iMac v Pc

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Gotta admit, because of the screen quality, the 27" iMac is a good buy if you need a screen of that caliber, but for most consumers who only need 22" screens, which are very very cheap now because they are the standard size, the iMac 22" is daylight robbery in comparison to a PC. Also, I reckon my 350 quid (down from 650 mind!) LG 32" 1920x1080 with an IPS panel could easily rival the 27" Mac screen for quality and colour reproduction. It's more about buying smart with PCs. Because PCs are so customisable you can afford to sacrifice and get absolute bargains on certain parts and buy older parts the represent excellent value, like my 20 quid graphics card, more than capable of playing all my games.
 
The argument stopped being about hardware the moment Apple ditched the PolwerPC, otherwise you should be comparing specific system manufacturers rather than Mac versus PC - ultimately it's about OSX versus Window, the shiny bits are mere window dressing.

And for expensive check out the Alienware, the top of the range with all the options comes in around 10k :)
 
For a better comparison, I'd take my hunk of aluminium over this hunk of aluminium any day.

new-mac-pro_3.jpg

ewwww, thats no better, well maybe a little better than the black but still nothing on the imac
 
ewwww, thats no better, well maybe a little better than the black but still nothing on the imac

That's a Mac Pro, a proper comparison for my Lian Li. At the end of the day, all in ones look nice, but are a bit lame as future upgradability is practically nil, as is any chance of repairing them yourself (although that applies to most of Apples's products anyway). No use having a big 27" screen in an obsolete POS.

6102.jpg
 
any chance of repairing them yourself (although that applies to most of Apples's products anyway).

only a pc user would even think about repairs - we don't need to because it so rarely happens with a mac!
 
Haha, loads of my friends have macs, and trust me, they go wrong just as often, if not more often than PCs, the only difference is, I can't really help them with repairing them because they're macs :p "Do you have Applecare?" "Nope" "Well then, you're screwed" :p
 
I think one of the main differences are that Macs are aesthetically compared to, other PCs made that do not mean these beautifully crafted modded PC does not either I do not think that there Many PC manufacturers to produce machines as stand out from the crowd" like a Mac, but one thing I do notice and I do not have elsewhere is how they are quiet compared to a PC with all the fans blowing.
 
Coldeh, try sourcing the same screen, same graphics etc not some poor alternative screen and just upping everything else to look like your comparison is fair!

As for viruses there are no wild viruses for the mac.

The biggest two security scares for years were Trojans which were basically modified scripts attached to install routines for STOLEN torrent software. There are no mac viruses although it is theoretically possible.

I am not getting into an argument about which is better because to be honest I couldn't give a monkeys what computer you buy or anyone else. I run Apples machines, windows machines and Linux so I don't gave any ace to grind but if you are going to argue about these things at least argue about like for like.

Windows machines do have advantages but most of them relate to being cheaper for the same level of power.

Also the sound on the motherboard is not really going to make much difference, certainly less than the power supped by anti virus software.
 
only a pc user would even think about repairs - we don't need to because it so rarely happens with a mac!

Now now mrs jobs. Apple machines do break, they use the same components as windows machines in a lit of cases. They do tend to use better quality parts so a fair comparison would be between a mac and say dell's pro range.

Memory, hard drives etc are just off the peg stuff. There may be a theoretically smaller chance of failure due to better parts around them but in reality there us not much in it

Macos IS more reliable than windows but a well maintained windows machine is a match in reliability to a mac.
 
I'll get straight to the point. I don't hate Macs, far from it, infact I nearly bought a 13" MBP at one point, I just hate it when people make them out as gifts from god that never ever break or crash and that are multitudes better than Windows PCs and that all Windows PCs are slow and plagued with Viruses when it couldn't be further from the truth. My PC with W7 installed is an absolute pleasure to use and I've not used an Antivirus since I installed W7 at the start of the year and have managed to not have a single problem (touch wood). Don't look at dodgy porn or download random **** from the internet and you'll be absolutely fine. Also you'll hear more about problems with Windows machines due to the Windows machines outnumbering macs by probably 20 to 1.
 
That's a Mac Pro, a proper comparison for my Lian Li. At the end of the day, all in ones look nice, but are a bit lame as future upgradability is practically nil, as is any chance of repairing them yourself (although that applies to most of Apples's products anyway). No use having a big 27" screen in an obsolete POS.

Actually you can use the iMac as a screen... but anyway I digress.

The upgrade argument always irks me. Buy both, wait 4 years. Upgrade of Ram is easier on iMac even, but max out RAM, other than that no upgrades.

3 Years later. Try to spec new parts for the PC. Motherboard outdated, new Ram speeds, new graphics card all needed, the only thing you can keep is the case, power supply and monitor.

3 Years later, sell iMac for a good price (They hold their value). Then for same amount of money as P.C upgrade, buy new iMac. No messing about, no doing it yourself, just a nice new machine (and monitor which may also have moved on in technology).
 
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Not really. People who bought, for example, a socket 775 system in 2006 with a Core 2 Duo E6300. That person could very easily upgrade to a Q6600 (quad core) and maybe add some more ram which would breathe another few years of life into it and would end up not being a hell of a lot faster than an iMac you could buy in 2006. Infact, with a fresh install of windows, it would end up not being a lot slower than the 1649 quid spec of iMac

I admit though, Macs hold their value really well. If I wasn't doing any gaming and needed a nice editing/internet browsing/whatever rig, if I had the money I'd seriously consider, and probably even end up buying a 27" iMac (simply because of the epic screen)
 
I'll get straight to the point. I don't hate Macs, far from it, infact I nearly bought a 13" MBP at one point, I just hate it when people make them out as gifts from god that never ever break or crash and that are multitudes better than Windows PCs and that all Windows PCs are slow and plagued with Viruses when it couldn't be further from the truth. My PC with W7 installed is an absolute pleasure to use and I've not used an Antivirus since I installed W7 at the start of the year and have managed to not have a single problem (touch wood). Don't look at dodgy porn or download random **** from the internet and you'll be absolutely fine. Also you'll hear more about problems with Windows machines due to the Windows machines outnumbering macs by probably 20 to 1.

Well, if they are people like me then it's because what you describe is exactly my experience. Years of using windows machines that clogged up, broke, got slower, got viruses and gradually dies then 5 years of using macs where none of that ever happened - so you can see why people make this comparison.

On the other had MOST windows users who say these things don't happen, have never owned a mac - so they aren't going off experience unlike most mac users.

at the end of the day, mac is poaching more and more windows users, and the same is not happening the other way around so I think that speaks volumes.
 
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On the other had MOST windows users who say these things don't happen, have never owned a mac - so they aren't going off experience unlike most mac users.

Hangon a sec, I've experienced no problems with my Windows machines, you're saying that if I got a mac, I'd have even fewer than no problems? :p
 
Hangon a sec, I've experienced no problems with my Windows machines, you're saying that if I got a mac, I'd have even fewer than no problems? :p

no, I'm saying you are the minority! a windows user who has seen no issues!
 
Nah, you're too busy constantly updating your settings/security/other things to do so. If you do have any time left, you spend it Apple bashing:p

I'm not bashing Apple, just many of the Apple users who seem to think that the sun shines out of Steve Jobs' ass :D
 
I'm finding this thread quite funny as nearly all threads like this ens up being a Windows v's Mac war..lol

At the end of the day if you like mac, you like mac...... if you like windows, you like windows..... it's your choice.

I moved to mac and have never looked back since. The OS suits me, that's it..!
 
I brought two Imac 27s, one for my son who is studying music and does DJing in his spare time, and one for me, I do a lot of online gaming when Im not working and have had a pc all my life.

I hated the Mac and sold it after a month, I just could not get on with it, like a lot people on here have said, its a personal thing, you either love em or hate em
 
Haha, loads of my friends have macs, and trust me, they go wrong just as often, if not more often than PCs, the only difference is, I can't really help them with repairing them because they're macs :p "Do you have Applecare?" "Nope" "Well then, you're screwed" :p

Except they don't. Apple always score very high (usually top) in independent reliability surveys.
 
Haha, loads of my friends have macs, and trust me, they go wrong just as often, if not more often than PCs, the only difference is, I can't really help them with repairing them because they're macs :p "Do you have Applecare?" "Nope" "Well then, you're screwed" :p
What a load of old tosh. lol
 
Well i have just come back off me hols and have for the past month been thinking of upgrading my iMac 21". It has been 99% trouble free and a joy to use but after buying my sons Alienware pc's (one lappy and one desktop) i must say i'm hankering after windows 7. What i really want/need is a larger screen to edit images and i do find the iMac screen on the small side but superb image quality.

I can't afford a 27" iMac so was considering buying a reasonably fast PC (I don't play games) with a ice big screen and selling my imac to pay for most of it. I still need to do the maths as this is the 1st time i have been on the net for 2 weeks and need to see prices etc. So some of us are happy to go back to PC's. The last 2 PC's i have had have been uber reliable and my old dell is still going strong!! I bought the iMac as i didn't want Windows Vista which was all that was available at the time but Win7 looks like a good reliable OS.
 
Coldeh, try sourcing the same screen, same graphics etc not some poor alternative screen and just upping everything else to look like your comparison is fair!
Then here's a better comparison, as I can't find the 27" Apple screen, I've used the 21.5" iMac

iMac 21.5":
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM

Price: £999

PC:
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM (The 256MB model is made for Apple specifically)
LG 22" LED Display

Price: £687

I own both a Mac and a PC, like I said in my original post, it's up to you what you choose, not me. The OP decided they weren't taken aback by the iMac, so the rest of this thread is a bit pointless, filled with trolls and a waste of space/time.
 
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being the op i thought i'd let you know what i ended up getting;
i5-750/6GB Ram/500GB HD PC + 23''Dell Ultrasharp Monitor
Total cost £815
granted i don't think the system will look as nice as an iMac but i feel its defo better value for money
 
Well done you! Sounds a nice machine. At the end of the day if the computer does it's job well so you can do yours then thats all that matters. It doesn't matter what it looks like!
 
being the op i thought i'd let you know what i ended up getting;
i5-750/6GB Ram/500GB HD PC + 23''Dell Ultrasharp Monitor
Total cost £815
granted i don't think the system will look as nice as an iMac but i feel its defo better value for money

looks like a good deal, just a shame you'll have to suffer windows! :nuts:
 
Windows 7 is great with no problems at all. Plus, with a 'Windows' machine, one can upgrade very easily
 
being the op i thought i'd let you know what i ended up getting;
i5-750/6GB Ram/500GB HD PC + 23''Dell Ultrasharp Monitor
Total cost £815
granted i don't think the system will look as nice as an iMac but i feel its defo better value for money
Yeah that's a great price for that performance. Nice!
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cowasaki
Coldeh, try sourcing the same screen, same graphics etc not some poor alternative screen and just upping everything else to look like your comparison is fair!
Then here's a better comparison, as I can't find the 27" Apple screen, I've used the 21.5" iMac

Quote:
iMac 21.5":
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM

Price: £999
Quote:
PC:
3.06GHz Intel Core i3
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM (The 256MB model is made for Apple specifically)
LG 22" LED Display

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit (Single) OEM @ priced from Scan for OEM version £145.78[/B]

Price: £832


I own both a Mac and a PC, like I said in my original post, it's up to you what you choose, not me. The OP decided they weren't taken aback by the iMac, so the rest of this thread is a bit pointless, filled with trolls and a waste of space/time.

Remember I said like for like. NOW that is a fair and honest comparison as EVERY MacOS sold is a full 32/64bit OS with all the extras included. To be fair you would need to add the equivalent of iLife09 to the Windows PC as well with Photo storage, DVD creation, Web site creation etc etc but the comparison now is 999 for the iMac against 832 for the PC.

I think the iMac would be a better bet as you don't seem to have included a case, optical drive or power supply for the Windows machine!!

Right so lets add a nice black box ...... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec-300-Three-Hundred-Black-Midi-Tower-Ultimate-Gaming-Case-w-o-PSU @£44.63

I have chosen a nice middle of the road black box (1/3rd of the price of my PC's case so I am not picking anything ott)

Oh and a PSU...... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec-300-Three-Hundred-Black-Midi-Tower-Ultimate-Gaming-Case-w-o-PSU @£23.23

Oh yes we will need an optical drive on the PC too

So lets add that...... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Sams...DR-12x-DVDR-DVDplusRW-x8-RW-x6-SATA-Black-OEM @ £13.34


Right so now we have £999 versus £913.98


Right there we have it a saving of £86 which will not even cover the virus software and the equivalent of iLife.

The reality is that Apple machines are NOT overpriced.


Lets look on two years and it is time to upgrade.......

iMac route

Sell the iMac for £650 and spend £350 extra to get latest machine.

PC route

New memory standard, new processor socket....

Junk motherboard, processor and Ram or sell on ebay for pennies.....

Buy new motherboard, processor and Ram..... Cost £250-350 + latest OS


Again not a lot in it and with the Apple you have a new machine completely inc monitor, warranty and OS.


Like I always say in these discussions, you will see me on both sides correcting Apple and Windows users. I have no axe to grind and use both. They both have advantages and disadvantages but lets no cloud reality with prejudice.
 
Nice comparison Darren !

I use Linux, Windows and Apple for various things, but for general use I prefer to use Apple on my iMac.

I think a lot of Windows/Mac comparisons forget about resale value, and the fact that a 3 year old PC's motherboard might well be incompatible with the latest CPU's, meaning you will often need new Ram, motherboard and CPU to upgrade.

As for upgrading, unless you are a gamer and wish to throw money away every 6 months most people don't bother touching their PC's.
 
Remember I said like for like.

Actually, I already added the operating system, case, power supply (a bloody good one at that), a DVD/CD-RW drive with Litescribe and included cables. I didn't make it unfairly, I made the machine as I would acquire one normally, and I made the Mac just as I would acquire it normally. Win7 Pro is a better comparison than Win7 Ultimate as Ultimate contains Bitlocker, an encryption system, as far as I am aware, MacOS doesn't have this built in. You haven't included Anti-Virus software for the Mac either. The only reason it would be needed on either machine is if you were constantly downloading from dodgy sources. I will agree with you on the resale value of a Mac/PC though.

If you want to do a comparison yourself, do it properly, don't twist my post to make your point.
 
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Just to keep the mac peoples feet on the ground, I bought 2 27" imacs three weeks ago; both faulty out of the box. One would not wake up, and just discovered the second one won't partition the internal HDD. swapped out the first one, probably do the same with the second.

Just goes to show they are not the bomb proof pieces of perfection they claim.
 
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