Calling those who are in the know: new computer time!

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Yep our home PC is creaking and groaning and it will soon be time to retire it off.

Which do I get next?

The children are not far off starting school and I hear they are using Apple Macs more and more now so am thinking I should go down that route.

Apple computers are about 2k to buy which isnt too bad but are they that much better? Ive asked around at work but seem to find (in those that give a shit) two ends of the spectrum in love them or hate them.

Anyone out there use both and can give me the real pro's and con's of each please.

Cheers

KG

[firefighter]

Apples are good......they are fast etc.

BUT. They are pieces of shit when you want to operate any programs with it. Yes most new programs are compatible with mac, but to give you an idea of how much of a fucken pain they are, a girl on my study group had to buy a notebook just to use an add on in excel called PHstat, as the mac just would'nt let it work, and she's had heeeeeaps of compatibility issues. A real pain in the fucken ass really. Yep you can run and additional program which is supposed to work like windows on your mac, but it does'nt work properly so often (like everything that is'nt purpose built) it was'nt worth the hassle and she just went and got the notebook.

For the money you pay for a basic mac, you can get a top of the line pc. Make life easier on yourself and get what will work with everything.

To top it off, all my mates who work in I.T hate macs.......

[Tank]

Anyone out there use both and can give me the real pro's and con's of each please.

First thing is to work out what you need it to do - then you can select the best tool for the job.

Apple vs PC - is just a argument thats going to end in tears.

[Tank]

Apples are good......but they are pieces of shit when you want to operate any other programs with it. Yes most new ones are compatible with mac, but to give you an idea of how much of a fucken pain they are, a girl on my study group had to buy a notebook just to use an add on in excel called PHstat, as the mac just would'nt let it work, and she's had heeeeeaps of compatibility issues. A real pain in the fucken ass really. Yep you can run and additional program which is supposed to work like windows on your mac, but it does'nt work properly so often (like everything that is'nt purpose built)

For the money you pay for a basic mac, you can get a top of the line pc. Make life easier on yourself and get what will work with everything.

All my mates who work in I.T hate macs.......

And people like the above seem to forget that a MAC is just a PC with a different operating system - heck - you can run Windows on a mac (dual boot) without issue - and then you can use all the PC software as well.

As for all IT people hating macs - pffft - we have dozens of them here and no complaints.

[Bald Eagle]

Apples are good......but they are pieces of shit when you want to operate any other programs with it. Yes most new ones are compatible with mac, but to give you an idea of how much of a fucken pain they are, a girl on my study group had to buy a notebook just to use an add on in excel called PHstat, as the mac just would'nt let it work, and she's had heeeeeaps of compatibility issues. A real pain in the fucken ass really. Yep you can run and additional program which is supposed to work like windows on your mac, but it does'nt work properly so often (like everything that is'nt purpose built)

For the money you pay for a basic mac, you can get a top of the line pc. Make life easier on yourself and get what will work with everything.

All my mates who work in I.T hate macs.......

Usual old stuff. I work in I.T supporting Novel network and windows and use a mac as my personal weapon of choice. My current one does everything I need and now they have intel processors if your desperate for the Gates virus ware you can always dual boot and run Windows when it's unavoidable.

[firefighter]

And people like the above seem to forget that a MAC is just a PC with a different operating system - heck - you can run Windows on a mac (dual boot) without issue - and then you can use all the PC software as well

You can, just do'nt expect half the programs to work. I seen it first hand, with most of the software put out by the publishers of textbooks. For some reason it wo'nt work with the dual boot thing.

I'd rather spend half the money and get a higher spec'd system, and not have to fuck around when I want to use add-ons etc.

I'm not going to get into debate on this with you guys though as with you both personally working in I.T and obviously know a shiteload more than I do! My opinion is just from user experience.

[Tank]

You can, just do'nt expect half the programs to work. I seen it first hand..

Im sorry - that is just nonsense.

[SMOKEU]

Macs are gay, there are some very good Linux OS out there on the other hand.

[Headbanger]

Apple VS PC.

Your paying a premium for the Apple, so you really want to be positive your keen on the OS.Forget dual booting, If you want to do that then buy a PC. Paying the Apple premium and then running Windows on it is madness.

You could alays consult your kids as well, if they want to use it as a gaming platform then get a PC.

Playtech has some nice systems, You can get a more powerful PC built with quality components for about half the price of an Apple.

http://www.playtech.co.nz/


http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139...ctdetails.html

[firefighter]

Im sorry - that is just nonsense.

Nope. http://www.prenhall.com/phstat/

It refused to work. (We had a download from the Uni website via Stream which is where we get all our info from).

I have no reason to just make that up.

[Headbanger]

Ah, I see your kids aren't yet school age,in which case....

I got something similar to this for my inlaws via playtech.

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139...ctdetails.html

Paired it with a 22" LCD and they were more then happy, and I haven't yet been called back to sort anything on it and its been months.

[High Lord]

you can get cheap-ish lappys from Dic smith now...$1200.... that unless yr CAD/making movies etc should do everything you need , and you can stash it away when you suddenly find yr kids just wanna play spacies and google swear words...

[Ronin]

Nope. http://www.prenhall.com/phstat/

It refused to work. (We had a download from the Uni website via Stream which is where we get all our info from).

I have no reason to just make that up.

Can you not just do stats the way that ACC do and make them up? Then it wouldn't matter what OS you are using.

[imdying]

The children are not far off starting school and I hear they are using Apple Macs more and more now so am thinking I should go down that route.

Apple have been hard out into schools since even when I was there... guess what... in the workplace, it's all still PCs. You'd be better off to get a PC so they have some exposure to something that might actually be useful to them.

[imdying]

It refused to work.

I believe you... my Mac, useless turd that it is... download the new version of iTunes... message box "Incorrect version", and that was it. Incorrect version of what you might ask... that's a good question. It's always like that, minimal error messages so not to freak out mom and pop, but no useful information that might actually help someone who could deal with it. Fab. And you get to pay a premium for that privledge. I love my Mac, can ya tell?