[Hidden-tech] Mac or PC?

[Will Loving]

I¹ll have to take exception with some of Alex¹s assertions.

* With the exception of the MacMini ­ which I doubt any graphics person
would consider using ­ the hard drives in the Œall-in-one¹ Macs such as the
iMac generally quite easy to swap out. Just remove the back (use a penny in
the slots to unlock the panel), undo the cable and a couple of screws and
out it comes. The new MacBook released this week also reportedly has a very
easy to remove HD which is unusual for a laptop.
* To transfer files from one computer to another, Apple¹s built-in Migration
Assistant generally does an excellent job of completely transferring all
user accounts, prefs and applications. It¹s not perfect, but it¹s pretty
slick. Doing a Œheart transplant¹ - moving the primary hard drive directly
from one computer to another ­ can be problematic on both Windows and Mac,
but more so on Windows because of the large number of new drivers that may
have to be installed for the software installed in the HD to work with the
new PC 
* Backing up on the Mac with Leopard¹s Time Machine is incredibly easy and
elegant compared to any other backup software I¹ve used on Mac or Windows.
If you purchase a port-powered, external USB drive and us it as the Time
Machine drive it gives you a great way to backup and also an portable HD
that you can through some files on and take with you.
* I have a 2.5Ghz dual Processor G5 that is four years old. Over time I¹ve
added RAM, larger hard drives and a faster DVD burner ($50) and it¹s still
going strong and handles both graphics, video and intensive database work
just fine. And, those add-ins took 5-10 minutes to install. Yes, I¹m looking
forward to updating to a Mac Pro sometime in the next year, so I can run
Windows on it (for cross-platform db development) have just one computer
sitting next to me instead of two as I do now. However, I have friends with
name-brand PCs that are barely a year old and they are already talking about
needing to upgrade.

I¹ve been a Mac user since 1987 and for various reasons have also had a
Windows machine much of that time. Microsoft has come a long way in terms of
addressing Windows shortcomings but I agree with comment that purchase cost
is not what you want to look at. Most total cost of ownership surveys I¹ve
ever seen give Macs a significant edge. Mac owners keep their machines and
actively use them significantly longer than PC owners because, like me they
simply stay usable and functional both in hardware and software over a
longer period of time than PCs (though as noted, this gap is shrinking and
inexpensive computing power exceeds what most people need).

Will

Will Loving, President
Dedication Technologies, Inc.



on 11/3/08 10:27 AM, alex at afischerphotography.com at
alex at afischerphotography.com wrote:

>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> 
> While I agree there are some issues with PC purchases, especially bottom of
> the barrel PC, I think Kevin misrepresents the question by referencing a
> bottom end PC for comparison to a MAC.  Price wise, no Mac is bottom end and
> cheap PCs, I agree are not worth it.   But a moderately prices PC compares
> favorably and has some advantages.
> 
> I have used both PC and MAC platforms over the years and have experience with
> the quirkiness of Mac platforms and their lack of flexibility.  On the PC side
> of things if you spend a little more money $1,200 range) on a PC desktop, you
> can obtain a very fine system.  The problem with Mac, until the Mac Pro, it
> was virtually impossible to swap out or add hard drives, lower end or all in
> one Macs are still limited.
> 
> The problem with the Mac Pro is its expense.  I would love to afford a Mac
> Pro, 16 Gig Ram capability, 5 one terra bite hard drive storage potential with
> two installed and it is easy to swap them in and out.  But when I reviewed
> prices for hat I need in software and hardware, the difference is staggering.
> 
> If you are simply looking to take something out of the box, and you want it to
> work without having to install or purchase some additional software, and photo
> or video storage is not an issue then get a Mac, expecially cost is not an
> issue.  But, if your are worried about Hard Drive's going bad, backing up
> files and easily installing some compatible business software and still want
> speed, i.e., 8 Gig Ram system with the ability to easily swap out  and use all
> of Microsoft Office products seemlessly for as little of $1200, then a PC is
> your best bet.  
> 
> My comparison: $1500 for a pc v. $10,000 for a similar Mac.
> 
> The rest of Macs are useless if one of its components go bad or flake out or
> you want to purchase a newer Mac and transfer your files easily by installing
> an old hard drive into your new unit.  You have to send it into the Mac store
> for help instead of easily doing it yourself.  The old joke is...what can you
> do with an old Mac...turn it into Art, even the info on it.
> 
> What ever you decide should be the result of a careful cost benefit analysis
> of your needs and what you experience is using either platform.
> 
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Mac or PC?
>> From: Lynne_Rudié <lynnerudie at verizon.net>
>> Date: Mon, November 03, 2008 9:06 am
>> To: Kevin McAllister <kevin at inresonance.com>
>> Cc: Hidden-Tech Tech <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
>> 
>>  ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>  ** If you did, we all thank you.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Well said Kevin! I couldn't agree more.
>  Lynne
> 
> 
> On Nov 1, 2008, at 3:13 PM, Kevin McAllister wrote:
> 
>>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>> 
>> 
>> The ancient question!
>> 
>> I believe that too much emphasis is placed in the wrong area in this
>> discussion always -
>> 
>> Goes like this:
>> 
>> - Mac is SO much more expensive, but people swear by it for graphics, video,
>> creativity. Can I save money and just buy a cheaper PC?
>> - Computer is computer - buy the one you like.
>> 
>> Having worked with, and supported dozens of institutions and professionals -
>> parents and students - for 15 years, to me the answer is the same.
>> 
>> The total cost of computer owndership is not the purchase price. If you save
>> 500, or 1000 or 5000 in purchase price (forget 200) and you can't get your
>> job done for hours, or days, or weeks, then you have lost potentially
>> thousands of real dollars.
>> 
>> The cost of frustration, loss of productivity, downtime, returns, rebooting,
>> and freezes dwarfs any purchase cost savings ‹if there is any. Using a
>> bargain basement PC with free, or low cost, stolen, or "borrowed" software
>> for real work, to me is a very near sighted decision.
>> 
>> Using a running PC or a running Mac to create in Photoshop or Office is
>> mostly equal. That is true.
>> 
>> Graphic designers create to share. Sharing nicely is what Mac is all about -
>> not running Office or Adobe products.
>> 
>> Printing those files, transferring those files, getting true color with
>> printers, hooking up to peripherals, adding different cameras, etc is where
>> the difference is staggering, and where all but the high end geek will lose
>> time and money. Four trips to CompUSA and 2 weeks of returns and the
>> associated downtime loses all purchase savings for most graphic designers.
>> 
>> 
>> My 2 cents
>> Kevin
>>> 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> Kevin J. McAllister | President, CEO
>> inRESONANCE ... Solutions that resonate
>> 
>> kevin at inresonance.com | 413.587.0236 | www.inresonance.com
>> <http://www.inresonance.com/>
>  
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members



-- 

William M. Loving
Dedication Technologies, Inc.
7 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002-3304   USA
will at dedicationtechnologies.com
Tel: +1 413 253-7223   (GMT ­5)
Fax: +1 206 202-0476

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20081103/ac7eed3c/attachment-0001.htm