Question for the fanboys

[Taffy]

My trusty well used and abused Dell laptop (XP) will need replacing shortly.
I want something different next time, either Linux or a mac. So my questions, what would you recommend for a mac and why? Is the extra expense worth it? What is mac like with Japanese and English?
Please edumacate a mac noob.

My desktop machines are XP and Ubuntu linux, Ubuntu is pretty damn good considering it's free

[edin日本]

My trusty well used and abused Dell laptop (XP) will need replacing shortly.
I want something different next time, either Linux or a mac. So my questions, what would you recommend for a mac and why? Is the extra expense worth it? What is mac like with Japanese and English?
Please edumacate a mac noob.

My desktop machines are XP and Ubuntu linux, Ubuntu is pretty damn good considering it's free

I'd wait till next spring when the 2nd generation of SSD MacBook Pros come out. I looked at the 1st gen models previously, they're nice but, very pricey, they're much lighter and run a lot cooler than the current MacBooks do, have upgraded video and audio as well as other features that make these models potentially a good buy from next year. Next year will also see the implementation of UEFI which will replace BIOS and the subsequent changes in computer memory and implementation. AND, considering that there will be a 20% drop in price on these new computers and a 50% decrease on 3rd Gen iPads from next spring, I'd wait.

[Yukkuri Kame]

Japanese input is effortless with Mac OS. One customizable keyboard command to switch from english to japanese input.

The reason we originally switched from windoze to Mac was so we could set up two user accounts on the mac, one with the system in Japanese for my wife and the other account with the system in english. Switching between accounts is just one menu click away.

Mac is a cult, no doubt. You have the initial cost of your PC, but then there are peripherals. If you want to use a powerpoint projector, you need a $50 proprietary dongle. Further, the next model of mac that comes out will require a different $50 dongle for the same purpose. Gouging is a way of life at Apple.

I am an iphone user, and so the synching of contacts, itunes, ical, iphoto, mail & safari is naturally pretty much seamless. Nothing you couldn't put together with other machines, but with mac you don't have to think. It's a cult for idiots.

Overall, if you are a techie who is into customization you may find Mac inhibiting. That is the tradeoff for stability and security. Don't do it.

BTW - TAFFY, your avatar looks disturbingly like my brother-in-law.

[mr.sumo.snr]

I agree with the waiting idea - UEFI could change things a lot. However, for the price of a MacBook Air you could have a Win 7 desktop AND laptop.

I would love to use a Mac - but my knowledge level with Win PCs is such that I can't get away from them (then again I DID switch from Diet Coke to Coca-Cola Zero a couple of years ago - so anything is possible )

[Taffy]

Thanks for the info, the cost of the mac is putting me off and although the idea of using with my iPhone is interesting, I can get 2 PC laptops for the price of a macbook.....
I need Japanese input, and don't want to buy Windoze ultimate for that privilege, another con.

Cheapest by far is linux, only problem I find with that is compatibility with some equipment like printers.
And can't run iTunes of course.

BTW - TAFFY, your avatar looks disturbingly like my brother-in-law.

That is the late great Ollie Read, a true pub legend. TV interviews with him completely pissed are classics!

(then again I DID switch from Diet Coke to Coca-Cola Zero a couple of years ago - so anything is possible )

I tried that, Cola zero gives me the shits

[edin日本]

Japanese input is effortless with Mac OS. One customizable keyboard command to switch from english to japanese input.

The reason we originally switched from windoze to Mac was so we could set up two user accounts on the mac, one with the system in Japanese for my wife and the other account with the system in english. Switching between accounts is just one menu click away.

Mac is a cult, no doubt. You have the initial cost of your PC, but then there are peripherals. If you want to use a powerpoint projector, you need a $50 proprietary dongle. Further, the next model of mac that comes out will require a different $50 dongle for the same purpose. Gouging is a way of life at Apple.

I am an iphone user, and so the synching of contacts, itunes, ical, iphoto, mail & safari is naturally pretty much seamless. Nothing you couldn't put together with other machines, but with mac you don't have to think. It's a cult for idiots.

Overall, if you are a techie who is into customization you may find Mac inhibiting. That is the tradeoff for stability and security. Don't do it.

BTW - TAFFY, your avatar looks disturbingly like my brother-in-law.

There's a lot of good that comes with having a Mac, fewer viruses, an off the shelf Mac starts out at the same level as a Windoze machine and so on and so forth.

The bit about price gouging is true but that can be easily subverted by a trip to the Hackintosh forums at Codez4Mac.

But, the real fun begins when you put a Snowleopard hack on an Windoz Intel machine.

[Taffy]

Seems the consensus is to wait, and having just found out what UEFI is I think I agree
Still weighing up the different OS', can't see Apple dropping to PC prices though.

[edin日本]

Seems the consensus is to wait, and having just found out what UEFI is I think I agree
Still weighing up the different OS', can't see Apple dropping to PC prices though.

Apple will never make a machine that is priced the same as a PC.

[Yukkuri Kame]

That is the late great Ollie Read, a true pub legend. TV interviews with him completely pissed are classics!

Drunk englishman, yes, that explains the resemblance to B.I.L.

I only really recognize Ollie as the guy banging Ann Margaret in Tommy.

[Don Juan]

when I first saw this thread I thought it was "Question for the ladyboys"

[Taffy]

when I first saw this thread I thought it was "Question for the ladyboys"

So you felt compelled to answer! Secrets out DJ!

[edin日本]

when I first saw this thread I thought it was "Question for the ladyboys"

How far along are you? I take it you look something like this now:

[Don Juan]

How far along are you? I take it you look something like this now:

Nice boobs....



(and yes I know it is Haruna Ai....)

[edin日本]

Well I didn't think you'd be that uninformed. But seeing that you've admitted to being a ladyboy has just ruined your reputation on GP. Watch out for the implant jokes.

[Don Juan]

Well I didn't think you'd be that uninformed. But seeing that you've admitted to being a ladyboy has just ruined your reputation on GP. Watch out for the implant jokes.

really? (roger moore's raised eyebrow)

[Taffy]

Hahaha. Speaking of "Coming out"... check on the UEFI stuff a bit more. I am not sure when it is gonna come out. Apparently it has been in the rumor mill for a while. Unless there is something I missed, it may stay in it for a while longer.

Yes I noticed, info on UEFI everywhere, no real introduction plan. Just maybe 2011.....

[edin日本]

really? (roger moore's raised eyebrow)

That's kinda ludicrous now that you are sporting silicone Fcups.

[Taffy]

I was thinking of replacing my Macbook with the new 21.5" iMac and had slight, second thoughts about it. But in reality, I think it will be ok if I buy it without waiting too much. I doubt a 2010 iMac 3.60Ghz with 16GB, a 512MB or 1TB graphics card and a 2TB hard-drive will be not be enough for what I need anytime in the next 5-7 years.

Very true.
Should I succumb to the cult of mac, where is the best place to check out prices? Who does the best deals?

[edin日本]

Very true.
Should I succumb to the cult of mac, where is the best place to check out prices? Who does the best deals?

Depends, you can hit Akiba and see what they have at Sofmap LAOX or T-Zone or go to the Ginza and check out the Apple Store.

[SteadyRollingMan]

The best way for anyone to buy a Mac is through the Apple Store using their credit plan. I Bought my daughter's MAcBookPro and totaly jazzed it up and am paying 9,857yen a month (for 30 months) unfortunately it got facked by water damage by her leaving it on next to an open window. Act of God and Apple voided the warranty and the Apple Care Plan I had bought for it, to be honest I can't blame them as they have agreed to fix it for 51,450 yen (now I am wondering, after they fix it will my Apple Care plan be good again) talking with the finance company about that. UEFI (rumors) will be good if it ever comes out but not for a couple of years.

Next Mac I 'm buying is a Mac Pro 12 core and jazz that monster to the max.

[Taffy]

Act of God and Apple voided the warranty and the Apple Care Plan I had bought for it.

Since I got my iPhone, I've been reading a few Apple related sites and realised that to a shitload of people God is in fact Steve Jobs. SRM, that sounds like a farking expensive puter, way out of my planned price range. 30万円？ What else does it do?

Like the idea of an Aki visit though, watching people there makes me feel normal

[SteadyRollingMan]

It cost 320,000 yen but I am paying 9,800 some odd per month and right now it doesn't do anything as it needs repair. The credit company stepped in and got Apple to agree to fix it for at lot less than they originally quoted me. But it was fast and she did all kind of graphic design and paintings with it.

I have a jazzed to the gills G-5 that is still running like a top. I do music stuff, movie editing , and some DTP stuff. The new one will be to run and maintain a websites to rival this one, for Japan based Gaijins only. Who needs all those racist a-holes outthere, fun stuff like that.

The point is IF anyone is going to get a Mac, they'll be better off with the Apple's credit plan instead of dropping a bunch of yen on them. The credit company will probably negotiate with Apple on their behalf when Acts of Steve Jobs happen.

[gazelle]

I'd wait till next spring when the 2nd generation of SSD MacBook Pros come out. I looked at the 1st gen models previously, they're nice but, very pricey, they're much lighter and run a lot cooler than the current MacBooks do, have upgraded video and audio as well as other features that make these models potentially a good buy from next year. Next year will also see the implementation of UEFI which will replace BIOS and the subsequent changes in computer memory and implementation. AND, considering that there will be a 20% drop in price on these new computers and a 50% decrease on 3rd Gen iPads from next spring, I'd wait.

Have the stuff you are saying doesn't make any sense at all. Zero.

I agree with the waiting idea - UEFI could change things a lot. However, for the price of a MacBook Air you could have a Win 7 desktop AND laptop.

Seems the consensus is to wait, and having just found out what UEFI is I think I agree

Yes I noticed, info on UEFI everywhere, no real introduction plan. Just maybe 2011.....

UEFI? The hell are you people smoking?? Apple's been using UEFI for almost 4 years lolol:

http://apcmag.com/intel_to_make_majo...nouncement.htm

Besides, just get an SSD, way more beneficial to the end user than UEFI is/could/will ever be.

The best way for anyone to buy a Mac is through the Apple Store using their credit plan. I Bought my daughter's MAcBookPro and totaly jazzed it up and am paying 9,857yen a month (for 30 months) unfortunately it got facked by water damage by her leaving it on next to an open window. Act of God and Apple voided the warranty and the Apple Care Plan I had bought for it, to be honest I can't blame them as they have agreed to fix it for 51,450 yen (now I am wondering, after they fix it will my Apple Care plan be good again) talking with the finance company about that. UEFI (rumors) will be good if it ever comes out but not for a couple of years.

Next Mac I 'm buying is a Mac Pro 12 core and jazz that monster to the max.

Your AppleCare is voided for good, and they will prorate a refund for your remaining AppleCare.

The point is IF anyone is going to get a Mac, they'll be better off with the Apple's credit plan instead of dropping a bunch of yen on them. The credit company will probably negotiate with Apple on their behalf when Acts of Steve Jobs happen.

Don't count on that; you got lucky and that's not the norm. The price of AppleCare and being careful will be far less than the interest spread out over 2.5 years on a horribly depreciating liability.

Overall, if you are a techie who is into customization you may find Mac inhibiting. That is the tradeoff for stability and security. Don't do it.

It's not inhibiting; it is idiotproof, but underneath is just as complex a framework as Windows. If you know what you are doing, and take the time to learn, you can really mess with OS X (or ____ it up) just as you can with Windows.

Language input is awesome compared to my Windows XP.

Agreed. Language input on Windows is a MAJOR ____ up on Microsoft's part. I say that as a fan of Windows, FWIW.

[ghostrider]

If you have quite a bit of money to blow, I'd get a Mac. Otherwise, try Ubuntu Linux on a cheaper PC. I've been using Linux for quite a while. You can customize the hell out of it, but it takes more work. Runs smoothly. Safer than Windows. Compiz gives you the basic visual effects you'll find in OS X and Windows 7 and a ton more. Of course, Linux is notorious for lacking in software, so you'll still need Windows 7 installed (in virtual mode or separately, dual booting) for things like iTunes. That's about the only time I use Windows anymore. Also, OpenOffice doesn't run well on my computer, so I'd prefer to use Office if I had it. However, if you have a Mac, you can run all 3 fairly easily. Running OS X on a PC isn't easy.

[Rewind]

I agree with ghostrider.

It doesn't have to be Ubuntu though, there are loads of different Linux distros out there. I am currently using Linux Mint, which is basically the same as Ubuntu, with a few subtle differences.

Don't let the fact that Ubuntu is free put you off; it is the most powerful, customizable, and networkable OS out there by a very very long way.

Regarding iTunes; I have it running perfectly in Linux Mint, without the need to run it in Virtualbox. I do have Windows 7 installed in Virtualbox, but that is for other more nefarious reasons

I have Photoshop CS5, MS Office, .NET framework, etc all running native.

The update manager and synaptic software manager alone are worth the install!

I have the main OS in English, with Korean, Japanese, and Thai all installed in the same ibus system, and the integration is the best I have used on any platform.

And it is all FREE.

[Rewind]

Compiz gives you the basic visual effects you'll find in OS X and Windows 7 and a ton more.

Yeah; show me a 9 screen wide, 3D rotating desktop with full animated background on a Mac or Windows box, and I will eat my hat!