Mac users: What are your main reasons for not using PC
 

I'm thinking about ditching pc's and getting myself a new macbook for music, video editing and 2d/3d animation... weighing the pros and cons.

What are your main reasons for using a mac and not pc?

vice versa?

my mac runs good every time i use it!

dood I got the macbook pro I switched robatolla over to the 2.4 imac.. they just work everytime you start em up.. no shutting shit down.. nothing... to give you an idea... I can render a video thats an hour long... with shitloads of tran's in there and lots of 3d shit.. while thats rendering I do a batch in photoshop of over 1000 pics adding 17 layers or so to each pic... run ichat webcam, have all my chat clients open and talking... plus uploading at the same time...

NOT ONE BIT OF LAG and when I check my activity monitor im using 33% of what this thing is able to use.. and BTW I only got 2 gig of ram... I will be getting the 4 gig after christmas...

my buddy just paid 4k for a pc with visa yadda yadda 4 gig ram ect ect he was all excited about it.. so I went to his house.. and when he moved his mouse from screen saver it froze... then he went to restart and it pop'd up that "program has performed an illlegal operation" about 15 times... took about 7 min to fully start up


my mac book pro I can be inside of final cut pro within 50 secs from a dead comp... and thats with everything else started up...

bottom line s they just work better thats why they cost more... you will hear people here talk shit about a mac... but pay attention to this... everyone on here that has switched always says they will never go back to PC..... so that makes me think the shit talkers are to scared to use em

Can I plug a pc monitor into a standard macbook?

Output video to my hdtv easily?

What about cs3, I've heard theres some lag issues, mostly with ps and dw?

1. It's much more intuitive than PC, much easier to use.

2. Technologically it's always a step ahead of PC.

3. Doesn't crash, ever.

4. Most things you use with it work right out of the box, plug and play.

I got 3 of them and one goes with me on set everywhere!! I process pics on set and in a lot of instances i turn in picture discs before the day is done. A crash or a software conflict would fuck me up!!

PC isn't worth the risk in my opinion. and all types of media works better with Macs..

cause after using your mac for a while, everything else feels like a cold war relic:thumbsup

yes, yes, and no they all work fine... im running cs3 suite right now flawless...


I got the macbook pro and im rockin the 30 cinema display

http://danzabucks.com/lookin.jpg

http://danzabucks.com/lookout.jpg

this is the only way to roll baby

hahahah


so true... I despise windows machines

I love my mac, but that's BS
Don't set expectations too high :1orglaugh

They crash, not as often.

I love your setup!!!!

The only thing I'm wondering is . . . why is the finish on the edge of your desk so worn? Is that wrist friction? I'm not sure I want to know what the activity is that could strip the finish and stain off the wood.

I'm sure it's fun (whatever it is you are doing there).


Seriously, that is one nice setup!

hahaha



well it's a strange thing... but I have a bad habit of kicking my feet up on the desk when watching my edits... so after so many edits thats what it looks like....

the splooge towel is a bit out of frame.... gotta test the "jerk factor" of my own videos...

I've started slowly using a Mac mini in addition to my XP boxes, I must say it is very easy to use - and often works better with video cameras and other devices out of the box.

Speed, reliability, lack of crashes, design, OS 10.5.1 all good reason to use a Mac

Exactly.... if I used notepad and a handful of apps on my Windoze machine I could claim the same thing as well. In fact, I could claim it right now... been running this computer 4 years and it blue screened ONCE due to a piece of shit software I was trying out...

Those mac fanbois drive me crazy... its JUST A COMPUTER... who cares.

have you ever owned a mac yourself?

Yes, it is just a computer but it's the OS that makes all the difference! OSX rocks.. makes the "just a computer" a superb machine that is intuitive and easy to use.. hardly crashes, is always fast and everything just looks cool :-)
I have a Macbook Pro and planning to get an Imac or Mac Pro for use as static pc at the office..

Nice setup man.

I love my MAC and hate my other 2 PCs... wish I had converted a long time ago.

The only thing that urks me about my MAC is Safari sometimes doesn't properly work with certain types of websites, other than that, its flawless

You guys are making me want to do the switch.

I'm a photographer not a computer person. Stuff made by Apple is easier to use and dependable.

Love my Macs. I love surfing the web on them, and NOT dealing with teh issues I dealt with on the PC, Viruses etc... Just don't happen on the mac. I'm sure this will change in the future, but now I have been surfing the web, for the last couple years on the mac with ZERO issues. Also, this is without having to run antivirus software suites that, on the PC eat up a lot of the computers processing.

I also like the fact that I can let my wife use the computer, She can sit down and just use it. Same with my Mom, etc. People that are not computer literate, yet on the mac, suddenly, (And I'm talking within a couple hours) they are building personal websites with Video and pictures, running blogs etc.

As for the "POWER" users, that's a no brainer... you can put up to 16 GIG of ram in the mac pro... Twice as much as the PC... (I think server edition does up to 16, but don't you loose other stuff?) PLUS your Unix based on OS X. Meaning you can mirror your servers etc, right on your laptop and run it as a testing server... Sweet. How hard is it to setup a server on your mac?
http://www.mamp.info/en/mamp.html
"MAMP stands for: Macintosh, Apache, Mysql and PHP. With just a few mouse-clicks, you can install Apache, PHP and MySQL for Mac OS X!

MAMP installs a local server environment in a matter of seconds on your Mac OS X computer, be it PowerBook or iMac. Like similar packages from the Windows- and Linux-world, MAMP comes free of charge."

Also, Since OS X is Unix based, there is a TON of free software out there...

I kept my PC's around thinking I would need them. I don't, simple as that.

One of the main things I notice around here is all the hating on the MAC comes from people that
1. Have never even owned a Mac. And are talking completely out there ass. 2. Have (Maybe) used and OLDER Mac, not one of the new intel based versions... And are still talking out their ass.
3. Have seen other things people talking out their asses have said at one point or another and want to continue the misinformation while at the same time talking out their own ass. (Like Right Clicking, which OS X DOES HAVE...)

Anyways... go down and buy one. Use it for a couple weeks and then come back and tell us all what you think in your own words.... Many of us have and those resulting words have been good. :)

Wait!... One of my favorite things about the MAC and I forgot to type about it... Installing your entire OS X (Including all your programs and setting) to an Ipod or Portable HD and being able to care that along as backup... Or being able to simply plug that into your buddies MAC and reboot from it and having everything you work on or with right there.

there's an adapter from mini digitalvideo plug to normal DV
thereS also an adapter available from digital to HDEF

I like the MAC, but my PC doesn't crash either btw...

They are both okay IMO, it's just that the mac community thinks they are cooler than the PC users:)

It's more like when you quit heroine, and want to help you friends into recovery, things are just alot better.:1orglaugh

hahahahah thats one of the best

mac just works
I run my macbookpro on my 30 " monitor just like above pics
works perfect
havent found one windows notebook that will run a 30" monitor in the correct resolutions...

I've had macs before, and have had PCs before.
I honestly think nowadays that the systems and specs etc have come so close that it's actually a preference.

Some people dig macs, some dig PCs. I like choice.

yeah but you've got a bald pussy :2 cents:

Surprisingly informative thread!

How does the macbook handle maya?

Ive never run it to be honest but with doing a quick google search I found that no one has complained... dood get the mac... I got the 2.4 macbook pro 15 inch not to big not to small... and if you like install windows it comes with bootcamp a proggy which is ready to run windows flawless...

check out this

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html


then this

http://www.apple.com/getamac/

then go to the store today and get one... come back and make your first post with it... if you like you can aim me via ichat once you get it and ill have you rockin and everything installed within an hour...

the OS is not hard to learn.. thing is comming from windows you will overthink the mac a lot. it's very simple to use and you will want to do way to many clicks at first...

then after a while it will become a game to try to see what your mac WONT do....

heh, great analogy :1orglaugh :thumbsup

exactly

and that Macs don't crash is an urban myth - just like that Windows crashes all the time. i worked with both for years, had a windows pc and a powerbook. none of both systems is perfect, even Linux distributions have features that neither Windows or OS X offers.

Well, I'm convinced... I'm not balling enough to get the pro, so im going for the standard 13" with 1gig ram to start out, and I'll def grab a mouse and video cables for it.. eventually upgrade the ram and grab a big monitor.

I can't wait to start making some music videos for my group/s

Final Cut OR premiere? Thoughts?

In our home office, we have both PC's and Mac's. I mainly use my 20" iMac for my day to day stuff, but I also have a laptop running XP next to me too. Danny Has a 24" iMac with 4GB of Ram that he mainly uses for video using Final Cut Pro. He also has 3 Pc's, one with XP, one with 2000, and one running Linux. We also have another new PC running Vista that is really only used to check pages and programming.

I really do prefer my Mac, but they are all just tools for business.

To answer donkevlar, we had used Premiere for years for video, but my husband now swears by Final Cut Pro on the Mac. The rendering is faster than real time versus the hours on Premiere.

Carol xoxoxo

final cut without a doubt

Got the standard macbook, lovin it so far...

Don't let anyone tell you that you need a MAC to edit videos and do graphics. I started on MAC 15 years ago, when it was really the only way to go for CG graphics.

I switched over to PC because the 3d software sucked on MAC...if you're serious about 3D, use a PC. If a MAC version of a 3D software is even available, usually aftermarket plugin writers treat the MAC as an afterthought, and you get left out in the cold.

I've had a great career in 3D and design for quite a few years, and 99% of my work has been done on a PC.

Macs might be great, but they sure do have some shitty mice. I see they have that 'mighty-mouse' now (which isn't too bad, but still blows), but for a looooong time they've been rolling on a one button mouse that was made for the hands of a midget.

I just got my 1st mac today. Plugged my pc usb 3 button mouse and it works flawlessly with my mac.

I'm pretty impressed by the desktop so far and will probably be a true convert within a month or so. I still need to get used to a couple of things. Any tip to turn off the webcam?

Also, which software do I absolutely need to get my hands on?

What 3D software do you use thats not available on the Mac platform ?

Out of the 30 or so people I have convinced to switch... not one has ever gone back to a PC that I know of. Apple designs the hardware, much of the software, and the OS. It is a flawless setup.

Bought a 46' Samsung LCD 1080p tonight... Came home and plugged my Mac Mini (which I own and setup just to be a media center) into it using the the standard PC (Vesa) connection. (Mini macs come with DVI to Vesa adapters)

didn't even reboot... the Mac Mini automatically adjusted the screen to the full 1920x1080 res, and even lists the Samsung by name and model number in system prefs... Pretty sweet. On another note, the TV even has a "Home Theater" Setting for the PC, which greatly improves the MOvie playback from the Mac Mini... Great match. I picked up the LN-T4661F model btw.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LNT466.../ref=de_a_smtd

I don't do all that much in 3d, but as far as I can tell Maya works fine on a mac?

I'll mostly be using it for music (propellerheads reason, cubase, protools) and graphics (ps, illustrator and flash) and I'm quite happy with it so far.

I hated windows before, but as im getting used to this macbook Im DESPISING windows.

Back in the day, almost anything major. The one I liked using was Lightwave. When it was finally ported to the MAC (I still had a mac), it was nightmare and I still don't know if they've got it right to this day. Plugins were non-existent, and the hardware was not as fast as my PC and more expensive also. Lose, lose every way you cut it.

Nowadays I use XSI...not available for MAC.

I don't use MAYA, but that's a MAJOR 3d app, and they just got around to porting it over recently. Whenever I talk to 3d guys who use MAC, they're always like "oh, we don't have that for a MAC", or "when will they write that plugin for the MAC, or make a mac version".

I'm not saying there's no 3D software for macintosh, it's just always lagged behind PC in that area. From someone who has years of first-hand (and tons of second-hand) knowledge on this fact, it's not even debatable -- it's just a known thing in the 3D community.

For me I wanted a 17 inch screen and allot of power that was easily portable. I had an XPs and the thing weighed over 9lbs and was very thick. My mac has more power and ram in a case that was as thick as the xps lid. The fact it is light and easily portable makes it a clear choice for travel.

As I ran linux before the stability was not a huge change but the ease of use was. It has many of the advantages of open source code and lets you install linux software in addition to the plethora of ported to mac and native mac apps.

I have only convinced 2 people to switch but they swear by them now.

Danza awesome set up. I will be buying a mac mini after new years to set up for an entertainment center as my tests with the macbook have been bad ass.

Just because I like pissing off Mac fan boys I am going to reply.
Befor I reply I want to say that I want a MacBookPro, but they just simply want far too much money for it, and no accidental damage coverage? I use my accidental damage coverage on my old dell at least once a year, heavy travel use just causes damage, no real way to avoid it. Its nice to have it fixed and back in my hands inside a week at no cost.

If your doing rendering and the computer is not working at 100% then its not doing it as fast as it can. I think you are full of it, doubt you even have a mac.

I *can* run photoshop and render video at the same time, and it doesnt lag for me, but they both complete operations in about double the time as when they are the sole program doing hard work. Which makes sence, now instead of having 100% of the computer power they only have 50% each.
Uploading and IM doesnt take enough resources to slow down rendering or photoshop work.

You buddy got a bunk machine, that is far outside the median.

I am running Vista Ultimate

1. No its not. Lay down the crack pipe.

2. Odd, Intel doesnt make a "Mac" version of their chips. So how can it be a step ahead?

3. lol, You must be the leader of a Mac Fanboy club somewhere.

4. Most things for windows work right out of the box, plug and play.

Can you define this "a lot of processing power" that antivirus software uses?
I didnt run any antivirus for a long time, and still had no problems. but resently put Nod32 on, it uses so little processing power that with the monitor open when I open or close the antivirus and only see a tiny blip while opening or closing, but then goes right back to normal idle.

As a "power user" if your running a 64 bit version of Vista you can run 128+GB of ram. Well thats what it can support at least.

I would put money on there being as many or more free programs for windows then there are for the Mac.


1. I have never used a mac, but have used them a lot in school, even the new intel ones.
2. older Macs should just be called POS's and left to rot.
3. The same thing happens with Vista, biggest is Ram allocation, which vista is actually very good at.


The big thing I hate about Macs is simply the price, and the fact that you can not configure them how you really want.
I mean 700 bucks to go from 2gb ram to 4gb in the MB. 200 to go from a 5400rpm drive to a 7200rpm drive. No internal wireless N abilities.
Etc Etc.

Sure most people say "just buy the basic and upgrade it cheaper after from newegg" but thats bunk.
For the base price on the MBP 15" 2.4Ghz machine I can build a Dell XPS 1530 that is twice as fast and has accidental damage coverage, and still have money left over to buy a nice 21" monitor and second battery. Not to mention the 1530 is lighter then the MB too.

That said if Apple had a 50% off day so the price was competative with the likes of Dell I bet they would almost even out the market share on that day.

Ill just let your me not having a mac comment go.. and since your sitting here saying you never owned a mac then it's understandable that your computer uses 100% of the cpu it's running windows...

now .. as far as accidental coverage and I may be wrong on this but when you buy the apple care plan with your mbp or imac or macpro.. you get everything covered for 3 years.. ive had keys replaced (for free) my buddy dropped his mbp the other day on the paintball field and broke the screen from the unit (if you can picture what im saying) we took it to the mac store here in the mall... the genius looked at it.. saw he had apple care plan went in the back grabbed him a NEW mbp in the box took it out.. transfered the hard drive over and we were on our way... does dell do that or do you have to send it in? now ive posted my set up once now to show my mac... I can show you the 4 comps that this little MBP replaced as well if you like... want me to take a pic of everything?

now do yourself a favor go get the 15 inch 2.4 macbook pro.. as far as the ram go's 2 will do you great.. im only running 2 right now... I am going to go 4 in the future but really no need... only reason im doing it is because it can... as far as the 7200 vs. 5400 for the hd's... who cares... if your like me you have terabyte after terabyte of externals anyways... shit in that pic right there is a seagate 300gig. 160 gig is plenty for on the road stuff then when back in the office you hook up to externals...

When a computer running ANY OS is doing a task like encoding video, it will try to use 100% of the processing power available to it. If it doesn't, it isn't going as fast as it can. Are you saying that macs don't use 100% of the processing power available to them for tasks?