Convince me to get a Mac over a PC for Uni

[iSamurai]

let me take a wild guess that you're 17 years old (or turning 17), LERsince1991.

yeah anyway, I got my first Mac when I was 17 (AKA last year). Ever since I got it there's no turning back. Everything just works. Hardware- and software-wise. For video editing, there's nothing better than Final Cut Express/Pro. Gosh, I made this thing for my school earlier this year. I'm so proud of it the whole school was astounded lol.

Now I don't really care about Windoze-based products and say, the latest Nokia phone doesn't interest me (yeah, I got an iPhone). This is just the Apple phenomenon...

Since you're in UK and if my guess is right you still have 2 years before entering university. Unless you're buying a mac now, just go to your local apple store everyday p) and find out more about it.

And for you (and me) who is into photography, video editing and whatnot 3D stuff, mac programmes are so organised! In windoze I just dump my photos, videos and music in a folder and double-click them if I want them. Ever since I used a mac I've stored them under iPhoto/Aperture and iTunes. Video footages are still being dumped into an external HD though. These programmes really do help a lot. And iTunes in Windoze is so unresponsive, slow and pain-in-the-a55, but iTunes work well with mac. I dunno why but I just seem not to like it in windows flavour.

oh, and the spotlight search is so much quicker and more precise than windows' start-find alternative.

I can go on for ages but I think you must own a mac to really know why it's good. The reason I switched is because Windoze keeps crashing (surprisingly not by viruses or whatever, but because it naturally sucked) and I'm tired of everything not working and all those errors. One classic example is that my school's computer gives 3 error popups before I can start using it lol.

 

[0098386]

As someone who switched 5 years ago, I can say the best thing about a Mac is how integrated and transparent it has become in my life.

Pretty much the same here. Bought my PowerBook about 5 years ago, simply because it was powerful, small and metal.

Before long everyone on my course had a PowerBook or iBook. Though there were just 8 of us.
It'd be even better now, what with Intel/dualbooting and Frontrow.

 

[LERsince1991]

OK so I'd just like to say thanks to everyone, so much good/valid points here its great!

But I am still unsure...

iSamurai - I am 17 BTW, turning 18 in march, then next September will be when I go to uni if I don't take a gap year.

I'll copy and paste a good response from a uni below in bold.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering has over 60 PCs which students can use for CAD work. In addition there are over 500 PCs in the Library which are open to all students. Therefore there is no requirement for students to own a PC.

In terms of software, the architects mainly use:
Autocad 2004 Architectural Desktop
3D Studio Max 6

The engineers mainly use:
CFX 5.5
Algor 13
IES 5
MatLab 13

Other software, that is used by everyone, includes:
Microsoft Office
Adobe Photoshop 7
Adobe Illustrator 7
Microsoft Project

Please note that there is NO requirement for students to have had any experience using any of the above programs, although experience of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel would be beneficial. If you do opt to buy your own computer it is NOT recommended that you immediately purchase or install any of the above programs other than Microsoft Office.

The majority of the computers available to students have front-mounted headphone/microphone sockets so audio software would not be much of a problem.

All our computers have 17" monitors as standard, and the students are able to change the settings on the computers to suit their own requirements.


Advice on buying your own PC

If a student wishes to have their own PC then the following advice should be heeded. Note that special student deals are available on Campus for purchase of PCs, peripherals and software:

A laptop computer is most appropriate for reasons or portability, which you will find very useful when working in different locations. Any modern laptop PC capable of running Windows XP should suffice for most of the work. Windows Vista is not currently fully compatible with the University Network and is therefore not recommended.

The keys points to look for in a PC should be:
1) More memory, 2) good/large screen 3) fast processor.

Note, that if you're doing engineering, rather than architecture, above all your PC should be stable, as you'll probably need to have it running for considerable amounts of time non-stop doing mathematically complex tasks.

But generally, a standard laptop PC should (with a bit of extra RAM) be okay.

You will find a CDRW and a network card both very useful too (on campus accommodation and design studios are networked, although some locations are only accessible via a wireless connection).

You may also want to look at the recommended and minimum specs for whatever version of AutoCAD you're planning on using (particularly for architecture students).

----------------------------------------------------------------

From this It looks like I will need to have a windows base machine purely because of the programs such as AutoCAD and 3DS Max... But I would still like to get a mac. Can I ask a few questions about dual booting or parallels.

Right so a Macs hardware is completely compatible with windows. I don't know much about macs but on a PC I can dual boot say... Vista and XP So I can choose what OS to boot up in every time I boot. Why do people have programs to do this with macs e.g. VMware, bootcamp and parallels cant I just dual boot and it will be both. I think it is extremely unproductive to have to reboot every time I want to use software that's on the other OS but I could use it like having 2 computers; PC as a workstation for architecture and the mac side of things for my personal life, other design aspects such as photography, graphic etc...

That way I could get best the of both; The body of a Mac with the stunning design, portability etc... with the applications I need.

--- This might be a good point, I seem to recall there was some tests done for windows to see what ran it the fastest and most reliable guess what won a Macbook pro... This was out of all the high end laptops.

If anyone knows a windows based laptop that has a design as stunning as a Mac, or maybe just near, I'd like to see it.

 

[soberbrain]

Right so a Macs hardware is completely compatible with windows. I don't know much about macs but on a PC I can dual boot say... Vista and XP So I can choose what OS to boot up in every time I boot. Why do people have programs to do this with macs e.g. VMware, bootcamp and parallels cant I just dual boot and it will be both. I think it is extremely unproductive to have to reboot every time I want to use software that's on the other OS but I could use it like having 2 computers; PC as a workstation for architecture and the mac side of things for my personal life, other design aspects such as photography, graphic etc...

BootCamp comes free so you can dual boot and choose either Windows or OS X at boot up.

VMWare and Parallels are virtualization software that allow you to run Windows and Windows programs on a Mac without needing a reboot.

 

[LERsince1991]

so in theory using bootcamp can't produce any problems except loss in productivity due to rebooting

With VWware and parallels here are potential problems because its run virtually in OS X. But I wont need to reboot and I will be able to have windows and mac programs up at the same time, I assume windows is just ran like any other program in OS X and has its own window so it can be minimized etc...

 

[LeviG]

Don't forget with bootcamp you will still need to pay for the windows os (to be legal) although you may be able to get a cheaper version via your course (my uni's engineering and architecture got free os's if needed) or at the very least you can use an oem version which is around £50-100.

VMware/parallels (both $80 so more expense) as said are virtualisation and by definition is slower than native os - 3ds at the very least will have issues with graphics performance, and you will not get full cpu performance either.

As to software, as far as I'm aware apart from adobe and ms office they are all windows only programs.

Now design is a personal thing but options are:
voodoo envy 133 (similar to macbook air)
panasonic toughbooks (silver metal versions)
Sony laptops

Personally I quite like the precision range from dell (as I've been recommending), although I'm a person who goes for the better hardware over the looks of a device.
The HP workstations are nice in an understated way too.

But to be perfectly honest this line

That way I could get best the of both; The body of a Mac with the stunning design, portability etc... with the applications I need.

says it all to me - it looks to me like it will not matter whether someone who actually knows what they're on about in listed programs says get a purely windows machine as you're basically saying that your 'image' because of having the mac is more important.

You don't buy a system for it's looks, you buy it because it makes the work easier, having to at the very least flick between os's will soon get tiring when your deadlines approach, not to mention the issues (theres a thread in this forum) regarding running 3ds in bootcamp.

I'm sticking with my view - get a dell workstation not a macbook pro.

 

[LERsince1991]

yeh looks say it all for me

Nah I'm not really that naive, but it is nice to have a good looking laptop. I like quality materials like metal and leather too.

But what about the statement I said where it was proven that the Macbook Pro is the fastest windows machine? Mac people will hate this because its like trying to 'polish a turd' lol.

But what if I was to install just purely windows on a Macbook?

edit: I'm looking at the suggested laptops btw... But in general why are windows machines so ugly... Dell is starting to change that with its studio range but its still a long way off the premium apple products.

edit 2: WOW I mean WOW, Voodoo PC's are awesome! Now why can't other manufacturers make PC's like these? They're like the windows equivalent to apple! Its just so simple, which is what I love, why does everyone make laptops thinking they look modern and space age but there a peice of ugly plastic with crappy lines making rubbish shapes. haha.

Are there any more manufacturers like Voodoo? Maybe a bit cheaper? Cheers!

 

[LeviG]

But what about the statement I said where it was proven that the Macbook Pro is the fastest windows machine? Mac people will hate this because its like trying to 'polish a turd' lol.

this was the last macbook pro and thats with a normal user, not a cad user, hence why I keep saying workstation machines, the macbook pro is a consumer machine, it will be slower than workstation machine in 3ds etc. Theres also better cuda support on workstation hardware from my quick looking into it. Nvidia have specific drivers for 3ds max but they only work with the quadro hardware.

Another thing to consider and I've mentioned it earlier, bootcamp doesn't cool as efficiently as os-x and 3ds max will run the system very hard when rendering.

But what if I was to install just purely windows on a Macbook?

- you can't

As to 'ugly' machines from windows - its down to cost, apple are more expensive than an equally spec'd dell, whats different is the case and os, nothing else really.

As you said you like leather etc, take a look at asus.

 

[Shownarou]

this was the last macbook pro and thats with a normal user, not a cad user, hence why I keep saying workstation machines, the macbook pro is a consumer machine, it will be slower than workstation machine in 3ds etc. Theres also better cuda support on workstation hardware from my quick looking into it. Nvidia have specific drivers for 3ds max but they only work with the quadro hardware.

Another thing to consider and I've mentioned it earlier, bootcamp doesn't cool as efficiently as os-x and 3ds max will run the system very hard when rendering.

- you can't

As to 'ugly' machines from windows - its down to cost, apple are more expensive than an equally spec'd dell, whats different is the case and os, nothing else really.

As you said you like leather etc, take a look at asus.

He wants a laptop, not a workstation. Give it a break yeah?

 

[Eidorian]

Dell Precision M4400 looks nice at around 6 lbs. 3 warranty is stock and upgrading to the 1440 x 900 LED display is dirt cheap. It comes with XP and a free upgrade to Vista.

 

[LeviG]

He wants a laptop, not a workstation. Give it a break yeah?

Workstations come in both laptop and desktop formats - do your research outside of the mac marketplace

As I've explained earlier - my reference to workstation refers to the type of graphics card which is used in the machine as they have different cards to those found on macs, all but one (bto quadro fx mac pro) have consumer level cards (geforce is consumer card) which to be frank are not designed for the way which 3ds max or autocad utilise the graphics card and as such the performance does suffer.

And to be perfectly honest I would have actually recommended a desktop machine for 3ds max (as like I've said it can stress a sytem) but as the op said he wanted a laptop I stuck to recommending a windows laptop (due to my design background and experience of required programs). You normally get more bang for your buck by going the desktop route but I assumed the op wanted some sort of portability.

Why would you tell someone who is trying to make sure the op gets a system that will fulfill his needs in the best possible way (my view is a macbook pro will not) to give it a break, I'm not forcing the person to buy a product but I am opening him up to (in my opinion) better options for his chosen course and main area of study (architecture). If the op still decides to buy the macbook pro after getting a more rounded perspective (rather than the 'stop going on about workstations' type post) then that shows that the op feels a macbook pro best fulfills his own needs.

 

[Shownarou]

Workstations come in both laptop and desktop formats - do your research outside of the mac marketplace

As I've explained earlier - my reference to workstation refers to the type of graphics card which is used in the machine as they have different cards to those found on macs, all but one (bto quadro fx mac pro) have consumer level cards (geforce is consumer card) which to be frank are not designed for the way which 3ds max or autocad utilise the graphics card and as such the performance does suffer.

And to be perfectly honest I would have actually recommended a desktop machine for 3ds max (as like I've said it can stress a sytem) but as the op said he wanted a laptop I stuck to recommending a windows laptop (due to my design background and experience of required programs). You normally get more bang for your buck by going the desktop route but I assumed the op wanted some sort of portability.

Why would you tell someone who is trying to make sure the op gets a system that will fulfill his needs in the best possible way (my view is a macbook pro will not) to give it a break, I'm not forcing the person to buy a product but I am opening him up to (in my opinion) better options for his chosen course and main area of study (architecture). If the op still decides to buy the macbook pro after getting a more rounded perspective (rather than the 'stop going on about workstations' type post) then that shows that the op feels a macbook pro best fulfills his own needs.

I stand corrected. Well, looking at this from a new point. Check out Dell business. As for reliability, they've got pretty good customer service on their business side of things, even if the regular support is crap. The M4400 would suit you well running your CAD programs; but it'll come in around $1500 US for starters. Might not look fancy; but it's probably what you're going to be needing if you're going into the field.

LeviG; I previously had not seen workstation cards in laptops. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[wongulous]

I have a few things in my professions that force me to keep a decent PC on-hand, and the ball and chain loves GPU-hungry games and Crysis Oblivion whatever game things (ugh, they annoy me to no end!). But I still always want a Mac to be my main "me" machine, for all of these purposes:
- web browsing
- email
- word processing/spreadsheet/presentations/databases (have both Office suite and Apple's iWork suite)
- digital photo archiving
- Adobe suite editing (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign are really all I use)
- web programming (mostly just a few awesome apps which I have listed in my post on page 2, check them out with a quick google perhaps)
- Final Cut Pro
- music/iPod syncing
- news groups
- RSS feed reading
- calendar/scheduling
- To Do lists/tasks/GTD pursuits
- project/inspiration/tidbits archiving.. maybe not everyone does this but before Mac I just had a huge junk drawer of "omg i loved this!" and "this inspires me!" and "keep this code snippet!" and "keep this blackmail photo for later!" and "this is a funny web comic!" and "here's a high res texture you might use someday!" "don't lose this scanned sketch of potential ideas for xyz project!" etc etc.
- finances/Quicken/tax software (dunno what y'all in the UK use! but i'm sure something..)
- disc burning
- recording high-def television, TiVo style, with el gato's eyeTV hybrid (UK equivalent is called eyeTV Diversity)
- dabbled in podcasts and Garage Band, but don't regularly much anymore due to time

TBH, I wouldn't trade any of that just to be a tiny bit faster doing my PC-only task, especially when I may have a full lab at my disposal and I could even use my Mac booted into Windows to do it. I'd say either get a separate PC down the road once you are SURE this is the major choice you'll want, and/or dual-boot on the Mac.

My point isn't arguing with LeviG that a handful of programs are best with extreme workstation graphics card setups on custom built PCs, or that the rendering of 3d stuff on a Mac in bootcamp will be 100% of that of a different machine... but that there are other priorities in a computer purchase, and I believe a Mac is a better compromise and a better way of computing for the other 75-90% of what you do with a computer.

OP, whatever you choose, I do wish you the best of luck with your choices and university!!

 

[Earendil]

I'll copy and paste a good response from a uni below in bold.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

... Therefore there is no requirement for students to own a PC.


----------------------------------------------------------------

From this It looks like I will need to have a windows base machine...

Really?

May I suggest that you perhaps don't count on doing much of your HW on your laptop?
I don't know how the other technical majors are, but in Computer Science we have our own lab, and we generally all work in it. Helping each other on hw isn't a sin, and we enjoy each other company, and if we don't, we have headphones on. Many of the students who *could* work on their own laptops choose not to. Now, since something like 1/5 of the incoming CS majors in the past few years have brought in Macs, most of them can dual boot it into windows in times of need or nesessity. But for the most part everyone uses the faster, more powerful, clean, no hassle lab computers to crank through hw with their classmates in close proximity.

Your millage may very. I would seriously take the response at their word. They wouldn't have 500 machines sitting there if no student ever used them.

 

[Let's Sekuhara!]

If I were you I would run AutoCAD in BootCamp and use Maya for Mac instead of Max. Do you need to use Max for a specific course?

While I've used Photoshop and Illustrator on both Mac and Win machines I find the experience to be more smooth on the Mac simply because OS X is very streamlined. It's light and stable versus Windows which is bloatware. Especially with Vista now the Windows option seems even shakier.

Just my opinion though. And if there are a lot of Win-only apps you need to run then it might be difficult to go the Mac route. Mac is better, but Win might be the path of least resistance in your case. But that is something only you can judge and hopefully this forum discussion is helping you to feel it out.

BTW you said you are thinking portable, right? Any specific Mac you were looking at?

 

[LeviG]

If I were you I would run AutoCAD in BootCamp and use Maya for Mac instead of Max. Do you need to use Max for a specific course?

Max would be used for rendering autocad models, theres native support for autocad etc. I'm 99% certain maya doesn't have this level of suport plus maya just isn't really used for architecture (from my experience).

 

[LERsince1991]

I guess I might save up, put some money aside and wait until I get to uni, see what people have, talk to the staff and see what would suit me best.

I must admit people buy laptops for A levels thinking they're going to take them to school a lot and use them for work but no one ever brings them to school and just uses them for MSN/facebook and doing work at home so they might as well have got desktops for half the price or double the performance.

Damn... was so close to getting a mac but it could be a right waste of money for me so I'll be patient and just play in the apple shop for now

BTW I'm actually impressed with the Dell Precision M4400. The performance looks pretty damn good for a laptop and awesome graphics. This is definitely a good route for an Architecture and design laptop. Shame that when you don't go the apple route you compromise on the design and feel of the product

Thanks everyone

 

[LeviG]

Ok, now you've decided to wait to closer to uni, how about adding a couple of ideas to think about.

Assuming that the laptop ends up as more of a note taking machine (due to school equipment), how about a £400 10" netbook (maybe running hackintosh if you want os-x base) such as the samsung nc10 (meant to get 5 hours battery life) or the new compaq mini note 700 (its better value, £100 less, than the identical hp mini note 1000) plus a diy, ie you spec it as you wish (say with a quadro fx570 or 1700 graphics card - which are autocad/3ds orientated) pc with the remaining money. I'm sure that you could get a far more powerful system (for you intended purpose) doing things this way. Now it won't be good for games but when it comes to the large scale renders 3ds max will be doing it will be worth the extra hassle etc.

And trust me, if you can use your own pc when at uni most will, I know everyone who had access to a decent system used their own, having said that the uni systems where rather useless and couldn't manage half the work the better cad students were producing

 

[NeGRit0]

I'm a real sucker for design. I would like to get a Macbook for a design course at uni. Probably architecture but I also do product, fashion, music, photography, graphic and art!

Why would this benefit be rather than just looking good?
My current laptop is 5/6 years old so I would need a new laptop anyway.

I spoke an apple sales person and he could only really give me the fact its reliable and looks good. Ive never had a mac so why should I convert for a design course at university?

Cheers

If you need to be "conviced" to buy a Mac then you dont "deserve" one. Plain an simple!

 

[LERsince1991]

If you need to be "convinced" to buy a Mac then you don't "deserve" one. Plain an simple!

err... ya...
I wanted to know how practical it would be if I got a Mac for my future course... I love Macs but I'm not wasting money if it wouldn't be practical... You saying you deserve a Mac because you don't do research and buy on impulse...

 

[wongulous]

I believe he was more saying that if you can't realize the innate value proposition of Apple hardware + Apple OS + Apple digital lifestyle, then it's overkill for you. Which in a way would be true, if you chose a specific program(s) in specialist applications geared toward a particular program that leads you toward the rest of your career.. using the exact same programs.. for the same tasks. I dunno, just the thought of a Windows OS, and only being able to do a few niche tasks to my satisfaction (even doing them extraordinarily well) makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.

The problem with these threads is that we all get a little bit too invested in ourselves and our ideas of the person who needs the advice. And the fact that we participate establishes precedent that we will tolerate and even vehemently pursue responding to these threads.

If architecture and the studies for architecture are your #1 concern at 17 years old, and you are completely sure that you won't find other interests or other uses for a superior platform/product, then you should have gone to an architect forum. Plain and simple.

 

[NeGRit0]

I believe he was more saying that if you can't realize the innate value proposition of Apple hardware + Apple OS + Apple digital lifestyle, then it's overkill for you. Which in a way would be true, if you chose a specific program(s) in specialist applications geared toward a particular program that leads you toward the rest of your career.. using the exact same programs.. for the same tasks. I dunno, just the thought of a Windows OS, and only being able to do a few niche tasks to my satisfaction (even doing them extraordinarily well) makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.

The problem with these threads is that we all get a little bit too invested in ourselves and our ideas of the person who needs the advice. And the fact that we participate establishes precedent that we will tolerate and even vehemently pursue responding to these threads.

If architecture and the studies for architecture are your #1 concern at 17 years old, and you are completely sure that you won't find other interests or other uses for a superior platform/product, then you should have gone to an architect forum. Plain and simple.

Thank you!


----------------
Now playing on iTunes: John Legend - It's Over [Feat. Kanye West]
via FoxyTunes

 

[ajpl]

The advantage of the mac is you have more options.

That is so far from the truth it's absurd.
Currently I need a new laptop to go with my MacPro and I'm now looking at PC laptops as the Apple laptops 'choices' are simply non-existent. Mirrors for screens and no pro 13" is not good for the travelling photographer. Also the new trackpad [which is very nice] is apparently a bit buggy. So 'Macs just work' is not true either. I've also had no end of problems with my MP and the Apple's excellent service managed to make it worse. The too small 'mighty' mouse plays up constantly with the trackball working intermittently and my 6 month old keyboard died a few days ago, so paying a premium does not even buy reliability.

I use CS4 on both OSs and certainly do not find OSX to run the programmes better as some have avered, in fact I prefer the Windows versions as they have some nice tweaks missing in the Apple version and if you are using multiple monitors, OSX is waaay inferior to windows in it's implementation, particularly when doing full screen as programmes do not fill entire desktop, but just one monitor. On a PC I can choose to do either.

Most of the complaints regarding how Windows works only show the commentator's lack of knowledge about Windows. I use both side by side and love aspects of each and loathe aspects of each too.
I cannot justify anyone changing to Mac if using a PC and I cannot justify anyone swapping from a Mac to a PC either.
But my overall view is that Apple tells you how to work and Windows/PCs let you decide for yourself.

The point is, nobody in the PC world seem to have the same sense of design that Apple has mastered. Good design means more than being pretty but also functional - form follows function - but, one should not destroy the other.

Again nonsense, form comes before function with many mac products particulary the bits you actually have to touch. Prettiness before ergonomics is the Apple way. Though even that comes second to cheapness of manufacture. I have a 13" PC with a bigger and better keyboard than the 17" MBP which IIRC is the same as the one on the now sadly defunct 12" MBP - why in order to save costs as it certainly does not benefit the end user. This one of th reasons Apple is the most profitable computer firm, giving customers choice is expensive. When I bough my MP from the Apple Store, I couldn't even choose to wireless mouse unless I waited another 4 or 5 days as only standard set up was kept in store. The fact that wired is still standard is particularly cheap too.

And for you (and me) who is into photography, video editing and whatnot 3D stuff, mac programmes are so organised!

Anything but. If you care about filing you do not let these programmes decide where, say your photos are, as you are then trapped into that software and it's awful filing. If you do use them, then you have to spend considerable time refiling everything when you find something better. Filing of data should always be platform and programme agnostic. Programmes change, companies go bust, get replaced by some new upstart. Even companies as big as Apple or MS can go under or be eclipsed by competition. In 10/20/50 yrs time I still want to be able to find my photos, no matter what OS I may be using then.

In windoze I just dump my photos, videos and music in a folder and double-click them if I want them. Ever since I used a mac I've stored them under iPhoto/Aperture and iTunes.

So you didn't rerally know how to use Windows then?

oh, and the spotlight search is so much quicker and more precise than windows' start-find alternative.

True, I really like Spotlight, but it often fails to find stuff I know is on my computer. Precise! Finder is as vague as a very vague thing and often I have no idea where the files shown actually are. I have to use terminal hacks to show paths in Finder to make up for Finder's uselessness.

[I can go on for ages but I think you must own a mac to really know why it's good. The reason I switched is because Windoze keeps crashing (surprisingly not by viruses or whatever, but because it naturally sucked) and I'm tired of everything not working and all those errors. One classic example is that my school's computer gives 3 error popups before I can start using it lol.

My brand new MP crashes and locks up on a regular basis and I have had real problems getting some things to work. Yet my ancient PC laptop just keeps on working.

I believe he was more saying that if you can't realize the innate value proposition of Apple hardware + Apple OS + Apple digital lifestyle, then it's overkill for you. Which in a way would be true, if you chose a specific program(s) in specialist applications geared toward a particular program that leads you toward the rest of your career.. using the exact same programs.. for the same tasks. I dunno, just the thought of a Windows OS, and only being able to do a few niche tasks to my satisfaction (even doing them extraordinarily well) makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.

The problem with these threads is that we all get a little bit too invested in ourselves and our ideas of the person who needs the advice. And the fact that we participate establishes precedent that we will tolerate and even vehemently pursue responding to these threads.

If architecture and the studies for architecture are your #1 concern at 17 years old, and you are completely sure that you won't find other interests or other uses for a superior platform/product, then you should have gone to an architect forum. Plain and simple.

It must be very comforting seeing the world with such clarity. Though the many milions of colours on your mac monitor are probably wasted on someone who it appears can only see in black or white.

I always use the best tool for the job, sometimes it's a Mac, sometimes it's a PC. People who think either one is completely and utterly superior is simply deluded. I prefer to keep an open mind myself, especially as neither are anywhere near perfect solutions

 

[wongulous]

Wow, thanks for implying that I am simplistic, a waste of resources, closed-minded, and deluded.

For the record, my point actually was acknowledging that there was a best tool for each specific task, and that trade-offs would be made, but that for the other 90% of daily use, uni life, and 18-year-old-social-life, it would be worth it. If not, why is this person asking on MacRumors? Again, go to an architecture forum if you want the best PC advice. And if nothing we can say will convince you, or anyone, why do you expect us to bother? Why are you wasting our time?

 

[LeviG]

snip as its rather long post

I like this post, its clearly from someone who has used both os's and know how to use both os's and its a nice refreshing change