this thread wasn't created to have a flame war between slackware and OSX, ok, so unless you have something to say pertaining to this thread, leave please

slickhare,

I use WinXP and OSX at work.

I use VectorLinux and Win2k at home.

You can purchase a notebook with winXP for $500-1200 USD

A New macbook will cost you about $1000+ USD

Unless I am editing Video in Finalcut pro I find that I can do more with Windows then I can on the Mac. For example, I had to work on a word document that I started on a PC and then finish the document on the Mac. The difference between the MS Word on the PC and the MAC is frustrating. Word for Mac has all the menus, buttons and tool bars in different locations from the PC version. Also, You cannot click on a word document on your flash drive and expect it to open up in word like you do on the PC. If you do not open up Word on the Mac first, what will happen is that Word will open up with a window prompting you to purchase MS word for the Mac even though there is a licensed and registered copy on the HD.

As for the Keyboards and mice...I have the best that Apple can give me and it just doesn't feel as good as PC Keyboards and mice do.

In my opinion Macs are very expensive to purchase and maintain. They are also more prone to theft then a comparable notebook.

So My recommendation to you is to save money and buy a Windows XP Notebook. Then use a Live Linux CD whenever you feel nostalgic for Linux. (I recommend Vector linux just because its a nice stable distro with good hardware recognition.)

So Good luck with your shopping

well, at least you do get full-featured unix terminal and with macports just about every BSD program you need or you could compile stuff from sources and maybe run fluxbox on top of Aqua just for heck of it (X11 included in every Mac).. dunno what you mean with "moving around your stuff"

Core Image isn't open source, sorry.

iLife is bundled with every single Mac. Full version, not a demo, installation media included. That's what Apple is constantly touting in their terrible ads.

I've installed Windows many times and OS X once.. OS X just for the heck of it the second I got my iBook 2 years ago just to see how it goes and how much I can leave unnecessary stuff out (like printer drivers & languages). Never had problems with this install and this is my first Mac.

Ah so they do bundle it! Stupid Future Shop lying to me again. D:< That's one very strong point for the iMac then; it comes complete with useful software like most modern distros... Unlike MS who isn't even nice enough to put in a copy of Word by itself... But then they'd integrate it, killing OO.o for Win32, and we all know what that means...

By moving my stuff around: Why can't I have my dock up top, and my apple menu bar thingy to the side or at the bottom?

Sure, I have the terminal under OSX, but I've never seen it before; with most OSs, either the terminal is on an icon on the desktop, on a toolbar somewhere, or in a menu; OSX has the dock, but to kill confusion there's no terminal icon by default, there doesn't appear to be a "start bar" of sorts, so how am I supposed to find it? Normally I open a terminal and launch stuff so I can see if it fails, but how do I launch the terminal? o_O

I'm not trolling or anything; if there's a quick way of doing it, I haven't seen it anywhere.

Oh, and most PC keyboards+mice work under OSX. Apple's keyboards are no good, imho. The plastic casing around the keyboard is there for a reason...

Well, you can throw dock on either side of screen or bottom or hide it. apple menu bar is sacred, it can't be moved. ;)

You drag the terminal.app to dock and there it stays. then all is needed afterwards is one mouse click to open terminal. you can throw anything in dock. I tend to open it via Spotlight, bit faster if one is a quick writer and I don't like mouses that much. cmd+space, write "term" & hit enter -> launched.

EDIT: lack of start bar is because you have dock (thank god) that can be quickly configured to include all most often used applications. rest of applications are in /Applications, located also on sidepanel of finder.

You can put the dock at the top, but you have to edit a text file ending in .plist.

>> "When you buy a Mac, you pay for the same thing iPod users or Nike-wearing people pay for: the name. Unless you have extra money rolling free down your pockets, or just want to belong to the "better folks" group,"

ok , this comment touches me ...

although i still cant find any valid reason to buy an ipod but as for nike , i actually like their caps ... not that i only buy their caps but its because when i cant find any "brandless" good caps that i like fast enough(because my current cap most probably is going to worn out and drop apart very soon) and feel good with it then i usually go for nike first ...

but the only wish-list from me for nike is that i hope they make caps without the logo on it , probably hiding the logo under the cap somewhere or at least use the same color(more or less) as the color of the cap for the logo or makes logo that is easily be taken off "thread by thread" if the color of the logo stands out from the color of the cap ... btw , gives me more dull-color black or very dark-blueish grey cap would be nice ...



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I've always hated logos too, Alred...

Nike does make some nice stuff, but I don't want a glaring "Nike" logo following me around, with an image on my shirt I might not like after a while. A lot of shirts are just ruined by logos. =/

funny that people replying to my comments about nike ... ^_^

anyway , why not ...

nike caps are good , but i only like those that are made with somekind of "canvas" material ... they are tougher in comparison(just by touch-feeling-stretching a bit in their stores) with other types of materials which i presume if i put them on would be kind of like wrapping mini umbrella or raincoat on my head ... yep , most probably those types are with colors that are a bit too striking ...

>> " A lot of shirts are just ruined by logos. =/"

correct ... sometimes i do wear t-shirts with "logo" ... so nike logo is a bit out of touch and incompatible with them ... like i'm not a serious enough guy ... ^_^


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If you can afford it, go with the intel-based mac notebook. You can dual boot that to windows if you want and have the best of both worlds. Another route might be if you somehow managed to get osx86 and get whatever laptop you want.