Well....mdb wrote:Windows 7 x64 destroys all in its path... Come October, there's a new sheriff in town.. and he's killing snow leopards for fun and profit.
Hope it works out for you. All too often when I say "that's enough of Brand Y I'm switching to Brand X" brand X turns out to be no better.moxie38 wrote:fwiw, been a pc user for years and today I'm going to the Mac store because i have finally had enough. i could fill a page with rants about the issues I've had with my last two laptops that were supposed to be my music creation/performance hotrods. i can't ignore it any longer. i was just always in the middle of a project and didn't want to have to switch to a whole new paradigm and deal with the learning curve involved. i didn't want to be slowed down, but now that i am playing music full time and no longer dealing with 9 hours of my day being taken from me i'm ready.
i have always LOATHED those snarky MAC commercials and hated the smug cult like vibe of ultra coolness, but i'm in now.
fixedmoxie38 wrote: i have always LOATHED those snarky MAC commercials and hated the smug cult like vibe of ultra coolness, but i'm in now.
No doubt, that is exactly how I felt.moxie38 wrote:First iMac ever purchased today:6 hours in and every step of the way a smile on my face so far. feels like home.
moxie38 wrote:@citizenchris099, the Lenovo Thinkpad was what I was on as well, less than a year old and mine was buggy beyond belief. It was THE deciding factor in my Mac choice, because god knows, trying to make me go Mac was like pulling teeth. To be fair though, it came at the end of PC problems too numerous to list, and was more the straw that broke the camels back. After two complete reinstalls of XP, running only Live, Reason and Sonar, with NO pirated software, I couldn't take it anymore. Constant problems with my wireless, hang ups on start up, seizing with or without virus protection. Its a big, black, heavy clunky looking ugly box, but I couldn't have cared less, because I bought it thinking it would be the powerhouse to run my Live shows.
Before that it was an Compaq Presario that I came to find out had KNOWN ISSUES that it still sold with. A power source that would unseat itself but stay plugged in so you wouldn't realize it until your computer told you your battery was about to die...or you woke up the next morning with your computer black.Also there were soldering issues inside that caused it to overheat and then shutoff, to the point that when I finally ridded myself of it, it wouldn't stay on for more than two or three minutes without suddenly shutting off. That computer was over $2000.
That said, I also have a rackmount PC put together for my studio by a knowledgable friend and it has been more than satisfactory in its performance, handling Sonar sessions with 60 to 70 tracks plus numerous plug ins. That PC has never been on the internet, so maybe that's part of the whole mess.
Also, I agree completely with citizenchris099---it really isn't a spec game in my opinion. In terms of pure computing power, I don't know if either side stands tall above the other.In fact it has been my understanding that PCs still have the "edge" in terms of putting together the most powerful machine on paper. I think the true difference really isn't computing power, but the difference between the philosophies behind what these machines are being built for. PCs are by and large business and consumer oriented. They have only recently started targeting creative types. Their main focus is the office, and multimedia/gaming use for home consumers. Also, since their platform is wide open to zillions of third party developers and vendors, it is just simply inevitable that you are going to have problems eventually with things not playing nice with each other, especially in our world. The Mac seems to be the opposite of that. That's why I think it's not about computing power, but how the system is designed to USE it. Macs are BUILT and DESIGNED for people like us--creative people who make music and art and film. The insular nature of a Mac also lets it sidestep a lot of the potential threats to a PC
For me, like citizen said, a large part of my new joy with the iMac is the interface with its aesthetics and how organic it feels. The switch for me was a breeze and within one afternoon I felt as though I had been using it all my life. That's just great design - but that's also just because of my own personal psychology. Someone else may totally hate the way it is laid out and how commands are enacted. It makes me WANT to be in front of it...it feels alive to me.
For me, the other part of the iMac joy equation has also been EASE OF USE in very simple things. Let me give you concrete comparisons between the two platforms of small issues that become a big deal over time for me personally
1.Start up and shutdown happens in what seems like less than a minute. My Live sets also load up much faster. (to be fair regarding Live sets, I'm on the most current Live update on my Mac and it has 2 gigs more RAM than the Thinkpad)
2. When I was setting up the iMac and installing software, every time a window popped up, my stomach lurched and I thought to myself "Oh no! What went wrong NOW??!", because that's what I was used to with my Lenovo PC. Every one of those windows was "successful installation" message. I understand that there is a veneer over a lot of the operations and setting tweaks on a Mac that makes it look more "friendly" but it works for me. Also, I think a lot of people don't realize just how much you CAN get under the hood of the OS, if you're so inclined. I had people posting very basic misunderstandings about Macs on my Facebook, like I was really going to miss the "right click" option with Mac mouse, not realizing that you do, of course HAVE that option on a Mac as well
3. This one was big for me. I have the APC40, an Oxygen 49 keyboard, a Korg padKontrol, and an external hard drive. On the PC, if I didn't plug these things in and turn them on in exactly the right order, it was no go. The APC40 would not be recognized. I posted here regarding that and got the info I needed. Also...good luck plugging something into a DIFFERENT usb port than you did the day before (heaven forbid!) I would get stuck in the dreaded loop of "found new hardware/could not install drivers" or "found new hardware/installed drivers/still get the 'found new hardware' message". With the iMac...it all simply WORKS...no matter what (so far)
4. So far, quite simply - absolutely no issues of any kind, not with wireless anywhere I go, not with my hardware or software, not with figuring out where to look when I need help. Yes I'm in the honeymoon stage big time...but the iMac simply works. I spend all my time making music and updating my web presence now. Period.
5. This isn't a tech issue, this is a buying experience issue. I could not believe the customer service at the Apple store. I don't know anywhere else in recent history where I have been treated so well by such a knowledgeable staff, except for maybe Gamestop. From the moment I walked into a VERY crowded store and was immediately helped by a very NON pushy salesman who was mellow, but not apathetic, to the moment I was leaving that large mall with my new iMac and was told that they could bring it down to the loading dock for me so that I could just drive there and pick it up, it was a GREAT experience.
My PC buying options have always been this: Tracking down and corralling some $8 an hour know nothing chump to talk to at a HUGE Fry's Electronics store. Repeating the same process with the same chump at Best Buy two weeks later. Or doing many many HOURS of research online on motherboards, CPU, RAM, videocards, etc. and then more hours of research on reviews and then more hours to price out parts for someone to build. Or NEWEGG. And WTF do you do when something goes wrong and you're not sure what it is?? Nothing but frustration. Apple has you covered every step of the way, from one on one, face to face help sessions with the programs you use, to technical issues.
6. I can partition my hard drive to run Windows based programs, so that I can still work in Sonar until I buy Logic 9!! WTF?? Why would I even consider another PC at this point??
I'm not a math/computer guy. I'm an artist, and that's what I want to spend my time doing.
I have no interest in stacking specs head to head, or being in a pissing contest. I just want to make art. The iMac compels and supports my efforts in that respect in a way no PC ever has. That's all there is too it for me. Sorry for the long post, but I had received a number of questions as a new user and wanted to fully and fairly share my experience in switching platforms. Unless something drastically changes...I'm Mac for life, but realize that my PC issues were my OWN experience and not a damnation of the entire platform!
Now back to the jams!
he he!! agreed! i try to avoid hyperbole, but my enthusiasm sometimes runs ooonnnn and oooonnnnnuxnamon wrote:
I think you get the prize for longest post for the year.. you gotta be like everyone else here and break it down into several mini posts.. we can't process that much all at one time..
moxie38 wrote:@citizenchris099, the Lenovo Thinkpad was what I was on as well, less than a year old and mine was buggy beyond belief. It was THE deciding factor in my Mac choice, because god knows, trying to make me go Mac was like pulling teeth. To be fair though, it came at the end of PC problems too numerous to list, and was more the straw that broke the camels back. After two complete reinstalls of XP, running only Live, Reason and Sonar, with NO pirated software, I couldn't take it anymore. Constant problems with my wireless, hang ups on start up, seizing with or without virus protection. Its a big, black, heavy clunky looking ugly box, but I couldn't have cared less, because I bought it thinking it would be the powerhouse to run my Live shows.
Before that it was an Compaq Presario that I came to find out had KNOWN ISSUES that it still sold with. A power source that would unseat itself but stay plugged in so you wouldn't realize it until your computer told you your battery was about to die...or you woke up the next morning with your computer black.Also there were soldering issues inside that caused it to overheat and then shutoff, to the point that when I finally ridded myself of it, it wouldn't stay on for more than two or three minutes without suddenly shutting off. That computer was over $2000.
That said, I also have a rackmount PC put together for my studio by a knowledgable friend and it has been more than satisfactory in its performance, handling Sonar sessions with 60 to 70 tracks plus numerous plug ins. That PC has never been on the internet, so maybe that's part of the whole mess.
Also, I agree completely with citizenchris099---it really isn't a spec game in my opinion. In terms of pure computing power, I don't know if either side stands tall above the other.In fact it has been my understanding that PCs still have the "edge" in terms of putting together the most powerful machine on paper. I think the true difference really isn't computing power, but the difference between the philosophies behind what these machines are being built for. PCs are by and large business and consumer oriented. They have only recently started targeting creative types. Their main focus is the office, and multimedia/gaming use for home consumers. Also, since their platform is wide open to zillions of third party developers and vendors, it is just simply inevitable that you are going to have problems eventually with things not playing nice with each other, especially in our world. The Mac seems to be the opposite of that. That's why I think it's not about computing power, but how the system is designed to USE it. Macs are BUILT and DESIGNED for people like us--creative people who make music and art and film. The insular nature of a Mac also lets it sidestep a lot of the potential threats to a PC
For me, like citizen said, a large part of my new joy with the iMac is the interface with its aesthetics and how organic it feels. The switch for me was a breeze and within one afternoon I felt as though I had been using it all my life. That's just great design - but that's also just because of my own personal psychology. Someone else may totally hate the way it is laid out and how commands are enacted. It makes me WANT to be in front of it...it feels alive to me.
For me, the other part of the iMac joy equation has also been EASE OF USE in very simple things. Let me give you concrete comparisons between the two platforms of small issues that become a big deal over time for me personally
1.Start up and shutdown happens in what seems like less than a minute. My Live sets also load up much faster. (to be fair regarding Live sets, I'm on the most current Live update on my Mac and it has 2 gigs more RAM than the Thinkpad)
2. When I was setting up the iMac and installing software, every time a window popped up, my stomach lurched and I thought to myself "Oh no! What went wrong NOW??!", because that's what I was used to with my Lenovo PC. Every one of those windows was "successful installation" message. I understand that there is a veneer over a lot of the operations and setting tweaks on a Mac that makes it look more "friendly" but it works for me. Also, I think a lot of people don't realize just how much you CAN get under the hood of the OS, if you're so inclined. I had people posting very basic misunderstandings about Macs on my Facebook, like I was really going to miss the "right click" option with Mac mouse, not realizing that you do, of course HAVE that option on a Mac as well
3. This one was big for me. I have the APC40, an Oxygen 49 keyboard, a Korg padKontrol, and an external hard drive. On the PC, if I didn't plug these things in and turn them on in exactly the right order, it was no go. The APC40 would not be recognized. I posted here regarding that and got the info I needed. Also...good luck plugging something into a DIFFERENT usb port than you did the day before (heaven forbid!) I would get stuck in the dreaded loop of "found new hardware/could not install drivers" or "found new hardware/installed drivers/still get the 'found new hardware' message". With the iMac...it all simply WORKS...no matter what (so far)
4. So far, quite simply - absolutely no issues of any kind, not with wireless anywhere I go, not with my hardware or software, not with figuring out where to look when I need help. Yes I'm in the honeymoon stage big time...but the iMac simply works. I spend all my time making music and updating my web presence now. Period.
5. This isn't a tech issue, this is a buying experience issue. I could not believe the customer service at the Apple store. I don't know anywhere else in recent history where I have been treated so well by such a knowledgeable staff, except for maybe Gamestop. From the moment I walked into a VERY crowded store and was immediately helped by a very NON pushy salesman who was mellow, but not apathetic, to the moment I was leaving that large mall with my new iMac and was told that they could bring it down to the loading dock for me so that I could just drive there and pick it up, it was a GREAT experience.
My PC buying options have always been this: Tracking down and corralling some $8 an hour know nothing chump to talk to at a HUGE Fry's Electronics store. Repeating the same process with the same chump at Best Buy two weeks later. Or doing many many HOURS of research online on motherboards, CPU, RAM, videocards, etc. and then more hours of research on reviews and then more hours to price out parts for someone to build. Or NEWEGG. And WTF do you do when something goes wrong and you're not sure what it is?? Nothing but frustration. Apple has you covered every step of the way, from one on one, face to face help sessions with the programs you use, to technical issues.
6. I can partition my hard drive to run Windows based programs, so that I can still work in Sonar until I buy Logic 9!! WTF?? Why would I even consider another PC at this point??
I'm not a math/computer guy. I'm an artist, and that's what I want to spend my time doing.
I have no interest in stacking specs head to head, or being in a pissing contest. I just want to make art. The iMac compels and supports my efforts in that respect in a way no PC ever has. That's all there is too it for me. Sorry for the long post, but I had received a number of questions as a new user and wanted to fully and fairly share my experience in switching platforms. Unless something drastically changes...I'm Mac for life, but realize that my PC issues were my OWN experience and not a damnation of the entire platform!
Now back to the jams!
GAFM ***