New Mini Mac & iPod Shuffle

quote:

---

Originally posted by garyi:
Steve I understand where you are coming from but you are a bit abrupt, I thought this was light banter, if it offends you what the hell are you doing on an apple thread?

---

I'm happy enough seeing these threads - it acts as continual confirmation of my view of Mac owners. If they ever actually stopped preaching and appeared content then that'd be the time I'd think Macs are worth checking out again. Ain't gonna happen though...

Steve,

quote:

---

...it acts as continual confirmation of my view of Mac owners

---

Of course, by definition, you don't hear much from Mac users (or any other users for that matter) who just use their computers and don't go on and on about them.

When you think of iGary and Macs, just substitute Bub and ATCs. ;-)

Joe, user of both platforms, proselytizer for neither

Hmmmm

Steve G said:

quote:

---

I'm happy enough seeing these threads - it acts as continual confirmation of my view of Mac owners. If they ever actually stopped preaching and appeared content then that'd be the time I'd think Macs are worth checking out again. Ain't gonna happen though...

---

Well, *cough* I've been criticised by one of my friends for being a bit of a Mac 'zealot'

This particular friend was very 'helpful' when I first became taken with the idea of the labour saving device, to wit, the computer, entering my life, and assisted me no end, providing information that seemed unbiased, regarding Macs v's PC's, but which now I have come to realise was mostly based on hearsay and inexperience re the Mac side of things.

Not really being sure of my ground, and a novice to computing, despite liking the Mac, I went with a PC, largely on others (supposedly) more knowledgeable advice. Nearly two years later, and with a lot of experience re the PC OS and apps under my belt (not an expert, but can trouble-shoot, edit the registry etc) it was time for a new machine, and after much research and some trepidation, I went with the Mac. You may even read some of my earlier posts here on the subject.

If I've become a zealot to my PC friend (or others), it is because all the things that drove me mad, infuriated me, and wasted SO MUCH of my time with the PC largely disappeared with the Mac.

In short, I love it, and it has really, at last fullfilled the promise that computing held-out for me when I first got a computer in the home, and yeah, i suppose its a bit like 'religion' I just can't help sharing it with friends, especially when they now ask me to help fix their PC's. Over, and over again, and I see their level of frustration, and the time being wasted that could be used for more productive things... like listening to music for example..... oh, and preferably on Naim, of course...

Over the last almost 2 years since i got my mac, my chum has seen mine, and others, and by dint of circumstances, (on holiday) found himself using one. We were chatting the other, day, and I told him about the Mac mini, the specs, and the price. His words?..... I WANT ONE!! - I nearly died of shock,,,, enough said really....

quote:

---

You don't have to understand it. Just accept that most of the world is quite happy using PC's and really, really don't care what you think.

---

Well with all due respect, I do think that was perhaps a little abrupt towards Garyi IMHO, and personally, I'm not really sure that it's absolutely true into the bargain.

I don't think the rest of the world is totally happy using PC's, but rather it's just that they're now becoming more aware thay they CAN have true choice - not just a choice that Microsoft offers them.

Of course all the problems with ad-ware, spyware, viruses, constant security updates etc, seem to becoming more highlighted/severe these days, especially as the Mac seems to be becoming steadily more popular, almost like a renaissance in fact. Or should that be second coming??...

Certainly I've noticed anything from your average computer - illiterate, to your nerdy uni computer geek user taking a LOT of interest in Macs indeed, at least if my friends are anything to go by.

Regards

John...

This is my last upgrade.... after this my system will be finished...:-)

I think if you have something that works and get used to continuously reading tales from people who have problems with something that doesn't work it's tricky not to suggest that there is an alternative.

Macs aren't all things to all people, but most people who use PCs, even the happy ones, are probably using the PC because it's "the norm".

Same could be levelled at Naim users I suppose, most people use a midi system, are they "happy" or is it that the norm is that you get midi system and stick it in the living room.

I was reading in PC Pro the other day that we're going to be using Windows XP for the forseeable future, apparently Microsoft is working harder on backporting longhorn stuff than on getting longhorn out due to pressure from large corporate customers who have no intention of moving from XP for several years.

Paul

quote:

---

Originally posted by matthewr:
I'm typing this on a "64-bit PC" (although for FWIW my graphics software is actually slower than on my equivalent 32-bit PC).

Anyway, the essential facts of this endless debate are as follows:

-- Apple make great computers.

-- They are moderately more expensive then PCs.

-- They are (generally speaking) exceptionally well designed and built and feature superb ergonomics and look great.

-- The main impediment to buying one (the shitty o/s) is now largely removed since they shifted to UNIX.

-- There have some definite advantages from a security point of view (actually it's more of a case that Mac owners can blissfully ignore security and most likely nothing bad will actually happen but in practical terms the effect is the same).

-- There is much less software available for a Mac and they are pretty much useless if you want to play games.

That's pretty much it, the real mystery is why Apple owners never shut up ahbout the bloody things.

Matthew

---

That's an excellent summary Matthew! Agree with you 100%.

In answer to your question, people go on about Mac's for all the reasons you mentioned. I would add that they just seem to "work". Any PC I've had has worked out of the box for maybe two months before the cracks seem to appear. With a Mac I don't seem to have those problems, yet

I'm an experienced PC user and since buying a Powerbook have just simply been won over by Apple. The experience surpasses anything I've had in the PC world, desktop and laptop. On the negative side, they suck for playing games, are expensive and have a limited range of software and annoying compatibility issues. Virtual PC has saved my bacon a number of times but in the main that pretty average too!

As an aside I've been called on to fix three friends desktops recently. The two PC's were had normal home use (no kids!) and were just huge messes after a year. Rebuilding required really. The Mac still had issues but was in decidedly better shape.

As I believe stated by Apple themselves, the mini Mac is designed to be step into the Mac world. That's why it doesn't come with monitor, keyboard, etc. What is it now, 70% of households have a computer? I think multiple computer is running at 20% and growing strongly.

Just admire it for what it is. A bloody small silver box with a white light in it, that just happens to be a computer too

Jay

Yes a PC is faster than a Mac and I'll prove it :
Page 1 of the topic :
- 20 total posts -> Steve G and garyi winners : 4 posts.
Page 2 :
- 20 total posts -> Steve G winner : 6 posts
Page 3 :
- 16 total posts -> Steve G winner : 5 posts

Someone knows why PC users challenge Mac users ?

Doing a live report of the MWSF on a french HiFi forum, I had the same problem ... I finally decided to erase all my posts ...
I don't get it, it'll never come to my mind to go on a PC topic. May be should I try some day ...

[This message was edited by karyboue on Mon 17 January 2005 at 3:45.]

A bit off topic, but that's life...

FAO: Garyi, is your 23" display showing any of these pinko tendencies I'm reading about? Am planning to go G5/dual with large LCD in the summer, but first want to do my research. Really want the 30" LCD but it's incredibly difficult to justify and just might be a bit too big for my desk

John

quote:

---

Originally posted by karyboue:
I don't get it, it'll never come to my mind to go on a PC topic. May be should I try some day ...

---

I'm a Mac owner though.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve G:

quote:

---

Originally posted by matthewr:
That's pretty much it, the real mystery is why Apple owners never shut up about the bloody things.

---

Indeed. Why can't they just be happy with their choice of machine and get on with it? They're worse than the bloody Jehovahs Witnesses...

---

What's really interesting is that you often find PC-only users in a Mac thread but you'd never find a Mac-only user in a PC thread.



Stephen

quote:

---

Originally posted by Stephen Bennett:
What's _really_ interesting is that you often find PC-only users in a Mac thread but you'd _never_ find a Mac-only user in a PC thread.

---

Three points:

1) If you're referring to me I've got Macs as well as PC's
2) There are very few PC threads
3) The PC threads are mostly about things that Mac users could only dream of running - Sims 2, Half-Life 2 etc.

Why I have not used Windows

the replacement of commonly named DLLs by the installation of applications.

The close integration of some appplications into the core of the OS - thereby increasing the risk of intrusion or corruption

Redundant use of trivial graphics eg file movement icons

Derek

<< >>

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve G:
[1) If you're referring to me I've got Macs as well as PC's

---

I wasn't referring to you; or just this forum.

Regards

Stephen

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve G:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Stephen Bennett:
What's _really_ interesting is that you often find PC-only users in a Mac thread but you'd _never_ find a Mac-only user in a PC thread.

---

Three points:

1) If you're referring to me I've got Macs as well as PC's
2) There are very few PC threads
3) The PC threads are mostly about things that Mac users could only dream of running - Sims 2, Half-Life 2 etc.

---

oups, sorry, but were you posting with your Mac ? In that case it will blow my statistics

I am also a PC user (built only to upscale my DVD player with Dscaler) ... but waiting for a DVD5 demo (I guess that one day my dealer should receive at least one ... )

quote:

---

Originally posted by karyboue:
oups, sorry, but were you posting with your Mac ? In that case it will blow my statistics

---

Nope - the thing lives with the other scrap IT stuff in the house.

Currently I'm setting up our new office PC's that just arrived from Dell this morning. 19" flat screen monitor, 3.0GHz Pentium 4, 512MB RAM, 160GB HDD etc and we paid about £700 each for them.

We're switching from NT 4 to XP Pro at the same time and so far the PC setup required has basically consisted of giving each PC a name and then installing the various office and development software we use. All the machines have successfully figured out our network information (including proxy & firewall settings) so setting these up is much, much faster than it was with NT.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve G:
Currently I'm setting up our new office PC's that just arrived from Dell this morning. 19" flat screen monitor, 3.0GHz Pentium 4, 512MB RAM, 160GB HDD etc and we paid about £700 each for them.

We're switching from NT 4 to XP Pro at the same time and so far the PC setup required has basically consisted of giving each PC a name and then installing the various office and development software we use. All the machines have successfully figured out our network information (including proxy & firewall settings) so setting these up is much, much faster than it was with NT.

---

You don't appear to be the typical "user" Steve

Heh

Christmas arrived this morning!!

Late last year, to those of you mostly UK bound who may not be aware of it, a free trade agreement was ratified between the US and Australia. This officially 'kicked' in on the 1st Jan, this new year.

I have just received an advertising flyer from my local Mac dealer re the changes in prices.

Beejeezus!!!!!

Average prices are DOWN by many hundreds of dollars, in one case (30" LCD display) by the best part of AUS$1200.00

I can now contemplate a Mac Mini for a couple of hundred more that what I had priced an firewire/USB 250gb LaCie HD for backup purposes.

The fact that i could get an 80gb HD for backup, with a computer attached is like, well, Christmas really...

Truly the last argument some folks have against Macs, re price, is fast evaporating - well at least in this part of the world...

Best Regards

John...

This is my last upgrade.... after this my system will be finished...:-)