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All of the platforms can do what you ask. There are only a few exceptions for software that is only available on a specific platform.

I use linux for lab/study and xp for work. The wife uses an iMac. The kids use a vaio laptop with vista.

In my opinion, the only difference between all of them is aesthetics... the iMac is like a nice piece of furniture. My linux server cases are stuffed in a corner in the basement on top of my Cisco lab. The laptop gets put away when not used.

At the end of the day... do you want to pay extra money for aesthetics. I will gladly do it.
 
Mac vs PC!!! Oh boy! :p

Honestly that's looks like a great computer you put together. If you know how to build one yourself I'd go that route.

For less than the top of the line iMac I bought 21.5" iMac and I'm going to build an i7 Lynwood computer with a GeForce GTS 250 and 4GB of ram. I'll probably triple boot it with Ubuntu 9.10, Windows 7 and probably even Snow Leopard. :p (I already have 2x500gb SATA drives 2 DVD-RW's, a case and a 22" HD monitor... so that makes this whole PC upgrade less than 800)

The reason I want two is because you just can't beat the feel and experience of a Mac. Sure, I want the power and expansion options of a custom built desktop, so I'll build my own high end PC.

If you're a casual computer user then I'd go with the iMac for sure. Check out Crossover Games. You may even be able to play Metal of Honor without even having Windoze on it! :D

If you like to tinker and have the most powerful computer in the neighborhood... then build your own. Although since you're looking at HP (I would recommend anything over HP) I'm guessing you don't build your own.
 
ok now we have a thread about pro and cons of users in general and a thread about "pc vs mac" or was it "mac vs pc "
if i`m honest it does not matter , its all about personal choice
so we have to settle this with some criteria`s to choose from
price : should not be a subject if you want quality ,you will get what you pay
for:eek:
speed : does that point really matter , i mean the slowest factor on a mac or
pc is still the user itself :D
design : ok this point goes to the mac without doubt :)

operating system : you cant compare osx with windows
osx just works while windows still try`s to beat os 9 in
in terms of stability :p
 
ok now we have a thread about pro and cons of users in general and a thread about "pc vs mac" or was it "mac vs pc "
if i`m honest it does not matter , its all about personal choice
so we have to settle this with some criteria`s to choose from
price : should not be a subject if you want quality ,you will get what you pay
for:eek:
speed : does that point really matter , i mean the slowest factor on a mac or
pc is still the user itself :D
design : ok this point goes to the mac without doubt :)

operating system : you cant compare osx with windows
osx just works while windows still try`s to beat os 9 in
in terms of stability :p



your last para is just pure ignorance and fanboi waffle...
 
Some games like Metal of Honor.
Windows PHP programming.
Learn iphone programming.
Finance apps like MoneyWell, Quicken

I thought it would be nice to get Blu-Ray, that is why I looked at a pc.
I hear Apple is talking about it.
 
Some games like Metal of Honor.
Windows PHP programming.
Learn iphone programming.
Finance apps like MoneyWell, Quicken

I thought it would be nice to get Blu-Ray, that is why I looked at a pc.
I hear Apple is talking about it.

Well... you're in a tough spot.

You can only do iPhone programming on a Mac. So that narrows it down. But OSX doesn't support Blueray (yet). So you'd be out of luck there unless you got an external drive and installed Windows with VMWare or Bootcamp.
 
Some games like Metal of Honor.
Windows PHP programming.
Learn iphone programming.
Finance apps like MoneyWell, Quicken

I thought it would be nice to get Blu-Ray, that is why I looked at a pc.
I hear Apple is talking about it.

u'll need XCode and iphone SDK for iphone programming, i don't think windows can provide that.

also, macs won't equip bluray for a long time to come.
 
Some games like Metal of Honor.
Windows PHP programming.
Learn iphone programming.
Finance apps like MoneyWell, Quicken

I thought it would be nice to get Blu-Ray, that is why I looked at a pc.
I hear Apple is talking about it.

what the heck is 'windows php' programming.
 
your last para is just pure ignorance and fanboi waffle...

I feel like it's pretty true. Windows has always been a resource hog. Not sure about osx 9 but 10.4 seems to crush xp and vista in terms of speed and reliability. Look at Internet browsers. Safari vs. IE whatever they're on now. IE is the WORST browser created.

Although if you really truly know how to keep viruses off your computer and get a copy of XP black, you can save yourself some money... If money is what's important. If you like to download movies and browse the Internet carefree, get the mac. I'm not sure how it can fail you as long as you have the money.

For that guy that thinks it's fanboy talk. He must be happy with windows. And for the fanboy. He likes mac. Just pick what suits you best and you'll make one or the other work for you. I'd say go with the mac because that seems to be the way you're leaning or else you wouldn't Have come onto a mac forum trying to be talked into an HP.
 
your last para is just pure ignorance and fanboi waffle...

sorry to upset you , but i used windows since windows 3.1 came out gone through hell with win 95 and 98 , windows nt then used win 2000 later win xp and vista and not to mention win me , thats longer then most users here know computers exist only converted to os 9 and osx and mac in general about 3 month ago ,
what did make me convert is simple said" i had enough" from pc`s and windows after windows 7 caused bluescreens on my new dell which i had bought just weeks before , and i was reminded of windows 95 and said to myself "no not again " and put the dell up on ebay again without reserve only to get rid of it which made someone very happy on ebay when he bought for £150 a computer worth over £800 hardly used with full warranty and i dont regret it ,finally i can simply work on a computer..on a eMac that is and my little imac g3 aka calimero
 
I feel like it's pretty true. Windows has always been a resource hog. Not sure about osx 9 but 10.4 seems to crush xp and vista in terms of speed and reliability. Look at Internet browsers. Safari vs. IE whatever they're on now. IE is the WORST browser created.

Although if you really truly know how to keep viruses off your computer and get a copy of XP black, you can save yourself some money... If money is what's important. If you like to download movies and browse the Internet carefree, get the mac. I'm not sure how it can fail you as long as you have the money.

For that guy that thinks it's fanboy talk. He must be happy with windows. And for the fanboy. He likes mac. Just pick what suits you best and you'll make one or the other work for you. I'd say go with the mac because that seems to be the way you're leaning or else you wouldn't Have come onto a mac forum trying to be talked into an HP.

And if you don't have the money and still want to be care free... Linux FTW! ;)
 
some of the posts above are pretty lol.

what are you guys smoking? i used everything since os9/10 and win3.1.
5~10 years ago u might get away with saying mac os is overall superior than windows, but now the gap is pretty much closed, hello cavemen~

go try windows 7, it's a lot like osx, both functional-wise and appearance-wise.
i don't care if you are saying oh, windows is just copying from osx. what's wrong with porting a feature that's good? afterall a lot of stuff from osx come from unix anyways.

if you don't like IE, you can uninstall it in windows 7, i did that on mine, very simple no hassle.

bottom line, it really just comes down to personal preference, no OS has a clear edge over the other. for those fanbois whose brains are inundated with apple ads, plz, i repeat, plz go to fictional writing forum, thank you.
 
...for those fanbois whose brains are inundated with apple ads, plz, i repeat, plz go to fictional writing forum, thank you.

I'm sorry. What were you saying before that? I lost track because I was busy listening to John Hodgman was just saying something funny in my head.
 
some of the posts above are pretty lol.

what are you guys smoking? i used everything since os9/10 and win3.1.
5~10 years ago u might get away with saying mac os is overall superior than windows, but now the gap is pretty much closed, hello cavemen~

go try windows 7, it's a lot like osx, both functional-wise and appearance-wise.
i don't care if you are saying oh, windows is just copying from osx. what's wrong with porting a feature that's good? afterall a lot of stuff from osx come from unix anyways.

if you don't like IE, you can uninstall it in windows 7, i did that on mine, very simple no hassle.

bottom line, it really just comes down to personal preference, no OS has a clear edge over the other. for those fanbois whose brains are inundated with apple ads, plz, i repeat, plz go to fictional writing forum, thank you.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention the lack of innovation from Microsoft. Have you seen that commercial where the guy says he invented the two windows snapping to size to compare them? That was awful. He spends 10 seconds dragging the window to the other side.

If windows wants to copy osx that's fine with me. But I'm sticking with the people that came up with what works... Not second place. Example: "iPhone killers"

Touchscreen phone. Let's everyone rush to make one. No creativity whatsoever.
 
*sigh*

The moment I saw the title 'mac vs pc' i knew it would end up bitching at each other.
Who gives a f**k what others use. If you're happy with what ever that is you're using, don't insult others for being different. sigh
 
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention the lack of innovation from Microsoft. Have you seen that commercial where the guy says he invented the two windows snapping to size to compare them? That was awful. He spends 10 seconds dragging the window to the other side.

If windows wants to copy osx that's fine with me. But I'm sticking with the people that came up with what works... Not second place. Example: "iPhone killers"

Touchscreen phone. Let's everyone rush to make one. No creativity whatsoever.

I really like the window snapping. It snaps to fill half the screen and it's really useful for things like programming where I'd like to have two windows side by side. Great on a widescreen monitor. If anyone knows a plugin for Compiz-Fusion that'd be awesome! :D

But I've heard enough of fanboys going on and on about how innovative Apple is and now Microsoft is not...

OS wise... 2000, what has Apple done so much more innovative than Microsoft?

Infact, the OS I've seen MORE innovation come from has been the opensource comunity and Linux. Thousands of developers have generated so much more enhancements and so much more creative inventions have found their way into various linux distros than I've seen by either MS or Apple.

All that said... I have a Mac, Windows and Linux computer. They all have their uses. But come on people, put the Kool-Aid down.
 
Some games like Metal of Honor.
Windows PHP programming.
Learn iphone programming.
Finance apps like MoneyWell, Quicken

I thought it would be nice to get Blu-Ray, that is why I looked at a pc.
I hear Apple is talking about it.

I think you should get a ps3 which can play "some games like medal of honour" and it has a good quality blu-ray player. all in one i reckon.

Iphon programming, mac only.

Windows PHP programming, i guess you can do that on a mac, maybe use your old pc or get a cheap... small pc to do it on or test... (not sure what php programming is)
Those finance apps.. well i dont see a need for a pc to use them so i think you should invest in a mac and see what its like, if you dont like the mac, all you lose i the iphone programming.
 
And about this bluray thing. GO TO YOUR LIVING ROOM TO WATCH YOUR MOVIE. dvd should do for a 27" screen. I really don't understand this, but to each his own.

This is the best thing I have seen posted on this site since I joined and made the switch from PC to Mac one week ago. I, for the life of me, cant understand why people want to watch movies on their computer. For me, my Mac is in my "office", its where I do work and surf the net. I also do some Pages and Numbers work on it now. So I wouldnt be watching a movie, regardless of its format, here on this Mac. I would take my happy backside through the door on my right and watch it on my 40 in the bedroom, or oh no! all the way down stairs where I have the blu ray hooked to the big daddy. I dont mean to bash everyone, I understand the Hd camcorder and wanting to rip home videos on blu ray quality, but for the most part that isnt what people have been complaining about it for. Can anyone explain why they want to sit in front of their computer to watch DVD's?

To the OP: I just made the switch last week. I know you said you had an MB, so there will not be any issue for you getting an iMac, and there hasnt been for me either. The transition could not have been easier. And, like many others here, did it bc I was fed up with Windows based technology. And in just a week, not only does my product look and feel superior, it operates superiorly, and is capable of so much more than a PC. And I have barely scratched the surface. Im still a Mac dummy, but the possibilities seem endless. Go Mac my friend. I did and I will never return to Windows.
 
dude

This is the best thing I have seen posted on this site since I joined and made the switch from PC to Mac one week ago. I, for the life of me, cant understand why people want to watch movies on their computer. For me, my Mac is in my "office", its where I do work and surf the net. I also do some Pages and Numbers work on it now. So I wouldnt be watching a movie, regardless of its format, here on this Mac. I would take my happy backside through the door on my right and watch it on my 40 in the bedroom, or oh no! all the way down stairs where I have the blu ray hooked to the big daddy. I dont mean to bash everyone, I understand the Hd camcorder and wanting to rip home videos on blu ray quality, but for the most part that isnt what people have been complaining about it for. Can anyone explain why they want to sit in front of their computer to watch DVD's?

dude understand people are different. not everyone might have a large enough tv to watch movies on.
 
dude understand people are different. not everyone might have a large enough tv to watch movies on.


Yeah, sorry. Im just in one of those moods today, you know? I would say though, if I didnt have a TV large enough to watch movies on, then I wouldnt buy a 1300 dollar computer (likely more if it had blu ray). But thats just me, we all have different priorities.
 
i cant see the point if i sit in front of the computer to turn my head if i want to look from one side of the screen to the other
ok it would give at least your neck a bit of exercise while sitting in front of the computer and your right arm while pushing the mouse from one end of the screen to the other :D

You clearly sit too close to your computer, and have your mouse sensitivity dialled down too low.

I find it very difficult to understand why anyone without a form of visual impairment wouldn't want such a high definition 27" screen.

Of course, it has been pointed out (by AI in their "review" I think) that the 27" screen is almost exactly 4 times the resolution of the Macbook. This means you can run it at a very comfortable 1280x720 with "pixel doubling", absolutely brilliant for the casual user with poor eyesight (parents in my case).

As for CRT... yes, I do lament at the loss of its superb colour reproduction but LCDs are getting very, very close and CRT had its own drawbacks... not least of all the fact that it's now impossible for me to use anything but the best of CRT displays without feeling slightly ill.

SED sounded promising, where the hell is it now? (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/sed-tv.htm)


Go for the iMac. I haven't looked back since I went Mac. The last PC I bought set my back nearly £2000 a handful of years ago and came with a 24" Dell TFT, so by comparison I consider the i7 iMac to be quite a bargain. That said, I still use the PC for testing HD projectors, torrenting, development and other bits 'n' bobs. I wouldn't buy another one, though.
 
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