Mac or not?

Marty_J

Idiophreak wrote: »

Yeah, that an garageband software

lol....working with music is another place they excel. Especially because of Garageband's big brother Logic Studio.

Apple won a Grammy Award a few years ago for its "outstanding technical contributions to the music industry and recording field", the first time a computer manufacturer had won such an award.

The year before that, they won an Emmy Award for inventing FireWire.

cymrugirl

Marty_J wrote: »

You could give VLC a try.

Thanks marty but I was reading on the forums that it doesn't work for the Matshita drives in the new laptops.:mad:

Marty_J

Hhmmm, that is kind of annoying.

You could always:

(a) use MacTheRipper to rip your DVDs, removing the region coding in the process and then burn them to a blank DVD;

(b) rip them and just watch them on your computer using VLC without burning to a DVD (ripping should take less than 15 minutes on a fast computer); or

(c) rip them and convert to mp4 using HandBrake, and keep them in iTunes.

isofa

Percy1983 wrote: »

Still failing to see the point of them but as this is an anti Mac post mt points won't be taken seriously.

As you know I use (and need) both, but a lot of your post is likely to come across as misinformation.

When I say Mac's are overpriced, I mean in like for like specs. Running boot camp to run half you programs is pointless you may aswell save money and buy a windows PC.

Not like for like with a quality brand, also remember the software you get with it to, which you don't get with PCs (iLife for instance), also Firewire as standard, and all sorts of other neat additions which would be extras or not even available on a PC.
But you can't legally run OS X on a PC due to hacks and licensing restrictions from Apple, so legally you can't run *any* Mac only software on a PC. But a Mac can run OS X, Linux/Unix, Windows, X11 (free with OS X) etc.
Running the OS you like, and then running a couple of Windows only apps in virtualisation (parallels etc), is really getting the best of both worlds - should you need an odd PC app, not available for the Mac.

The main thing they do have is they are very good looking, and if you prefer looks over function then get one (along with most of the apple range).

This is a personal taste thing, manufacturers who ignore design, miss offering some key advantages to users. Who wants to use a poorly designed laptop, or squint at a badly resolved screen? The thing they have IS function and design together, you suggest they don't.

As said they aren't bad PC's but with a windows PC I can do anything, with a Mac I would always have the doubt of 'would it work'.

Having used both since their main commercial incarnations, I've never had an issue being able to do anything on a Mac, and I do everything from designing software systems, websites, high end DTP/design through to pro photography and some amateur music. On a PC I have more of an issue working with imaging and music because they aren't built for this from the ground up, IMO. Many pro photographers and musicians use Macs.
I can however look way back with a wry smile, when I was using PageMaker, Macs and a LaserWriter printer, creating quality DTP material which would have be impossible using PC technology available in the mid to late 1980s.

An example is a program called TMPGenc I can't find anything which is as advanced on a Mac, and this is just one of many.

I could list plenty of Mac only apps, Logic Studio and Final Cut Pro just to begin with are at the top of their game and cutting edge. Tons of Apple only software (iPhoto, iDVD etc.), and reams of third party apps be it from shareware companies to commercial ones.
I freely admit that they are millions more tools available on the PC though.

Each to their own, if you like a PC/Windows and are happy with it, then use it, same for a Mac, but it's important to be armed with the facts.

IMO there isn't much either platform can't do well, but each excel in areas the other doesn't.

(Excel btw was first released on the Mac )

Idiophreak

isofa wrote: »

Not like for like with a quality brand, also remember the software you get with it to, which you don't get with PCs (iLife for instance),

This arguments assumes you're interested in having a "quality brand" - which, frankly, I'm not. My £350 Acer lappy has outlasted "better built" machines from dell and sony costing > £1000 a pop...(and yes, it's outlasted a couple of Apple notebooks as well...)

The issue with macs is that you can't do a "like for like" comparison - because they don't make cheap ones...which is the whole point.

Marty_J

Idiophreak wrote: »

This arguments assumes you're interested in having a "quality brand" - which, frankly, I'm not.

Apple aren't interested in making a computer for you then. I'm sure you'll both get over it.

The issue with macs is that you can't do a "like for like" comparison - because they don't make cheap ones...which is the whole point.

Exactly. Which means it's entirely fruitless when people say Macs are over-priced because you can buy a cheaper computer from Dell.

Apple don't make cheap computers, so they can't really be compared to them.

Idiophreak

Marty_J wrote: »

Exactly. Which means it's entirely fruitless when people say Macs are over-priced because you can buy a cheaper computer from Dell.

Whether something's overpriced or not is, I guess, down to 3 things:
1) The quality of the item
2) The price of the item
3) The person buying the item.

It's entirely subjective.

For instance, personally, if I were buying a mac, I would consider any price that didn't allow me to make a substantial return on ebay too steep.

Similarly, I'd say almost the same thing of "quality" PC laptops.

If you assume you put no stock in branding, it's entirely reasonable to describe both high end PC notebooks and mac notebooks as overpriced - because they charge a hefty chunk of cash for something that is of no perceived value to you.

With that in mind, I see describing macs as overpriced to be perfectly reasonable?

isofa

Idiophreak wrote: »

This arguments assumes you're interested in having a "quality brand" - which, frankly, I'm not. My £350 Acer lappy has outlasted "better built" machines from dell and sony costing > £1000 a pop...(and yes, it's outlasted a couple of Apple notebooks as well...)

It is very subjective.

It does, quality always is worth paying for in my opinion, I only buy quality items, but I'm not particularly brand loyal, however if the brand creates something top notch, then I'll buy it, and keep for a very long time. Whereas others buying 2 or 3 cheaper products in the same period, to me is a false economy. I'd only buy a quality PC too.

Just to go off at a tangent of older machines: I have a PowerBook G3 from 2000/2001 (cost around £1600) which can run OS X Tiger (from 2007-8) and still holds a reasonable charge enabling us to use it for spreadsheets, writing and design (only held back by the small HD, which I've never got around to upgrading), so that's almost the latest OS on a 9 year old machine, which has had no upgrades. That was a good investment, and still the best designed laptop ever produced IMO, firewire and 2 USB as standard and naturally a DVD drive.

Compare that to another one of my old laptops - my Dell Latitude P4 2Ghz, cost £1900 when new in 2003, top end, stuffed with all the bells and whilstles (no firewire, one solitary USB, DVD was an upgrade not standard), it can't run Vista with Aero.

The issue with macs is that you can't do a "like for like" comparison - because they don't make cheap ones...which is the whole point.

In that respect no, but you'd not compare a BMW or Merc or Audi with a Daewoo or Tata so I'd have to agree All are cars, all get you from A to B... Back to the subjectiveness of quality!

If you assume you put no stock in branding, it's entirely reasonable to describe both high end PC notebooks and mac notebooks as overpriced - because they charge a hefty chunk of cash for something that is of no perceived value to you. With that in mind, I see describing macs as overpriced to be perfectly reasonable?

Yes I have agree with you. Right tools for the job 'n' all that!

Marty_J

Idiophreak wrote: »

Whether something's overpriced or not is, I guess, down to 3 things:
1) The quality of the item
2) The price of the item
3) The person buying the item.

It's entirely subjective.

For instance, personally, if I were buying a mac, I would consider any price that didn't allow me to make a substantial return on ebay too steep.

Similarly, I'd say almost the same thing of "quality" PC laptops.

If you assume you put no stock in branding, it's entirely reasonable to describe both high end PC notebooks and mac notebooks as overpriced - because they charge a hefty chunk of cash for something that is of no perceived value to you.

With that in mind, I see describing macs as overpriced to be perfectly reasonable?

I'm not sure I totally agree. Yes, the quality of something is in many regards subjective. But, you just have no interest in the things that make a Mac more expensive than a cheaper computer. That doesn't mean they don't cost more to design, produce, and ultimately purchase.

Saying something is "over-priced" implies that it should cost less. But thinner computers cost more than thicker ones, laser-drilled metal computers cost more than plastic ones, having a built-in webcam costs more than not having a built in webcam, 802.11n wifi cards cost more than 802.11g wifi cards, an SSD costs more than a traditional HDD, having one of the best design teams in the world design your computer costs more than buying it off the shelf, LED backlit screens cost more, backlit keyboards cost more, multi-touch trackpads cost more, etc, etc.

just because these things have no value to you, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be more expensive, and hence, doesn't mean they're over-priced.

If a solid gold car cost £10,000,000, I wouldn't say it was over-priced, as of course it's going to cost more than a regular car. I just wouldn't be interested in paying the extra for it.

Percy1983

There is way to many Mac fans in here so I give up, apple make fashion accessories, its cool to own one. I have to question that if Macs are the best computer why doesn't everybody buy them, why don't all software company's make here stuff work on them.

I go for maximum usage and compatibility that equals windows. I am happy my computers have more horse power for less money and don't come in white.

So you can all go and figure how to copy and paste on your iphone while messing on you macbooks and by happy while I am happy not doing anything of the sort.