Imac users, a little input here please.

[Xander]

I am seriously considering buying the new Imac. It seems to fit my needs much better than a PC can these days.
However I have always worked with, worked on and dealt with PC based utilities and never with Mac's things.
Currently the larges experience I ahve with Mac's is using my sisters Imac to check my mail, when I have been visiting her.

Can you guys give me a little input on the world of Mac please??

 

[tortoise]

I have been a Mac user since 1984, but I've never been quick to recommend that PC people "jump ship." It really just boils down to what you're comfortable with. The new iMac is a very cool little machine, with some fun bells and whistles, but I can think of no compelling reason for you to switch from Windows to MacOS, and there are a few drawbacks, specifically applications that work better in Windows than on the Mac (MSN Messenger is definitely one; I loathe the Mac version of this app). There are a few things that the Mac does better; the free iMovie app fucking ROCKS for digital video editing, and it's definitely easier to add various peripheral devices (Macs are much more 'plug and play').

So, basically, I stick with MacOS as my main platform because I'm comfortable with it. If you're comfortable with Windows, I'd stick with that.

 

[Xander]

I have been a Mac user since 1984, but I've never been quick to recommend that PC people "jump ship." It really just boils down to what you're comfortable with. The new iMac is a very cool little machine, with some fun bells and whistles, but I can think of no compelling reason for you to switch from Windows to MacOS, and there are a few drawbacks, specifically applications that work better in Windows than on the Mac (MSN Messenger is definitely one; I loathe the Mac version of this app). There are a few things that the Mac does better; the free iMovie app fucking ROCKS for digital video editing, and it's definitely easier to add various peripheral devices (Macs are much more 'plug and play').

So, basically, I stick with MacOS as my main platform because I'm comfortable with it. If you're comfortable with Windows, I'd stick with that.

Well I am comfortable with the windows based machines, and hvae been working with them for as long as I have been on puters.
Thats not the issue though.
I am mainly gonna use it for graphics work, and music applications. Though need something that PC's seem to lack a bit of lately.
I ahve before been a sworn PC users, always. Now looking at it, and not really minding switching OS systems, and needing a powerful graphics machine, and a machine that can handle huge amounts of music data as well.
Well something tells me that Mac is better in this field than PC's.

Am I right or wrong??

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

With all the cross platform software available now, and with Microsoft making Office for Mac, there is nothing a current Mac can do that a PC can't, INCLUDING all the spreadsheet and other business software.

Conversely, there is a TON of things a PC can't do that a Mac can. You're a musician right? Dude -- GET A MAC. You can rip and burn and firewire your ass off.

I showed my Mac interface to a dedicated PC user the other day, and he just couldn't believe that I can name any file anything I want, put it anywhere I want, drag pics right off the net without right clicking (there IS no "right click"), and marvelled a host of other ergonomically brilliant things a Mac can do, that take about thirty seconds to learn.

With iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto and the interface ease that makes all graphics work a dream, anyone involved in film, Internet, video, sound or digital media should be working on Mac.

 

[tortoise]

With iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto and the interface ease that makes all graphics work a dream, anyone involved in film, Internet, video, sound or digital media should be working on Mac.

iMovie is an absolutely brilliant app, and one of the reasons I could never give up my Mac.

I forgot to mention Virtual PC for the Mac, which is an inexpensive application that can basically turn your Mac into a PC, for those few instances where the PC version of an app is simply better (i.e. the aforementioned MSN messenger).

 

[Xander]

With all the cross platform software available now, and with Microsoft making Office for Mac, there is nothing a current Mac can do that a PC can't, INCLUDING all the spreadsheet and other business software.

Conversely, there is a TON of things a PC can't do that a Mac can. You're a musician right? Dude -- GET A MAC. You can rip and burn and firewire your ass off.

I showed my Mac interface to a dedicated PC user the other day, and he just couldn't believe that I can name any file anything I want, put it anywhere I want, drag pics right off the net without right clicking (there IS no "right click"), and marvelled a host of other ergonomically brilliant things a Mac can do, that take about thirty seconds to learn.

With iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto and the interface ease that makes all graphics work a dream, anyone involved in film, Internet, video, sound or digital media should be working on Mac.

Thats what I wanted to hear DCL, yes I am a Mucisian, and I ahve gotten a deal on some cool studio software too, plus I am animating a little for fun myself here.

THANK YOU.

I wanted to be sure that the mac platform is as good at these things as they say, before I go anywhere and run my credit card through the slot ya know.

 

[tigerjen]

From a dedicated user of Mac....

I've been raised on Apple and Mac computers since I was
a kid! I just got an iMac for Christmas! I love it!! Needed
it real badly because my last Mac was the Performa which
I've had since '95 and it got to the point where I snuck
onto my mom's iMac and signed on as a guest to aol so
I could access the web......... so far on my iMac I've only
used it for online stuff.......I love the fact that the modem
is built inside....only time I've used a PC has been in the
library to check email and on the web........but I'll always
be a Mac baby

tigerjen

 

[llee69]

Me Mac.

I got hooked back in 85. Just a bit after they came out. I have had to use Pc's for various jobs. With my last job I was able to take my Powerbook in and do all my work. Then email it to the pc to archive only. (the main frame was a few states away and they backed up every night)

Anyway, I say you can to wrong with a Mac with a built in cdr and even dvdr.

Just make sure that after you spend the 4 minutes it takes to get it out of the box and set up to spend 5 more minutes to learn it. Yes, that easy!

 

[LukkyKnight]

The compelling reasons change with OS X. It's a BSD based unix kernel, with all the power that implies, with a very smooth front end GUI wrapped over the top of it to make it nearly (not quite) impossible to shoot yourself in the foot. Granted OS X when it came out had issues, 10.1 is still not perfect, it is NOT the world's favorite target for hackers to write viruses...

If you have apps you KNOW won't run on a Mac you have something to think about. The era when it was strictly a niche box for people who did graphics or engineering is gone - in fact, with GeForce cards it's possible the rendering is better on most PCs lately, since the speed required for rendering polys to keep 16 year old boys buying first-person-shooters has really made Windows into quite a spiffy platform in many ways.

But BSD rocks, plain and simple. It's considerably superior to the old Mac OS, even though they've mostly welded it right back on.

Um. Or I might not have any idea what I am talking about, since I'm a cyber bartender with a big mouth.

 

[Wizard]

Whats the price range for a Imac?????............

 

[Draco]

The best of both worlds

Simple solution. We are a MacIntosh dealer as well as PC dealer. A lot of the iMacs we sell are set up in dual mode, One partition with Windows 98 For Mac and one with OS X . Most customers find this to be very handy, and suits their needs perfectly.

 

[Spinaroonie]

IMacs are about 1K and worth it.

Macs are faster (Mhz does not equal speed)

Macs have better factory software, worth more than the difference of price of hardware.

They're just plain better.

Yes.

They are.

 

[Xander]

Well it looks like its gonna be a Imac now

 

[llee69]

Whats the price range for a Imac?????............

funny you should ask. Today I got 2 Mac catalogs. Not to say these are the best deal available, but here are some prices.

For the new Imac(the really cool Tit-on-a-table with floating screen
40 gig, 128 ram cd-rw 1299
40 gig, 256ram, cd-re/dvd 1499
80 gig, 256 ram, cd-rw/dvd-r (and faster processer) 1799
plus free shipping or 100 pack of cd-r or 100 off a printer


For an original style Imac
20 gig, 256 ram, cd-rw 894

These are all firewire macs. With IFoto, ITunes, Imovie.

THe other catalogue is 5 bucks less.

 

[CarolineOh]

I'm no expert, but I can tell you that if you are working with music files, it is incredibly easy with an iMac.
And a couple more things in paise of Macs. I have had several Macs, going back to a Quadra I got in about 1991 or thereabouts. I have never had a hard drive crash. And I have been online since 1996, and I have never had a virus.

 

[BlkPnthr]

Well I am comfortable with the windows based machines, and hvae been working with them for as long as I have been on puters.
Thats not the issue though.
I am mainly gonna use it for graphics work, and music applications. Though need something that PC's seem to lack a bit of lately.
I ahve before been a sworn PC users, always. Now looking at it, and not really minding switching OS systems, and needing a powerful graphics machine, and a machine that can handle huge amounts of music data as well.
Well something tells me that Mac is better in this field than PC's.

Am I right or wrong??

*Chuckle* You want a badass machine for graphics and music? Stay PC....either Windows or Unix. Those are the better platforms for it.

 

[BlkPnthr]

IMacs are about 1K and worth it.

Macs are faster (Mhz does not equal speed)

Macs have better factory software, worth more than the difference of price of hardware.

They're just plain better.

Yes.

They are.

I'll pit your Mac against my P4 any day!

 

[BlkPnthr]

With all the cross platform software available now, and with Microsoft making Office for Mac, there is nothing a current Mac can do that a PC can't, INCLUDING all the spreadsheet and other business software.

Conversely, there is a TON of things a PC can't do that a Mac can. You're a musician right? Dude -- GET A MAC. You can rip and burn and firewire your ass off.

I showed my Mac interface to a dedicated PC user the other day, and he just couldn't believe that I can name any file anything I want, put it anywhere I want, drag pics right off the net without right clicking (there IS no "right click"), and marvelled a host of other ergonomically brilliant things a Mac can do, that take about thirty seconds to learn.

With iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto and the interface ease that makes all graphics work a dream, anyone involved in film, Internet, video, sound or digital media should be working on Mac.

Sounds like the person using PC doesn't know the tricks of being able to perform these drag and drop and rename actions with Windows. PC rocks

 

[llee69]

Sounds like the person using PC doesn't know the tricks of being able to perform these drag and drop and rename actions with Windows. PC rocks

Gee, I was doing this in 1985. How long did you have to wait before being able to do this??? OH wait you did say there was a TRICK to do it didnt you. Gosh too bad there is a trick to do it instead of just being able to do it.

Hmm, I cant help but to wonder why Book publishers use Macs? Must be the superior color reproduction. Or maybe the fact that Macs are the platform for publishing. Remember all those Idiots Guide to Windows? Done on Macs. Macmillian and IDG - Macs. I have friends who work there - on Macs at that.

Oh, and I do remember watching bands use macs back in 86 as Midi machines. Hmmm, I dont think Mac technology stopped there. Must be why so many recording studios use macs.

Lets see, way more graphic artist use macs.

3d drawing and rendering - well Neither pc or mac rule that...

I remember getin my first modem back in 88. Pluged it right in and in 1 minute was on the net. 14 years no viruses either.

I always have wondered why there are so many people out there who charge money to work on PC's. All those little programing errors, bugs & Gee I installed this and now nothing works now.

Funny thing that Macs dont have this problem.

Video? I do believe it was the December issue of PC Magazine that said if you want to edit video buy a mac. Strong words coming from a Pc Magazine. Gosh, it must be as hard as the writer said it was to import and edit video on a Pc.

Me, I like things simple and easy. I have used both in the work place. Macs are hands down easiest to use. Easier to get more done in a shorter period of time.

But then there are the people who do like to hit themselves in the head with a hammer.

 

[Gingersnap]

Xander, I used to have a PC but swtiched. I love the mac it is so much easier to use for me. The plug in and go features are wonderful and no viruses is even better. Happy apple munching!