Comments on: Apples vs. Cashews

By: juli

juli — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 05:09:38 +0000

In my former working life as an IT person, I found Apple systems to have fewer day to day problems than PC’s. However, when the Apples decide to go FUBAR, I had a harder time getting them right again—perhaps some of that due to my inexperience with them.

Personally have 3 dif. Dell desktops w/3 dif. OS’s, all on a local network. My experience with Dell has been excellent. I’ve gotten their bargain of the week and I’ve enhanced their basic systems. They’ve backed the product when I’ve needed service (once in 6 years between all three systems). I would definitely purchase from them again. Caveat—I am a PC geek so my systems don’t get the abuse they might receive from a less-enlightened user.

However, now that I’ve really, really, really gotten into photography, I would like to add something from ‘the dark side’ to my setup and will probably find the Apple logo somewhere in my future…

By: GN

GN — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 00:32:20 +0000

Thanks for the link to the interesting article. I’m a total Macman, although I will say that Macs have nothing when it comes to games. Either way, that was quite a lengthy and thorough comparison, which I’ll have to read more thoroughly when I’m not in the middle of a project.

Despite my Mac loyalty, I still wince when it comes to their costs. Ain’t no way around that. But I rest assured that I’m getting good, reliable quality that goes hand in hand with my creative career. I won’t dog PCs, but really, despite their crazy price tag, Macs really are a cinch and fun to use.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 21:19:03 +0000

Apple had a sweet handheld called the newton. This was before Palm Pilots became so ubiquitous (and I think before the pocket PC hit the market). The Air & Space Museum in DC used the newton for their self-guided tours. Apple discontinued them ’cause of low sales. Like all other Apple products, the newton OS was praised for ease of use and reliability. Before the iMac, I was afraid that the Mac was similarly doomed.

By: elliott

elliott — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 01:45:06 +0000

I had an apple 2+, the first mac, mac plus, all the way through to the G3’s and G4s. I recently switched to PC because I lost my advocacy bent in favor of cost. PCs have the benefit of competition driving their costs lower. I needed a new computer, and simply couldn’t afford the powerhouse that I wanted. So I bought components, and built my own PC. You simply can’t do that with Macs.

I have a machine that’s now a couple years old, but for about $500 I can get a new motherboard, chipset and RAM (reusing my existing vid card, ethernet, sound card, housing, HD, etc) and have a smokin’ machine. If I want smokin’ performance in apple, I’d have to pay at least 2 grand, right?

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:34:43 +0000

I’m buying an IBook this summer. No clue what the heck I’m doing. Never used an Apple before. But I can’t wait.

By: TheFreud

TheFreud — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 11:48:07 +0000

Scott- on your question regarding how long to wait before buying tiger… buy it ASAP… As you, I’m sure, have your software updater set to automatic, Apple will work out any “kinks” there. The major flaws and bugs have been worked out all ready by beta testers… There are also those out there who got copies of it by not so ethical means, and they have been playing with it for almost a month.
I agree with dj blurb- most issues will result from it not playing nice with Windoze… but thats what happens when youhave to translate from our OS into the language of the dark side.

By: mbb

mbb — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 06:42:56 +0000

I own 2 laptops – a Dell and an iBook.

My Dell, for which I paid $2000, is *no longer portable* as its battery lasts, at very best, 1 hour. However, even if it had sufficient juice, the fan blew out twice and now I must keep a portable fan (yes, a separate cooling unit) blowing from behind it because I refuse to pay >$100 bucks for yet another temporary fix.

My iBook, for which I paid $1000, rocks. I originally purchased an iBook G3 in 8/03. Apple’s warranty (“Applecare”) covered *all* expenses associated w/ repeated logic board problems (3 in total). Ultimately, this past March when my 1.5 yr old iBook suffered its third logicboard issue at 8:15p.m. on a Friday night, a very apologetic Applecare representative processed a BRAND NEW iBook G4 for me that was >50% faster and had twice the storage, etc. The replacement computer cost me nothing. Not. One. Thing. AND, I received the $200 I paid for Applecare BACK as well because Apple wanted “to make clear how serious they take these problems”.

So, now, my slump-your-back heavy, darn-near-useless Dell pathetically sits on the righthand corner of my desk with a little tiny fan behind it, waiting for me to launch SAS (the obscenely expensive statistical software I don’t have on my Mac).

My light, cute, beautiful iBook follows me everywhere. No need to travel with a power cord (or a fan, for that matter), as the battery routinely lasts 5-6 hours. I pick up a wireless signal from darn near everywhere.

I may be a PhD student in a *business* school, but I will not join the lemming march to the PC world.

By: dj blurb

dj blurb — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 05:03:08 +0000

Tiger will most assuredly have bugs. Most of them will likely center around printing and networking with a Windows/Microsoft based network. And Font Book. I can’t wait to see what holy terror they’ve done with Font Book.

By: S.Grace

S.Grace — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 03:05:12 +0000

minxlj says
Scott:Tiger

Hnh hnh hnh
That’s an Oracle joke.
I am so pathetic.

By: hank

hank — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:45:14 +0000

My father-in-law does scientific consulting and his business is entirely premised on having a working computer. He is constantly battling with drivers and IRQs and incompatible hardware on his Windows machine. I only gloat a little bit when I explain that, while I may be able to supply hand-waving help with his current problem, I have no practical suggestions because my Mac just doesn’t have these issues. It’s like he’s suffering from the Stockholm Syndrome, he knows he’s being held captive by bad people, but he can’t make himself escape over to the good guys.