KTW

what's better and why ? lets get a conversation on this issue going. I would go with PC for this one because its much cheaper and...well I just prefer windows to OSX. what are your thoughts on this ?

lunatic59

Let's see ...

Neither "just work". Both are equally expensive if you spec comparable hardware. Both will run most major applications and either will have an alternative for the minor ones. Here's the two major differences as I see it.

1. With a PC you have more choice in terms of hardware configurations. You can walk into a Best Buy or order online and you can usually find a PC configured with exactly the hardware you want.

2. Because of #1 a PC will come with a "bloatload" of software pre-installed, either by the manufacturer or because the manufacturer was paid to include it.

It's a tired old discussion that after a decade of internet discussion has only served to increase the digital noise on the interwebs. If you just buy what you like and let everyone do the same, the world will be a happier place, except for the tech bloggers, who thrive on stirring up this kind of stuff.

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B2L

I can't say I like one more than the other. Both OS's are great. My Macbook Pro is really nice and will do somethings much better than my PC. And in other situations it's the other way around. I am going to have to agree with Lunatic on this one, buy what you like.

SamuraiBigEd

I must correct my esteemed colleague Lunatic on one point, a comparable Mac will be considerably more than a PC of similar specification. My system which would retail in the neighborhood of $2500.00 from a manufacturer would run over $5000.00 for a similarly equipped Mac.

As I have said before, I don't really have anything against Mac products except for price and inability to build your own, at least now that they run Intel processors, before that they were overpriced toys. My problem is with the company and hopefully now that Jobs is gone that will change for the better.

As far as the OS's go, I prefer Windows despite its bad rap. It has been my experience whenever I worked on a system that had crashed it was the users fault 99% of the time. I have had very few issues with Windows personally because I took the time to learn how to use it, which the average user won't and this is where OS X excels, it brings it down to the lowest common denominator so the computer illiterate can use it without worry.

Many of the claimed advantages of Mac's over PC's are untrue, graphics and CGI being prime example. You will hear the argument from the Mac crowd that they are somehow mysteriously far better at CGI than PC's are and all CGI in Hollywood is done on Mac's only. I have personally experienced this argument many times, and once when I showed a particular Mac devotee the Netter Digital site where it was stated that Babylon 5 was rendered on 19 (iirc) daisy chained PC's running a Unix variant designed specifically for CGI he stated "BS, the website was hacked to say that"! Funny thing is they were still using Motorola processors at the time we had the discussion. The fact is the limiting factor for CGI is the OS now that both run Intel processors and Windows has a slight edge in number crunching potential over OS X but they are both overshadowed by Unix.

The point I am trying to verbosely reach it is a matter of preference, try them both. Neither OS is ideal for everyone and much of your choice should be dictated by what programs you use and what OS they are available for. I do a lot of photo editing but still stick with Win 7 because I prefer it despite what many people say is the better OS for editing.

Also listen to the reasonable people on either side and avoid the rabid fanboys!

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lunatic59

This is a slippery slope upon which we are about to tread, so first let me get my spikes on .

This is a very common argument in favor of PC's that bears closer examination. On the surface a dual core 2GHz Intel Processor with 4 GB ram and a 500 GB hard drive, coupled with a 23" budget display might look similarly spec'ed, but if one is running a Celeron with no-name Taiwanese ram chips an a 5200 rpm WD drive, it would cost considerable less than a PC with an IPS display using an Core i3, Corsair Vengance DDR3 and a 15,000 rpm Seagate Cheetah. What I am suggesting is to take each component in a Mac and try to match it as closely as possible to a PC component. Do that, and I think you'll find the difference much less.

A couple of years ago I did that just as an example and I think it still holds pretty true.




What is true is that the way you can spec a Mac is limited by what Apple offers. Currently you have the Macbook/air for laptops, iMacs/mini for consumer models and Mac Pro for workstation class machines. If you need expansion for any reason, even the basic Mac Pro is prohibitively expensive starting at $2500.

What I am saying is that the cost, component for component, is a wash between platforms, but if you need even one component not offered on a base model, Apple forces you to buy a highly over-spec'ed machine to get it.

SamuraiBigEd

I do not have the original comparison from when I built my first I7 system (which I found necessary for HD video editing) but I actually looked into a Mac with the same specs/capabilities and it came out over $6000.00 where as I built mine for approximately $1800.00. Similar PC's were running around $2000-2500.00 from a manufacturer. I guess it is the difference between a basic system and a high end that makes the difference.

I stand somewhat corrected, by a Lunatic no less...

My first I7:
I7 920
Asus P6TD Deluxe
6 Gigs Mushkin Blackline
2 750g WD Caviar Blacks
EVGA GTX470
Sony DVD-R
Coolermaster Silent Pro 1000w PSU

SUroot

So what defines a pc? Macs use the exact same hardware now. So its a mac if it runs Mac OS, otherwise its a pc?

Imho it goes like this for my own preference and opinion, top being best.

Linux
Windows
Vtech
Fisher price
Speak and spell
MAC

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p1r4te

so true suroot.
imho the list should go like this:
Linux
Windows
Vtech
Fisher price
Speak and spell
calculator
sticks
........
........
MAC and all apple products.

SUroot

I do like a good stick

baillou2

I'm no Mac fan but I think it's unfair to be so disparaging. There's a reason why Apple is so successful. They make elegant and user-friendly products. And for most people that's all they need.
Personally I'm devoted to Linux. I can't really stand Windows or Mac OS. But as many have said, it's a matter of preference.

To be more precise I would say that Apple offers impressive hardware, and I do sometimes want a macbook. But I could never give money to Apple, and I would have to wipe the OS and install Ubuntu or some other distro.
What I would really like to see is some other hardware manufacturer offer a laptop of equal quality and attention to detail and minimalism. It would the awesomest thing ever if System76 took a lesson from Apple and tried to do it for opensource.

johnlgalt

Each has its merit. Personally, though, I prefer Windows (b/c so many ppl use it and thus it keeps me in a job) or *nix (because I can buy better hardware from the money I save on software).

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And here's the ultimate answer:

mac_pc.jpg

9to5cynic

I lol'd. Very nice.

But I agree, if not for my lackluster dial up internet (and no compatable linux driver) I'd be pretty much solely linux. My netbook has never been more fun.

Put fedora on it to try it out when the new one was released, and it's been getting used constantly. I do miss a couple of windows only games (though, besides fallout, I forget which ones they were (cheap-o trialware download games lol) - and I'm sure that'll run in wine).

---

My recommendation would be to either build a pc or try and buy one pre-built w/o the OS and try linux. Of course, you'll need a disk to install from .
But then I release, that this wasn't actually a "what do I do/get" thread and I may be venturing off topic.

andruoid

There are 2 types of lego in this world:

Apple Lego:
Everything is predetermined and made the way they want you to use their product. You are an 'assembler'.



Linux Lego:
Everything is up to you and how you want things to work. Learn to use your imagination and construct your ideal system. You are the 'creator'.

Slug

I find expression of "hate" towards a computer OS distasteful and mildly disturbing. A computer is merely a tool, as is the software run on it. The important part is what you do with it. For gamers the obvious choice is Windows. For developers and many others it's some flavour of Linux. Some people may prefer Macs.... so what? Each can say with some validity that their choice is "better" for them.

I use Windows. I've never used Macs and only briefly tried several Linux distros. For my uses Windows is by far the "better" choice. However I'm seriously considering a Macbook Air as an addition to my photography kit because it looks to be the "best" choice for that purpose.

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SamuraiBigEd

I still have not found anyone who can provide concrete reasoning as to why a Mac is better for photo editing than a PC. Your choice of editing software has a far bigger impact than the system you are using.

Once again it boils down to personal preference on the OS, if you are comfortable with Windows use that, there is nothing a Mac can do editing wise that Windows can't. If you prefer OS X then by all means use it, Photoshop and Lightroom are available for both.

Personally, I would put the money in a higher end Windows laptop.

zuben el genub

I thought that Sun Graphics was the leading edge in graphics at one time. The developers for the visual software for some of the Mars Rovers used Sun rather than Apple.

The main difference between Mac and PC for graphics was the display. Font sizes appeared differently due to display resolution. Otherwise, identical. I was the lone PC/Canon user in a class full of Mac/Epson users.

I've had only one system, and that has been upgraded and updated since I got it. I bought it used and then ordered the stuff I wanted in it. I don't have to deal with OEM crap.

I've taken the 2 special software boxes offline, since the software I'm using prefers XP in one instance, the other kept wanting to call home for no reason. It didn't need to as it was mostly advertising.

The all purpose computer is Ubuntu. I'm not paying for all the extra junk they are putting in Windows that I don't want and can't get rid of.

lunatic59

In a word calibration. Monitor calibration and printer calibration. In the early days of Photoshop (version 3.0) the tools were simply not there for decent Windows monitor calibration. Couple that with the fact the majority of PC were sold with 16-bit video cards, getting color to display accurately was next to impossible if you were going to a CMYK print model.

That has all been moot since CS1, but the perception persists. It's the same incorrect reasoning that leads people to the conclusion that Macs makes you creative, or that if you are a creative type you have to use a Mac.

Frisco

Plus, Linux distros are available for both Microsoft OSs and Macs. Why hate something that you can completely change? You can even install on a separate partition, etc.

The possibilities are too varied to hate either Mac or Windows stuff.

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Slug

Which will likely weigh more and take up more space. I don't need a desktop replacement, especially when I'm backpacking in to remote locations. I do however need to run Lightroom to catalogue, keyword and do basic post-processing, as well as back up what may turn out to be unrepeatable images. My purpose is quite unique, as you see, and right now an MBA appears to be "better" at fulfilling that purpose.

SamuraiBigEd

Then you have found your solution!

Have you looked at the Asus Zen Books? Awesome, light and thin! (not trying to change your mind, just really impressed with them)

On edit: You might really want to check out the Asus Slate, this thing is a beast of a tablet PC capable of running Photoshop CS5. Touchscreen is awesome when dealing with photos.

Last edited by SamuraiBigEd; December 30th, 2011 at 09:11 AM.

SamuraiBigEd

That makes sense, and yes it is a moot point now, I have a nice little Spyder 3 Pro sitting right next to my monitor.

Slug

Exactly the point I was trying to make. It's my solution.... probably wouldn't suit many others but for that it's perfect. Choice is good!

Only online reviews, not sure if they're available over here yet.

SUroot

I hate Mac OS. I hate it in the same,way I hate the government. It's not a fatal hate (wishing something dead) and perhaps the term is overused, yet its the term I choose to coin.

I have my reasons for "hating". Usually because people I come across blindly call it the best which as you touched on slug, it may be for them but that oddly is never their argument. It's always better, period.

In an all round perspective, from me as an IT Professional, I believe it not to be. I dislike using it and I dislike supporting it. It just doesn't do what I need it to do. I say dislike but again, hate is what I would usually use. I have a severe dislike towards it and I find "hate" portrays this quite well.

Yes I can change it on my own system but then why did I spend an inordinate amount of my hard earned cash on a mac? Can I change an entire global design departments use of mac to a more tangible OS in support terms?

*shakes magic 8 ball*

All signs point to no.

KTW

Linux, windows and OSX I think its called ? but what on earth is Vtech....is it a taking service ? as for Fisher price and speak and spell...are you sure you are not making this up ? if these are real, are they OSS ?

Last edited by KTW; December 30th, 2011 at 09:44 AM.

SUroot

All 3 are manufacturers of children's educational toys (electronic).

Fisher price and speak and spell go back certainly as far as when I was a child. Vtech, probably only the last 10 years

Last edited by SUroot; December 30th, 2011 at 09:54 AM.

KTW

I wouldn't mind trying linux but I can't find it at the shops even though its open source software (OSS)
I'm currently using windows XP...yes, I was a gamer.

how do I get and install linux, is it easy ?
I am almost a complete rookie when it comes to this.

what advantages does it give me over windows ?

lunatic59

Download a popular distro to start like

Ubuntu
Mint
Fedora

You download an ISO image of a live CD and you can boot and install right from the CD. The nice thing about a live CD is you can boot into the OS without altering the OS on your PC if you want to try it out.

andruoid

The majority of different GNU/Linux distrobutions are downloaded and burned to DVD-R. Mint Linux 12 is my favorite and can be found here; www.linuxmint.com You can also save a DVD by installing it on a USB drive via PenDriveLinux Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux boot up and see if you like it.

Installation is easy with Mint and Ubuntu being the most popular and supported. You'll find the install and updates take a fraction of the time as compared to Windows. All apps you need are available through Software Manager, most are free.

I'd recommend joining the Linux Mint forums as they are very friendly and willing to help all levels of questions.

Last edited by andruoid; December 30th, 2011 at 11:40 AM.

KTW

what is the url to the linux mint forums ?

SUroot

Hahah sorry, but you asked for it...

linux mint forums

zuben el genub

I liked Palm. If you look at some of the astronomy programs, Palm had 2 in its heyday.
Astromist was written for Palm and CE, Planetarium was written for Palm.

Astromist could control a telescope, give you position of Saturn's moons, identify craters on the moon by touch and more. This was done by coding only. You didn't need wifi or a network. And the program ran on the processor and the amount of RAM of the device.

I like Linux, am using 11.04 until I figure out what to do about Unity. I'm one of the ones that don't like it. I did get the old desktop back. I can run Unity, but don't want it.

If the programs are what interests you say editing photos in Gimp or doing spreadsheet and bookkeeping, then why do you need a fancy desktop and icon set? People usually maximize the programs anyway so you don't even see the desktop.

SUroot

Because its nice to have nice looking things

mrspeedmaster

It depends on your use case scenario.

For me, in a nutshell, the answer is you get full-on UNIX w/ all the GNU accutrements and a great AV workstation. My answer is based off my use-case and to answer Pro Photoshop/Lightroom/Video users.

For a single user, a Windows PC will be cheaper to operate for apps like Photoshop, Lightroom, Indesign and video editing. So yes, a PC may work for you. End of answer.

HOWEVER

In a pro-work environment where you need to automate, there is no contest when it comes to designing automated production workflow.

Photoshop has actions scriptiing and batch output but in OSX, you can leverage the power of UNIX behind it and windows has no comparable.

We work with hot-folders and automated processes.

Here is one example:
I work in agency where we get files all the times from clients. A client will FTP a low-res zip to our FTP at 4am (from the other side of the world).

With no interaction on my part, I have daemon cron process that checks the filesystem, retrieves the new zip, unzips it in the background, read the meta-data,ISO/EXIF.
It determines the low-res files are reference only and pulls the high-res files (4-10GB retouched psd).
If the image was shot with a hasselbad using a 20mm lens or a Canon Mark II & a 75mm prime, a back-end scripts using mdfind can pull the correct post-processing alterations.
It then runs Photoshop headless, apply a curve, saves out the files and drops the hi-res into Indesign. When it finishes, it sends the files to various newspaper pub's FTP. An email is sent upon completion.


I never have to even open the file. The whole process is automated. I never clicked on the Photoshop icon or launched the app from my mouse.
This is done w/ rsync, perl, awk, bash, applescript; using GNU userland tools from UNIX.

You might be able to hack something w/ VBscript, Cygwin on Windows but it is gonna be hacky and sloppy. There will be sandbox issues. Good luck trying to vbscript Photoshop to SFTP/curl a file or send you an email.


I get new hires who are pc-fanboys. They talk about the speed of the rigs they built themselves at home. From what I know Sandy Bridgge I7 is single socket. In video, we get 4K RED video files. Mac Pro towers can go dual socket xenons w/ 12 cores so the $1800 I built myself can't compare. Try pricing Dell/HP comparable workstations.
I can leverage the power of 60 mac workstations (240+ cores) from the command line and with tools like Xgrid, Compressor. We tap idle machines very easily. With little bash-scripting knowledge,
you can build your own render cloud/farm. You can use quicktime w/ bash scripts and do cool things like generate poster frames into a contact sheet for art directors to review. Linux (w/ ffmpeg) doesn't have all the proprietary codec supports.


Image batch processing is superior as well. a 10GB (yes, 10 GIGABYTE) single Photoshop file w/ 80 layers will need a PC w/ 48GB of RAM. I guarantee you whatever PC you use, you will need to take coffee breaks between moves. Even w/ a Sata 3 SSD, expect 4-5 minutes just to open the file and another 10 minutes to save.

In OSX, you can you can extract low-res in the terminal using stuff like sips and place in your docs. Since it pulls the resource (part of the file), this takes 30 seconds.
An art director assistant isn't going to need 48GB of ram to review low-res or need to ask anyone to re-save out a jpeg file for review. There a gazillion things you can do in OSX related to pro photo/video/post.
A simple command line, you can extract pages of PDFs into jpegs and dump the text from the PDF into a word doc or a database for searching.

I consulted a catalog client on how to batch their mail-order catalog w/ Indesign, perl,node.js and mySQL.
From a shell script, it loads all the images off the database, opens, and inserts all the product images into new catalog pages and updates their website.

Using windows, the option was to pay $3-4,000 for some 3rd party app w/out all the extra functionality. In Mac OSX, all that is required is the terminal. Everything you need is built in.
I can't do that w/ Linux (no indesign).

In fact, a lot of things you can't do w/ Linux. I've seen examples of guys doing stuff w/ perl and ImageMagick/Gimp/GS/xpdf. You hit a brick wall once you start dealing w/ proprietary file formats/codecs.

A lot of production houses have in-house IT that do nothing but automate. I'm not saying many of this can't be done w/ Windows. It would be very costly and not-out-of-the-box.

If a window user had to open 60 images, check the meta-data manually, retrieve the original hi-res, apply the correct color curve per file instance, re-save them out and FTP the completed files to 40 publications and email 40 different users,
It can take them a good day to do. A script can handle it in 30 minutes or so, that is real metrics that no super-duper $1800 PC rig can do.

BTW, I am split Linux 40%/ Mac 60% at home.

alostpacket

Any thread that ends up with speak and spell pictures is a winner in my book.

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SUroot

$1800? That sounds like a simple challenge. Usd? Aud? What? Macs are majorly over priced so sounds easy to me. Also please supply your mac source. I wont waste time beating a price that isn't proven to be true.


Another question, what can mac do that Linux can't?

zuben el genub

Run Photoshop without WINE.
I don't care for GIMP. Inkscape isn't a bad vector program, but I used to use Illustrator for almost everything at work.

mikedt

'MAC' is cosmetics isn't it? Never heard of Vtech.

One is wondering where OS X might comes in the list?

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Last edited by mikedt; December 31st, 2011 at 07:19 AM.

SUroot

Auto-selection on android.

MAC is an acronym for Media Access Control and it assumes I am typing that. I am typing "Mac" though.

With Windows I didn't specify XP, vista or 7. With Linux I didn't even specify a distro so I think you can already see where OS x comes in that list. Last. Bottom. Worst

mikedt

Ah OK...thanks.

BTW I thought Speak & Spell would have come higher in the list, maybe above Fisher Price. I've seen E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, those things are very versatile.

SUroot

No quite the opposite.

If Fisher price were linux, speak and spell would be puppy linux. Yeah its good, but cut down. If you only have twin 128Kb (yes Kilobit not Kilobyte) ROM though, you havent got a lot of choice and speak and spell is hardware specific. There is only one hardware set you can use and that always includes the TMS5110 speech chip which although good at the time, is now a little dated.

There is of course the Super Speak and Spell which had a better hardware spec. It moved to LCD from VFD. Brilliant.

Remeniz

I prefer Windows machines to Apple ones.

I build my own Windows machines, using high quality motherboards, RAM modules, Cooling, Hard drives and PSU's. A similar spec Windows machine, Tower, can be had for a lot less than a Mac Pro. I do a little audio production work so I built mine, in 2009, for this purpose. The machines I build work flawlessly.

You can't build your own Apple machines, Hackingtosh's aside.

The iMac is a different cattle of fish. The amazing display aside, it's kinda like a laptop with external keyboard and mouse. And even though there's plenty Windows lappy's with better specs they wont have the great screen technology as the iMac, unless you spend the extra on a nice external display, which is the way I would go.

I have a laptop and the first thing I did was do a clean Windows install. I know have a machine clean of bloat and works very efficiently.

I used an iPad the other day and the lack of flash and very little in the way of customisation really, really frustrated me.

I gotta say though. My neice got a 5 year old black Mac Book for free that didn't work (dead hard drive). So I got a new hard drive, upgraded the RAM to 2GB while I was at it, and with the OS it added up to £150. That's a nice price for a nice machine and the thing is very well built!

In the professional world I can see why one would use Apple hardware; purely down to peer pressure and the software you have to use.

Last edited by Remeniz; December 31st, 2011 at 08:51 AM.

mrspeedmaster

My point is those who compare their $1800 rigs are doing a disengous job of proving their point.
A $1800 i7-2600K sandy bridge rig will not compare to a Dual Hexacore (dual socket 6 core/12 total) rig.

Sandy Bridge i7s are not XEON. End of conversation.

If you want more specifics.

Mac Pros run XEON CPUs.
The 12 core box runs Xeon X5570 cpus. (Intel® Xeon® Processor X5570 (8M Cache, 2.93 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI))
The CPU themselves run $1500 or $3000 for 2 socket ones.

I don't know where you can build your own dual socket Westmere Xeon X5570 box from a brick retailer.
Can you buy a Westmere motherboard from Frys?
The cheapest mo-bo is $400 @ New Egg: Newegg.com - SUPERMICRO MBD-X8DA3-O Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5520 Extended ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5600/5500 series processor

So the $1800 i7 Sandy Bridge "I built myself" white boxes are not comparable.

Motherboard and CPU alone at New Egg is already $3400. We have not even added a video card, case, memory yet.

Some source:
$1448
Newegg.com - Intel Xeon X5570 Nehalem 2.93GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 95W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80602X5570
Intel Xeon X5570 Nehalem 2.93GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 95W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80602X5570
The Mac Pros are not Sandy Bridge consumer level i7.
TWO X5570 cpus are already $3000.

I just built i7 2600K build @ $1200. It is fast for my need but when I tried opening a 12 Gigabyte photoshop psd file, I can see where the $7000 mac rigs have their value.


I just gave some examples that you didn't care to pick up on.

1) Run Photoshop headless using GNU userland tools w/ full transparent automation and ubiquity
2) Run Indesign headless w/ automation.
3) Handle proprietary codecs/file formats using GNU UNIX tools w/ out major hacks or questionable issues.
E.G. set up a plug-n-play render farm that can generate transcoding of 4K HD red .r3d video

Heck, in short, just the ability to run Photoshop natively without emulator/virtualization or hacks like wine.

Macs are 100% certified UNIX (Register of Open Branded Products) with the ability to handle proprietary files and formats.
Linux is great but there is no: Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Indesign.
You can't use tools like GIMP to replace Photoshop because GIMP (for 10 plus years) does not support CMYK colorspace required by professionals.

I use Linux all the time and I use Macs. I use whatever platform provides me with the tools I need. I manage about 40 Linux servers both real and VM in the cloud running specific tasks.
Linux is a great cheap server OS. There are great tools. I have a cluster of Linux machines coordinated just to use FFMPEG fully threaded across cores but sometimes, I need the power of Quicktime
when it comes to proprietary file codecs like RED video (used by Hollywood) or ProRes422.

Macs are like a better, polished Linux Distro but it has a BSD UNIX core with the ability to run pro apps used in Windows. Windows is cheap but as any Linux user knows, it does not have POSIX GNU tools built in natively.

johnlgalt

While your post is informative, the tone of it is also very condescending - let's keep our cool and the discussion angst free, OK?

SamuraiBigEd

mrspeedmaster, thank you for the informative posts. I can see where it can be advantageous in your particular scenario but you are stepping out of the realm of the average consumer which is kind of where the base of this discussion lies.

Interestingly Canon listed the minimum requirements for H.264 video editing as a single I7 or dual Zeons which would intimate that a single Zeon was not comparable to an I7. This was when the I7's first came out and I think it may have been more of a lateral product comparison, I have not kept up with the recent Zeon progress. I am considering a dual Zeon machine in the near future though, I have been using my rig as an all purpose unit and want to switch it to my gaming/general system and build one for creative work only.

Last edited by SamuraiBigEd; December 31st, 2011 at 03:19 PM.

SUroot

Couple of points if you will allow me to expand, my question about what macs can do that linux cant was genuine, Im new to linux. I did pick up on your points but I wanted more elaboration so thank you for that.

In regards to XEON versus i7, thats really a no brainer. However my earlier point (before you posted) was that hardware like for like in a mac will cost more than a non-mac so my reasoning here is give me the price of the mac pro with that spec and I'll show you a non-mac, same spec, cheaper. i7 is irrelevant.

SUroot

He is a mac user.

I Kid I kid, couldn't resist

zuben el genub

Neither Linux nor Mac can run machine embroidery software.
Pfaff used to have a Mac program but dropped it after the 1475 model. After that, it was Windows only and a lot of it really prefers XP.

Just recently, someone did bring out an embroidery/editing program for the Mac. Otherwise Mac owners had to run Parallels.

brotherswing

Slackware. All the way.

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AngelArs

Oh no, not another Mac VS PC thread

Where's the Coke VS Pepsi thread?

Aside from the fact that OS X Lion is lightyears ahead of the update of Vista, oops I mean Windows 7, there are many ways to look at this question. You need to be specific as to what you mean by 'better'. Some things about Windows can be better. Some things about Macs can be better. Plus some hardware for windows can be adiquite and some can be crap. That's why these threads make no sense. They aren't specific enough and one person uses it in one context, while another person uses it in another. Should be fun until the proverbial closing of the thread

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Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rapper to enjoy it.