shdwsclan said:
PC hardware is now better by a long shot than Apple(IBM) hardware. X86 components are the best choice. I am a windows user and I most people complain about windows but thats because windows isn't very idiot-proof. Both OSes have their strengths and weaknesses. Back in the day, computer programmers and computer users were the same thing. When the split-off from workstations came in the early 90s, apple got the idea that most users aren't programmers...microsoft didnt....They tried to make a poor quality operating system to cater to such users but it was a poor attempt. WinNT was their workstation system but isn't easy to use or configure. 2000 and Xp try to bridge that gap, but some of the idiot-proof features are starting to bug me and if they put more idiot-proof features in vista, then Ill probably have to switch to another OS like redhat and run a windows environment emulator on OpenDirectX. The key is apple makes a lot of money off of shotty hardware. Running MacOSX on PC components is very refreshing. Macs cant really be used for any production. The only thing that they can be used for is vector design. Win has a major flaw when managing many fonts, and as for which, I just multiboot into MacOsX86 with homebrew ntfs drivers.
OK, where do I begin... Is it even worth it to try to debate this...
I worked for a PC manufacturer for many years. I built everything from single-purpose Linux boxes, to 8 way Xeon and Itanium2 servers. From a hardware point of view, unless you are spending thousands on your new PC, the hardware is crap. Case in point- my PB is almost 5 years old. I have one scratch (less than a 1/4 inch long), it was dropped from over 4 Ft. in the air, while running, with the screen opened. If I didn't point it out, you'd never know I dropped it. Did anything happen to it- No. the OS never hiccupped, nothing stoped working. On the other hand, my boss's laptop (varoius units we sold there- Mitac and Getac, I think) would break all the time. In the 4 years I was there, he went through a new laptop at least every 6 months. Things like the video ribbon breaking, HDD dieing for no reason, mostly just weird stuff. All stuff relating to bad quality control. I have countless stories of faulty PC hardware- I could ramble on forever, but that's not my point.
If you are just compairing PPC to x86, the point is mute, Apple will be x86 soon enough. Personally, I love my PPC G5. I also love how fast my AMD dualcore is too. I'll be a happy camper when I can get OS X for my AMD.
From a software point of view, XP is crap (W2K was their best OS). I have spent most of my life fixing corrupt MS OS's. Sure, there's more Apps for it, sure most people already know their way around. I don't think it has anything to do with "idiot-proofing". Windows is so full of holes, unless you are a power user, and know how to maintain your OS, it's bound to be screwed up after only a few days online. From a "my grandma just wants to surf the internet, and read e-mail" point of view, OS X is WAY better. Need to do maintanence on your Mac?, just leave it on Sunday night.
Need to do maintanence on your PC?, OK, open disk mamagement, run a defrag. now run a spyware sweep (using several software packages, cause no one program does everything correct), now check for Viruses.. Clean? If not, and you get that virus, then what?? When was the last time you had to Format/reload OS X because some 3rd party app changed things around without you knowing?? (or when was the last time you took a call from a friend/relative, and had to walk them through it)? How 'bout XP???
OK, so what I really want to say is this: If you are a sysadmin (or just very PC savvy), XP is fine. Keep it clean and virus free, and enjoy your games. If you just want to use your computer like it was meant to be, buy a Mac. If you are happy tweeking the registry, messing with DLL's and all that funn stuff, enjoy XP. If you want your computer to "just work", but a Mac.
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