Broadband Tech > General Questions > Ready to dump Windows, is Mac or Linux better for me?

reply to systemq

Re: Ready to dump Windows, is Mac or Linux better for me?

reply to systemq
Mac.

I'm a Linux server admin by day and my desktop is Mac. Why? Just as reliable but way easier to use and get support for. Yes, Linux is getting better but Mac is there today and will be there going forward.

I have a Red Hat Desktop for work and it works well, but things are just harder and take more work to do. Since it has an Nvidia card whenever there is a kernel update I have to re-install the video drivers to get X to work. With my Mac it just works.

That being said, I've got Linux Mint on an old Netbook at home and it's quite good. However upgrades are more of a rip and replace rather than a true upgrade like OS X.

Don't get me wrong, I love Linux and it's rock stable and flexible for the server side. It's getting there but not ready yet for the Desktop.

Macs come with great photo management out of the box - iPhoto is good, Aperture is paid but great. You can do Photoshop or another great app called Pixelmator. GIMP is about all there is for Linux and, IMHO Sucks the big one.

Yes, Macs can be expensive as they really don't compete at the bottom of the barrel. But like everything else you get what you pay for. I'm typing this on a 2008 Macbook Pro that still works as the day I bought it and will most likely for another couple years.

reply to systemq
Just a thought OP, but I couldn't understand if you were dead set on a desktop or if you would be considering a laptop from your initial post. Do you have an preference? I know thinkpads are very robust. You could dual boot windows and linux on one, if you wanted to. Just a thought like I said.

reply to systemq

Re: Ready to dump Windows, is Mac or Linux better for me?

reply to systemq
Mac Mini - Baseline, no upgrades except the CPU and GPU to your taste. DO NOT BUY THE RAM AND HARD DRIVE upgrades from Apple go the NewEgg route and DIY.

If you have a legit registered copy of Photoshop, you can do a crossgrade. Call up Adobe CS tell them you want to do a crossgrade since you will be switching from Windows to OS X. Youll pay a small fee and they will mail you the discs and give you a new serial for OS X.

reply to systemq
Linux will be ok but a lot can go horribly wrong quickly. It is still not "old personable" yet.

OS X however is. The downside is the upfront cost.

For photoshop you'd have to trade the license to OS X or emulate PS on linux.

Find a college student and buy a mac through them. There is a pretty good discount. Maybe throw the college kid a few bucks for their time and such.

reply to systemq
It's less about the OS and more about the applications you need or want to use. If you have to use Office (because Excel really is the best spreadsheet, for example), then you'd either use Office for an Apple OS or maybe install it with Wine on Linux (can you do that? ). I think GIMP does a great job compared to Photoshop, but others don't agree. However, most of the alternatives to what you use now you can try out on your current system. The OS differences you should be able to learn in short order. Having said that, I'd go with a Linux distro--any one of them, all of which you can try out for free (unlike crApple*).

(*As you can see, I'm no fan of Apple. They're even more "controlling" than M$.)

reply to systemq
Most of the reviews here are pretty accurate.

If you're willing to pay through the nose for a minimal maintenance computer, go with the Mac. You'll buy your hardware and your software, but you won't have to screw with it.

If you want to set this up yourself, save yourself a ton of cash, and still have a pretty solid out-of-box experience, go with Linux Mint.

Just because you'll need some help, doesn't mean you'll be left alone. I would strongly recommend Linux Mint for yourself if you go the Linux route. I would also strongly suggest staying away from the big box retailers and price the stuff out yourself (but not by yourself).

We have a Hardware forum that is fantastic at finding out exactly what you need and hitting a price point that works for you. Even though you don't game, there are still a lot of cheapo free games for Linux and there are some more serious ones that work under an emulator with some work.

There are tons of support forums on the Internet that help people like you out. Linux Mint was built literally for the uninitiated. Software like Libre Office and photo editing software exist on the initial install.
--
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -MLK

reply to J E F F
I bought a Windows 8 laptop two months ago. i7 processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HD... Cost was $830. The equivalent Macbook would have been $2000.

So for the cost of a Macbook, I could have had TWO Win8 laptops, with enough money left over for a few gourmet meals!

Sorry, but I don't see the justification in charging a 140% premium.

You get a shiny aluminum body and a light up apple logo! AND you get to support the company that lead the charge in making unlocking phones illegal. How is that *not* worth $1170 more? /sarcasm.

reply to Bob
uh, no?

13" public pricing is $1,600. No one pays retail at Apple.

$1,450 edu or business.

15" was $2000 Black Friday sale. Normal price was $2100.

reply to Mike
Still about 75% more. Not to mention only a 13 inch screen vs a 15 inch screen.

reply to systemq
Go with Linux, you can run it on yor existing computer. I personally prefer Linux Mint with the Mate desktop.

reply to Mike

reply to systemq