Why Mac?

any reason to use a mac

[chadmg]

Can someone help explain to me why anyone would use a Mac over a PC? And only from those who have used both extensively. I just can't figure it out.

And don't say security.

[newwavedave]

So... unless someone can tell me what my PC CAN'T do that a Mac can... I'm staying in the PC / M$ world.

Your Wintel Can't run OS X. Can't run any of the extremely elegant and easy to use iLife apps ('cept iTunes.) Can't run the realy cool program Konfabulator yet. Can't create PDF files from ANY document that you are able to print from. Can't run dual screens straight out of the box. Doesn't win design awards. Can't run Final Cut HD or DVD Studio Pro. Can't run Quartz Extreme which gives you all those incredibly cool transition effects. Can't run OpenTalk (formerly rendezvous) right out of the box, although rumor is that there is a version coming for windows. You can Never say that you were one of the first people to own an iPod. And, you can't convince me that your OS is worth more than a wooden nickel and a ball o' lint™.

Now, to give you wintel users some props. You have been extremely cordial for once, you are definately not just trolls. I have moved on to using a 2 button + scroll wheel mouse and am never going back to a one button mouse. (The reason why Apple continues to ship a one button mouse is because of all those people that you see trying to open up a program and double clicking the right mouse button, over and over again to try and open it.)

Someone mentioned something about M$ innovating as well as eating and stealing technology. I would like to be one of the first "Mac Zealots" to completely agree with you, as well as mention that Apple does the same thing. History I: The Macintosh windowed operating system was a complete rip off of an OS they were developing at Xerox. History II: Apple just totally swiped the Applet design from Konfabulator to incorporate into Tiger.

Now back to the comparisons. The $500 system you are talking about building isn't that much more powerful than $799 eMac. When you build that $500 system, does that price include software for making movies etc?

[billegal]

I'll tell you why I like Macs. In a few simple words, I appreciate the attention to detail and elegance of the products. Have you seen the PowerBook G4 in person? If so, you'd see that the power adaptor plug changes to orange when charging and green when charged. I like that.

My PB wakes from sleep in a second. Gotta like that.

I like Expose (show all open windows with a key press or clear the screen temporarily). I like that new devices are automatically installed when plugged in. I like the FileVault feature that encrypts files in my home directory in case I lose my PowerBook. God forbid!

I like BBEdit. I like Smultron. (Two really great text editors.) I like dropping into the Terminal and ssh'ing my Linux server.

I like the UI. For example, I like the top-most menu. When I push my trackpad to the top, I'm right on the menu. In Windows I'm on the title bar. That's usually not what I want.

I like the really nice icons in OS X. I like the user switching feature. It is really cool to see the screen rotate as if in 3D.

I like that some of the code is shared with BSD. It will only get better with public contributions.

I like that all of the developer tools are included for free. I like AppleScript. I have done some pretty useful (and useless) things with it. I like AppleScript Studio although I'm still learning. I've made some neat little beginner type apps and that I hope to improve.

I like Safari. I like the built in Google search tool. I like IPhoto and ITunes. I like my iPod. I like the included (installed on my brand new PBG4) OmniGraffle and OmniOutliner applications. I like Stickies. I like VirtualPC for testing. I like GraphicConverter and the lightening fast Preview. I like SoftwareUpdate because I can pick what I want to install easily.

I like the System Preferences pane. It is real easy to hop from network to network. I also like Rendezvous.

I like the new metallic brush Finder. I like the multi-user features. I easily keep my wife's stuff separate.

Although I do use it, I don't care for the Dock. I miss being able to grab windows on the left or right edges. I too like multi button and scroll wheel devices.

Sorry for the rambling list, but these are mostly features or applications that I think make the Mac more pleasing to use.

There are some things I like about Linux as a server mostly. I also like some Windows laptops (usually the latest Thinkpad or Vaio). I also like my high end LCD (not Apple). But again, these are high quality and high cost pieces of equipment. I truly dislike the Toshiba notebook I have at work. It's old, runs Win2k, and has a really lame screen. I don't want off the shelf white box computers. I want something that takes a little bit of the drudgery out of work.

[angiolo]

Hi billegal!

I total agree with you.

I moved from a Portable PC to a Powerbook G4.

It's like to compare iron (PC) with gold!

I am sure that if people could have a week trial of both portables, everybody would choose the Mac.

Bye bye Mr. Gates!

[Leosghost]

I do some security...pays well ...with M$ attitude to product this isn't likely to change ...
..used to hack ..
Can do both with pc and doze ( any flavours )..

don't need to #1 and can't do #2 with out zillions of ergs of effort with Mac..

don't have a mac ...YET

Next "present" ( justifiable business expense ) to self will be a Mac ....

will keep a pc around..just to kick and test things for compatibility ...and to get it infected with whatever there is around before I go fix the same thing for lots of money at someone elses place ...