Tell me why I should buy an iMac instead of a PC.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Also, tell me why I should buy a PC instead of an iMac.


I'll be able to afford one or the other with my next paycheck.

SICK BANK, BABY!!!

[icecab21]

Well, what do you want in a computer? The best fit option depends on what you are looking for.

[NeverendingAbyss]

fastness (or quickness?) is always good.
It's mainly to start doing my work in peace. This computer I'm using is the family computer and everyone is using it like a motherfucker.
I like the Mac because it has everything on it. It also doesn't have issues with viruses as those with the PC.
But the PC has a lot of softwares compatible that come with it. Windows 7 is a choice, but it's just an upgrade from Vista. I don't really like the layout.
My choice for the Mac is the 21.5" $1499 model.
As for PCs, any Dell or Toshiba will do great.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

The iMac $1500 model comes with the following specs:
3.06 ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB RAM
1TB Hard Drive
21.5 inch display

I was able to find a Dell Optiplex 380 DT for $553 with the exact same configuration, and with a dedicated video card too. I used one of those online coupon codes to take off $350 but they are always floating around (like a turd in a vegetarians toilet).

I like the Mac because it has everything on it. It also doesn't have issues with viruses as those with the PC.

99.9% of the time when a user gets a virus on his PC, its not because of some security vulnerability deep in the Windows Kernel. They're downloading programs like Venezuela_Porn_Banners.exe.

For my price you could buy three computers and if one of them gets a virus you can toss it out the window.

I'm a PC person

[icecab21]

* Two 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
* 32GB (8x4GB)
* Mac Pro RAID Card
* 2TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* 2TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* 2TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* 2TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* 4x NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
* Two 18x SuperDrives
* Apple Cinema HD Display (30" flat panel)
* Apple Cinema HD Display (30" flat panel)
* Apple Mouse
* Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (English) and User's Guide
* AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi Card with 802.11n
* Quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel PCI Express card
* iWork Family Pack preinstalled
* Aperture preinstalled
* Final Cut Express preinstalled
* Logic Express preinstalled
* FileMaker Pro 11 preinstalled
* Microsoft Office Mac 2008 - Business Edition
* MAC OS X Server (Unlimited-Client)
* Xsan 2.2
* Apple Mini DisplayPort - DVI Adapter
* Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
* Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
* MobileMe Family Pack
* EPSON Artisan 810 Wireless Color InkJet All-in-One Printer
* 1-year One to One membership
* AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac Pro - Auto-enroll

all this for only
$21,234.85

[Equinox]

MHO:

Mac OS X.

I was a Windows user for 6 years. I didn't even knew that much about Mac, but decided to give it a try. In the first 6 months, I was converted. I am running my 3rd Mac now (Sold the others to upgrade) And will never look back.

Programs are more clean and easy to understand, you become much more productive and creative. [At least it happened to me]. You can find apps that can do everything better and easier. Things are so much more clean and easy to understand that I simply cannot overstated it.

Arguably the hardware runs better with the software since all components go thru Apple before you get them. Yes, you loose the ability to upgrade and shit, but I personally always keep another pc that I can play with. The fact that I can't change a component has never stopped me from doing all I wanted to.

Graphics. We may not have the best video cards around, but we have the best displays hands down. I've seen some rather expensive displays from different brands and they do not compare to a Apple's display. It is so much more defined. Even when running Windows. Which takes me to the other reason:

You can run windows and all their applications. I work all day with computers, and I am forced to have to use Windows. I have installed it alongside my Mac OS. [Bootcamp]. So, if I need to use AD, I simply boot to Windows and it's done.

Of course, it all depends on what you do. If you are a gamer, I cannot recommend you to buy a Mac. We do have games and stuff [Mainly Steam] but the graphic power available doesn't come near what you can buy outside and stuff into your home-made windows machine.

Oh, and Mac OS X is simply not as complex and convoluted as Windows. And the OS doesn't talk to you as much. It leaves you alone.

Let's put it to this way. . . after some years using my Mac, I've gotten used to everything simply working. And I've only formatted my [3] Macs 3 times; it's usually not because of a problem, but because I simply want to start fresh. . . again.

[Rebel]

Buy an Asus, you'll get the same functionality of the $1500 mac, for probably $700, maybe cheaper, and it has the highest customer satisfaction rating among any windows running PC/Laptop.

[Babylonian]

It depends what you do with your computer. If you play games choose PC, but if you don't play them, Mac is good choice as well as PC.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Well, I'm not so interested in computer games since I have a 360. I'll probably have Zsnes (if compatible) installed, but that's all.
I'm going for a desktop because I simply HATE laptops. My sister has one and I can't get used to it no matter how much time I spend using it.
I'm still an XP person. I find the network configuration so much easier than with Vista or Win7. Though with Win7 you can use two windows at the same time, you'd have to be really lazy to buy it because of that reason. Minimizing programs is easy enough.
The Mac has this great hardware-software relationship that it's simply too good to use. Thus the expensiveness. But if I have the money, why not buy it?
As for programs, thepiratebay is there for me.

[NeonVomit]

Ok, let me clarify this from the outset. Computers are, to me, something like a household appliance. I do know how to use them, but have virtually no idea of how they actually work. It's like asking me how my fridge works. I sort of know, vaguely, but never actually bothered thinking about it. It's just a fridge. It keeps my beer cold. So like, my computer allows me to access the internet. Any talk beyond RAM is witchcraft to me.

So, for my own ignorant take on the subject:

PCs are good for many things. Macs are too. They're maybe a bit better at different stuff from each other but yeah, whatever.

The problem with a mac is that once you buy it, you are property of Steve Jobs. You read that correctly. He owns your computing life.

I mean, you can own a PC and theoretically wash yourself of anything Microsoft. Of course, very few normal people do this because that would take like, actual effort and a technologically-illiterate baboon like myself cannot be bothered with such nonsense, but certainly it's a better feeling to be in a prison where the gate is open and you could leave any time. Sort of like how Italian people have the choice to not vote for Berlusconi, but still do in any case. You have the ability to choose, man.

Once the latest model of a Mac comes out, all the software for your generation of computer vanishes. This may not be an issue with the spread of internet piracy, but dammit it's the principle of the thing. But your computer will not work with any of the new peripherals. The concept of 'reverse compatibility' apparently does not exist within Apple and their general attitude to the consumer seems to be one of them tolerating than actually trying to please. It seems like they're doing you a favour by allowing you to own their shiny products, rather than you doing them a favour by giving them your hard-earned cash.

Case in point: the iPhone 4. It came out, loads of people went and bought one. Two days later, in the news we hear stories about how holding the fucking thing in order to use it causes the signal to be blocked.

Steve Jobs' response: 'Hold it differently'. Because clearly, it is not the task of the company to FUCKING DESIGN SOMETHING PROPERLY.

I dunno, I couldn't buy into that mindset and sleep at night. But then again, I live in a country that had Gordon Brown as Prime Minister followed by David Cameron, and where George Osborne is not only still allowed to walk in daylight, but is in charge of the nation's finances. If these things didn't cause me to run away screaming, I don't think a bit of technology would.

But yeah, Apple pisses me off.

[Rebel]

Well, I'm not so interested in computer games since I have a 360. I'll probably have Zsnes (if compatible) installed, but that's all.
I'm going for a desktop because I simply HATE laptops. My sister has one and I can't get used to it no matter how much time I spend using it.
I'm still an XP person. I find the network configuration so much easier than with Vista or Win7. Though with Win7 you can use two windows at the same time, you'd have to be really lazy to buy it because of that reason. Minimizing programs is easy enough.
The Mac has this great hardware-software relationship that it's simply too good to use. Thus the expensiveness. But if I have the money, why not buy it?
As for programs, thepiratebay is there for me.

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

[NeverendingAbyss]

@NV doesn't buying a PC somehow give money to two companies instead of one?
I understand the issues with the iPhone. Which is the reason why I never buy something that comes on the market the very first day.

@Rebel really? I find apple's hardware quite amusing, from the "magic mouse" to the slim monitor. I do hate the gloss, though.

The Dell Studio XPS 9000 is about the same price as the iMac, but has different things from apple's computer. Both look good, but I still haven't made up my mind.

Hopfully I'll make my decision in two weeks when I buy it.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

The Dell Studio XPS 9000 is about the same price as the iMac, but has different things from apple's computer. Both look good, but I still haven't made up my mind.

Why the fixation on spending $1500? Unless you're into serious gaming, there is no reason why you need to spend more than $600.

Don't get a high end system. It doesn't matter if you spend $500 or $2000 today. In 3 years it will be more useless than Helen Keller's Kindle.

Just save your money and if you really want, upgrade more often.

[miditek]

Also, tell me why I should buy a PC instead of an iMac.


I'll be able to afford one or the other with my next paycheck.

SICK BANK, BABY!!!

I think that you should base your decision on what applications (programs) that you need to run, and also what day-to-day tasks that you're trying to accomplish.

I'd seen the Mac vs. PC wars for decades (even on the old Fidonet BBS boards), and they were completely ridiculous.

Nowadays, the hardware on both Macs and as well as PC's are essentially identical (mostly Intel processors, SATA drives, etc.) and the main difference is the operating system itself.

You'll probably find a lot more applications that will run on Windows vs. the Mac, and will pay less money. The Mac OS systems are probably a bit less (although this is changing) susceptible to viruses and spyware, but the hardware cost is much higher than that of a comparable PC. The newer versions of the Mac OS were built on top of BSD Unix, and have a rather powerful command line interface (CLI) under the hood that the older Motorola-based Macs lacked- and the CLI feature can be useful for those that are more technically inclined.

You can also use VMWare (or the Mac OS add-on called "Parallels") where you can essentially run Windows, Mac, and other operating systems on the same machine. That's one thing that I really like about today's technology- which is the interoperability, which was sorely lacking not too long ago.

PC's probably offer the best "bang for the buck", so to speak- but that's just my opinion.

[NeonVomit]

@NV doesn't buying a PC somehow give money to two companies instead of one?
I understand the issues with the iPhone. Which is the reason why I never buy something that comes on the market the very first day.

Well... I guess your money goes to Dell/HP/IBM/whatever and Microsoft, if it comes with like Windows preinstalled or something. Intel would get a cut as well I suppose (my own computer has an AMD).

And yes, buying something the moment it comes onto the market is stupid. Remember when the Pentium debuted and some of them started blowing up or something? That was kinda funny, in a scary way.

PC's probably offer the best "bang for the buck", so to speak- but that's just my opinion.

Agreed. I mean, for my own uses getting a Mac would not be worth it. I don't do anything fancy other than spread Winter's Verge propaganda and annoy people on internet forums, and for my recording purposes Cubase is fine. I only record rough ideas in any case.

A close friend of mine is a professional graphic designer who swears by Macs for her work, but uses a PC for her personal stuff. Make of that what you will...

[Babylonian]

As for programs, thepiratebay is there for me.

Some of programs works with Mac and some of them doesn't work. Search with Google example "Your program and Mac OS X" and you will probably find, will your program work with Mac OS X.

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

Provide an explanation why Mac is "the worst hardware you'll find one the market". Your comment isn't very good.

[robocop656]

You could always build a "Hackintosh"!!
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/featur ... hackintosh

[fernandotcl]

I've been forced to use OS X at work for some time now, maybe 1 or 2 months. I think you should try it out before you make up your mind. Personally, I'd rather use Windows 95.

[Rebel]

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

Provide an explanation why Mac is "the worst hardware you'll find one the market". Your comment isn't very good.

Intergrated graphics cards are standard, you cannot upgrade, replace, or fix everything, it is locked into one single OS which means you can't add a new Operating System when it comes out. It is overpriced beyond belief.

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB9 ... TM3NDc2NDc
There is a $1200 system with a 3.06GHz processor, 4GB Ram, and a 500GB harddrive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics card.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Esse ... Id=9964819
Here is a $750 Asus Desktop with a 3.2 GHz processor, 8GB Ram, and 1TB Harddrive, and a significantly more powerful graphics card. It also has a 16 in one card reader, 10 USB ports.
But it doesn't come with a Monitor. The iMac has a 21.5" screen, resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.
Since the Asus model is $450 cheaper, let's take a look at some comparable monitors from Asus.
http://www.nextag.com/Asus-VH242H-24-Wi ... rices-html
A monitor of the same resolution (1080p, in TV Terms), costs about $200.

That leaves you with $250 to spare, as well as a SIGNIFICANTLY faster machine, twice as much storage space, much more ram, and much better processing power. You can Install any software you want, including a mass of freeware (Like Video game emulators) that run much more naturally on a PC,
and as other posters above mentioned, you're not selling your soul to Steve Jobs.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Hmmm... so I realize that with the mac you can't upgrade. Then again, I never upgraded this family computer (it's been 6 years now).

If I were to buy a Mac, then I can sell it in the future at a substantial price and then buy a new one (not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, either).

I don't want to spend more than $1600 on a computer. In fact, $1500 is my biggest bid.

I think I'll pay a visit to Best Buy and Apple Store this weekend. I'm still undecided...

[NeonVomit]

Yeah but selling an old-generation mac is virtually pointless, since the buyer won't be able to get any of the latest software or peripherals to go with it. None of them will be compatible. So they go pretty cheap for a reason.

I dunno... personally, I'd only buy a Mac if I had a good reason to (wanted to use specific programs, etc.)

[NeverendingAbyss]

You can also use VMWare (or the Mac OS add-on called "Parallels") where you can essentially run Windows, Mac, and other operating systems on the same machine.

I checked the price and it's ~$80.00

But I also have to buy Win7 or XP too, right?

At least I know I'll have Ubuntu.

By the way, thank you all for telling me your point of views and informations of this matter. A wise customer is a happy customer.

[miditek]

You can also use VMWare (or the Mac OS add-on called "Parallels") where you can essentially run Windows, Mac, and other operating systems on the same machine.

I checked the price and it's ~$80.00

But I also have to buy Win7 or XP too, right?

At least I know I'll have Ubuntu.

By the way, thank you all for telling me your point of views and informations of this matter. A wise customer is a happy customer.

You can buy parallels if you want to spend the extra $$- and have a simplified experience with running both operating systems. You would definitely need to get a licensed copy of WinXP or Win7 as well.

You could still use VMWare Server, some versions of which are actually free, to build and XP or 7 VM, and still run it alongside your Mac OS. You can also install the free VMWare tools, to make it easier to share your Mac's peripherals (and files) between the Windows VM and your Mac.

It's probably a matter of personal preference, but the average person would probably find Parallels simpler to use, while IT-types and geeks would probably opt for VMWare.

Another advantage of running VMWare is that there are a great number of pre-built "appliances" that run various distros of Unix (such as BSD), Linux, etc.- and some of these applicances are built for specific purposes. Downloading and "mounting" these appliances in a VMWare server is a fairly easy process.

I've used appliances for network security and performance monitoring to (quickly) evaluate open-source software products such as Cacti and Nagios.

The main issue that you'll notice with either Parallels or with VMWare is reduced disk I/O performance on a VM vs. the host Mac (or PC) itself . One trick that I've used is to select a "vitural" LSI SCSI adapter (as opposed to a vitual SATA or IDE disk) when configuring a VM. This helps a bit, but is certainly no substitute for a "real" disk I/O solution, such as using blade servers and fiber-connected SAN units with the fastest SCSI disks that are available.

Just a few tips on what to expect, but hope this helps...!

Also, while Ubuntu is cool, if you're running the Mac OS itself, try to remember that it has a rather powerful CLI (command line interface) now, and that the OS itself was built on top of the BSD Unix kernel- the Mac stuff is basically a wrapper- or Apple's version (or shall we say, equivalent) of an "X" desktop in Unix, or KDE or GNOME in Linux. There is a definite architectural difference now in the kernel as opposed to the legacy OS 7, 8, and 9 stuff that ran on the older Motorola and PowerPC processors.

On a final note, I actually have had better luck with SUSE 10, 11, etc. than other Linux distros- and one of the things that I really like is SUSE's YAST- which is a centralized administration tool, which comes with a very useful software mangagement and repository feature. If you really love to download and unzip tarballs and then setup your RPMS, and then install new stuff from the command line- then that's great, but it does take additional time. When I'm working, I usually want to get the work done, and not sit there and fight with and hunt for 10-20 missing lib files just to get a simple app up and running!

YAST automates a lot of that type of thing, and on other distros in the past, I'd get so sidetracked with missing libs, RPMS, I'd get four or five layers deep and forget what the hell I was trying to load to begin with!

[Babylonian]

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

Provide an explanation why Mac is "the worst hardware you'll find one the market". Your comment isn't very good.

Intergrated graphics cards are standard, you cannot upgrade, replace, or fix everything, it is locked into one single OS which means you can't add a new Operating System when it comes out. It is overpriced beyond belief.

Mac computers aren't designed for gaming. That's the reason, why Macs have weak graphics card. Macs are designed for video and photo editing and basic Internet surfing. Gamers usually mock Macs, because it's useless for them.

[Equinox]

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

Provide an explanation why Mac is "the worst hardware you'll find one the market". Your comment isn't very good.

Intergrated graphics cards are standard, you cannot upgrade, replace, or fix everything, it is locked into one single OS which means you can't add a new Operating System when it comes out. It is overpriced beyond belief.

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB9 ... TM3NDc2NDc
There is a $1200 system with a 3.06GHz processor, 4GB Ram, and a 500GB harddrive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics card.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Esse ... Id=9964819
Here is a $750 Asus Desktop with a 3.2 GHz processor, 8GB Ram, and 1TB Harddrive, and a significantly more powerful graphics card. It also has a 16 in one card reader, 10 USB ports.
But it doesn't come with a Monitor. The iMac has a 21.5" screen, resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.
Since the Asus model is $450 cheaper, let's take a look at some comparable monitors from Asus.
http://www.nextag.com/Asus-VH242H-24-Wi ... rices-html
A monitor of the same resolution (1080p, in TV Terms), costs about $200.

That leaves you with $250 to spare, as well as a SIGNIFICANTLY faster machine, twice as much storage space, much more ram, and much better processing power. You can Install any software you want, including a mass of freeware (Like Video game emulators) that run much more naturally on a PC,
and as other posters above mentioned, you're not selling your soul to Steve Jobs.

I'll only comment on two things:

Not all Macs have integrated graphics card there are options.
You can run all 3 mayor OSes [OS X, Windows, Linux] on a intel Mac. And you don't necessarily need to buy a Parallels or Fusion, you could use bootcamp and install Linux, Vista, XP or 7. [Not sure if a computer can do all of them at once] -Can you say the same thing about, let's say a Dell Dimension or that Asus?

Do your homework 'fore posting.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Do your homework 'fore posting.

You mad, bro?

I just heard this term- Mac's for fags.
Then what does a PC make me?

[Rebel]

Defend or hate on Apple all you want, but Macintosh computers are awful. The worst hardware you'll find one the market.

Provide an explanation why Mac is "the worst hardware you'll find one the market". Your comment isn't very good.

Intergrated graphics cards are standard, you cannot upgrade, replace, or fix everything, it is locked into one single OS which means you can't add a new Operating System when it comes out. It is overpriced beyond belief.

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB9 ... TM3NDc2NDc
There is a $1200 system with a 3.06GHz processor, 4GB Ram, and a 500GB harddrive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics card.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Esse ... Id=9964819
Here is a $750 Asus Desktop with a 3.2 GHz processor, 8GB Ram, and 1TB Harddrive, and a significantly more powerful graphics card. It also has a 16 in one card reader, 10 USB ports.
But it doesn't come with a Monitor. The iMac has a 21.5" screen, resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.
Since the Asus model is $450 cheaper, let's take a look at some comparable monitors from Asus.
http://www.nextag.com/Asus-VH242H-24-Wi ... rices-html
A monitor of the same resolution (1080p, in TV Terms), costs about $200.

That leaves you with $250 to spare, as well as a SIGNIFICANTLY faster machine, twice as much storage space, much more ram, and much better processing power. You can Install any software you want, including a mass of freeware (Like Video game emulators) that run much more naturally on a PC,
and as other posters above mentioned, you're not selling your soul to Steve Jobs.

I'll only comment on two things:

Not all Macs have integrated graphics card there are options.
You can run all 3 mayor OSes [OS X, Windows, Linux] on a intel Mac. And you don't necessarily need to buy a Parallels or Fusion, you could use bootcamp and install Linux, Vista, XP or 7. [Not sure if a computer can do all of them at once] -Can you say the same thing about, let's say a Dell Dimension or that Asus?

Do your homework 'fore posting.

Uhh.. Yeah. I want to overpay for inferior hardware so I can run Windows 7 bootcamp, which is less functional that the more cost efficient asus that was designed to run windows in the first place.

Yup.

[icecab21]

buy a mac if you want mac only programs.

[robocop656]

Macs are for hipsters. Everytime I see a Mac I think of this teacher who taught how to use them who only had 1 hand. SO I think of dudes with 1 hand when I see a mac. And the biggity smiggity "I AM BETTER THAN YOU LOL CHECK OUT THIS IT'S WHITE AND SHINY LOL!! U DONT HAVE IPOD? U NOT COOL!!! LOL !! CHECK OUT MY VESPA!! LOL!"

LOL

Expect to be thrust into a culture of retro non prescription glasses with pabst blue ribbon beer (5 bucks for a 6 pack) and cocaine cowboys.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Well, I made the money. My paycheck is on Wednesday, though.

Anyone know which is the best ink-friendly printer out there for home purposes?

There's a Lexmark here, but it wastes Cyan color when you print black, which is bullshit.

This is the reason why I ask...