Poll: PC or Mac

[Deadyawn]

PC.
Not for any legitmate reason mind you (well, beyond the fact that there are like no games for Mac) but mostly because I'm stubborn.

 

[DoPo]

A PC is a personal computer. A Macintosh is a type of personal computer. They are the same thing.

That they are functionally the same is not a point I would argue in much the same way that I would agree that a Ford Tarus and a Porche Boxter are both cars.

The Ford and Porsche are both types of cars, yes, however that's not like what the poll asks - it's more like "Would you prefer to drive a car or a Ford?". Ford is a car - there is no legitimate reason to set it apart and compare it to the same group as itself. We can expand this - do you like purple or colours, do you like lunch or food, do you like dogs or animals. In all cases it's a false choice - purple is a colour, lunch is food, and a dog is an animal.

A Mac is a PC. I type this running Linux Mint 12 on a PoS HP laptop. Poll invalid.

Im tempted to swap over to Linux or at least run it in tandem to Windows7. How hard is it to get into going from Windows?

It's not too hard but there is a learning curve involved. There are lots of guides on the Internet, though, and lots of books written about it, as well as loads and loads of distros suitable for beginners. Depending on how in-depth you want to go. It's perfectly possible to install Linux and just start using it, though, however if you were really comfortable with digging around Windows, you might hit some unfamiliar and maybe uncomfortable ground. Ironically, it's somewhat easier for casual users, than to power ones because the former aren't interested in what happens under the hood, they just want it to work.

I'd suggest running Linux alongside Windows. It just makes it easier and you can always just go to Windows if you feel overwhelmed, or if you want to play some Solitaire (or other games). And luckily, it's super easy to set dual booting up. Just follow these steps:
1. Set up a separate partition for Linux. 10-50GB depending on how much you really want (I think mine is about 30GB). Optional but recommended - set up a swap space, too. That would be just another partition, make it somewhere between 1x and 2x your RAM. If you're unsure, just go for 1.5x if you have large amounts (say 8GB or something) or 2x otherwise.
2. Install Linux on your Linux partition. Point it to the swap partition if you have it.
3. Done.

Now you run both together. You get a choice which to use when booting up. And that's all there is to it. As for a distro, I'll probably suggest Ubuntu - it's pretty user friendly and still functional to boot. I myself use Mint, which is basically a modified Ubuntu (*high fives Doom-Slayer* ) which is also a fair choice, I think. But I'm not too well versed in Linux distros, maybe there is a better starting option.

 

[Olas]

Always been repulsed by Apple's attitude and branding so PC. Not that I necessarily love Windows mind you.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Windows because it does everything I need and isn't just pretty like a Mac. Linux would be good if I could be bothered learning more about it.

 

[The Last Nomad]

Well anyone argueing that Macs are better for something should realise that that is no longer the case. They used to be made from parts suited to media related things and so they were used for that kinda stuff very often (and still are) but now Macs and other PCs are made from the same hardware so PCs can effectively do just as well as macs in all areas. Although you may have to build it customly for the best results.

Really its just about how easy they are to use. And in that regard I prefer Windows based PCs. Also, they are cheaper. And for bums like me thats a major plus.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

PC for games, media, Photoshopping, and video editing (I despise quicktime)

MAC for internet surfing, writing documents, and porn surfing (almost no viruses)

 

[mad825]

Oh, and for the record, Windows 8's interface is the best I've seen in a long time. Both the tablet centric "tiles" one, and the re-designed desktop. Most people hate it for the sake of hating.

Most people are hating because there is a lack of choice. Why should I be force to used the Metro interface? I prefer the old interface because it's more efficient and familiar, for me, the change is unnecessary as I only use desktop version of windows with a mouse and keyboard.

Sorry, but why did you say "seen"? Haven't you tried the demo version yet?

 

[blackrave]

Windows (PC)
mostly because I build rigs on my own and I'm used to Windows OS
It may not be as functional as Linux, or as user friendly as Mac, but it gives a little of both camps

But after seeing Win8...
I know that MS made improvements beyond visuals, and I'm supporting it
I don't care about added touchscreen functionality much, but there better be WinXP UI available in Win8
And I mean like whole man-machine interaction, not just visuals
When I first tried to defrag HDD on Win7 it took me ~5min to find this function
Why? This function was available at least since Win98, it should stay in the same place
It is like building new car and rearranging functions of all pedals, sticks and switches every time, just because you can.
If Function is the same, it should stay in the same place.

P.S. Anyone else thinks that WinXp was the best Windows OS?

 

[Thatguyky]

Wow! I figured the polls would be a little bit closer. Mac is getting its butt whooped.
I'm a Mac user myself so that kinda sucks, but each to their own I guess. The only reason I would want a Windows OS ( or "PC") is for gaming, but you can use bootcamp on a Mac for that to get the best of both worlds

 

[Westaway]

Unless you're an artist, there is no advantage to having a mac; they are over priced facebook machines. I did a project in school, where I compared the internals of a mac book ($1300) to a Nividia ($800) They had the exact same internals.

The argument that macs run smoother or are easier to use is bollocks. Ever operating system is easy to use now, it's not 1990. I seriously doubt you'd hop on a PC after using a mac for a month and not be able to boot up Chrome.

 

[Westaway]

Unless you're an artist, there is no advantage to having a mac;

If I were an artist, what advantages would Mac ownership offer me?

To tell you the truth, I actually don't know. I read a discussion yesterday on the internet regarding the subject. One stated the advantages of using Windows, the other Mac. I didn't understand one word of it, considering I'm not a musical artist, but what I got out of it is that Mac and PC have some software unique to them, and some people prefer certain software, so it's more preference.

I do remember one quote, though.

"The only reason "artsy" people use Macs is because they're just that, artists. They don't know anything about computers, so they use what looks cool"

So yeah, I think Windows is probably better for artists, too.

 

[blackrave]

Defragging is pretty much a waste of time anyway.

And no, Windows 7 is better in every way.

Yeah, maybe that was nostalgia seizure, but I still liked XP more :/

But defragmentation is waste of time only on SSD, on HDD it slightly improves search time

 

[lacktheknack]

I use PCs. At this point, if I bought a Mac, I'd pay three times what I care to pay and would have to learn a new OS. No thanks.

Also, my experience with Macs consists of breaking them. Spectacularly. By doing things like closing a window. Seriously, whoever insists that Macs don't hang or crash has never met me.

 

[direkiller]

Both? Is that allowed? :/

I have my MacBook I use for little things, art, and mobility, and I've got my Windows I use for gaming or anything strenuous (my little 'Book is 5 years old now, but still runs quite well).

I honestly want to understand why Apple gets so much hate. I just don't get it. Someone care to explain?

1.overpriced for the ablility of the computer:
for $2k if you buy the parts yourself you can build a godly PC(including buying the OS)
for the same price you can buy a very good PC from a company
for a mac it will get you a meh computer
27in Imac($1,999.00)
(3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
2560 x 1440 resolution
4GB (two 2GB) memory
1TB hard drive1
AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 1G)

for some perspective that's worse then a high end from 5 years ago except for the screen size

2. Lack of comparability with games(Yes this is still an issue)

3. Lack of an ability to upgrade/switch parts

 

[Paladin2905]

Strongly prefer Windows. Besides the Mac culture that I can't stand, I find that doing about anything on a Mac is subject to the text adventure fallacy; you know, the one where the function you want can only be performed by doing it exactly the way the developer thought of? I've used Macs a few times, and every time come away thinking "you can't get ye flask".

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

Versus threads get locked; just saying.

Personally, I prefer WINDOWS(because that's what we're really talking about) because MAC OS is too restrictive.

 

[DoPo]

Unless you're an artist, there is no advantage to having a mac;

If I were an artist, what advantages would Mac ownership offer me?

Umm, as far as I know it has good software for this kind of stuff. And it ships with the OS (I think), so instead of Paint and audio recording they would have actual good photo editors and audio editors. Or something like that. If that is the case, I guess an argument can be made that you are paying more for that but you save money on other software you need to buy...unless you actually buy it or something.

But let me be obnoxious and ask, are Macs <i.that much[/I] better than Ubuntu Studio [http://ubuntustudio.org/] or Dream Studio [http://dream.dickmacinnis.com/forum/]?

 

[newwiseman]

Macs are toasters, I love how easy they are to work on and prefer them in my work environment because of that. But the damn things are just too expensive for any personal use (though pc prices are going up to match equivalent specs), the intel machines even have a longer shelf life if you install Win7 on them... so ya PC.

What I really love is my Hackintosh Laptop, 4 boots, 10.6, 10.7, uBuntu, Win7. It's my Swiss army knife laptop for diagnostics, and cost less than $500.

 

[bam13302]

Spoiler: Why Im still on windowns

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yea, that about sums it up (though as soon as steam officially supports linux, im done with both)
On that note, i will give mac props for the aluminum laptop cases, its the only reason i ever considered buying one and why i wont by any standard laptop priced beyond $500

 

[Griffolion]

Oh, and for the record, Windows 8's interface is the best I've seen in a long time. Both the tablet centric "tiles" one, and the re-designed desktop. Most people hate it for the sake of hating.

Most people are hating because there is a lack of choice. Why should I be force to used the Metro interface? I prefer the old interface because it's more efficient and familiar, for me, the change is unnecessary as I only use desktop version of windows with a mouse and keyboard.

Sorry, but why did you say "seen"? Haven't you tried the demo version yet?

Hmm I had a pretty okay time switching over to the desktop view rather than Metro. And by seen, that's what I meant.