Mac vs. PC
- Thread starter ketchupnmustard
- Start date
About the Apple/Virus thing.
Apple's rising popularity attracts hackers
Apple's rising popularity attracts hackers - Financial Times - MSNBC.com
"Over the past two years, we had found one or two pieces of malware targeting Macs," said Patrik Runald, an F-Secure security researcher. "Since October, we've found 100-150 variants."
The rising security threat could present a challenge to Apple, which has long touted the security advantages of its platform over those of Microsoft, whose software is a perennial target for hackers.
"As Apple's platform becomes more visible, it will increasingly come under the gun," said Roger Kay, an analyst at Endpoint Technologie
Apple's rising popularity attracts hackers
Apple's rising popularity attracts hackers - Financial Times - MSNBC.com
"Over the past two years, we had found one or two pieces of malware targeting Macs," said Patrik Runald, an F-Secure security researcher. "Since October, we've found 100-150 variants."
The rising security threat could present a challenge to Apple, which has long touted the security advantages of its platform over those of Microsoft, whose software is a perennial target for hackers.
"As Apple's platform becomes more visible, it will increasingly come under the gun," said Roger Kay, an analyst at Endpoint Technologie
Yea, I saw an article similar to that a while ago. Intersting stuff. Personally, I think I'm always going to be a PC guy. Cheaper, and it's what I've always used.
We thought about getting a Mac for Ripvdub because of the art programs. But, have never pulled the trigger on buying one. PCs are priced so much more reasonable, that it is hard to make the switch. I have heard that once you go MAC, you don't go back (no pun intended).
I think it is a superior machine for things like Photo editing, and video editing. It's fast, robust, and the display is amazing. It is much more expensive.
For gaming, PC's are probably a much better, cheaper option.
This is true...I've used one like this where it was easy to switch back and forth. This is one of the things that really intrigued me about the iMacs.
I do a lot of photo editing and have a lot of music...another reason I may go the iMac route the next time around.
Here's my opinion on this - as a geek that has built about 50 desktops and has had about 300 different computers(no kidding, ask the wife).
It used to be that Macs were better for some things and PCs for other. It used to be that Macs were far more expensive and PCs were more disposable. It used to be that you had to choose one or the other and live with that choice for a long time. Nowadays, it's far different.
I've always had two desktops and one laptop. I usually had a Mac desktop, a self-built PC desktop and a PC laptop. I usually sold the laptop every 2 months and got a new one and then built a new desktop every month and then sold the old one. I actually never lost much money doing this, amazingly enough, but it's not needed anymore and this past month I made a decision that should be an example to some.
This past month I decided I was tired of doing all that after 10 years so I bought a MacBook Pro and have my self-built desktop - and a laptop for the wife (not to mention the two desktops in the basement and a server). I always knew that I couldn't just have a PC or a Mac because I'm a true geek and love to tinker and be on the cutting edge. I used to keep Macs as more of a play machine instead of my main workhorses but that is changing now. With Macs now being on the Intel platform, they can dual boot Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc. I currently have it setup so when I turn the laptop on, I can either go into Linux, Windows or Mac OS. Even if I go into Mac OS, I can still have Windows programs open on the desktop and work in both OSes like they're programs (using VMWare Fusion). I can do whatever I want with one machine instead of two.
Now obviously the MacBook Pro is pretty expensive but it's actually cheaper than a comparable Dell when you factor the total price in. You get a sleeker, more durable body than a Dell, a backlit keyboard, a LED LCD that adapts to the brightness of the room automatically, a higher resolution screen than most 15.4" notebooks and you get to run whatever OS you want. Try comparing the exact specs of a modern Mac and a good PC and you'll see the difference is only about 5-10% and then that is offset with the need for no security software and the list goes on. Of course you can get a cheap laptop but that's not comparing the actual specs or the abilities of the computer. You can get a Linux machine for even cheaper than a Windows box but then that too isn't comparing everything.
The problem you find is preconceived notions of one being better than the other that has stuck around from the 90's. Neither is a bad choice and both have their pros and cons. I personally chose a MacBook Pro because that way I didn't have to be stuck with just Vista - I can use what I want, when I want. I have my desktop which only runs Vista and XP and my MBP that can run whatever, whenever. If you go on forums and things like that, you'll see people saying they hate one or the other but they can never give you a modern reason why.
Yeah Macs are a tad more expensive up-front but that is easily countered with the lack of security apps and things that you need. You can get a great MacBook for $999-$1099 that is better than most comparable PCs but that never gets brought up by those "haters". You can get a MacMini that is pretty darn good for $500 but that's never brought up either. Granted you can get a $399 Dell but add on a bunch for security apps and frustrated relatives calling you
I would recommend a MacMini or MacBook for a novice computer user, a PC for a hard-core gamer and a MacBook, MacBook Pro or iMac for about 90% of consumers. You can get Windows, Mac or Linux up and running in no time and it was recently proven that the MacBook Pro actually runs Windows faster and with fewer problems than any PC notebook tested (according to PCWorld test done in November). I've actually noticed far fewer driver issues and hardware bugs using the MBP in Vista than any of my other machines and that says a lot about getting things done instead of finding ways to get around limitations.
That's just my long example of why neither is better and neither is worse. It's like a Ford vs Dodge - both get the same done, just with different looks and inner-workings. People debate Ford and Dodge but even they have to admit at some point that as long as you get what you want done when you want it, both are good enough.
It used to be that Macs were better for some things and PCs for other. It used to be that Macs were far more expensive and PCs were more disposable. It used to be that you had to choose one or the other and live with that choice for a long time. Nowadays, it's far different.
I've always had two desktops and one laptop. I usually had a Mac desktop, a self-built PC desktop and a PC laptop. I usually sold the laptop every 2 months and got a new one and then built a new desktop every month and then sold the old one. I actually never lost much money doing this, amazingly enough, but it's not needed anymore and this past month I made a decision that should be an example to some.
This past month I decided I was tired of doing all that after 10 years so I bought a MacBook Pro and have my self-built desktop - and a laptop for the wife (not to mention the two desktops in the basement and a server). I always knew that I couldn't just have a PC or a Mac because I'm a true geek and love to tinker and be on the cutting edge. I used to keep Macs as more of a play machine instead of my main workhorses but that is changing now. With Macs now being on the Intel platform, they can dual boot Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc. I currently have it setup so when I turn the laptop on, I can either go into Linux, Windows or Mac OS. Even if I go into Mac OS, I can still have Windows programs open on the desktop and work in both OSes like they're programs (using VMWare Fusion). I can do whatever I want with one machine instead of two.
Now obviously the MacBook Pro is pretty expensive but it's actually cheaper than a comparable Dell when you factor the total price in. You get a sleeker, more durable body than a Dell, a backlit keyboard, a LED LCD that adapts to the brightness of the room automatically, a higher resolution screen than most 15.4" notebooks and you get to run whatever OS you want. Try comparing the exact specs of a modern Mac and a good PC and you'll see the difference is only about 5-10% and then that is offset with the need for no security software and the list goes on. Of course you can get a cheap laptop but that's not comparing the actual specs or the abilities of the computer. You can get a Linux machine for even cheaper than a Windows box but then that too isn't comparing everything.
The problem you find is preconceived notions of one being better than the other that has stuck around from the 90's. Neither is a bad choice and both have their pros and cons. I personally chose a MacBook Pro because that way I didn't have to be stuck with just Vista - I can use what I want, when I want. I have my desktop which only runs Vista and XP and my MBP that can run whatever, whenever. If you go on forums and things like that, you'll see people saying they hate one or the other but they can never give you a modern reason why.
Yeah Macs are a tad more expensive up-front but that is easily countered with the lack of security apps and things that you need. You can get a great MacBook for $999-$1099 that is better than most comparable PCs but that never gets brought up by those "haters". You can get a MacMini that is pretty darn good for $500 but that's never brought up either. Granted you can get a $399 Dell but add on a bunch for security apps and frustrated relatives calling you
I would recommend a MacMini or MacBook for a novice computer user, a PC for a hard-core gamer and a MacBook, MacBook Pro or iMac for about 90% of consumers. You can get Windows, Mac or Linux up and running in no time and it was recently proven that the MacBook Pro actually runs Windows faster and with fewer problems than any PC notebook tested (according to PCWorld test done in November). I've actually noticed far fewer driver issues and hardware bugs using the MBP in Vista than any of my other machines and that says a lot about getting things done instead of finding ways to get around limitations.That's just my long example of why neither is better and neither is worse. It's like a Ford vs Dodge - both get the same done, just with different looks and inner-workings. People debate Ford and Dodge but even they have to admit at some point that as long as you get what you want done when you want it, both are good enough.
I have not used the macs virtual machine recently so things have likely changed though the last time I did use it, They could not really had any PC programs that need intensive processing like games and the such. Not sure if that is still the case though.
The new virtualization is amazing. If you dual-boot and go directly into XP or Vista - it's the fastest notebook there is for Windows. If you use an app in Mac OS X (several choices now) then it is hardly a slowdown. I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, etc all at once in VMWare Fusion with Windows on top of Mac OS X and it's probably only about a 15% hit on performance.
jeremy out of curiosity what is it you needed the mac all these years to do? I am pretty much of the camp that I have never needed it so why bother. Not to mention I don't have the money to spend on toys such as you do lol. And if I did, I probably would of bought a mac by now. So until I can afford to have lots of toys I will just play my ignorance card lol :wink:
Virtualization on a mac has completely changed now that they went to a intel based system. You can run windows and OSX on the same box easily, it is the best of both worlds.
This is what I am trying to talk my employer into letting me do. They have given me one last windows based laptop, if i like it, I keep it, if not I am getting a macbook and running both OSX and XP on it.
Ok, this is why it confuses the hell out of me. I have no idea what any of that means. :wink:
I just want to turn it on and have it and the programs that I want to use work.
I just want to turn it on and have it and the programs that I want to use work.
So you can multi boot with your computer into xp or vista and do everything a PC can do? Or is there some kind of limitation in it somewhere, due to instructions in the hardware?
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I have a Mac laptop and a PC desktop here at home. The one pro mac argument I would make about the price is in my experience the build quality is not close (think aluminum vs plastic) this is not always the case I suppose but every time I have gotten either it has been and macs just seem to last me a lot longer before I notice any slowing down. When I am asked which to go with it usually comes down to, do you enjoy using computers and fooling around with them (if yes then get a PC) or do you not like them a lot and just want something that more often than not works and looks good doing it (if yes get a Mac).
Pretty much, yes. That's how I used the iMac I was on during a class earlier this year. I loved it.
Mac's security advantage is directly related to its relative obscurity. As it gains popularity, hackers will increasingly target Mac platforms. It's only a matter of time, folks, so I wouldn't believe the hype about Macs being "more secure".
Other than that, Macs are probably fine if you don't want to play high end games or run other Windows specific applications and don't mind paying a little more money. Personally, I hate the Apple marketing machine, so you'll never see me paying for it.
Other than that, Macs are probably fine if you don't want to play high end games or run other Windows specific applications and don't mind paying a little more money. Personally, I hate the Apple marketing machine, so you'll never see me paying for it.
I can't afford it either, that's why I had to stop. We have a lot of debt and some of it's from computer crap:no: I chose computer stuff over a drinking problem and it's been more costly.
As far as needs - I think it's just easier to get things done on a Mac even though I've used PC's for year and do programming and stuff. I just don't have to fight the constant problems like I do on XP and Vista. I know how to get around limitations on PCs but I don't have to do that on Mac - I can just get things done. It's really hard to explain but it's just more comfortable using the filesystem and things like that for me. I know several other techies in the IT dept here at work that have switched and it's always been hard for them to explain as well.
Simply put - I can just have fun and be creative whereas on my PCs I always have to fight incompatibilities and other problems.
As far as needs - I think it's just easier to get things done on a Mac even though I've used PC's for year and do programming and stuff. I just don't have to fight the constant problems like I do on XP and Vista. I know how to get around limitations on PCs but I don't have to do that on Mac - I can just get things done. It's really hard to explain but it's just more comfortable using the filesystem and things like that for me. I know several other techies in the IT dept here at work that have switched and it's always been hard for them to explain as well.
Simply put - I can just have fun and be creative whereas on my PCs I always have to fight incompatibilities and other problems.
I'm a Mac addict, through and through. Yeah, I know, "But you're a graphic designer." Sure, but I also appreciate the simplicity of the Mac as well as the security. Even with the attacks attempted recently, the Unix base of OSX is rock solid.
Plus, since Apple went to Intel for it's processors recently, Macs can run Windows effortlessly. (Alleviating any concerns for lack of software -- though you can find lots of Mac software HERE)
Pricewise, if you compare software packages included, you're actually getting a fair price with the Mac. Many cheap PCs are sold stripped, so by the time you make it useable, the price is much more than you originally expected.
Here's my baby...
Plus, since Apple went to Intel for it's processors recently, Macs can run Windows effortlessly. (Alleviating any concerns for lack of software -- though you can find lots of Mac software HERE)
Pricewise, if you compare software packages included, you're actually getting a fair price with the Mac. Many cheap PCs are sold stripped, so by the time you make it useable, the price is much more than you originally expected.
Here's my baby...