Why do I automatically think that I have to be
on one type of machine
or the other when it comes to technology?
Why not both for different tasks?
Do many people already do this?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
You can use both if you want. It's a free country. I personally find macs much more useful and more powerful than pcs. I don't like the operating system setup.
If the PC does stuff the Mac can't, then it is. If the Mac takes care of all your needs, than no need for a PC. (I think that a MBP and BootCamp is the ultimate, but YMMV.)
Yeah, there are a handful of key things I need a PC for, and don't want to work to hard to figure out how to do it on my MBP. Especially when I can buy a powerful little PC netbook for $200 now.
Personally after being forced to use a Windows laptop during my years in IT, I was glad to totally do away with anything from M$ with my retirement. I have not felt like I have missed anything by outlawing everything from M$. For this reason a Mac is perfectly fine for me.
Allan
I don't think it's very hard to set up a PC volume on the Mac (from what I've heard), and there are experienced users here who would help you through it, but it's really whatever you prefer.
I haven't tried to use Windows, myself, in nine years.
Why do I automatically think that I have to be on one type of machine or the other when it comes to technology?
There really isn't anything different between PCs and Macs with respect to technology. They both use essentially the same components. About the only difference at this point is Thunderbolt and we'll just have to wait and see if the PC industry adopts it.
Other than that, if you run Windows on a Mac, it's no different than running it on any other hardware. You do, of course, have the added benefit of being able to run OS X on a Mac. While Apple's hardware is pretty, it's really the OS that makes it stand out.
One other slight difference is that PC still use the archaic BIOS whereas Mac use EFI.
Allan
Sounds like you know what you are talking about.
But since there is room on my desk for two 13 inchers I will go that way rather then upgrading my knowhow! I wish i was more interested in learning how to adapt the MBP but alas. I not.
Actually, a number of PC manufacturers have moved to EFI as well. Granted, Apple made the move years ago, but EFI is a standard and like most things in the PC world... the move is slow.
If you want to have two machines, that's fine. Let me give you an example of what I set up for my wife: She needs to use Windows for work. They have specialized applications that are Windows-only. She is also supposed to keep all of her work information confidential.
I bought her a MacBook Pro, and installed VMWare. With this software, she can run MS Windows as an application. When she switches to Windows, everything runs exactly like Windows, because it is Windows. She uses Windows strictly for work. All of her personal stuff: Pictures, web browsing, personal e-mail, etc is done using the Mac OS.
The advantage of this approach is that the Windows installation remains very lean, fast, uncluttered and secure. When you set up VMWare this way, you can share the Documents folder between Mac and Windows, so the see all of the same files. It is easy to set up and it works very well.
Status P wrote:
Why do I automatically think that I have to be
on one type of machine
or the other when it comes to technology?
Why not both for different tasks?
Do many people already do this?
I use Windows, OS X and Linux on my MacBook Pro.
All at once sometimes. 😀
Even 3D Game in Windows
Ubuntu Linux 11.04
So on a powerful Mac, one can have it all. 😀
I think if you check you will find that what some of the PC are migrating over to is UEFI and EFI.
Allan
Also, using VMWare is very easy. You run the installer, and it asks you a few simple questions, such as the OS you want (Windows) and how much disk space you want to give it. Then you insert a Windows installer disc and it will install Windows and ask you for a Windows license key (yes, you have to pay for Windows).
That's it! It installs device drivers that let Windows see your Mac network and other hardware; you don't install any drivers in Windows or configure the Windows network. It just works. Then you launch VMWare as an application, and it runs in a window or full-screen. Performance is excellent.
I'm not trying to sound like a commercial for them, but from what you wrote, it looks like you're a little apprehensive about the complexity. It's not difficult. My computer-illiterate wife uses it with no problem.
yeah thanks. I also am attracted to having two separate screens on my desk. All in one is the trend these days but I think there are advantages to having not all in one. Don't ask me for an example though! It is just a theory so far :-)
There is no right or wrong decision. You might want to have the little $200 netbook to carry places where you want lighter weight or you don't want to risk damage to your expensive MacBook. But I've used Mac and Windows on my work desk for two decades now, and combining the two machines is definitely better. Personally, I would spend the $200 (or maybe $300) on a big external monitor for the MacBook Pro instead of a netbook.
But, if your hardware breaks, or if a friend comes over, you've always got a second machine. I can't fault you there.
Is Using A MBP AND!!! A PC The Ultimate Approach?
