Mac Vs Pc

[acpical]

After using for a week, I don't feel anything special about mac. Just that the boot up and shut down is fast (Faster because I have not stuff it up with junks) and nicer sharper LCD display. Besides that I am using it for photo editing, surf web, type document....nothing really special actually.

I guess it is all about the hype...isn't it? There are mac users commented that after they have switched they never look back...what is just so special? Care to share?

I have experience with Windows and Mac. That was a few years ago, I got to admit. Since then, I never looked back.

WINDOWS ALL THE WAY.

Viruses, system hangs, better for photography etc. All these are myths that many new users are eager to perpetuate. Most had bought into the Mac hype and try hard to psycho themselves about making the right decision.

 

[kutacrusader]

once you go mac you can't go back. Just ask Dave.

http://www.videovat.com/videos/2275/dave-chappelle-mac.aspx

 

[unclejoe]

I still prefer Mac even though i use winxp most time of the day.

 

[David]

oh gosh... pardon me for OT-ing here... I think I get better response here than in the mac user forum!

I have 2 newbie Mac questions:

1. It's been said often that for Mac users, an anti-virus software is not required. But I'm not sure... Ok, viruses tend to attack PCs. But even if I don't go to unsafe websites, just by copying and sharing common files with friends... won't a Mac be vulnerable to possible virus attacks also?

2. I read that I need to have my PC hard-disks to be FAT32 formatted in order to be write-enabled on a Mac. But what if they are already formatted in the newer and more common NTFS? I have tons of data in there. Does it mean I have to copy out the data onto a brand new HDD, reformat the old ones in FAT32 in order to re-use them on the Mac?

Thank u so much....!

 

[waiyean]

oh gosh... pardon me for OT-ing here... I think I get better response here than in the mac user forum!

I have 2 newbie Mac questions:

1. It's been said often that for Mac users, an anti-virus software is not required. But I'm not sure... Ok, viruses tend to attack PCs. But even if I don't go to unsafe websites, just by copying and sharing common files with friends... won't a Mac be vulnerable to possible virus attacks also?

2. I read that I need to have my PC hard-disks to be FAT32 formatted in order to be write-enabled on a Mac. But what if they are already formatted in the newer and more common NTFS? I have tons of data in there. Does it mean I have to copy out the data onto a brand new HDD, reformat the old ones in FAT32 in order to re-use them on the Mac?

Thank u so much....!

Hi David,

1. Can't say for the future, but in the years I have used the Mac, I have never encountered a virus. I am not sure about other people calling them myths, etc. but I am definitely not a new user and I based it on my own experience.

2. What I do if I encountered an NTFS HDD, is to copy the data into the Mac, format it on the Mac, then copy the data back.

 

[David]

Hey Waiyean,

Thanks for the very fast reply.

Wow, it's really amazing. I've been a PC user for decades and all I can say is I've never been free from problems not long after I got a brand new PC! Unexplainable auto-reboots, yes viruses from I dunno where, etc etc! I saw Norton anti-virus software for Mac.... I suppose it's not that popular?

My NTFS hard-disks are both 1TB! And they are not completely full. I guess it's a bit of a tough job initially for me to transfer, format and re-copy. Maybe I need to get new external HDDs also. Wow, think I have 10 HDDs already. :sweat:

 

[xhui]

Hey Waiyean,

Thanks for the very fast reply.

Wow, it's really amazing. I've been a PC user for decades and all I can say is I've never been free from problems not long after I got a brand new PC! Unexplainable auto-reboots, yes viruses from I dunno where, etc etc! I saw Norton anti-virus software for Mac.... I suppose it's not that popular?

My NTFS hard-disks are both 1TB! And they are not completely full. I guess it's a bit of a tough job initially for me to transfer, format and re-copy. Maybe I need to get new external HDDs also. Wow, think I have 10 HDDs already. :sweat:

Hi David,

do see your mac has arrived!

And like what Waiyean mentioned, I'm also not sure I encountered any issues with viruses or related on e macs I had.. Hmm? Probably just use it and if along the way you REALLY feel paranoid, can do something about that then but about the files exchange, emails and getting infected, reasons why even if a virus lands in mac and it doesn't get infected(executed) is because it's running platform is usually for Windows and won't run on a mac (i.e .exe files etc).

Ok the part on e HDD can be a pain. Prob like what you suggested to get a new HDD (sitex?) and do a FAT32 format as an intermediate for your mac and your NTFS hdd? Or get something in between to do the transfer when you need those files? Oh can consider a FireWire hdd if ur mac has it for faster transfer also. HTH

 

[linum]

There is 3rd party R/W NTFS support on the Mac: http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/ and possibly support by even Apple: http://smokingapples.com/software/tips/snow-leopards-hidden-ntfs-readwrite-support/. I haven't tried either of these though so YMMV.

 

[madmacs]

oh gosh... pardon me for OT-ing here... I think I get better response here than in the mac user forum!

I have 2 newbie Mac questions:

1. It's been said often that for Mac users, an anti-virus software is not required. But I'm not sure... Ok, viruses tend to attack PCs. But even if I don't go to unsafe websites, just by copying and sharing common files with friends... won't a Mac be vulnerable to possible virus attacks also?

at the moment there are very few viruses and worms on mac os x. but as popularity of the platform increases, i'm sure we will see some popping up. for now you can get by without any anti-virus but can't say for the future. in any case, as long as you exercise caution, like downloading only from reputable sites, i think you should be relatively safe.

at the moment most of the anti-virus software for mac detect and remove windows viruses so that you don't pass them on to unknowing windows users.

2. I read that I need to have my PC hard-disks to be FAT32 formatted in order to be write-enabled on a Mac. But what if they are already formatted in the newer and more common NTFS? I have tons of data in there. Does it mean I have to copy out the data onto a brand new HDD, reformat the old ones in FAT32 in order to re-use them on the Mac?

Thank u so much....!

out of the box, mac os x offers FAT32 read/write and NTFS read-only. you can install bothmacfuse and the ntfs-3g module to add NTFS read/write capability. the write speed will be slower than NTFS write on windows, but at least it works very well.

 

[David]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the help. :thumbsup:

Xhui, yeah.... my darling has arrived! :heart:

oic.... I understand now. Amazing.... Just feels weird now that I don't have to install any anti-virus software. But I'm also wondering... Since we can run "Windoze" (haha) on a Mac via bootcamp, suppose we open an infected file, won't the Mac be considered infected also?

Looks like I've no choice but to slowly copy my files over. But then again, I might just use them as external drives now. Anyway, the 1TB on my iMac is kinda small capacity.

madmacs and linum, thanks for the info also! Will check it out.

 

[madmacs]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the help. :thumbsup:

Xhui, yeah.... my darling has arrived! :heart:

oic.... I understand now. Amazing.... Just feels weird now that I don't have to install any anti-virus software. But I'm also wondering... Since we can run "Windoze" (haha) on a Mac via bootcamp, suppose we open an infected file, won't the Mac be considered infected also?

your windows running under bootcamp will be vulnerable to viruses just like any other windows pc. you should install anti-virus software there. the mac os x area will be safe unless the windows virus somehow trashes your entire drive in bootcamp.

 

[wheresmycheese]

your windows running under bootcamp will be vulnerable to viruses just like any other windows pc. you should install anti-virus software there. the mac os x area will be safe unless the windows virus somehow trashes your entire drive in bootcamp.

can use parallels also

 

[krishna91]

if you want better specs, performance and build, go for a pc. kills the macs on performance to dollar ratio

if you want user friendliness and simplicity, go for the mac


coming from a Macbook Pro 17" and PC user.

i use windows 7 for gaming, and mac for photo edits.

 

[madmacs]

can use parallels also

yes can use parallels desktop or vmware fusion, and maybe even virtualbox. but it is unlikely that a rogue virus will trash your physical drive. it will just affect the virtual drive.

 

[xhui]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the help. :thumbsup:

Xhui, yeah.... my darling has arrived! :heart:

oic.... I understand now. Amazing.... Just feels weird now that I don't have to install any anti-virus software. But I'm also wondering... Since we can run "Windoze" (haha) on a Mac via bootcamp, suppose we open an infected file, won't the Mac be considered infected also?

Looks like I've no choice but to slowly copy my files over. But then again, I might just use them as external drives now. Anyway, the 1TB on my iMac is kinda small capacity.

madmacs and linum, thanks for the info also! Will check it out.

haa, don't call me that la, quite :embrass:

like what the rest have mentioned, the "portion" which you allocate to be formatted to run your windoze runs like the normal windoze on your PC, so.. yah, infection is possible (but for myself, after installing windoze bootcamp, i realised i wasn't even logging into it and just had it there for the "just in case" need basis, so minimal use = minimal chances of infection (hopefully)

all the best in your ext HDD options!

 

[David]

Ok, thanks guys. I was about to burn some cash to get a Norton anti-virus when I realize there's a new Mac OS X version. Looks like I'll hold back now.

Btw, here's a "silly" simple question from me.... Is it possible for viruses to be "embedded" or reside in files like jpg which can be opened in both PC and Mac?

Xhui.... Ha.... When I said my "darling" has arrived, I was referring to the iMac. :bsmilie::embrass: But I've been so busy lately. She's still "sleeping" in the box. Will take her out once I clear my messy table and backup all my PC stuffs. ;p

 

[xhui]

Ok, thanks guys. I was about to burn some cash to get a Norton anti-virus when I realize there's a new Mac OS X version. Looks like I'll hold back now.

Btw, here's a "silly" simple question from me.... Is it possible for viruses to be "embedded" or reside in files like jpg which can be opened in both PC and Mac?

Xhui.... Ha.... When I said my "darling" has arrived, I was referring to the iMac. :bsmilie::embrass: But I've been so busy lately. She's still "sleeping" in the box. Will take her out once I clear my messy table and backup all my PC stuffs. ;p

Oops. :bsmilie:

as for the embedded virus, its pretty hard to say if it can be "opened" in mac. It really depends what OS platform the virus - writer intends for the virus to attack and in what language and "purpose" its for.. so It's really everyone's guess? (thus those anti virus program have to keep updating cuz of new viruses etc).

don't neglect your darling k! :bsmilie:

 

[josho]

Try not to format on MAC if ur HDD does not support at all. I once did that and made his HDD screw up until I format again in FAT. Then put over to PC and format again. Thought I can read the HDD back but there's 200mb locked up under GPP.

Anyway, I own both Mac and PC. Seriously speaking, you wun find any different when doing processing. IMHO, Mac is quite stable and the color profile is already there. But, if you have a PC of x64, using that as workstation only, the system will also run well. Isn't it?

End up, it is just own preferences tho. BTW, I'm using only 32bit XP n Macbook.

 

[madmacs]

Ok, thanks guys. I was about to burn some cash to get a Norton anti-virus when I realize there's a new Mac OS X version. Looks like I'll hold back now.

Btw, here's a "silly" simple question from me.... Is it possible for viruses to be "embedded" or reside in files like jpg which can be opened in both PC and Mac?

Xhui.... Ha.... When I said my "darling" has arrived, I was referring to the iMac. :bsmilie::embrass: But I've been so busy lately. She's still "sleeping" in the box. Will take her out once I clear my messy table and backup all my PC stuffs. ;p

lol...xhui :bheart: liao. :bsmilie:

yes it is possible for viruses to be embedded in files, but so far not likely to affect macs. on a similar note, word or excel macro viruses could potentially cause problems.

 

[madmacs]

Try not to format on MAC if ur HDD does not support at all. I once did that and made his HDD screw up until I format again in FAT. Then put over to PC and format again. Thought I can read the HDD back but there's 200mb locked up under GPP.

Anyway, I own both Mac and PC. Seriously speaking, you wun find any different when doing processing. IMHO, Mac is quite stable and the color profile is already there. But, if you have a PC of x64, using that as workstation only, the system will also run well. Isn't it?

End up, it is just own preferences tho. BTW, I'm using only 32bit XP n Macbook.

yup...personal preference.