PC or Mac. Laptop, desktop, mobil, other. Browser-Explorer, Firefox, other. Search engine-Google, AskJeeves, Bing, other? ISP…modem…wireless satelite…router…cable…telephone..etc.
Why Mac over PC as many suggest? These are a few of the basic questions I have for starters.
What would be the ideal combination? Lots to consider, I realize, but I mean easiest, fasted, best results, built to last, etc. $$$$ aside. I’m thinking Mac, laptop, Firefox, Bing, Satelite, router…but really don’t know.
What about time? Really what are your goals? You wouldn’t use a hammer for a screw just because it works. I want to learn Linux, so I have an old system that I want to put LFS on. Works for me, but no one else would want it.
Life expectancy. What is the time range of use?
Gaming? Do both support the games you want like NetHack?
Graphics? Other processing? Are you doing fancy stuff, or word processing? What it is designed for changes speed. (although everything I have seen now is “fast” unless you are doing something hardcore)
Your past experience. Don’t change without a reason. I use up to 4 OS a day and the habit of hitting cnrl+q on windows drives me mad.
Desktop or laptop.
I like a comfortable keyboard and have large hands, I like to sit at a desk and watch videos on a larger monitor with real speakers. I have no need for portability because I use an external hard drive to keep what I need.
My wife hates the bulky large bricks and would rather sit on the couch with the ability to go anywhere and take it with. Five seconds on my lap and I cannot stand its heat and end up scrunched ove a coffee table listening to the loud wirr of the fan.
Browser-Explorer, Safari, or Firefox
Use all three (depending on the OS for the first two). When one doesn’t work try the other. Find a preference and learn it.
Mac vs PC is a religious argument.
At this point, however, the price difference is so large that it’s hard to see the logic for a switch to Apple. Most people buy what they already know. Switching OSs hurts. Besides, MACs push you around a lot more than PCs do, and I find that annoying.
I meant to say speed in the OP, but carelessly spelled it “fasted” You’d think I’ve been doing w/o wouldn’t ya. Yes, speed would be a major thing. I use computer for internet/networking, music reecording/editing/sharing, video making/editing/sharing, etc. No gaming. No business. But, aside from all that, there must be an ideal combination everyone/anyone would love to have–if they knew what that was…all costs aside. What would that be?
It’s true. I’d love a small netbook, but I’m accustomed to Mac, and there is no such comparable. When there is (iSlate perhaps,) it’s going to be silly-expensive.)
I don’t trust Bing. Had some bad test results compared to Google, but you should compare both and decide. There is no other way to know which is right.
Ideal for what? Gaming? Video editing? Basic Internet and wordprocessing? What do you already have? Do you even need a new computer, or just in the mood to make some more donations to the billionaire boys club of Gates/Jobs et al?
The main argument is that: Mac users tend to have a higher satisfaction rate than PC buyers. PCs can be bought for much less money, like 1/2 to 1/3 the price of comparable Macs.
For basic stuff, just about any computer will do the job, even a used one. For specialized tasks, I would suggest buying one that someone else local that you know has that does those tasks. That way they can help you jump through the hoops.
/edit to add: I see you added video editing to the task list. Are you already doing this? How ambitious? Just basic YouTube stuff or something more. Macs tend to have an edge in ease of use for video editing.
There are plenty of in depth articles about dream systems in the various computer magazines/websites. I’d wager that you’ll find much more in depth information there than on this forum. It sounds like you have a blank check.
For a lot of folks portability is a big deal. For others a top notch super-sized monitor and superior video card are the priorities no matter what computer or operating system is selected. There is no one-size fits all answer.
Not saying I could ever afford the best/ideal package, but the inquiring mind wants to know…just for comparative value’s sake…in case I were to go shopping. I mostly use the desktop as a work station–doing all the music and video suff, and the laptop for internet…including transferring music and video at high speed. Lately, I’ve begun to wonder why I have both when my laptop seems to do everything the desktop can do…then some. Day after Thanksgiving, there was this rush to one of the big box stores to buy the first 400 laptops in stock…for just $400. I compared it with mine and suddenly realized it was about twice as everything as mine…and I paid more than that. I just about went out and got it, but decided to wait. Videography needs a big system to do it right.
Dude, 4X or better seems to be my exchange rate. Went from a P233 to a (7++ in '05??) because it was a hand me down from a gamer. You wouldn’t believe what a P233 cost in the '97.
What is your system now?
Hard drive.
CPU.
Memory?
OS?
Really? That may be true in the US but it ain’t true here in the UK. Macs are so thin on the ground that there is no grassroots awareness of them. I know a couple of people who got macs and got rid of them because they couldn’t figure them out, they were just too different. This last weekend I got asked for computer support from a (new) Mac user who couldn’t figure out how to do what she wanted to do on it. They are only user-friendly for a particular mental approach, and it looks like it’s not a mental approach that is widespread in the UK.
And the person I know who is the most committed Mac user here in the UK is committed because she got it free and can’t afford anything else. Why did she get it free? Because the original owner got fed-up with it.
Hi Lorenzo
Bang for buck, the PC has it over the Mac.
The cheapest available PC will do virtually all you want to do, with the exception of video editing - that eats processor power, memory and hard disk space (even youtube editing benefits from this).
If I was setting up a system. (no expense spared), for to do what you wanted, it would have the following.
i7 or Phenom2 processor (one that can be over clocked easily).
Case designed for overclocking - one that has specialised cooling capabilities.
Motherboard with overclocking capabilities.
Direct X 10.1 capable video card, with at least 1 gig of memory - preferably one with multiple GPUs and the ability to drive 2 monitors.
DDR3 memory - as much as the motherboard can take.
RAID array of disks plus a solid state disk drive to run the operating system from.
Windows 64 - Professional or Ultimate and Linux, in a dual boot configuration.
The afore mentioned 2 monitors.
plus mouse, keyboard etc.
If you are thinking laptop, hang off a little while until the mobile quad core chips come out and then get the best you can afford.
I can dream 
David
indeed!!
Thanks BigDavy, I just returned from a very good computer store (build/repair/retail kind of place). The owner talked your language and advised waiting for the quads to come out. He said he just decided to go laptop all the way too…no need having both.
My cousin, who works for HP in engineering design, told me over Christmas that Macs were fantastic, he loves his. He would probably know, but I didn’t press him for answers at the time. I guess I’ll email him for details. So, I think I’ll save the $$ on upgrade and wait till the new laptops come out.
Hard drive: 160 GB
CPU: AMD 64 turion Athlon x2
Memory: over 1 GB`
OS: Windows 7
CD/DVD burner-even plays blue ray
Built in WiFi
Hi Lorenzo
There is one very easy upgrade for you - more memory - up to 3gig in your system if it can take it. (I am assuming that it is the 32 bit version of Windows 7 you are using).
Given your description of what you are using your system for, and what your current system is, I would go for a low-mid end quad core system, probably AMD based, as they are a little cheaper.
The spec would include:
4 gig of ram (minimum)
Hard disk - 500-640gig, this is emerging as the minimum standard for a half decent system.
Windows 7 64 bit (home premium probably)
Video card with 256meg of video memory (the ATI 4650, is probably the cheapest in this category, at least here in the UK).
A decent monitor - at least 22" (I use a 26" 1900 x 1200 monitor).
David
Apple’s main advantage was the OS, but Windows 7 has closed the gap considerably.
Lenovo make some solid, good value laptops.
Lenovo G550 for value.
Lenovo Y550/650 for multimedia.
I am impartial when it comes to the PC/Mac debate. I have both PCs and Macs.
If it was a choice between XP/Vista or Mac Os, I would choose a Mac, but with Windows 7 it is difficult to justify Apple’s prices.
The Lenovos above have better specs for close to half the price of a Mac.
Mukade
I forgot to mention that those specs were for my laptop. Don’t remember what the desktop is right off, but I did just buy a new widescreen monitor for the desktop…so maybe I could upgrade the desktop.
(laptop)
Hard drive: 160 GB
CPU: AMD 64 turion Athlon x2
Memory: over 1 GB`
OS: Windows 7
CD/DVD burner-even plays blue ray
Built in WiFi
We have PC & Mac and they are different beasties indeed.
The mac comes with all the software that you said you required. They can’t blame you for putting conflicting software on there if you don’t need to put it on. If you have problems with it you can take it into an apple store ( if you have one close which we have) and they will, free of charge, help you with it. There are few (if any) viruses, so no go slow virus software to slow the system down and to keep updating.
The PC, you will have to purchase the software separately and if you have problems, where do you go to get it sorted without it costing you an arm and a leg for someone to tinker with it, blame it on you, blame it on a virus, blame it on the software, blame it on software incompatability, not be able to fix it, and then you have to try to find someone else etc etc.
I would argue the ease of using a windows PC over mac, I prefere the PC, thats what I learnt on but the mac certainly has more good points than our PC. The problem comes with dealing with Apple who can be awful but I wouldn’t know who to go to to sort out the PC.
The price difference IS a stinker of a problem.
Simple breakdown.
Hi Lorenzo
My advice still applies to your laptop, up your memory as far as the motherboard will take it (that is likely to be 2, 3 or 4 gig, depending on the age of the laptop). If your laptop uses main memory for the display, which is likely, then it is worthwhile upgrading to 4 gig if the system can take it.
You got me scanning the internet for good deals and I found these ones at COMPUSA in the Refurbished section.
HP Core 2 quad 8200 PC
HP quad core Phenom
Personally I like the spec of the Asus machine.
David