Apple desktops and notebooks...

[szekiat]

hi caleb,
Its important to take a look at the software and peripherals u use regularly before making a decision. A lot of them, especially PDA and smartphones still do not have full compatibility with macs and this can be a pain in the A** when you need to sync stuff. Also, a lot of 3rd party softwares especially the more specialized/obscure/obsolete ones might not have a OS:X version that is mac-tel compatible. In terms of performance, the OS coding is so different from windows that its apple and oranges really. The mac is inherently faster simply cos the OS is not as resource hungry as windows. This allows for more resources to be free for other software. Also, a lot of mac software is still done by apple, some of the best in fact. This ensures 100% compatibility and hence having less issues. Windows does still hold the bigger market share and hence will probably hold the convenience card for now.

I personally have been running a powerbook g4 1ghz for the last 3 years or so with no problems. With 2gb of ram in it, i can do complicated filters in PS on 1gb files smoothly and as fast the last generation P4 wintels. Of course, having a external dedicated 40gb firewire800 scratch disk helps.

 

[agape01]

After 21 posts, you guys still have not answered my desired question.

I'm asking you all whether do you all feel spending that kind of money worth it for you?

Simple yes or no answer. Tell me why yes or why no.

No need to go into details why switching over to Mac worth it or not.

 

[ortega]

After 21 posts, you guys still have not answered my desired question.

I'm asking you all whether do you all feel spending that kind of money worth it for you?

Simple yes or no answer. Tell me why yes or why no.

No need to go into details why switching over to Mac worth it or not.

yes it is worth it.
the simple enjoyment of using it make it worth the money
(time spent using it, instead of trying to fix it)

 

[Reflection]

After 21 posts, you guys still have not answered my desired question.

I'm asking you all whether do you all feel spending that kind of money worth it for you?

Simple yes or no answer. Tell me why yes or why no.

No need to go into details why switching over to Mac worth it or not.

Bought a Powerbook G4 in 2003 and it hasn't gone bonkers or had any visit for repairs since day one. In fact, the laptop has been dropped from table height once. Nothing happened except that the latch doesn't work as well as it did new. :bsmilie:

I guess that would be a yes?

Why?

a) Aluminium casing provides protection and durability
b) Easy to use
c) Never crashed since day 1
d) I use my Powerbook G4 for editing and it's paid for itself

I hope that's adequate for you.

 

[ihub88]

After 21 posts, you guys still have not answered my desired question.

I'm asking you all whether do you all feel spending that kind of money worth it for you?

Simple yes or no answer. Tell me why yes or why no.

No need to go into details why switching over to Mac worth it or not.

no

the amount you have to spend and small number of software that you can run. A waste of time with the system.

 

[hobbit6003]

After 21 posts, you guys still have not answered my desired question.

I'm asking you all whether do you all feel spending that kind of money worth it for you?

Simple yes or no answer. Tell me why yes or why no.

No need to go into details why switching over to Mac worth it or not.

Of course it is worth it.

People may say that a Mac is so much more expensive than a PC, which I beg to differ.

The Mac represents a seamless integration between the hardware and software, and they are all so compatible that I needn't have to worry much about having constantly upgrade my hardware and software all the time.

I've now with me an iBook G3 which I bought more than 6 yrs ago, and it is still functioning perfectly fine, even with the latest OS loaded. Speedwise is just a little slow, but it is not ridculously slow until everything cant work or hangs. I'm still using it to surf the net, and also simple photo editing with CS2.

As for my PC user friends, they are constantly talking about upgrading their hardware, and it seems like they're forever doing so. Even though the initial cost of the pc may be low, it'll eventually be much more expensive to upkeep than a Mac.

I've been a Mac user eversince I know abt computers, which was nearly 20 yrs ago, and have not looked back.

The Mac extends beyond just computing for me. It is more than that, it is a lifestyle. It has taught me to buy what I need, and not buy what I want.

For me, the PC users usually wants to buy the latest, the fastest, the most-est, as I call it. Worst still, many PC users just buy them for gaming! How much of the computing prowess of the machine is actually being harness for work?

Just my opinion,

Kenny

 

[hobbit6003]

no

the amount you have to spend and small number of software that you can run. A waste of time with the system.

That 'small' no. of software that you can run, is really very powerful enough for most users.

 

[XiaoMiaoWang]

I am seriously considering to buy a Apple desktop or notebook, but what I would like to know from Apple users whether do you guys honestly think that the price that you paid for the notebook or desktop was worth the price for what you paid for?

I would seriously want to know the reason(s) why do you feel that the price you paid was worth the money.

Thanks

Well. YES.

Reasons why i switched to Mac.
1) Not bugged with viruses.
2) Mac OS X is way easier to use, as compared to...(although I still use XP (via boot camp), and I gave up using Vista. I must say its considerably more stable as compared to the pre XP SP1, but still eons away from the Mac)*ahem*
3) Damn good looking.
4) Price/Bang for Buck.
5) Easy to make projects, presentations, movies, webpages, etc and dozens of useful applications IN BUILT into the OS. Unlike Windows, where you download, install and use, or have to buy buy buy...

 

[agape01]

Thanks for all who have responded...

Question... who here uses more than 8MP DSLR and shoots in RAW and PP on a iBook G3.

Would PSing with layers whose file size is about 1GB... how slow is it PPing on a 20" iMac with 2GB of RAM?

How is the performance like in these two examples?

 

[hobbit6003]

Thanks for all who have responded...

Question... who here uses more than 8MP DSLR and shoots in RAW and PP on a iBook G3.

Would PSing with layers whose file size is about 1GB... how slow is it PPing on a 20" iMac with 2GB of RAM?

How is the performance like in these two examples?

I think you're talking about me?

While I've not done PSing files as big as 1GB, I've satisfied most of your criteria:

1) I own a 8MP DSLR (Canon 30D) and shoots RAW most of the time.
2) I do PP on : iBook G3 , Powerbook G4, and most recently, iMac 17" (non Intel GMA)

Most of my files are about 8Mb each, and if you want a estaimated benchmark, I'd say that the PB G4 is about 3 times as fast as the iBook G3 on PS CS2, while the iMac 17" with 2 GB of RAM is almost on par with my PB4.

The PP process i do usually includes:

1. Exposure and white balance adjustment in canon's DPP, and conversion into jpeg to work in CS2.
2. Adjustment of various curves (brightness/contrast, saturation of colours, shadow/highlight), USM, or noise reduction using Neat image.

Hope these little info helps.

Kenny

 

[XiaoMiaoWang]

Thanks for all who have responded...

Question... who here uses more than 8MP DSLR and shoots in RAW and PP on a iBook G3.

Would PSing with layers whose file size is about 1GB... how slow is it PPing on a 20" iMac with 2GB of RAM?

How is the performance like in these two examples?

Well... I would suggest getting the CS3 for your intel mac, since from what I've seen, it runs so blazingly much faster than the CS2 running on rosetta (the translation software)...

Working on my Mac Mini and processing a 14 image pano using photomerge is quite decent considering it runs on 512MB of RAM and a 32Mb graphics card...

 

[agape01]

I think you're talking about me?

While I've not done PSing files as big as 1GB, I've satisfied most of your criteria:

1) I own a 8MP DSLR (Canon 30D) and shoots RAW most of the time.
2) I do PP on : iBook G3 , Powerbook G4, and most recently, iMac 17" (non Intel GMA)

Most of my files are about 8Mb each, and if you want a estaimated benchmark, I'd say that the PB G4 is about 3 times as fast as the iBook G3 on PS CS2, while the iMac 17" with 2 GB of RAM is almost on par with my PB4.

The PP process i do usually includes:

1. Exposure and white balance adjustment in canon's DPP, and conversion into jpeg to work in CS2.
2. Adjustment of various curves (brightness/contrast, saturation of colours, shadow/highlight), USM, or noise reduction using Neat image.

Hope these little info helps.

Kenny

Thanks for your response...

However, your requirements only fit 1/8 of what I would be using the computer for.

BTW, my RAWs are 19MB.

The point that I'm trying to find out is whether when technology develops, can the Mac that I buy today be able to support future technology.

If it can't support, then there is no point in buying a Mac because it would just be like PCs. You'll constantly have to upgrade and you'll be spending more because Mac hardware seem to cost more than PCs.

 

[ortega]

i am still using a G4/400 desktop
how is that for long lasting

 

[agape01]

Of course it is worth it.

People may say that a Mac is so much more expensive than a PC, which I beg to differ.

Please do share why do you beg to differ? Would like to hear your opinion. I've looked at the prices of Macs vs PCs and Macs do cost so much more. I'm not talking about the macbook by the way.

The Mac represents a seamless integration between the hardware and software, and they are all so compatible that I needn't have to worry much about having constantly upgrade my hardware and software all the time.

Seamless integration seems to be a buzz word among mac users. Do tell me more about this term.

Also, please do explain "they are all so compatible that I needn't have to worry much about having constantly upgrade my hardware and software all the time." I do not want to second guess what you are referring to but rather would like to hear your point of view.

Thanks

 

[xray]

Seamless integration seems to be a buzz word among mac users. Do tell me more about this term.

Also, please do explain "they are all so compatible that I needn't have to worry much about having constantly upgrade my hardware and software all the time." I do not want to second guess what you are referring to but rather would like to hear your point of view.

Integration

Seamless integration means that we can use everything together easily. For example, you can first organise and edit your photos using Aperture, then export them to Photoshop for a little more tweaking.

Then using iWeb, you can post them onto the web. Or you can make a podcast about your photos using Garageband, after which you listen on iTunes. Maybe you made a slideshow using Keynote. You then save it as a .mov, which others view on Quicktime.

Hardware/Software

Everything works on a mac. I don't need to worry about the webcam because iChat, even Skype, can use it. Then maybe I want to print something on my friend's computer. I just plug the USB in, no need to worry about drivers.

Video editing

If I just recorded a birthday on my camcorder, I can import the tape using Firewire, provided on all macs. Then edit it on iMovie HD or Final Cut, and make a custom DVD menu on iDVD.

Like what Apple says, the mac just works. :heart: I don't need to worry so much about marware, viruses, or missing drivers.

 

[hobbit6003]

Please do share why do you beg to differ? Would like to hear your opinion. I've looked at the prices of Macs vs PCs and Macs do cost so much more. I'm not talking about the macbook by the way.

I'm not a power user of computer, but the way I look at it is, a Mac lasts longer in usage than a typical PC.

Like I've mentioned, my iBook is already 6 years old, and it is still able to perform task for me, even photoediting of RAW files, albeit a little slow. When I bought it, it was just abt $2888.And I believe it can still in service for me for a while to come, and hasn't require any upgrade nor repair/replacement of parts.

My Mac Classic (monochrome) is about 17 years old now, and it can still boot up and allow my dad to do simple word
processing. My Mac IIcx bought in 1993 is now given to my friend's father, who is using it for simple day to day running of his antique business.

So typically for me, the Mac stretches my dollar a bit more.

Seamless integration seems to be a buzz word among mac users. Do tell me more about this term.

Also, please do explain "they are all so compatible that I needn't have to worry much about having constantly upgrade my hardware and software all the time." I do not want to second guess what you are referring to but rather would like to hear your point of view.

Thanks

The Mac comes with a plethora of useful software enough to see me through my day to day running, without having to add more software, excpet for MS Office and PS CS2.

There's iCal for me to plan my schedule and calender, and it syncs seamlessly with my handphone.

It also comes with the web browser call safari, which in my opinion, is so much more user friendly than IE or netscape.

There's itune which syncs well with ipod, of course. Even transferring music files from my Mac to my SE walkman handphone is very easy, just drag and drop the files into the music folder of my phone.

And yes, with ichat, I can connect to yahoo messenger, my friends using dotmac accounts, and also MS messenger, without much hitch. Setting up is easy, and the webcam that comes with the Mac nowadays is great! I dun need other software for web conferencing.

And also, I never had to content about software and hardware conflicts, resulting in the system hanging and all. Setting up my iMac as the easiest task ever! All it took was less than 5 minutes to take out the new mac from the box, plug into the power socket, and boot up.

Sometimes, it is really hard to enunciate how user friendly and hassle free the Mac is, you just have to use it in your everyday lives and experience it for yourself.

Dun be taken in by the looks of the Mac, it is just cosmetic and esthetics is subjective. Look beyond it's casing and you'd realise how powerful the machine is.

Besides, you can typically run 3 OS now on the Mac: MacOS, Windows and Linux.

Kenny

 

[leotitude79]

I am a user of Powerbook G4. Installation of software most of time is just drag and drop into application folder. As easy as ABC. Love the mac.

 

[dejected]

just do it! you won't regret

 

[Parka]

Just look at it another, people who use Macs don't really complain about their systems. You can already see it from this thread alone.

Upgrades for Mac depends on whether you need it or not. Same as PC. You upgrade only when you need it. E.g. extra ram, change graphic cards etc. This point is same regardless of Mac or PC.

The winning feature is still the virus-less nature of OSX. Lets you concentrate on work rather than on troubleshooting.

I've a Mac Mini that's 2 years old. There's not been a single incident where I need to troubleshoot problems. Meanwhile planning to get a Mac Pro to replace my Pentium 4.

 

[behyx]

why would you want to run Windoze on a Mac?

My GF only does her web stuffs on Frontpage, and Mac OSX office don't have Frontpage.. That's the reason!