Author Topic: OS: PC vs MAC  (Read 10572 times)

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justsmiles

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OS: PC vs MAC
« on: Jul 31, 2005, 03:40 pm »
In terms of a laptops which one do you find better for work, PC of MAC? Are there any programs you recomend that you can get on one that you cant get on the other? Or is it simply users preference?
« Last Edit: Jun 08, 2009, 10:32 pm by PSMKay »

Michael

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« Reply #1 on: Jul 31, 2005, 03:54 pm »
I've been a Windoze user for too many years. I know many theatre people that use Macs exclusively, and I'm slowly being won over to the Mac side.

My next computer will most likely be a Mac.

isha

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« Reply #2 on: Jul 31, 2005, 05:59 pm »
I'm not a proffesional stage manager, so maybe my opinion doesn't count, but I say macs all the way! I've grown up with both, and I definetly prefer macs...people say windows is a lot more user friendly, but I don't believe that. It's always been easier to use/fix our mac than our PC. And like scoot said, with the pc program designed for macs, you can use any PC software on a mac.
So technically a mac is 2 in one. Even if it's a little more expensive, it's like getting a double value.
~isha

loebtmc

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« Reply #3 on: Jul 31, 2005, 06:13 pm »
I prefer Macs but use a PC. Why? Easy. Most of the small regional theaters seem to have older donated computers - all PCs. It's also why I put a floppy drive into my laptop. That way I can go between my computer and theirs with relative ease and without many of the translation nightmares that occur between older PCs and Macs.

DAE

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« Reply #4 on: Jul 31, 2005, 07:29 pm »
Hi.

 I had been a die hard PC user for as long as I can remember. Even though though my home computer is a PC, I recently switched to a Mac laptop for my work use. I have to say it is great. I got a 12" Powerbook. I was drawn to this machine because of the size and battery life. It is light and easy to carry. During my last rehearsal process, I kept it on my desk for the entire rehearsal and never had to plug it in. (Granted, it was SPT rehearsal hours, probably wouldn't be able to do that on a LORT) After doing my research, I couldn't find a PC unit with that kind of life and size.

Some Warnings Though: ALL my software was in PC because of my past, so it took some money besides the actual machine to make it practical for me. Also, Apple brags about being able to easily interface with PC networks, though usually correct, I have run into some problems with my personal network and some of the theatre's I've worked at. Especially with printer drivers, since mac's do drivers on a network a little differently then PC's.

But at the end of the day, I am thrilled with my little mac. It is a great choice.

It is down to needs/preference. Get what you are comfortable with.
I completley agree that most regional theatre's have PC setups. That is important to consider, however with Office 2004's new compatiability features, I have yet to run into a problem transferring files.  


My two cents...

Have Fun.
DAE

Aerial

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« Reply #5 on: Jul 31, 2005, 09:27 pm »
I've always been a PC person.  But as others have said, its what I've always used.  I think its key to use what you're comfortable with.  In the case of PCs, yes, you may need to take care of it a little more, but you can keep it virus and spyware free by running programs like AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy, and using Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer.

As USB memory sticks become more and more popular, there is less reliance on floppy disks which becoming phased out even on PCs now, so it has eased communication between all types of computers.

Alice_S

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« Reply #6 on: Aug 01, 2005, 12:57 am »
You know, in my intro I said I was neutral in the great Mac-PC debate...that was actually a lie. :) If you're going to do anything useful that has to interface with another computer...GET A PC. (Unless your theatre runs on Macs, then by all means get a Mac.)

Apple loves to talk about how much they've improved the quality of "compatible" files between Macs and PCs; this is borderline false advertising. If you create a file on a Mac and then run it on a PC...expect to do some MAJOR re-formatting. In my personal experience, bullets almost never survive the transfer, imbedded objects (like tables and some graphics) often refuse to work, and margins/tabs/indentations go nuts. (Of course, if you don't use any of those things, then don't worry about it.)

Macs are very powerful machines. They can do a lot of amazing graphics work, sound and video editing...but you want to know the number one program the Macs froze on in the Mac lab in my university? Would you believe iTunes? A program that came standard on all of them? Why oh WHY can a Mac run Final Cut Pro like it's nothing...but goes belly up on iTunes?

Honestly, I spent WAY too many nights in the newsroom at the school paper cursing at the Macs for freezing (which they did CONSTANTLY.) I've worked for two different student newspapers; both had written instructions on every Mac monitor to save every five minutes.

And while this is good advice for anyone running any platform, I have to say that I've never worked with more computers with poorer "document-recover" functions than those Macs. And they were brand-new, top of the line models, too.

Furthermore, I once watched a "practical demonstration" of Virtual PC (the program that allows your Mac to pretend it's a PC) and it slows down the computer SO MUCH. This may or may not bother you, since it's not incredibly noticeable when you run programs like Word, but it's there. Expect everything to run about 25% slower. And Virtual PC isn't cheap, either.

Honestly, Macs do have some advantages over PCs...especially if you do a lot of graphics work like me. There are many times I prefer Macs to PCs...but trying to get my Mac to play nice with my theatre's PCs is NOT my idea of easy or convenient. If you can only choose one for work-- go with what your theatre has, which is probably a PC.

To review: Macs are happy when they don't have to play with other computers and don't have to pretend to be PCs OR do PC-compatible work. :)

~Alice~

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« Reply #7 on: Aug 01, 2005, 03:24 am »
I love mac's but I cannot afford one ATPIT. Basically, it is now really personal preferance. OSX is unix based (even though they have screwed it up a bit), and being the computer 'geek' I am, I use unix on most of my systems, so I have no problems.

In this day and age, formatting problems etc are not as big an issue as you would think. Especially if you use <PLUG!!!!>OpenOffice.org</PLUG!!!>... or industry standards (exclude MS office here), like Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia products etc. etc. etc.

There are standards as far as networking protocols and filesharing protocols. Due to the infection known as MS, smb is the most prevalant network file sharing protocol, which thanks to the samba project will work easily on any mac or unix pc.

Way the pro's and con's. Are you likely to use specialist tools that will only work on a PC? Or on a Mac? Which environment do you prefer? Does style matter? Screen size? Options? etc etc etc.

MatthewShiner

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« Reply #8 on: Aug 01, 2005, 07:40 pm »
I am a Mac user.  Was won over in grad school.

I have no problem moving files back and forth from PC to Mac, from word files, excel files to drafting files.  (I am actually have more problem dealing with different versions of drafting software among the PCs in my company.)

In reality, what does a SM really need .  . . a word process program, a spreadsheet . . . the word and excel files seem to go back and forth.

I like my Mac in that it very easily takes a word file and saves is a PDF, which I can send to any one, post on the web site, etc, etc.  (And thus the file being circulated by can not be changed.)

This the list of software I use:
1) Word (use for making the calendar, reports, daily call, all written correspondance)
2) Excel (prop list, run book, petty cash forms)
3) Adobe Go Live (use for my personal website and the call board web site I run . . . www.stagemanager.net and www.stccallboard.com)
4) Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (for making logos)
5) Fetch (basic FTP program)
6) Safari (web browser)
7) Pages (Mac based word processor program - I used for specific desktop publishing events.   Such as covers for my call book - handles text and pictures well)
8) Itunes (Use for saving, organizing and burning rehearsal cds)
9) Toast (use for copying rehearsal CDs)
10) Vectorworks (use for manipulating CAD set designs)


All of these basic programs are on both PC and Mac (except for Pages).  I  just like the Mac, but I know it all comes down to a personal choice.  

(Note:  Most designers I know are MAC based . . . FYI)
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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

giabow

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« Reply #9 on: Aug 01, 2005, 08:27 pm »
I bought a PC while I was in college so that I could use AutoCAD.  This year, I bought a Mac and I LOVE it.

I run Virtual PC (in order to use CAD) on occasion, and don't have a problem with the speed at all.  Though, I use AutoCAD LT.  The full version might slow things down a bit, I don't know.

In addition to the usual word and excel programs, I use Garage Band for recording sound effects (usually voices,) iTunes for creating and mixing soundtracks for shows, and Audacity for editing sound effects.  I know that Garage Band is also editing software, but I find Audacity easier to figure out.

Aerial

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« Reply #10 on: Aug 01, 2005, 10:11 pm »
One program I've found that I love is Visio(PC).  I use it for calendars,  preset diagrams, and covers for my callbook, amongst other things.  It has CAD capabilities(though I haven't explored those fully yet).  It is an extremely user friendly program with many applications.  

Aside from that, I use Word for as many things as I can.  I have a strong dislike for Excel and only use it when I have to to achieve the look I'm going for, usually for my scene character breakdowns and timing grids.

Scott (formerly Digga)

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« Reply #11 on: Aug 02, 2005, 02:49 pm »
With all you Mac people, I'll stand by the PC.  I'm a die hard PC user.  I don't care for the interface of OSX as it's too bubbly and doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  The formats are pretty much the same though like people say, it's a matter of preference.  Most theatre's I've worked at are PC based and it was easier to share files and information as well as jump onto their network with the same type.  Anything you can do with a Mac, you can do with a PC.  Laptop battery life's are the same especially with the Centrino's and the new AMD Turion's that are out there.  Speed is negligible as you probably aren't doing anything with the laptop that requires a whole lot of speed at work.

Mac's aren't immune to Viruses.  Don't be fooled into thinking they are less likely to get them then PC's.  People do the same thing with Linux.  When in actuallity, the viruses are just as prevalent but not as advertised.  It's a ratio thing however.  There are a lot less Mac and Linux users out there, so viruses aren't as broadcast.  It is a good idea to still use Virus protection and a Firewall especially if you aren't an experienced computer user.  

Another thing to consider is everything comes with wireless these days.  Wireless is great especially in the areas where free Wi-Fi abounds.  

One of my biggest pet peeves about the Mac though is that single button mouse.  Yes, I know you can purchase a 2 button mouse for it now, but why not just come with it?  I use the Right Mouse button so much on a PC that it's second nature.  Also, the laptops definitely don't have the option as a standard.  It just bugs me to no end.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Mac Calder

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« Reply #12 on: Aug 02, 2005, 06:27 pm »
Quote from: "Digga"
With all you Mac people, I'll stand by the PC.  I'm a die hard PC user.  I don't care for the interface of OSX as it's too bubbly and doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  The formats are pretty much the same though like people say, it's a matter of preference.  Most theatre's I've worked at are PC based and it was easier to share files and information as well as jump onto their network with the same type.  Anything you can do with a Mac, you can do with a PC.  Laptop battery life's are the same especially with the Centrino's and the new AMD Turion's that are out there.  Speed is negligible as you probably aren't doing anything with the laptop that requires a whole lot of speed at work.

Mac's aren't immune to Viruses.  Don't be fooled into thinking they are less likely to get them then PC's.  People do the same thing with Linux.  When in actuallity, the viruses are just as prevalent but not as advertised.  It's a ratio thing however.  There are a lot less Mac and Linux users out there, so viruses aren't as broadcast.  It is a good idea to still use Virus protection and a Firewall especially if you aren't an experienced computer user.  


A lot of the virus issue has to do with access. A unix based system is inherantly secure. However the issues are in 3rd party software. Due to the open source philosophy, a lot of these are fixed within days of the hole being found... Unlike, for example, Outlook/Outlook express which seems to be updated in bursts - 10 or so holes at a time. Windows does not have the same level of issolation and security in the base system that 99% of unix systems have.

Aerial

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« Reply #13 on: Aug 02, 2005, 09:54 pm »
While I have seen how ultimately useful Unix/Linux can be in terms of security and so forth, my experience(watching someone else do it) is that they are very difficult to install, beyond the abilites of the average computer user.

Mac Calder

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« Reply #14 on: Aug 03, 2005, 09:36 am »
Quote from: "Aerial"
While I have seen how ultimately useful Unix/Linux can be in terms of security and so forth, my experience(watching someone else do it) is that they are very difficult to install, beyond the abilites of the average computer user.


2 years ago, I would have said yes, they are... recently... Easier than windows. MUCH. It is a piece of common knowledge that laptops usually are the hardest to find drivers for. I installed ubuntu linux on mine in 20 minutes, and had everything working fine... most was installed automagically and configured, the remaining item (wireless networking) was a matter of downloading the windows driver and using the ndiswrapper to install that... That is a fully functioning office machine really - Open Office.org, web browser, email, the Gimp etc. All there. I will admit, Ubuntu is probably the fastest and easiest distro to install (I gave about 100 copies to local PC shops to give away with new PC's, with great response)...

I am waiting to see how 'Windows Vista' (use to be known as Longhorn) takes to install, and how many million backwards compatibility issues there will be. Ideally, one should be able to seamlessly upgrade between one version of an operating system to the next, MS's most current offering (Windows Server 2k3/.net) is incompatable with a lot of my drivers that I used on windows server 2000....

 

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