfect computer will be bought if it is at the right price point.

Are you suggesting there is no Mac Premium?
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,139
1,791
126
Yeah Ikea bedroom closet shelving set but this particular version has been discontinued.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
If I weren't a PC gamer I would have switched already. Once apple starts putting real video cards in their machines I'll make the switch.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,189
126
For 99% of average users in the world, Mac vs PC makes no difference when all they click on is Chrome/Safari for surfing, email, productivity, etc.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,139
1,791
126
If I weren't a PC gamer I would have switched already. Once apple starts putting real video cards in their machines I'll make the switch.
Apple's higher end video cards perform worse than their Windows PC counterparts on the same games.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Apple's higher end video cards perform worse than their Windows PC counterparts on the same games.

Not to mention OSX doesn't get a lot of the AAA games. Heck Linux is a better gaming platform right now than OSX.