The Outcome (of that old post "The Age Old Dilemma")

[jeanmarc87]

Hey guys,


About 2-3 months ago I started a discussion about the classic 'Mac VS. Other' debate, to which a lot of people <span style="color: #3366ff;"]generously replied.


You can find the post [url="/photography_gear1/f/9/p/5999/55585.aspx#55585] here[/url]!


<span style="color: #ff0000;"]<span style="font-size: medium;"]Disclaimer<span style="color: #ff0000;"]<span style="font-size: medium;"]! What I write here is to serve as a recount of what happened, and so that it may serve as a beacon to others, not to sell a product!


After spending A LOT of time going through everyone's posts and doing some thinking, I decided to go down to my local iCentre to see this thing for myself. On my visit, I had the store manager show me the functionality of a MBP (and gobbled up about 1.5 hours of his time). Now I've used plenty of Windows based laptops in the past, and a few running linux too, but never an Apple PC. The ease with which you can zoom around and get stuff done was incredible. I stood in awe as he opened up the entire CS5 suite without a single hiccup in performance, and after going into the system properties, he showed me that this model was from before the last refresh. I had a very competent control of the trackpad within 5 minutes and was zooming, rotating, swiping - on something that I admit was completely new to me.


I went ahead and got myself a MBP (15", i7, 4gb RAM, 1gb VRAM) the next day.


<span style="color: #ff6600;"]Oh boy was I right.


<span style="color: #808080;"]SIDE NOTE: Up until I bought the Macbook, I had installed another 4 gb of RAM on my desktop which brought it up to 5gb from 2gb (the motherboard failing to POST at 6gb, a problem I have yet to solve) which made all the difference - desktop-wise. I now had the raw power of an Intel Quad core , dual monitor home studio as a desktop PC.


The Mac OS runs completely differently to Windows in that its memory management is superior - testament to this was my work yesterday - I was able to use a combination of CS5 programs all at once, seamlessly, without detriment to workflow and system performance. Lightroom is an utter joy to use and although 15 inches can seem cramped at times, its light enough not to slow you down and fast enough not to leave you waiting. Also, from a professional standpoint, if you happen to visit one of your clients, and need to show him/her some images, the fact that you just whipped out your MBP says a lot about your level of dedication to your trade.


Being completely different to the Windows registry-based OS, you never have massive system slow down due to uncleaned registry entries or crap left behind after an uninstall. Here, you delete a file and its associated package files and you're back to brand new.


The presentation is slick and smooth, the machine doesn't leave you hanging, and in the past 2 weeks I haven't had a single crash. That magsafe adapter WORKS, I can vouch for that at least twice since I bought it. Sure there may be alot of bundled programs which you might never really use, but hey, they're there, and sometimes, After Effects is way too cumbersome to use just to put together a quick slideshow.


I can go on and on, but in a nutshell, this machine feels as though there is 100 times more effort put into its construction and functionality than any other personal computer I have ever used. Also, I've waited till now to post as I wanted to give this thing a 'shakedown cruise' before actually giving my opinion.





Objective side note: Computers fail, and the MBP is not infallible. Apple is also one of the largest corporations on the planet, and they've gotten there by adding features to their products to make people go "oh snap!" in contrast to the 'DIY' style of Linux/Ubuntu etc and functionality of Windows, whose newest version, 7, is what windows should have been about 5 years ago (read: VISTA).





<span style="color: #ff6600;"]<span style="font-size: medium;"]So this is all very nice, but what's your point, Jean?


The Apple MacBook Pro, out of the box, introduces itself as it and you 'being made for each other', and in this regard I would have to agree. Its powerful, doesn't falter, has the kind of display every media-based person in the industry needs, its there when you need it (read: reboot times of 60 seconds, wake up time of 3) and to the old adage; 'it just works' (sorry, I had to put that in there).


Will it begin to crash in the future? I hope not. Will it slow down? It shouldn't but if so, I can always install another 4 gb of RAM - which by the way folks, IS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE. Contrary to popular belief, the MBP does have expandability. There are instructions in the manual itself on how to remove the underside and install a new hard drive or ram sticks (that's all I've read so far, I want to spend more time with my head in Operating System than in the Operating Manual).


<span style="font-size: large;"]<span style="color: #ff6600;"]Finally, in this regard, there is no left and right, no right and wrong. I edited some photos on the MBP and exported. then pulled them over to my desktop for some photoshop work and burning, before switching off the desk lamp and watching a good movie. The Internet has a lot of trolls in it, starting a lot of MAC vs PC fights, but that's just people are narrow minded and the corporations want competition, its good for them. MY view? I control both. I have both offering me their capabilities, each with it's own different advantages and disadvantages. In life, you need assets, not sides, because when push comes to shove, you need that tool ready to go - and I say tool because anyone in their trade relies on them: a carpenter doesn't stick to one saw - he has multiple of different shapes and sizes and of different brands. Why? each has it's own purpose, advantages and disadvantages and will perform in its own regard when the time comes.


I hope that this post was helpful and that it helps some people find their way in this regard.


Thanks again,


Jean.

[Sheiky]

Good to hear back Jean! Glad you like your new computer(or can't I say computer[A])


From my point of view, I think building your own pc can never be beaten by an Apple product for the same price. A pc is simply more bang for buck. However this is for Desktop pc's.


For laptops I have no clue. I don't like laptops so I never bothered to learn more about them. I do think that Apple does quite a great job on putting so much power in such a small package. I love the desktop screen only thing, albeit I have enough room for a pc-case, so I would never buy one[:P]

I can go on and on, but in a nutshell, this machine feels as though there is 100 times more effort put into its construction and functionality than any other personal computer I have ever used

I'm not sure if there's more effort put into things. The "problem" with pc's and Windows is that it is too easy to install other hardware and especially software. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to write a little windows program(virus etc included). A lot of problems with pc's I think are user-errors. Putting too much hardware in it and the power supply fails. Buying cheap replacements etc etc.


In my belief Apple uses the same hardware as you can buy for your pc. However Apple doesn't support just anything and therefor you'd have to buy special RAM memory, you cannot install just anything or change the registry/heart of the pc without too much effort and permission from Apple. Which in one way is a good thing, because it keeps the return rate low.

The Mac OS runs completely differently to Windows in that its memory management is superior - testament to this was my work yesterday - I was able to use a combination of CS5 programs all at once, seamlessly, without detriment to workflow and system performance. Lightroom is an utter joy to use and although 15 inches can seem cramped at times, its light enough not to slow you down and fast enough not to leave you waiting

I had to smile a little bit at this point. Not too long ago a Dutch website (from hardware enthusiasts) tested the new macbook air 13" and the 13" mac-thing Pro. They used both these products with the installed Apple software(Mac OS X) and also installed W7 on them. The resutls are quite a guilty pleasure, since the Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere benchmarks turned out in favor to Windows 7.


Objective point of view: your statement might feel like it's right, but are you sure? [] Here's a link to the review. It is in Dutch, but there's something called goodle translate if you need it[]





My point of view: since I don't need a laptop and have room to build my own pc. I have done this for two years now(updated quite a bit in this short time) and I'm using Windows 7. I never had any hardware failure so far. The first year I didn't even use an anti-virus program. Now that I'm using it I never had any real problems. No virusses whatsoever. I think that if you know what you're doing, chances aren't that big. Plus I have a mighty heavy setup now, but I don't think I could buy a similarly strong Apple product for the same amount of money. []


In short: you're happy, I'm happy [H]


Jan

[Daniel Browning]

Glad to hear it, Jean! Thanks for reporting back. It