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Dr. Shark

Thu Apr 20 2006, 02:21PM

Registered Member #75 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 09:30AM
Location: Montana, USA
Posts: 711

My trusty iBook is in the process of breaking down after four years of heavy abuse, so it is time for me to get a new computer. Not a laptop this time, but i'd still like something compact, so I am eyeing the iMac with the 17" TFT screen. Good choice, or should I be a real geek and strugle with Windows and Linux again? I've got a PC at work and I don't like it, but the iMac is soo expensive - I don't really feel like spending 1000â‚¬ now. From the "Elite computer" thread it looks like most people here have PCs, so maybe we can hear some arguments to make me switch back!

Desmogod

Thu Apr 20 2006, 02:50PM

Registered Member #139 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 11:01AM
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 358

I have started a new job, and about 20% of their machines are Macs. I have never had to support them before, and I would be loathe to support them again. It's an old story, PC or Mac fan. Mac's look really good, all nice and fluffy, but unless you are a died hard Mac fan, or are going to do some hardcore graphics work, I wouldn't bother.
Bear in mind though, that the new Intel based Macs can run Windows, and that OSX is in fact Linux. So you can pretty much run anything on anything now anyway. If it was up to me, I'd ditch the Mac and buy a dual core processor PC, bulk RAM, good video card etc etc, then I'd install 64 Bit Ubuntu with an SMP kernel.
But that's just me

Hellmark

Thu Apr 20 2006, 07:04PM

Registered Member #189 Joined: Thu Feb 16 2006, 07:43PM
Location: Winfield, Missouri, USA
Posts: 46

If you are happy with your mac, replace it with another mac. Personally, I really wouldnt recommend Windows, unless Linux or Mac really wouldn't fit the bill.

I use linux and MacOS, both are really good, I dont have any problems with it, don't have to worry about all the maintance Windows requires, and for the mostpart Apple hardware runs strong.

June or so, the replacement for the iBooks will be released.

Alex

Thu Apr 20 2006, 11:00PM

Geometrically Frustrated
Registered Member #6 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 04:18AM
Location: Bowdoin, Maine
Posts: 373

I agree with Hellmark, stick with what you're used to. MacOS X is an awesome operating system, you're going to be disappointed if you switch to Linux or Windows. If you use OS X now, Linux and Windows are not going to fit your style. Linux (w/KDE/Gnome) and Windows are similar in the way they manage their applications. You manage individual windows, rather than entire applications as you would in OS X.

If I've lost you, here's an example: In Linux and Windows, if you wanted to use gaim you'd have to bring your buddy list and chat window(s) to the front. In OS X, this is achieved by selecting the entire application in the dock (or using the cmd-tab application switcher, which is a staple of MacOS navigation). In Linux, the way to get around having to bring multiple windows to the top is the virtual desktop.

I recently talked to OMJamal (Chris Russell) about this very subject, and here's how he explained the use of virtual desktops: Set up several, each with a different task in mind. One might have gedit and Firefox, for web page coding and previewing. Another has your mp3 player and music library. Yet another has gaim and skype, another has xchat, another has several instances of firefox. This way, you know that alt-1 is always one task, alt-2 is always another, alt-3 another, etc. Those sequences never change.

In Windows, there are no virtual desktops to work around the shortcoming of the GUI. Windows is the inferior choice, in this respect.

MacOS X uses a stack of applications, and you bring one at a time to the front, using the app switcher as I mentioned earlier. It is less structured, but more intuitive (unless you're a very structured person).

Basically, unless what you're used to isn't fitting the bill, don't switch. It's a pain in the ass.

As far as hardware goes... There ain't much of a difference between macs and generic PCs nowadays. Apple tends to put an emphasis on aesthetics, and they add some fancy stuff like a builtin webcam to their computers. If you have the money... Get a mac. You can use the OS you're used to (OS X), you can dabble in Linux if you want, and you can even run Windows if you have to.

The only concern you might have is the matter of the iMac's upgradability. You can replace the HD, removable media drive, upgrade memory, etc.. But AFAIK you can't replace the processor, and that screen is staying where it is. You'll be in about the same position as someone with a laptop. This honestly isn't much of a problem though, you can trade it in to a place like smalldog or powermax when you're ready to upgrade.

Side note: The quality of the posts on this forum is generally high, however, threads such as these rarely end well. Flaming and trolling will not be tolerated. This will be the one and only warning

Ben

Fri Apr 21 2006, 06:08AM

Vigilatny
Registered Member #17 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:47PM
Location: NL
Posts: 158

Try them out, and get what you like. For me, I usually choose an irix command line when I need to do actual work.

I'm going to lock this thread, as this topic never ends well.

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