Why use macintosh?

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endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
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I am no expert, so I could be wrong here... but I think that he is laughing out loud.

Congratulations by the way, you have proven that you can get a PC for less than a Mac. You are the first person in the history of the internet to do so, you win the victory prize of being known as the King of the Internet for the next 12.3 minutes.

Oh and, ahem, lol.
lol

He asked me to provide a Windows running laptop with similar build quality, portability (weight / size), battery life, and specs of a MBP; and I did just that.

A quick glance at Lenovo laptops can also do that.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
OSX is not unix, it is BSD.
Wrong, it is a certified unix. Some bsd is unix, but not all unix is bsd. OSX 10.6 is a POSIX-compliant, Open Brand UNIX 03 Registered Product.

Second, people can only access what is available at their skill level. I agree about the productivity software, but let's go to your local software store and do a numerical comparison for the amount of software options for each platform. Apple has always had "some" games. That's the problem. They only ever have "some" and this will never change unless Apple shifts gears to increase their userbase.
Not really addressing my point. Anything I want to do I can do with my mac. I use my mac to manage a large companies network, I use my mac to write multitudes of software, I use my mac to do web development. I use my mac to manage and maintain around a hundred linux servers. I use my mac to do office work. I manage my financings and personal company on osx. I use my mac as a HTPC. I use my mac to manage databases. I even use my mac to game (playing Dragon Age 2 right now). Gaming is growing, but gaming is not the primary purpose of most people who own a computer.

The fact is there is no shortage of acceptable, high quality software for osx. You can claim it, but you can't prove it. In fact you point this out for me when you say this.
Even Apple's Appstore numbers are misleading because they only advertise total numbers and not how many are distinctively different apps, i.e. how many Sudoku apps are really needed before you stop counting them individually.

Proving that not only is there a app to do anything you want on OSX, there is usually multiple choices for getting that thing done. Can you give me a detailed example of some tasks you can easily do on windows, but can't find a easy way to do on osx? I can only think of one, developing windows applications.

Additionally, if your day to day activity includes going through hordes of old Unix programs looking for something useful, your more likely to be a Linux user instead of either a OSX or PC user. Also, most of the Unix based programs that would likely be used (Gnome, Pidgin, etc) are also available for PCs or at worst easily used virtually, so thats not exactly a notch on OSX's belt.

I have been a linux user for the last 10 years (probably longer). I have not owned a windows computer in over 5 years. I switched to osx because it is *nix made easy. I get everything I had with linux on a wonderfully designed notebook without screwing with it. I used to work on my computers, now I get work done with my computers. Here again, your own argument works against you. Sure, I can emulate most of the unix/linux world on windows, but I can also emulate most of the windows world on osx. The difference here is the tools I have grown to love on linux and are powerful are available on osx natively and that is simply not true with windows. And even those tools are being replaced by osx designed tools. In the last year I've found myself writing applescript instead of bash and using textmate and now coda over my beloved vi. Then there is the native X server built into OSX. It lets me run applications right off my linux servers (like the netbackup management application)

The times I have to use windows to do my job I find myself spending tons of time building up the environment I need. With a osx or linux system those tools are there from day one. While many open source applications have windows versions, not all of them do, and not all of them are GUI applications. For example, I've used git on windows and it is a very annoying process with large repositories, however it works flawlessly on osx.

So to recap, I picked the best tool to get my jobs done. I have not come across a task I could not quickly get done. I've found osx 'stock' to be just as powerful as linux and 'stock' a megafuckton more powerful than windows. When you combine the applications each OS is equally easy and as powerful as each other. I can do anything I want to do on windows, osx, or linux easily and quickly. The question is what environment to I enjoy.

I enjoy the OSX environment. I like it's look and feel, I like it's hardware design, I like it's novel technology (like the touchpad). More importantly I like that it is my linux but without the restrictions. I don't have to choose between photoshop and a real *nix environment. I get both. Quite simply to say OSX is less versatile is just pure fanboyism with no proof behind it.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
I'd still get the MacBook over the Sager. The quality of the MacBook line (plus OSX + Windows IE; software argument is mostly moot) is hard to beat. It's Mac 'desktops' that fall way too far short for me.

Once the iMac is updated to Sandy Bridge is should be a pretty reasonable value again. Macs don't lose price over time as the tech ages, but their sticker prices stay the same even after a refresh. So, right at the time of a refresh, and a little while after that, they are generally a really good value. They are still a little more than the competition, but it isn't as egregious.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Fine.

Sager NP5160 vs Macbook Pro 13 inch

15.6-inch 1920x1080 LED-Backlight Screen vs 13 inch 1280x800 Screen (lol)

1GB GDDR3 nVidia Geforce GT540M with Optimus Technology/Embedded Intel Graphics vs Intel HD Graphics 3000 (lol)

i5-2520m @ 2.5GHz vs i5 2nd generation @ 2.3GHz

320GB 7200RPM HDD vs 320GB 5400RPM HDD (lol)

4GB DDR3 RAM vs 4GB DDR3 RAM

Price of Sager: $924

Price of Macbook: $1200


I would've compared a Lenovo laptop but they haven't launched their Sandy Bridge Laptops yet (but when they do their guaranteed to be cheaper and more powerful than the MacBooks, just like all their other laptops are lol).

How much to get the apple touch pad installed and OSX supported on it?
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0
Once the iMac is updated to Sandy Bridge is should be a pretty reasonable value again. Macs don't lose price over time as the tech ages, but their sticker prices stay the same even after a refresh. So, right at the time of a refresh, and a little while after that, they are generally a really good value. They are still a little more than the competition, but it isn't as egregious.
It won't be neither reasonable nor a value.

It'd still be a joke compared to what you can get on a PC for the same price.
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
It won't be neither reasonable nor a value.

It'd still be a joke compared to what you can get on a PC for the same price.

How about we wait and see? It all depends on what CPU they put in there.

Also, you and I may have gaming computers, but the vast majority of people out there do not give a flip about them. They don't care if they have a 9800Pro or a 9800GTX, a GMA950 or intel 3000. So long as they can get onto Facebook and watch hulu, and see pictures of the kids, they are happy.

So yea, you will be able to spec out a system with a <insert ridiculous GPU here> but at the end of the day, the CPUs will be about the same really, and the GPUs in the iMacs are still alright for what they are being used for (GPGPU)
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0
How about we wait and see? It all depends on what CPU they put in there.

Also, you and I may have gaming computers, but the vast majority of people out there do not give a flip about them. They don't care if they have a 9800Pro or a 9800GTX, a GMA950 or intel 3000. So long as they can get onto Facebook and watch hulu, and see pictures of the kids, they are happy.

So yea, you will be able to spec out a system with a <insert ridiculous GPU here> but at the end of the day, the CPUs will be about the same really, and the GPUs in the iMacs are still alright for what they are being used for (GPGPU)
Ridiculous.

Just because you don't care about gaming doesn't mean you aren't wasting your money by spending an iMac; it's still ridiculously overpriced regardless.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
$30 for OS X

Don't think a touch-pad is gonna justify a 300 dollar price difference at the expense of everything else in the entire Laptop (screen, CPU, GPU, HDD).



All in One PCs are garbage and is not an excuse to sell shitty components at a high price my friend.

You don't get support on a hackintosh for buying a $30 copy of OS X. Btw hackintosh is against apple's EULA. Plus their trackpads kick ass.

AIO PCs are pretty useful. YOU may not have a use for one but many people do.
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Fine.

Sager NP5160 vs Macbook Pro 13 inch

15.6-inch 1920x1080 LED-Backlight Screen vs 13 inch 1280x800 Screen (lol)

1GB GDDR3 nVidia Geforce GT540M with Optimus Technology/Embedded Intel Graphics vs Intel HD Graphics 3000 (lol)

i5-2520m @ 2.5GHz vs i5 2nd generation @ 2.3GHz

320GB 7200RPM HDD vs 320GB 5400RPM HDD (lol)

4GB DDR3 RAM vs 4GB DDR3 RAM

Price of Sager: $924

Price of Macbook: $1200


I would've compared a Lenovo laptop but they haven't launched their Sandy Bridge Laptops yet (but when they do their guaranteed to be cheaper and more powerful than the MacBooks, just like all their other laptops are lol).

1. 1080 - Wow, on a 15" screen. I'm sure it's great on that itty bitty thing, font size must have to be increased to be able to see. I'm sure you can actually tell a difference when watching a blu-ray, considering that, relatively speaking, you won't. Not to mention, any high-end games probably still won't run that great at that resolution, so now you've got to either drop features (AA/AF) or resolution, now you're blurry.

2. Video - Intel 3000 ain't too shabby, not dedicated, but not shabby.

3. fair point, but the difference isn't that huge.

4. What's the performance difference? Not much.

5. same.

6. How good is Sagar's build quality?

7. Is it a piece of shit plastic computer?

8. Is there enough cooling?

9. What about warranty, are they very good?

10. What's their longevity?

11. If you have a problem, is it easy to take apart?


I know Sagar's been around for a while, but I don't know their support nor their build quality. All of those factor into the equation.
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
7,162
424
126
The GPU argument isn't just about games. FCP is very GPU intensive. The graphics in the iMac are great for FCP, but I'd have to spend $2000 to get the model best suited for it, suffer the negatives of the AIO form factor, miss out on adequate internal storage options vital to my work, etc. My 2008 vintage Hackintosh is still a better option for my work than an iMac- let alone if I were building new with a $2000 budget.
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0
You don't get support on a hackintosh for buying a $30 copy of OS X. Btw hackintosh is against apple's EULA. Plus their trackpads kick ass.

AIO PCs are pretty useful. YOU may not have a use for one but many people do.
Who cares about Apple's EULA?

How is a higher-priced, lower-powered AIO PC better than a lower priced, higher powered regular PC?

Honestly please explain to me what sort of crazy advantages AIO PCs have over regular PCs that justify such a huge price mark-up for less performance?

You win, I give up.
Maybe you should stop trying to justify Apples raping consumers in the butt.

I'm not saying Apple products suck; I love the MacBook Air, iPhone 4 and I might even buy an iPad 2 tomorrow.
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
7,162
424
126
I'm sure you can actually tell a difference when watching a blu-ray, considering that, relatively speaking, you won't.
heh. Now there's a real Apple positive. I'd be endlessly impressed to see him watch a blu-ray AT ALL on the Mac!
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0
1. 1080 - Wow, on a 15" screen. I'm sure it's great on that itty bitty thing, font size must have to be increased to be able to see. I'm sure you can actually tell a difference when watching a blu-ray, considering that, relatively speaking, you won't. Not to mention, any high-end games probably still won't run that great at that resolution, so now you've got to either drop features (AA/AF) or resolution, now you're blurry.

2. Video - Intel 3000 ain't too shabby, not dedicated, but not shabby.

3. fair point, but the difference isn't that huge.

4. What's the performance difference? Not much.

5. same.

6. How good is Sagar's build quality?

7. Is it a piece of shit plastic computer?

8. Is there enough cooling?

9. What about warranty, are they very good?

10. What's their longevity?

11. If you have a problem, is it easy to take apart?


I know Sagar's been around for a while, but I don't know their support nor their build quality. All of those factor into the equation.

1. If you have a problem with 1080p you can get a 1366 x 768 screen for less money; and still have it be a better resolution than the absolutely retarded 1280x800 screen on the MBP. :)

2. Sorry but for a $300 mark-up I expect something better than not too shabby lol.

3. Okay.

4. Big enough to lol at Apple for using 5400 RPM HDDs in 2011.

5. Yup.

6. Outstanding.

7. lol

8. Yes, MacBook Pros aren't exactly known for the coolness btw.

9. Sure

10. Pretty good if you treat em right, same with the MBPs.

11. Definitely.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
Who cares about Apple's EULA?

How is a higher-priced, lower-powered AIO PC better than a lower priced, higher powered regular PC?

Honestly please explain to me what sort of crazy advantages AIO PCs have over regular PCs that justify such a huge price mark-up for less performance?

Maybe you should stop trying to justify Apples raping consumers in the butt.

I'm not saying Apple products suck; I love the MacBook Air, iPhone 4 and I might even buy an iPad 2 tomorrow.

Law abiding citizens? My girlfriend does not pirate anything. She pay for every thing.

AIO = people who care about form factor.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Another reason I like apple.

I bought my first mac in 2008. I still have it. It runs just as good today as it did the day I bought it. Side by side with my latest mac (which is a i7 instead of core2 and a much better video card) I can not tell a noticeable difference in day to day work.

My wife got her first work notebook in 2008, it was windows XP. She got a new notebook this year with windows 7. There is a night and day performance difference between the two.

I love the fact that at least for me, osx has been snappy and stayed snappy on every machine I own from my 2008 macbook pro, to my wife's 2009 and my 2010 macbook pro and our mac mini. Honestly, if my work didn't buy me my latest macbook I would be perfectly happy with my 2008 macbook pro.
 

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
3
81
Ridiculous.

Just because you don't care about gaming doesn't mean you aren't wasting your money by spending an iMac; it's still ridiculously overpriced regardless.

You buy what you want. It's obvious an iMac isn't worth it for you, but there are a fair number of people who do find it worth it. They buy computers once every 4-5 years if that even, and will use that mac until a shamed relatively convinces them to buy a new one.

Sure there are people who buy them every time a release is made, and they're ridiculous, but if that's what they want to spend their money on... power to them I guess?
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Law abiding citizens? My girlfriend does not pirate anything. She pay for every thing.

AIO = people who care about form factor.

That is exactly why I will never buy a box pc again. I don't want something taking up space on my floor. Notebooks or AIO computers for me please.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
1. If you have a problem with 1080p you can get a 1366 x 768 screen for less money; and still have it be a better resolution than the absolutely retarded 1280x800 screen on the MBP. :)

2. Sorry but for a $300 mark-up I expect something better than not too shabby lol.

3. Okay.

4. Big enough to lol at Apple for using 5400 RPM HDDs in 2011.

5. Yup.

6. Outstanding.

7. lol

8. Yes, MacBook Pros aren't exactly known for the coolness btw.

9. Sure

10. Pretty good if you treat em right, same with the MBPs.

11. Definitely.

Fuck this.
The fact that you are having difficulty viewing this from someone else's prospective reveals your ignorance towards the matter.

I'm done.
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
444
0
0
Law abiding citizens? My girlfriend does not pirate anything. She pay for every thing.

AIO = people who care about form factor.
What are you pirating when you make a Hackintosh and you buy the OS? Nothing, Apple just doesn't want you to use their OS on non-Apple branded products. That's not pirating; Apple can go screw off.

Form factor? Is that really the best excuse you can give? lmao
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Fuck this.
The fact that you are having difficulty viewing this from someone else's prospective reveals your ignorance towards the matter.

I'm done.

yep. I don't understand why people go into all things apple with the sole purpose of railing on apple products.