bayerische wrote:

I say let's give it 10 more years, and then we look back on the Mac VS PC question again...

 

I might be wrong, but my guess is that the average consumer might have turned Mac by then... Most people want a Mac, but can't justify the "double price". Apple should put a 500 euro machine on the market.

Doubt it. Unless Apple again adds choice, I don't think that the average consumer are willing to give up on flexibility all together.

What's funny, though, is that, say, five years ago, Apple laptpos had better build quality, their pro apps were indeed pro, and their prices were just about equivalent to other good quality laptops. Since then, of course, the quality has dwindled, the pro apps aren't particularly pro anymore, and their prices have risen for no other reason than to make more money off of the products (it is cheaper to use the platform everyone else is using: Intel).

I remember when they ditched firewire on the MacBooks, and Steve Jobs, the master of the RDF, claimed that Firewire was useless and that all modern (video) cameras used USB. This of course was regurgitated by the fanboys, ignoring even that iMovie at the time could ONLY capture video through firewire. Even the iMovie programmers weren't told.

It is that sort of thing - the hardware and software "integration" and the whims of the marketing department that makes a Mac all but useless to many professionals working with audio, video and even photography.

Edit: Just to rub salt in the wound: My X200s has a resolution of 1440x900. It's a 12-incher. You need to get a 15" Apple to get the same real estate.

It has not only an SDHC-slot, but a (wide) expresscard slot, giving me choice. Oh, and the FW-Expresscard adaptor works. 😁

Also, I can work hard on my computer around 6 hours, and if merely web surfing or writing, it can go between 9 and 11 hours. Sure, it doesn't look as cool in the coffee shop, but it works, and takes a beating without missing a beat.

It's much lighter than a 15" Mac, much sturdier (carbon, magnesium frame etc.) and I can - if I want to - make it even lighter by using a smaller battery if need be.

Electrified wrote:

 

It is that sort of thing - the hardware and software "integration" and the whims of the marketing department that makes a Mac all but useless to many professionals working with audio, video and even photography.

 

I agree the FW issue on the Macbooks was a poor decision, but you must be joking about Macs being useful to audio/video/photography pros?  Look at the mac market share among professionals in those areas compared to market share of macs in the general population.

macjonny1 wrote:

Electrified wrote:

 

It is that sort of thing - the hardware and software "integration" and the whims of the marketing department that makes a Mac all but useless to many professionals working with audio, video and even photography.

 

I agree the FW issue on the Macbooks was a poor decision, but you must be joking about Macs being useful to audio/video/photography pros?  Look at the mac market share among professionals in those areas compared to market share of macs in the general population.

I am well aware of the market share.

But first of all, I'm not talking about the Mac Pro, I'm talking about their portables. A lot of people have (I had too) a lot invested in software and workflows (both money and energy), and are not running it on the latest hardware.

I do realise that many new professionals buy stuff because "everyone else" uses a Mac (and always have, btw), but the reality is, and whether you like it or not, the newer offerings from Apple in both hardware and software is catering to one type of consumer only: The iPod and iPhone Crowd and the feature set of the hardware and the lack of support of their "pro" apps proves it.

It's hard, however, having to learn new workflows, buying new apps across the board and what have we, but that doesn't change the fact, that when the hardware isn't working (I'm talking about the FW-issues) and thus making it all but impossible to get things done properly, it's hardly the best choice for a professional. If you can't get the quality that is needed, or sometimes even can't get anything, then it's not the right tool for the job. There are deadlines to be met, and many times you can't do it over again if it skips a beat.

Btw, need I remind you that your argument is an appeal to popularity? In other words: It's a logical fallacy.

My thoughts -

The hardware is the same (give or take),

if you want to use Win 7 (or XP or whatever) great, if you'd rather use OSX then that's great too.

We should all be very thankful that all the Win users of the world don't go on about it quite as much as the OSX'ers or else pretty much all conversations/threads/blogs etc would become extremely wearisome.

I'm happy that everyone's happy, I'm happy with what I've got, I'm happy that everyone else is happy with what they've got - no one can persuade everyone that an Audi is what everyone should drive and no one should try............ it's exactly the same with computers.

Puncher wrote:

My thoughts -

The hardware is the same (give or take),

if you want to use Win 7 (or XP or whatever) great, if you'd rather use OSX then that's great too.

We should all be very thankful that all the Win users of the world don't go on about it quite as much as the OSX'ers or else pretty much all conversations/threads/blogs etc would become extremely wearisome.

I'm happy that everyone's happy, I'm happy with what I've got, I'm happy that everyone else is happy with what they've got - no one can persuade everyone that an Audi is what everyone should drive and no one should try............ it's exactly the same with computers.

Wisely put Puncher! 

I'm happy too. 🤒

Going back to the topic, I think the laptop looks splendid, however from a form & function point of view, there's one major drawback for me:

this laptop, given its dimensions, is going to spend 90% of the time at home on a table or desk, but all the connections are on either side of the PC, so the whole clean design will be ruined by USB, power and Ethernet cables , and I don't like that. By the way, I have exactly the same problem with the MacBook Pro, all cables are on the left and not at the back..I hate cables! 😭 And talking about Asus and Mac, they both come from the same factory..have a look at the Asus UX30, you'll see what I mean!

Chrisreunion wrote:

Going back to the topic, I think the laptop looks splendid, however from a form & function point of view, there's one major drawback for me:

this laptop, given its dimensions, is going to spend 90% of the time at home on a table or desk, but all the connections are on either side of the PC, so the whole clean design will be ruined by USB, power and Ethernet cables , and I don't like that. By the way, I have exactly the same problem with the MacBook Pro, all cables are on the left and not at the back..I hate cables! 😭

I completely forgot about that! I haven't had anything like that since my TiBook. I was slowly waned, though, because I kept it "on the side" (lol) while using the then new MacBook Pro.

Although, these days, I don't mind having the plugs on the side (I'm on Thinkpads now, but the same with Apple's laptops) - I seldomly have anything plugged in for long.

Besides the power plug, I sometimes connect an external scratch disk or an external HDD for backup purposes. Oh, and Expresscards for different purposes.

To me, it doesn't matter much: It's not really that useful as a laptop because of it's size, and I could do much better audio wise if I chose a netbook, an MB, an MBP or Thinkpad and streamed music to some Avi Neutrons or Avi ADM9.1s instead. Much nicer, more flexible and much better audio.

And talking about Asus and Mac, they both come from the same factory..have a look at the Asus UX30, you'll see what I mean!

Yes, Asus have been making Apple's laptops on and off for a very long time, but you're right - the UX30 looks like like it's sibling - the most differentiating thing is the sticker and colour.

It makes one wonder how anyone can still make belief that Apple's hardware is superiour to "PCs". They're the exact same as most everyone else (a notable exception being Thinkpads )

Depends, I guess. As a semistationary kitchen computer, or for a dorm room, I think it's pretty nice. But even though it may sound nice for laptop/luggable, it still won't be anywhere near the audio quality of proper speakers.

My most used computer is a Thinkpad X200s. It has a downfiring mono speaker in the bottom, and I work with audio for a living.

Of course, I don't actually use the laptop speaker for critical listening of any kind, but use headphones, a swappable audio card and external (audio) monitors.

In fact, come to think of it, in a dorm room, it would be better to have a small laptop for school, and then the BS8 in the room. Perhaps that's also true of the kitchen computer.

But we're all different and if you want it and figure the speakers are useful, you should buy it.

mr_anders_son wrote:

I´m I crazy if I buy this to my self in christmaspresent??;-)

I couldn't resist...