Do you own an Apple Mac computer?

[balticgreen]

I am first a Mac user and then a Windows user. My Powerbook is my primary machine and the only one I actually sit at to use. I have two Windows computers and I built both of them myself for specific functions. One is pretty much only a file and backup server. The other is strictly an HTPC that runs exactly two programs: BeyondTV and PowerDVD. I also use Windows at work because I have to.

[8IronBob]

It so happens that I have a dual-boot system running Win XP Pro and Ubuntu Dapper Drake. IMHO, if I were to pit Ubuntu vs. Mac OS X, because the interfaces are almost identical with the drop down menu, and even tho the Mac has the scrolling menu on the bottom, I still choose Ubuntu over Mac for reasons that it runs on Debian, which is by far the easiest Linux-based interface ever used, and it also allows for more media-based applications, and it will configure better with hardware and making everything compatible under the sun.

[jerryg]

I am definately a Mac guy. OS X is extremely stable, I don't worry about spyware or viruses and it just works.

I have 5 Macs, including 2 laptops and 3 Windows PCs.

I am the computer guy my friends call when they have a problem. Almost every call I get for a problem on a Windows PC is regarding spyware, a virus or the antivirus/anti-spyware software casuhing problems. Those who switched to a Mac don't have computer problems any longer.

I only use the Windows PCs for Quickbooks, BTV and using Internet Explorer for testing websites I design. With the new Intel Macs, I'll only need a Windows PC for BTV.

I'll admit, a Mac can't compete with a low end $300 PC from Dell that I use for BTV. (Signature is old.)

My biased 2 cents,

Jerry

[btvfreak]

I own a PowerBook, which I've started to use more at work. Thought it'd be fun to post a screenshot of BTV running in VNC on my mac.

[jgourd]

VLC? Do you mean VNC?

[btvfreak]

Yeah, long day.

[Bigbird999]

BB returns, bleary eyed , to his PC after a session at his wife's eMac. Having spent a few hours downloading, installing and unsuccessfully trying to configure VLC to see BTV, he decides to ask btvfreak how to do it . Long day for BB too!!!

BB

[btvfreak]

I just have RealVNC installed on my BTV server, enabled for HTTP access. I just type the address to my server in a browser (Safari) on my Mac with the port number.

[Bigbird999]

Kewl, I will give it a try, but playing BTV in VLC would be even kewler!!

BB

[dcstepheno]

Hello everyone, I am just joining this board. I qualify as a "geezer" newbie to computers, and yes, my first computer (at age 47) was, and still is, an iMac (1999). My previous experience with computer technology was in college in 1972, where we spent about an hour making punch cards before getting our 15 minutes at "the" computer. Fast forward 27 years, and I finally joined the 20th century. I was petrified.

That's why I bought a Mac. I have run my business (where I use hand tools in historic restoration, and know absolutely nothing about which you all have been posting) with this computer, and have only upgraded the operating system this past August. The screen is getting smaller, and the time is near to get a new one. I will probably get the Mac mini as a replacement.

For me, the Mac was easy to set up and get going with to handle my business needs (email, proposals, PDF files, bid documents and invoices) without ever getting near capacity problems. I don't play games or download music files. I hope to try new things with a new computer, and I have been really happy with my initial investment of $2,000.00 for the whole set up. It comes out to less than $300.00 a year over all these years, so the cost was never really an issue. I remember when calculators used to cost what a Dell computer now costs, so I can appreciate what we have to choose from.

[SSChappy]

I own a Mac Mini an Power PC version, and a Sony DT PC. The mini is a 1.5 GHz and the Sony 3.2 GHz. My mini can browse the net faster than the PC. I use the PC for Email becase MS Entourage really SUCKS compared to Outlook. They are supposed to be the same and are NOT. My PC HDTV video card has to be horsed around with to recoginize my HDTV ready TV. My mini recognized it with at powerup.

I use both and would prefer to have one box. I like the mini because of size.

And just a note. Macs could do mulitiple monitors as far back as System 6.0.5 for those who remember that far back. I took a Mac II with its six NuBus slots and hooked up three monitors to see if it would work. It did. The year was 1989. Originally Word and Excel only ran on a Mac if memory serves.

What is the job, what is the best tool for the job? I would not buy a Harley Road King for the Paris to Dakar endurance race. Maybe one of the Buel's, definately a BMW...

MLD, I own a BWM F 650 CS.

[nparker13]

Alright I've been gone for a while, but after reading 3 pages anxiously, I can't wait to express my views. First, I am typing on my wonderful baby...a 17" Intel MacBook Pro, with Parallels (which i run XP and BTV Link), BootCamp with Vista RC1 installed, and an old Dell D600 to run BTV Link so I have a second screen (see pics).

Anyway, this is my first mac, and im in love. I love osx, and love the fact that i can boot up parallels and do EVERYTHING anyone with a PC can do. I have found substitutes for most pc programs, but some stubborn apps as well as work systems only run on pcs. Fortunately I can do it in parallels. Its extremely fast, and i can use it side by side with mac. They are expensive, but for the capability, its worth it. Id rather invest a lot for something thatll last me a while and that ill get that much more use out of than not (speaking to someone who bought the 17 inch model). I paid a lot extra just to have that 2 extra inches, cause ill be staring at it for the next 3 or 4 years.

BTV wise, i run link in parallels which is fine. After seeing VNC, im gonna give that a shot, cause ive only used logmein to my remote server (it doesnt have a static ip to the internet on campus). I also am using my old dell d600 sitting next to me for link, as my roommate can watch it, and i then have all 17" to myself for real work.

I never thought id be using a mac, but since the intel switch, id never go back. Its something that you cant criticize if you havent tried it, and most likely you wont if you have, cause youll love it. I really wanna try the eyeTV usb dongle for mobile recordings though.

PS good point about the bikes. I love the 'BMW' s but now i have a Honda Shadow 750 ACE. Once i graduate college, and have a steady job ill look into spending over $6k for a bike (mind you my 2001 shadow was $4k with 1k mi.)

Nate

BTV Link in parallels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPydgtdGYGk

Laying in bed, i watch this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nparker...7594268870806/

Facing the other direction at my desk i work here and off on my printer i put my dell laptop:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nparker...7594268870806/

[Eric3a]

I worked in an office that was "all Macs" for a short while and hated every minute of it. Hated the logic behind the interface, hated the fact that my deliveries which had to be in Word would NEVER look exactly the same on my clients machines (the government) as they were using PCs.
Had problems ALL DAY LONG with compatibility of files my clients would send me from their PCs. Never huge, but just mind bogglingly annoying.

Hated that a ton of the little cool freeware apps that helped me in my job on PCs simply didn't exist for the Apple.
Hated that I couldn't use a mouse with tons of buttons (I'm sure it's actually possible but office didn't want to) to speed things up.

Now that Macs can run PC software, might as well buy a top of the line PC.

I moved on from that job within a few months, and having to suffer Macs all day long was a significant part of that decision.

So the answer is "No. I'll never get an Apple computer".
Eric

[rakeshagrawal]

Yesterday, on my laptop (which runs Windows XP Tablet PC Edition), I double-clicked on the top bar of a window and expected it to minimize... I've been assimilated!

[rugby]

Originally Posted by rakeshagrawal

Yesterday, on my laptop (which runs Windows XP Tablet PC Edition), I double-clicked on the top bar of a window and expected it to minimize... I've been assimilated!

Once you go Mac.....

....you never go back....