[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Tokolosh

I'd like to start off by saying that what I wrote wasn't specifically directed at you, "sir".

Expensive? My macs were worth every cent I paid for them, compared it to the pc's I've had. They run without a problem since the day I got them. Never had to format them, and if I experience any little problems whatsoever, I know I can call Apple Care and within a min, I get someone on the line who will sort it out in a jiffy. As for configuring, I don't know what your talking about. The only thing you need extra, are a couple of dimms, a screen, and some software, which you'll pay if you get a pc too.
I don't even want to start on the issue of updates for pc's and where you should put them once you manage to find the right ones to download. With a mac, you don't have to worry about time consuming shit. Now you tell me what will cost you more on the long term.
I say time spent on problem solving, instead of getting down to business.

ha ha-- about the "sir"-- i like to be respectful when i say it's "a load of balls". -- just rhethoric really. a little joke. please don't take it seriously.

yes macs are nice no doubt, as i said in my post i wanted one-- but i cannot justify the premium. if you can, then it makes sense to you. about apple care-- you had to pay extra for it as well, it doesn't come free. other companies offer paid service plans as well, just cos it's called "apple care" and not "tech support" it doesn't make it better.

see the problem i have with this thread is that people are carelessly comparing substandard PCs with good quality Macs. you just can't do that. if you want to run a comparison you need similar quality hardware-- and i say a thinkpad runs circles around a macbook, especially for the money, and if we're talking one of the dell business notebooks (business, not consumer notebooks), the value of the dell is superior, you can buy 2 for the price of 1 mac.

the other problem i have with this thread is that nobody is offering any good arguments in favor of the mac. it's like "im a mac fanboi you should be too". well there are arguments in favor of it and if we were going just OSX vs. Windows i'd say OSX is better-- however, Mac fucks you in the hardware purchase, that's how they make their money.

now, maybe the productivity issue is a problem with certain applications, i don't know. i have no productivity issues with windows. none. all the updates etc are taken care of in the background. i have free antivirus (avg) and firewall (kerio) and never had a problem. ever. but ever. since the inception of xp pro the so-call "windows troubles" are a thing of the past. xp home = shit, winme= crap, win2k=nice but geeky, win98SE=good enough. however xp pro is as solid and trouble free as any OS. what causes problems is substandard cheap crappy hardware that people buy at walmart for $100 and a "free webcam". well of course.

i've NEVER had a problem with my thinkpad and i have never but ever had to call any tech support (nor pay for it), but thinkpads also have paid services you can add to have techs at your beck & call. i've never needed one, dont plan to.

the fact is you pay a hefty premium for the mac. if you have the money and it makes sense to you, i say go for it. but be prepared to lay out the cash. i didn't have $2K for a mac mini-- doesn't make sense to me. but we're still considering the purchase of a mac for video editing. *maybe*. we'll see.

but when you pay a premium for the machine alone you're shirking other items like additional hardware, software, additional video screens, accessories, etc, that are not a trivial expense.