Should I make the switch?

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Well, I work in IT, and I've had pc's now since 1988. My first computer was an Apple IIe which we still have at home in working order!

Anyway, I've blown up two monitors recently, and yesterday most of my c drive dissapeared until I did a checkdisk! The PC is now 5 years old, and runs 200, although it had a nice MB and CPU upgrade last year, and a new HD the year before.

Anyway, I'm getting sick of it... after working all day on them spending time working on them when I get home is wearing thin. So, I went to the Apple shop today. A 17" IMAC is tempting... I feel myself drifting to Macland....

I suppose I do strive for eccentricity(??) in everything I do.. so why stop the rot.? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Any thoughts?

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:green">yeah....get a laptop and mount it in the fender....</span>

[disconut]

Expand your horizons and buy a portable GPS. That way you can play with it at night hooked up to a PC, then throw it in the car next day and see if you really are lost! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

I take my laptop in the caravan, much to my wifes disgust, enter my travel logs, fuel usage, play games, alter travel plans etc. Even do the mail occasionally! Also take pics with the digital camera and download them. 8)

I also have a PalmT2, and bought the wife one as well. (peace offering).

Trev.

[MacMan]

Having just struggled through setting up 2 new PCs at Job #2 running XP, it is pure delight to come home to my 5 year old G4 that does everything smoothly and calmly and even smiles at me when I turn it on.

Go the Mac. May Bill Gates suffer chronic tinea and flatulence for the imperfect poop he has inflicted on the world!

[incisor]

let me know if you are buying a mac i am a mac reseller style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by incisor
let me know if you are buying a mac i am a mac reseller style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif
Amazing style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I'll let you know.

I think we've pretty much decided to go with it now. We're just going to try and string things along in the PC world until they start arriving with the new mouse style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Outlaw]

Yep go the Mac, i've converted a few over to them now... one with a G5 DP and the other with a 20" iMac... bloody nice machines style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

Heya Inc, i didn't know you were a reseller... whats the best you can do on a 12" iBook with superdrive and the biggest harddrive that will fit in it... i've worked out how to mount one in the Disco and hook it up as my stereo and movie player... with my 56gb of music in iTunes it'll be brilliant style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[incisor]

hmmmmmmm

you can not get a 12" ibook with superdrive mate, only a 14"
you can get a 12" powerbook with superdrive.

iBook 14" 1.42GHz/512MB /60GB /SuperDrive /APX /BT to you $1910.00
normally $2049.00
iBook 12" 1.33GHz/ 512MB /40GB /Combo /APX /BT to you $1510.00
normally $1599.00
PB 12" 1.5GHz/ 512MB/ 80GB/ SuperDrive to you $2610.00
normally $2749.00
prices are inc tax

[drivesafe]

Hey incisor, I second that, I knew you carried PCs and used a Mac but but this is the first time you have mentioned being a Mac outlet.

Cheers

[incisor]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

should learn to speak up more shouldnt i style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[VladTepes]

Just don't ask him for an unbiased opinion on Apples coz he doesn't do those.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[incisor]

i pride myself on being extremely unbiased actually.

i call it as i see it, if you dont see it that way then that is your problem.

[VladTepes]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Hmmm... I still hate PC's :x :x

What are the imac's like ? Are they good?

[incisor]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot
What are the imac's like ? Are they good?
what do you want to use it for? anything specific or just general use for internet, playng media and the ocassional letter?

pm me with what you want need and require from a system and i will advise where i can.

[Camo]

I use a Mac Duel Processor G5 at my shop .. just for photoshop and final cut pro. everything else I use PC. I have had the G5 for almost 3 months and use it constantly everyday and could not be happier. Can't go past its speed and smooth running.

Camo

[abaddonxi]

I started out on macs and loved them, but could never afford to buy one so went to pcs.

These days, the thing that drives me mad about macs is that every few years they start from scratch with the hardware and all of your old software needs to be replaced.

The latest I've read is that Mac is going to Intel/amd processors and running same hardware as pcs. If this is so - and there is a hacked OS that can be run as an emulation on your pc out there now - and faster than any mac - go figure - what is it going to do to the cost of a mac when your choice is going to be an OS choice on standard hardware rather than Apple monopoly on their gear?

Don't where we'll get the gorgeous cases from, though, there has never been a pc that looked as good as a mac.

Simon

[welshman]

I teach in perth high school which have 160 lap tops MAC with 900 snotty kids trying their best to stuff them up the MAC is as hard as nails (maybe a landy not got one yet just about to buy) Also the MAC kick ass when it comes to movie editing which is really easy on the MAC

GO THE MAC style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by welshman
I teach in perth high school which have 160 lap tops MAC with 900 snotty kids trying their best to stuff them up the MAC is as hard as nails (maybe a landy not got one yet just about to buy) Also the MAC kick ass when it comes to movie editing which is really easy on the MAC

GO THE MAC style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif
By all reports they seem to be pretty good. We're still weighing up how much I want to pay to hate Bill/get off windows. A late starter from left field is doing a Linux pc. 8O 8O

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Well.. I've done it... I'm typing this on my new Poewrbook... Thanks to Incisor... He did very well to put up with me.. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

So far I would have to say it rocks!!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

If anyone can recommend a good free mac IRC program I'll join you all in the chat room sometime soon style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Grizzly_Adams]

G'day Captain,

Have you had a look here http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/mac/, http://www.pure-mac.com/irct.html, http://macslash.org/article.pl'sid=04/09/07/178217 - a quick google on "mac irc free" turned it up.

Just saw this thread, and I agree totally. Bl**dy sick of coming home after working on / with computers all day, just to stuff around with the b*st*rd things all weekend trying to get it to work properly :-(

Current problem with mine is since I reinstalled XP a few weeks ago the sound keeps cutting out (but only when no other sound is playing). I get a very loud staticky sound from the speakers and then no more sound - if I try to play any movies with sound they jerk around like they're trying to get access to the sound drivers but are denied.

You'd reckon it'd be a hardware problem - except all I have to do to "fix" it is logout and login (no reboot required). In fact even when I'm logging out I get the logout sound! So obviously there's a program playing funny buggers somewhere, but I'm stuffed if I know what it is... it was doing it straight after the re-install *sigh* So now I guess I'll try re-installing again :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

So far I haven't brought up the energy, and it's certainly curbed me playing games & / or watching vids on the PC I can tell you.

When I get to Oz I'll look seriously at getting some sort of Mac, even if they are Intel based by then... I doubt Apple will let it run on just any sort of config, and I'm pretty darn sure they'll continue with their own case design etc.

Besides Mac OSX is "just" FreeBSD or OpenBSD with a pretty front end - damn good choice of OS if you ask me style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[abaddonxi]

Originally posted by Grizzly_Adams

Current problem with mine is since I reinstalled XP a few weeks ago the sound keeps cutting out (but only when no other sound is playing). I get a very loud staticky sound from the speakers and then no more sound - if I try to play any movies with sound they jerk around like they're trying to get access to the sound drivers but are denied.

.


Sounds like you've got more than one driver on the job.
Try control panel-system-hardware-device manager - sound, video game controllers. You should only have one unless you are running multiple sound cards or motherboard sound plus a sound card. uninstall them, reboot and install again. That should fix it.

Yeah, right.

hth.

Simon.

[Grizzly_Adams]

Originally posted by abaddonxi
That should fix it.

Yeah, right.

hth.

Simon. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Thanks Simon, unfortunately there's only 1 sound card (onboard) and 1 driver loaded (that I can see). I've also tried updating the sound driver, uninstalling / reinstalling the sound driver but all to no avail :evil:

Good idea though and thanks for trying to help style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by abaddonxi+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abaddonxi)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Grizzly_Adams

Current problem with mine is since I reinstalled XP a few weeks ago the sound keeps cutting out (but only when no other sound is playing). I get a very loud staticky sound from the speakers and then no more sound - if I try to play any movies with sound they jerk around like they're trying to get access to the sound drivers but are denied.

.


Sounds like you've got more than one driver on the job.
Try control panel-system-hardware-device manager - sound, video game controllers. You should only have one unless you are running multiple sound cards or motherboard sound plus a sound card. uninstall them, reboot and install again. That should fix it.

Yeah, right.

hth.

Simon.[/b][/quote]
The thing that astonishes me is that windows and pc architecture forces people to go through this all the time... that don't work in computers for a living. It mus be really traumatic for them style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[Pedro_The_Swift]

note my white beard---- :roll: style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[abaddonxi]

I had a friend who writes some very specialised software. For something like ten years it's been on unix.

A couple of years ago he had a go at moving it to Windows.

Gave up, because whenever anything went wrong he had to wipe and start from scratch.

He said he'd had unix computers that had never needed to be reinstalled running for years at a time.

My only recommendations are:

Make a bootable ghost of your system when it's running well.

Back up everything - oh have I been caught out by that one.

Don't get a new computer until you absolutely can't stand to use the old one. I reckon it takes a full-time week minimum to get a new system up and running and all of the guff transferred from the old system.

Oh I love computers.



Cheers

Simon

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by abaddonxi
Don't get a new computer until you absolutely can't stand to use the old one. I reckon it takes a full-time week minimum to get a new system up and running and all of the guff transferred from the old system.

Oh I love computers.



Cheers

Simon

You're right about that one.. The mac has been different though... it comes all ready to go... it's just my time in learning a totally new thing style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif

Your mate should go mac too... it is based on BSD linux which is a flavou of UNIX style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[abaddonxi]

Ah, no, code freaks, not interested in pretty interfaces. I think they're moving it all to web and ajax.

Reckon I hate them all about equally.

Cheers
Simon

[drivesafe]

Hi folks, I’ve gone the other way. After 18 years of using Macs, I’ve switched to PCs and to be very honest, I wish I had changed over 4 years ago.

Up until OSX came along, Macs were pretty well rock solid and left PCs for dead. Because of the types of programs I need to conduct my business, not long after buying my first Mac in 1987, I had to get a PC because of the type of CAD programs I needed were not available for a Mac or were up to 6 or 7 times the cost of an equivalent PC program.

I avoided using the PCs for anything but jobs that absolutely had to be done on the PCs.

Then along came OSX and ( back then ) being a Machead, I started to swap over to the new machines. Two for the office and one for my daughter to use at Tech.

One of the office OSX Macs was bought with the idea of finally doing something I have wanted to do for nearly 30 years and that’s to make amateur films ( videos now days ) so I spent up big and poured close to $19,000 over two and a half years it to this one machine. Over this period we spent a total of around $30,000 on new Mac equipment and and it’s been a total waste of money.

We did nothing but spend hours, hundreds of hours downloading upgrades and so called fix its trying to get this crap to be of some use for the business. NEVER HAPPENED.

By December last year I had had enough of OSX and Apple’s pro video applications and by this time my daughter had had battled on for a year with her Mac-crap at Uni, so I bought two cheap PC laptops with the idea if they don’t workout, I haven’t lost too much MORE money.

I’m now sorry I didn’t get bigger PCs and ( also sorry I didn’t know dave sold PC gear ). So far the only downloads needed have been for printer drivers to allow us to swap our printer over from the Macs to the PCs.

If you intend to use the Macs at home as toys, they are great but don’t waste your money buying Apple’s pro video programs. They are intended for people who are working at it full time. Just ask camo what he thinks of Final Cut Pro 5.

The free video programs that come with new macs, iPhoto iDVD work well but there are heaps of free programs for PCs to so there is, in my opinion, now, no great advantage to having a Mac over a PC.

Just my two bobs worth, and by the way, I still have two Mac G3 Desktops running OS8.6, working in the office. They never miss a beat.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

That's bad news Drivesafe. It's interesting that a mate of mine is a pro photographer (He's even had a photo on the cover of Time) , and he won't touch anything else.. claims his apple is the best thing. He's just ordered aperature too.

I was just sick of PC's in general.. viruses... hackers... spyware... endless patches.. crashes, and hit-and-miss hardware. I'm fortunate that my apple didn't cost to much, and I'll be doing pretty mainstream stuff so I hope I'll be ok style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[drivesafe]

Hi Captain_Rightfoot, got to be honest with you. I still use a G4 iBook but that’s for internet use only. All the other problems you had with the PCs, I’ve had with the Macs and I’m still expecting to have problems with the PCs

The one major difference is that the local butcher can fix a PC while there are very few people who REALLY know anything about Macs and this you will find out quick enough. Worse still, if your new Macs has to go back to Apple for any form of warranty work, you are out of a computer for at least 3 months. The pack of mongrels at Apple can’t even fix there own gear.

My biggest problem with using Macs and OSX was getting any form of support. Apple doesn’t want to know you and as stated, there are few people that can help.

I know quite a few people how are using Macs and are happy with their Macs but I also know people who switched to Macs and FCP to do weddings and the likes and have switched back to PCs for the same reason I have gone to PCs, because of the total lack of any useful support for OSX.

Captain_Rightfoot, if you stay main stream then you will probably be happy with you Mac but don’t waste your money on any Pro Video applications from Apple unless you plan to spend a hell of a lot of time using them.

Cheers.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I really appreciate the range of opinions expressed on this thread. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

I must say, at the end of two weeks it's been a really big learning curve for me. For the first few days I was thinking "oh no...what have I done". Fortunately I'm now starting to think like a mac user and nothing is too hard style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

From a technical standpoint, I **really** appreciate the way the OS is put together.. It's really well done. The flashest Linux distribution around style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif beautiful.

Today I picked up the last item from Dave in the order, a black 30gb video ipod. Well, just like the whole computer... what a piece of gear. And it all seems to work really well together.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

On the downside if you want to do something that isn't really mainstream I can see that there are limitations with the mac because of SW availability. However I'm lucky because we are pretty much mainstream style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

In summary... I'm hooked and if things go as they have been going.. i'm going to take a lot of switching back style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

For those that want to laugh at me have a look at this jab at the mac users of the world (in windows media player) lol.

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/wofienet/mac.wmv

[Grizzly_Adams]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot
The flashest Linux distribution around style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif beautiful.

*cough cough cough* IT'S NOT LINUX!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: Sheesh - BSD is as much like Linux as a Jeep is to a Landrover! To the untrained they may look alike, but boy they are completely different! :x

/rant
Sorry but that really irks me (being a computer head like I am). BSD at least has a standard for commands etc., whereas linux is just whatever anyone feels like putting in there. Yes ok that makes BSD not as flexible (in some ways) as linux but at least you know what options / commands to use.
/rant off

[drivesafe]

Hi Captain_Rightfoot, as much as that video seems like a good chuckle, a good portion of it is actually based on reality.

I’ve had to go through many of the situation that were mad fun of on that clip but there have been lot more problems, some of which you will eventually come across.

Having problems on a Mac is in itself, no great drama, it’s getting those problems resolved that IS the great drama.

As a toy to play with at home, great, but as a serious business machine. Unless you are prepared to spend up big on service contracts, you can forget even trying to use a Mac because even Apple won’t support you unless you pay them an arm and a leg.

The Mac looks great when it’s working, but there are some many little quirky operating requirements needed to keep them going and this is where the hair pulling comes in because you will very quickly find there are few people that know anything about them.

Over the passed 10 months or so I have been getting my revenge on Apple, when I need printer cartridges and I go to my local David Jones store, while waiting at the count I talk people out of buying Macs after the Apple rep has just spent half an hour trying to convince a potential new Mac user to buy one.

It’s easy to do as many of the potential buyers are uni students so I simply ask them what subjects their doing and if it’s anything other than multi media I then tell them to go check with their respective departments to see if the Macs are compatible with these subjects and time and time again, the DJs staff have told me that these same people have come back and bought PCs because they found out that the Macs are not supported in weird subjects like say Accounting, Law, any Science oriented subjects and so on and if that doesn’t seem to convince them, I suggest to them to go and ask the Apple rep, what is the current waiting time for a repair if the Mac has to go to Apple. With the answer coming back as being at least 3 months waiting time, this is usually the final straw.

Mind you, after the rep has finished showing them how easy the Mac is to use, I like to show people about the requirements needed to try and keep the Mac’s speed up, you know, the one about having to periodically “repair Permissions” crap and when you tell them that the more video they do the more often they have to go through this crap, the more disinterested they become.

Yes the new Macs are a fine TOY and that’s what they have degenerated into.

BTW, don't get me wrong, I'm not a PC lover but this is not just my opinion, a number of articles and even computer shows on TV are now saying that the Mac is way ahead of PCs when it comes to doing video, particularly if it’s for home use but they are now even less business oriented they they use to be.

Cheers.

[abaddonxi]

I picked up a mac G3 with a G4 upgrade cpu in it off the street yesterday.

Oh yeah, the punters love 'em.

Don't get me wrong, I started on macs and you've got to admit, they make the most beautiful laptops out there.

My beef, these days, is that they come across as all user-y and underdog. And look at what they've done. Twice they've made such radical changes to their hardware that every user has to replace not only hardware, but all software at apple prices to get the use out of the machine. I call that betrayal.

Anyone who's done any graphic design or professional desktop publishing will tell you what happened when OSX came out. Just about killed Quark Express, and nearly killed DTP on the mac.

Like it has been said before, mac's are great when they're running, it's when they stop that they turn into the worst pieces of boat anchor around. At least with pc's when they breakdown or go wrong, and they will, no doubt, you can get in there and do something about it.

The great thing about mac's is their file system and keeping stuff in one place - no bloody registry.


Cheers
Simon. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[drivesafe]

My day is made.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think Macs have their place, just like an outside dunny has it’s place.

Today, while looking for a new camera at DJs, the Apple rep came over, We are actually good friends and he has tried very hard to resolve some of the problems I’ve encountered, but he informed me he won’t be helping me any more because he has had a gut full of the lies he’s had to spin to customers on Apple’s behalf, so he’s quit.

Now when Apple staff can’t stand the company, I mean what can I say. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Cheers

[HangOver]

The great PC v Mac v Unix,(Linux or other version) debate.
I just had to jump in, even though it’s an old topic.

Unix / Linux :
Tried Unix once about 10 years ago. That put me off Unix for life.
Had a real attempt to switch to several different distros of Linux, some reasonable, but NONE, (in MY experience) were as easy to set-up and get running with all drivers, programs and ancillary hardware as WindowsXP.

Mac:
About 8-10 years ago it was streets ahead a far superior machine to the Windows box, better Os, easier hardware configuration, easier to use; but then it sort of stood still until Windows caught up. That was it’s downfall, (well that and a good bit of marketing by Microsoft).

I would have to say that no system at this moment in time is perfect.
Nothing runs out of the box, without patches, add-ons or drivers with every bit of hardware and every bit of software that you throw at it.
Nothing runs everything without any conflicts.

But looking at the whole package from opening the box, cost of ownership, installing hardware & software, connecting to networks, sharing resources, ease of use and maintenance, (yes they need maintenance) in my opinion and experience, nothing at the moment beats WindowsXP.
Saying that had you asked me when 98’ or ME was still run of the mill it would have been a different story.

However …….
Whatever OS and hardware rock’s you boat, if it works for you stick with it !!


Just my 2 cents worth :- )

[incisor]

now the intel based macs are hitting the streets there will be some quantum leaps in personal computing

IMHO

xp is about 80% of what OS/2 was 8 -10 years ago and it is by far the best version of windows there has been so far.

I have seen nothing that compares to OS/2 for reliability or mulitasking power, dam shame ibm sold it out....

[HangOver]

Hmmm OS/2, there's a name I haven't heard in a while.

Apparently When IBM stopped developing OS/2 a company called Serenity took over and called it E-Commerce Station, (or something like that) the last version was released about 2003/5ish ??
Maybe you should check it out?
But as you know an OS isn't much good without software to run on it.

The unfortunate reality is that Microsoft is winning the OS war with good marketing and software deals, just like Apple is winning the mp3 player war.

Also Apple cut it's own throat years ago when it decided not to allow third party manufacturers to develop apple components by refusing to release details of it's architecture.

I think Linux (or derivative) has the only chance of clawing back a share of the market from MS. It's big selling point of course that it's free!

But even a Linux enthusiast couldn't say it was anywhere near as user friendly as MS stuff, (yet).

Maybe this thread will stay alive long enough to see what hapens? :wink:

[Grizzly_Adams]

Apple may have cut their own throat by not allowed 3rd parties to see their architecture, but at the same time they were trying to protect themself.

One of the big things between Apple Macs and M$ products was that the M$ products were much more unreliable (the fabled BSOD etc.).

Now I'm not a M$ lover, however you have to take your hat off to them considering how stable the OS is when they have no idea what sort of hardware you are going to plug into it.

Apple got around this insecurity by not allowing others to plug non-apple kit into it. Hence they always knew exactly what was going to be plugged into it, always had the right drivers and knew all the API calls, etc.

M$ relied on 3rd parties to develop the drivers for them. The end result? A OS that gained a rep. as not being particularly stable.

Pros and cons either way.

[drivesafe]

Hi Grizzly, I’m the other way around after using Macs for many near faultless years, I have had nothing but trouble with OS X and just over 12 months ago I switched the PCs and XP and with one exception ( which I still not resolved ) the PCs and XP have been rock solid.

The only problem I have had and more through lack of operating knowledge than a problem with the PCs is that I have been unable to set up a wireless connection with an HP printer.

On the other hand, even after many attempt, I still can’t get the Macs to work anywhere near properly so I’ll be sticking with the PCs.

Cheers

[HangOver]

Originally posted by drivesafe
I have been unable to set up a wireless connection with an HP printer.


wow a mac to MS convert, that's novel.

Anyhow re: your printer I would just plug the damn thing in.
I have always mistrusted wireless.

Any one asks me about wireless and/or wireless security, (for home use, not talking radius stuff here) I always advise use wires.
Easier, cheaper secure, more reliable etc etc.
But it's a boon to those of you rich enough to own a laptop.

I bought a wireless router ($10) extra but still plug it in. much faster.

Like I said before if it works for you, stick with it .
Addendum: If it doesn't look for something better.

grizzly:
M$ relied on 3rd parties to develop the drivers for them. The end result? A OS that gained a rep. as not being particularly stable.

I like whay they have done now though, you know the, "this driver is not certified by MS" etc etc do you want to continue?

You always say yes but they have covered themselves if it doesn't work.
I have installed stuff from MS that even gets the " this is not certified " treatment.

Their lawyers must have been laughing the day they slipped that one into the OS.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Well... it's not been a few months, and as a new switcher I am very very happy with the mac https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

The hardware is clearly very nice, in the way that a Ducatti is to other motor bikes, or a Elise is to other cars. The design is beautiful, and it is clearly meant to be a nice piece of kit https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ I look at other laptops and they just look cheap and nasty now.

Then there is the OS. I'm the first to admit that I had a few "oh no what have I done nights" after delivery when I couldn't get anything to work. However they are long gone now, and I love everything about the OS. The concept of a machine that never shuts down or needs re-booting is just great. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ I don't use it for anything out of the ordinary, but the way all the apps integrate for a home user is sensational https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Having the mac built on unix in another feature that I love. You can use the following command to find out how long your machine has been up!

<span style="color:green">Last login: Mon Jan 30 08:07:49 on console
Welcome to Darwin!
stephen-amos-powerbook58:~ stephenamos$ uptime
6:09 up 8 days, 17:49, 2 users, load averages: 0.26 0.23 0.21
stephen-amos-powerbook58:~ stephenamos$ </span>

If I can just stop re-booting the poor thing out of habbit. :roll: :roll:

Then to the pretty much complete lack of viruses and spyware... it's the way it should be. I now thing that XP is unsuitable for the purpose for which it is sold. Out of the box if you plug it straight into the web, you're asking for problems. Instead, as soon as you boot up you have to load anto-virus, anti-spyware, and a decent firewall. That is not right! And the vulnerabilities just keep coming. The one over new year was a doosy!

Some wit took a preview of MS Vista and overlaid vision of OS X. It would appear that whenever they release it, MS users will have some of the advanced features that OS X has had for years.

http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/re...ta_ep1_h264.mov (http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/real_vista_ep1_h264.mov)

http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/re...ta_ep2_h264.mov (http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/real_vista_ep2_h264.mov)

http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/re...ta_ep3_h264.mov (http://homepage.mac.com/lasolas/.Public/real_vista_ep3_h264.mov)

[drivesafe]

Hi Captain, that’s the one area where the Macs leave everything else for dead ( except that they are slower on the net than PCs ) and the only place I excessively still use a Mac, for on line use.

There are NO viruses for Macs and the only way spyware can get on your Mac is if you physically provide your admin. password if a request is made for it while you are on the net.

I never EVER connect any of my PCs to the net.

As for rebooting ( Mac just call it RESTART ), you will actually find that if you have not done a restart for a while and then do one, you may find that some of the programs will work better than they were before the restart.

And I’m not sure if it is still needed when using OS 10.4 but you will find that after a while things will start to slow down and you will need to do a Permissions Repair to get things going properly again.

How often you have to do a Permissions Repair depends on the type of applications you are regularly running. If you do a fair bit of image and video processing, which I was, I was having to do a Permissions Repair every 4 or 5 days otherwise applications like FCP wouldn’t work. Now, that I only use the laptop and only for net use, I only do it every few months ( if I remember ).

Macs have there place but to consider them anything more than a toy now is a mistake. They are great for home use but there are so many business programs that are needed but not available on Macs.

But the biggest single problem with using a Mac is that, if you ever do need support, you won’t get it. Apple does NOT support it’s users.

Cheers and enjoy your TOY.

[incisor]

Originally posted by downundersteve
Hmmm OS/2, there's a name I haven't heard in a while. Apparently When IBM stopped developing OS/2 a company called Serenity took over and called it E-Commerce Station, (or something like that) the last version was released about 2003/5ish ??
Maybe you should check it out?
i have it, and it is extremely good with very good hardware intergration but it is a business class product and priced accordingly so it will never compete for a place in the desktop market. I have several large business sites using it.

there is still a very good software base for it tho some of it is a little dated.

[drivesafe]

Well, you all know how I feel about all things applecrap but they have sunk to an all time low, even for apple.

It now seems that if you buy an ipod and have problems, which is all to often, and you call the apple help line, you will now be connected to apple’s Indian call centre.

Not only does this mongrel company charge you a fortune for anything you buy off them, but to squeeze every last cent out of you, they now longer employ Australians to try to help you.

If you have had the misfortune of buying products from companies like HP and have had problems, you will very quickly find how totally useless these off shore help ( “ help “ that’s a laugh ) centres are and now good old apple crap are again showing how the sort of contempt they have for their customers.

Cheers.

[VladTepes]

I have found the solution. A small suite of hardware and ancillaries which will do MOST of what you want and at VERY low cost.



























http://www.usfca.edu/law/tung/images/PEN.JPGhttp://www.mitronics.com.au/products_pictures/Reflex.jpghttp://p.office1000.com/mrp/HC502AAUR.jpg

[drivesafe]

Hey, It’s gota work better than an apple. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Drivesafe... I feel your vennom 8O 8O I'm looking forward to having a chat with you sometime in person and find out the story on what they did to you :cry: :cry:

If it make you feel any better, we pay Oracle tens of thousands of dollars a year for support, and if we ring them we usually get people from india. I have even got someone from Russia once!

What's more, I think apple is by no means alone with this. Tonight I will post a comic I have that suggests microsoft is the same... https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Have a look at this.... a MS employee caught MS buying macs (to copy I presume) and he got sacked https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ So, whatever you don't like about apple will be coming to windows in the next few years https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/..._microsoft.html (http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/even_microsoft.html)

And

http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/...ogging_and.html (http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2003/10/of_blogging_and.html)

[drivesafe]

Hi Captain, my beef is that after using them from 1087 to 2002 and very VERY really having a problem I decided to spend a bundle and get right into my hobby which was to be making amateur rail videos to sell.

But thanks to the unreliable gear and almost total lack of any form of support from apple for either their hardware or their software, after spending well over $20,000 on the apple gear I thought would help me do what I wanted to do and finding out the hard way that I could have done it for heaps less with PCs and the PCs would probably have actually allowed me to do what I wanted instead of spending thousands of hours just trying to get the computer to work anywhere near what is was supposed to let alone actually doing some work on them for myself, I have now given up on my hobby.

And BTW, I had no intentions of trying to make enough from the rail videos to cover my costs, I just wanted to do the videos with some sort of professional finish.

Anyway don’t take any notice of my bitching, and don’t take this to heart but as far as I’m concerned apple only make toys for home use now compered with what they use to make, but if your apple does what YOU want then thats what it’s all about.

Cheers and have fun with yours.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

OK, I understand what has happened to you.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ I am still perplexed though as Apple seem to have a really strong presence in that industry.

http://www.macworld.com/news/2002/07/03/marketshare/

Macworld said...

"Their biggest opportunity for growth is in the horizontal market, which is basically consumers," Kay told MacCentral. "The other big segment is content creation professionals and they [Apple] are pretty safe there. Those people pay a premium because they want the Mac hardware and software -- the whole universe of people that do work in that segment are Mac people."

At any rate it's clear you had problems, and Incisor says that they don't support people as well as they did so I don't doubt it https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ That would appear to be what the real problem is here.

In the one issue I had with mine was a problem with specifications and I talked to an Indian or two and they weren't much help https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ I had to work it out for myself.

Having said that, I am still blown away with the quality of the OS. I am still stunned that it is pretty much a secret. I hope you won't mind if I tell people how happy I am with mine for it's intended role... home stuff and connecting to work. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Let me end this story with a picture from the heathen box world https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

http://www.sickjokes.net/media/microsoftemployeeofthemonth.jpg