# Mac or PC? You make the call. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011 "2003-07-26T02:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ummm.yeahh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ummm.yeahh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ummm.yeahh)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/1 "2003-07-26T02:09:16Z")
All right folks, What’ll it be? Mac or PC? I bought an iBook about 6 months ago and I gotta say… Mac wins… by twenty lengths. This is the computer of my dreams. Never breaks down. Does what I tell it. Great graphics, video, sound. The only disadvantge is the availability of hardware and software. PC people, prove me wrong. Mac people, back me up, yo. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/2 "2003-07-26T02:12:21Z")
Again? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/3 "2003-07-26T02:23:23Z")
The reason I prefer PCs is - I grew up with them so I know them inside-out. I understand them so I can upgrade them and work with them easily almost without thinking (it all comes naturally) A vast number of companies contribute to their hardware (instead of one or two, as is the case with Macs) ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/4 "2003-07-26T02:25:25Z")
Used PC’s for years, bought an iMac back in early 2001, and haven’t looked back since. Typing away on my new iBook now, and it is just like my iMac in the respects of reliability, ease of use, and style. Won’t be buying anymore PC’s. Not worth the hassles. No viruses, no spyware, no crashing, no product activation, no desktop advertising forced down my throat (such as AOL icons all over the desktop) and a highly polished OS with some best of breed consumer applications like iTunes included right out of the box. What’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/5 "2003-07-26T02:29:44Z")
There are things you can do on one or the other better or not at all. There simply isn’t a choice in my work (geophysics) - seismiic interpretation is Windows or Unix as there are no viable Mac apps. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/6 "2003-07-26T02:30:54Z")
I suspect PCs are victims of their own popularity (spyware, viruses, spam, popups etc…) ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/7 "2003-07-26T04:43:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*There are things you can do on one or the other better or not at all. There simply isn’t a choice in my work (geophysics) - seismiic interpretation is Windows or Unix as there are no viable Mac apps. \*\* With Mac OS X being based on BSD, I would imagine the unix apps would run without much more than a recompile. Remember, OS X is UNIX underneath. ---
**Author:** ![paa3838](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@paa3838](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paa3838)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/8 "2003-07-26T07:05:55Z")
Mac, Mac, Mac. Except if I want to use certain programs that only work on PCs. Then, a PC. (sigh) ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/9 "2003-07-26T07:15:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by modro \* > **I would imagine the unix apps would run without much more than a recompile.** And with the Fink, Gentoo and DarwinPorts projects, you don’t even need to do that. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/10 "2003-07-26T07:27:17Z")
I’m a big Mac fan, and am saving up for the new G5. However, I am forced to use a PC for an online class I am taking, and XP is really OK. Not as good as OS X, but, OK. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/11 "2003-07-26T15:14:56Z")
And the Unix apps are hideously expensive to license (SeisX, IESX, etc.) and require much intensive support. If you need to interpret seismic data, a Windows PC is pretty much the only way to go if you’re not in a bleed money situation. I’ve never heard of anyone porting Unix apps to a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/12 "2003-07-26T15:19:02Z")
Porting those specific Unix apps is what I meant - I certainly don’t track whatever else may be happening. How does the cost of a Mac compare to a Sun? Would it make enough difference to try and run those apps on a platform not supported by the proprietor of the software? It still wouldn’t overcome the cost differential between the Unix apps and the PC apps. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/13 "2003-07-26T15:23:34Z")
I love my Mac. I bought my first one in 1993 It still is “The computer for the rest of us” ---
**Author:** ![ummm.yeahh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ummm.yeahh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ummm.yeahh)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/14 "2003-07-26T18:14:34Z")
I love the line that some PC people give me, “Macs are for the people too retarded to figure out a PC.” Yeah, so… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/15 "2003-07-26T18:18:50Z")
Is it possible to build your own Mac (or at least Mac compatible) system? ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/16 "2003-07-26T19:13:02Z")
Can I vote for both? I use a Mac at work and a PC at home. They both seem to work fine. Dey’s just tools after all, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/17 "2003-07-26T20:38:45Z")
Mac? Yuck! With a MAC you pay MORE for LESS. Plain and simple. I wouldn’t say macs are for retarded people, but certianly for the less computer savvy. If you’re not much into computers (you only use them for work or typing up school reports), I would STILL recommend a PC (you’d save money that way), but I can see the appeal of a MAC. If you are a serious computer gamer then you cannot possibly want anything other than a PC, simply for the power for the money ratio. If you are computer savvy, and are willing to learn your way around a PC, there is nothing more satisfying than building your powerhouse PC from the ground up that’ll outperform any MAc and cost CONSIDERABLY less. Also, having piece of mind than any game/piece of software coming out will be made for your system is vital to gamers/PC users. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/18 "2003-07-26T21:35:11Z")
First off, Kinthalis, it’s _Mac_, not _MAC_. > [@](#): > > I wouldn’t say macs are for retarded people, but certianly for the less computer savvy. I don’t know about that. I just now posted a tutorial (on another message board) explaining to a Windows user how to copy and paste. I would not underestimate the lack of computer savvy amongst PC users as well. In fact, while I am in NO WAY _that_ savvy, I’d guess that I know more about PCs than maybe 75% of the Windows users I know. All some people want to do is click on that little AOL button, dontchaknow… > [@](#): > > If you’re not much into computers (you only use them for work or typing up school reports), I would STILL recommend a PC (you’d save money that way), but I can see the appeal of a MAC. I’m into computers quite a bit. Not enough to build my own system (so I don’t care about that) and once again, I won’t pretend to be that savvy, but still, I am quite enthusiastic. I take my computer work seriously. I am mostly interested in graphic design and web design. Are these not “serious” endevours? And yes, I have compared the performance of my Mac and my PC when it comes to graphics, etc., and I personally prefer my Mac. OS X is the bomb. > [@](#): > > If you are a serious computer gamer then you cannot possibly want anything other than a PC, simply for the power for the money ratio. True, if you are into games, a PC is where it’s at. But, not to try to put down gaming, because we all have our hobbies and I know that gaming is a damned fun hobby, but how is gaming anything “serious”? It’s a frigging _game_. 😉 > [@](#): > > If you are computer savvy, and are willing to learn your way around a PC, there is nothing more satisfying than building your powerhouse PC from the ground up that’ll outperform any MAc and cost CONSIDERABLY less. You know, some of us just don’t give a shit about building our own computers. Just like some of us don’t give a shit about building our own car. We just want it to run. Not everyone wants the same thing from a computer. I don’t think I’d get that much of a warm fuzzy feeling over building my own computer (it’d be nice, but not the center of my universe). I get a really warm fuzzy feeling over the feedback (and occasionally money) I get from the work I produce on my Mac. > [@](#): > > Also, having piece of mind than any game/piece of software coming out will be made for your system is vital to gamers/PC users. I don’t game, so I don’t give a shit about gaming. A lot of us don’t game. I get the peace of mind knowing that my computer will run iDVD, iTunes, Final Cut Pro, and other Mac-only applications. True, there are some things that will only run on a PC (and I do like my PC) but I’d hate to _only_ have a PC to rely on. That would indeed be depressing. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/19 "2003-07-26T22:09:49Z")
Windows is for people who don’t know better. 😉 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Kinthalis_ > I wouldn’t say macs are for retarded people, but certianly for the less computer savvy. You better not talk to [this bunch](http://apple.slashdot.org/) or [these folks,](http://mac.oreilly.com/) then… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011/20 "2003-07-26T23:21:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > > Not everyone wants the same thing from a computer. Precisely, which is why the old PC v. Mac debates aren’t really worth debating. Macs just can’t do what I need, so there’s no need to think about 'em. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-you-make-the-call/191011.md?page=2)