So I finally got a Mac..

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:30 am

Well, I dived into the deep end by getting myself a 2.0GHz MacBook Pro through my education discount while studying at Uni, and this is the first Mac I've owned, but definately not used.

I'm incredibly impressed with the level of detail with both the OS and hardware in this thing. I wish that this sort of hardware and software combination was more accessible for everyone, so that more apps would be released, but even so, I still feel like I've got a complete replica of what I had on my PC anyway. Even though I doubt I'll use Front Row, the damn animation of it sliding in is so nice to watch.

My only gripe is that Apple don't provide you with a mouse, after paying so much for the machine itself.

So from a primarily Windows, then Linux user, I think the Mac has been the most enjoyable platform to work on, the simplest (although getting apache, php, mysql to all play together nice with the i686 builds hasn't been too simple), and hopefully, the most productive (I'll soon find out).

Note: I'm definately not an Apple fanboy, and I loathe iPods, iTunes and all that nonsense, but this system gets a thumbs up from me.

For people who use Macs just as a laptop, I think you guys are fools. I think these machines only deserve to go into the hands of artists, audio specialists and coders.

dfunked.

Team XLink Administrator Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 5024

I picked up an iMac a while back but I'm underwhelmed so far.. The UI is pretty, but that's about all I can say for it so far. I haven't seen it do anything that I can't do just as well on a Windows PC for a lot less $$$.

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:07 am

There's only some areas where I believe Mac excels over the other platforms, but those platforms could still essentially perform the same task easily.

I'm not really a fan of Apple desktop machines, because unless you're using a quad G5 PowerMac, you're probably better off with a regular PC as you said. I mean, Apple computers have two types of users.. those who know what the terminal is, and those who don't. The ones who don't know are generally the ones buying the MacMini's and iMacs.

Not saying you don't know what a shell is though :p

Granted that this is a MacBook Pro, if there's something I can do in Windows only, that's not a problem for me considering I can still boot XP on it (VirtualPC is not a Universal Binary yet).

Team XLink Moderator Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 1003

MeanMF wrote:

I picked up an iMac a while back but I'm underwhelmed so far.. The UI is pretty, but that's about all I can say for it so far. I haven't seen it do anything that I can't do just as well on a Windows PC for a lot less $$$.

amen

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:10 am

Keep grabbing those daily Windows patches aka "updates" Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:45 pm

I've actually, never, ever ever ever, used Windows. I'm talking properly used it here. Been raised on Macs since System 7, as my dad is a mac zealot and always has been (used 'em since they were created). In that sense I can't really compare it to a Windows machine, although I hear all the stories about how it isn't that good. Used Ubuntu for a while, but it wasn't my cup of tea Razz

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Must admit though, when I do use Windows (at school, at a friends etc) it just feels clumsy to me.
Waiting on intel mac + OSX/Vista = gaming goodness Smile

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Kai Spammer Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 1168

That's prolly because you use Mac in your leisure. Windows is more of a corporate setting type OS. All those corporate software packages that come with it. Word, Wordpad, MS works all crap like that, that I wouldnt use outside of the office...

Team XLink Moderator Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1223

except windows runs what, 99.9% of all computer games? This dont seem very corporate to me Wink

I am considering a mac laptop possibly in the future, but it would definitely be for liesure. When it comes down to doing 3d/2d visuals and web design, i take windows hands down.

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:26 pm

Any reason that you prefer Windows for web-design Amo? The only reason I can see is IE6. Don't mean to spark an argument here, just curious.

Team XLink Administrator Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 4061

I was looking to perhaps switch over to a mac, the O/S does look lovely, but when i checked the prices for macs, it put me off...i can build a decent Pc for the half the price of a mac.

If i was given a mac, or won it or whatever, id be chuffed, but the price.....no thanks.

Team XLink Moderator Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1223

No problem asking Shade,

A lot of it is the application(s) I use to code the webpages (HTMLPad 2005). I havent found anything like it for Mac, it has the perfect workflow for me and no mac app that I have used has that compatible of a workflow. Also the Mac keyboard has slight differences (which granted, I could get used to). But ultimately its the workflow when it all boils down.

Also, the way Safari works as a browser doesnt 100% jive with me. Opera feels a slightbit different too and I havent been able to get used to it. (Dont care much for firefox Wink

).

Also, those DAMN BLUE SCROLL BARS AND BUTTONS! The ugliest thing macintosh has ever designed imo Wink

and I hate seeing them on a webpage!!! Smile

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:41 am

Hehehe, alright then. Smile

I've found my perfect workflow in CSSEdit and HyperEdit. Both aren't bloated pieces of crap like DreamWeaver etc. (IMO) and give me a live preview. Live preview + second monitor = heaven Smile

. Just a shame that the live previews only use the WebKit rendering engine, so all my sites are guaranteed to work in Safari Razz

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But, I literally can't support IE6 seeing as I can't test for it :/.

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:39 pm

I'm using jEdit on the PC, so transition to Mac has been easy.

Considering I have to use the BSD components of OSX for my Uni work, it's very handy. I do agree that the price is very high, but I get a pretty nice education discount so I thought why not.

I'd hold off on getting the MacBook Pro's for now, until more Universal Binaries are around. Most of my stuff is fine, just that binary packages of webserver software isn't really around so it's all a load of manual compilation using XCode's make / configure tools.

It's been a good experience nonetheless. Virtual PC doesn't work on the Intel's, so I'm using a open-source tool called Q, and it works quite well for testing my sites in XP. It should work even better when they make it perform "native translation", considering Q was originally a PPC app. When that happens, I'm sure it'll emulate XP perfectly. Bootup time from a saved state of the XP desktop is about 10 seconds, which is great for just booting up XP and testing my sites out.

Could still run games if I really want to with the whole XP on Intel Mac bootloader, but I'd rather not right now Smile

I agree the scrollbars do get a bit much.. you could always theme your OSX anyway with something like ShapeShifter if you wanted.. QuickSilver is a work of pure genius too.

As I mentioned in the first post, it does really boil down to productivity, and I think once I get everything transitioned from my original workstation (which I almost have except for a issue with the MySQL JDBC connector), I'll find myself working at a much more productive rate.

Oh yeah and a 30 second bootup from power-button to usable desktop (including login screen which means selecting my picture then entering my password) is very fast and handy, considering most Linux distro's take some minutes to get there Smile

Team XLink Administrator Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 5024

[MF]AmO wrote:

Also the Mac keyboard has slight differences (which granted, I could get used to).

Hehe I had to hook up a new mouse and keyboard to mine.. I couldn't deal with the cheap-ass ones it came with. Laughing

Team XLink Administrator Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 3354

Oh I can see TD's face already Shocked

Team XLink Administrator Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 5024

SS-Funk wrote:

Oh I can see TD's face already Shocked

Kai Spammer Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 1168

XBC???

Team XLink Moderator Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1223

what you failed to notice Super, is that the CLI is directly behind it, MeanMF is simply hacking the website, and proceeded to check his changes that he made with a simple refresh Wink

(and yes, this is a joke guys, im not serious...)

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:05 pm

*notices the developer tools icon in the dock*
Whatcha' making MeanMF? ;D

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:18 pm

He could just have wanted the make / gcc tools of XCode for compilation from source Smile

Or maybe he also installed the OSX SDK's and is planning on some sweet Cocoa app? Very Happy