I am trying to decide which computer to buy.
Any suggestions or comments regarding brand or model would be appreciated.
I use Windows, and although it isn’t perfect, I never have problems finding the right piece software I need. I know this isn’t always the case on a Mac.
Thank You, reactor, for your prompt reply
I hope to have more replies in order to help my decsion process
I am a PC person, myself. I worked for a multimedia company as a graphic artist and each artist had both a PC and a MAC (G4’s at that time). The MAC was nice, but I never liked it as much as the PC. The main problem, as has been pointed out, is the vast amount of software available for a PC as compared to a MAC. I also like how you can build your own PC from the ground up and swap out parts as you see fit. With the MAC this is a lot more difficult (at least it used to be) and many things are not commonly available for them (at least that is how it was with the G4’s).
Hi rand:
1.-How much I have to buy it?
2.-Main use or purpose
3.-What type of work, include it animation, professional?
4.-Are thinking to work with 3D model reconstruccion like Siligraph workstation?
5.-MAC G5 is super one, dual processor…
6.-PC have brand…and a lot of good machine.
I cant suggest really anyone but the parameters or item above could help…what i want and what i can at this moment. The first i think is how much i have to buy it¡
Thanks for you attention and excuse me with this comments.
Andreseloy
Hi rand, well, this is always debatable due to personal tastes and brand preference, I consider myself a Mac user, but I work on both Windows and Macintosh everyday for about 15 hours, sharing files and peripherials.
Like Andreseloy said (hi Andres!) is a matter of focusing in what you want to do, my personal experience has teached me:
PC do best:
Lot of math, databases, network administration, Great Gaming!, rendering on Maya and Lightwave (I don’t know in Zbrush), web surfing, Office applications like excel and office, and a lot of them are cheaper (not meaning better).
Mac do best:
Photoshop editing, font administration, video and audio editing, Zbrush work flawless and fast, a robust OS with a Unix basement, rendering on Maxon Cinema, have great applications bundled like iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, a solid integration between hardware and OS (because Apple control both) and have a cool and smart design.
Both platforms have the tools to communicate to each other, sharing files is easy, is true there’s more applications to PC, but the major apps are in both worlds and sometimes a bunch of PC apps is not better than a good one Mac app. Almost all printers, cameras and scanners work on both via USB, SCSI and Firewire, but are more easy and simple to setup in a Mac than in a PC.
Hope this helped a bit 
Howdy rand,
I use both.
I’ve been working with both platforms since the 80’s and I prefer the Mac with what I do. I do a lot of artwork and multimedia design on my computers. I use the mac 80% of the time and the PC 20%. I am also a cartoon illustrator.
ZBrush runs beautifully on my Mac. Fast, Fast, Fast!!!
I use my PC mainly for my bookkeeping. There are better accounting software packages available for the PC. But this doesn’t mean that the PC is not good for graphics. They are both good. It all depends on your needs.
This is how you may want to proceed to make a decision. Ask yourself the following questions:
-
What SOFTWARE are you interested in using to meet your needs?
If the software is 3D Max or TrueSpace, for instance, these are only available on the PC platform. So you go with a PC. On the other hand, if the software that you need is only available on the Mac, then you need a Mac.
This is the easy way. -
Now the harder way. If the software you need to use to accomplish your goals is cross-platform (which most of the best software is), then you have some testing, thinking , and research to do.
a. Talk to lots of people about what computer they use, what they do with it, and how they like it. Especially people that use BOTH. (Your posting on this forum is a good start.)
b. If you have access to a PC and a Mac, from a friend or school, try them. Get a feel for how the operating system works. Try your favorite software packages on both platforms. A lot of software are available as DEMOS to try for free.
c. Try to find an UnBiased Computer Users Group in your area that deals with BOTH platforms. Or maybe find one that deals with PC’s and another that deals with the Macs.
Go to the meetings. Talk to them. Ask lots of questions. -
And last but not least, go with what feels better for YOU. The computer that you feel more comfortable with.
When I am using a Mac, it feels different to me then when I use a PC. I feel more in control as an artist on my Mac. But everyone is different. Research, talk to people, try, try and try them some more, and then make an intelligent decision based on THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU WILL BE USING and WHAT FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE for YOU!
I hope this helps!
Regards,
BillHdz
Number three of the post above me strikes a familiar note.
What it boils down to is you will be spending most of your waking hours with it.
More time than with your family.
Most upper end computer stores ( at least the ones in New York) will let you sit down and spend a few minutes on the computers to get the “feel” of them.
If price isn’t an overwhelming issue go “feel around”.
I know several people who have done this and discovered love at first sight.
Good luck with any decision!
If you’ve got a bunch of MAC-users in your neighbourhood, some friends on MAC >>> go get one.
You’ll be spending twice the money for half of the reachable software, but you will need some folks to talk to, DIRECTLY, not via the www.
Hey Rand,
Your question has always been the great debate! Billhdz and bathno have given you probably the best check list you should review.
mac 12 years.
pc user 2 years.
Other issues you might consider are these:
with a pc=
-every week I HAVE/MUST upgrade my anti-virus definitions.
-I am always leary about opening emails and attachemetnts.
-when I get performance issues I cannot manage my applications because every part of the application is thrown into one folder (the abyss).
With a mac=
-there really is not threat of viruses.
-I do not worry about opening emails.
-when my app has poor performance I know I can adjust things in the preference/ extentions folder.
Lastly. I own a small design studio. I use a lot Photoshop and Illustrator, and some 3d work. I bought my pc to run Rhino. Now that I’m not using rhino as much I am truly considering going back to a mac. And yes, you can get the new G5 but you don’t really need too. Unless you are into video the G4 are strong enough and are way cheaper.
This is only my opinion of course…
-Dooki 
Thanks to all of your replies and advice.
I will consider all options and will make my decision based on my needs and budget.
Thanks again,
Would appreciate knowing the final decision.
Yeah, this “debate” continues. Thanks for posting this question. It prompted me to do a Google Search for “mac vs pc”. Got some interesting links. Quite entertaining to read the bashings (on both systems). Everyone is right!
Some are righter.
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7297_16-5122766.html
Over 800 replies to this article.
He used to be more right, now he’s more right.
“-I am always leary about opening emails and attachemetnts.”
Don’t use Outlook, and you’ll be fine. I go through hundreds of emails a day, and over the last five years have only had two viruses. I don’t run any virus protection software.
Beware the new G5’s lots of fan problems and other hardware problems from Apple. Many apple laptop users are seeking class action suits. Plus crap support from Apple.
I had a new G5 for 2 months and sent it back after finding the turn around time for a warranty fix was 5 - 8 weeks, no thanks.
A real shame, as OSX is wonderful.
If PC hardware breaks, its cheap and quick to fix.
It would be nice of you to quote your sources for the Apple G5 problems. That way people can make up their minds for themselves, rather than just taking your word for it.
And I don’t know about the 5-8 week turnaround. We have sent some older iMacs to get worked on, and we got them back in a week. I guess if you just sent them to Apple, way out in California, then that could take awhile, but there are many other authorized Apple Repair centers that are all around the world, and should significantly reduce that repair time. Returning your computer just because of the supposed repair time though is something I find a bit odd.
I wouldn’t go so far as to saying a PC is cheaper to fix either. Maybe a one time repair cost is a good example for a PC being cheaper. But from my experience on both PC’s and Macs, is I have spent a lot less on Mac repair than I have in PC repair, in the long run. Not to say that I haven’t seen Mac systems that are very costly to fix though. We have this one iMac that refuses to function properly, no matter how many times they have replaced the logic-board. So Macs aren’t without their “Stinkers” too.
My only advice to the first poster in this thread is this. You apparently have a computer to post on the internet. So if this is your computer, and you already have software for this computer, you may want to think about sticking with the platform that your current software is running on. It will be costly to switch all of your programs to another platform, so you might want to make your decision based on that.
Have fun!
I’ve come to the conclusion PC is best.
My decision will be based on cost, warranty, GB, speed, and options.
ie: “Biggest Bang for the Bucks”
Now I ask…Which is best? IBM, Dell, or ABS (the list goes on)
Thanks again for all your input.
One criteria: make sure that there will be NO special start-up routine. HP, Compaq and some others used to have main boards equipped with a special chip that did some things to the normal system start. Made managing some content very hard.
Keep it as neutral as possible.