Considerably off topic! PC vs Mac...

[whole diary]

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

the t , w, and indeed the @ keys still work :-)

[thetrout]

As I may have posted before, I work in IT and specialise in Networks/Servers/Desktops. The company I work provide Windows, Linux & Mac systems, but we can also fix them too. Had a Data Recovery job on a dead MacBook Pro which was quite interesting, but I will admit we did outsource that to one of our contractors.

On my home/parents I'm an all Windows/Linux network, on which I run the following bits of kit:

Parents:

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit on Parents PC with Office 2007 Enterprise
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit on Sisters PC again with Office 2007 Enterprise
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise on Server 1, which also runs a Virtual Ubuntu 9.10 Server in VMWare Server. Server 1 also runs Exchange 2010, Acts as a PDC, DHCP, DNS^▸ (Domain Name Service (turns a computer's address into something more relevant)) & WINS Server... I'm just starting to play with biometric authentication as that does impress my mum and sister

Network Connectivity:

Linked together with 2 Belkin 5 port Gigabyte Switches (I despise Belkin equipment, but that was all the budget could stretch to at the time when my beautiful HP Procurve had to be returned to work
Linksys WRV200 Router with VPN to my flat,
Internet = Cisco 2600 Router with ADSL WIC
Wireless a combination of NetGear DG834G's in Conservatory, Shed and Spare room in cluster/repeater mode.

My Flat:

Windows XP on my flat PC with no office suite - purely used for Facebook and work purposes
Server 3 Runs Server 2008 Standard x86 - Runs DHCP, DNS, WINS and is a BDC too!
Laptop Runs Windows 7 Ultimate with Office 2010 Pro Plus!

Network Connectivity is Linksys WRV210 with VPN to Parents house
Internet Access is Linksys AM200 in Bridge Mode
Also Draytek Vigor 2800G used as a Wireless AP and Switch!

All using legal licensing of course... courtesy of Microsoft's Worst Kept Secret... the wonderful MS Action Pack

The maintanance on the system is low, the servers just sit there and do their thing... the only trouble i've had with it is the odd paper jam on the printers, or when a broadband line has gone down... All in all i'm proud of it, it took me long enough to get it to a state in which I am happy with and years of investment...! in all honesty it's still a work in progress, but now it's just little things like attempting to share the scanner (Proving difficult but possible with 2008 R2) and as I said earlier in the post, playing with biometric finger print authentication

I know what your going to say, hidiously overspec'd LOL^▸ ('laughing out loud')

[TerminalJunkie]

the t , w, and indeed the @ keys still work :-)

[Btline]

Windows Vista and now Windows 7 are moves towards to Mac OSX. You'd be surprised the no of features they nicked, and how they are making user interface, searching, (I could go on) just like a Mac.

But as FA said, it's a poor brother to OSX. Windows are still miles behind.

[devon_metro]

But as FA said, it's a poor brother to OSX. Windows are still miles behind.

Depends if you consider ^800 upwards value for money for a mediocre spec system!

[JayMac]

Indeed d_m. My lastest all singing all dancing PC cost me a total of ^350 to build.

[grahame]

Ah ... I'm seated this morning at a Mac laptop; it gives me a Unix based web server on which I can run and maintain the development and testing version of our main web site, an ability to run most of the software I teach people about, and much more.   Nice graphics, nice interface, projects well, robust to carry around, works easily with many odd things like the 3G dongle without being Windows based (which would mean my test server was less close to my live one than I would wish).  Not a cheap machine, but it makes me effective in my use of time, and it makes me happy which keeps me motivated and at the keyboard for long hours.

I was working with a Linux box earlier, and I'll be training with Windows systems tomorrow ... I'm the first to admit that Windows is my least favoured choice, but if pushed you'll find me admitting that part of that is that I know it far less well and get frustrated by what seem like interminable warning messages, security messages, updates automatically installed ... and the feeling that just as I get to know one version, there will be another to go our and buy!

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

end of the day they both do the job, its not asif one is significantly better than the other once you factor in cost, performance look or feel, the only differance is osx....everything else can be added to a pc which costs more which puts it in the same range as a mac so what price differance,.... guess it comes down to externally a mac looks better !