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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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 Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject: ShaLL I switch to Apple? |
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I know this topic has been covered before, but I am really considering getting an Apple notebook. I am willing to spend 2500 dollars American on it.
I am a music producer / DJ and have found IBMs to work just fine. However, there are some questions I would like answered before buying an Apple:
1) Is it hard to download 'pirated' software? (like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc.)
2) Does it work with bit torrent clients like utorrent?
3) Do .avi files work with it?
4) Can it run Windows seamlessly?
5) I would want to run games like Civ 4 and play friends who own IBMs. Possible?
Also, I'm just curious to hear testimonials from people who made the switch and either like it or dislike it. I know owning an Apple is more expensive, which might be a bother.
Also, my IBM (Dell Inspiron) is having problems in this humid environment... would an Apple be better suited? |
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red_devil
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: ShaLL I switch to Apple? |
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| brento1138 wrote: |
I know this topic has been covered before, but I am really considering getting an Apple notebook. I am willing to spend 2500 dollars American on it.
I am a music producer / DJ and have found IBMs to work just fine. However, there are some questions I would like answered before buying an Apple:
1) Is it hard to download 'pirated' software? (like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc.)
2) Does it work with bit torrent clients like utorrent?
3) Do .avi files work with it?
4) Can it run Windows seamlessly?
5) I would want to run games like Civ 4 and play friends who own IBMs. Possible?
Also, I'm just curious to hear testimonials from people who made the switch and either like it or dislike it. I know owning an Apple is more expensive, which might be a bother.
Also, my IBM (Dell Inspiron) is having problems in this humid environment... would an Apple be better suited? |
1) No, all that software is "available"
2) uTorrent now has a Mac version, another good alternative is Transmission.
3) Yes, video formats from Mac to PC are no different. Might want to get some codecs, i recommend Perian.
4) I run Windows 7 RC on my Macbook Pro using Parallels no problems. I wouldn't try to play many games through Windows on my Mac though.
5) There is a Mac version of CivIV and CivIV: Warlords - http://www.apple.com/games/ playing with your friends should be no problem.
I own both Apple and PC, and have since they hit the consumer market. I use my Macbook Pro for everything except gaming. I have friends who are professional DJ's and producers and they absolutely love their Macbook's. I would recommend for you the Macbook Pro 13 or 15inch models depending on how portable you need it. The 15inch is fine for me, and it's not heavy at all but people tell me how "big" it is...the Macbook Pro i mean.
As far as the price, at least in USD, Macbooks are about the same price level as you would see in a Sony VAIO, probably the only PC equivalent to a Macbook. Besides, you get what you pay for. If you want a cheap-ass Dell $400 notebook than you'll get a cheap-ass $400 notebook.
Humidity effects different computers different ways, but generally all not so good. I would say however that if any notebook is going to do better against humidity it's probably the uni-body notebooks. I have found that Apple laptops generally (exception of the Sony battery fires) handled cooling much better (and quieter) than PC's. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| I am willing to spend 2500 dollars American on it. |
You're the perfect Mac customer. Go for it. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:33 am Post subject: |
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I started a hobby in music production many years ago with an up-to-date PC running Winblows.
Once I turned that hobby into a business, i realized how unstable various software instruments were in WIndows, and it affected my workflow. Every time i upgraded the OS, the instruments malfunctioned. Various programs interfered with others.
After switching, I never looked back. The support for Mac products is a world better than that for PCs. The OS is far more co-operative with leading production software and is much more user friendly. I don't have to worry about all the stupid little things I had to worry about with Windows. No defragging, no keeping up with virus definitions. I just concentrate on the production.
With Mac, I have no shortage of software, pirated or not. It all runs seamlessly and much more efficiently than the PC environment. Not even close.
You get what you pay for. The PC user's main complaint is the price difference. It's a load of crap because I can do so much more, with far less problems.
1) There is no shortage of software. I can get you a Demonoid invite if you don't have one. Audiozonetorrents is another goodie.
2) Transmission is full featured and very efficient.
3) Sure, there is another Mac based player that escapes me, but it plays everything.
4) You can partition your hard drive and install Winblows. It will run as it were native to your computer.
5) I don't play games. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| crescent wrote: |
I started a hobby in music production many years ago with an up-to-date PC running Winblows.
Once I turned that hobby into a business, i realized how unstable various software instruments were in WIndows, and it affected my workflow. Every time i upgraded the OS, the instruments malfunctioned. Various programs interfered with others.
After switching, I never looked back. The support for Mac products is a world better than that for PCs. The OS is far more co-operative with leading production software and is much more user friendly. I don't have to worry about all the stupid little things I had to worry about with Windows. No defragging, no keeping up with virus definitions. I just concentrate on the production.
With Mac, I have no shortage of software, pirated or not. It all runs seamlessly and much more efficiently than the PC environment. Not even close.
You get what you pay for. The PC user's main complaint is the price difference. It's a load of crap because I can do so much more, with far less problems.
1) There is no shortage of software. I can get you a Demonoid invite if you don't have one. Audiozonetorrents is another goodie.
2) Transmission is full featured and very efficient.
3) Sure, there is another Mac based player that escapes me, but it plays everything.
4) You can partition your hard drive and install Winblows. It will run as it were native to your computer.
5) I don't play games. |
So how do you explain this Windows PC user who can do all that you can do, AND play games, for half the price?
I can explain.
I know a little bit about computers. I know just enough to make them run without major error. That makes me a PC user. Because with PC's I have thousands of hardware and software upgrade choices. And they're all cheap or free. Because I'm a little bit computer savvy, I can make that hardware and software run year in year out without complaint. I can configure my hardware and software to run just right.
The OP could get a $1000 dollar Windows machine to do all he needs. He might have to bother learning what RAM or CPU is though......and he might have to upgrade the RAM or HDD in a year or two. Maybe even upgrade the video card and CPU.....yes, you can do all that with a PC. ...........my current machine has some parts from 4 years ago, some parts from 3 years ago.....it's evolving. Can you do that with a Mac? It has sure has hell saved me a lot of money.
......or he could spend twice as much and get a Mac which will give him a horribly limited upgrade path and about the same software choices.....
Anyway, I ramble.....I understand Mac users.....people who don't want to know, but just want their computer to happen.....like a TV or something.......fair enough. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:11 am Post subject: |
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hackentosh anyone?
My next "mac" is probably going to be a hackintosh. I can't afford 3500 for a mac pro. The same thing on a PC is like 1500-2000 depending on video card/ram specs. |
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swigs
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:21 am Post subject: |
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I vote Mac. Don't listen to eamo on this  , I beg to differ. Sometimes I feel that Macbook users better understand Ram and Video cards better than PC laptop users. Because it's usually Macs that have the superior ram and video cards. PC users compare PC laptops with DDR2 and two year old video cards and say 'look at the price difference', and I say 'look closer at the specs'.
With the macbooks it's rather easy to upgrade your ram and hard drive. This is a helpful website if your the DYI type of guy: http://www.ifixit.com/
I'm going to grad school this fall for media production and will be getting a macbook pro later this year, or early next year. I'll be using my over three year old mac book until then, and I'll still keep it and use it as my 'net book' when I have my new macbook.
Mac has a ton of little features that you will learn to love. While there are plenty of free third party apps that you can download, the cool thing about Mac OS X is that you really don't need to download that much though, because the OS comes loaded with a bunch of little features. Like being able to view PDFs with default programs, do more advanced disk utility tasks, or simple and effective mouse gestures. (This means potentially less spyware, or useless programs that can take up HD space and/or ram)
Easy to torrent. But be smart by reading comments and reviews of any torrent.
You can play windows games by installing windows. If you want to play games on windows install it through boot camp and not virtulization hardware. I have vista on my macbook just so I can pay bills, and really dislike the experience of using windows now. Mac is much more eloquent, and feels like an OS from this generation and not the last. If you do want to virtulize here is a free way to do it: http://cnettv.cnet.com/virtualize-windows-free-mac/9742-1_53-50072669.html
Plus instead of having to pay 220 dollars for an upgrade to an OS(that is fully enabled), it's usually much cheaper with no gimmick 'limited' sales. Mac OS 10.6 is going to be only 30 bucks. And you might get it for free if you buy your laptop before it's released, not sure.
Also its rare to have any problems with drivers on a Mac compared to windows. Expect webcams, etc, to work smoothly. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
So how do you explain this Windows PC user who can do all that you can do, AND play games, for half the price?
I can explain.
I know a little bit about computers. I know just enough to make them run without major error. That makes me a PC user. Because with PC's I have thousands of hardware and software upgrade choices. And they're all cheap or free. Because I'm a little bit computer savvy, I can make that hardware and software run year in year out without complaint. I can configure my hardware and software to run just right.
The OP could get a $1000 dollar Windows machine to do all he needs. He might have to bother learning what RAM or CPU is though......and he might have to upgrade the RAM or HDD in a year or two. Maybe even upgrade the video card and CPU.....yes, you can do all that with a PC. ...........my current machine has some parts from 4 years ago, some parts from 3 years ago.....it's evolving. Can you do that with a Mac? It has sure has hell saved me a lot of money.
......or he could spend twice as much and get a Mac which will give him a horribly limited upgrade path and about the same software choices.....
Anyway, I ramble.....I understand Mac users.....people who don't want to know, but just want their computer to happen.....like a TV or something.......fair enough. |
Whoa, back up... So Mac users don't want to know anything about computers? I know enough about them to solve the problems I had with my PC, but i didn't feel like wasting time attending to the task. Why should I need to fix problems in the first place if i don't have to? I needed it to work right the first time.
And, what's this half the price nonsense? 3 years ago, I spent $1300 on my iMac. It came with a camera, remote control, 500Gig Hard drive, CD burner, Wifi, Bluetooth, Built in Web hosting, and a 24inch monitor. It also came with music production software (DAW, with software instruments and samples), a Web publishing application, and HD movie production application. From what I hear on the TechReview sites, later editions of Vista caught up to but are doing far worse at these things. Add to that, your shabby video chat application, and your inferior DVD burning software, photo organizing software, and HDD back-up software.
Has the Windows PC been able to break that overstated 4 second boot up time, yet? Can they now boot up instantaneously from sleep mode, and do without defragging schedules or antivirus software?
Even now, a PC has all of that for $650? Right out of the box?
Why spend $1000 on a computer that just gets you by at the moment, when you could spend 200 more on a BookPro (not twice as much) which eliminates the greater future costs that you PC users see as a necessary part of life. My Mac also has better support, longevity, plus far better stability with added software and studio equipment than my PC did.
I have used the same iMac with the same hardware for the last three years. I run huge pigs of software on 2gigs RAM and a 2.5GHZ processor without any lags, any pageouts, or any crashes. EVER.
I can double my RAM, and upgrade to a faster processor if i want, but i can't see ever needing to. This is because I know of people using Macs that are 6-7 years old without upgrades, and still have no workflow problems while running the same kind of production as myself. If i ever did upgrade, it would take me much further than the same upgrade would take a PC, running Windows.
Evolve? Pfft. I use it to make money. Time is money. My time goes all into USING and not building.
The Windows machine i used, DID NOT do everything I needed it to do. I needed it not to crash my DAW every time i installed new software according to the specs it came with. I needed to have drivers that didn't cause me lost time.. I needed it not to give me error messages in the middle of recording.
I needed it to perform regular day to day maintenance on it's own. It couldnt' do that and it was up-to-date.
My Mac still runs without a hitch and it is far out of date.. it also takes up far less space so I have more room for peripherals as music production requires. New Macs come with more than enough hardware that the OP will ever need. Upgrade path? Too bad you even need one.
When I do sell my Mac, I will be able to get more for it than a PC and I would have gotten much more productivity per dollar from it than i did with my PC. |
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ekul
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: [Mod Edit]
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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You're making the mistake that a PC equals windows. A mac is just overpriced hardware, if you want to use OSX then you can just install it on a laptop that isn't a mac. You say PC users always comment on the price, well I say Mac users always comment on the software. Why pay a premium for a picture of an apple when you could just install your beloved software onto a PC.
If the two things that put you off a windows based system are the fact that you might have to defrag (unnecessary for most users on modern laptops) or use anti-virus software then you fail. I don't have any anti-virus running 24/7, I've got my browser set up correctly and take care in what types of software I download. That's all you have to do. I scan with ad-aware and malwarebytes which are both free and rarely have anything worse than a bad cookie.
As for expensive software, if you know what you're doing you can get awesome black versions of XP/Vista/7 which are superior to the originals.
Anyway this has all been said before except for this. Mac users have no souls. |
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swigs
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Macbooks are currently are not overpriced. It would not be possible to put a system together with identical specs, with a unibody aluminum case, and an oversized track pad for a price under what Apple is offering.
Can't use the price excuse anymore. |
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Suwon4AGT
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| swigs wrote: |
Macbooks are currently are not overpriced. It would not be possible to put a system together with identical specs, with a unibody aluminum case, and an oversized track pad for a price under what Apple is offering.
Can't use the price excuse anymore. |
Agreed.
I just recently got a good deal on a recently discontinued Macbook white (early 2009 model @ 2Ghz CPU Dual Core) at the L'Park Mall. I got a 4 GB upgrade with it - all for 1.3M Won. I still want to upgrade the 120 GB - 5400rpm HD to something like 500GB/7200rpm. That shouldn't be too hard.
But, I'm happy to report no problems with it.
For music production, I have my trusty Reason 4 and look forward to buying Record when it comes out in September. Reason is the only music software I have ever owned that has never failed me - not once.
But looking at Korean prices on music software, if you need a true DAW solution Mac side, Logic Pro Studio 8 is going for 569,000 Won. I know the OP is into pirated stuff, torrents and such, but I have learned very hard lessons about putting this crap on a machine, both PC and Mac. Well, that's the end of my rant on this.
Good luck to the OP. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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The price of a PC which can do everything and play games is down to around $600 now.........I don't think Apple has a product to match that.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2310.html
For a discontinued model!! 
Ekul makes a good point. Now that PC's and Mac's use the same CPU's, they've become just the same thing really. Except when you buy a Mac it's bundled with OSX and a PC is bundled with Windows.
So it's about which OS you prefer. Not hardware. I like Windows because there's literally tens of thousands of software choices, which, if you know what you're doing, work well.
Plus, I'm a hardcore pirate who has learned how to use cracked software. I think I paid 10,000 won once for Doom 3 in a Korean supermarket. That's all I've ever paid for software. Once you find out how to get and how to use the good cracked software, you never have to pay a penny for your PC use. Only hardware.
So why pay more for Mac? Aluminum body.......?......That means nothing to me.....I'm all about performance and flexibility.
Really, since I got my 27'' widescreen monitor I've been thinking, with a $600-$700 PC, the knowledge to install and run cracked software, the ability to install a new graphics card or CPU now and then........it's the cheapest and best way to compute.
I tried Mac's. Didn't like it. It felt like a Fisher Price toy.
| Quote: |
| But looking at Korean prices on music software, if you need a true DAW solution Mac side, Logic Pro Studio 8 is going for 569,000 Won. I know the OP is into pirated stuff, torrents and such, but I have learned very hard lessons about putting this crap on a machine, both PC and Mac. Well, that's the end of my rant on this. |
You would really pay 569,000 for some music software......???.....jeez........Well, that's Mac users for you. The OP wants to spend $2500 on a laptop......you're in good company in this thread!!
| Quote: |
| Because it's usually Macs that have the superior ram and video cards. PC users compare PC laptops with DDR2 and two year old video cards and say 'look at the price difference', and I say 'look closer at the specs' |
Mac's have better RAM and video cards??? Wow. You really have drank the Kool-aid........I don't know what kind of RAM Mac's use so I won't comment on that, but I think even the dogs in the street know that the Video cards made by ATI and nVidia are cutting edge and stomp all over the 3D video capabilities of Apple machines. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| ekul wrote: |
You're making the mistake that a PC equals windows. A mac is just overpriced hardware, if you want to use OSX then you can just install it on a laptop that isn't a mac. You say PC users always comment on the price, well I say Mac users always comment on the software. Why pay a premium for a picture of an apple when you could just install your beloved software onto a PC.
If the two things that put you off a windows based system are the fact that you might have to defrag (unnecessary for most users on modern laptops) or use anti-virus software then you fail. I don't have any anti-virus running 24/7, I've got my browser set up correctly and take care in what types of software I download. That's all you have to do. I scan with ad-aware and malwarebytes which are both free and rarely have anything worse than a bad cookie.
As for expensive software, if you know what you're doing you can get awesome black versions of XP/Vista/7 which are superior to the originals.
Anyway this has all been said before except for this. Mac users have no souls. |
LOL, I've heard the no soul comment before. It reeks of more desperation now. What ever makes you feel better.
I'm not equalling a PC to Winblows.. What i was trying to point out is that the hardware my Mac came with will take me a lot further into the future than the hardware an up-to-date PC comes with. It's not overpriced.
But, yes, combined with software the deal becomes even better. Glad you agree.
What did you say?... "that's all you have to do", "if you know what you're doing you can get this", "if you know what you're doing, you can fix that"...
How about "Why the hell bother?"
As i said, time is money. My computer does way more than i need, right out of the box. Why look for versions of windows or scan for anything? So, you RARELY have anything more than a bad cookie. That's great, I never even had a bad cookie. EVER. In three years.
And, no, the thing that put me off a Window's system is not the defragging and antivirus. I must have said it three times.. It was the instability it felt with my midi hardware, and third party production applications. There were driver problems too. Way too many. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| And, no, the thing that put me off a Window's system is not the defragging and antivirus. I must have said it three times.. It was the instability it felt with my midi hardware, and third party production applications. There were driver problems too. Way too many. |
If your PC was up to spec, and you used reputable software, you shouldn't have had a problem. I've used midi on PC's in the past without a problem. One of my friends in my home city runs a professional music studio on a PC using midi. No problems.
But if you really do want to pay more for a user-friendly, easy-peasy, works-out-of-the-box solution, then maybe Mac is for you.......but in the right hands a PC can do the same thing. Be 100% reliable and virus-free. I've seen it happen. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
The price of a PC which can do everything and play games is down to around $600 now.........I don't think Apple has a product to match that.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2310.html
For a discontinued model!!
Ekul makes a good point. Now that PC's and Mac's use the same CPU's, they've become just the same thing really. Except when you buy a Mac it's bundled with OSX and a PC is bundled with Windows.
So it's about which OS you prefer. Not hardware. I like Windows because there's literally tens of thousands of software choices, which, if you know what you're doing, work well.
Plus, I'm a hardcore pirate who has learned how to use cracked software. I think I paid 10,000 won once for Doom 3 in a Korean supermarket. That's all I've ever paid for software. Once you find out how to get and how to use the good cracked software, you never have to pay a penny for your PC use. Only hardware.
So why pay more for Mac? Aluminum body.......?......That means nothing to me.....I'm all about performance and flexibility.
Really, since I got my 27'' widescreen monitor I've been thinking, with a $600-$700 PC, the knowledge to install and run cracked software, the ability to install a new graphics card or CPU now and then........it's the cheapest and best way to compute.
I tried Mac's. Didn't like it. It felt like a Fisher Price toy. |
My model is not discontinued.
Your $600 dollar computer wasn't possible at that price 3 years ago, and has no monitor or Web hosting, or comparable applications, and can't do what mine could do three years ago.... and still needs to be assembled.
I got Logic Pro studio with torrents and Apple will automatically upgrade it for free.
If by flexibility, you mean having to evolve your system to handle future needs, yes, i can see how that must be saving you tons of money.
Last edited by crescent on Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:50 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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