Korean Job Discussion Forums

demaratus · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject:

I have been using both platforms for a while (windows since I can remember and macs for the last 7 years). I work with and on macs every day. While I am not a mac "fanboy" I am a happy apple customer. Here are the main features that provide an upside for macs in my opinion:

1: Os/software versatility. Apple computers obviously are the only computers that can run os x. It is a very good os, I can tell you that 10.5 is really nice and is a significant improvement over 10.4. Mac's also run windows, very well in boot camp, and well enough in parallels. The software availability argument is outdated by about 2 years, and because you can run any windows software and mac software, macs are more versatile when running software than pc's are. The included apps that come with macs are actually useful and as mentioned previously the apple pro apps (aperture, logic pro, and the iwork suite) are fantastic.

2: Form factor and design. This obviously boils down to personal preference, but I believe most people would agree that apple computers, esp the portables and the iMac are amongst the best designed computers on the market. The macbook and macbook pro models are very thin and light. The mac mini is tiny and still very functional and the iMacs look gorgeous, and are very functional without creating a large footprint on your desktop. What do form factor and design mean to you? They aren't vital to me by any stretch but they are nice extras I guess.

3: Quality parts used. Apple computers use good components. They use high end intel core 2 duos even in their low end mac mini desktops and mac book notebooks. The macbook pro uses an led backlit display which not only provides better battery life but provides one of the brightest screens on the market. The magsafe power adapter is great and functional, and the backlit keyboard is also ace. The casing of their computers use high quality materials and it shows. The standard firewire 800 is nice as is the optical audio out, "n" standard wifi and gigabit ethernet.

4. Ease of use and support. Macs are incredibly easy to use. For computer newbies, macs are much easier to use than pc's. For advanced computer users there is really no learning curve at all (some things take getting used to, but the os is very easy). Applecare support is far better than hp, dell, lenovo or Microsoft support. Bar none. If you have ever had to call microsoft, dell or hp for support you know it is a crappy process. Applecare is less crappy. I know based on apple's csat (customer satisfation surveys) and call resolution numbers for their computers and wireless products (can't answer for ipod or iphone) that they far exceed the industry leaders in terms of quality of support. For any apple computer an apple care protection plan is a must though. It is a good investment and as a bonus it does add to the resale value of the computer if you decide to sell it within 3 years. The apple stores also have great support options that are considerably greater than what any major pc reseller offers. Apple care warranty is also the only extended service plan recommended by consumer reports.

Here are the main pitfalls of apple products in my opinion:

1: Cost. Apple products are not cheap. That is not to say that apple computers are not affordable, but that the higher end machines have a higher end tag. The macbook for an entry level offering is pricer than the entry level offering of most pc companies entry level model. But the apple entry level model is more like a mid range offering from most. Either way if you want a cheap computer apple is not a great choice.

2: Length of support. Apple computers come with only 90 days of telephone support (one year of hardware support). This sucks, though most pc companies one year of telephone support is actually 2-5 calls over one year, once you exceed that you have to pay. Ms support is 2 calls free, after that $49.00 per call. The same applies to apple after the 90 days. This is why applecare is a must imho.

3: Customization and upgrade-ability. With the exception of the mac pro desktop, macs are considerably more difficult to upgrade than pc's. All notebooks are hard to upgrade, mac or pc, but companies like dell and hp tend to offer considerably more configuration options and offer more models. The iMac and mac mini cannot be upgraded at all except to add RAM. The mac pro however can be easily upgraded actually easier than a desktop pc and there are a lot of options to upgrade it with. But the bottom line remains there are thousands of options and parts that you can add to a desktop pc and there are not for a mac.

Bottom line both are good, and you have a lot of choices available.

I hope that helps.

rocklee · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul

sunhelen · Joined: 18 Sep 2007

I am pretty sure that the Macmini can be upgraded, but you can't buy the components in Korea. It is true that there are not a lot of options for upgrades.

I have a Macmini which I think is a good option. I like that I can carry my computer in my purse. I like that it works with any peripheral. I like that I can use OSX, but that I don't have to use an Apple monitor. (They are overpriced.) I like that I get virus protection for free. I like that it has English, Korean, and Japanese on it standard as well as several different languages.

flummuxt · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

OK. You've got a MacMini in your purse.

Now what do you do with it?

Sorry, but I don't get it.

Let's say you plug it in.

Do you have some sort of brainwave interface in place of a mouse and keyboard? And does the MacMini have some sort of cerebral connection to send the display data direct to your cortex?

Not having a psychic bond with computers, I prefer to carry a laptop. That's a computer with a display, keyboard, and mouse substitute. Oh, and a battery, so you can actually use it anywhere, without plugging it in. I like to add a minnie mouse. Oh, and mine has built in wifi and a dvd writer. And most PC laptops are a whole hell of a lot faster than a MacMini. And cheaper.

But I must admit that the MacMini is cute.

Kinda like a Movado watch. Without hands.

Or a pet rock.

flummuxt · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

Well, it's been a fun little discussion Nice to see that it wasn't too one-sided.

But the bottom line is that the game is over. And Apple lost. The train left the station decades ago.

Here's why.

If you own a PC, you usually own more than just a computer. You own software. If you switch to a Mac you have to buy new software. And Mac versions seem to be more expensive, sometimes.

It would take a strong reason to ditch your investment in software. There was a time when Macs had software that did things that PCs didn't. I don't think that is the case anymore. There is nothing that the Mac offers that interests me.

I have lots of software for my PCs. I know how to use it. I am not about to throw it out. AND THAT'S WHY I WOULDN'T TAKE A MAC, EVEN IF IT WERE OFFERED TO ME FOR FREE. There have been plenty of times I have seen nice Macs for sale cheap at yard sales. I passed.

Once you get a base of PC users who know how to use PCs and have software for PCs, it becomes very difficult to get them to switch. Most people do not switch OSs for aesthetic reasons. And that seems to be the main draw of Macs.

Of course, if you are rich, all of this is irrelevant. And that is perhaps the biggest draw: a Mac is a status symbol. An expensive one. I do not need status symbols, nor do I define my identity by the brands of my electronics.

If Macs had been much cheaper 20 years ago, they could have built up a consumer base. People would have bought software for Macs, gotten to know how to use Macs, and would have upgraded over the years to Macs. the Macs could have been the dominant computer system. And Steve Jobs would have ruled the world. I for one am mighty glad he doesn't. He is a truly despicable person. And the reason Macs aren't dominant is very simple: Steve Jobs.

The early Macs were great computers. But PCs, even running DOS, weren't as bad as the Apple people made out. You loaded up your program, Word, Works, whatever, and it ran on top of DOS. That's what an operating system was supposed to do: run in the background. You could do everything but graphics. And once Windows came out, you could do that, too.

There has been some commentary in the IT press that the stumble by Microsoft with Vista has offered an opening for Apple to get people to switch to Macs. Vista has made a fair amount of PC software obsolete. And first time computer buyers might see this as a good time to go Mac. But those same commentators have noted that Jobs has dropped the ball again by not capitalizing on this opportunity. There seems to be no sign of Macs gaining ground to any significant degree. And a really significant gain would be say 10 percent of the market. It just ain't gonna happen. Ever.

It's a minor miracle that Macs, with 5 percent of the market, haven't disappeared entirely. They almost did. And you know who saved Apple? Bill Gates. He bought a share of Apple to save it. Why? Microsoft is in the business of selling software, not computers. Even software for other OSs.

demaratus · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:24 am Post subject:

demaratus · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:12 am Post subject:

ARTCC · Joined: 26 Dec 2003

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

phoenixstorm · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Great info, thanks.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

I don't know if this question has been answered but for you "one button on the mouse" hang ups, keep one hand on your mouse and one finger on/near the control button as it allows the same functions as a normal right click.

zai · Joined: 07 Oct 2007

if you want a mac and want to spend the money then get a mac.

if you want a pc and want to save the money then get a pc.

either way you'll end up doing the same things on either one that you probably intended to do in the first place (with the exception of the catalog of available games).

*do note that korea is a windows preferred country, mainly access to korean websites and accessing netspot wireless networks. the website issue can be worked around through various browser options available for the mac.

ps. if you do decide to get the mac, do not get the glossy screen option, it has too much glare and actually distorts colors (making blacks blacker than they really are, etc).

pps. note if you decide to get a pc then getting a desktop is usually the better option since it's much easier to upgrade and parts are generally cheaper.