pc-or mac?

boliston

I'd say that the 21.5" imac is well worth considering, but its main advantage is the fact that it has an IPS screen. About 99% of screens sold today are TN panel but once you have got used to IPS you will realise that TN sucks.

Apart from the fantastic screen there is not that much over and above a PC unless the design factor is a big draw for you.

I have brought a system which is similar to the 21.5" imac, but gives better value and costs about the same.

I got the HP ZR22w 21.5" IPS screen which uses the same LG panel as the imac but without the gloss finish. I teamed it up with the DNUK deskcube with AMD Phenom quad core 905e processor and Nvidia GT240 512MB Graphics card. I was considering the Imac but the extra performance of the separates system swayed me. Regarding windows vs mac I have until now been mainly a Ubuntu fan, but W7 (now on 90 day trial version) seems far better than XP which I used before moving to Ubuntu.

Richie-from-the-Boro

boliston wrote: »

I'd say that the 21.5" imac is well worth considering, but its main advantage is the fact that it has an IPS screen. About 99% of screens sold today are TN panel but once you have got used to IPS you will realise that TN sucks.

Apart from the fantastic screen there is not that much over and above a PC unless the design factor is a big draw for you.

I have brought a system which is similar to the 21.5" imac, but gives better value and costs about the same.

I got the HP ZR22w 21.5" IPS screen which uses the same LG panel as the imac but without the gloss finish. I teamed it up with the DNUK deskcube with AMD Phenom quad core 905e processor and Nvidia GT240 512MB Graphics card. I was considering the Imac but the extra performance of the separates system swayed me. Regarding windows vs mac I have until now been mainly a Ubuntu fan, but W7 (now on 90 day trial version) seems far better than XP which I used before moving to Ubuntu.

It's nice to see a well versed, objective, non~tub~thumping opinion when discussing Mac v Win7 based O/S. Bang on with the ' once you have got used to IPS you will realise that TN sucks ' comment

littlepanther

My turn. Firstly I am a Mac user and have been for some time. I also use Windows both for fun and professionally. Although as far as the PC is concerned not much for fun and as far as professionally goes there are a few programs like Access I use on Windows.

One reason I like the Mac over the PC is that generally they last longer than a PC before I have to replace them. For example, we still have an iMac that we got almost ten years ago and my wife still uses.

So a PC might work out cheaper initially but you have to replace more often.

Customer service is generally good.

You can run Windows on a new Mac and if running from boot camp faster than any PC I've used of similar spec.

You can run windows at the same time using a virtual machine and can run a bit slower, more memory helps.

Macs, like anything, can go wrong but generally they are worth the money.

There is also the one to one training that Apple do, one hour every week for a year for something like £79. Not only is that cheap, do any others offer this service?

The_Grandmaster

I personally don't like macs - find them hard to use (probably as I am a pc user - although first computers I used were macs!).

I find apple products may not last very long - look at the ipod battery life etcetera. Also apple laptop I know has had harddrive problems (twice) although still under guarantee... apparently it's a famous problem on google!

So I'd say use PC - not great but I think better than macs!

Snooze

Mac's are a waste of money. The only people who buy them are either fan-boys, stupid or willy wavers.

An average spec PC around £500 would be nearly £1000 in Mac land and what do you get for it? Absolutely fvck all except for a shiny case. A mate of mine has one and he's always banging on about it saying how good it is and how it's far better than my Presario and ThinkPad, but the reality is that it isn't :

Basic comparison -

Presario CQ71-403A
17.3" screen
ATI Radeon
2.2 Ghz Pent dual core T4400
500 storage
4 gig DDR2
£499

Macbook Pro
13.3" screen (ie. tiny)
NVIDIA 320M
2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo
250 storage
4 gig DDR3
£937

(Prices for both models are current from ebuyer.com)

The only thing the Mac has going for it over the notebook is a marginally better processor and DDR3 memory, oh and a shiny case. There's plenty of expert opinions on DDR3 memory and the vast majority say it's only any use if you do a ton of gaming and multimedia work, which the majority of people don't. The normal day-to-day tasks you won't notice any difference in performance at all.

If you're that sick of seeing Windows that you're considering a Mac then don't. Just format your HDD and stick Ubuntu/Mint on it. Problem solved and a stack of cash saved.

clivejohnson

First off, I KNOW this thread is over a year old, but I just wanted to say that I purchased a 21.5 inch iMac last friday, and it is the best thing that I ahave ever done! From breaking the seal on the box to downloading my emails took just over five minutes!

I mainly just wanted to say a huge thank you to all who offered genuine unbiased advice!:-)

almillar

Oh yeah, it was the best thing you have ever done. Had you done a bit of research and waited a week, you could have had the newer faster model for the same price. But as long as you're happy ;-)

birkee

Without reading all the posts....

You have to be really sure you want a Mac.
Any problems with my PC, and I can get parts from almost anywhere in an hour or so. (Or, get it fixed if not technically capable)
Most Macs end up in the hands of specialists, and you are held captive to Mac spares prices.

Nice looking gear though!

clivejohnson

almillar wrote: »

Oh yeah, it was the best thing you have ever done. Had you done a bit of research and waited a week, you could have had the newer faster model for the same price. But as long as you're happy ;-)

Ah! that's the next bit!....

Bought the "old" mac on royal wedding day, got it home, only too find that, like you said, they had upgraded it, so rang the store I purchased it from (Trafford centre) and they said "no problem, you purchased it within the 14 day exchange period, so bring your old mac in, and we will give you a new, updated one!" "great" I said "but i live 220 miles away in dorset. Can I take it to southampton store and exchange it there? "Yep, no problem!" so i rang up west quay store and siad the same thing;bring it in and we'll give you a new mac, and we'll set it up for you, and we will refund you the difference in price!

The old mac was £21 dearer than the new one!

Very very happy bunny!:j:)

cooldaz

Got myself one of the new 27 inch iMacs and its the best computer I have ever had. Much better than my i7 Dell PC beats it in speed also