I need help.
Well, technical speaking I need a lot of help, but we'll keep this confined to the technology arena for right now. I like to think of myself as being pretty hip when it comes to technology. I was right on the leading edge when it came to blogging, right? However, I increasingly realize that I am behind the times.
I don't own an iPod. Never have. I know that there are people out there who are on their third or fourth ones. Not me. It's not that I don't like the iPod. If I got one, I don't really know where I would use it. I know that you'll find this hard to believe, but I am not too fond of exercise so I couldn't even use it as I run a few laps. Listening to music or a podcast would distract me when I am reading, so I couldn't use it at the library. However, I do have a 1997 Sony Discman that I might have to break out sometime in the near future.
I don't own a digital camera. I know. I am only one of 6 people on the planet without one.
Here's what I'm getting at. I recently had a religious experience. I am not sure if you have an Apple store near where you live, but they are a great time. All of their products are out and you can play with them and get a feel for the real thing. I was hooked. The one product that got my attention in a major way was their desktop computer with a 30 inch screen. I'll say that again because I think it warrants repeating. A 30 inch screen! That's bigger that most TV screens. An abundance of 30 inch screens, broadband connections, and a steady stream of Internet porn could ultimately be the downfall of working America.
The reason that I bring all of this up is that I will need to get a new computer in the near future. By "near future", I mean within the next year. And I have been torn over which way to go. I am obviously familiar with PCs, and have a Dell Laptop as my fallback position. But the idea of going with an Apple is growing on me everyday. They are a little bit more expensive. (Price will ultimately play a major factor in which way I go.) It just seems that they have less problems (viruses, etc.) I will be using this computer for graduate studies, and I am worried that I won't be able to share projects and communicate with my fellow students if they are all using PC-based machines. When I was looking over the Apple machines, I discovered that they have some killer applications. Their iWork suite has professional level photo applications, DVD creator, etc. But like I said before, I don't even own a damn digital camera. Why does a cool photo editing program matter to me?
This is where I need your help. If you have any experience with any of this, you're thoughts would be welcome. Also, feel free to let me know that this was the lamest post in the last 6 months and you need more shaved-head Britney talk.
~Kevin
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12 comments:
PG uses 100% PC's. But, I have run into to problems in the past when I am trying to netmeeting with vendors and then have Mac's. Apple is supposed to have compatiable software, but it doesn't work all of the time. I think that some of the functionality on Macs is cool, but if you are interfacing with others, I would a wait few more years to go Mac.
James, are you sure it is the Apple software that is not working? In my experience, PC's are most likely to be the culprit in compatibility issues. You can even run Windows on Macs now. It really says something that Windows Vista is just a ripoff of OS X. Also, Kevin is getting this for personal use, not industry. As far as industry goes, it will always be PC based. It would cost to much money and time to switch. Personally Kevin, my next computer most likely will be a Mac. As far as sharing projects with group members, you can use Google Spreadsheets and Docs to do all the things you would do in Excel and Word. Not to mention you can open and save in those formats from the Google applications. Also, you could buy Microsoft Office for the Mac. Maybe it is the cool factor or maybe it is that PC's constantly have problems, either way I am moving to a Mac. On another note, ever since I went to Firefox moving away from IE, I have had less problems with the web. My point is, the further away you can get from Microsoft the better off you are.
I just bought a 17' Imac.
I love it.
I don't really forsee any compatibility issues, if I need to work with someone who uses MS office, I can get that for the Mac. Granted, its a different version, but you will also run into compatibility issues if you try to open a word 2006 file with word 2000 in Windows.
You can always run Windows using either Parallels or Bootcamp. Yes, with parallels you can run XP or Vista in a separate window. Try running OS X on a Dell.
I was using Firefox for a long time on my Windows machine and it really cut down on adware and all that crap. With OS X, there just isn't a lot of that stuff out there, its just not a target. OS X is just a more secure and robust operating system.
I'm not familiar with the Google stuff Chad is talking about, but if it works, then thats even better.
As for the price, thats a tough one. My mac is a 2.0 GHz Intel Core2Duo processor, gig of ram, 17" LCD monitor, cd/dvd burner, built in wireless network and bluetooth, and it was $1100 (I had a rebate). I don't know how that compares to a comparable windows machine.
Macs are cool. Good luck with what you decide.
P.S. If you do get a mac, wait until the next version of OS X comes out. Any day now.
Great! Thanks for your insight. I am really torn on this. Like I said, I won't need to move on this issue until the end of the year, but its good to get information ahead of time. Utimately, I think that the price difference might push me to the PC. Also, I might be too much of a wuss to switch to the Mac permanently. By the way, have any of you looked at the discounts PSU students get for software? You can get the $450 version of Office 2007 for like $199 there. I would seriously consider paying a student $30 and having them buy it for me.
As far as discounts go, check with your work. My company has major discounts for a lot of that stuff due to user agreements and what not. I assume that a company the size of yours would also. A permanent switch to MAC won't be that difficult and you still have your current PC to smooth the transition. Also, if you buy a new PC you will basically be using VISTA, a rip off of OS X. Either way you are using a MAC like interface, but if you buy a MAC, you will be using it on what it was designed for. I can see that you might not want to pay the higher value of the MAC, but if you do a side by side comparison you may find out that the MAC is a better bang for the buck. I have a two year old sony laptop that has been working great, so that will smooth my transition.
I've been drinking and I came on here to be angry but there is nothing to be angry about. Well, I can be angry that I agree with the chad.
I still have my windows computer, and it is making the big switch easier.
I get it about the price. Thats a tough one. It depends how you assign value to things. I think I would have had to spend at least the same amount to get a comparable windows machine, and then I would have had to get all that anti virus and anti spyware horseshit. Plus Steve Jobs is so sexy in those turtlenecks.
Don't be tempted by the mac mini, unless they significantly upgrade it by the time you are ready to pull the trigger. Its like a quadriplegic in the ocean...bob...I mean crippled. For me at least, I needed a new keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc, and by then it made more sense to get the imac. Your situation might be different.
You don't have an ipod? Damn, even I have an ipod.
I'm so fuckin cool
You're right. I do get up to 12% off of a new Dell if I get it through their program. However, the 12% is a maximum if you get an extended warranty. I was also looking at the Dell Outlet. You can get some really good deals there, but you have to get whats available. You can't customize a system to your needs. I think I am going to get a laptop and then hook it up to a new 19" or 20" monitor for when I am at my desk. The Dell Outlet has 20" flat panels for $229. Quite a deal. Both of you make a good point about the the Apple. Once you add all the other stuff in, the price gap might not be as significant. I also think that its funny that Vista is really a rip-off of OS X. I haven't had a chance to use Vista, but from what I have seen, its a total copycat.
Is the interface for a monitor the same on an Apple as it is for a PC? Could I hook up a PC flat panel monitor to an Apple laptop?
I don't know much about the interfaces, but when you are shopping just check that the port on your monitor is the same as on the computer. The interfaces themselves are industry standard, but I don't know what kind of interface it is. My computer has a built in monitor.
Maybe it was the PC problems...not too sure. Since Kev's original post, I have done some research on Macs and they are pretty cool. I will admit that I am one of the people that think Microsoft is good company and deserves a monopoly, but Apple has sparked my interest. I will be in the market for a new computer in the next 1-2 years and I will have to look at some Macs.
Chad...you mentioned Google applications to use word and excel..can you elaborate???
To elaborate for James:
Once you sign up for a google account, most likely gmail will be your cause to do so. You gain access to all of google's wonderful tools. These include goolge calendar, google picasa for picture management, as well as many others. Another tool is google Docs and Spreadsheets. These online applications are much like word and excel. The Spreadsheets application is not as robust as excel and I am pretty sure that it doesn't handle VB. However, for everyday spreadsheet work, it is great. You can open and save to .doc and .xls formats as well as others. You can save these files to your pc or leave them on allocated space on google's servers. I sent all of you invitations to gmail a few months ago. I suggest getting a gmail account for one, just because it is awesome. Second, start playing around with all the apps. I already use calendar, picasa, and docs and spreadsheets. I use google desktop at work which is also pretty friggin' cool. If you have specific questions James, let me know.
The chad: That Google stuff is awesome. I never got around to really using that gmail account, but I think now I will. good stuff.
I had a whole thing about monopolies, but it wasn't very well thought out. I'll write something later, and put it as a response to the ole blog. It will be yet another post from me that is completely irrelevant to what kev wrote. Thats too bad though.
Here's to hoping this week's Cup race has another car cross the finish line on its roof and on fire!
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