OS options

[gerry]

I am considering getting a MAC. I have experience with the Microsoft environment as well as with the Open Source community. I have zero experience with Machintosh.

What are good reason why MAC is either in the middle or superior to both the Microsoft OS's or the Open Source OS's?

Is it worthwhile to get a MAC? What are normal problems I might or will encounter eventually?

What about hardware advantages or disadvantages?

Keep in mind I do a lot of CAD or 3D solid modeling.

[Morroco]

I believe a new Linux came out, it's supposed to be quite good. A linux can smoke an intel pent4 in Windows XP, windows XP is at the top because its so easy to use, Linux will kick it's ass in a few years when they figure out how to make it easy to use for the .. dumber user (Linux expects you know how to do it, and you can fry your motherboard if you don't know what you're clicking on :P) But seriously if you know what to do i'd suggest linux over mac os, apple or windows xp.. Windows will crumple when linux gets it running nice and smoothly like windows XP (Easy to use)

EDIT: Windows XP has updates like 3 times a week. It's like "Come on you didnt figure this out when you made it?" too many backdoors at that windows.. as for mac os i really am not sure how those run either

[DoCk>]

Lmao. I hope you realize the above poster is a troll.

Windows for CAD. I have daily experience with a lot of operating systems and I still have to say that windows is probably your best bet.

[Krusnik]

I agree with dock, Windows is probably what you should stick to. I have windows,linux, and a mac. I use the linux for CS Server's, Windows for everything, and Mac for my animations, web designing, and other more computer geeky stuff.

[Golden Sun 1]

i have seen 2 dock posts today,
i
am
so
honored
:greedy:

[Morroco]

Windows is the best? I only use it because my parents are too stupid to know how to use a linux Windows XP has so many backdoors its retarded. It's like a dam with 100 holes in it, and they let it hold the water up. Windows hired 100 guys to cover each holes up; The man who is running everything comes to bill and says "Hey Bill, we need another guy, a hole is going to open up over there"... Really now, windows has updates almost every week its ridiculous. They didn't think of the problems BEFORE they put it out? Then they use the updates to fix those problems, which may cause another.. it's just retarded. It's the best bet at the moment since it's easiest to use

[DoCk>]

It's the best for your use because the software you need runs on it. It's that simple. An operating system is useless if you can't run the software you need, no? If you can find the software you need that runs on linux, by all means use linux instead.

I disagree with your comments about windows. As much as I despise Microsoft and Windows, I've had few security issues with Windows XP SP2, as long as it is kept well patched and updated. Ditch Internet Exploder and use Firefox. Stop visiting shady websites then pressing "yes" to everything. You'll be just fine. I also disagree that it is the easiest to use. I find myself far more at home on a *nix derivative than anything else... some things about windows continue to confound me to this day. Like setting options in the registry. Could they make this stuff any more difficult to find?

Don't forget that with any operating system you also have to maintain your patches. Don't just assume that Linux is fully secure on its own, because in many cases it isn't. Make sure you set up your automatic updates, run on a regular basis. If there's a new kernel release, make sure it is installed and reboot when necessary.

Every operating system has its applications.

[Jerome Scuggs]

TBH I think Windows' security issues are mainly with the user. For instance, pavement and I both use Windows. I do not have a firewall, nor anti-spyware, nor anti-virus, but I never have any trouble, because I browse safely and decide what to allow on my computer wisely.

Pavement's the opposite. Even though he has Ad-aware, Norton and a firewall, he's run his computer so far into the shitter that he once asked to use mine. It was the first and last mistake to security I have ever made, and he somehow fucked it up so bad I couldn't even log on (keep in mind, this was one night of use here) and had to reformat, losing tons and tons of work, music and games.

[Krusnik]

TBH I think Windows' security issues are mainly with the user. For instance, pavement and I both use Windows. I do not have a firewall, nor anti-spyware, nor anti-virus, but I never have any trouble, because I browse safely and decide what to allow on my computer wisely.

Pavement's the opposite. Even though he has Ad-aware, Norton and a firewall, he's run his computer so far into the shitter that he once asked to use mine. It was the first and last mistake to security I have ever made, and he somehow fucked it up so bad I couldn't even log on (keep in mind, this was one night of use here) and had to reformat, losing tons and tons of work, music and games.

Some people don't know how to treat computers. As for the windows with all the holes thing, buddy it's very unlikely that you won't get a virus/hacker on your computers if you keep your own illicit activities to a low. Visiting sites with warez, and porn (unless it's paysite) isn't the smartest thing to do. The last time I got a virus was a good 9 months ago, and no ones every tried to hack me. Keep to the windows. Linux ain't so cool, because not many programs are compatible with it same goes for macintosh. Get Windows, Update it atleast 1 a week, do regular maintenence tasks once a week, do ad-ware scanning with several programs once a week, and use firefox. You do that, and your fine.
Edit: wtf is a troll?

[Jerome Scuggs]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll

[Stompa]

Same here. No firewall (yeah right!). I run ad-aware/spybot once every two months or something, it finds like 10 cookies. Antivirus runs when I'm sleeping and never finds anything. I don't have SP2 either. I use both Mozilla and IE.

[Arikel]

I am considering getting a MAC. I have experience with the Microsoft environment as well as with the Open Source community. I have zero experience with Machintosh.

What are good reason why MAC is either in the middle or superior to both the Microsoft OS's or the Open Source OS's?

Is it worthwhile to get a MAC? What are normal problems I might or will encounter eventually?

What about hardware advantages or disadvantages?

Keep in mind I do a lot of CAD or 3D solid modeling.

Well use windows if you don't want to have any trouble finding software or if you are not familiarized with the other OSs. Use Linux if you want to develop stuff in C and other similar stuff "i find it easyer to do it in Linux because i was though to do it on that environment. If you are going for webdesign and lots of graphics modeling maybe it can be worth to get a mac... but i think you should just buy one if you ae very sure about what you want... -_- i wouldn't buy one but thats my personal experience. There are plenty of Mac fans that would say otherwise try ask their opinion to.

PS: Talking about security issues... 2 years ago i remember the freeware comunity also having a problem with security in a kernel version of Linux... and it took a bit to get an update out... the current software policy around the world consist in having the first version of the product as soon has possible and then getting updates because in such a competitive market you must be the first to release the tecnology in order to get the most costumers... then a serie nof updates tryes to fix all the errors it's not just microsoft doing that 99% of all software companies do that in order to be competitive.

[geekbot]

Get ready for some impassioned responses. I'm comparing to Windows, you can extrapolate vs Linux/BSD/others.

Whether or not the "software you need runs on it" as Dock says depends on what you need. I'd argue it's just a different set of software that's available. How much this affects you depends on what you use.

Hardware and software compatibility would be the main drawback of going to Mac, but my problems are few. I haven't found Mac OS software to be lacking in number or quality at all. My main "problems" have been- Continuum doesn't run on Mac and a webcam I bought but ended up not needing didn't work. After 9 months of using primarily a Mac, that was about it.

Many other things worked *better* on my Mac than my work Windows laptop. Printer driver for an HP printer I have was there and I didn't have to do anything but plug it in. I can transfer files to/from my Motorola RAZR over USB and Bluetooth without having to buy/install anything from MOT. I can't say I didn't have problems with drivers, etc. on Windows.

The main pluses of a Mac is a high degree of hardware/software integration, a dedication to "it just works" (simplicity of user interface and use), and a unix core. Because Apple controls hardware and software, things that work tend to work very well. There are no problems with registries and programs not installing or not uninstalling. Installing more and more apps doesn't slowly deteriorate the registry until you have to reinstall Windows. Since Apple users tend to expect high quality in terms of look and ease of use, non-Apple written apps developed for the Mac generally have to live up to that as well.

I am still being wow'ed by the things I discover about the Mac and by the things I'm able to do. It's kind of silly to talk about a computer like that but the list of things I am impressed by really continues to grow. Some of things that are cool- light sensor automatically dims the screen and turns on the lighted keyboard, good sound card, high quality LCD, two-finger touchpad scroll, graphics is fast and flexible, plug in hardware and it works, Keynote presentations, Garage Band to produce music, Dashboard widgets, iTunes/iPod integration, a huge number of applications, Terminal and unix apps- grep, ssh, scp, sftp- and also networking between computers. I find it easier to share between

A word about powerful and flexible graphics. Graphics is based on PDF vector-based graphics. Everything can be scaled, spun, 3D flipped, morphed. Quicktime movies that are minimized to the dock *continue to display playing* as a minimized icon in the dock. There's a genie effect when windows minimize that bends and squishes the window as it shrinks to dock size. Quicktime movies can continue to play the entire time even as it's being squished and minimized. It's entirely useless to watch a movie as it is being squished and unsquished but it's friggin cool and it shows the power and flexibilty of what the graphics engine can do. Of course the instant minimizing and shading that happens when you use expose is another example of what's possible. Many layers of overlapping semi-transparent windows on top of each other is another.

I also love the simple update process and not having to worry about spy/adware, viruses, etc. It's suprisingly freeing not having to do weekly updates, scans, etc. (You can debate why this is but the fact is if you buy an Apple *now* you won't have any problems and it's not likely in the near future.)

So bottom line, some programs (games in particular) are Windows only. You will need to check hardware for compatibility. But there are many Mac-only programs/hardware that you will gain.

Yes, I realize that many cool things I listed that an Apple can do, you can probably install, tweak, buy, etc. for Windows. They might be just as good or close enough. But with the Apple, you are buying a machine that has all the cool and useful things installed, integrated, and ready to use. No wrestling with the OS, applications, settings, setup, etc. It just works. Really.

One last note. MS Office is usually bundled with any Windows system. A demo version will be on your mac but you will have to buy it separately. There are Apple alternatives to some of the programs (I haven't used them extensively). I use NeoOffice, which is based on the open source OpenOffice. It is a complete office suite that is 90-95% compatible with MS Office. Most things I tried import and export between the two just fine.

[Darkmoor]

While we're talking about macs, here. Old, but it still is quite funny :-)

[Morroco]

Buckeroo, my friend (I remember from a conversation i had with you in the past! :P)

Windows is so simple it's amazing. I can reformat my computer with it while watching a football game. I will just walk by casually every 10 minutes or so to hit enter to let it go. With Linux it thinks you know what to do, and it will make you name your drives, instead of where Windows XP will suggest the name "C". Also the things I like about linux over windows is that it's security is insane, you are either in or you aren't. It's a yes and no, yes you are a person but no you are not a user. It won't allow you to run a password generator because it's like continuum, it will block you out after about 3 trys. Also Linux is extremely fast, it can smoke a intel pent 4 with Windows XP. The only skeptic thing I don't like about Linux is it takes quite the effort and intellect to figure out how to setup all the software you want, it may take you weeks to get everything you want on Linux, opposed to windows XP where it takes an hour(s).

Also to add a new windows is supposed to come out in 06 I believe, maybe later on then that since bugs may occur, but from what I have hear it will not allow any DOS at all

Cheers, i look forward to your reply, buckaroo