TechSpot - PC Technology News and Analysis

which is better and which is easier to use windows or mac os?

depends on your experience; While I have both and prefer Mac OS X, I still use
XP/Pro for many specific applications.

Have you or your family EVER used either one?

ye im currently using xp pro, and im starting a uni course and they recommend using mac os x as it is good for multimedia computing but they say xp pro is just a efficient in doing this so which one is the best grrrrrrr

Multi Media is the great niche market for Mac's -- nothing beats Final Touch and the Midi programs for Macs.

If that's your field -- bite the bullet and buy/learn Mac

cheers nicce one

I would go with Mac OS X

If you want to use it for multimedia purposes or to use top of the line picture editing and video editing programs( adobe cs3), then go with Mac OS X
IF you want your os to be more versatile, then use XP. But with versitility come virii. But if you know your way around the net, you don't need to worry about getting virii and spyware.

now my next question is, is the macbook pro worth the money i think im going to go with that laptop because of the independant graphics card what do you suggest?

Windows is far easier because everything works for it and everything is made for it. With a Mac you have to purchase Mac specific upgrades and software.

No, don't buy the Apple upgrade RAM, you are not buying anything other than regular RAM, just at absurd prices. I have some Crucial RAM in my Powerbook that works great. I'd recommend buying name brand RAM because (at least in the past) Mac system boards have been somewhat picky about what they will run.

Right now I have 1 XP/Ubuntu machine, 1 Vista Machine, 1 XP Only machine (about to get replaced with OSx86 or Ubuntu 8.04), 1 Mac Mini (Intel), and 1 Powerbook (Mac, PowerPC), and a PowerMac G4. Having said that...

I always try to do any AV work on my Macs, there is absolutely no program that I've found on Windows that comes anywhere close to ffmpegx for transcoding video. iMovie and iDVD are fantastic (easier and more powerful than Windows Movie Maker).

As far as jonmcc33's comment about everything works for Windows and you have to buy stuff for the Mac, thats not true at all. There are thousands of freeware apps for OS X just like they are for Windows. And unlike apps for Windows there seems to be a culture behind development of apps for OS X, a culture that strives for elegance and simplicity. That is something you rarely find in Windows. And as far as purchasing stuff, any high end program for either platform you are going to have to purchase, its just nice that the included apps when you buy a Mac are more elegant and powerful compared to their counterparts on Windows.

lol... That's the most misinformed thing I've EVER heard. This whole forum exists because it doesn't work.

Wrong, this forum exists because people break their own computers. That's why companies like Geek Squad (no affiliation) make millions of dollars repairing them.

Install Windows with default settings and it will work on any PC. It's when you start to install the WRONG things or fiddle in areas you should (registry) is when it doesn't work. That's not the fault of the OS but the person using it. Hence coining the popular phrase "user error".

Assuming this were even true (which we both know is not for any OS), how is this different than Mac OS?
I ask, because you implied it does NOT work that way on Mac OS. Explain?

Given that it meets minimum requirements...yes, you can install Windows on any PC.

I'd waste my time trying to explain. If you don't understand then you never will.

You can install Mac OS on any Mac that 'meets system requirements'? So how is this even a point?

Good job blowing a lot of air without any framework to support your assumptions...

You cannot install Mac OS on a PC though can you? You can install Windows on a Mac though.

No, because everyone knows the answer already. I've stated it far too many times in the past to repeat myself to someone with blinders on.

Why should you? The point you brought up was Windows can be installed on any PC and my point is Mac OS can be installed on any Mac. How did this go over your head?

Since you're awesome at twisting threads around, I'd like to get back to the point. When is the last time you installed Mac OS and had to install drivers, for example? Mac OS is guaranteed to work out of the box - and well. Of course, the entire reason is the elitist nature of Apple's locked-in software + hardware model that you so desperately hate.

You're silly to think that Windows works 'OOTB' with its 'default configuration'. That's a frickin' rarity and you know it, if you've worked with PCs at all... I find it really difficult to believe that anyone thinks Windows works better OOTB than Mac OS. If drivers aren't enough of a reason, I can definitely name more. Just ask... Mac OS does work without any configuration and Windows doesn't a vast majority of the time - your argument is radical and nonsensical.

Back at you...

Windows can be installed on any PC and Mac. Mac OS can only be installed on a Mac. It doesn't work with everything. Get it yet?

Yep, because hardware manufacturers do not have Mac drivers available at their website I guess!

Well, as newer hardware comes out obviously it's not going to work out of the box because how can hardware developers make drivers for hardware that doesn't exist yet?

BUT! Windows does have the ability to go out to the Microsoft website to pull drivers automatically for you. Then of course most hardware that you can buy separately comes with media that has drivers, blah, blah, blah.

If you go to a store like Walmart or Target what are the chances of you being able to find the software you want for Windows as opposed to Mac? My daughter loves her Disney games. Can I buy her a Mac and have her Disney games work on it right out of the box? Nope? Didn't think so...

So that makes Windows better than Mac OS? Because its intended install base is different? Linux must be godly, since it works on EVERYTHING.

They do, actually - the ones you need at least. Driver updates are included in your OS updates via software updater.

Hmm.. Apple seems to have done a pretty good job with this. I wonder how they do it? Hmm.

Same applies to Macs... and Windows' Update's ability to download missing drivers is more often a miss than a hit.

A ridiculous argument with no useful logic. The OOTB experience includes buying software from Target or Walmart? Seriously? BTW, there are plenty of Disney Games available for the Mac.

What the frig? I can't believe you're being serious. Either you buy computers from alleys or you're one of the most terrible PC builders in the world.

Every single computer I have ever built works 100% no fail rate "OOTB", I build it, plug it in, install Windows - done. No errors, no problems, runs efficient. Once users start putting weird things on there or installing wrong, that's where the problems start. PC's working OOTB being a rarity is a completely absurd statement.

And you really must be blind to not understand the point here. The point being made is that Windows is so versatile that you can run any number of programs or hardware on, meaning you are not restricted to what your manufacturer is offering. Apple can only run things designed for Apple hardware/etc; PC's can run anything.

A PC can be updated many, many times before you finally have to make a major update. Whereas Apple you are pretty much stuck with what you got, can't tweak every aspect of its hardware; break something and you have to ship it away. I break my motherboard... I just get a new one and we're sweet in a day or two.

I think if you went all over the net download/buying/etc software and games, most of them won't run on Macs, but ~100% will run on a PC.

You have missed my point... which is you install Mac OS and everything is taken care of. There aren't additional driver CDs or a need to go fishing for things on the web. It just works. Your wireless will work. Your network card will work and so on.

There's no comparison in this regard and that really just can't be argued. jonmcc33 says the Windows OOTB experience is superior. I say that's not true.

Geez.. I don't care that much for Apple products I'm truly a PC person, but you guys make me want to buy a Macbook. =P