I had to switch to a Mac at work. It was another computer. Big deal.

I tried Window98, 2000, XP, Redhat, Suse, Solaris and find that none of them come close to OSX for a desktop operating system.

"Whoa. A Mac? Won't it cut me off from the rest of civilization?"

The short answer is yes. But that's a good thing.


They should use that quote in Mac commercials.

I've used a Mac since college. It's a nice thing to have a computer that doesn't break or do weird shiat. I'm forced to use a PC at work and the thing crashes, data goes missing, the software stinks, the thing won't print...My productivity would be so much higher if I didn't have to fight with my computer all the time. All this is with my NEW computer! My old one was worse. When I sent something to the printer, the computers on one side of the buildings would freeze.

I don't have to be a mechanical engineer to drive a car; why do I have to be a computer programmer to use a personal computer?

It didn't say a thing about all of the PC gear I have laying around that probably won't fit anywhere on one of those ungodly overpriced Mac thingys.

I also use a Mac occasionally at work, and it's no BFD. Apple might as well face the fact that their market share will always be very low for desktops.

I thank them for my ipod, though. Sweet gadget.

I don't want everyone switching over to Macs. the way it is mostly viewed is that Macs are like Mercedes and Windows machines are like Fords. If everyone drove a Mercedes they would lose their allure.

kmt11: I don't want everyone switching over to Macs. the way it is mostly viewed is that Macs are like Mercedes and Windows machines are like Fords. If everyone drove a Mercedes they would lose their allure.

I think they're more like Yugos, or Skodas.

all computers suck, if you use one, you are gay.

but if you use a mac you are extra gay.

barneyfifesbullet: PC gear I have laying around that probably won't fit

Which gear would that be?

drives? Works

opticals? works

Firewire stuff? works

USB 1 or 2 Stuff? works (might have to hunt up a driver)

ATA? SATA? works

monitors? works

ethernet stuff? works

about the only things that generally don't cross over are video cards. I say generally because some of them do and with the new Intel based macs very shortly MOST of them will

The Real Damien: Which gear would that be?

Video capture cards? TV tuner cards? Any PCI cards?

Data Acqusition boards - like some of us use for work?

The Real Damien: "drives? Works"

... unless they're SCSI or SAS. You know, all the really fast drives.

"Firewire stuff? works"

Too bad about the eSATA stuff though, given how much faster it is.

"about the only things that generally don't cross over are video cards."

Also any PCI card, any PCI-X card, any 54 mm ExpressCard.

PCI-E stuff works, provided you're willing to spend the $2000+ on a dual-Xeon machine.

Also, the RAID options are limited/expensive.

Still no reason for me to switch, though. None whatsoever. Unless, I gave a shiat about being in the clique, and I don't.

I like the gear I have. One generally sticks with what they started with, anyway. Not many people switch.

barneyfifesbullet: "Not many people switch."

Actually, Apple has tons of turnover. Lots of people switching in both directions.

ArbitraryConstant: Actually, Apple has tons of turnover. Lots of people switching in both directions.

Apple folks switch to PC?

Anyway, Apples desktop share will always be low. If they haven't made gigantic increases after the ipod, they never will.

barneyfifesbullet: "Apple folks switch to PC?"

Yup. They have a lot of attrition.

I just switched to G5 PPC at work. There is a learning curve for anything out of the ordinary. Still need a basic pic editor a-la MSPaint anyone?

Difficult to get Skype beta to work on a Mac.

ArbitraryConstant: Yup. They have a lot of attrition.

I'd love to see where you got that "information." Mac people are pretty damn loyal.

step one to switching to a Mac?

get four jobs.

step two?

eight more jobs.

Barnacles!: "I'd love to see where you got that "information." Mac people are pretty damn loyal."

step 1. check Apple's stats on how many new users they have

step 2. check Apple's market share

It's difficult to reconcile the two unless you allow for attrition.

Bob Down: "Still need a basic pic editor a-la MSPaint anyone?"

The GIMP port for OS X it's bad.

ArbitraryConstant: "it's bad."

should read: "isn't bad"

Here's my guide. Shell out twice the money, but spend half the time fixing/setting it up. In the end, you're still getting shafted. Linux applies to this rule as well. Spend no money, but three times the amount of time setting it up.

zekebullseye
Macs are made for people like you.

If you are too stupid to tie your own shoes, get a Mac.

/75% troll
//25% truth

Cue (in no particular order):

•Can't play games
•No software
•Hackers don't attack because of low market share
•Too expensive
•Mac users are arrogant/gay
•Can't upgrade

Meh. Use the OS you like. The whole "we're better than you" bullshiat should've been left in middle school.

barneyfifesbullet

Apple folks switch to PC?

I did, my father did, several other people I know did. This is all in the last 5 years, and all personal choice. Before that, in the early to late 90s, it was pandemic. Whole workplaces went from all-mac to all-pc, and there wasn't much choice involved for the individuals. I'm sure that's still going on at some lower level, as people "standardize" on PCs (which is silly).

You know whats annoying? When snobby jerks keep insisting that you switch to their "whatever".

Step 1) Be a smug asshole who thinks that buying something that has less market share makes you "countercultural"

barneyfifesbullet

Apple folks switch to PC?

Usually, this occurs when the school or business* that the "Apple folks" are working at says "No one else is using a Mac, so we shouldn't either."

*Much more common in the late '90s. Now, since "everyone" is using Windows, there's no one left to switch.

tomatoboy: Here's my guide. Shell out twice the money, but spend half the time fixing/setting it up. In the end, you're still getting shafted. Linux applies to this rule as well. Spend no money, but three times the amount of time setting it up.

I find it very hard to believe this statement. I've done Linux installs on clueless users machines, and the vast majority of them don't realize it's Linux until Application X they tried to download and run won't work. These days, with Ubuntu and all the other watered down distro's, it's ridiculously easy to setup and use Linux. I tested out Ubuntu in Virtual PC. It's SIX clicks to install. SIX. When you are done, it looks a heck of alot like a windows desktop. If you can't handle that level of complexity, I'm surprised you can breathe on your own.

It certainly is funny how particular people are about their operating systems.

Like everything else, certain operating systems are better suited for different people and different needs.

The one thing I do despise is Apple's smear campaigning, and rabid anti(insertOShere) assholes on the internet. Please grow up.

skinink

You should go visit the BSOD thread. I think the BSOD is still a very active part of everyone's Windows experience.

Bacontastesgood: "I did, my father did, several other people I know did. This is all in the last 5 years, and all personal choice."

I did as well.

The laptops don't like they used to, but I'm still not happy with them (low screen resolutions relative to screen size, high price for an ExpressCard slot, etc), but the main deterrant is the price for workstation hardware. I don't need a dual-Xeon, but I want other stuff like RAID.

ArbitraryConstant: unless they're SCSI or SAS. You know, all the really fast drives.

Oddly enough I have 4 Seagate U320 drives in a dual channel raid off my UL4D thats benching a sustained 225MB a sec reading AND writing connected to my Mac right now

That UL4D dual channel scsi card can be used in a Mac or a PC with no modifications It IS PCI X thank you very much. and yeah it was way expensive and for sale on ebay right now if you are looking...

I also have an eSATA card in there with 2 (lame) drives on it (drives are lame not the card) this card is also cross platform This is PCI X as well

I mentioned the video cards not crossing over, I consider a TV tuner card a video card since it does well.. video

What is a data aquisition card? For that matter what is this 'work' stuff

I have both a USB and a firewire card laying around here that are cross platform. standard PCI though...

ArbitraryConstant

Thanks, but I'm not sure I'd call The GIMP basic :)

Macs are good for two things: Graphic design and publications.

My job involves a lot of both.

Thus, I have a Mac at work.

/Also have a PC.

Bob Down: "Thanks, but I'm not sure I'd call The GIMP basic :)"

It is if you compare it to Photoshop. :)

The Real Damien: "That UL4D dual channel scsi card can be used in a Mac or a PC with no modifications It IS PCI X thank you very much. and yeah it was way expensive and for sale on ebay right now if you are looking..."

"I also have an eSATA card in there with 2 (lame) drives on it (drives are lame not the card) this card is also cross platform This is PCI X as well"

"I have both a USB and a firewire card laying around here that are cross platform. standard PCI though..."

This is all true, but Apple has discontinued support for all the desktop machines that support PCI-X or PCI. Outside of servers, they don't support it anymore. Also, the only machine that can accept PCI-E upgrades is a Mac Pro, which makes it prohibitively expensive for most purposes.

Same for SCSI/SAS disks. You can install these on a Mac Pro, but only by performing the upgrades yourself, only by spending extra to get a dual-Xeon workstation, and only by installing parts that won't be covered by the warranty.

I'd get a Mac..but my minds eye is picturing the scene alot like trying to talk to some arrogant stereotypical frenchman from comedy skits.

Me: "Hrm..I think I'd like to play WH40K"
Le Mac: "Monsieux I think not, you must use le iTunes, you must buy le iPod! For we are better than you!"
Me: "Listen, I shelled out lots of money for this hardware..it better do what I want it to do"
Le Mac: "Non Non! You do what is..how you say...? Trendy? Yes, ze trends you must follow zem!"
Le Mac: "I am now browsing ze website mtv dot com, ve are so better than you"

And when I picture me at a PC, it's like a fine fine foxy lady..that'll let me do anything..sure..sometimes she has a virus, but nothing that a little TLC won't fix..and sure sometimes she crashed and will just sit there staring at me.

But she don't mind when or how I push her buttons.

My job is to administer about 40-50 windows-based servers and the networks they run on (lots of Cisco gear and a few linux boxes for support)

I bought a macbook pro back in April (ordered it the day it was announced) It wasn't my first mac, but it's been my first in well over 6 years.

For my job this thing is great. I run parallels and a virtual desktop manager that basically let's me run XP with about a 20% performance hit on a seperate desktop. From there I can do all the WMI and windows-specific stuff.

OS X lets me ssh, whois, dig, scp, etc., etc. without having to worry about cygwin or a seperate linux box just for those commands.

It feels like the best of all worlds to me. I'm particularly fond of two finger trackpad scrollng. I'm not sure why more PC laptops haven't started to implement that.

Oh this should be good.

/grabs poporn
//left over from SNL sucking anyway

So I am considering a Mac. Not switching from PC, mind you, but just adding a Mac as my productivity machine. I'm a gamer too, so I'll never be able to switch away from PC entirely. My only real gripe these days is that I can save money and get high performance (mostly necessary for gaming) by buying piecemeal and assembling my own PC, and I can't do that with a Mac. I have to buy what 'they' want me to, and I'm not rich enough to have it all.

They must have changed something in the Matrix, because I am having a Deja Vu. Wasn't there a thread like two days ago which was exactly the same as this? And before anybody else says it, yes I do realize that this is a common occurence.

phillydrifter

Mind if I have some popcorn - I'm looking to see how this one turns out also.

/Watch SPEED TV, much better than watching SNL

New Macs crash better

Old:


New:

Wow! Office, Photoshop, and iTunes are on Mac? You don't say. Maybe because they were all originally made for Mac!

/not even a Mac user

ArbitraryConstant: The GIMP port for OS X it's bad.

don't give GIMP to someone looking for a ms paint replacement.

they will either kill themselves or kill you.

GIMP is a great app and i use it almost exclusively (though i sometimes use inkscape as well) but it is NOTHING like paint and it is quite easy to get yourself into a situation where a noob will have no clue why it isn't doing what they want it to (working on a different layer, a portion is selected, you have a floating selection etc.)

Wake me when you can build your own mac.

ccmods: I find it very hard to believe this statement. I've done Linux installs on clueless users machines, and the vast majority of them don't realize it's Linux until Application X they tried to download and run won't work.


Alright! I'm switching to Linux!

Obscure

The key wording in that is "clueless". The type of people I usually do tech support for use IE, and Outlook. Thats about it. They are the same type of people who if you send them an executable via email called "virus.exe" would click it. It's probably better in most cases that they CAN'T run anything.

I'll say one thing that I find very frustrating about linux: getting apps to run, in the past, has been very frustrating and time consuming. I won't say that installing software/figuring out dependencies doesn't suck. It does. But now days with Synaptic/Apt/Portage makes things simple.

Tu dou: New:

And by "New," you're showing a photo of a screen where the error dialogue dates it as being 2003.

Troll a little harder next time.

Partisan: Wake me when you can build your own mac.

Wake me when building your own computer actually means something to non-gamers.

PC LOAD LETTER: Step 1) Be a smug asshole who thinks that buying something that has less market share makes you "countercultural"

Your strawmen in the political threads must be awesome, right before your mom tells you to stop playing Counter-Strike before she has to microwave dinner a second time.

CornFedIowan: Much more common in the late '90s.

This happened to me at work. My dumbass ex-boss dumped five thousand dollars' worth of completely functional workstations because his golfing buddies told him the Mac was dying. He spent another five replacing them, getting licenses transferred and paying consultants to translate all our ZIP disks to PC formatted ones. He gained absolutely nothing from it. Within a year I found a better job and took one of his employees with me.