MAC vs PC

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by pmb1010

are those black lines in the snapshot of the tv artifacts created by the camera?

Can you take a pic with no flash?

Yes, TV is super clean..... My Camera is junk!

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by be236

Nice picture and website.. made on a Mac, eh? Extra cool!

Yeah, I'm a 20+ year PC user who "switched" about 1 1/2 years ago and got me a couple new Intel Macs... Now I'm a fanatic repulsive Mac fanboy ... iPhoto and iWeb sure make getting those quicky websites up on the net simple!!!!!

It just works

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Bibbler

Yeah, I'm a 20+ year PC user who "switched" about 1 1/2 years ago and got me a couple new Intel Macs... Now I'm a fanatic repulsive Mac fanboy ... iPhoto and iWeb sure make getting those quicky websites up on the net simple!!!!!

It just works

I've never been a Microsoft fan, but we tried making a switch to MAC several years ago. The result is 2 working MACs sitting in a junk pile, and 7 Windows computers running every day. Havent been used for about 7 years. I've gotten more use out of my old RS Color Computer than either of those MACs. Also tried making the switch to Linux. Still use the Linux computer from time to time.

I'm curious.... I know that MACs "try" to run windows software, etc. I'm curious whether there is some way to get a Twinhan card to run on a MAC? I would have guessed not, but I read a comment by the author of some software I use, that suggested that he might be using a MAC.
{ I said "try" to run windows software above, because I was once collaborating with a MAC user, both of us trying to write software to control a serial device, and this fellow kept complaining about the "latency" of Windows, which I wasn't seeing in my program. Turns out that the latency was coming out of his MAC as he wasn't actually running Windows, but was running a MAC simulation of Windows, that didn't work. }

{SORRY for contributing to the PC/MAC debate. I will say though, that that commercial with the MAC guy and the PC guy, with the security guy saying "accept or deny" behind the PC guy, is RIGHT ON! I tried to help a neighbor set up a VISTA computer, and THAT OS is HORRIBLE. I actually had to go back to DOS to get a file on his computer, even though I had mapped drives via wireless. The only way to get VISTA to do anything is to disable everything security related on it. I think I'd even prefer a MAC to VISTA!}

[Jagee]

If i take a picture of my back yard were do i put it in so you can see it and tell me were i could put my identcal set up that you have.Ive tried 4 places so far to no avail.Except were my 31in fortec star is.

[Sadoun]

Nice pictures and setup. I sm glad you utilized the support leg beams to make the two brackets for attaching the motor to the dish ring.

I also started using the Intel based MacBook and I am very impressed with the performance of the Mac.

[be236]

Originally Posted by wejones

I've never been a Microsoft fan, but we tried making a switch to MAC several years ago. The result is 2 working MACs sitting in a junk pile, and 7 Windows computers running every day. Havent been used for about 7 years. I've gotten more use out of my old RS Color Computer than either of those MACs. Also tried making the switch to Linux. Still use the Linux computer from time to time.

I'm curious.... I know that MACs "try" to run windows software, etc. I'm curious whether there is some way to get a Twinhan card to run on a MAC? I would have guessed not, but I read a comment by the author of some software I use, that suggested that he might be using a MAC.
{ I said "try" to run windows software above, because I was once collaborating with a MAC user, both of us trying to write software to control a serial device, and this fellow kept complaining about the "latency" of Windows, which I wasn't seeing in my program. Turns out that the latency was coming out of his MAC as he wasn't actually running Windows, but was running a MAC simulation of Windows, that didn't work. }

{SORRY for contributing to the PC/MAC debate. I will say though, that that commercial with the MAC guy and the PC guy, with the security guy saying "accept or deny" behind the PC guy, is RIGHT ON! I tried to help a neighbor set up a VISTA computer, and THAT OS is HORRIBLE. I actually had to go back to DOS to get a file on his computer, even though I had mapped drives via wireless. The only way to get VISTA to do anything is to disable everything security related on it. I think I'd even prefer a MAC to VISTA!}

Wejones, I have to agree that Macs 5-7 years ago were/are junk compared to PCs of those days running Mac OS 9 (crashes often actually)...

However, the recent Macs (now all Intel-based) running Mac OS X is much more stable and compatible with Windows.

With these new Macs, you should be able to run Windows just fine on your Mac using Apple's built-in Boot Camp software or Parallels software (3rd party app) and your card should work...

Anyone other Mac-related questions, just ask..

[be236]

Originally Posted by Bibbler

Yeah, I'm a 20+ year PC user who "switched" about 1 1/2 years ago and got me a couple new Intel Macs... Now I'm a fanatic repulsive Mac fanboy ... iPhoto and iWeb sure make getting those quicky websites up on the net simple!!!!!

It just works

Yeah, Apple made a smart decision to go Intel-based, as their current processor at the time (PowerPC) was lagging behind Intel in terms of speed, power and probably price as well.. heh...

I got a Mac mini (Intel) and it's pretty good.

The one downside with a Mac is that it just doesnt have all the software Windows does.. but hey, how many web browers or Word processsors do you need? (heh).. this is a non-issue.. the real category in software Mac lacks is GAMES!!

But hey if you want to play GAMES on the Mac that is not designed for Mac, run Windows on Mac and then you can play those games. hehe.... but really, if all you want to do with a PC is play games only, then by all means that person should get a regular PC. heh.

[Sadoun]

I use my new MAC Laptop on a daily basis for the last 3 months. Not one crash. I have never used a MAC before. The last time I remember touching an Apple computer was over 20 years in college. At that time I remember using it a couple of times.

However, 4 months ago I visited an Apple store at the mall (my 1st time also in that store). I was shopping for some accessories for my IPOD and during my visit I looked at their FLAT monitors. I was impressed by the clarity and sharpness of the picture. Then I was more impressed when I learned that the computer is actually built into the monitor.

However, I like Laptops. So a month later a friend showed me his MacBook laptop and all the features it has. I was sold.

The new MAC OS is very easy to learn and use.

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

I use my new MAC Laptop on a daily basis for the last 3 months. Not one crash. I have never used a MAC before. The last time I remember touching an Apple computer was over 20 years in college. At that time I remember using it a couple of times.

I agree... Bill mentioned he had a couple of old Mac's that were now boat anchors. If they are pre- OSX machines, I agree. OS9 and previous Mac OS were pretty bad even when compared to even Windows 95!!

OSX is a completely different OS, based on the NeXt OS Steve Jobs' company developed. It's rock solid with it's Unix undercore. In my case in 1 1/2 years, not 1 crash and not 1 piece of spyware or virus... As I mentioned, I have 2 Intel Minis and a Macbook (which is my "Motel Machine"). But there is still a lot of life left in the G4's if they are newer and have enough RAM...

I have 2 of my kids in College. They both have desktop PCs but they wanted a small cheap laptop to take notes in class etc.. I picked up a couple of factory refurbished 12" iBooks (G4 1.2 GH) for them with 1.25 gig of RAM and Airport Cards Installed. My wife (not a previous computer user) has a 14" iBook that she uses to do online banking and couldn't believe how easy it was to do. All are running OSX Tiger 10.4. They absolutely love them (In my daughters case she even uses it most of the time at home instead of the PC)

As far as software is concerned, no problem there either. I always said (from the time I bought my first computer, a TRS-80 Model 1 in 1978) that I would never buy a computer to play games, so that's no problem. I have MS Office for Mac. I plan to switch totally to iWork as soon as they include a spreadsheet in it... I'm not crazy about Safari so I installed Firefox for OSX (which looks identical to the Windows version). I use Fetch for FTP and it works well.

I haven't loaded bootcamp or parallels as I don't want that Windows crap on my Mac. I need exactly 1 piece of Windows only software (Primavera P3) so I keep a junk 900 MHZ PC here for it (Not hooked to the net).... And as I mentioned, iLife kinda does everything else I want.

I'm on a PC at work all day, and it is sure nice to get home and surf the web, build a website, work with music and/photos with great ease with iLife. It really makes computing fun...

Debating the Pros and Cons gets kinda heated around the net. This need not be. It is in the end all about personal preference, what works for you. At this point in my life, I'm tired of the spyware, adware, viruses, etc. The Mac works for me....

</ end fanboy rant>

[be236]

Nice story...

Yeah, now if only Apple can slowly increase market share, that'd be great.. heh...

[wejones]

Originally Posted by be236

Nice story...

Yeah, now if only Apple can slowly increase market share, that'd be great.. heh...

Be careful what you wish for. MAC people are always so proud of the fact that they are seemingly imune from hackers and spammers, but that is not due to the security of the OS. That is 99% due to the fact that the hackers go after the popular software. If MAC had 85% of the market share, 95% of the viruses and spyware would be invading the MAC world. I've eliminated almost all of that sort of thing by connecting to the internet via 10 year old Windows software. The hackers are going after the new stuff. I still use new OSs on the computers on my LAN, but connect via old stuff. On one of my computers I don't use any virus protection at all, and have no problems, and it's been running that way for about 4 or 5 years, 24/7 except for power failures, and yet I installed this same OS on a neighbor's computer connected directly to the internet, and he had an external attack within about 5 minutes of connecting.
So basically the secret is not to use popular software. So if MACs gain a greater share of the market, it would be good as far as having more hardware and software aimed at the MAC, but it would be bad with respect to security.

I'm still curious whether anyone has been able to run a Twinhan PCI card with TSREADER on a MAC, and if so, I'd be curious with respect to how well HD will play from it, say with VLC or any other program that will play streams. With PCs, you need about a 3 GHz computer to play HD, which I blame on the Windows overhead.

And re Bibbler's comment about my 2 abandoned MACs, yes, they were PRE- OS9 MACs. I quit using them because each time MAC changed operating systems, the old software wouldn't work on the new, and the new software wouldn't work on the old. I started using the MACs hoping to run 2 or 3 programs, each written for different OS versions, and I never did get them to all run on the same machine. Upgraded one machine but then the stuff that I used to run on it stopped working. With PCs, I still run Windows 3.1 software on XP, and every windows version in between, and I still write programs on the XP that will run on my old Windows 3.1 computer (which I still use occasionally), and only occasionally do I run into new software which isn't compatable with several versions of Windows back. The Fortec software is a stupid exception. It easily could have been made compatable with every version of windows back through 95, but for some unknown reason they made it require 2000 or XP.

So my problem with MACs was not stability (although I will always laugh at the almost comical instability of the pre-MAC Apples. I once went to a party a house where they used Apples, and they had a game for the visitors to play, but we were instructed not to get too close to the computer or it would freeze up.). My problem with the MACs is completely a backward/forward compatability thing, and the availability of hardware and 3rd party software. My problem with the PCs is that they try to have to many services running, and it's hard to tell what is essential and what can be terminated. Windows can tend to get bogged down to a crawl because there are dozens of un-used services running, often from programs that have been uninstalled years ago.

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by wejones

Be careful what you wish for. MAC people are always so proud of the fact that they are seemingly imune from hackers and spammers, but that is not due to the security of the OS. That is 99% due to the fact that the hackers go after the popular software. If MAC had 85% of the market share, 95% of the viruses and spyware would be invading the MAC world.

I will partially agree Bill, but not totally.. Obviously some of the reasons that OSX (which has been VERY Stable since 2001) has no Malware is due to it's 6% market share.

But it is a basic fact that Unix (which OSX is) is simply a more secure system. You can't recieve malware by simply opening an email and since it's security system was designed for server use, you can do very little without ROOT access....

I have no doubt that exploits will eventually find their way to the Mac. But finding a hole in and wreaking havoc on System fiiles are two different things.

IMO, OSX is simply a much better designed OS (don't even get me started on the "Windows Register"), but again, different strokes for different folks...

[be236]

I have to agree with Bill for the most part, especially this:

"My problem with the MACs is completely a backward/forward compatability thing, and the availability of hardware and 3rd party software."

By the way Bill, it's "Mac," not "MAC." It's not an acronymn.

Well, forget the past.. it's Mac OS X and forward which is much better...

On another side, I got to play with a new AMD Vista machine, and as I was using it, many of the apps (like video apps, media center, etc) would freeze/hang for a bit and the system would go to a crawl and I had to End Task a few times.... I guess the drivers in Vista aint quite mature yet ,eh? hehe...

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by be236

I got to play with a new AMD Vista machine, and as I was using it, many of the apps (like video apps, media center, etc) would freeze/hang for a bit and the system would go to a crawl and I had to End Task a few times.... I guess the drivers in Vista aint quite mature yet ,eh? hehe...

Vista has all the makings of being the next Windows ME. Our IT department has yet to approve it for use on the 3500 or so PCs we have (We also have about 30 Macs ). I have yet to read a good review about it and the IT people I have talked to mentioned the driver problems (as mentioned), but also (surprisingly) a total lack of stability.

As you may have heard, Dell has recently began shipping PCs again with XP

Reseller News > Dell relents, offers Windows XP as consumer option

Dell is also offering Linux as an option:

Dell embraces Ubuntu for Linux PCs - The Money Times

After 6 years of development, it appears Vista is not quite ready for prime time.

Of course what Dell and others really want is to offer OSX Tiger which is, IMHO, at least 2 years ahead of Vista and with the upcoming OSX Leopard, Vista will fall even further behind.. Michael Dell has suggested that Apple license OSX to Dell. Of course, Jobs has turned him down...

[Bibbler]

Originally Posted by wejones

I'm curious.... I know that MACs "try" to run windows software, etc. I'm curious whether there is some way to get a Twinhan card to run on a MAC? I would have guessed not, but I read a comment by the author of some software I use, that suggested that he might be using a MAC.
{ I said "try" to run windows software above, because I was once collaborating with a MAC user, both of us trying to write software to control a serial device, and this fellow kept complaining about the "latency" of Windows, which I wasn't seeing in my program. Turns out that the latency was coming out of his MAC as he wasn't actually running Windows, but was running a MAC simulation of Windows, that didn't work. }

Bill,

New Macs do not "try" to run Windows, they run Windows. Since the beginning of 2006, Macs in fact ARE PCs minus the traditional BIOS and the inclusion of a chip that OSX checks for to see if the Computer is a genuine Apple product.. Windows XP runs every bit as well on a New Mac (in many it runs even better) than it does on a PC. They use the same Intel processors, same RAM, same video, same audio, and in some cases are even made side by side with their PC counterparts.

The "simulation" that you talk about was the result of an old process called "emulation", (used on the old Power PCs) .. it was slow and not really hardware compatible. With the new Intel Macs, you can load Windows on the Mac to dual boot with OSX and it will run just like it will on ANY PC....

I see absolutely NO reason why the card in question won't work....