switching to Apple?

[Nidas]

yeah so my comp is on the brink so I'll have to buy a new one at some point -_- After reading around about Vista, I'm less than impressed so I'm thinking of giving Apple a whirl. I seem to remember there being some Apple users here, so I'm hoping you can help me out a bit XD

I used to use Apple back in the iMac days before I got my laptop so unless its changed a lot since then I shouldn't have any problem with the OS. My biggest worry is losing some of the software that I've come to rely on.

First off is DoubleKiller, a duplicate file search utility that finds duplicate files through crc32. Cos I rip pics so much from imageboards I use this a hell of a lot. Anyone know of a replacement on Apple?

Second is Winamp; any way to run it in Apple? >_>

Third, any recommendations on which comp to get? What I'm looking for is:
1. a laptop
2. wireless (which I'm guessing most of them support these days)
3. specs dont need to be high, I only play old games anyway
4. lightweight
5. as large HD as possible while still being lightweight would be nice
6. decent battery

any help will be greatly appreciated

[CaptBrenden]

NOOOOO DONT DO IT! ITS NOT WORTH IT!!

[Tsubashi]

so I'm thinking of giving Apple a whirl.

Wonderful! Great choice, I really recommend it!

I used to use Apple back in the iMac days before I got my laptop so unless its changed a lot since then I shouldn't have any problem with the OS.

Yay! Even former Mac users are awesome! Assuming that your talking about the iFruit (colorful CRT's) or later, you were probably running an earlier version of OS X. If that is the case, you'll find the interface almost identical, with the addition of many new features!

First off is DoubleKiller, a duplicate file search utility that finds duplicate files through crc32. Cos I rip pics so much from imageboards I use this a hell of a lot. Anyone know of a replacement on Apple?

Probably the closest would be TidyUp. It's on Apple's Website and works pretty well, but it does cost $. See here for more details.

Second is Winamp; any way to run it in Apple? >_>

I've heard it runs beautifully on CrossOver Mac, but I use iTunes primarily, so I've never used it, sorry

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22636

Third, any recommendations on which comp to get? What I'm looking for is:

If you're going with current hardware, either one will fit your specifications. I'd probably order a MacBook online at the apple store, so you can get a bigger HD.

Just my thoughts, it up to you!

Thank you for giving Macs a chance!

[NewYinzer]

Don't buy Apple if you value your cash. You can get a Windows machine that does more for less money. With the money you saved, you could buy some anime DVD's. That's my $0.02

[Tsubashi]

It's True that when buying a Mac, you do pay a premium. The decision is, "is it worth it?"

You can get a Windows machine that does more for less money.

Actually, that's quite debatable.

a) More applications are being developed for OS X, plus there are plenty of already powerful apps, some only for Macs

b) All intel based Macs CAN run windows, if you choose, so any functionality you might lose from the OS can be easily gained back, supposing you choose not to use OS X.

[NewYinzer]

In reality, those statements are debatable as well. Software companies usually write for Windows primarily, and Mac secondarily. Why? Windows has 95% of the market. No one makes a lot of money selling to the other 5%. Also, Apple Inc. seems a little bit preoccupied with the iPhone (not a revolutionary concept) and the iPod (so many more models are better). As it says in America: The Book, the iPod helped Apple survive for a few more years before being crushed by Microsoft. Like China's current "unstoppable" economy now and the Soviet Union, it's doomed to failure, it'll just take a few years. And that's my rant.

[Tsubashi]

In reality, those statements are debatable as well.

Well, the implications made by those statements are highly debatable, and are being, no doubt, disputed heatedly all over the place. The statements themselves, however, are simple truths.

plus there are plenty of already powerful apps

Okay, I suppose that's my opinion, so that is debatable, but the rest hold true.

Software companies usually write for Windows primarily, and Mac secondarily. Why? Windows has 95% of the market.

Sad, but true. Maybe one day the computer industry may be able to break free of the stranglehold Microsoft has on it and allow greater diversification. Apple isn't the only great thing out there!

Also, Apple Inc. seems a little bit preoccupied with the iPhone (not a revolutionary concept) and the iPod (so many more models are better). As it says in America: The Book, the iPod helped Apple survive for a few more years before being crushed by Microsoft. Like China's current "unstoppable" economy now and the Soviet Union, it's doomed to failure, it'll just take a few years.

Opinions, opinions. Everyone has their own, don't they?
Personally, I think the iPhone will be brilliant, just a little overpriced. The "Cingular Only" things a bit annoying too.

Yes, the iPod did save Apple, but that was no easy task! Besides, just like the original Macintosh, the iPod set a standard that all other manufacturers now emulate.

It's what Apple does now that will determine if it will retreat again into further obscurity or possible begin to take a larger Market share.
Or Microsoft could just decide to brick it's loyal customers like it looks like with Vista (Just my opinion, don't kill me! ^^; )

If the iPhone flops, and Leopard turns out to be over-hyped and poorly designed, it's true that Apple may be crushed by M$, but Apple's pulled through some tuff times before, and I think they can make it this time too!

Okay, so there's my rant. Sorry if I offended anyone. And yes, everything after the fourth quote is pretty much my own opinion, and thus highly debatable and possibly inaccurate.

[C-Chan]

NewYinzer, I'd really be careful with making that kind of analogy, since Microsoft's tactics of market subterfuge and price undercutting and FAR more in line with China and the former Soviet Union than Apple is.  Apple always struck me as being more like Europe -- expensive and overly-fashionable, but of very high quality, with a stable and loyal customer base. They may not return to their former glory (or in the European example, "imperial" glory), but they certainly won't get any worse off.

So by implication, maybe Microsoft is destined to suffer a most disappointing and unexpected failure, especially if they continue to embrace Big Business interests (via their unnerving loyalty to DRM) and Big Brother (via Vista's hidden security features).  That might explain why they've thrown so much money into XBox and Zune -- as leverage in case someone calls their cheap shots.  Piss off your customers long enough, and they will eventually leave.  Seems to be affecting Sony right about now.  `v'

In any case, Nidas, back to you....

I don't have a Mac myself, but I will be buying one because I vote with my money.  I want market diversity, I want better business practices to be rewarded and I want my privacy to be respected.  Even if it may not run some of the programs I use now, there are always equivalents -- and besides, the greater the market share we attract, the likelier it is that software/hardware manufacturers will follow the money.  Winamp can be used now via Tsubashi's suggestion, but there's already a a dedicated Mac Winamp in the works thanks to the increased user base (not to mention that Macamp has been around since about the same time as Winamp, and works about the same).  You're also offered the choice of keeping XP as a dual-boot option on a Mactel, something PC makers have promised they could do in reverse but haven't delivered yet.

It all comes down to you, though, since it's your money and your right to do whatever you feel like with it.
But do bear in mind that basing your decisions by what sells the cheapest may, on a macroeconomic level, come back to haunt you or your community.  As the saying goes, "Cheaper things end up being the most expensive", and I have an IT specialist at work clocking in ungodly amounts of overtime to fix stupid things to prove it.  -v-

Besides, if you really do care for your money, you might as well get Linux.  ^__^
It's price undercuts M$ by a helluva lot (= "free"), and it functions just as quickly and efficiently as Windows for only a fraction of the required hardware.  And it'll turn you into a computer wizard that can emulate anything, hack websites with impunity, pimp your home's electronic systems, and build beowulf clusters to monitor your own homebrewed SDI array.  -v-

Hehe,... just kidding on the last part,... or am I?  ^v^;

The hardware recommendations I can't help too much, since I've only followed desktops.  Know very little about the laptops since I prefer to use Palm pilots -- but maybe Aurora can help you there.  -v-

[CaptBrenden]

oh here he goes with the giant.. "if we all use macs things will get better" speal.  Fact is most everything is for the PC. Your getting a computer now. As for choosing mac because you dont like vista... then dont get vista (tho i think choosing against it without using it is equaly foolhardy)   just as many people still use 2k, you dont need to stop using XP just cus Vista was just released.  Shes still got many years of good use to get out of her (hell i know people still using 98 on some things)  

Personaly, I think your better off with a PC. you know how to use it, you know what programs you like to use with it. and unless your getting it mostly for media, Id definitly go with the PC.  More games, more support, more over all.  the much pointed out "macs use windows software" feature they love to point out is proof that they cant support their users by themselves for long.  there is just too much for the PC youd be giving up.

[Xyanide]

The macbooks really arn't that much out of proportion when it comes to the price-power relation compared to those of other laptop brands.
The G5s are "OK" powerful, a little overpriced but not that bad. And the Pentium core-duo models are pretty great.

Then again...it's goddamn mac! the OS is a bit strange to get used to when you're used to windows, and the mouse acceleration sucks, and the mouse too but you can replace it with any mouse. I just don't like the GUI, there's a stupid little popup bar always taking up space of your screen unless you animate it to drop below but then when you're working on something in fullscreen the damn thing pops up when you move the mouse to the bottom of the screen to GRAB the scrollbar, who still actually does that these days?! I don't but mac forces me to T_T GAH frustrations frustrations

a few last things: you can't just buy any 3rd party component, no no, mac only, very expensive components not always worth their money, but hey you'd buy it right?

there are HARDLY any games that are well compatible with mac, there are some games that by now brought out universal binairy but don't expect to run anything like FEAR on MacOSX, well maybe they'll release a uni bin version of that free multiplayer version of it...but i doubt it.

[Nidas]

wow didn't expect this many replies so quick

Probably the closest would be TidyUp. It's on Apple's Website and works pretty well, but it does cost $. See here for more details.

looks good enough thanks ;010 though if anyone knows a freeware alt leeme know ;P

If you're going with current hardware, either one will fit your specifications. I'd probably order a MacBook online at the apple store, so you can get a bigger HD.

Just my thoughts, it up to you!

Thank you for giving Macs a chance!

thanks I'll take a look at that one.

Besides, if you really do care for your money, you might as well get Linux. ^__^
It's price undercuts M$ by a helluva lot (= "free"), and it functions just as quickly and efficiently as Windows for only a fraction of the required hardware. And it'll turn you into a computer wizard that can emulate anything, hack websites with impunity, pimp your home's electronic systems, and build beowulf clusters to monitor your own homebrewed SDI array. -v-

I did think about doing this once - Ubuntu (sp?) was the one I was going to do - but was put off by the complexity of setting everything up =/ I don't really have the time right now to make the switch to Linux. Maybe in a few years time once I'm clear of uni but not right now.

Reading through some of the other comments, I don't need a mac to be able to play loads of new games or anything, I mostly just use my comp for internet (lolifox), anime watching (VLC) and basic image editing (currently PSP, probably end up switching to Gimp or something). I've checked and Mac can use most of the software which I want to continue using and seems to be able to emulate the rest competently enough >_>

One more question I forgot though; anyone know a good FTP client for Apple?

[Xyanide]

well if you're just going to use it for internet and video..why even get a new new computer?! An ol' 1Ghz PC would do the trick for just that.

[Nidas]

well if you're just going to use it for internet and video..why even get a new new computer?! An ol' 1Ghz PC would do the trick for just that.

cos I want it to be lightweight >_> Older the computer, the heavier it gets in general. hell, my parents' laptop isn't that old and its still too heavy to be truly portable given how much I walk around. Anyway even though I don't need it to be able to play new games or anything, I still want it to be able to compress well, load programs quickly, etc. and of course, I'm sick of MS xD

[Tsubashi]

One more question I forgot though; anyone know a good FTP client for Apple?

Well, there is the "Connect to Server" Function in the Finder, but there are plenty of other ways. I've used CyberDuck because it's free. Here is it's homepage.

[Xyanide]

yeah just apple+K key and you can connect to pretty much anything

and you're not sick of MS! you're just sick of pentium
but i see your point of wanting a light-weight laptop, there's also a sony model that's lightweight i think