The big Mac vs. PC debate thread...

[Bertzie]

Now factor in a 27"-backlit display and the full-featured version of windows 7, then add all the things you have to add to make the PC useful and the gap narrows. Even if it was twice the price, I'd still find value in Apple software.

I can't imagine any software Apple, (or Microsoft for that matter) puts out would stand a snowflakes chance in hell against a decent third party developer.

That's a huge assumption. It's part of the believer culture that Macs break down as much as PCs.

If it breaks down even once than the idea of a mac being worth it for maintenance is invalidated. The entire argument itself is bound to the idea that if something breaks you have to pay to fix it. If it can be done cheap (or free) by yourself, that cost is greatly lower than the cost of paying someone else to fix it, and has to be considered when calculating ownership cost.

[HueyNRolf]

Hah, a quality 27" standalone display would go for $400-$500 easy

Indeed and good backlit one even more. Then there's the full-featured version of windows 7. Betrtzie an amended quote please?

[Bertzie]

LOL, you're a real charmer, aren't you.

Bertzie, having a Mac means never having to be pretentious.

.

At the end of the day, the differences are largely superficial. But this is a debate thread. Where would the fun be if we just respected each others choices?

Hah, a quality 27" standalone display would go for $400-$500 easy

They are rather expensive. Personally I have no use for a monitor that large at all. Don't even have the room for it on my desk. Where they get you though is resolution. HP makes a 27" 2560x1440 monitor, but it'll still run ya bout $700.

[Bertzie]

Indeed and good backlit one even more. Then there's the full-featured version of windows 7. Betrtzie an amended quote please?

The Professional and Ultimate versions don't really offer much additional to be worth it for a video editing computer. The biggest one would be the increased RAM maximum from 16 to 192. And if you're running more than 16gigs of RAM then, damn son!

[HueyNRolf]

They are rather expensive. Personally I have no use for a monitor that large at all. Don't even have the room for it on my desk. Where they get you though is resolution. HP makes a 27" 2560x1440 monitor, but it'll still run ya bout $700.

The Professional and Ultimate versions don't really offer much additional to be worth it for a video editing computer. The biggest one would be the increased RAM maximum from 16 to 192. And if you're running more than 16gigs of RAM then, damn son!

So what?

Let me remind you, YOU SAID:

Macs consistently cost close to twice to a PC of equal power.

Would you like to concede on this?

[Bertzie]

So what?

Let me remind you, YOU SAID:



Would you like to concede on this?

Not quite, because of two rather important points. The first being I said close to, not exactly, and computers of equal power. The PC I linked was more powerful than the mac, but was chosen because it used the Intel Core i5. If you like, I could put together a Newegg wishlist of a computer of exact specs to that of the imac.

[HueyNRolf]

Not quite, because of two rather important points. The first being I said close to, not exactly, and computers of equal power. The PC I linked was more powerful than the mac, but was chosen because it used the Intel Core i5. If you like, I could put together a Newegg wishlist of a computer of exact specs to that of the imac.

No, you said:

Macs consistently cost close to twice to a PC of equal power.

Prove it.

[Bertzie]

No, you said:

Macs consistently cost close to twice to a PC of equal power.

Prove it.

Give me some time to find PCs that are built as weak as macs.

[HueyNRolf]

Give me some time to find PCs that are built as weak as macs.

Take your time.

[Bertzie]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883113183
Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009290
Plus also
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150540

Equals

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/...ct=MC812LL%2FA

iMac cost: $1,499
PC cost: $867.97

A difference of 57.9%.

The PC will have: 2gb more ram, 512mb more VGA ram, 512gb larger harddrive, and .3GHz faster processor.

(A side note: It is literally impossible to find a PC that has such low processing power with a graphics card high enough to match the Mac.)

[HueyNRolf]

A difference of 57.9%.

That's not twice, at least when I was at school it wasn't.

So did you pull this:

Macs consistently cost close to twice to a PC of equal power.

Out of your ass?

[Bertzie]

That's not twice, at least when I was at school it wasn't.

So did you pull this:

Macs consistently cost close to twice to a PC of equal power.

Out of your ass?

CLOSE.

C L O S E

C
L
O
S
E

A mesely 7%, which is more than made up for in the increased processing power.

Is it close to half the cost of a mac? Yes. Is it of equal power? No. The PC would be more powerful.

[HueyNRolf]

CLOSE.

C L O S E

C
L
O
S
E

A mesely 7%, which is more than made up for in the increased processing power.

Is it close to half the cost of a mac? Yes. Is it of equal power? No. The PC would be more powerful.

If a computer costs $1000 Then twice would be $2000, no? That's not the same as 57.9% more, which is $1579. You seem confused.

[Bertzie]

If a computer costs $1000 Then twice would be $2000, no? That's not the same as 57.9% more, which is $1579. You seem confused.

No, you seem to be bad at math. 57.9% of $2,000 would be $1,158.

50% of the $1,499 the iMac costs is $749.5 The PC up there is $867.97. $867.97 is 57.9% of $1,499.

[HueyNRolf]

No, you seem to be bad at math. 57.9% of $2,000 would be $1,158.

50% of the $1,499 the iMac costs is $749.5 The PC up there is $867.97. $867.97 is 57.9% of $1,499.

Now factor in a full-featred version of windows 7.

[Bertzie]

Now factor in a full-featred version of windows 7.

The computer comes with Windows 7 already installed. There is no need to upgrade.

[HueyNRolf]

The computer comes with Windows 7 already installed. There is no need to upgrade.

It comes with 7 home premium. How much for a non-crippled version of 7? OS X is the full version for everyone, no stripping down.

[HueyNRolf]

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-GLC-.../dp/B002DHGMVY

[Janke]

Having seen friends and family struggle with Windows, it's registry, blue screens of death, non-functioning hardware that was supposed to be plug-and-play, I gladly pay the slight premium* for having a Mac.

It's as simple as that.

PC gurus who assemble their own boxes to the max (seems to be a hobby for some) are a totally different breed from those who actually want a computer to do useful stuff, right out-of-the-box...

* Which includes a heap of good, useful software.

[Bertzie]

It comes with 7 home premium. How much for a non-crippled version of 7? OS X is the full version for everyone, no stripping down.

Windows 7 Home Premium is adequate for the purposes of video and audio editing. The only reason to upgrade to a higher version on a computer of this purpose would be to increase beyond 16gb of ram. (Again, damn son!)

[cgbier]

Janke, and don't forget that you use the time you spend on tuning a PC productively on Mac, hence getting back the money we spent extra for our elitist aluminum toy even faster. In the end, it is a zero sum.

[Dr. Benway]

Windows 7 Home Premium is adequate for the purposes of video and audio editing.

You do realise you are comparing apples with lemons?

[Bertzie]

You do realise you are comparing apples with lemons?

Apples and lemons make a pretty good cocktail.

[Jim E]

PC gurus who assemble their own boxes to the max (seems to be a hobby for some) are a totally different breed from those who actually want a computer to do useful stuff, right out-of-the-box...

You might have hit the nail on the head there, Janke. Maybe the reason PCs are so beloved of PC enthusiasts is that they can tinker with them.

So, dissing PCs might be tantamount to dissing their owner's manual skills and hobbyist expertise. Maybe that's why PC supporters tend to be a bit more, shall we say, defensive and "enthusiastic" in their arguments.

But I guess I can relate to that. I've changed almost every changeable component in one of my PCs since I've had it. It's easy, but it's also kinda fun because it's easy to screw up and you get a sense of satisfaction when you put the covers back on and it still works.

I've added RAM cards to my beautiful Mac, too, but I did it in a cold sweat.

But that just made me love it more.

.

[Janke]

Maybe the reason PCs are so beloved of PC enthusiasts is that they can tinker with them.

Yeah, I have a friend who owns a motorcycle, not for cruising with, but for tinkering with - I think it has to be some similar brains paths, there...

you use the time you spend on tuning a PC productively on Mac

I don't know any PC tinkerer who has much productive use of his PC (in my book, games don't count) ...