Tough Question re. PC's and Macs

[ConLog]

I'm arguing with someone about the merits of PC's and MACS.

My argument goes along the lines of software out there ratio must be 10:1 in the favour of PC's.

Wonder if anywhere/anyone has any estimates of software available for both platforms.

[Floppyman]

Here's a simple one:

Can you build your own PC? yes
Can you build your own MAC? no

[glc]

If you need a computer for graphics design, multimedia creation, or desktop publishing, get a Mac. Get a PC for everything else.

[Mac Medic]

Mac is also good for Content creation, office productivity, web creation, gaming, oh, wait. It does everything a PC does.

[erucader]

Answering the original question, MOST computer users have Windows, so of course more software is availible

[Texuspete00]

MACs are extremely slower and behind. Can't touch an AMD or Intel.

[DilLy]

Its strange. I find the PC just as well, if not superior in most areas. Yes I use both platforms, dual gig G4's on OSX at work and school, and a 2.0 gig P4 on XP here at home.
I think OSX is okay, but prefer XP, and also like the software and hardware choices for a PC.

Using Macs is just part of my job and career path. I would never purchase one. PC's fit my needs just excellently. It's a matter of preferences afterall.

I hope this thread doesn't get flamey...........

[Charger]

Mac's are very expensive and not upgradeable.
MAc's are slower than a similiarly priced PC.
Software compatibility is driven by PC's (Windows)

[audiyoda]

At one time, I'd agree with glc -- Mac's were all about all things creative -- audio/video/graphics. But that line between Macs and PC's is fading fast -- I've been doing audio/video work on the PC for years and find I have more output control and flexability on a PC v. the Mac.

Mac's at one time shined in graphics. But to show you how far the PC has come, Alias|Wavefront -- the creators of Maya -- put version 4 on the market first for Win2000 and Linux, then for the Mac. So their clientle has moved drastically from Mac over to PC. (The same held true for v. 4.5 -- Win2000,WinXPpro and Linux came first -- IRIX was next and Mac OS10 was last for release.)

Now as for speed -- I've used the new Dual 1.25 G4's and they fly. That is one things Mac's do better than PC's is utilize dual CPU's much better. I run a dual AthlonMP system in my studio and I've got to tell my software how to utilize the two CPU's -- Mac's just do it and do it well. There is no software reliability for the dual CPUs -- the OS handled all of it. And I'd put a dual 1.25 G4 up against a dual 1.3 Xeon any day -- the G4 will win. These machines are not slow by any means.

As for software -- most major packages are available for both -- it's the other more niche packages that you see more for PC than for Mac. Shop at any CompUSA or Best Buy and look at the selections -- you'll see probrably a dozen 'home architect' programs from various authors for the PC but maybe only 1 for the Mac. And since Apple does such a good job with programs like iMusic (as well as others), you don't see many authors trying to better what is already a good program.

But I'll tell you one place where you won't see a Mac -- anyplace using CAD/CAM. Don't know why other than maybe because AutoDesk (makers of AutoCAD) doesn't make a Mac platform.

-Craig

[Hot Rod]

What I always found odd is that a lot of schools around this area used Macs but they were trying to train kids for the future business world. I know they got special deals and everything but still. Luckily, businesses and local colleges started stepping in and started helping schools get switched over to PCs.

[mairving]

Actually if I had a school, I would consider MAC's for the simple reason of not having to worry about viruses.

It is pretty hard if not impossible to convert a Mac user over to Windows. Even if you do, the complaining will never end about how bad the PC is.

[TMAN]

I think linux would be a much more cost effective, virus resistant, versatile and reliable option for a school. I admit "back in the day" this wouldn't be so but now with all the user friendly- windows-like desktops... aw man think about it- In 5 years "the learning curve" wouldn't exist because kids would know the alternative operating system!

[LawyerRon]

Actually, Mac's are very nice machines. There's just no reason to buy one.

[DilLy]

I don't wish to offend anyone,
but I think LawyerRon summed it up quite nicely.

[Tuf]

There is a place for Macs out there. I myself would love to have a Power Book and if it would run XP I would have one. Craig is right there is no CAD work done on Macs period. Most of the graphics people I deal with use Macs but I think that tide is changing.

I would think the software ratio would more like several hundred to one. But for the most part you can do anything most users need to do on a Mac. The biggest limitation to owning a Mac for a lot of users is quite a bit of their hardware is only available through them. To get some things you have to buy a system. Their warranties have traditionally been short.

I don't see them growing dramatically any time soon nor do I see them losing a lot of ground either.

[Colonel Sanders]

I'd say Ron's point is perfect.

Er, almost perfect. The reason to buy a Mac is because of the fancy colors!

Logan

[DilLy]

I agree, but I think you are referring to Imacs, not the traditional G-series.

Actually if I am not mistaken, Apple may have stopped the different color production on the IMac.

but still.......

[Hot Rod]

I'd be shocked to see Linux unseat Windows as the primary desktop OS in the corporate world. So school classes teaching general business education should stick with PCs running Windows.

Linux, I believe, will eventually dominate the server market. They are already getting a good jump on it. So in the network administration classes and things along that line, you will start to see more PCs loaded with Linux.

[morriswindgate]

Get a Mac>
If you work in publishing/printing as it interfaces more with the machines out there
If you are a musician (For the same reason as above)
If you do 3D animation for the movies.

Otherwise get a PC.

[audiyoda]

Originally posted by morriswindgate Get a Mac> If you work in publishing/printing as it interfaces more with the machines out there If you are a musician (For the same reason as above) If you do 3D animation for the movies. Otherwise get a PC.

Publishing and printing -- I'll agree for the most part.

Musicians will find more software written for the PC than they will on the Mac.

As for 3D animation and rendering for film Hollywood has seriously moved to either Win2000 or Linux based systems. Both LOTR films were rendered using Linux. Star Wars Episode 1 & 2 were rendered on Win2000 systems. And Spiderman was rendered on custom Sony systems running Linux.

-Craig

[morriswindgate]

Well Craig, you have made it two less reasons to get a MAC. As soon as the publishing world goes to PCs, the Mac will only be used by schools and and other appliance users.
Since the introduction of Windows 98/NT, I have been of the opinion that people who buy MACs are in the same group as those who buy Electric Autos.

[mikeheitz]

Not sure if it's a "tough" question... I think it's all about personal preference these days... there is no HUGE difference anymore between the graphics and sound capabilities between Mac and PC's. I have Mac's, PC's and even Linux boxes in my every day life (I am Sr IT guy at a creative Marketing agency). Personally, I have run Reason on both Macs and PC's and don't find a huge difference. Also, running Adobe products on both, and not much to really complain about wither way.

From a support standpoint... I wish Macs would just go away. Seriously though... our Mac tech isn't kidding when he calls it "Mac Voodoo". Some of the things that happen just cannot be explained.

[Hot Rod]

morriswindgate, like I mentioned, in our area, schools are getting more and more PCs and less and less Macs. This is because businesses and colleges are suggesting they go that route and on top of that, donating PCs or setting up low cost rental on the PCs. One community college GAVE a bunch of PCs to a high school as long as the school agreed to offer certain online courses from this college. With budget concerns at our state's schools, they readily accepted this.

PCs are quickly taking over every niche that Macs once had.

[mbossman2]

Macs were (and still are in many places) the system of choice for schools. The main reason for this is that Apple poured a huge amount of their marketing funds into the educational market and were providing systems to schools at very low prices and at extremely high margins for education specialized MAC resellers.

In addition, the systems were very simple to operate, no command line DOS type commands (pre-windows) and extremely difficult to screw up (as kids are prone to do).

As for their weaknesses, Apple is one of the last in a long line of PC manufacturers who went the proprietary route. Their machines suffered from not being able to compete in economies of scale. with open standard hardware in the wintel world and an OS that would work on just about any manufacturers machine, Apple was doomed to be a niche market player, which they appear to be quite content in playing.

[ConLog]

Sorry, I was trying to avoid this becoming a PC v MAC debate. I was really trying to look for the answer to the amount of software out there for the PC compared to the MAC. It's very difficult to find an answer to this.

Is software registered anywhere and would it give details to software available to both platforms?

[Werewolfdaddy]

If the main focus of the system is to play games, don't even think Mac. However Macs are good systems, but in my opinion the only reason to buy a mac for home use is for bragging rights, "hey, look Iown a MAC .

[glc]

Let's refocus on the poster's question concerning software. Any input?

[Hot Rod]

A lot of software companies will make different versions of their software. One for Windows based and one for Macs. The problem is that the Wal-marts, Targets, and K-Marts of the world predominately only carry the Windows version. Market demand. Most people own a Windows based PC at home instead of Macs so they carry what they can sell the most of. You're better off finding Mac software at a store that only carries computer software. So its hard to tell if PC software really outnumbers Mac software that much....it's only that you see more of the PC software.

I know when my kids bring their book orders home from school and they have software games in it, that they always offer a Windows version and a MAC version. We go to our local target and they only have the Windows version.

Maybe someone else out there can present hard numbers in relation to this.

[morriswindgate]

With the added price of the MAC, including the higher prices for software and the limited availability> the only reason to buy a MAC, outside of the publishing occupation, is to be different (Which, in my opinion, also applies to Linux lovers at this time)
With the exception of that it doesn't make sense to buy a computer that is just now breaking the into the GHZ range and spend the type of money they want for them.
I am setting on a machine here at home, that if it were a MAC outfited the same way, it would probably cost, not including software, 6 or 7 thousand dollars.