Anyone use Apple? - Clubhouse

Scar Runner

30/08/2002 at 10:41

I'm salvaging my conscience by asking for your views in connection with something vaguely work connected.

I'm thinking of abandoning my PC and go over to The Other Side.

What's your epxerience with Apples (thinking of new iMac). I need to be able to exchange Excel and Word files easily with PC users. And seduced by the possibility of downloading and playing all my favourite tracks easily!

running muppet

30/08/2002 at 11:17

I've always had a really good experience with Apples. I started with PC's back in the 80's and when I got into design, started to use Mac's at college and then at work. I got one at home when I went freelance and find it soooo much better than the PC ever was - much less complicated and things tend to go wrong less frequently also they hardly ever get virus's as almost all virus's can't affect the Mac operating system. The fact that they look so damn good too is the icing on the cake. The new operating system is so much more stable than Windows too.

In my work we had a mixture of PC's for the writers and Mac's for us design folk and they were all networked together. When working from home, there was no problem at all with exchanging files.

iTunes is great too - if you have an iPod, they're fantastic as you can link it to your car stereo, your stereo system and even use it as a back-up for your hard-drive - everything updates automatically when you plug it in to charge.

OK, commercial break over...

Hildegard

30/08/2002 at 11:17

I always used to used Macs, but then I switched over to a PC when I began my post-graduate work - the main reason being that I needed to be able to print things, and the whole computer set up here is on PC.

My parents used to have a Mac, but have just switched over to a PC, because they could never read email attachments and the like. Hmmm, not very encouraging for someone who wants to switch the other way.

If it's because you're fed up with Microsoft, why not try running a PC on Linux? Apparently, it's far superior, but you really have to know what you're doing.

Best of luck,
Hild

Scar Runner

30/08/2002 at 12:28

Thanks, that's really interesting and typical forum response offering both views!

When you say the new operating system do you mean OS 10 or whatever it's called?

What sort of design do you do Running Muppet?

Compatibility: I know it's possible since I've exchanged files with Mac users before, but I guess if some PC users use older platforms it could be a problem, usually they can be resaved in a different format though.

The virus issue is one big reason I'm thinking of changing (I'd need to upgrade anyway) - this year I've lost a week sorting out virus problems, it was a nightmare to sort out, messing about in DOS etc. I realise there's a whole plethora of antivirus software, procedures etc but frankly I'd rather not have to bother with all that techie stuff.

Plus I believe I could plug my digital piano into the Mac and record straight into it (better get a degree in digital technology first!)

Hildegard - I don't know what I'm doing and haven't the patience to work it out; it's got to be intuitive. It's interesting you and your folks have gone back to Pcs though.

mercury

30/08/2002 at 12:41

You could always get a nice sun box and run solaris ;-)......

Hildegard

30/08/2002 at 13:03

I'd suggest Sophos for a good anti-virus programme. I get mine free from the university, but I'm not sure how much it costs to by. You can set it to examine all email attachments - one of the most common ways of receiving viruses.

But it seems that you're into a lot of musical applications, and from previous experience, it is definitely the Macs that handle this stuff best.

I think the best (but perhaps not the most economical) solution would be to look around for a good price for a Mac so you can use all of your musical toys, but it keep the work side of life with a PC.

running muppet

30/08/2002 at 16:58

Yes I am talking about OS 10 or X as they like to call it but even the old OS 9 is generally more stable than a PC running Windows. I was always interested that most of the IT people at my old work who obviously worked equally with both Macs and PC's chose to have a Mac at home.

Funnily I used to do magazine design (Company mag, B, Zest, Cosmo and the like). I have done web design and some illustration and advertising stuff too though and still do the odd bit of magazine stuff here and there but now mostly look after my wee mini Running Muppet.

30/08/2002 at 21:43

Don't know how to start this one because I've always been on the PC/Mainframe side of things being a programmer. To start with I wish Apple would succeed and Intel and Bill Gates would dissapear quietly into the sunset, BUT this is the real world now and we have got to put up with it. Apple have always had a specialism in the Design/Music market but gradually this niche market is being stripped away as the PC processor has got more powerfull and the Third Party software vendors have moved towards PC's. Financially Apple are starting to struggle but the key aspects for you are not if Bill Gates is a "not nice person" or "do Apples look pretty" but is this technology going to be completely complaint with every other Tom Dick and Harriott and indeed will your hardware supplier be around in a couple of years.

Personally I think Apple are the Betamax side of the VHS/Betamax arguement but the best doesn't always win.

Keep your money LauraL.

Sorry for the length of this this. St1t day and a bottle of wine for the worse.

running muppet

30/08/2002 at 22:55

Ooooh, that sounds all doom and gloom. You may be right Blue Knees. It's sad but I think I'd cry if Apple went under. I can't imagine it seriously happening - people have been predicting their downfall for years.

Poor LauraL. This thread has probably made you more confused than ever. Maybe you could get some magazines like MacUser or MacFormat as they often have news from how Apple is doing financially and you could get the lie of the land a bit.

Dalya

30/08/2002 at 23:46

Hi Laura,

Just to muddy the waters further, I have found that as a musician/lecturer in higher education, I have to use BOTH Apple (for music/composition applications), and a PC (for thesis, papers, etc.). If what Blue Knes says is correct (and I'm sure it is), then my life will soon be easier.

So maybe you should have one of everything!! If you haven't spent all your dosh in the girlsruntoo sale, that is!

Happy computing!

DC

Scar Runner

31/08/2002 at 08:16

Use both? Better have a word with my bank manager. And yes, the 'pretty' underdog versus dirty corporate tricks guru BG does carry some weight, after all there is usually an emotional component to buying decisions.

Interesting you use it for music applications Dalya. Sadly as well as the fun creative applications I need it for my boring bread and butter words and numbers...

Since I posted this discovered I may have to fork out an extra £400 odd for the Mac Office package so that might clinch it unless I can root out a free copy via a friend. Either way I've got to upgrade and that's seriously eating into my running kit budget!

Mike S

31/08/2002 at 10:02

Once I've got my 2nd hard drive replaced I'll be going ahead with a long-standing plan to install Linux and hopefully have a dual-boot PC which can access these forums either via the evil empire or via some good clean properly written open source code....

fraggle

pirate

31/08/2002 at 12:17

I should get Mr Fraggle onto this thread, he's a unix kernel engineer and would bore you all silly with the delights of sun's solaris or linux vs ms stuff

daisy dog

31/08/2002 at 19:31

I'd be really careful Laura.

I too was seduced by the IMac's stunning looks. We needed a new computer in the office as I've just come back to work full time and we did a bit of research into the PC/Apple debate. We came out eventually deciding to stick with PC's.

It depends how much stuff you have to send and recieve from other people. All our clients use PC's and with the best will in the world there are glitches transfering info from Apples to PC. Not all the time and only at the edges. But I seem to recall you're an independent consultant (marketing, management or something?) and my experience is that if there's an IT glitch , even if it's not the small consultant's fault, everyone just assumes it is. And we could'nt take the risk of maybe 1 in 10 presentations going a bit odd in transfer.

We got a Mesh, but I did get a very sexy flat screen so I'm slightly soothed.
Would have liked an IMac though...

Scar Runner

01/09/2002 at 05:21

Hmm, it's a valid point Daisy Dog, and yes I'm incredibly reliant on my computer with no IT Helpdesk to come to my aid when things go wrong.

Hope full time work isn't interfering with your running schedule too much...

Thanks for all your views about this.

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