Korean Job Discussion Forums

trubadour · Joined: 03 Nov 2006

for what its worth - I've had a mac for a few months. Like its ok. mostly does the job of surfing and editing and podcasting and stuff. The main issues for macs is not the ease of use - they are easy, but the lack of customization available. Not only are there fewer programs which are written for Mac, but the OS is also fundamentally less flexible.

Whereas with windows (or even ubuntu) you get to choose which programs will open on what occasion, Mac OS X is less flexible. It feels kinda hard-wired to use the applications that come with it (the ilife suite). So one major issue was having to use itunes - which I hated. If you don't want itunes, you can delete it, but you are always having to work your way around it, and the computer doesn't seem able to accept the fact its gone. Now I've got used to it and use it for playing podcasts and ripping music. Yet, it won't rip FLAC, or play it. So I use VLC to play music and movies. I installed ubuntu to rip FLAC.

Another weird thing is the built in firmware that comes with the DVD drive. It is limited to set regions. And you only get 5 opportunities to change the region setting before it will LOCK. So, if you've got DVD's from the video shop and DVD's from home and some from china... you have to work your way around quicktime (not difficult). It's a weird thing to do, and actually encourages you to rip DVD's or download them 'cos its can be the only way to watch them. There is no hack available for the drive, and there won't be for a very long time.

I've used parallels to run ubuntu and windows, which has been quite useful. It has recognized all the USB things I've plugged into it (i use a hub). When you do use the bundled software, everything goes swimmingly. Some of the programs are cool and have nice features. One thing I've noticed about mac's is that they are a very visual experience. You move your mouse to a predefined corner and all the windows zoom out so you can see what's going on and choose the next window to view. This becomes quite intuitive, although it is actually slightly more fiddly to use than the windows way. Somethings are just weird - like installing programs, a process which is visual beyond all reason, IMO.

In sum I'd recommend a Mac if you've money to try it and don't have any specific needs for particular programs. However, just a quick look out there shows you can get way more for your money elsewhere, and it'll be customizable to your specific desires.

luvnpeas · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

The MacOS is essentially Unix, and it is far more flexible than Windows. You can get a command line if you like.

The problem is that you haven't learned how to customize the OS.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

trubadour · Joined: 03 Nov 2006

luvnpeas · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:27 am Post subject:

You can set the application for a particular file type via the Get Info... command. Select a file of the target type, and type CMD-I or choose "Get Info" from the File Menu. You'll see an "Open with..." option. Choose the desired application, and, if you wish, the Change All option.

You can also specify which media types open with Quicktime via the Quicktime option under System Preferences ... (choose MIME types).

trubadour · Joined: 03 Nov 2006

cheers for that - i'd done that before but...

desultude · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:28 am Post subject:

I am already aware of the problems I will encounter trying to peacefully co-exist with systems in Korea, and am planning to get another, inexpensive, P.C. for home use to complement my MacBook.

luvnpeas · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject:

Also, you can probably avoid the DVD-region problem by setting VLC to automatically launch when a DVD is inserted. I doubt VLC keeps track of region changes. Do that in the "Hardware" pane of System Preferences...

The limit of 5 region changes is a DVD-industry plot, not an Apple fetish. I think you're right that the drives Apple uses aren't flashable. If it is really important to have a region-free, hardware-based DVD player, you probably have to swap in a new drive.

trubadour · Joined: 03 Nov 2006

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

Exactly.
I have an intel iMac. I found a torrent for Winblows (an unchecked version), and I can run all the applications i want.

FYI: If you want to install windows, first download and install "Boot Camp".
Boot Camp is freeware and will guide you in partitioning your hard drive.
Then you install Winblows.

Don't forget to IMMEDIATELY install AVG anti-virus once you get Winblows running.

Desultude: If you need any help/directions, PM me.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

i'd have to agree to go with a pc for a low cost piece of junk. i bought my laptop two years ago for 500(special dell sale), and after 8 months spent about $140 in repairs. That's still a lot less than a mac and I figure as long as it lives for another year at least, it's paid for itself.

macs have less problems, but they do have problems eventually - my workplace in university was all mac and boy did they run into problems, even just being used for typical office stuff, no gaming or downloading or anything like that.

not sure if that initial high cost makes up for the benefits.