What is Actually Better

Want to just shoot the breeze? Forum 42 is the place!

Moderator: Moderators

Nonsense Man
Posts: 896
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:03 am
Location: somewhere

Post by Nonsense Man »

I think i might buy a mac. but one questin can macs use firefox???
atari2600a
Posts: 1330
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:42 am
Location: Schwarzeneggerville, CA
Contact:

Post by atari2600a »

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/system-requirements.html wrote:Mac
Operating Systems

* Mac OS X 10.2.x and later

Minimum Hardware

* Macintosh computer with an Intel x86 or PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor
* 128 MB RAM (Recommended: 256 MB RAM or greater)
* 200 MB hard drive space

* Back to Firefox Page
Sparkfist
Forum Administrator
Posts: 6754
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:12 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Sparkfist »

Nonsense Man wrote:I think i might buy a mac. but one questin can macs use firefox???
Yes.

Macs have all the basic software you need to do your daily stuff. Office Suite (typicly Microsoft's), iTunes (music), QuickTime/Windows Media/other, Firefox/Mozilla/Opera/Safari/IE, iLife (web design/auido production/video production/DVD viewing), and more.

I personally want a Mac for two reasons, one is the OS, I love it as it's simple, mainstream and has what I love about the *nix world all in one package. Two is that the new Power Mac flat out has what I want in a Workstation, namely for video production.
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too

I am a geek.
benol
Posts: 1371
Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:53 pm
Location: In ur fourmz, postin in ur thredz!
Contact:

Post by benol »

The only thing I don't like about macs is their mouse only has ONE!!!
PM me for DS friend codes. PLEASE!
DOLGAT IS REAL!!!!

Help My MyMiniCity, plzkthxbai
josh
Posts: 281
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:59 am
Location: Birmingham, Al

Post by josh »

On a PC you get the best secrurity if you install linux!
Sparkfist
Forum Administrator
Posts: 6754
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:12 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Sparkfist »

anotherperson, I don't know about things like the laptops and most desktops, but the Power Mac is cheaper then if you bought a simalar setup from Dell. I think the difference was about $600, Apple has a link the story on the Power Mac page of their site. I will say that unless you want to tease yourself or you're willing to set down a lot of money don't bother looking at it too seriously. The setup I want is around $5000.
benol wrote:The only thing I don't like about macs is their mouse only has ONE!!!


You can use a different mouse. I can plug a logitec mouse right into my G3 and it works. So if you don't like the one button mouse, use a USB mouse you have lying around or buy a new one.

josh wrote:On a PC you get the best secrurity if you install linux!


Not everyone has the patients and internest to learn how to use a superior PC OS. Mac OS is just easier to use, namely as it's all GUI controlled and things are placed in an intuitive way so anyone from a newbie to a power-user can use it or admin they're system.
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too

I am a geek.
josh
Posts: 281
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:59 am
Location: Birmingham, Al

Post by josh »

Kubuntu Rocks... nuff said
bicostp
Moderator
Posts: 10491
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:47 pm
Steam ID: bicostp
Location: Spamalot
Contact:

Post by bicostp »

Mac:
- Rock-solid OS with Unix background
- Can run many Linux programs if the correct software is installed
- Also runs Linux if you want it to, so you can triple-boot.
- Runs Windows, for all of you who havenb't touched anything but BillyOS before :P)
- More well equipped than most PCs, all the Intel Macs run Intel Core processors
- Mac OS X is designed to take advantage of multi-core and multiple processors. Not so with XP.
- Comes with iLife (productivity) and Front Row (media center) software.
- I've never seen a Mac running OS X crash so bad that it takes down the whole computer.
- little (if any) spyware, very few viruses. (I think the classic Mac only had about a thousand viruses for it, ever, over its 16 year lifespan. That's about as many that come out for Windows quarterly.)
- Can utilize most USB and FireWire peripherals (WinModems being the exception)

Wintel:
- Cheaper in the short term
- Runs Windows (But as I just said a Mac can do that now, so it's best of both worlds)
- Since the individual companies are in charge of their hardware, there is a range in quality, even in the same product line, from decent to poor.
- Everything is a la carte (Extras cost more, some hardware comes built into Macs)
- Any software they ship with is generally either demoware or worth as much as a pile of fecal matter.

My main beef is with Dell, who seemingly refuses to conform to ATX standards. My dad's server machine needs special RAM, as does the OptiPlex GX 1 in the garage. All their hardware is proprietary, which makes them a repair nightmare. Their laptops are OK, but I wouldn't get their desktop machines agan.

Arguments:

"ZomG Macs Suk get a pc n000b!"
If you haven't used one regularly for a while, you're wasting my time.

"But it only has one mouse button!"
That's all that was needed for the longest time. (I think it took until Windows 95 for the right click to do anything extremely useful...) Besides, the <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... FA">Mighty Mouse</a> just LOOKS like a one-button mouse. It's touch sensitive, so it acts like there are 2 buttons. (Plus its scroll nub works in 4 directions, apparently.)

"PCs are cheaper!"
This was an argument 10 years ago, too. But back then, Macs generally shipped with better sound and video hardware, and the floppy drive was a lot more sleek. (It would eject the disk with motors.) Now, there's a webcam buit in, a tough sensitive mouse, and one of the best keyboards I've ever used (better than some expensive "gaming" keyboards, honestly). It's as though Apple is saying "We could compete with Wintel PC prices, but then we would be competing with lesser-quality hardware."

So in short, get a Mac. They're more flexible, have better standard features, and come with great software (that isn't a "trial" or "demo"). Go to CompUSA and play with the demo Mac for a few minutes. You'll be hooked.
totokan
Senior Member
Posts: 1785
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 12:29 pm
Location: 127.0.0.1
Contact:

Post by totokan »

I concur, mac>windows *Not PC, since mac is a PC*. Even though I can run Mac on my PC (and do), I'd rather buy a dedicated mac (which I can't do, saving up for a wii, since I have so much sales tax and I want games, too)
Shhh! I'm not officially back yet.
bicostp
Moderator
Posts: 10491
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:47 pm
Steam ID: bicostp
Location: Spamalot
Contact:

Post by bicostp »

You were probably running OS 9, the older version which was still based around the old System 7 look and feel. At that time, 16+ year old components such as the Chooser were crammed with more features than they were designed to hold, or as my programming instructor says "10 pounds of s*** in a 5 pound bag". The difference between 9 and X is like night and day.

I noticed a few things about your price comparison. First, you did not include any software with the PC besides XP Home. To compare with iLife, you should throw in some comperable software packages. You also didn't factor in shipping, to make it fair both units should be priced to arrive at your doorstep. And unless I'm mistaken, isn't Front Row pre-installed on iMacs? If so, then you should use XP Media Center Edition for the comparison, as opposed to Home Edition.

By "cheaper in the short term" I meant it's cheaper out-of-pocket cost when you buy the box, but the time and money spent on maintenance starts to add up.
vb_master
Moderator
Posts: 4793
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:52 pm

Post by vb_master »

Actually if you have a LCD, keyboard, and mouse for the PC already, it will be cheaper.

Also I would get XP Pro instead of Home.
Lt.Shinta
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:32 am

Personal chocie

Post by Lt.Shinta »

I am currently using a Mac Book Pro with 2 gig of ram and the upgraded CPU. No doubt about it a nice big price tag. I believe that Macs do cost more than PC's but you get more in the OS. It looks graet, has a nice UNIX engine behing it and it just works. So I may be dishing out more money but I pefer that it be a Mac. Its like comparing a Ford Festiva to a BMW 5 seris. One costs a hell of a lot more and it is a better car overall but is it worth all the extra money?, no it is not. IF we apply this to a computer example you should get what I am saying. When choosing a CPU for a comuter the higher the clock speed the lower your clock speed per dollar yet if you do want a uber fast computer then you pay that extra little bit. OS. Well if you like Tiger then go for it, like windows go for that and if you like Linix go for that. There a plenty of nice Linix distirbutions out there with nice GUI's.

My second point is comparing the hardware. Comparing a Mac to a Dell is like comparing a push bike to a plane....by that they are totaly different. Although the proccesser is faster on a Mac you are forgetting that the OS requires X amount of computing power. For example a boot up on a Mac is fast....like 25 secs tops. Even with a PC with 2 times the processing power it stll takes longer. The processes that run behing windows and mac must also be compared. Another example is RAM. Yes you may have 512mb ram in a PC but how much RAM can you use. XP runs slugish on 256 RAM so you can not untlise all of the RAM that it has...

Last but not least I thin you should go for what you are comfatabloe with. Consider the 3 p's(price, purpose and postion). By this I mean if you go for a cheap PC dont get a Mac, get a pc with Linix (free) and b purpose I mean if you want to be a gamer dont get a Mac, if you use for every day use then getting a Mac is fine and by postion I mean there is no point getting a Mac if you are using it on a windows network. All you will do is cause headaches for the admin as he ponders compatablity. PS. For all of you that have never used a Mac (read this anotherperson) you really do ahave a function for right click. It is called control click. Eg hold control butto n and click. Brings same features up (cut, copy, move change backgrounf, get info [properties of a file]). And if you do get a mouse with 2 buttons just select that as you poiting device and the right click will act as control click.

cya
Lt.Shinta
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:32 am

oh yeah front row

Post by Lt.Shinta »

Yeah front row is shipped with Tiger and it takes advantage of I life to use it. Eg play music from I tunes...thus should of used Media center. Also most of the new macs come with the IR remote which can be used with front row or to use for power points. Not sure if Mac Pro has it tho.... Also ever head of fire wire 800 ..uber fast compared to other ports. Also the Mac's come installed with file maker, keynote and pages. Although they are only trial versions for 30ddays which then reqire you to purchase a key off apple in order to contiune to use.[/i]
Lt.Shinta
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:32 am

Progmming

Post by Lt.Shinta »

As for programming I am sure that Tiger comes pre installed with a C++ compiler, Python interpriter and PHP installed although this aint hugely great features or even use by averae users.
Lt.Shinta
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:32 am

I forgot

Post by Lt.Shinta »

Also anotherperson you need to learn a little bit about url. Your link is a sesion.
Post Reply