Mac or PC?

[Cameron Redwine]

I've decided to buy a new laptop in the next few weeks, and I am leaning towards a Macbook at the moment. I don't really know that much about computers compared to many people on this board and I'm not too proud to ask for advice, so here goes.

I'm looking for people to offer advice as to whether or not I should buy a Macbook and why.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

All a matter of preference . You have people that like PC and people that love MAC. You will notice MAC supporters will fight you to the death to defend thier apple . I worked in the music business for years and there was a running debate. Nowadays there is not much to choose . Whatever suits your needs the best and your budget . I have used both and like both but have settled on PC as alot of programs such as mapping navigating programs such as Streets and Trips were not available in MAC versions . Nowadays you can run a simulated windows enviorment on your mac so you can run any software.They both have thier upsides and downsides and don't let the MAC users tell you they never crash because I find they do just as much. And of course Mac users tell you they never get viruses . That is because the creeps that write viruses want to effect more than 8% of users which is about what percentage use apple.

I've decided to buy a new laptop in the next few weeks, and I am leaning towards a Macbook at the moment. I don't really know that much about computers compared to many people on this board and I'm not too proud to ask for advice, so here goes.

I'm looking for people to offer advice as to whether or not I should buy a Macbook and why.

 

[Chris C Sanner]

For storm chasing...DON'T! For creative software...DON'T!

I bought a MacBook in January and can honestly say I was totally unimpressed. Mac OS is not completely stable like Apple claims it is for starters. Secondly, there are no good options for WX specific software like GRLevelX. And finally the nail in the coffin for me was the fact that the creative software doesn't do anything any piece of software on windows can't do. I can do more in Adobe Audition and Sony Vegas than I could do in any Apple Audio Editor and Final Cut. I took some time to adjust to apple's programs and I just found them lacking in many areas.

So basically, unless you have any specific goals in mind for a Mac I'd just stick with Windows and not be a dummy on the internet. I've found my Windows installs are just as stable and reliable as long as I install Firefox and not browse sites I know adware is going to be on. Just my .02 on the issue, I'm sure Mac users will probably disagree with me

 

[Skip Talbot]

The ability to dual boot on today's laptops to either MacOS or Windows is a very nice feature. However, if the primary use of the laptop is for chasing, and your suite of chasing applications is built for Windows (Street Atlas, GRLevel3, GPSGate...), why spend the extra money for proprietary Apple hardware and the extra performance overhead of maintaining two operating systems? If anything I would get a PC based laptop and dual boot Linux and Windows on it so you could run software like GEMPAK or any of the Linux open source projects.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

Mac OS is not completely stable like Apple claims it is for starters.

Sorry.. I have to reply to this statement. I can't just let this kind of statements sit out there.

The Mac OS is incredibly stable. The only time that it's not is if you've gotten your mitts in somewhere where you don't know what you're doing. Kind of the equivalent to moving and pulling wires out of your engine because you don't know what they do. And the statement that Macs are proprietary... Laughable. They're just good looking PCs with all of the same chips and parts.

I use both Windows and Mac and there's a reason that you need to restart Windows all the time. It's just not nearly as stable as Unix.

This is being typed on a MacBook Pro running Max OS 10.4.10. I can run Windows XP/Vista on this machine natively, I can also run both in a window as an application and that's how I run all of my weather software. Windows will crash and the Mac side kust keeps chugging along...

My advice is to try the MacBook for the month and return it if you don't like it. I think you'll see that all of the FUD is bunk. Apple BootCamp is a free download; so is Parallels for a trial version. I'd put Windows on there and see how that works too.

They really are wonderful machines...

Cameron, I'd read this article: http://mailbox.allthingsd.com/20070823/running-windows-vista-on-a-mac/

 

[Cameron Redwine]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I still have another couple of weeks before I make a decision. I still have my HP laptop, but I've had a ton of trouble with crashing over the last several months. After a clean install of Windows, I am convinced that I've got a memory issue. I am going to run a memory test and probably replace one or both memory sticks. If that works, I will use the HP for chasing again next year and run GPS and GRlevel3, then buy a MacBook for school and what not. Also, Apple knocks off $100 and gives college students a free iPod nano with purchase, so that's a bonus. Anyway, thanks again.

 

[Jim Southard]

Cameron,

Everyone has brought up good points in the discussion so far. If you like, here's my $0.02:

With the Mac, you get the best of all worlds. You'll get the OS X, which is not perfect but IMHO is still ahead of Vista and XP. I've owned an iBook G4 for two years now and I've never had an OS issue. It just works.

OS X is based on Linux, so pretty much anything that can be run under Unix or Linux will run on a Mac. I run Gempak and Grads on my iBook, and even though its G4 processor is a few generations behind, the programs perform beautifully.

The solutions from Boot Camp, Parallels, and VMWare are what really make the new Macs appealing, IMO. If you don't like OS X or Linux, or if you are more comfortable in Windows, or if you use programs that aren't available for the Mac (GR3, et al), the dual boot/virtual machine can give you the Windows OS as well.

In short, even if you don't use all of its capabilities, the Mac can easily give you essentially three OS's on one machine. Whether that's enough to offset the additional cost of a Mac vs. PC (plus the expense of getting a copy of Windows) is a decision that's ultimately up to you.

If you do opt for the Mac, you might want to wait until the new version of OS X (Leopard) is out and has the bugs worked out.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[Eric Flescher]

I have to chime in as well. mac user here

I have to chime in as well. I am a confirmed Apple/mac user since the 70's. I also have older compaq downstairs which I don't use much.
Yes there are the best 3 worlds in the Mac- Mac, windows and Linux. So you can pick and choose the system you want.
I bought my wife a macpro and she loved it. I told her she should try quickbooks on the windows size of it but she would rather stay with the mac side for her jewelery business stuff. My daughter uses here mac for her music software business and other stuff in NYC.
For me , the Mac OS is less complicated . I have had a Round dome (few years old) Imac and really like it still going strong.

If you need a computer now you can always upgrade for cheap to Leopard coming soon. Usually when each version of Mac OS comes out is it is really stable and robust unlike the Windows versions which take years.

Also there is the iLife (8 now here ) for burning video (iMovie is pretty easy to use and is far more then a top - I have sold 3 of my videos using iMovie) , dvd, storing photos in iphoto and more.
Once you get the hang of some of the OS it is a piece of cake.
I like the elegance and the visual style etc of all mac hardware and sofware products. Long time ago I wondered what is the deal about the way Apple does things. Well I found out pretty quickly and have used them ever since.
I recommend anyone to go to an Apple store near you and give one a wirl.Not only are the Apple stores cool, they really can show how the OS and other things work.
I use my mac for everything.
my spin and 2cents

:::

Cameron,

Everyone has brought up good points in the discussion so far. If you like, here's my $0.02:

With the Mac, you get the best of all worlds. You'll get the OS X, which is not perfect but IMHO is still ahead of Vista and XP. I've owned an iBook G4 for two years now and I've never had an OS issue. It just works.

OS X is based on Linux, so pretty much anything that can be run under Unix or Linux will run on a Mac. I run Gempak and Grads on my iBook, and even though its G4 processor is a few generations behind, the programs perform beautifully.

The solutions from Boot Camp, Parallels, and VMWare are what really make the new Macs appealing, IMO. If you don't like OS X or Linux, or if you are more comfortable in Windows, or if you use programs that aren't available for the Mac (GR3, et al), the dual boot/virtual machine can give you the Windows OS as well.

In short, even if you don't use all of its capabilities, the Mac can easily give you essentially three OS's on one machine. Whether that's enough to offset the additional cost of a Mac vs. PC (plus the expense of getting a copy of Windows) is a decision that's ultimately up to you.

If you do opt for the Mac, you might want to wait until the new version of OS X (Leopard) is out and has the bugs worked out.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[John Erwin]

I'd agree this is not likely to be the best option if you're only interested in using it for chasing. Despite being able to eventually run just about anything you would need in a mobile platform for chasing it will cost you more to get there.

My viewpoint; they're very nice, but expensive. Everything is expensive for them. If you need it's specific functionality or just can't live without it's slick aesthetics.. go for it.. otherwise give this a lot more thought. I use both platforms regularly and like them both for what they can do.. and I would agree in terms of statistics that the apple OS is generally more stable.. but not bombproof. I rarely have problems with either. It's still the better platform in the visual and text publishing world from my vantage point.