Truth in advertising: the Mac guy vs. PC guy

Cheesehead · May 29th, 2008, 03:19 PM

I love the new ad of the PC guy singing the Vista blues - about how people are leaving PCs for Macs.

I own a PC with Vista and as Randy Jackson would say, it's just okay for me. Been relatively reliable but bloated and slow. The top banner on a recent issue of PC Magazine reads: "Hate Vista? Return to XP." 'nough said.

I currently own three PCs. Over the next several years I will be changing them over to three Macs.

kp8 · May 29th, 2008, 03:36 PM

buckle your seat belts.

hee hee

-kp (mac/unix only)

Cheesehead · May 29th, 2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kp8

buckle your seat belts.

Good. I'd love someone to convince me to stick with Vista -- actually I'll need to for a few years as the computer it is on is relatively new...

Joe-Bob · May 29th, 2008, 03:43 PM

My 10 month old laptop has Vista...it's a mess. My 20 month old desktop has XP...it's never worked right either.

Grange · May 29th, 2008, 03:45 PM

Once you go MAC you won't go back.
It's a whole new world my friends....

Big John · May 29th, 2008, 03:48 PM

Mac for me since about '89 but .....................

Cheesehead · May 29th, 2008, 03:54 PM

Can of worms meaning owning a Mac or this thread?

Tele Fan · May 29th, 2008, 03:55 PM

I never had problems with XP, but I switched to Mac just because I felt the specs Vista required was just silly. Vista is still pretty new though, I'm sure they'll get it ironed out eventually. I'll stick with what I've always said though, PC's for business and Mac for personal. Just MHO though.

magicguitar · May 29th, 2008, 04:01 PM

I have XP and like it. I've nothing good about Vista. When it's time to get another PC if I can't get XP I'll go Mac.

Big John · May 29th, 2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheesehead

Can of worms meaning owning a Mac or this thread?

These threads can soon degenerate into "my OS is better than your OS" affairs.

My Mac experience has been an ice cold can of beer on a real hot day !!, never a problem !!, now, duck !!!!

Cheesehead · May 29th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Not seeing any Vista love, though. That's for sure. And I think people are becoming more acceptive of Macs as business machines...

getbent · May 29th, 2008, 04:17 PM

Paul has had a good experience with Vista. I've seen him comment positively about it over the last year or so....

my head is already hurting though. I'd never recommend someone buy something based on a commercial though.

Cheesehead · May 29th, 2008, 04:20 PM

I just think they're clever commercials. And as a Vista owner, I feel the PC guy's pain!

w0odman · May 29th, 2008, 05:28 PM

well, I'm running an Intel 2.4 Ghz Quadcore with 2GB of ram and a NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT graphics card. So I'm not having any problems running Vista. But it probably doesn't hurt that I have all of that

StuH · May 29th, 2008, 05:49 PM

I'm hearing less Vista complaints from Sonar users these days over glitches and incompatabilities but still not willing to switch from XP just yet. Still in the hunt to get a copy of XP before fall of 2008. To much invested in audio software and enjoy the hobby too much to risk potential problems at this time. Alot of benchmark testing done over on the Sonar forums points to a decrease of efficiency of data handling in versus XP tests, however the methods of testing are debated and in the age of quad core and soon octa core CPU's, lightening fast disk drives, and affordable RAM this is probably not a deal breaker.

A huge advantage I can see for Vista would be the ability run Sonar 7 at 64 bit. In theory this will give you more dynamic range and reduce aliasing but the problem here is NONE of my third party plugins can operate beyond 32 bit and Vista at 64 is not supported and I see only a few third party manufacturers offering and/or stepping in the direction of 64 bit plug ins.

It's a no brainer for me. Get a backup copy of XP before the fall of 08. If said backup copy is not available and I can't nurse my machine along untill an acceptable offering is made by MS it's off to Mac I go. A true shame for a die hard pc fan. I will shed many a tear if Cakewalk don't port Sonar to Mac and I'm forced to use Logic.

e-merlin · May 29th, 2008, 05:51 PM

I have run everything since Win 95, and as a do-it-yourselfer, I prefer Windows in general. Never had any problems that weren't fixable. Never had to hire anyone to fix one of my builds. I've had to re-install a few systems, but XP and Vista have been non-problematic so far. My laptop with Vista has given me no problems at all.

I see no benefit of switching to Mac when it will cost me 3-4 times what my current setups have cost.

vjf1968 · May 29th, 2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheesehead

I love the new ad of the PC guy singing the Vista blues - about how people are leaving PCs for Macs.

I own a PC with Vista and as Randy Jackson would say, it's just okay for me. Been relatively reliable but bloated and slow. The top banner on a recent issue of PC Magazine reads: "Hate Vista? Return to XP." 'nough said.

I currently own three PCs. Over the next several years I will be changing them over to three Macs.

I got my wife a new Dell Insprion laptop with Vista. She has had for a about 2 months and has not had any problems. The OS is a hog I admit but since she uses it for writing and occasional web surfin' a Mac would have been like buying a bulldozer to build a sandcastle. I don't have a problem with Apple (even though I had bad experiences with some of thier products) I just feel that they charge way too much for the product. If they stopped with the ad campaigns maybe they could shave some of the cost of the product and pass the savings off to the customer.

Guitar_Ninja · May 29th, 2008, 06:05 PM

OrovilleTim · May 29th, 2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grange

Once you go MAC you won't go back.

I did... numerous times. Tried giving it benefit of the doubt, but always go back to PC. Got excited about the BSD core for a while as I'm a big FreeBSD fan since way back, but I still get pulled back to Windows for a variety of reasons (personal and professional.)

KC · May 29th, 2008, 06:26 PM

long-time Mac user here so take this with as many grains of salt as you need to. I feel like the price gap is pretty narrow once you start comparing apples to apples. The cheapest Macbook is $999 with an education discount, the cheapest Dell Inspiron (picked for ease of comparison) is $649. But once you boost the Dell up to match the Mac's speed, it's $899. A hundred bucks is a hundred bucks, I know, but with the Mac you get Garage Band, iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, a built-in video camera and a very reliable product. Plus the OS only has to work with Apple-designed hardware so everything tends to sync up a little easier. I'd spend the hundred bucks just to get Time Machine, totally invisible seamless automatic backup.

tuuur · May 29th, 2008, 06:31 PM

I work in the computer business and have to say both platforms have their pros and cons. Vista gets both good and bad comments where I work. I am one of the last in our department to work with XP, and I have to follow a course in order to get to learn to work with Vista... because the interface is considerably different. Plus, you got to max out your ram.

At home, it's Mac only...

tazzboy · May 29th, 2008, 06:32 PM

I've been pretty much sticking to Windows XP until Microsoft works out all the kinks on Vista I seriously doubt I will switching over until then.

Now I have been looking into Linux Xandros Home Preimum addition cause I heard and read that it is very similar to Microsoft Windows OP.

Mark Davis · May 29th, 2008, 06:36 PM

Ive used windows 3.0-3.1-95-98-ME-XP.

No problems at all. My system isnt fast enough to run Vista so for now XP works fine.

geddins · May 29th, 2008, 06:36 PM

I started out with an Altos (if you remember these, don't reply...we'll BOTH be dating ourselves!)....and have been a PC guy all the way...through all the Windows versions....and I am not miffed, mad or upset about Vista at all.

But when I buy a new home PC it'll be a MAC, just because I want to try it for recording, etc.....and since I use Live, it's MAC compatible, so no worries.

And when I buy a new notebook this fall for work, I'm buying a MAC that's dual-bootable...that way I can use the Windows stuff for work and the MAC for play.

It's just time for me....

StuH · May 29th, 2008, 06:40 PM

Me again. A supplement to my original post that sums up my concerns and fears very accurately. Quote form a topic on Sonar forums posted today.

" Hello all.
I am very sad today. I bought a new PC with Windows Vista 64 and Sonar 6 Producer 64 Bit installed with absolutely no issues @ all. However, my Tascam Control Surface did not go as good. I ended up selling it on Craig's list because I could find nothing on-line concerning how to fix the Vista 64bit issue and Tascam doesn't have any plans to add a 64bit driver.
So, I go to Guitar Center and the trusty Salesperson did some research for me and tried to sell me the Digidesign Control Surface for $2K, that only works with Pro Tools. I am happy with Sonar so I said no. I told him I need a Control Surface/Audio Interface that works with Vista 64bit. So he went on-line and showed me that the Projectmix I/O has a 64bit BETA driver. I got all excited forked over $1,200 and went home (15 months no interest). When I tried to download the driver on M-Audio's website, I had to fill out this application about why I would like to participate in BETA testing and they would get back to me in 30 days . I was obviously dismayed @ this.
I have not recorded or mixed in seven days and I am going through withdrawals. So I want to keep my Vista 64 bit machine because it has 4GB RAM and I do a lot of video and still photography (not porno). But I also want to record using my very expensive piece of hardware.
So finally, my question: Has anyone been successful at using the Projectmix I/O in the Vista 64bit environment? If so, what's the trick?
Thanks."

May 29th, 2008, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cheesehead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Age: 44 Posts: 1,101 6 Photos	Truth in advertising: the Mac guy vs. PC guy I love the new ad of the PC guy singing the Vista blues - about how people are leaving PCs for Macs. I own a PC with Vista and as Randy Jackson would say, it's just okay for me. Been relatively reliable but bloated and slow. The top banner on a recent issue of PC Magazine reads: "Hate Vista? Return to XP." 'nough said. I currently own three PCs. Over the next several years I will be changing them over to three Macs. __________________ "This is blues power!" Albert King

May 29th, 2008, 03:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 3,876	My 10 month old laptop has Vista...it's a mess. My 20 month old desktop has XP...it's never worked right either. __________________ Music is the language of God.

May 29th, 2008, 03:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,652 35 Photos	Mac for me since about '89 but ..................... __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

May 29th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cheesehead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Age: 44 Posts: 1,101 6 Photos	Can of worms meaning owning a Mac or this thread? __________________ "This is blues power!" Albert King

May 29th, 2008, 03:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 1,650	I never had problems with XP, but I switched to Mac just because I felt the specs Vista required was just silly. Vista is still pretty new though, I'm sure they'll get it ironed out eventually. I'll stick with what I've always said though, PC's for business and Mac for personal. Just MHO though. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

May 29th, 2008, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
kp8 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,792	buckle your seat belts. hee hee -kp (mac/unix only)

May 29th, 2008, 03:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grange TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC. Age: 38 Posts: 51	Once you go MAC you won't go back. It's a whole new world my friends....

May 29th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
magicguitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fallon, Nevada Age: 60 Posts: 551	I have XP and like it. I've nothing good about Vista. When it's time to get another PC if I can't get XP I'll go Mac.

May 29th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Cheesehead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Age: 44 Posts: 1,101 6 Photos	Not seeing any Vista love, though. That's for sure. And I think people are becoming more acceptive of Macs as business machines... __________________ "This is blues power!" Albert King

May 29th, 2008, 04:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 10,021 37 Photos	Paul has had a good experience with Vista. I've seen him comment positively about it over the last year or so.... my head is already hurting though. I'd never recommend someone buy something based on a commercial though. __________________ 'never pet a burning dog'

May 29th, 2008, 04:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cheesehead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Age: 44 Posts: 1,101 6 Photos	I just think they're clever commercials. And as a Vista owner, I feel the PC guy's pain! __________________ "This is blues power!" Albert King

May 29th, 2008, 05:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
w0odman Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 470	well, I'm running an Intel 2.4 Ghz Quadcore with 2GB of ram and a NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT graphics card. So I'm not having any problems running Vista. But it probably doesn't hurt that I have all of that __________________ "The only true currency in this bankrupt world, is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." -Lester Bangs

May 29th, 2008, 05:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
StuH Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 38 Posts: 1,471 12 Photos	I'm hearing less Vista complaints from Sonar users these days over glitches and incompatabilities but still not willing to switch from XP just yet. Still in the hunt to get a copy of XP before fall of 2008. To much invested in audio software and enjoy the hobby too much to risk potential problems at this time. Alot of benchmark testing done over on the Sonar forums points to a decrease of efficiency of data handling in versus XP tests, however the methods of testing are debated and in the age of quad core and soon octa core CPU's, lightening fast disk drives, and affordable RAM this is probably not a deal breaker. A huge advantage I can see for Vista would be the ability run Sonar 7 at 64 bit. In theory this will give you more dynamic range and reduce aliasing but the problem here is NONE of my third party plugins can operate beyond 32 bit and Vista at 64 is not supported and I see only a few third party manufacturers offering and/or stepping in the direction of 64 bit plug ins. It's a no brainer for me. Get a backup copy of XP before the fall of 08. If said backup copy is not available and I can't nurse my machine along untill an acceptable offering is made by MS it's off to Mac I go. A true shame for a die hard pc fan. I will shed many a tear if Cakewalk don't port Sonar to Mac and I'm forced to use Logic. __________________ My music page http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=561926

May 29th, 2008, 06:05 PM	#18 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,459 6 Photos	__________________ Wicket KNOWS.

May 29th, 2008, 06:26 PM	#20 (permalink)
KC Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Missoula, Montana Posts: 1,232 15 Photos	long-time Mac user here so take this with as many grains of salt as you need to. I feel like the price gap is pretty narrow once you start comparing apples to apples. The cheapest Macbook is $999 with an education discount, the cheapest Dell Inspiron (picked for ease of comparison) is $649. But once you boost the Dell up to match the Mac's speed, it's $899. A hundred bucks is a hundred bucks, I know, but with the Mac you get Garage Band, iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, a built-in video camera and a very reliable product. Plus the OS only has to work with Apple-designed hardware so everything tends to sync up a little easier. I'd spend the hundred bucks just to get Time Machine, totally invisible seamless automatic backup.

May 29th, 2008, 06:31 PM	#21 (permalink)
tuuur Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the Netherlands Age: 40 Posts: 984 7 Photos	I work in the computer business and have to say both platforms have their pros and cons. Vista gets both good and bad comments where I work. I am one of the last in our department to work with XP, and I have to follow a course in order to get to learn to work with Vista... because the interface is considerably different. Plus, you got to max out your ram. At home, it's Mac only... __________________ If we all take the backseat, who's gonna drive? - Fred Cole http://www.myspace.com/tuuur http://www.myspace.com/daggermoon

May 29th, 2008, 06:32 PM	#22 (permalink)
tazzboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 31 Posts: 3,151	I've been pretty much sticking to Windows XP until Microsoft works out all the kinks on Vista I seriously doubt I will switching over until then. Now I have been looking into Linux Xandros Home Preimum addition cause I heard and read that it is very similar to Microsoft Windows OP. __________________ tazzboy

May 29th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#23 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	Ive used windows 3.0-3.1-95-98-ME-XP. No problems at all. My system isnt fast enough to run Vista so for now XP works fine. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 29th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#24 (permalink)
geddins Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Age: 46 Posts: 1,939	I started out with an Altos (if you remember these, don't reply...we'll BOTH be dating ourselves!)....and have been a PC guy all the way...through all the Windows versions....and I am not miffed, mad or upset about Vista at all. But when I buy a new home PC it'll be a MAC, just because I want to try it for recording, etc.....and since I use Live, it's MAC compatible, so no worries. And when I buy a new notebook this fall for work, I'm buying a MAC that's dual-bootable...that way I can use the Windows stuff for work and the MAC for play. It's just time for me.... __________________ www.myspace.com/gregeddins

May 29th, 2008, 06:40 PM	#25 (permalink)
StuH Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 38 Posts: 1,471 12 Photos	Me again. A supplement to my original post that sums up my concerns and fears very accurately. Quote form a topic on Sonar forums posted today. " Hello all. I am very sad today. I bought a new PC with Windows Vista 64 and Sonar 6 Producer 64 Bit installed with absolutely no issues @ all. However, my Tascam Control Surface did not go as good. I ended up selling it on Craig's list because I could find nothing on-line concerning how to fix the Vista 64bit issue and Tascam doesn't have any plans to add a 64bit driver. So, I go to Guitar Center and the trusty Salesperson did some research for me and tried to sell me the Digidesign Control Surface for $2K, that only works with Pro Tools. I am happy with Sonar so I said no. I told him I need a Control Surface/Audio Interface that works with Vista 64bit. So he went on-line and showed me that the Projectmix I/O has a 64bit BETA driver. I got all excited forked over $1,200 and went home (15 months no interest). When I tried to download the driver on M-Audio's website, I had to fill out this application about why I would like to participate in BETA testing and they would get back to me in 30 days . I was obviously dismayed @ this. I have not recorded or mixed in seven days and I am going through withdrawals. So I want to keep my Vista 64 bit machine because it has 4GB RAM and I do a lot of video and still photography (not porno). But I also want to record using my very expensive piece of hardware. So finally, my question: Has anyone been successful at using the Projectmix I/O in the Vista 64bit environment? If so, what's the trick? Thanks." __________________ My music page http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=561926