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Getting a new computer: Apple?

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grams.
Posts: 7406 - Karma: 186
 I know a lot of you will just answer "yes". Because more than the majority of NS are obsessed with Macs. I'm gonna be honest I'm really not that computer savvy when it comes to specs and whatnot. I am aware of a lot of the things macs off though, and my home computer now...sucks.

So basically I need some guidance here. This will be replacing my home computer, so not a macbook or anything. So I'm thinking about the iMac. I have tons of music on my computer now, don't do too much editing but I do enjoy just fooling around with stuff when I'm bored. Since this is a home computer, there will be maybe 2 or 3 people using it at other times.

So should I just opt for the most affordable option?

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1 GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT
-128 MB memory

Excuse my noobishness, I'm not very familiar with Macs yet and kind of just getting into it.

Thanks!








  
Jul 18 2008 12:12PM
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skinnylove
Posts: 6807 - Karma: 167
I'm in the same situation and asked about the same thing.

Many people said even that, is way too much computer for me and that I will never use it to it's full potential. It has also been said that you could build a PC of the same level for much cheaper than the Mac.

That being said, I still think I'm going to go for the cheapest iMac because of it's visual appeal and capabilities (if I ever need them).
Jul 18 2008 12:16PM
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grams.
Posts: 7406 - Karma: 186
^Yeah, I've considered just building up a PC for cheaper that has the same capabilities. But to be honest, I don't know enough about it all to tell someone what to put in, even though they could probably help me out a lot. A mac seems to just have it all though, I don't have to worry about it. Even if its too much computer for me or it's just unnecessary, if I ever need to do something, I'll most likely be able to do it on a mac.
Jul 18 2008 12:19PM
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skinnylove
Posts: 6807 - Karma: 167
Exactly my situation too. And the interface is better IMO, it's more of an all in package then if you were to build a PC or even buy a PC. Unless someone convinces me otherwise somehow, right now to me it's a Mac FTW.
Jul 18 2008 12:21PM
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Grodent87
Posts: 361 - Karma: 15
Yeah that sounds good but I would maybe bump up the RAM to 2 GB. It's a lot cheaper than what apple charges and 2 gb will just allow you to have better performance in many areas. The resource hog that many applications are, coupled with the amount of RAM Mac OS X uses, 2 GB will make you much happier. But definitely good overall choice and you should be happy with your decision.
Jul 18 2008 12:23PM
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saucybiscuits
Posts: 2554 - Karma: 173
macs are a great computer with a lot of the apps already installed and it's just a monitor. none of that huge bulky shit under the computer that comes with pc. and, everything works together. like iPhoto and iTunes automatically like sync together to put songs and pictures on your iPod.

i wasnt that savvy with computers either, but ive had my mac for like 8 months and you start to get a lot of stuff

BUT....... the internet connection kinda sucks. its not like terribble, but sometimes it just cant open certain websites.

so, i love my mac. sometimes the internet gets a little frustrating, but it is a super cool computer. if you are afraid you wont know how to use it, dont be just fuck around with it and ull figure it out
Jul 18 2008 12:27PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
macs are good if you want to get ripped off
Jul 18 2008 12:53PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
do not build a pc. get the imac. yes you may never need all that power but you are paying for quality. with a mac you won't need to get a virus protection program, it comes with an ok video editor, iphoto is great for organizing your pictures, and lets be honest, if you are going to build a pc then that would mean you would be putting vista on it and vista is just not good. so spen the extra money and go for the mac, you will not regret it
Jul 18 2008 2:16PM
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-Nick-
Posts: 1479 - Karma: 24
just get a mac and you wont regret it
Jul 18 2008 2:19PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,890
if you don't know much about computers, you may as well buy a Mac, for the same reasons people buy iPods even though there are better mp3 and video players out there. you won't need a better computer if you don't know what to do with it, so just get the Mac.
Jul 18 2008 2:36PM
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skinnylove
Posts: 6807 - Karma: 167
For the average user, a Mac and iPod is the simplest thing. There is no easier mp3 played out there. Putting songs and media onto it is so simple and easy for non-high tech people. Same idea with the Mac.
Jul 18 2008 2:39PM
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First.Aid
Posts: 556 - Karma: 10
Building a computer doesn't mean you have to put Vista on it.... 

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=368&name=Operating-Systems
Jul 18 2008 3:00PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,890
precisely my point. if you don't know shit, buy Apple products, because they're so simple a 3-year-old could use them.
Jul 18 2008 3:09PM
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Justin.B
Posts: 2257 - Karma: 721
A really big bonus with macs is that the virus protection software it comes installed with is like jesus proof. Its really good. you will never get a virus causing for a long lasting, fast computer.
Jul 18 2008 3:23PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,890
that pretty well describes your average Mac user. not saying all Mac users are incompetent, but a lot of them are.
Jul 18 2008 4:22PM
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ben802
Posts: 565 - Karma: 16
first of all. there is like one virus that even exists for apple computers....so you have a VERY small cahance of getting a virus anyways. and also....get a mac. you can now do literally everything on a mac that you could on a windows. you will not regret it. the reason NS is on apples dick is because once you get a mac you notice how amazing it is. you cant really understand until you have one.
Jul 18 2008 4:23PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
The reason Mac users "don't get viruses" is because noone has made any serious viruses for Mac, not because their virus protection is super-duper compared to Windows. If noone makes a virus, you won't get one!

People are starting to develop Mac malware now too, so watch out. There was a Mac trojan being distributed until not too long ago. And apparently some guy has developed a hack to all computers running on Intel chipsets, regardless of OS (in other words, that includes Mac). http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39448046,00.htm
Jul 18 2008 4:27PM
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philipc
Posts: 6651 - Karma: 1,286
macs are way expensive.... the only reason im getting oneis my major is graphic design/ minor digital media.... and im gonna be using final cut.......... it seems like a waste of money to get one if your not really into photogrophy/graphic design/video
Jul 18 2008 4:29PM
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skithedirt
Posts: 1759 - Karma: 382

cant play jibbin on a mac

Jul 18 2008 4:47PM
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tigon
Posts: 131 - Karma: 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE
Jul 18 2008 4:53PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
Uggggg, another shitty Mac thread? Zzzzzzz. Anyone down do develop mass viruses for Macs? Apple fan boy tears make me happy.
Jul 18 2008 5:10PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
wow way to make sweeping generalizations about all mac users being incompetent... Just because something is easy to use, doesnt mean that if you are good with computers, that you shouldn't get it (just for that reason).

obviously they are more expensive, but im not going to complain, because honestly, i can afford it and i haven't had 1 problem at all with it. ive never done a virus check or anything and it runs just as well as the day i got it. i like stuff that i can buy and it works without much maintenence. I like the Mac OS better as well, but i like windows enough that i installed it on a partition on my HD. (which btw, apple made way easy with bootcamp- the hardest part is installing windows. now im not saying its any harder on Windows to partition, i jsut have no clue how).

it was faster for me while doing video editing and photoshop than windows ever was (similar, but slightly more pwoerful mac in terms of ram and specs and stuff).


one tip- buy the cheapest one you can and upgrade the ram & harddrive. apple charges way too much for it. i got 4 gb of ram for 75 bucks, and apple charges upwards of 300 i think (for mbp's at least). it wasnt too hard to upgrade that either, just find guides online (although i think it may void warenty)
Jul 18 2008 5:15PM
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Bepo
Posts: 8195 - Karma: 17
i can't wait for the day someone makes a good virus for macs, it'll make me very happy.

you don't need a mac for what you're doing, spend half as much and get a pc that runs just as well. FYI, just because you have a mac it doesn't make you cool, its a computer for christs sake
Jul 18 2008 6:20PM
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durkin.
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 36
duuuude your getting a dell!
Jul 18 2008 6:23PM
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doritos
Posts: 7368 - Karma: 53
Alright... here's what you do. Save yourself some money and get a PC. Everyone on NS has a boner for Macs, but they're way overrated and way overpriced. I haven't had virus protection on any of my computers for ten years, I use them all the time, and I've NEVER gotten a virus. The only people who get viruses are teenage girls who have their heads up their asses, moms who have no idea what a computer is, and prepubescent boys who are straight retarded about their porn. Seriously. It's fucking impossible.

The interface on PCs is about as easy as it gets. It's designed to be easy-to-use if you have Downs Syndrome and Alzeihmer's simultaneously. All you have to do is disable the horseshit (literally five seconds of your time) and it runs like a charm. PCs offer a LOT more bang for your buck. Is not having the tower that is constantly hiding anyways really worth that much money? The answer is no. Don't get ripped off, buy a PC. If you have any questions, I'll answer them.
Jul 18 2008 7:00PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
they're coming
Jul 18 2008 7:00PM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
spend 20-40 dollars on a virus scanner for your windows computer, and save 400 dollars in your pocket. honestly, is it worth spending 400 dollars to have no viruses?
Jul 18 2008 7:01PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
^Btw, you can easily get great virus protection for free on PC. I don't have any at all on both my PC's and they've been fine for the many years I've had them.
Jul 18 2008 7:38PM
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ben802
Posts: 565 - Karma: 16
thats more of a joke on bush's invasion of iraq than oof apple products.
Jul 18 2008 7:47PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
If you have no desire to further expand your mind in the world of computers, get a mac, especially if changing your background and going on facebook and AIM are the most intense apps the machine will face.

If you want to have more power for a cheaper price, and you want to learn how these machines actually work, build a pc.  That or at least buy a nice prebuilt and fuck around with it.
Jul 18 2008 8:28PM
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eLevate
Posts: 2489 - Karma: 49
i disagree wholeheartedly with you above me. A mac, despite the styling or rep is a much more stable os than windows. i purchased my macbook pro with the intentions of editing media, and stability of the base OS is important. Despite this, im a windows guy through and through, so i bootcamp windows xp pro on the same machine. Osx is a much cleaner operating system, and its stable.... windows runs every game ever made, and some useful applications.........my windows box has osx on it...

macs are more pricey. if you have the funding to pay for it, get it. if not, a pc is much cheaper, and either can be configured with both operating systems.
Jul 18 2008 10:57PM
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doritos
Posts: 7368 - Karma: 53
I don't understand how continue to bash Windows for its "stability"? What the hell is unstable about it? I haven't had a single crash in over a year on either XP or Vista. One time I had to do Ctrl+Alt+Del because I tried to run way too many programs at once. That's about it.
Jul 18 2008 11:00PM
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eLevate
Posts: 2489 - Karma: 49
dude, are you kidding? windows xp crashes all the time...
Jul 18 2008 11:03PM
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Six.0.Tree-ski
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 67
idk but my friend fried 2 hard drives on his mac and its not that cheap to fix. i havent had any problems with my pc either..
Jul 18 2008 11:07PM
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doritos
Posts: 7368 - Karma: 53
Uhm... didn't for me. I didn't use the Windows XP that comes with the computer, I took out all the bullshit and made it as lightweight as possible so maybe that was it but... nope, never had any problems. My family's computer did, but that was after about a year of my sister doing stupid teenage girl shit on it constantly for over a year.
Jul 18 2008 11:09PM
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eLevate
Posts: 2489 - Karma: 49
yeh shits broken on mine too... my optical drive died in my laptop and i had to fix it myself becuase it was out of warrantee. not easy at all....it wouldve been with a pc. i also had a screen get broken and had to fix that myself as well. harder than the drive. buy the mac care extended warrantee if  you buy one.
Jul 18 2008 11:11PM
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eLevate
Posts: 2489 - Karma: 49
yeah, adware will do that shit.
 Its just been my experience that under high load osx is much more stable, not to hate on windows at all.
Jul 18 2008 11:17PM
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First.Aid
Posts: 556 - Karma: 10
The only reason my computer has ever crashed was because of hardware failure or my mistakes.  I find Windows to be a stable OS from my experience.

In all honesty, do research, and get what suits you the best.  Go to a big city with Computer stores and shit and try both systems out.  Who buys a car without test driving it?
Jul 18 2008 11:35PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
you could grow some balls and build your own pc but put apples operating system on it. if you're really that much onto apples cock
Jul 19 2008 3:22PM
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MC_
Posts: 692 - Karma: 33
hah, there is absolutely no in-between with macs. you either love them, or are completely against them. I personally love mine. its all preference. Just get one
Jul 19 2008 9:24PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
i dont know man, ive overloaded some g4s and mac pros using some heavy duty rendering shit to the point of just turning the fuckers off, so it is very possible.
ive done it with my pcs, too, so of course they arent exempt.

But all this bandwagon anti-pc shit is pretty comical.
I like macs, but i do like PCs much more. You also get way, way more bang for your buck with a pc desktop than with anything else. You get raped by apple for hardware like nobody's business.
Jul 19 2008 10:24PM
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Duncan*
Posts: 1270 - Karma: 164
i got a mac and its sick...the reason i got a mac is cuz my the pc got messed up (harddrive)
i really do enjoy the editin and photobooth when ur board just go on that and play around...who knows u might want to edit sometime. i wont be worried about the whole "wont use it to its full potenial"stuff.i belive the mac is deffiantly worth the money......but if u no for sure that ur not gonna do editing like 100% u could just get a good pc
Jul 19 2008 10:27PM
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finssidedown
Posts: 509 - Karma: 10
bwahaha.  I plus karma'd




Jul 19 2008 10:53PM
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