iMac or Custom PC

Argh! I'm really not sure what I should do, I'm dying for a new PC or Mac, something that'll run design apps - like video authoring, animating etc, in a stable environment. I was talking to my house mate who is probably more anti-mac then I used to be, and he based his performance levels on numbers.

Anyhoo, I've been offered an iMac for

What specs are we talking about? I don't see how a

Considering that Macs are usually considered standard in design (last I heard - even the college has a load of Macs because of it for design stuffs), it might be considered generally better to go for the iMac even the pc out-performed it (although depending on how much it out-performs it - small margin go with mac, large margin go with custom made)

Oh, doesn't come with a screen (a PC would)

Intel Pentium IV Dual Core (3.4GHz)
Asus P5VD2-MX Motherboard
512MB ATI RADEON X1600PRO GRAPHICS
2048MB DDR2 RAM
160GB IDE HARD DISK
16X DUAL LAYER DVD +/- Rewriter - DVD Rewriter, CD Rewriter & DVD ROM all in one
5.1 Channel Sound
4 USB 2.0 rear ports plus front USB and sound ports

* * *

The GPU is a bit pants, but the machine seems quite good. I see a lot of these going around custom PC sites on the net.

Nope, that will not outperform an iMac. Its an old outdated CPU for a start. Via (the chipset manufacturers for your motherboard) have fallen from grace over the past five years and can't compare with the likes of nVidia or Intel for chipsets.

If the software comes with the iMac get that.

Get the iMac, that is an AWESOME deal and well worth the money. You'll be able to run design apps better on the mac system (it is one of the things they are built to be able to do), so I'd say the Mac without question. But then, I do love Macs, so I'm biased a tad

You clearly need the PC, so you can play Naked War.

I'd love Macs if it weren't for the whole 'I've only got the one button' thing. I just can't get my head around that. I use right-click all the time. This has no bearing on whether you should get one, Jay Bee, just airing some personal issues I have with Macs. They're supposed to be the one to get for design, so it'd be a good choice for you I reckon.

But then, PC's have pretty much caught up in that area now. Macs used to be the home of everything Adobe, but nowadays, there's no clear advantage to Photoshopping (or Premiering, etc..) on a Mac rather than a PC. And let's face it, PC's will always be better generally (huge compatibility, etc..).

Out of those two computers, the Mac would be better I reckon. But if it was a choice between a mint PC and a mint Mac, I'd go for the PC.

I'd certainly go for the Mac. I've been using Adobe Creative Suite 1+2 since 2004 on Windows PCs and about 6 months ago used CS2 on a Mac Mini.

A Mac Mini

It was so much easier to design stuff, the RAM didn't load too quickly, it all just seemed to "flow" on the Mac. I don't know what programs you are considering using, but considering that Adobe just about covers most things, and given that Adobe <3 Mac, I'd say the iMac.

Oni-Ninja said:
Id love Macs if it werent for the whole Ive only got the one button thing. I just cant get my head around that. I use right-click all the time. This has no bearing on whether you should get one, Jay Bee, just airing some personal issues I have with Macs. Theyre supposed to be the one to get for design, so itd be a good choice for you I reckon. But then, PCs have pretty much caught up in that area now. Macs used to be the home of everything Adobe, but nowadays, theres no clear advantage to Photoshopping (or Premiering, etc..) on a Mac rather than a PC. And lets face it, PCs will always be better generally (huge compatibility, etc..).Out of those two computers, the Mac would be better I reckon. But if it was a choice between a mint PC and a mint Mac, Id go for the PC.

The mac has had right click for years now...You can use any mouse on a mac that you can use with a PC, apples very own mighty mouse has right click, the laptops have easy right click by holding two fingers on the trackpad and clicking, instead of one.

It's time for people to move beyond this right click complaint, it's not an issue anymore. I use right click all the time too, and I'm on a mac.

All that said, the iMac definitely looks like the better deal.

Grumblezorz said:
You clearly need the PC, so you can play Naked War.

Run XP on the mac, run naked wars. Ta-dah. (Theres a good reason to get the mac anyway, you can still run windows on it on a partition).

You must run into quite a few hardware-related problems running Windows on a mac though surely?

I don't see the allure of mac's....really....I can't believe the performance for things like photoshop can be THAT much better, and PC's have such a greater compatability. I read this comment on bbc.co.uk today:

"Macs are glorified Fisher-Price activity centres for adults"

The reason PC's get full of virus' is because most people own PC's. Same as firefox spyware exists less because the vast majority of users use IE, and the ones which use FF typically have more web intelligence.

Maybe this is down to the fact that I think Mac OSX is the ugliest piece of shit ever spawned.

or

Mac OSX

I mean just wtf is with those lines? I guess the Mac had bad luck and hit every branch on the ugly tree.

Grumblezorz said:
You must run into quite a few hardware-related problems running Windows on a mac though surely?

No, they use intel X86 chips now. They run it flawlessly.

edit: And its very easy to do, you just download their boot camp software (free), and then install windows on a partition, and you can switch between OSX and Windows.

( Edited on 10.02.2007 22:21 by GR781 )

To add to GR's commit, the next version of Parallels software will allow you to run your Boot Camp partition in a window in Mac OS. Which kicks ass.

The Mac will offer much better support for problems and such, comes with drivers for everything right out of the box, is faster, and will just work. For example, buy a new printer? Throw the install disc away, your mac will recognize it instantly.

They're better,

"For example, buy a new printer? Throw the install disc away, your mac will recognize it instantly."

PC's do that too. And I bet windows has FAR more drivers than a Mac.

Stop making blind assumptions, thats not true at all. Neither is your comment about compatibility, I haven't had a single issue with it in the last five years. I have microsoft office, all the design programs I need, messenger programs, bit torrent, p2p, and so on.

As for your screen shot, you've taken a screen of OSX with millions of windows open, and a screen of vista with nothing on the desktop and a single window visible with everything else minimised. Not a fair comparison.

Nevermind the fact that the current look of OSX has evolved over 5 or so years, compared to Vista just having come out.

Equally wrong is your comment about viruses- market share does have a bit to do with it, but anyone in the know will also say that OSX is more secure. Either way, it doesn't matter, point is, using OSX you don't tend to get viruses, using windows you do.

So you can play all the games on a mac you can on a pc?

And I'm not talking about the number of windows open. I'm talking about how it looks. Also I'm using XP.

You can prefer mac all you want, I don't have a problem with that, I just think it's shit

iMacs are just so sexy. I love the way they look but I have never owned one. For the work that I do, an iMac wouldn't be able to do what I need. The only reason is that many of the programs I use only work on Windows. Don't talk to me about virtual windows crap because that is just such an arse.

For my personal use though I would much prefer an Ibook or something. They are candy for the eyes.

Custom PC. I have used both alot but Windows just has the edge on OSX. Explained on MSN.

I don't get where this myth that macs are instantly better with 'design' programs comes from.

get custom PC.

X vs. XP is a great website that takes what's probably the most comprehensive look yet at the mac vs windows war. It's completely unbiased because it assigns each part of the operating system a number, then adds up all of the numbers to a final score.

Also remember that neither OS is really better, both operating systems will practically do the same thing. It's up to your preference on how it gets done.

Finally, note that Macintosh will run Windows either at boot up, or simultaneously with OS X. You can even use the same partition, with Parallels 3 Software. Macs also come with iLife 07 which kicks ass.

See if any reasons Here can convince you.

Ooh, I'd also like to note that since the Mac runs Windows, this isn't a Mac vs. Windows thing, it's a "Which, out of two computers is junker," kind of thing. And the custom PC (That you are pointing out, of two choices) is junker because it has a slower, less power efficient, outdated processor.

( Edited on 11.02.2007 02:31 by MasterStyl )

knighty said:
So you can play all the games on a mac you can on a pc?And Im not talking about the number of windows open. Im talking about how it looks. Also Im using XP.You can prefer mac all you want, I dont have a problem with that, I just think its shit

I didn't buy a computer to play games?

I just play those games on my Windows Partition if I really need to, problem solved. But I don't feel the need to...

Well not many animating programs or for that matter many other programs dont run on mac.
Wherelse the PC is a better idea windows vista is so be-au-ti-fool!
Though mac is a big expensive nice looking machine...
Programs are more made for PC.
Though Mac comes with 'installed ready and break trough software' bundled with it...
Its entirely your choice