Imac Users?

[Finepixdude]

I was just wondering how many TPF photographers use Imac's? I been so tore between Mac and Pc for over a year. I don't need to make anymore
mistakes and still wondering about Window Vista. I know this subject has been toss around in TPF over the years.

Thanks
Charles

[JohnT]

I think it all comes down to which OS environment you prefer working in. Almost all the major image-editing programs come in both Mac and PC versions.

[dbphotos]

I bought an Intel iMac 2 years ago and only use it for video editing and that's really because of the software that came with it. I think you get more for your money with a PC and I've had 0 problems with Vista. It gets down to the software you are using, if you are already using a PC and have the software, why either buy new software or buy a windows imulation program for your iMac?

With that said I also use an iPhone and iPod, so I'm not anti-Mac, I just think it's more hype than real difference.

[swanny338]

Just personal preference. Some people like the windows environment... some people like os x.

I switched to mac 5 years ago and never looked back. My latest purchase was the newer 20" intel imac. While I love it, I prefer to not have a glossy screen so my main monitor is a 20" cinema display. If were to make that purchase again, I think getting a Mac pro would have been a smarter decision even though the price point is relatively higher.

[AlexMorse]

I just ordered my second iMac. I've had one for 3 years. During that time I only had one problem with it, due to some 3rd party ram I had bought dying.

I'm not an apple evangelist, but I've never had a computer of any type work so solidly for such a long period of time. I've always been in the technology industry, from 96-02 I worked in IT doing tech support, and later system engineering. Macs are not perfect, but the number of problems they have is ridiculously small compared to PCs.

[CaptainTom]

I might have one Imac a week. Usually get the quarter pounder with cheese.
They do have the best fries though.
Oh, Imac, not BigMac...... never mind.

[epoh]

I am a big fan of Apple, but I have always had PCs at home. The reason - economics. I cannot justify to myself spending 3x as much money for a tiny bit of supposed stability.

You can pocket that $$ difference and buy yourself a backup solution and still have plenty to spare. Not to mention the ease of parts replacement with a PC vs an Apple.

[AlexMorse]

I have spent less on computer parts since I switched to apple than I ever have in my lifetime, but that's just a tiny benefit because I rarely spent more than a couple hundred per year. The major benefit has been time.

I don't have to reinstall windows xp every 6 months, fight viruses, malware, etc. I just sit down at the computer, do what I need to do, and that is it.

Apple computers are not more expensive than equivalent pcs, but they are much more expensive than budget pcs.

[Hogleg 44]

I'm on a Mac Pro now and after getting away from the windows way of thinking, I really do like the Mac. Less software to choose from, but none of the windows annoyances. But, you can usually find software that will do what you want.

[ggeen]

I'm still using my 4 y/o Mac PowerBook G4! I am pretty OS agnostic. With the exclusion of and IBM mainframe, I have administered them all professionally at some point of my career. I will gladly use any operating system put in front of me.

Don't believe the hype. Apple has no fewer bugs than Microsoft and is not any safer. There was a pretty dramatic learning curve going from Windwos to OS/X but it was not by any means painful. If you prefer, you may run MS Office on OS/X without an emulator but I choose iWorks since it provides me with what I need. Most photo editing software comes in both flavours but the Mac version does not get updates as often.

Pick your poison. I switch to Mac at home and use MS Windows at work. I have no problems working between the two or using files between the two. I think that any way you go, you will be happy. -G

[jacobzking]

I'm an AppleCare Certified Tech (Toshiba certified as well), have managed Apple departments for 7 Circuit Cities and 5 CompUSAs, have also been Apple Supervisor MIT at Frys and managed Tech Services for CompUSA Mesquite and Plano and have also been a Gateway repair specialist... That being said, I know my way around both MAcs and PCs pretty well, both the hardware and software sides. There is NO WAY I would EVER go back to PC.

to respond to: "Don't believe the hype. Apple has no fewer bugs than Microsoft and is not any safer." False. OS X has FAR fewer bugs than Vista or XP both from a development and vulnerability stand point. which leads me to respond to: "I cannot justify to myself spending 3x as much money for a tiny bit of supposed stability." stability is not even questionable. Mac OS X is a memory independant OS, meaning if one app crashes (including your desktopUI "finder"), the OS and your other apps run without being affected (yes, you can "reboot" your desktop -like relaunching explorer- without killing running apps). this matters a LOT to me. if I've been working hard away on a 800MB file, editing away, and am also video chatting. burning DVDs, downloading and uploading hi res files to a server and listening to music all at once, and one app locks up (which happens VERY rarely and is usually because a failed internet or mail connection, or faulty memory card or external device), I can save my work in progress without losing hours of work.

there are a ton of other reasons I wouldn't ever use Windows, like the idea that my iPhoto gallery has about 700GB of photos and I can scroll through all 50,805 RAW files and see real time thumbnails without waiting for the icons to load.

i also like having 22.4GHz of CPU power with 12MB of L2 cache (times 8) and 8GB of dual channel RAM with 1600MHz of dual front side buses... all out of the box, with warranty and one of the fastest repair turn around times in the industry if ever needed

[CobyPhoto]

I can agree with one thing said in this thread, it is what you prefer and feel most comfortable with. I can list alot of certifications, etc. dealilng with computers back to the Commadore 64's and still have my original set of Photoshop 3.5" Floppies, etc. as well. Been dealilng with both MAC and PC for as long as I can remember. Used to use MACS, cause I was forced to.

I have been running PC's without any serious issue for many years in a studio environment and will continue to. I can build and run a machine that will run circles around an Apple (out of the box) and do it for about 1K less than that Apple. (Of course, I have been doing this for many years and have alot of sources and knowledge as well.) My idea of what is economical would probably be more than most would want to spend on a computer, but I make my living with them and that means they just have to work.

As far as down time, I can lose any OS or Program drive in any of my machines and I simply slap a new drive in, (all my cases are hot swappable) and 30 min. later I am back up and running with the same machine. It is called Norton Ghost. (ISO image of the drive and your back up and running in no time.) No re-installing of OS, programs etc. One step and I am done.

I would love for Apple to become main-stream. (They are still far from that at this time.) I bet that wonderful customer service would dwindle, viruses would abound, lots of free trial software woould come on your machine out of the box...pretty much similar to PC's now. (Apple is in business to do one thing...make money. Don't fool yourself into thinking they are fighting a noble cause.) Then I can sit here on the internet and tell people how great my PC is and how I never have issues and viruses etc. and they do...

I hear people complain about Vista... I have it on three of my main machines and I have NEVER had a hiccup. Maybe I am just lucky. (Maybe I just did a clean install, too.) Who knows. Why do some people use Canon and others use Nikon? I make just as much money with my Canon equipment as do those with Nikon...

My point in all this...it still isn't the equipment...if you know how to use the equipment you have, you are ahead of the game, and yes, in this case sometimes you save some $$.

I will say one thing about Apple...I wish they were doing the marketing for my studio, because one thing they do and do well, is MARKET! But then, that just helps make my point above...it is all about the $$ and not the machine.

Make your decision based on what you are comfrotable with and what will work for you. Not what someone else thinks.

CJ

[mchong75]

I sold all my PC's with MAC.

15" 2.5ghz mac pro and 24" iMac 3.06ghz

I have been a long time loyal Dell fan, but I wonder why I didn't switch over sooner. :)

[ggeen]

Originally Posted by jacobzking

to respond to: "Don't believe the hype. Apple has no fewer bugs than Microsoft and is not any safer." False. OS X has FAR fewer bugs than Vista or XP both from a development and vulnerability stand point.

Someone has been drinking cool-aid again.

As part of my job, Information Security, I track reported vulnerabilities in operating systems. In a side to side comparison of Red Hat, MS Windows, Mac OS/X, and Sun Solaris, it is a pretty dead even race these days. Those are just the reported vulnerabilities.

But I guess when one has a vested interest in a subject it is best to tow the party line.

Now, add on all the application software and crap downloaded form the Internet and it's not even close. I wouldn't touch a Windows computer for that reason alone, if I didn't have to.

-G