Mac vs PC? Stumped on decision?

Question

I am aware yahoo answers already has millions of resolved mac vs pc questions but I am debating whether I should build a new rig or get a 15inch macbook pro. im 17 right now and i'll be going college in fall09.
My current computer i built myself almost ~2 years ago has e6850 @ 3.7 with tuniq tower, 8800gtx, asus P5K mobo, 4gb ram. im ready to give away this computer to my parents because i'll be getting a new computer since im going to college.

My parents are gonna let me buy a new computer but i dont know what to buy. macbook pro is grabbing my attention because its sexy and its OSX but at the same time i want to build a whole new core i7 rig with GTX295s or 4870x2s.

could anyone help me what i should do? custom built core i7 rig vs macbook pro?

Answer 1

Wow such an opinionated crowd here -lol



I'd recommend you deciding exactly what you want to system for.



PCs are great overall but the way the OS operates makes certain heavy processing choppy -since windows operates by data chunks instead of stream executes which Mac does.



Mac's are great if you do heavy audio/video recording/ editing etc and or heavy data storage/retrieval such as a large corporation. Otherwise PCs can do the job just as well and sometimes even better (for normal applications)



PCs are great in that it is very diverse and has a greater level of customization options while Macs are limited to what was direct created for them. -Again a good concept for maintaining a well controlled system.



You should also put into consideration that Mac/Apple is one of the heavier industry pollutants in the market due to the toxic by products generated from manufacturing macs components.



So if you want a highly specialized high performance system go with the Mac.

If you want an well balanced high performance machine I'd say go with a PC.



Entertainment industry generaly use Macs

Communications & Satellite Companies uses PCs

Answer 2

If you get a laptop - get the 3 year warranty. Most laptops (including mac) do not last longer than that. You will not be graduated from college in 3 years. Intel has some great chips in the market, and prices are nice. If you want to build your own system, it is a good time to do it. I have had desktops that lasted 5 years - not that they break, but they get so slow that they cant play the cool video games, or run the newest software. A desktop can last your whole college experience. It is likely that you can have a kick-butt desktop, and use one of the new net-top things for portability for less than the cost of a middle-range macbook pro. ~$1000 for the build-it-yourself, and ~$300 for the net-top is $1300. That doesn't even get you in the door for a new macbook pro which starts at $2000.

Answer 3

Dont build ur own, it sucks cuz youre basically building a pc. all pcs are known to be low quality even if u build it. Who the hell builds there own computer? No don't do that. That would take too long, you'd have to be einstien to put it together and it'll break when you finally finish. Buying a new mac will giv u the best and top-of-the-notch stuff and you also get osx, which is the greatist hing in the world!



leave building PCs and PC users to the dumb geeks, and be a smart person- buy a mac.



PC sucks!!! Apple innovates, microsoft imitates.

Answer 4

hes right get a mac. dont build ur own, its too confusing and most people screw up! leave this job to the geeks and buy yourself a nice mac. vista sucks anyways its full of viruses and BUGS



You need a real computer like an mac mini (if your poor), iMac, and the top of the line Mac Pro that owns all PCs with its mighty 32GB RAM and native 8 core processors. Theres no other PC can beat a mac pro in gaming, rendering, or demanding stuff. im not a gamer, even i know tis. all the new macs have nvidia 9000 series whcih are supposed to be 5x faster than the old ones



Of course Apple is way superior over microsoft's unstalbe and buggy products. Why the hell would anyone want a PC over a Mac?



Mac OS X is significantly better than Windows Vista. Learn more here!

http://www.macvspc.info/pages/01f-pc_myt...

Macs are VERY reliable. Compared to Windows PCs, Macs are MUCH easier to support — and when properly maintained, they experience FAR fewer problems. Furthermore, Macs are more secure — e.g. they are MUCH less prone to virus attacks.



get a mac



Replace the D of a "DELL" with a H, and you got HELL there!

"do u want a better computer or a worser computer? a mac is definitely the smart choice over any pc"

Why get a PC when windows ruins hardware? PCs die in a year macs never fail on you.

-VISTA BLOWS AND SUCKS!!! XP is better but it still sucks! macs 99999999999x better

-pcs for gaming? hahahahaha, my wii and ps3 can pwn any pc and the mac pro can own everything with its tremedous 8 core power and multiple video chips (ATI HD4870 (Stereo 3D, 2 dual link DVI),) and 32GB of RAM. pwns all pcs in gaming, rendering, and possibly the fastest computer on the planet. even im not a gamer and even i know this



i jus proved how macs are waaay better than pcs, thats why a mac is pefect choice

Answer 5

Well obviously if you need a laptop go for the macbook pro but if not the i7 rig sounds sweet and if you want to play any games your rig will kick the macbook pro's ***.



Edit: Peanut has just showed you why not to get a mac, HE THINKS CONSOLES CAN BEAT GAMING RIGS (laughs)

Answer 6

Go with the PC, I know this sounds bad but most Mac uses are gay!

Answer 7

Hi

Get a Mac. they are a lot better in many ways, including design, performance, memory, quality, speed, etc.



Good Luck!

Answer 8

I would stick with a PC for the following.

PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Today, Macs use a subset of PC hardware. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think..



Don't believe the lies that Macs are better than PCs at graphics/animation.. Dreamworks Animation http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/ under studio click on Technology of Animation, an independent film maker I know uses PCs, a graphic artist I used to know uses PCs also.



A number of PCs can also run OS X (Mac OS) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=os+x+on+pc&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=os+x+on+ as well just that Apple makes it illegal in order to get Market share.. The reason why Mac can run native Windows is because it is using a subset of PC hardware,



If you decide to buy a Mac for running Windows, you will still have to get the same virus/spyware protection, and run into the same issues as a regular PC.



Now is a Mac worth buying for OS X?



I say: NO... for the following reasons...



ADVANTAGES WINDOWS :

Aprox 90% of the market is Windows and most PCs have windows already pre-installed.

1) Some websites require Internet Explorer, to run IE on Mac you really get ies4osx which is the Windows version of IE running really buggy and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows.

2) Supports devices (printers and other things you hook into the computer).

3) More business software/games

4) Want the dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.

5) Used by businesses.



ADVANTAGES LINUX :

1) FREE (most versions are)

2) Install software by eitjher 1) Synaptic Package Manager, 2) Add/Remove 3) Opening a .deb or .rpm file (depending on distribution)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION which can do any cool effect a Mac can do and many ore....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)

3) Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Avant Window Navigator.Cairo Dock, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE

4) It is FASTERr/MORE SECURE to surf on the internet

5) Some Windows programs work with Wnehq/Crossover (also avail on Mac, but why pay $$$)



Instructions how to download, burn and boot http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

Dual Boot Instructions http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



SECURITY

Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 less than 30 minutes, and within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008, and within 10 seconds in 2009. In 2008, Linux and Vista were not hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered. Vista was next, and then Linux. In 2009 Windows 7 fell shortly after the Mac but Linux was unscathed.

Macs are standardized with Cameras, if your Mac gets hacked, the hacker can turn on your camera with more ease.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Mac-OS-X-hacked-under-30-minutes/0,130061744,139241748,00.htm

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html

http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/03/19/Researcher_cracks_Mac_in_10_seconds_1.html

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml





VIRUSES

Mac OS X has viruses (and significantly on the rise), a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".

http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/



QUALITY/PROBLEMS

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://www.appledefects.com/

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/107748-mac-os-leopard-running-slow.html



Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.



PRICE

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



**(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)

http://www.dell.com/content/products/results.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=19&dt=SmallGrid&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn#subcats=&navla=55103~0~857204&navidc=Processor&navValc=Intel%20Core%202%20Duo&a=55103~0~857204

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB402LL/B?mco=MTkzOTI0Nw



**(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I compare Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you really want an all-in one the Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you matching specs. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.



PS: Apple knows that they need to make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.



Dell: (At The Moment) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup and is not the best deal... The IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB

http://www.dell.com/content/products/results.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&dt=SmallGrid&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn#subcats=&navla=55103~0~861680&navidc=Processor&navValc=Intel%20Core%202%20Extreme&a=55103~0~861680,55103~0~861681,55103~0~857204&page=1

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB323LL/A?mco=NzMyNjMy



Equivalents to ILife

http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20070830_ilife_for_windows.html

http://www.xsellize.com/showthread.php?t=20518



LINUX INFO:

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.ubuntu.com/



http://www.kubuntu.org/

http://www.freespire.org/

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

http://xwinman.org/gnome.php

http://xwinman.org/kde.php

http://www.linuxalt.com/

http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/