Why do there seem to be a disproportionate number of Mac users?

Come on people... The original question was asked in a questioning way.. No need to mac/PC bash whichever camp you stay in...

Bearing in mind I own both.

• Ease of use?
  My PC auto changes sample rates in foobar
  My Apple would require expensive software or manual intervention
  
  
• Ease of setup?
  Both are dead simple for the computer literate
  But I guess my PC was built so is more complex, Win7 is so easy to get bitperfect output from (foobar or itunes) as is the apple (itunes)
  
  
• Perceived sound quality (won't get into the bits is bits debate again )?
  I use a ESI audio soundcard in my PC which has 2 fantastic quality digital out.
  My mac would require a hiface or simlair, external. (not neat imho)
  
  Identical results
  
  
• "it's what everyone else does"?
  Mac are cooler and weirdly everyone I know that has been into vinyl loves macs (?!?)
  
  
• All of the above/other reasons?
  I use my PC for video too, so I want HDMI. Also I want a digital out to my AV2 as well as my Supernait. Only a soundcard can give this option which ruled a mac out.
  

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
Come on people... The original question was asked in a questioning way...

I dont believe that for a second. Not at all. You obviously thrive on this crap. Ignore is back on.

Worlds finest IT minds? Come on!

Microsoft are / always have been / the master of imitation. No innovation there.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Originally posted by DarrellK:
Using their near-monopoly to subvert industry standards ..... Polluting corporate IT with a toy operating system?

It is too bad the world at large is so stupid. Somehow the world's finest IT minds have missed this. Maybe they just never heard of Mac computers?

If it is so bad, why do people continue to use them?

We all know how monopolies operate. As to how MS got there, they certainly had the best marketing, but even MS specialists would struggle to argue that theirs is the best technical solution (they usually don't bother).

As to safety in numbers - if we believed that, we'd leave the Naim forum and join an MP3 forum instead.

I agree this is totally off topic, so this will be my final word on this.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
Come on people... The original question was asked in a questioning way...

I dont believe that for a second. Not at all. You obviously thrive on this crap. Ignore is back on.

What.. you put me into and out of ignore and then commented several times on this thread... Whateverrrrr....

quote:

Originally posted by paremus:
Worlds finest IT minds? Come on!

Microsoft are / always have been / the master of imitation. No innovation there.

I wasn't talking about Microsoft. I was talking about the "corporate IT" guys who dont use Mac products and software.

Why dont they use Mac if it is clearly, demonstratively better?

I think many of you are confusing PCs with Microsoft. They are not one in the same. Its like saying a VW is synonymous with the diesel engine.

It is like me hating Apple because I dont like Macs.

I would bet there are more PCs in the world running Linux or some other of the 1000s of options, than Windows.

By the way, I do like Macs I just don't prefer them. I do however LOVE most of Apple's other products.

Curious, what options do you have for operating systems on the Mac? Since there is no monopoly going on there I am guessing millions of Mac users are using something else?

The "monopoly" Microsoft has in place is exactly what? A worldly preference? I can easily build a PC without one single piece of Microsoft software right?

At the level both companies are at I dont find it convincing to draw huge lines between Apple and Microsoft. Kind of like US Politicians. Are the Dems and Reps really that different?

quote:

I did this setup for my mother - but with win7 - the little PC are amazing for the money. It plays flac with 10% processor usage and HD movies no probs all for under £200! its now known affectionately as the landmine and all my mothers friends (pensioners) wooo at it and a few of them have gone out and bought the same setup!

My brother in law is about to use it as a front end into a DAC for his hifi.

I would recommend them to anyone! Especially as they bolt onto the VESA mounts the back on a TV.

Few weeks ago I got the exact same (Acer Aspire Revo 3610) machine with Windoze 7. And yes it is a fantastic machine, even managed to play some 1080P high def movies.

But my final decision was to sell it for >30% loss after a week of use, I just could not be bothered with tweaking from the couch ad infinitum

But as a cheap Windoze PC with tons of features and connectivity, it is a fantastic box.

quote:

But my final decision was to sell it for >30% loss after a week of use, I just could not be bothered with tweaking from the couch ad infinitum

JOYW, what is there to tweak, with win7 it takes about 5 mins max to setup 1080p video plus sound over hdmi and bitperfect audio over spdif (under itunes or foobar) and then there is literally nothing left to do.

TBH until win7 came out I was rapidly edging towards the OSX camp, the hassle in xp to achieve a good result was fustrating but win7 has made it the simplest setup I can imagine = it was a revelation (not going to deny OSX is far prettier)

quote:

Originally posted by Occean:

quote:

But my final decision was to sell it for >30% loss after a week of use, I just could not be bothered with tweaking from the couch ad infinitum

JOYW, what is there to tweak, with win7 it takes about 5 mins max to setup 1080p video plus sound over hdmi and bitperfect audio over spdif (under itunes or foobar) and then there is literally nothing left to do.

TBH until win7 came out I was rapidly edging towards the OSX camp, the hassle in xp to achieve a good result was fustrating but win7 has made it the simplest setup I can imagine = it was a revelation (not going to deny OSX is far prettier)

With respect I salute you if in 5 minutes you managed to get bit-perfect output including hires material outputting to a USB/SPDIF converter like the Hiface or INT202.

iTunes does not count since in Windows it cannot output bit perfect beyond 16/44.1. So I was stuck with Monkey Audio or whatever the other one is called. The interface of those programs are near impossible to use for me despite spending hours trying to learn how the different "skins" work.

Bottom line is even after many iterations I still was not sure if I was getting but prefect output out of the USB. And the showstopper really was the user interface, it just was not user friendly.

Anyway, I really believe that both the arguments for the Mac and the PC platforms are valid. Just different strokes for different folks.

quote:

Why are people using macs as opposed to PCs

I hate Microsoft - simples. They are not that keen on me either.

I think they are just jealous of my Amiga.

Guys, PC is the king of setup flexibility and that's IMO very relevant in computer audio. For instance, CMP2 proyect would be impossible with a Mac. Since both PCs/MACs are not originally engineered for audiophile use, the ease of tweak that PCs offer make it possible to build a "likely better sounding server".

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:
iTunes does not count since in Windows it cannot output bit perfect beyond 16/44.1. So I was stuck with Monkey Audio or whatever the other one is called. The interface of those programs are near impossible to use for me despite spending hours trying to learn how the different "skins" work.

Bottom line is even after many iterations I still was not sure if I was getting but prefect output out of the USB. And the showstopper really was the user interface, it just was not user friendly.

You should have tried xbmc...

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
Why are people using macs as opposed to PCs for front ends?

I think the interesting point was: macs have less 10% of the market share (worldwide), while it looks like when considering a sub-sample of Naim forum members, the percentage is higher, probably more than 50% (that's my guess, I have no evidence of that).
I think that can be explained by the higher willingness to pay of naim users when it comes to buy hi-tech stuff...Macs simply offer better perceived quality, nicer interface and better look.
I personally love my Macs (macbook + imac), in particular I love stability, consistency of performance overtime and simplicity.
Another psychological effect: I spend several hours a day in the office working on a pc...
When I go back home, I like to have another "environment" to relax and having fun with music, photos, videos...Macs are perfect for this!! IMHO

I actually think the tide is changing. I have been a PC user for over 20 years, and since last year I started using Macs and loving them.

And just a couple of days ago Apple's Market Cap surpassed Mickysoft.

Who would've thought? Sign of the times?

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:

And just a couple of days ago Apple's Market Cap surpassed Mickysoft.

Who would've thought? Sign of the times?

Yep, the underdog has become the overdog . A wake-up call for the "finest IT minds" in Seattle.

quote:

A wake-up call for the "finest IT minds" in Seattle.

Isn't Excel outsourced to India?

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:
I actually think the tide is changing. I have been a PC user for over 20 years, and since last year I started using Macs and loving them.

And just a couple of days ago Apple's Market Cap surpassed Mickysoft.

Who would've thought? Sign of the times?

It did indeed and not because it runs a viable personal computers business but becuase it makes awesome walkmans and phones.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:

quote:

A wake-up call for the "finest IT minds" in Seattle.

Isn't Excel outsourced to India?

Once again everyone.....

When I said how are "America's finest IT minds duped by the virus laden, poor performing PC if Macs are so much better?" i am NOT referring to MS.

quote:

Originally posted by Occean:
but becuase it makes awesome walkmans and phones.

I wouldn't call them "awesome".. Having played with my kids ipods, there are better systems out there (sound quality, interoperability etc..). However, the UI isn't as sexy as the ipxd. So there you have it - form over substance

It may be that the answer to the title of the thread - "Why do there seem to be a disproportionate number of Mac users?" is that the proprietary closed design of the Mac is harder to get working with 3rd party equipment (in this case Naim). I use a PC and every UNITI feature worked straight away without any issues whatsoever - wireless streaming, UPNP - and I believe it's bit perfect as rips sound better than the CD so I'll settle for that. I also set up 1080p video over HDMI and I'm wirelessly streaming HD video from Youtube and BBC iPlayer all without any setup problems - 5 minutes total setup timesounds about right though perfect EAC ripping took a while.
In short, my guess (it can only that that) is that PC users post less on here because PCs work better with Naim equipment. I'm not saying Mac aren't good machines if you only play in their walled garden and like PCStockton, I'm a big iPod fan but I can't see why some people get so het up about what is basically an appliance. Computers don't have soul - unlike hifi or motorcycles!

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:

quote:

A wake-up call for the "finest IT minds" in Seattle.

Isn't Excel outsourced to India?

Once again everyone.....

When I said how are "America's finest IT minds duped by the virus laden, poor performing PC if Macs are so much better?" I am NOT referring to MS.

Look here PC who you jiving with that Cosmic Debris. A gypsy mutant industrial personal computer dances about a mysterious night time camp fire. Apples. Dozens of imported microsofties are clutched by the horrible suction of its heavy duty windows, waving with marginal gatesian abandon in the midnight autumn air

ROTF,
that is so f-ing strong. Nice use of terpsicorian ejectamenta.

Is that a cocktail I should know about?