I've been reading stuff on the Intel Apple Macs (Mactel's). Opinions are everywhere and very much divided. Some good posts here and here .Some think that Apple will release a stand alone version of OSX for those who have Windows PC's. If this did happen I'd get one the instant it was announced. Truth is, I'd don't see his Steveness (Steve Jobs) doing that, or even thinking about it. Why?
- Steve has a fanatical obbsession with each and everyone of his products and wants them just so
- One of the reasons behind the excellent OSX (other than Steve's eye for detail) is that Apple contols both yhe harware and the software and this lets it wring every last scrap of performance out of the software.Whereas Microsoft have to cater for an extremly wide hardware base.
- The reported high performance of windows on Macs increases demand for Apple hardware, whoch means more money in Apple's pocket. As Gerry Maguire said: "Show me the money".
So where does that leave us? With a very level playing field. Peope can either choose a Wintel PC that supports a wide variety of hardware or choose a Mactel system that runs two high class Operating systems, but with Apple-only, albeit high class as well, hardware.
Now I grew up on macs and still remember using OS9. I'd buy a Macbook in an instand if I could. Students don't have that much in the bank. Though, depending who you read, Macs are either better value for money or Wintel PC's are cheaper.
I think that on a feature for feature basis, the mac wins.Take a look. But money wise, depending on your configuration, the mac is good value for money. 5/6 hours of macbook battery time? 17 in screen on a Macbook Pro? Built in WiFi? Two OS's (even if you buy Xp or Vista seperatly)? The current laptop in the house (a Fujistu-Siemens L7310 bought in Janurary) that I share: Seems to have a hours battery time (need to find a new battery), has a Wifi modem that doesn't work and a small screen. Even the basic MacBook has it beat on all three counts. And you don't get black Wintel Laptops, though I'm not sure about the £200 extra for a black Macbook.
The other thing is the cool apple widgets that TUAW keep going on about. It's enough to make me, a windows guy, drool. Will Microsoft do somthing similar with the Vista Sidebar?Hope so.
When you get down to it, the Operating Systems are the key here. Don't belive me? Here. Will Vista be good enough to keep people away from Apple? Not sure, but Scobe raves a bit about the latest build of Vista here (scroll to almost the end of the post). There is also a facinating look at Vista Media Centre (its bundled with the Premuim and Ultimate editions of Vista) here. I'm looking foward to trying Vista out myself when the Beta goes on general release to non-MSDN subscribers.
Its a complex choice for anyone who's deciding between Apple and Windows.
Random Musings 