I am not going to read this whole thread, but I skimmed over it. Here are some key points.
1) .exe files are Windows binary files, they are windows only, they only work on Windows - PERIOD! They don't run on Linux, Unix or OS X, or any other OS. What this usually refers to is that a mac uses a standard set of POSIX permissions. Which by nature does not allow a normal user to install software into a folder or file path they do not own or have rights to. This is why some applications will ask for authentication when installing. This is by far a good thing more so than it is a bad thing. You never want to run as a root user like in Windows, it is a HUGE security and stability risk.
2) Initial cost is not paralleled to overall cost of ownership. After all, you want to be using your computer at all times. Plus, since Apple is more of a closed system their systems tend to have a longer life cycle. You can run current software for many years on your Mac. Also, their resell value is way higher than a PC, so you actually get more return on your investment. 6 year old PPC desktops still sell for $500. If you are going to buy a new mac every 2 to 3 years, you can easily pay for over half of the cost of a new mac by simply selling your old one. Overall cost of ownership is cheaper in the long run.
3) The myth that macs are only good at graphic design and video editing is very much false. I do neither and do all my work on my Macs.
When I say mac is slightly different than PC (hardware-wise), is because it really is. Example, macs don’t have a BIOS, not even a BIOS chip (Or CMOS). They have different power management system than PCs. In mac the PMU controls almost everything, where as in PC, its power management systems usually just control the big power consumers, like HDD, optics, handle battery charge, etc. (PMU is kinda like CMOS for mac, as strange as it may sound...)
That’s just a few of the subsytems/differences I can think of between mac and PC. I don’t imagine there are a whole lot more. If all you do is install windows/OS X on it, you’d never know there’s any actual difference from mac or PC. And unless you plan on programming an OS for it or something, it doesn’t really matter a whole lot what’s going on under the hood — just as long as it’s understood there actually is a physical hardware difference. Not that it’s important...
This is almost accurate. It is called a SMU/SMC/PMU depending on which particular model, year and feature you are talking about. Also, EFI is the firmware that controls the Mac, not PMU. PMU just controls the power, and it was later called SMU. The hardware is not physically different the firmware is different. The boot strap on a Mac goes like this:
power on > POST > EFI > Kernel > launchd > loginwindow
(in a nutshell to keep it simple)
A PC will boot like this
power on > POST > BIOS > Boot sector (boot apps like GRUB would load here) > boot loader file > kernel > system daemon (different name in Linux and in Windows) > login window
You are forgetting however that Macs dont do what PCs can. I cant use a lot of my software on a mac, nor game, nor use MS CRM and the list goes on. Not to mention the very poor and in most cases non-existent IT support from thrid party organisations such as ISPs.
You cannot compare them, they're not the same. Also most TCO analysis doesn't factor in the learning curve most people would need to do to become as proficient in using a mac. This, is a major major cost to a business. A lot of staff would need training or suffer large downtime. Not costed in most TCOs
Plus, I game, and sorry, but Macs completely fail at this.
Also please show me empirical data where Mac OS handles hardware more efficiently. Most information i have seen shows Windows 7 trouncing Mac OS.
There is huge IT support for the Mac community and it is ever growing. Just sign up on the mac enterprise mailing list and watch the emails fly by. Macs can run Windows in a virtual machine, boot windows, and run windows apps via the WINE API. There is also CRM software for the Mac.
ISPs don't support Macs? Dude TCP/IP is a standard, and it works on every single OS out there. If your ISP does something funky to only support Windows machines that is purely 100% the fault of the ISP.
FYI Google just phased out 100% of their PCs and went with Macs. So, yeah there may be a cost of a learning curve and training but OS X is pretty intuitive. There are reasons businesses now allow Macs in their enterprise where as before 5 years ago that was pretty much unheard of.
Mac Pro's run server grade components, and cant be compared to desktop counterparts, unless you plan on grabbing a socket 1366 board and putting a xeon processor...sure compare that to a server. You get what you pay for, you will end up spending *about* the same on a desktop with a server processor, board and ram as you would a PC, also take into effect that software is often provided by Apple for basic things, and is not in the side of the PC market, you get the OS, and then nothing, you will have to hunt for stuff to do what you want to.
What it comes down to, you are paying for design and components that are being selectively picked that will work together, for the most part, effectively, whereas with the PC market, you are on your own, you may get stuck in a corner with a compatibility issue.
(i dont endorse Mac, i build pcs, but eh, thats what their doing.)
Disagree. A Mac Pro is a high end desktop, just like a Dell workstation or a Sun work station that supports Xeon processors. Yes these are the same processors in servers you are correct, however, it is still a desktop computer. Servers have things like redundant power supplies, lights out management, and are rack mountable. The Mac Pro has none of that. It is meant for serious work, like heavy 3D work or something along the lines.
I apologize, however, I could not help but dog you a little here, because there are contradictions, and opinions that you're attempting to pass as facts. First, stating "While the OS on a Mac IS indeed more secure" is an opinion.
No, it is a fact. Look at how many hacks/exploits and so forth are available to Windows based machines. Now look at how many viruses are in the wild for Unix based ones. The difference is proof enough that the Unix POSIX model has not only been around a lot longer than Windows, it has also be tested more and found to be more secure over time. By nature it is more secure, that is a fact. However, the end user is the largest security hole, and if the end user doesn't understand certain concepts and safe guards no matter how secure your OS is, the end user can easily bypass all the security by just executing bad practices.
Second, if Mac's are "built better than PC's", please elaborate on why Mac's can't "play games". I have a feeling that statement is crap, because Macs are built just as any computer is built. On an assembly line. If Mac uses superior techniques to PC manufacturers, then why can't Mac's apparently play games? Does Mac test each and everyone of their computers for functionality? I don't know, and I don't think you do, either. IF Mac is able to test each and everyone of their computers, as you say, it wont last long, if they wish to make money and expand. Because as Mac grows, there will be a point where testing each and every Mac will be time consuming, and money wasting, because labor would be through the roof, and well, it just wouldn't work. Mac would be behind in getting their Mac's out in an orderly fashion, and fast enough for peeps to buy them. Why do you think they have 30 day manufacturer warranties, and then limited 1 year warranties for PC's? Think about it. It's not that simple. I think Mac is at all "popular" because of those false advertisements you posted. Mac is simply good at creating the illusion that their "stuff" don't stink, as they say. Which is of course fair play, and I have to say they are exceptionally well at doing it.
The answer to this is easy. DirectX. If developers actually used open standards like Open GL you would see tons of games get ported to OS X and Linux, because every OS supports Open GL. However, Open GL is a lot harder to code in. Which is why only a few developers actually code in it. id and Blizzard are the only two off the top of my head that use Open GL consistently. They also release their games for every platform. The DirectX APIs are less robust than OpenGL but are easier to use and until you convince the developers to start making games for OS X and Linux, it ain't gonna happen.
However, some developers are. Look at Steam, Valve, EA, id, and Blizzard, all developing games for the Mac. In fact, valve says if you own a PC license to any of their games you can also for free load it on your Mac. Now, gaming has a long time advantage of being coded for a PC and Windows. Windows boxes of the same spec will most likely out perform a Mac on the same game with the same settings. Give it time for developers to take advantage of Apple APIs for video game development, it is all relatively pretty new.
OK last point then I am done
Sorry for the double post, but this deserves it...
This is disgusting.
17-inch: 2.2 GHz
2.2GHz quad-core
Intel Core i7
4GB 1333MHz
750GB 5400-rpm1
Intel HD Graphics 3000
AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5
Built-in battery (7 hours)
2500 dollars...
Pay about 1100, build a computer with literally double the power. You wont be sorry.
*sigh*, do you know how to compare spec for spec? Do you realize how expensive IPS screens are? Go find a LED back lit IPS screen that runs the same resolution as the macbook one and is in the same price range. You will find that while Apple does mark up some parts like hard drives, optical drives and so forth, they are actually more reasonably priced than you think. That also is not considering the costs of software that goes with each new mac too. iLife is probably several hundred dollars of software to get the equivalent on another platform.
In the end, buy the Mac because it is a great computer, or if you really dislike using the Mac then don't buy it. Having supported, maintained and owned every manufacturer of laptops in existence I can say that my opinion is the Macbook Pro is the best laptop I have ever owned hands down.
