PC vs. Mac

Why are macs better for web developers? Due to the amount of people in creative industries using macs there is a strong mac user base among this community. Many software devlopers use macs also, as such there are many small programs available only on the mac that are ideal for web developers. The support and documentation available to mac software developers has something to do with this.

Due to the attitude of most mac owners there is a strong and supportive community. Buying and using a mac is a bit like joining a club, other members of that club are always willing to help each other out. The feeling of exclusivity fosters a mutual respect. It's ridiculous, I agree, but it certainly has it's advantages.

Just use parallels to run other browsers and check that way. The point is a mac is a better tool to develop on. You don't pick a machine for development based on what it is better to view sites on. That doesn't make sense.

Pete.

HEAR, HEAR, all ye knaves. That should end all future discussions. It anyway boils down to a question of personal taste (and maybe money). At least that's what I've gotten out of reading everything posted here in the last few days.

Nah, it's the Operating System. This OS is so much faster and better then any Windows OS. Mac's OS is built off of Unix and is much more stable and in my opinion more user friendly. How many times have you had your windows computer freeze up on you? Or just run slow? Over the last month I have been in heaven, not one problem with speed or freezing...NOT ONE!

Wait...WHAT! Just because more people have windows does not mean that it's better for web developers. I mean, they both have there ups and downs, but I don't think saying one is better is a true statement. Unless you can explain why windows is the better one for web dev people in your words. They both get the job done, it's all a matter of personal preference.

This is the age old question and I'm going to answer this for you now.

Mac - Way overpriced for what you are getting. You will pay almost twice the amount of what you'd pay for a desktop as far as hardware goes. But you will be getting a great system.

PC - Your paying a lot less and getting a system with just as much power hardware wise. Your PC will probably look really cool and have a unique design unlike the macs who almost all look the same ( I know there ARE variations, but thats boring to me). Your not going to be getting a very solid OS unless you stick with XP Pro but your still going to be getting a nice pc ready for gaming.

Vista - if you see a computer that comes with this DO NOT BUY! This is by far the worst operating system Microsoft has releases since Windows ME. Go for XP Professional, its much better.

Yeah but as far as Operating systems, I am going to go with Mac any day. It is more stable then XP and way more then Vista...which Microsoft tired to copy off Mac...lol. Plus as far as web design and development goes their seems to be more professional tools out their to help you get that website down faster and better. Look at Coda, Skedit, BBedit, Transmit, and the list goes on and on.

Well after to listening to all the favorable responses to Mac, I went ahead and got my son the Mac Book. We'll be getting it in 5-7 days. He's so excited he can hardly sleep. I'm sure he'll have it running all his favorites in about 2 hours and we'll never see him again!

As laptops go, it wasn't that badly priced. We also cashed in on a little discount provided by the school.

Thanks Jacob and others for putting my fears aside! Even though my son't s a teen, I think he knows best in this situation.

Lchad: keep us updated on how you get along with the mac please..

Haha...you made a great decision...you won't regret it!

I don't intend to use it, this is actually for my son. I do want to learn it a bit however. I will make him teach me how to move around!

Hahaha...well you need to get one for yourself...lol. You will love it, but it just needs to be all yours...lol.

Wouldn't that be funny?? Time will tell but I don't see it happening. I have a super fast, pc with tons of memory. I think in this situation, I'd be too intimidated. I'd need more than a cd to get me going!

THink of it like this.

Steve Jobs to Bill Gates : We're better.

Bill Gates to Steve Jobs: That doesn't matter.

I strongly suggest any one interested in the birth of the desktop and apple vs ms to watch The Pirates of Silicon Valley. And FYI the desktop computer was invented by Steve Wozniak not Jobs.

But simply put, the Apple products are better engineered and designed in 9 out of 10 scenarios however per a study done a while back they found due to cost Mac users were generally better educated than windows users etc etc so yes you get a bit of an "elitist" attitude.

Two Examples: I have yet to see anything pounce the iPod or the iPhone to date. Nor have I seen any machine match apples notebooks (Per market segment) nor their desktops (Per market segment) I got to play with a quad duo core xeon Mac Pro at work.. Woooooo! That thing friggin smokes. Also take in account the Mac Mini. For the price you really won;t find a better PC, although the Mini when I had one was ok at games but not phenomenal. But it was never designed for the gamer in mind. Any of you ever use an e-Machine? Yuck.

"Those who surf the Web using a Mac tend to be better educated and make more money than their PC-using counterparts, according to a report from Nielsen/NetRatings."

So yes they cost more but Apple makes the hardware and the software so their costs are higher.

Yes windows is more widely used but that does not make it better, look at the old VHS vs Beta thing. Beta was superior to VHS but lost the consumer war. The ONLY reason windows holds the market share is Gates sold windows to absolutely everyone while Apple in their arrogance restricted licensing heavily.

Just for fun: Apples infamous "1984" commercial. http://www.uriahcarpenter.info/1984.html

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You use a mac right? thought so, becuase I used to think exactly the same. And to be honest, I bet mac users on anverage are better educated, and more design aware, as they are a tool that tends to be used by designers, artists, muscians and the like. On the other hand, some people still use windows 95!

I think the only 2 points that affect my choice in having pcs (Have quite a few of them) Firstly, the simple fact that 95% of my clients use PCs, and most of which run internet explorer 6 or 7 is merit enough. Macs stopped explorer back in the days of IE 5.2, so that no good for testing. They also render html differntly (regardless of what other people say, I am sure they do!). The downside to this choice of using PCs is that some of my clients do use macs, and they have various differnt versions of Safari running which seem to change lots of things (Although I think a lot of it is due to their 24" widescreen apple displays)

The other imporant issue, to me is price. My main computer is an amazing ultra fast 64 bit PC which cost me less that £500 with monitor, keybaord etc($1000 usd). Its more than enough for photoshop, dreamweaver and notepad require! Ok, its not be as big as one of thoose G5s which takes up a whole desk and needs 8 fans to cool it, and it also doesnt cost £1000 ($2000 USD)

I have some freinds who are still massive mac fanboys, and I respect that, but for what I do a PC is fine, in fact its the most compatible tool for the job.

This discussion could go on for ever, as it always has done. It seem to be a very emotive one. Everyone has to pick sides (like a football team). I think I am going to leave this discussion for another day! Cheers