Macbook vs whatever

Those trying to compare a mac with another laptop haven't factored in that the standard software is amazing on mac.

All the I apps ( I am using iWeb alot)
Garageband
Safari

Yeah, macs are more expensive, but they come with all the software most people need.

 

Another Mac vs PC topic? Coulden't you just post this in one of the like 10 that are going on right now?

Oh, and all that software is available on PC

garageband : sony Acid (not free, but not that expensive)
Safari - Firefox (free), or you can use safari on PC as well (also free)

any others you want to list?

 

Oh man....I just got out of a bout like this....

I use a few programs provided by windows including sidebar ( calendar, notepad, weather, network meter, program launcher with others to come ).
Theres probably something similar to garageband for PC.
For browsing I use firefox.
If the sidebar notepad is too small, then i use the one in windows

Also, what about program compatibilty for 3rd party software?

And should the title be OSX vs ( probably ) PC?

 

I hear there isn't.

 

nobody reads my posts anymore.

look up "sony acid" on google

 

Sorry, I read that after I posted.

 

no worries, that was directed at Stunner, not you.. You at least said there was something, he didn't, and he had time to read my post.

 

I took Garage Band off my dock. I may get around to using it one of these days. My daughter requested Final Cut Express after using iMovie. I do use iWeb and iPhoto and I like them both but I also have Tacohtml (free) and Dreamweaver (the exact opposite of free).

To me the value comes in several main areas:
OS Layout -
-no start button (yay!),
-dock and menu bar (nice and uncluttered)
Security -
-*nix is designed with security in mind
-OS X is not a major virus target (yet)
Architecture-
-no dlls
-no registry
-no "world writeable" system directories

As far as apps are concerned, I tend to like OS X apps more than windows apps and I really like only having one menu bar on the screen at a time that changes context depending on which app is your foreground app. There are a few Windows apps I do miss but I'll make it somehow.

There are Windows equivalents of all the iLife and iWork apps. I have not played with Sony Acid but it claims to do the same stuff garage band does. So if you are trying to boil down the "value" to justify the Mac cost, here are some figures...

PC with similar hardware to base iMac (ie Dell Inspiron 518): $600*
*$980 list with $280 in "instant savings"
Monitor (included): 0
Acid: $55
Firefox: free
Thunderbird: free
google calendar: free
nvu (html editor): free
picasa: free
avg antivirus: free
OpenOffice: free
ms office: $150
Printer drivers: Where'd I put that disk?
Total OOP: $805
Total OOP (if you pay list): $1185

iMac: $1200
Monitor (included): 0
iPhoto: 0
iWeb: 0
Calendar: 0
Mail: 0
iWork: $80
NeoOffice: free
Printer drivers: 3gig included with OS
Total OOP (list): $1279

There are discounts available on Mac hardware/software through government, employer, education so not everyone pays list.

The advantage of the latter system is the integration of the apps. Does it offset the higher cost? For me it does. Every app uses a single menu bar. Every app uses an inspector. That's worth something. Well integrated and well designed software is what allowed MS office to dethrone Wordperfect and Lotus 123 back in the 1990's.

 

I see you took the sensible approach, and you do make some good points.

Personally, I dont really use the start menu either; all of my apps are on my sidebar.
For security; as you said yourself, yet.
For dlls and reg; Why M$ added that back in 95 I dont know, but I would image there is some logical explanation.

For your build, why buy MS office is Open office is free?

Also, dont forget that PC companies also offer discounts to governemnt, employer etc etc.

I think the biggest issue is that people on both sides wont see that each platform has something to bring to the table; Mac users say "PC sucks, you can get this, you have to do that, etc, etc", while PC users say "Macs are overpriced, you cant do this, you cant play that, etc, etc".

 

You do have some good points, but not are all correct.

You buy "ms office" for the PC, but you don't buy it for the mac?
If you want to be fair, get open office for the PC, as the one you choose for mac was also free, making the PC over $150 cheaper, and thats not even including dell coupons.

The thing is, if you want ALL the functionality a mac has in a PC, the PC will probably cost more due to software costs. However, most people aren't going to need sony acid or garage band. On a PC, you don't need to buy it if you don't need it. On a mac its included in the base price, which explains why the mac costs more in the first place.

If you need/use most of the included mac software, then you may actually be cheaper to buy a mac, but otherwise, if you don't use a majority of it, the PC will be a better value.

 

I feel that only the MBP is significantly more expensive than windows machines. The macbook and base imac (as posted above) are not much different.

 

Well, yes the Macbook and IMac are much more reasonable, but as one user said sometime ago, upgrades are another killer; $200 for 2GBs of ram ( upgrade MB )? Anyone who says that's not overpriced or that its inexpensive is straight up lying. Plus, if you want to use bootcamp for gaming you'll probably need an MBP which jumps you up to $2000. As you said, though only base IMac is reasonble; look at the upgrades. If you want a 8800GS, because of they way they allow you ( or dont allow you ) to configure their systems, you're paying at least $1900....for a 8800GS....Im not even going to open my mouth about the Mac Pro and its upgrade cost. To me, MUFC set it perfectly as what you get hardware wise isnt worth the price, even if the OS is "better". ( and yes i know that OSX needs less hardware than Vista, but if you running bootcamp....... ).

 

I wasn't trying to cause an argument here, but it was annoying watching people compare macs and pc's unfairly.

 

You're right. I listed open office on the pc and the mac but I treated iWork and Office as equal. They are not. Opinions vary widely about which is better. Some users prefer iWork while others are more concerned with compatibility with Office docs coming from and being sent to PC's. I should have spelled out that I am treating the two as if they are equal and so my price list enjoys a $70 advantage over buying Office for the Mac. Thanks for reminding me.

I don't use garage band but I like to use the rest of iLife so for my usage, the cost advantage leans toward Mac. Also I omitted Parental Controls from my list. That could cost you on a PC (unless you want to spend some extended quality time editing system policies).

 

One of the biggest problems was that Windows was designed when PC's were personal computers. We were not in networked, multi user, hostile environments. Microsoft added what they could as they recognized the need and how they were able to. With millions of pieces of software built to it they did a lot as add ons for backwards compatibility rather than integral core changes that would have required a lot of retooling.

Macs came a little later and had a bit better infrastructure and vision in place but were still hampered by the evolving environment. A much smaller installed base allowed them to make core infrastructure changes that were much more difficult for Microsoft.

The result is that at the moment at least Mac has a more flexible, secure, reliable core to grow on. Until Microsoft decides to bite the bullet and make radical architectural changes that place them in a similar position, they are going to suffer more and more with bolt-on after bolt-on. It will require a lot of retooling from most of the Windows software manufacturers but long term its going to cost them one way or another.

Just my two cents worth.

 

So your saying macs are better because nobody writes software for them, and therefore they can upgrade their core, because, no software will be effected....... because there is no software....

 

Rather, while Microsoft continues with all the legacy code that's needed with Windows, that is making every version is a little slower and more complicated, in my opinion, Apple transitioned from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X in the early 2000s, and it wasn't a perfect transition but got things done.