Blogged: 01-07-2007 at 23:59:57
As mentioned in my F.A.Q., I prefer to work on a Mac. These are the reasons for such a decision.
First, I've got to mention Linux. Linux is a great operating system and I have no doubt that it will continue to do marvelous things in the future. It's the most stable server OS by far. I've seen Linux servers boast a year or more of uptime. The only reason I don't use Linux for a workstation is that most of the graphics design and 3D animation software I use isn't available for it.
On to Mac, it was my first computer, and still my favorite. I started using Mac way back when the operating system was called System 7, this wasn't very long after the switch from calling the Machines Apple to calling them Macs. Even way back then, it just worked. Everything I needed to do with the Machine at the time worked great, and it hardly ever needed rebooting. Unfortunately this was way before OSX, which is why after my first Mac I got into PCs running Windows. I could fiddle around with them more and build them myself. Once I got into serious applications though, my focus quickly turned back to Mac.
Flash forward to present day, and lets talk about hardware. The common complaint about Mac is that the hardware costs too much. I disagree. It does cost a bit more, but you get better hardware, and the lifespan is better. I'm the proud owner of a G4 cube a 400mhz or so Machine, not one of Macs faster models even when it was built. Nevertheless, I find that I use the system as much as my PC for everyday tasks such as surfing, chatting, watching DVDs, and even some light Photoshop. I've never had a hardware failure with the system. It uses only one power plug for both the monitor and cpu. It's quiet, and it's size was emulated a year or so after it was made by pcs. Open up any Mac, and you'll find the hardware well organized, and clearly labeled. It will be free of cable tangles, and sharp metal parts that shred the skin. They're a breeze to work on, and literally, the air-flow through them is as good as any other Machine I've seen.
Now for software. OSX was a big step for Mac, and a double-edged sword in a way. A lot of folks had gotten used to OS9, and weren't happy running OS9 through OSX. Maybe it's because I didn't have to deal with that problem, but I for one commend Apple on their decision. Why would you want to use outdated software? If there's some ancient software you insist on using, a Mac might not be for you. I like to stay current with software. The Mac OS was one of the first to auto-update itself, and current software runs great on it.
OSX combines the stability and performance of Unix with the availability of software made by Adobe or Autodesk, which to me, makes it the Rolls-Royce of computers. Window management is efortless thanks to Expose and the lack of an "application background", and vector-based ui elements and fonts provide a cleaner look than bitmap counterparts. Indeed, other operating systems have been trying to catch up to Macs visual appeal for years, and are only recently coming close.
Security with Mac is a no-brainer. Other operating systems rely on extensive questioning of the user for what to allow, and what not to. Mac is configurable if it needs to be, but from my experience, the defaults work just fine. My old G4 cube has never had a virus, and never asked me if I want to allow certain web content. I've also never had a problem networking to other operating systems, or utilizing web resources. Like all other things Mac, web and network security just works.
Apologies if I sound like an advertisement for Mac, but I do get sick of folks badmouthing the platform just because of poor support for games. Mac is a great workstation, and popular games do eventually get ported over to it.