I Haz Imac, 20 inches of Joyousness Options

[freda_bloogs]

I love them. But my Macbook's just cracked. a^éioefnpçé'ytbàc&çénp'ehuizs

[river]

Would someone be kind enough to explain to me the essential differences between a Mac and a PC because I have absolutely no idea.

they run completely different software - PCs run Microsoft Windows, and Macs run MacOS. generally, people seem to find MacOS easier to use than Windows, and that things "just work" instead of requiring a lot of fiddling.

the downside is that because MacOS doesn't run Windows programs*, you can't use your Windows software on MacOS (except for a few programs that run on both, like Adobe Photoshop or Cubase). but, if a particular piece of software exists for Windows, it's likely there's something comparable for Mac.

in the past (before 2005 or so), Macs also used different hardware from PCs, but nowdays, the hardware is pretty much identical, to the point that you can run MacOS on a PC (although it's technically illegal), and run Windows on a Mac.

historically Macs were very popular for music, imaging and graphic design, and similar "creative" purposes; at one point, you could almost guarantee that in the publishing room of a magazine you'd find Macs running Quark Xpress. for a while they were falling out of favour compared to PCs, but thanks to some very good marketing by Apple, and some updated software, they've made a comeback in the last 10 years or so.

i'm not sure why a Mac would be better for someone with poor eyesight, though; i'll let tony answer that.

* before anyone pedants me, i know you sort-of can ;-)

[Mad Tom]

the downside is that because MacOS doesn't run Windows programs*, you can't use your Windows software on MacOS (except for a few programs that run on both, like Adobe Photoshop or Cubase). but, if a particular piece of software exists for Windows, it's likely there's something comparable for Mac.

in the past (before 2005 or so), Macs also used different hardware from PCs, but nowdays, the hardware is pretty much identical, to the point that you can run MacOS on a PC (although it's technically illegal), and run Windows on a Mac.

There are several software emulators of the PC available for the Mac - so you can run Windows as an application under MacOS - quite different from running Windows directly on the compatible hardware (Intel) of the latest Macs. Some of them even let you launch Windows applications directly from the Dock.

Emulation has the advantage that when (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Windows crashes or freezes, or starts doing peculiar things you can just terminate the emulation rather than having to re-boot your entire machine. It is also very easy to restore an emulated PC to a known state after Windows has gone berserk and corrupted its own registry and libraries. You just copy your backed up machine image file into place.

[Ed the Tread.]

I bought a second hand HP from one of those companies that deal in ex factory stock computers. t's a desk top and has a very good spec for what I want. As it was so cheap I was able to spend on a new 22" screen that allows the students to see it across the room. The whole kit cost me £170.

I looked at Apple computers and turned them down because they were twice ae expensive and when they go wrong they are expensive to fix.

I had a professional sound card installed inside my HP so I could play through a PA system, this card cost me £110. The Apple card would have cost twice that amount and would have sat on my cramped desk taking up more space.

I rearly cant see the advantage of an apple over a PC for Music. Graphics - yes but music - no.

[Arundodonuts]

i'm not sure why a Mac would be better for someone with poor eyesight, though; i'll let tony answer that.

The zoom feature is pretty good and applies to all windows and the desktop. You then scroll around with the mouse. To get the same feature in Windows you need 3rd party software such as ZoomText.

[Arundodonuts]

I bought a second hand HP from one of those companies that deal in ex factory stock computers. t's a desk top and has a very good spec for what I want. As it was so cheap I was able to spend on a new 22" screen that allows the students to see it across the room. The whole kit cost me £170.

I looked at Apple computers and turned them down because they were twice ae expensive

Yes they are expensive - because they are very, very good. The bundled software is worth quite a bit too.

and when they go wrong they are expensive to fix.

Which is rare.

I had a professional sound card installed inside my HP so I could play through a PA system, this card cost me £110. The Apple card would have cost twice that amount and would have sat on my cramped desk taking up more space.

I have an M-Audio Firewire 410 interface which connects to my mac laptops and gives 4 in 10 out analogue plus SPDIF in/out. It cost £140 some years ago. Better technology is available now for a lower price. A simple USB DAC will allow a stereo output to a desk for a few quid. The headphone out isn't too shabby either - perfectly usable as an analogue line out.

Oh almost forgot. Using an Airport Express (about £60) I can stream wirelessly from iTunes to my hi-fi (or anything else requiring an audio input) and with a bit of cheap shareware I can stream audio from any application to the Airport Express.

I rearly cant see the advantage of an apple over a PC for Music. Graphics - yes but music - no.

There are advantages due to the architecture of the machines and the way audio is implemented in OS X. It's not for nothing that most music industry audio work is done on macs. I have heard of albums being remastered for commercial release on CD using a mac and Garageband.

But you are right. They are NOT cheap.

[tomfrankenburg]

when they go wrong they are expensive to fix.

That's because they never go wrong. I've had my Mac about 2 years now and it has not once crashed, never had to reboot or anything. The reason you pay more is because Mac is more efficient, for example, instead of recalculating how long a download is going to take every 2 seconds, it will do the calculation about once or twice and give you a rough estimate rather than a specific time.

[jenny]

That's because they never go wrong. I've had my Mac about 2 years now and it has not once crashed, never had to reboot or anything. The reason you pay more is because Mac is more efficient, for example, instead of recalculating how long a download is going to take every 2 seconds, it will do the calculation about once or twice and give you a rough estimate rather than a specific time.

I know my son would agree with you - he's the proud owner of 3 macs!!

[tonyteech]

We have PCs as well but having tried various systems on PC it never worked out the way I wanted it

The Imac cost me £1055 with shipping it is a 2.66 model with 20 inch screen. I know you can get 22 inch monitors etc. The point is this - because of visual problems I have to rely on other people to put in sound cards - do routine stuff for PCs. I wanted something that just worked and Macs do

It is purely for music and I will not use it online much and it is something I have wanted for a long time and plug and play device


Re Inmac - at 63 I have a full head of dark hair which has been mistaken for a wig. There is NO WAY that any hair remover is getting near that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[amormusic]

Hi,

we have an Imac, but I have never used it for music, even though we have Garageband on it. Recently someone alerted me to the potential but i need to find out more, and it seems i probably need to invest in a keyboard.

Does anyone have any good advice or recommendations as to what equipment is a minimum and how it can be used, other than for composing?

many thanks in anticipation,

amormusic

[Ayshah]

You are right they are not cheap. If you have access to a student with a NUS card, a purchase can be made with a generous student discount. We have one PC for basic stuff and 3 Macs. Absolutely no problems (yet) with the Macs, but the PC is always crashing!

[Arundodonuts]

Hi,

we have an Imac, but I have never used it for music, even though we have Garageband on it. Recently someone alerted me to the potential but i need to find out more, and it seems i probably need to invest in a keyboard.

Does anyone have any good advice or recommendations as to what equipment is a minimum and how it can be used, other than for composing?

many thanks in anticipation,

amormusic

Garageband is a multitrack recording application. You can record real instruments (electric instruments by plugging them in, acoustic instruments by using mics) or "software" instruments using MIDI. It is the latter where the keyboard comes in - inputting notes which are then translated into MIDI. You can also use "Apple Loops" (little snippets of music) or create your own loops.

take a look at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2510 as a start.

[guilmant]

I'm still lost in technophobe land (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I think I would have to experience using a Mac to understand the difference. Thanks for all the explanations though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Another area where Apple come into their own and leave the competition standing. Visit an Apple store and you will be amazed. Stack loads of equipment for you to try and to experiment with. Not like the PC places where they are always on screenlock and you can't try things out. All the Macs have internet access, so you'll see lots of people just checking email. There are also iphones, ipods, speakers, headphones, software (Logic, Garageband and iphoto/movie are always popular).

[amormusic]

Thanks Pushpull,

my curiosity has been stimulated, I'll check it all out. think i need to start saving for a keyboard...!

amormusic