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Thread ID: 79563 2007-05-24 08:42:00 New Laptop Vista vs XP??? echothreezero (6612) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
552687 2007-05-25 06:17:00 You can pretty much run the same Free stuff on a Mac that you are currently running on a PC-judging by the stuff you have listed.

It has just occurred to me that Windows can be run on Macs. This is correct, right? I am not sure if it costs $$ for special software to run a Windows OS, or Windows software.

Mainly I was basing my evaluation (more free software for PC's) on sites such as Download.com. It has been awhile since I checked but there was always heaps more for PC's and very little for Macs.
Strommer (42)
552688 2007-05-25 06:21:00 Windows has been around for nearly 20 years. Unix has been around for getting on for 40 years, and has always had a tradition of free interchange of software. Mac OS X is Unix. Graham L (2)
552689 2007-05-25 06:43:00 It has just occurred to me that Windows can be run on Macs. This is correct, right? I am not sure if it costs $$ for special software to run a Windows OS, or Windows software.

Mainly I was basing my evaluation (more free software for PC's) on sites such as Download.com. It has been awhile since I checked but there was always heaps more for PC's and very little for Macs.

Correct, Windows can run natively on an Intel Mac OS X via either Bootcamp or Parallels, the latter of which retails for about $149 and serves as a very good emulator. I currently run XP Pro under Parallels with no performance drop off at all using 512MB RAM.

While there may not be "millions" of free software apps for Mac, generally what is available is very good and there are a number of sites that have free apps and shareware apps available such as www.versiontracker.com There are also places like sourceforge as well as Apple's own developer centre and a bunch of others.

The bulk of mainstream applications exist for both (Intel and PPC) Mac and PC as they have done since 2000 or earlier.
winmacguy (3367)
552690 2007-05-25 06:52:00 Example:

MacBook Pro


I won't bother looking up the cost for a PC notebook but guess it is $2k or less.

Don't forget to include the equivalent iLife software that comes on a PC which you have to pay for to activate when you do the price "comparison" since the Mac spec price includes the hardware, OS and FREE iLife apps.

For a Mac vs PC comparison site which unfortunately uses a Dell and is done to US$ for comparison you can check out
www.systemshootouts.org
winmacguy (3367)
552691 2007-05-25 07:10:00 Don't forget to include the equivalent iLife software that comes on a PC which you have to pay for to activate when you do the price "comparison" since the Mac spec price includes the hardware, OS and FREE iLife apps.

And what if you don't need iLife? Waht if the inferior programs for PC are good enough?
Greven (91)
552692 2007-05-25 07:21:00 And what if you don't need iLife? Waht if the inferior programs for PC are good enough?

They might well be "good enough", you just have to pay for them to activate them which ads to the cost of the PC.:)

iLife doesn't come in a PC version.;) If you don't want or need anything in the iLife bundle you don't have to use it and since it is free it doesn't matter either way.
winmacguy (3367)
552693 2007-05-25 07:25:00 And what if you don't need iLife? Waht if the inferior programs for PC are good enough?

too true. How many people do you know that use WMM for editing dv footage. what about authoring DVD's in xp there is nothing. A simple photo editor, again nothing.
plod (107)
552694 2007-05-25 07:33:00 Very true there plod, there have been a number of forum posts here with people attempting to edit video footage in Windows Movie Maker only to have it freeze up repeatedly, not to mention people looking for suitable PC applications to make photo based slide shows and add music and burn that to DVD without any problems.... winmacguy (3367)
552695 2007-05-25 08:32:00 what about authoring DVD's in xp there is nothing. A simple photo editor, again nothing.

What about the software that comes free with your DVD writer?
Greven (91)
552696 2007-05-25 08:41:00 What about the software that comes free with your DVD writer?

Not even close.
www.apple.com
winmacguy (3367)
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