I bought my first PC

[solrac]

I've had my PowerBook Titanium 400 laptop for over a year now, and it was time for a desktop system. Why? Because the PowerBook is just too slow. With 1 GB of RAM, it now runs a lot better, but certain tasks just take too long. The Get Info window in Jaguar takes 4 seconds to pop up. Save for web in Photoshop takes 4 seconds to pop up. Lots of windows take like 4 seconds to pop up. The video card cannot be upgraded. Quartz Extreme cannot be enjoyed.

A mac desktop was not an option. (I'm broke here, folks!)

So, I borrowed $600 from a friend and built a PC. It's a 1.8 Ghz Celeron, 640 MB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive w/ 8 MB buffer, CD-ROM, Network Card, GeForce 4 Ti 4200 Video Card, and a used flat panel display... I did get some discounts from a friend who works at a computer store.

Here are my comments between my mac and the PC.

Ways PC is BETTER
1) Of course, the PC loads web pages way faster (although Chimera on mac at least comes pretty close, but the mass market of mac users do not know about Chimera).
2) Flash animations are 1000% faster (conservative estimate)
3) GUI is MUCH faster (all windows pop up instantly, including Photoshop save for web, etc.)
4) I get to play Counterstrike and the new Battlefiled 1942 Demo game, etc.

Ways the Mac is BETTER
1) The PC is loud as all hell. I keep my laptop running 24/7 (sleeping when not in use). I was going to do the same with the PC but it's too loud. (The fan)
2) The graphics are just CRAP. The whole windows GUI (using 2000 Professional) is all choppy and nasty.
3) Mac OS X allows you to make multiple network settings!!! C'mon, Windows....
4) PC kept choking on bad RAM. Took a bunch of tries until I got in some RAM in there that worked well
5) Anytime I use the PC for a little while I just miss the mac

Conclusion:
Even though the GUI is faster on PC, and it's a much faster computer than this 400 mhz G4 (mac), I can't bear to use it very much. I only use it to do Flash work, look at certain web sites (especially flash ones), and play games. Anything else, and I'm constantly going back to the mac.

The mac os is like artwork, beautiful... i can't believe how bad the graphics are on the PC.

If I had the dual 1.25 Ghz Desktop mac, i know the GUI would be just as fast (or very very close) to windows and just put that comptuer to shame. I don't know if Flash would be comparable, but to me.... there's no point to the PC other than to play games and look at flash web sites.

Of course, there are some nifty tools on PC you can't get on mac (at least not yet) like optimaze (for flash), and some plugins for photoshop. Nothing major though.

Macs rule

[marmotton]

I guess you have not paid for your MS Windows 2000 license either, right? I can't see how you could have spent $600 total on the computer including $200 for a Windows 2000 license.

That kindof make it look cheaper than it actually is, right?

[solrac]

all software pirated

[uoba]

Hmm, I tend to agree on all points... I had to purchase a £600 pc laptop... it is soley resigned to web testing and the odd thing that cannot be done on a Mac (like hold the door open )

I do wish for speedy UI but I know the next Mac I purchase will deal with this (holding out for one of those mythical G5's, anyone know anything )

Apart from this, and the keep apps open when a different user wants to log-in, there ain't much I'd take from Windows (this being XP I use!... not eye candy, but eye fat cake!)

But I don't wanna get into another PC-Mac debate

[Sogni]

Originally posted by solrac
I bought my first PC

So sorry to hear that... my condolences...

[mindbend]

The good news is that the GUI does get better on the big Macs. It's still not mind blowingly fast for window resizing, but all other GUI operations (scrolling, moving, etc.) are as fast as you could want.

The bad news is that it costs a premium, though the DP 867 is a very nice bang for you buck box.

[charlesr82]

I used to be a PC user, and I haven't turned back. Windows XP actually gets on my nerves. Speed will come in X, it will just take time. Keep in mind, that Apple is going from an enviroment that had no kernal, to one that does. Also, one of the reasons why XP is so much faster, is that it uses a second generation display layer, as opposed to the third generation used in X. There are huge differences, that just wouldn't be possible in in Windows.

[plastic]

Just bought Flash MX for X, and it runs great.

I miss Classic's GUI speed, which is not present in X. Hope Infinity Loop residents will do something about it.

Flash MX works very well on my iMac G4/800 running OS 10.1.5. Just in case you "Flasheads" are wondering.