Why a Mac Pro? Why not a PC?

[MoreAwesomeDanU]

LOL for 10 years (hard to believe) and you still don't know the shortcuts to windows? Ever heard of right click on the task bar and select windows side by side? Or just grab the app and slide all the way left/right until windows re-size if for you.

What i meant was under a PC, i find myself only productive when I have 1 window opened per monitor. Try it out yourself, have a bunch windows opened on a PC and a mac, and compare. In osx, feels like you have a stack of documents you can flip through; in windows, there's just a bunch of windows that you want to maximize each one before using them... Maybe its just a personal thing.

 

[alphaod]

If the PC for $1000 less (or for $1000) does what you need to do, there is no reason to get the Mac Pro. Personally I like Windows 7. If you use a proper antivirus and firewall, and you browse secure sites you should be fine.

OS X has a lot of vulnerabilities; just less people to exploit them since the target market (for hackers) is lower.

You get the Mac Pro if your family is used to the environment and you can use the extra power; if you are flexible between the two platforms, then get the PC.

 

[vbob]

I was using PC's for the last 25 years.
I've used almost every OS is out from the "DOS age" till now.
I am on a Mac Pro for more than a year now.
The Mac OS X have something magical. The Mac Pro is pretty silent and temperature cool. Also the power consumption is low enough to let me leave it 24/7 open (about 145-165 watts).
My 2009 Mac Pro is my first Mac ever (my 1st Apple product was iPhone 3G/16 GB).
The first days/months I started to use Mac OSX, was very strange to me because I was looking to the roof thinking my new Mac, and smile all the time wile thinking --> "What was wrong with me all those years and I was using PC's. Why I haven't try earlier the Mac's...!!! I was just wasting my time with PC's..!!!"

What I mean is that for sure you can do the same things with mac and pc.
Your computer will have the "Computer Power" it's hardware gives it. No more, no less. There is no "magic" in computers hardware.
The mac way is better, smarter, easier. Less nerves - more peace of mind.
Less time consumption to occupy my self with the OS.
Mac OS X is making my computer life more happy. Mac OS X is making me more productive.
Only if someone have "the mac experience" himself can understand how much better the macs are from pc's.
You can see the "apples way" of doing things different comparing android with iOS.
I have an iPhone 4 32GB right now and I am always trying to check "the other side too". So I have compared the iOS with my friends Android cellphones. Sure both iOS and Android phones make about the same things. Surfing the internet, Running games and apps, listening music, etc..etc...!!! The apple way is something different. And the difference is in details. Details that someone can say easily "duh...those are unimportant details", but the overall feeling using iPhone 4 vs using other mobile phones with android is completely different. iOS gives you a feeling that makes you think that many people (the developers) thought very well "how to implement" every single part of the user experience of the iphone and they created the features of the iOS with the best way they could, to please the user by giving him a user experience that is better and different in compare with the other Cellphone OS's. (Fast, snappy, intelligent, easy for the eyes from the aspect of graphics and eye movement on the screen, etc..!!! I can't explain it easily with words).

That's the main difference of a Mac vs PC I believe. The experience that the user have,...when using it..!!!

The negatives of macs are that you cannot easily upgrade your mac and the fact that you don't have many options for Graphics Cards.
Also Mac's are more expensive than PC's.

The peace of mind that a mac offers you is something seriously considerable when you buy a computer.

Windows 7 become a very stable OS, though. Windows 7 have nothing common with the past crashes etc...!!! If someone believe that he will be ok to use windows as his main OS, then he should "save money" and buy a PC. If someone seeks for "peace of mind", then he should buy a mac.

I love my Mac...!!! (an it loves me too..heheh)
Every day I am smiling that I did the switch. The only thing I wish for my "computer future" is to always have the money to buy mac computers through time. Once you go mac you never go back (only if you don't have the money...hehe).

I buyed a mac for "peace of mind" and stability.

If someone Buy a super fast computer just to say to his friends that he is having higher scores on benchmarking is wrong in my opinion.
People should buy computers to be able to do their work on it as fast and easy they can and to enjoy using it.

 

[thepawn]

I have to agree. Still having both (my laptop is Windows for business use), OSX is "easier" out of the box. It lets you fiddle with less, but also has less fiddling to keep it smooth.

Windows 7 almost kept me in the Windows camp, but I switched because I just didn't feel like twiddling and tinkering to keep things running smooth. My Win7 box had issues with NTLM authentication queries from a domain because of a driver that my Matrox DualHead2Go installed, why did a graphic driver need to touch the authentication subsystem? If I install the newest Matrox driver it doesn't go as high of a resolution as the older on, the hardware didn't change, why did this? Explorer wouldn't open properly on a login because of a bug in an Intel TurboMemory driver that was the last "certified" driver at the time?

This is the kind of thing that I got tired of trying to figure out often, so I went with the Mac. You choose to live with the limitations of flexibility, but with that comes a generally higher level of stability...and just to get it "out of the way", of course bad things can still happen in OSX, we're talking low standard deviation here, not the outlier.

If you still want "tweaking choice" in all aspects of your OS, OS-X is not for you...stick with Windows (or Linux).

 

[DeeEss]

d00dz, eat sum xanax and send each other love letters through email or pm's. If it was fun to read your rants, that'd be one thing, but it's just ... Coma inducingly boring and has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. Zzzzzzzzzz

my grandfather ran cp/m on an apple ][ using a microsoft cp/m card! I also have 6502 assembly op codes tattooed inside my eyelids, and thusly, am far more elite then you could ever dream of being. Hah! So there. This conclusively proves why the mac pro r0x0rz.

Go outside. Save yourself!

Also, it's completely obvious that the reason everybody should buy a mac pro is 'cuz it's shiny, and pretty, and shows the world you have more dollars then sense.

lol!!!!

 

[derbothaus]

I think Windows OS is a great OS and as good as the MacOSX. I think they are both good. Why not get a MP and get the best of both worlds by installing both OSes?

Some sound advise.

 

[akadmon]

I have a friend who bought a Mac Pro and, as far as I know, has never run OSX on it, other than the first time he turned it on when he got it home. The reason for this excentric behavior? He is an amateur astronomer, with about 100K invested in telescope and camera gear. The software he uses to control his telescope (basically to sync it with the Earth's rotation, which is required for long exposures) runs only on Windows.

 

[ivnj]

Mac is very stable and no viruses. But pc has more choices in software and software. Somethings just don't run on a mac.

 

[nanofrog]

Macs may not get attacked as often as PC's due to a much smaller market share, but they're not insusceptible by any means.

I ended up getting a call about a system (MP) yesterday using a static IP that had 72 illicit connections over the internet connection the user had no idea were there. They ate more than half the available ISP bandwidth (turned the system into a bot during certain time periods).

The cause?

• No thought or precautions as to the security of internet downloads and ended up installing malware.

As to which system is better, there's really no difference in the hardware anymore (both PC's and Macs are using Intel CPU's and other commodity parts from GPU's to PWM controllers, ... down to the lowliest of passive components = resistors, inductors, and capacitors). Most "hardware" issues in shipping systems are usually attributed to a lack of testing on the software side (i.e. driver interaction issues) rather than bad hardware, though that can happen as well (and Macs aren't immune to this either, as Quality Control has fallen industry wide for consumer electronics - no vendor's been excluded as they've all gone to OEM or more commonly, ODM suppliers for their products located in Asia). Remember, Apple's systems are at least built by other companies (usually Foxconn), and in at least a few cases, they also perform the design work as well.

BTW, Foxconn does a lot of work for other vendors as well, such as HP's consumer systems (may even do their enterprise system work now as well).

So to me at least, the right system (platform selection) for the user has more to do with software usage (the user has to ask themselves: does x or x type of software work better for me under Windows or OS X?).

 

[neko girl]

alt+tab on Windows is the biggest waste of time.

 

[IceMacMac]

For 95% of computer users speed is now irrelevant. but like many Mac Pro users it is still very relevant to me.

Content creators that use 3D apps demand power like just about no other category of computer user.

As CPU advances have all but stalled in recent years...the GPU has become much more of a difference-maker. This is about to explode with the increased use of CUDA and OpenCL.

And this is precisely the #1 Achilles' heel of the Mac. We get third rate, half-powered GPUs and pay 2-3 times over for their value. Plus we can't fit as many GPUs in our systems.

I just bought a MacBook Pro and an iPad 2...I'll continue buying Apple consumer products. But unless Apple truly does something radical with the next Mac Pro.................I'll be buying Windows for my next pro station.

And the impression I get: Apple might be just fine with that.

 

[vladi]

What i meant was under a PC, i find myself only productive when I have 1 window opened per monitor. Try it out yourself, have a bunch windows opened on a PC and a mac, and compare. In osx, feels like you have a stack of documents you can flip through; in windows, there's just a bunch of windows that you want to maximize each one before using them... Maybe its just a personal thing.

Absolutely its all about your personal workflow. For people who need multiple windows open OSX gives perception of unity instead of switching between separate programs like in Win7. Now problem in OSX is when one app has instance of two or more windows, getting back to that second window is a pain if you minimize that app or if windows stacks behind the main window. Thats why i have corners always set to desktop and expose. But still its a flaw.

I trully think that Mac Pro is loosing its advantage in creative business to Win7. Photoshop works as fast or faster on Win (depends on instance), 3D programs in general work wonders on Win compared to Macs, compositing is PC business only today and for Christ's sake we had problems with Nuendo and RME Fireface setup on OSX just recently. WTF Apple?
So we had to switch to PC for DAW creations.

Honestly I think times have changed. Mac OSX is a lot more every-day user friendly than Win7. But I think Win7 with good hardware offers a lot more for creatives in every field (Final Cut and Logic have still hold their edge in all honesty).

 

[Avro]

If the PC for $1000 less (or for $1000) does what you need to do, there is no reason to get the Mac Pro. Personally I like Windows 7. If you use a proper antivirus and firewall, and you browse secure sites you should be fine.

OS X has a lot of vulnerabilities; just less people to exploit them since the target market (for hackers) is lower.

You get the Mac Pro if your family is used to the environment and you can use the extra power; if you are flexible between the two platforms, then get the PC.

Dell T3500 is a consumer computer while the T5500 is more comparable to the Mac Pro and when specced similarly actually costs more.

OS X, Windows and Linux have about the same number of vulnerabilities, just more people are exploiting the Windows ones.

Something you will notice is that the Mac Pro is a favourite of creative professionals. These people often have to work unsociable hours with little in the way of Tech Support. They need something with rock solid reliability.
OS X has that whereas Windows is subject to mysterious behaviour from time to time. Windows 7 is very nice, but sometimes it doesn't like to print or connect to the internet or sounds like a 747 on take-off. There is a lot of backward compatibility and sometimes just plain backward code in Windows that we don't need and can get us in trouble.

The other thing is the Windows OEM machines seem to have come out of a Soviet Bloc country circa 1981. Plastic rather than metal and someone has gone to a lot of trouble just to avoid putting in an extra screw.

I have had a Mac Pro for 3 years and couldn't do what I do with a Windows box. The apps I use just are not there.

You certainly can get by with a Windows machine, but you only live once!

 

[Avro]

Mac is very stable and no viruses. But pc has more choices in software and software. Somethings just don't run on a mac.

Try running Scrivener 2, Keynote, OmniWeb, Yojimbo or Nisus Writer Pro or 100 other Mac specific apps on a Windows box and you will be disappointed.
The software just isn't there.

 

[Transporteur]

The "there is no software for Mac" argument simply isn't true.

There are 1000 examples of brilliant software you won't find for Windows. People using this argument are absolutely misinformed or just ignorant.

Anyhow, if I had to buy a PC, it would definitely be a HP Z800 workstation. Beautiful piece of work. It's just the OS that doesn't suit me. Hardware wise, I'd chose it over the Pro, even though it doesn't look as nice. But hardware support and upgradability certainly speak for the Z800.

 

[IceMacMac]

nyhow, if I had to buy a PC, it would definitely be a HP Z800 workstation. Beautiful piece of work. It's just the OS that doesn't suit me. Hardware wise, I'd chose it over the Pro, even though it doesn't look as nice. But hardware support and upgradability certainly speak for the Z800.

If Apple doesn't amaze and surprise with a new MacPro in the next 10 months...I'll build my own PC. It just doesn't sound that hard. A big-mother box with massive Power supply and great cooling. Two of the best GPUs available....The latest Intel... overclocked. It's going to be sweet.

But I won't give up my 2009 Mac Pro! Why do people view it as one or the other? I'll use keyboard/monitor switching so I can bounce back and forth between platforms.

The nuclear age cold war between Apple and Windows is dead. You can't hate Bill Gates because he's a great philanthropist. You can't hate Steve Jobs because of his health. Apple has become the world's most lucrative, influential company so you sure can't view them like the besieged little guy...while MS still enjoys the "consolation prize" of dominating PC market share.

 

[dime21]

Dear People,

I would like to know your thoughts? I like OSX, I like Apple hardware, I like Mac software, we own a Mac Book Pro and an Imac a PC, and we will buy a Mac Pro this week or so.

Why not buy a PC instead: the same setup will cost 1000,- less, it has more extra's (like more RAM, USB3, eSata), Windows 7 is stabil?

If you know of a vendor like Sony or Dell or HP selling a comparable PC for 1000,- less, please provide a link. Any dual socket Xeon from a Tier 1 vendor is going to be sold as business equipment, not for "home use", and it will be priced accordingly. I have a hard time believing this 1000,- less claim.

Price aside, I choose the Mac Pro because I want OSX, I want a warranty, and I don't want the risk and hassle of a Hackintosh.

 

[zephonic]

I'm on the fence.

I love OSX and the Apple computing experience in general, but I suspect that they'll soon move away from power computing altogether to focus on consumer products exclusively. Cloud, thin clients, that's what Apple is about these days.

Add to that the hefty prices of the MacPro, and I'm beginning to think that my next studio machine may well be a custom-built PC workstation.

If I can actually bring myself to bite the bullet, that is...

If Apple prices the next-gen MacPro a little more realistically, this need not happen. I remain hopeful.

 

[IceMacMac]

If Apple prices the next-gen MacPro a little more realistically, this need not happen. I remain hopeful.

It's not just the price. It's the GPU situ, support for OpenGL and other architectural issues.

Apple is going to have to shock the world with earnestness on this "back to the Mac" campaign and will need to *overtly* demonstrate their commitment to the pro market...or I'll be be migrating my heavy artillery to Windows.

If Apple doesn't show that they really care for Pro users...why should I care about them?

I don't say this with any bitterness, because I'll still buy/use/love Apple's consumer products and notebooks. I say this as a matter of facing facts.

 

[nanofrog]

The "there is no software for Mac" argument simply isn't true.

For a few, this may actually be a valid argument, based on their specific usage (i.e. specialized professional software that's either not available for OS X, or what is, isn't the best solution for their needs).

But for more common software (i.e. word processing to ripping videos, and a lot inbetween), there's quite a bit out for OS X these days.

 

[Transporteur]

For a few, this may actually be a valid argument, based on their specific usage (i.e. specialized professional software that's either not available for OS X, or what is, isn't the best solution for their needs).

You can easily turn this around. There are lots of applications for Mac that you won't find for Windows.

But yes, valid point, there are always specific needs in which you can't use both platforms.

 

[nanofrog]

You can easily turn this around. There are lots of applications for Mac that you won't find for Windows.

With any platform really (cough... Linux... cough).

But to me, it seems to be the case more for OS X than Windows (less about existance of applications under Windows, but users could have valid complaints about usability of what is available under Windows).

 

[CaoCao]

In 2005 I bought a Dell Workstation for $3000 with four year on site warranty. I call in 2007 about hardware problems and ask for help, first they treat me like an idiot and then they give me retarded advice (My GPU was artifacting and they asked me to make sure my computer was plugged in...). Then they started cursing me out. I hung up on them and now avoid Dell like the plague because workstation users should not be treated that way. Hell, no one should be treated that way!

 

[infidel69]

In 2005 I bought a Dell Workstation for $3000 with four year on site warranty. I call in 2007 about hardware problems and ask for help, first they treat me like an idiot and then they give me retarded advice (My GPU was artifacting and they asked me to make sure my computer was plugged in...). Then they started cursing me out. I hung up on them and now avoid Dell like the plague because workstation users should not be treated that way. Hell, no one should be treated that way!

I find this story hard to beleive. I've dealt with Dell CS before and although I could barely understand them they were always curtious and respectfull.

 

[CaoCao]

I find this story hard to beleive. I've dealt with Dell CS before and although I could barely understand them they were always curtious and respectfull.

Yes, the story is hard to believe. Imagine how I felt on the receiving end.

In the end all I did was replace the GPU and I still use it for playing Civ IV