PC or Mac

[MiknMinMouse]

Hubby and I are getting ready to buy a new computer and are seriously considering a MAC. I'm wondering if any of you out there own MACs and have any tips to pass on ~ anything you wish you would have known while considering ETC. Whatever I buy has to be wonderful with multimedia as I love to take pictures and want to be able to make movies with my pictures and home videos.

Thanks for any info.

 

[floridafam]

I probably won't be much help.

We have both. Our kids mainly use the PC because that is what they mostly use at school.

DH does a lot of photo taking, movie making, etc and loves his Mac for that. We have a G5 and Dh wants to get a MacBook Pro. I think Dh mentioned something about Virtual PC so he could use the MacBook Pro for work because they all have PCs.

All of our friends who do anything with video professionally have Macs.

It's always fun buying a new computer. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[dcentity2000]

I recommend the Mac. They're just higher quality in terms of build and their customer service is brilliant. They're also much more stylish. Software differences shouldn't worry you as all the major apps are available for mac (including Photoshop, Microsoft Office et al).

If you're gonna get a mac, get an intel based one - they're far more future proof.

The only real downside is the number of games available for the platform. Whilst major titles are usually ported (Command & Conquer; Sim City; The Sims; Doom 3 etc) the lesser titles often don't make it across.

Also bear in mind that in theory future emulators will be able to run Windows apps at near full speed, given the latest transition over to Intel.



Rich::

 

[digiMom]

I work professionally with both. I create websites with flash, motion graphics for web and video, even have done rotoscoping and compositing for a couple of feature films.

I know a lot of people are highly opinionated about which is better. To be honest, for me it's somewhat a personal preference. Most software you would use is available for both platforms. One exception would be DVD Pro for Mac which is an excellent program if you're interested in authoring pro-level DVDs. However, if you're doing this for yourself, it might be overkill. There are plenty of good authoring programs for PC as well.

Personally, I own two PCs (one for me and one for the rest of the family). IMHO, you get more for the money. Sure, it doesn't look as cute. But that's not my main objective.

Not sure this will help, but thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. Good Luck!

 

[MorganB]

I have a mac and have had one for a few years now. OS X is excellent and virus free for the time being. I recommend getting an Intel Mac... right now only the MacBook Pro laptop and the iMac are intel. Or for a really good deal, amazon.com has the old G5 iMac with the 20 inch screen on sale plus a 150 dollar rebate dropping the price to $1350. iMacs come with iLife 06 which includes iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD so you will have all the software you need for your multimedia needs.

 

[diznygirl]

Whatever I buy has to be wonderful with multimedia as I love to take pictures and want to be able to make movies with my pictures and home videos.

Thanks for any info.

Check out this software for the Mac: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...hM91l0VaWwS/0.SLID?mco=8D19F826&nplm=MA154Z/A

I love taking pictures and making photo books and I am drooling over Aperture. DH is in charge of movies. However, I only have an iBook, and I would need to get a new powerbook to run this software. We are seriously considering it.

 

[RadioNate]

For what you want to do and for the price I'd say Mac. I switched just for that reason. For $1300 you can get an iMac (though I do recommend bumping up the RAM) which will have the software needed to create really cool DVDs and to handle video.

I found I would have to spend more than that to get the capibilities I needed on a PC even though basic PCs are cheaper.

If you plan on a lot of video I'd also recommend an external hard drive as video files are huge (more than 10 gig an hour).

We have both PC and Macs. I switch back and forth all day. If I'm doing some heavy graphics work or any sort of video work I'm on the mac, if I'm coding websites or any 'office' work I'm on the PC.

I just think you can't beat iLife for making movies and DVDs as a home user.

But I don't think I could give up the PC entirely.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Our G3 is going on 8 years old and still going strong, even with updating to the current OS.

With the Macs, you get a great software bundle WITH the computer (iLife- iPhoto,iMovie,iTunes, iDVD, iWeb, plus you get Nanasaur and another game) with a pc, you have to buy it all separately. Oh- plus, you get the operating system, not sure if you get windows with a pc purchase. So you really have to factor in any software you would have to purchase into the totoal price when comparing price between the two.

Sounds like Mac really fits your needs.

Jackie

 

[MiknMinMouse]

The MAC is sounding better and better. Right now I have a Gateway that's about 3 years old and is slow as molasses. I have so much trouble getting software to work on it. For example I just bought Microsoft Digital Image Suite Plus. I love the software but can't for the life of me get Photoshop to run properly on my PC. After hours on the phone with Microsoft and tons of troubleshooting it seems to come back the the problem is with my PC. It seems like something is always going wrong with my PC.

My big concern with the MAC is that there are a few windows based programs I want to be able to use, but I understand there is software to help with that. Also, internet usage. I have AOL and have to find out what is available for MACs. But for standard internet such as boards like this does it matter?

 

[crcormier]

All of the 'big' applications are written for both PC and Mac. Microsoft Office (which is actually written better for the Mac IMHO.) I've haven't had a browser compatibility problem with any websites in years. AOL has a version that works very nicely on the Mac. For what you say you want to use it for, the Mac sounds like a perfect fit for you. I love mine.

Any specific applications that you need to use?

 

[Doctor P]

I would NEVER buy a Mac unless it was going to be a second computer. Whether the Mac is a superior machine or not is irrelevant when you get to compatability and interface/interchange issues (whether they are MAC's problems or not, they exist). I was just making a professional presentation in a major Chicago hotel last week and the tech staff came in and said, "thank gosh you don't have a MAC. They tend to be incompatible with almost any of the major brands of projectors. Great machines, but not when you need to depend on someone else's technology to access the Internet or a presentation projector." My students have also had problems emailing files that will be in a form that is compatible and preserves formatting on PC's. Beta max was a superior technology to VHS, but.... I'm not trashing Mac's, just saying that they are not seamless in interacting with the rest of the world.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

All of the 'big' applications are written for both PC and Mac. Microsoft Office (which is actually written better for the Mac IMHO.) I've haven't had a browser compatibility problem with any websites in years. AOL has a version that works very nicely on the Mac. For what you say you want to use it for, the Mac sounds like a perfect fit for you. I love mine.

Any specific applications that you need to use?

I guess just to be clear I should state that this computer is for my personal joy and pleasure. The video and picture editing I will do is for friends and family only ~ nothing professional.

The specific applications are mostly games that I've purchased but push come to shove I can still use my PC because we're clearing it out and putting it in my daughter's room so she can play her games on it. But I really really like my Microsoft Digital Image so I would love to be able to use that editing program.

And the internet but it sounds like that's covered . I hear Ilife is an amazing program.

 

[arminnie]

I'm not trashing Mac's, just saying that they are not seamless in interacting with the rest of the world.

You need to look carefully at what your current usage is so you won't be surprised at what doesn't work on Mac.

Things NOT supported by Mac:

DING from SW airlines

Several of the online tools for places like IKEA and paint stores. My sister was constantly using my computer for this in her remodel.

The new Slingbox (watch TV via internet)

Embird Design software for machine embroidery

Plug in USB wireless for desktop (cheap one at Sam's doesn't support Mac), we had to physically send the Mac back to have wireless installed internally.

None of those services may matter to you at all. We have both here.

 

[jbdreamer]

For what you are planing on using the computer for, I'd say get a Mac.

 

[MoniqueU]

I toyed around with getting a mac laptop for myself but decided it just wasn't worth the risk to not be able to run the programs I use everyday.
We may get and IMac as a second computer and try one out that way.

 

[Microbio]

Mac all the way!!!

 

[debbiedoo]

I have the imac G5 , bought in Dec 2004 -- LOVE IT!!

 

[Syrreal]

We have 4 macs in our house (2 desktops and 2 laptops). They are GREAT. We have never had any problems with them and you can still use microsoft office and other programs on the Mac.
Also, have never had a virus in the 2 years I have had a mac.
I love love love it!!! Can't say enough great things about it.

 

[hookedup]

I have owned 6 computers in my life all have been Macs. I am almost 40 and I bought my first one in college in 1988!!
I have used many PC's at the office but at home I would never consider anything but a Mac. They last a long time and are very, very user friendly.
Digital photography, creative work, iTunes, iPhoto, Microsoft Office, Internet, etc, Macs are wonderful and sooooooooo easy to use. Plug n' play is what the Mac is all about!
I just got a new one in September but now I am lying in bed while surfing the Internet on my powerbook laptop. We have a wireless network at home and I set it all up (and I had no help). It doesn't get easier than Mac!
My only complaint was not being able to use Google Earth but that just got written for Macs so now I have nothing to complain about!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Hubby and I are getting ready to buy a new computer and are seriously considering a MAC. I'm wondering if any of you out there own MACs and have any tips to pass on ~ anything you wish you would have known while considering ETC. Whatever I buy has to be wonderful with multimedia as I love to take pictures and want to be able to make movies with my pictures and home videos.

Thanks for any info.

OK, EITHER pc or mac would be fine. I own both. I do ALL my multimedia stuff on my mac.

The apple iLife software is AMAZINGLY good, AND IS EASY TO USE AS CAN BE!