Computers etc

finnbear270

Well-Known Member
Been mulling over having a new home PC setup, still on XP at the mo', considering going over to a Mac mini, the HP printer has just had it's first & final flight test, (Very very satisfying to watch!):lol:, any thoughts on the pro's & con's from the knowledgeable on here?:idea:
 
We have apple in the office Steve and an apple laptop at home, and they take some getting used to they are completely different from windows
 
Steve

I am a relatively late convert to Apple products, but like all late converts I have been bitten by the bug in a big way!

I've had iPads (now on my third, having gone from the original iPad, through an iPad Retina to the current iPad Air 2), iPhone, iPods (now have four - Classic, Shuffle, Nano x2), etc.

If I can work my way around our Corporate procurement system my next laptop will be from Apple as well. In my situation (being in the creative side of the IT world, using multiple devices, travelling a lot for work, etc) the advantages of Apple and iOS are significant, but it is their sheer usability that has won me over.

Leaving aside my somewhat embarrassingly long tenure in the world of IT, everyone from my six-year old niece to my 80+ year-old mother-in-law have picked up an iPad and - within an hour - been proficient. As a result, my days of providing IT support for the extended family are thankfully a thing of the past.

If I never see a Windows machine again it will be too soon.
 
Tin hat on
I'm going apple probook next time round , had enuff of windows
This will be like the blasers thread ( want one of em too)

Marmite !!!!
Paul
 
Do Mac bits & bobs work with original stuff like monitors (Hanns.G)?, I know I need to change keyboard as two keys have different functions, mouse is OK, but would benefit from being renewed.
 
Do Mac bits & bobs work with original stuff like monitors (Hanns.G)?, I know I need to change keyboard as two keys have different functions, mouse is OK, but would benefit from being renewed.

Steve

I bought an adapter for my iPad that let's me display it on my old PC monitor using the regular VGA connector. You can pick them up for a few quid on eBay.

For $12.99 you can also buy software such as Reflector (Reflector Airplay Receiver - Mirror an iPhone or iPad to a Mac, PC or Android) that will - through the wonders of WiFi and Apple's AirPlay - let you replicate your iPad display onto your Windows laptop if you so wish. I am guessing it would do the same for a macbook.

Personally I'd buy a generic macbook/iPad-compatible bluetooth keyboard and mouse from eBay as well.
 
Mac's Pro's

very efficient controls/lay out once you know it (doesn't take long)
reliable
lack of viruses
complete packages are all up and running

Cons
expensive compartively
components are more expensive
expensive and hard to upgrade (if one bit blows your looking at whole new rig near enough)
can be fussy about certain peripherals
local pc shop might not be able to help you fix issues.
Can't use current external hard drives or some memory sticks

My recommendation would be to go to your local small pc shop (not curry's/pc world) tell them the kind of things you want to do on it and see what they could build you (or if you can build a lego set build it yourself). it will be cheaper and the local pros know how to fix it. If you aren't doing lots of media editing in a company where a virus wipe out could loose alot of money PC is generally the better option.

What do you want the PC to do? could suggest some approximate specs and prices there of so you know what ball park you're in.

- Experience building and upgrading custom gaming PC/s

Scooby
 
+ 1 for mac unless you have huge amounts of software you will be making obsolete & will have to re-purchase.

I have had 6 mac-pro's now & usually have 3 running all the time & I can honestly say that nothing has gone wrong with them. When a new OSX version comes out I usually wait 6 months for software to catch up before installing to allow any problems to be ironed out. I gave up on the laptops as they were very expensive & I didn't really need the mains-free function & use an i-mac on location (with mains power) as the screen is so much better.

Mine are used for photographic processing & editing & they are so much easier for this kind of work.
 
Interesting bit about the virus situation, would I need stuff like AVG still?, I'm looking for something rock solid in general operation/internet etc, capable of storing some photo's, & maybe a little bit of combat flight sim? Had a quick toe in the water with someone on the phone at PC world (just for costings), seems I could be up & running for as little as £550.00 ? making use of a cheap Canon printer, (only use printers for stalking permits, & anything f.a.c. related type stuff), and keeping the monitor I have now, do these Macs take DVD's / Cd Rom?
 
You can be up and flying for less than £550.

Apple Mac products are very high quality, and, for your stated needs both over engineered and simultaneously not very good at games.

In your situation, I would buy a barebones type PC with an empty PCIE socket, and a mid-range video card. Assume you already have a joystick for flight sim?

If you can strip a rifle or set up a reloading press you can install a video card.
 
You can be up and flying for less than £550.

Apple Mac products are very high quality, and, for your stated needs both over engineered and simultaneously not very good at games.

In your situation, I would buy a barebones type PC with an empty PCIE socket, and a mid-range video card. Assume you already have a joystick for flight sim?

If you can strip a rifle or set up a reloading press you can install a video card.

Maybe keep the old desktop set up just for combat flight sim, & have the Mac separate for the rest of the work.
 
Interesting bit about the virus situation, would I need stuff like AVG still?, I'm looking for something rock solid in general operation/internet etc, capable of storing some photo's, & maybe a little bit of combat flight sim? Had a quick toe in the water with someone on the phone at PC world (just for costings), seems I could be up & running for as little as £550.00 ? making use of a cheap Canon printer, (only use printers for stalking permits, & anything f.a.c. related type stuff), and keeping the monitor I have now, do these Macs take DVD's / Cd Rom?

Don't forget backups. I've just spent £150 backing up a Mac. Regards JCS
 
Don't forget backups. I've just spent £150 backing up a Mac. Regards JCS


If you have no data or photos of value then don't bother backing the Mac up and save yourself some cash. If you have photos, documents, videos etc and you would like to still have them after the Mac dies, then pay for some sort of backup. Either physical disk or cloud storage. If it's a physical disk, keep it in your gun cupboard or off site.

Regards

JCS
 
Maybe keep the old desktop set up just for combat flight sim, & have the Mac separate for the rest of the work.

You could do that. I would suggest playing with a Mac before committing to one though. Some people love them, and if you happen to be one then they're great. Personally, they irritate the **** out of me, the lack of second mouse button, the closed down nature of the OS, the cost, the difficulty in upgrading or repairing the damn things.

And I'm speaking as someone who has had a fair share of working with linux/unix as well as MS based OSs.

From what you've said about what you'd be using it for, then you'll be paying a fair bit for a quantity of brushed aluminium containing a very average PC running a pretty GUI OS which may suit you, or it may not.

The advice on backups is good. I use free software called PING to image my computer to an external HDD. Don't know if that could be made to work with a Mac. It does work with other 'nix type OSs.
 
Now we are (me), getting lost!!:eek:

Sorry! Basically try before you buy. Not only do I think that Macs are over priced, trying to make one do what I want it to do annoys me. I don't much love windows either, but at least you can do the things you want in a more cost effective way.

They are pretty and well made though. If that sort of thing matters to you. In a computer.
 
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