Changing to Mac. Problem?

**bongthom** · 26-01-2008, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I could buy a new 500GB HD

i was in fortune today. loads of huge new drives (up to 2tb) for reasonable prices. 500gb external drives are about 8/9k

**Marmite the Dog** · 26-01-2008, 06:35 PM

I really need to upgrade my home PC.

I thought if I installed Linux, I could use it for a few more years.

**Tao** · 26-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Get a mac.

**Marmite the Dog** · 26-01-2008, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Tao

Get a mac.

I don't have money to throw away, so I won't.

**Tao** · 26-01-2008, 07:32 PM

Up to you.

Part of my work involves being admin to around 40 PCs. The amount of money my company would save on my wages at the end of the year would be a tidy sum if everyone used macs.

Saying that, i'd be out of a job so... let the idiots use windows!

**Wallalai** · 26-01-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I really need to upgrade my home PC.

I thought if I installed Linux, I could use it for a few more years.

I've installed a GNU/Linux distro (Mandriva in my case) on both my laptop and my desktop PC in dualboot with WinXP.

The desktop PC is more than 2 years old with a 128MB graphic card and a Sempron 3000+ proc with 1GB RAM, and integrated sound and ethernet chipset. The system use less than 3,5GB harddrive space + 1 GB swap that is never used by the system. And I have all the eyecandy available (compiz-fusion cube, shadows, etc). I can even make it look like a Mac if I was nostalgic, but I'm not as I never had one.

So buying an expensive brand new machine when a little HD space and a free OS can do the same is useless to me. Without saying that Mac don't give all the software for free, when you can find nearly anything you want for free on a Linux distro.

The only restriction I can see is for hardgamers who will need Windows. But as I said, dualboot works like a charm so you can keep a working XP in your box.

**Tao** · 26-01-2008, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Wallalai

Mac don't give all the software for free

There is a lot of quality open source software available for macs. More usefull stuff than i found when using windows.

**Wallalai** · 26-01-2008, 08:32 PM

You're right, some are the same as those found under GNU/Linux or Windows.

But now the question is about the need to invest for a brand new machine instead to use what you have already. And before going to Vista or buying a brand new overpriced Mac I think many people will look after another alternative.

Mac would be well inspired to provide a MacOSX PC version , they could maybe win some more users.

**friscofrankie** · 26-01-2008, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Gimp had better be as good as Photoshop, or Frankie is going to get his ass (backside, not donkey) whooped.

Instead of spending all that money to get my ass whupped buy a book on The Gimp and a few beers You'll be rockin' in no time.

you can even get some plugins to duplicate the PS interface (can't understand why, the PS interface sucks; but if you're used to it...)

**friscofrankie** · 26-01-2008, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I thought if I installed Linux, I could use it for a few more years.

you could

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I could buy a new 500GB HD or I could reformat the system drive, as I keep the system drive separate from the data drives, but then I would lose XP. I can still read the data drives using a utility, so that's not a big problem.

There are some partition utils out there that should allow you to repartition your data or system drive Linux could go on the extra space. I have never used them but you could also back up your data drive repartition it dump the data back on and use the free space for a linux install. if security is not a big issue you can read & write to a FAT32 partition so sharing data is not a problem there are some NTFS utils out there for linux that do allow you to write but last I heard they have some ACL issues Not sure where they are on that a google for "NTFS Linux" should get you up to speed.
A 250GB HD for about 2k would solve the problem, hell skip a breakfast and you'll have enough for that.

**NickA** · 26-01-2008, 09:48 PM

I've never really got used to the gimp, but I'm pretty sure it will do everything you need if you have the time to learn it. The only thing that isn't better on Linux is games... other than that most of the open source software does the job just as well and sometimes better than windows.

Oh, video editing is a bit of an arse, but I managed to sort it out in the end with Cinelerra.

Never crashes, very rarely has any errors, uses less memory and disk space, looks nicer, free.....etc.....etc.....

**Bung** · 26-01-2008, 10:22 PM

OK, it's descending into pc techno babble here but thanks for the info. Not sure if I would want to bring out the gimp

I'm off to the 'States mid Feb so will pick up a mac book while I am there. Only around US$1300. My pc laptop is 4 years old now and constantly having hardware problems, Battery is stuffed, dvd drive is stuffed, just had to replace the motherboard and display driver, on my second HD etc.

**Marmite the Dog** · 26-01-2008, 11:16 PM

I'm still worried about compatability issues, especially as my graphic designer uses Photoshop & Illustrator. Hopefully, I'll squeeze a new PC for the office which is pokey enough to run XP super-fast and I'l not need to bring any work home with me.

I'm downloading the OS now and I'll run it from the CD first to check it out.

**NickA** · 27-01-2008, 08:41 AM

^The Gimp will save and load photoshop .psd files so there shouldn't be a problem.

I just downloaded the top file from Eyes on Design - Free photoshop files

It opened up fine in the gimp and the layers and everything were intact.

**lom** · 27-01-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by NickA

It opened up fine in the gimp and the layers and everything were intact.

That's very impressive NickA, compatibilty on basic functions

/ironic mode off

Compatibility problems usually occurs on rarely used functions or with 3rd party plugins and add-ons.

**NickA** · 27-01-2008, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by lom

Compatibility problems usually occurs on rarely used functions

Well, there will rarely be any problems then

**Marmite the Dog** · 27-01-2008, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by NickA

The Gimp will save and load photoshop .psd files so there shouldn't be a problem.

Muchos grassy arse.

**Marmite the Dog** · 28-01-2008, 12:10 PM

Does Linux still have problems working on Laptops?

**Wallalai** · 28-01-2008, 12:38 PM

No problem on my HP dv8000, there is even a kernel-laptop available. Mosttly depend of your hardware.

**Marmite the Dog** · 28-01-2008, 01:03 PM

^ My main concern is with the wireless internet part.

**NickA** · 28-01-2008, 01:06 PM

I don't know about wireless internet, but broadband was much easier on Linux, infact it did it automatically (just stick username and password in), whereas in Windows I had to install a disk from True.

**Wallalai** · 28-01-2008, 01:19 PM

Wireless worked out of the box both on my laptop and desktop who has an USB wireless adapter. Burn the Live CD, reboot on it and you'll see.

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