A very basic Apple question.

[keithp]

Sorry that this isn't directly about Ubuntu, So I hope that you will excuse me.

As someone who knows almost nothing about Apple computers, and who hasn't an Apple Store anywhere near to find out, please may I ask a very basic question.

I know that, if I had an Apple and installed Ubuntu on it, I would be able to run Ubuntu programs, and the same with Windows. But my question is about Mac's own software.

From what I have read on their web site, it appears that Macs are basically meant for audio/video/photo work rather than for general computing.

Is this correct, please, or am I well off the mark?

They don't appear to supply any literature whatever, which doesn't help!

Many thanks

Keith

[jolx]

mac is fine for general use
its just like windows or any linux distros or unix

if theres software available for it you can install it (see softpedia (http://mac.softpedia.com/))

but apparently macs are more popular for video and audio editing

[mfox]

The Mac is good for pretty much everything you can do in computing, not just a/v. There are a few exceptions where software made for OSX isn't as good or abundant as software made for Windows - gaming and statistical software. But from my own experience, most things you can do on Windows can be done more easily and more elegantly on the Mac, plus the Mac is much safer in terms of viruses, spyware and malware. Linux is also safer than Windows and offers a different kind of experience; a very customizable environment but more difficult for the average user than Mac or Windows if you want anything but what comes standard on a particular distribution. Linux forces you to become more knowledgeable about your computer to get some things done. Some people would find that a hassle; I find it an interesting learning experience.

[keithp]

jolx.

Thanks very much for the reply and the link to softpedia. It has helped to clarify things for me.

I didn't realise that there was such a big selection of free programs to download.

One of these days, I may make the effort and go to my nearest Apple Store to have a look at the range.

Cheers.

Keith.

[keithp]

mfox.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.

Occasionally, I've glanced through an Apple magazine, and the articles have only been about sound and vision. That helped me to be confused!

I don't find the "user friendly" Linux distros too much of a hassle and enjoy trying to get to grips with them. However, my computer is getting rather ancient, so, as I have told jolx, I may have a look at Macs as an alternative to a new PC.

Cheers.

Keith

[mfox]

Keith, one of the neat things about the newer Apple hardware (with Intel processors) is that you can run multiple operating systems, either in single mode (booting from a choice on a menu) or in tandem (running two or more at the same time and even moving files between them). This can be done even on the cheapest Mac system, the Mini. I prefer having multiple operating systems active at times, as I might do one thing on one OS and move the file created to the other OS for use in a different application. My typical example is statistics, where I use a program in Windows on a file created in the Mac and then send the result back to the Mac. But with virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, you can have three or more operating systems (even different Linux distros) and run them anytime as either a window on your Mac or full screen. Macs are great that way!

[stream303]

From what I have read on their web site, it appears that Macs are basically meant for audio/video/photo work rather than for general computing.

Since OSX is based on a mixture of BSD / Mach kernel technologies, you can also get your geek on by calling up the Terminal, and find yourself using much of the same commandline programs Linux or BSD uses, ie the bash shell (among others), nano or vi editors, etc. If you install the X11 component (or add it from your install disks later), you can run a somewhat simple X11 gui environment that coexists with the aqua interface, or run X11 in full screen mode that uses Mac's aqua as the window manager, or you can customize it with your own .xinitrc and run a variety of window managers in full screen mode.

I did that early on, but wanted much more so I installed Linux on it, but it can be done without having to do so.

Most consumers don't have much interest in running an X11 environment, but it is one way that I can run programs such as OpenOffice or Gimp that don't have aqua-native equivalents. (Note that efforts are underway to get an aqua-native version of OO out with ver 3.0 - at least for Intel Macs.)

[HighD]

Macs are great computers! And it is true that they can run multiple operative systems. I have a dual-boot pc running XP and Ubuntu. I can't get rid of XP because I am a developer and use Microsoft's .NET platform (haven't tried Mono yet) and lots of Microsoft products, but some of my friends have mac laptops and desktops and use them for developing too. They have the newer Intel Macs so they install WindowsXP when they need to work on .Net or SQL server. So you see..macs are pretty much good for everything, and so is Ubuntu, just depends on what your approach is to computing.

[the6step]

From what I have read on their web site, it appears that Macs are basically meant for audio/video/photo work rather than for general computing.

It all depends, it depends on what your into, it depends on what budget and how flexible you are, it depends on how much you know about computers, it really just depends..... I could give you much more direction if you were to tell me what how much you know, what your in now and what you want to get into, what your budget is, what you like, what you don't like, it really can hugely differ based on your preferences.

[LaRoza]

From what I have read on their web site, it appears that Macs are basically meant for audio/video/photo work rather than for general computing.



They are known for that, but they don't have a monopoly (Linux is also used for such work). OS X can be used for everyday tasks and Firefox, Opera, VLC, OpenOffice, and other quality free software is available for it.

The only things about Macs are the price (they truly aren't worth it unless you value a Mac) and OS X is rather..static. You aren't going to have Linux's flexibility (but you will have similiar security).

So, the question is, what do you expect it to do, and is it worth the price. If it fulfills your needs and wants, and the price isn't a problem, then you will likely be very happy with it.

[keithp]

Apologies for originally posting this in the wrong section.

Thank you all for the information and advice you have given me. I really do appreciate it and I now know quite a lot more about Apple than I did yesterday.

They do seem to be very versatile computers with the parallel facility and being able to run X11, etc.

As I am retired, computing is mainly a hobby, so that is why I asked about Macs being for general computing use.

In the near future, I will have a day out and go to my nearest Apple Store to look at the range of computers and try them out. I can then pester the staff rather than your good-selves on the forum.

Thank you all again.

Keith

[the6step]

You are much better asking on this forum or another than going into an Apple store; a trend as of late in Apple stores is that they are just hiring regular people (or people that don't know much about Apple computers). As a result, the people who show you Apple computers either are doing it from the guide they were given, or are showing you basic stuff.

I actually remember about 2 years ago when I was a huge Windows user and Mac was just beginning to get hot, there was an Apple guy trying to sell us on why Apples were better than Windows. Knowing what I do know, he completely grazed over all the pertinent issues, and highlighted the ones that were nonsense in the first place.

I would recommend you keep asking questions, but just as a general tip when your asking techie questions, more information is better, and I could almost certainly tell you whether or not Apple computers would be a good choice for you. I know you said your retired and just interested in "general computing" but take 100 different computer users and have them define what general computing is (or means) and you will get 100 different answers.

Just to take a guess on what you mean by "general computing", if you are meaning basic, then that is right up Mac's alley. If you mean general computing as in playing games and stuff, you might (sadly) be serviced better by Windows. If you mean general computing as in hobby as in you want to learn some crazy stuff and lots of it, then Linux has much to teach you.

[keithp]

the6step

Thanks for your reply and the advice.

Briefly, apart from the usual wordprocessing, spreadsheets, internet, etc., I would like to learn things like building a web site for myself and desktop publishing. I'm not into music recording, but would be interested in making all my old slides into stand-alone DVD slide shows. These are just a few examples. Apart from an occasional game of solitaire, I'm not interested in computer games. I understand that the Apple is supplied with two "packages" of programs (One is called iLife, I think), so I would see what is supplied and what would interest me - knowing that I would also have Linux installed as an alternative, and which will have suitable programs.

One further query I have, please. Regarding running XP as a parallel. Does XP have to be activated when run inside an Apple? I have an XP CD, but will Microsoft classify this as a new installation on a new computer and tell me I have to purchase a new copy of XP? There's no chance of my buying one! It's not important, but just something I was wondering about. Can't find it mentioned in the forums.

I was rather surprised at your comments regarding the Apple sales people. I would have thought that they would have been quite highly trained and knowledgeable.

Thanks again for your reply.

Keith

[HighD]

the6step

lled as an alternative, and which will have suitable programs.

One further query I have, please. Regarding running XP as a parallel. Does XP have to be activated when run inside an Apple? I have an XP CD, but will Microsoft classify this as a new installation on a new computer and tell me I have to purchase a new copy of XP? There's no chance of my buying one! It's not important, but just something I was wondering about. Can't find it mentioned in the forums.
Keith

If I'm not wrong....yes it must be activated. And to your second question...Did this Windows XP CD you have come with a computer you bought (OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer CD) or did you actually bought the CD? I'm not quite sure but i think you can't use an OEM WinXP CD on a different computer than the one it was meant for, as this CD is "branded", therefore "tied" to the original computer. I guess it does some checks before installing, but if you did buy the cd (an original retail copy) i don't see any problems why you could not install it on the mac

[the6step]

I was rather surprised at your comments regarding the Apple sales people. I would have thought that they would have been quite highly trained and knowledgeable.


They exist in some stores, but Apple has resorted to hiring trendy, good looking people (go in a store and you will see this first hand) rather than people who really know about Apple computers.

The thing is, a lot of people going into the Apple Store really don't know better, and these people they hire might now know much about Apples, but they know how to say the right things (lie or not) to make the sale (or lie just to do it). I went to the Apple Store with one of my friends (in to PC's) and the PC guy started to break this Apple guy down, the Apple guy would make a statement, and then my friend would come back and say something and the Mac guy would just be like a deer in headlights.

I mean they do have reasons to do it though, but shady and distasteful nonetheless (Most tech people just buy apple online, you have to pay knowledgeable Apple people more, the knowledgeable person's help is going to fly right over confused consumers head, as opposed to regular guy who is going to be like iTunes, cool right? Internet, cool right? GarageBand, cool right?)

[handy]

Apologies for originally posting this in the wrong section.

Thank you all for the information and advice you have given me. I really do appreciate it and I now know quite a lot more about Apple than I did yesterday.

They do seem to be very versatile computers with the parallel facility and being able to run X11, etc.

As I am retired, computing is mainly a hobby, so that is why I asked about Macs being for general computing use.

In the near future, I will have a day out and go to my nearest Apple Store to look at the range of computers and try them out. I can then pester the staff rather than your good-selves on the forum.

Thank you all again.

Keith

I use an iMac with both Leopard, on a 25Gb partition & ArchLinux on the rest, because I like the freedom & simplicity that Arch provides plus the speed advantage that it gives me on my iMac. I have written a guide that is on the Arch Wiki which may be of use to you:

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/IMac_Aluminium

Also this link may interest you:

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

I can't offer you a link to Demoniod (http://www.demonoid.com/) for the links on the dark side...