Mac vs Intel: What's Your Preference?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on preferences between Mac and Windows operating systems, particularly in light of the introduction of Intel chips in Mac computers. Users express strong opinions, with some favoring Windows for its larger user base and availability of software, especially games. Others advocate for Macs, highlighting their user-friendly design and features like Dashboard and Spotlight in OS 10.4.4, which enhance productivity. The debate also touches on security, with Mac users claiming fewer viruses target their systems compared to Windows.

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  • Understanding of operating systems, specifically Mac OS and Windows OS.
  • Familiarity with Mac OS features like Dashboard and Spotlight.
  • Knowledge of computer security concerns related to viruses and malware.
  • Awareness of the historical context of Apple and PC development.
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  • Research the latest features in Mac OS 10.4 and beyond.
  • Explore the differences in software availability between Windows and Mac platforms.
  • Investigate the security measures for both Mac and Windows operating systems.
  • Learn about the impact of user demographics on software development and support.
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Individuals considering a switch between Mac and Windows, tech enthusiasts comparing operating systems, and IT professionals managing diverse environments.

  • #61
woodsy2k said:
Seriously, how can anyone like Mac's?

unfortunately our Physics department here at Exeter uni Choose to use them and only them! ARGH! They have all just been upgraded to the new flat ones, (cant be bothered to remember what they are called) And they suck sooooooooooo Bad! For example, a friend needed to hand in some work into a folder that was on a server controlled by the person that was teaching that module. The mac then turned around and said, Sorry there is already a copy of this file in this folder. "do you want to over write or cancel?" naturally he pressed cancel. The mac then proceeded to delete both copies of the work! What the hell is the deal with that!

PC all the IMO. :)

Canceling a copy does not delete both copies, so your friend most likely did something wrong. O S X is not some weird POS system that does what it feels like.
 
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  • #62
alex caps said:
I like macs for video editing and graphics but I like pcs for everything else.. but the main reason I haven't been a fan of macs is the compatability issues.. Until Now. I am considering getting one of these.. they look perfect for me: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=MacBookPro

Macs have been "compatible" for almost a decade now.
 
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  • #63
ComputerGeek said:
Macs have been "compatible" for almost a decade now.
I have not had any compatibility issues with Macs in years. The only "compatibility" issues I've run into have nothing to do with using Macs, but with people who never upgrade their software. The only other issues that people claim are compatibility issues are actually all user issues. Those big red X's in powerpoint presentations are the most common, and it just means people have inserted images linked to files without copying the file the image is coming from...just insert it as a picture instead of a link to a file, and you never have that problem.

I have never had a problem opening a PC file (as long as I own the software of course; Microsoft still has a stranglehold on people in that arena, but it makes no difference between Mac or PC), and have not had problems with opening my Mac files on PCs either. Now it's even easier to be certain files are compatible, because when I send an email using Mail and include an attachment, I just check a box that says to send it as a Windows friendly attachment. Nobody has had any problems opening anything I've sent them yet.
 
  • #64
cyrusabdollahi said:
Other than games, why does one need to mod and over clock their computer for? I can't see any use of it.
It's more about being a hobby than having a need. I enjoy building computers and the hobby has been useful for learning how to fix them for work and for friends.
Is buying any particular OS really all that important? Its not like your making that computer a network server for a 50 computers anyways.
Depends. With any vendor, newer products have different features. Some people need/want the new features, some don't. Ie, one biggie these days is compatibility with USB flash drives: if your PC doesn't have Windows 2000 or XP, it isn't native.
Danger said:
One of the major Mac advantages for me is the functional speed (as opposed to clock speed). Who wants to sit around for half the day waiting for a stupid PC to refresh a Photoshop or Illustrator file? My 233 MHz G3 is way faster than the 1.81 MHz P4 that I have at work.
While it is true that applications optomized for Mac run faster on a Mac than on a similar PC (Photoshop is a typical example), we're not talking more than double (and then only for very specific tasks) and the raw speed difference you cited is probably a good 5x, so if your Mac actually does run faster than that PC doing exactly the same tasks, there is probably something wrong with the PC.

The entire reason Apple has switched to Intel processors is the raw speed advantage of PCs years ago made the optomization advantage of Apple software irrelevant.
 
  • #65
russ_watters said:
While it is true that applications optomized for Mac run faster on a Mac than on a similar PC (Photoshop is a typical example), we're not talking more than double (and then only for very specific tasks) and the raw speed difference you cited is probably a good 5x, so if your Mac actually does run faster than that PC doing exactly the same tasks, there is probably something wrong with the PC.

The entire reason Apple has switched to Intel processors is the raw speed advantage of PCs years ago made the optomization advantage of Apple software irrelevant.

I took his comment to mean that OS X's work flow makes getting things done much faster than in windows.
 

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