As for what I mean by 'stylish', I'd like a desktop PC with as small a form factor as my iMac - or at least, getting that way. A PC with an LCD, a very small body for the actual computer and preferably a CD-RW and DVD-R and definitely DVD/CD-RW.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Off the top of my head, only two AIO computers come to mind, since that's what you seem to be looking for.
First: Gateway Profile. If you haven't seen it, just go to Gateway's site and take a look.
[quote]What I'm talking about however is accessing university essays, assignments, documents and the such from the network and wondering whether my Mac is rendering it in the same way as those with PCs. Similarly, if I need to submit essays to my professor then I just want to do it rather than wondering what format I need to send it.<hr></blockquote>
in this case i would say that MS office is your best bet. every Uni i've ever heard of has office on their machines, and Office docs are seemless between platforms. as for rendering?
you're more likely to run into problems between browsers than between platforms. if they wrote decent code, you should be fine there as well.
as for easy to use tool vs. source of worries? i'd say the mac is the worry free machine of the two, and i own and use both on a daily basis. all my real work gets done on a Mac. i use my PC for gaming.
in this case i would say that MS office is your best bet. every Uni i've ever heard of has office on their machines, and Office docs are seemless between platforms. as for rendering?
you're more likely to run into problems between browsers than between platforms. if they wrote decent code, you should be fine there as well.
as for easy to use tool vs. source of worries? i'd say the mac is the worry free machine of the two, and i own and use both on a daily basis. all my real work gets done on a Mac. i use my PC for gaming.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sorry, lost my password ages ago and now have two accounts. For some reason my second machine won't let me log out - but it is me!!! Just looked at athe Sony VAIO W - a very attractive machine, Just what I'd want if I get a PC. As yet, can't see any details of it being available in the UK. Can anyone help me there?
There would be lots of things I'd miss about my Mac. Some of you might think they're very superficial, but I'd miss the widescreen display for when I wanted to play DVDs, and above all else I'd hate to return to a system with a noisy fan again - that was one of the best things for me about having a Mac. Some things have disappointed me, however, Such as the lack of compatibility between my Nokia and iSync - that could be really useful. Do any of you know whether such a feature is likely in the near future?
Ultimately I suppose I could get some really cheap gaming PC ... but just in case, any news of the Vaio W coming to the UK?
Many thanks, once again.
Oh, and the uni I'm going to is Oxford - I don't know if they use Novell. How would me getting the Mac version help?
mpw_amherst, exactly when are you starting college? Next year? This summer? I know I'm right in the middle of a semester now with midterms next week. It's kind of funny to be talking about getting a computer for college that you aren't starting right away.
At the very least, compare the Mac offerings (most likely Power PC 970) with the PC offerings (most likely Pentium 4) when you are going to buy. You might be surprised at how much the prices on the PC your considering will plummet in the time before you go.
What are you running? For 17" iMac money, you can get plenty of PC, go for it and don't look back. Style? Forget it. PC towers are made to hide under your desk, just get a nice flat panel keyboard and mouse. You don't need to look at the case. You have to be more pragmatic when you buy a PC, it's about bang for your buck, not pretty cases.
Absolutely positively don't get an AIO PC. The entire point of getting a PC is to have a really open-ended upgrade path for your computer. Ultimately, you want every part to be fully customized to your liking. Build your own. It's the best way.
Get a nice mobo, maybe one with the integrated nForce sound system. It's good enough not to require a sound card for good audio quality.
For a processor, AMD offers a lot of bang for the buck, as well as a lot of overclocking capability. A friend of mine made a system with an AMD Athlon XP 1700+ which he overclocked from 1.46 GHz to 1.84 GHz. You should be able to get it to at least 1.6 or 1.7 GHz (basically a 2100+). And you can upgrade the processor later.
Try and nab one of ATI's video cards when they're on closeout after the new models come out in a few weeks. You could get a really good deal on a powerful card like the Radeon 9500, which can be software altered to a Radeon 9700.
Then it's basically up to you. Get whatever HD you need, some RAM, a CD-RW, etc. It shouldn't cost more than $600 or $700, and it'll end up being much more powerful than an iMac.
Or, you could get a case+mobo combination with one of those small cube-like Shuttle cases. There are quite a few out there, great for LAN parties. They take up very little room, which is good. Some also come with short keyboards.
<strong>Glad to see americas youth go to college to buy pc's and play games <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
[quote]Also, while I love Mac OS X, I became concerned when Safari was released. Why was Apple releasing their own browser? I know its better than IE5 but it suggests to me that we could be about to rely on Apple for yet another product, while our PC counterparts have a much wider choice.<hr></blockquote>
Irony. Mac OS has more viable browsers to choose from than Windows.
iCab
Chimera/Camino
Safari
Netscape
Mozilla
OmniWeb
Maybe we've lost Opera, but I can tell you I've never used it willingly.
<strong>Absolutely positively don't get an AIO PC. The entire point of getting a PC is to have a really open-ended upgrade path for your computer. Ultimately, you want every part to be fully customized to your liking. Build your own. It's the best way.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This is true, unfortunately amherst seems to think that an AIO is nice and simple, kinda like the way he wants his comp to work. If he wants to play any of the latest games though, he'll be killing himself less than a year from now. AIO's are definitely not the computers to buy for any serious gaming... but there'll always be tradeoffs with what you buy if you want simplicity.
You might want to keep the mac around too. It was amazing just how many times the few mac users could save the day for their PC friends (I did it a lot).
An honest suggestion: Wait until you are actually at school for awhile before buying a machine. You'll know more what you need once you are there. The university I attended was installing more wireless access points all the time so a laptop was great. Heck, I submitted reports at 3 am from the campus lawn. Once you are there you will see how your profs want things submitted too. They may just want Word Docs in which case you can use MS Office for everything. Many schools are also moving to web based submission. Most of these work with IE on the mac too. Library research is usually web based so you should be fine on any system.
For gaming, you might have a slight point but the games most of my friends played when I was in school I could get too. Funniest thing was, after the first year we didn't play games much. Now that I'm out I bought a PS2. I'd rather have the games on a big tv than my monitor anyway.
As for your network, I'd be suprised if there isn't a way to connect to it. I have yet to be to a school that doesn't have a few macs floating around so you should be able to get on.
I use a Mac (Dual 1.0GHz MDD) and it works absolutely flawlessly with the university's network. I can check my email, send attachments, access the research databases, surf the web, etc. Not a problem at all. All my research papers and the like are written in Microsoft Word and I've yet to encounter any compatiability issues. Messenging services have never been a concern for me... but then again, I refuse to use anything but AIM, which is what almost everyone I know uses as well. What's the point in using anything else? MSN sucks, ICQ is garbage, and Yahoo is just gross. Me and the other guys in the dorm play a lot of network games as well and the only one I miss out on Counterstrike, which I must admit is something of a sore point. And if I want to use kazaa, I just run it off Virtual PC. Mac? A hassle? Nah.
OMG- If you leave because of games...that is sad. If you leave because of networking- you NEED to do some homework on it. OSX is the easiest box to hook to a network..period. I have hooked many a box to networks..Windows (all variations except XP), serveral flavors of Linux, and Mac OS8.5-OSX. Out of all those..windows were the most complicated to hook up (meaning that what was supposed to work did not,and vice versa) to hook up to the network. Macs usually just set to DHCP, (make sure all your cables are in place first.) and then restart..nothing else had to be done. BOOM..your on. If you want to play games...just get a eMachine and stick both computers henind a simple router...sure it's a PC with shoddy hardware..but unless you spend the same money you would have spent on a Mac..you'll get anywhere from decent hardware to straight out super crap. If all the PC is are for games..so be it..but for GODS sake, don't jump the platform due to a few $9.99 Wal-Mart Variety GAMES! Go into this really thinking about what you value in the long term..not the short term "gaming" attitude. Meaning that what is hot this week won't be next week..and next month you will have to get a new graphics card, or more RAM, or somthing else to play the new game..costing you even more money in the long run..and maybe even compatibility headaches..don't go man...it's not worth a game or two. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
<strong>...Macs usually just set to DHCP, (make sure all your cables are in place first.) and then restart..nothing else had to be done. BOOM..your on...</strong><hr></blockquote>
You don't even need to restart on a Mac. Try changing network settings in Windows, and it will require a restart. I'm not if this is the with XP though: can anyone correct me?
Reassuring to know that lack of initiative and laziness are no hindrance to the Oxford University admissions policy.
According to <a href="http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/oxford/StudentIT/"; target="_blank">this page</a>, Oxford University runs a DHCP service: out of the box, OS X has this turned on (freaked me out when I did a fresh install on a spare HD the other week) and it will hook up to a network without even being asked.
Oh, and <a href="http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/connect/"; target="_blank">this page</a> explicitly mentions Macs, from which I would infer they'll support Mac users.
As far as documents are concerned, the import in AppleWorks is pretty good, and OS X can print every single document as a PDF which can be ready by anyone with a copy of Acrobat Reader. Which is everybody.
Still, I suppose if you're going to Think Different, first you have to Think.
Interesting. I totally forgot to ask: Is there a reason why you can't take the iMac with you? You've already paid for it, I assume, so unless you have to leave it home for the rest of your family, buying another computer -- mac or PC -- doesn't seem too wise to me. You'll be much better off maxing out your RAM and installing VPC. I don't really believe that there are connection issues. My PB was the easiest thing in the world to set up. I called my ISP when I was having problems and they were dolts (about getting the PC to release the IP number, total crap, I just needed to reset the modem and hook it up to the wireless router) the mac automagically detected the network and off I went.
Now, if you're looking to buy a new desktop, I can understand not wanting a mac, but I wouldn't want to overspend on a PC AIO or a high-end tower. You can get a Shuttle system with integrated video but with an open AGP and PCI slot for future upgrades. Then when Radeon9500-9700's drop to dirt cheap levels you can instantly bump the video for 100 bucks in a few months. They come with plenty of USB2.0 and firewire ports too. I hear they're a little loud, but the form factor is great, they even hold two HDD's, perfect.
Really think about it. You have a perfectly good machine already, no need to spend more money on ANY platform, just take it with you and use it. And remember, by the end of the year, there will be 970 based macs to consider too. This isn't the time to be buying a new desktop.
Comments
<strong>
As for what I mean by 'stylish', I'd like a desktop PC with as small a form factor as my iMac - or at least, getting that way. A PC with an LCD, a very small body for the actual computer and preferably a CD-RW and DVD-R and definitely DVD/CD-RW.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Off the top of my head, only two AIO computers come to mind, since that's what you seem to be looking for.
First: Gateway Profile. If you haven't seen it, just go to Gateway's site and take a look.
Two: <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=aoZWxcrRQuZWxfSytKRczoXe9CM6cKCVS8I=?Cat alogCategoryID=RzMKC0%2eNBCQAAADzhXoE_KQI&ProductI D=Qa0KC0%2eNPAsAAADzUAEE_KQN&Dept=cpu" target="_blank">Sony Vaio W</a>
Another option would be to get one of the cube style PC's that are out now, and just by some LCD to hook up to it.
Sample: ABS Bravado 2310: <a href="http://abspc.com/app/config.asp?mono=1519"; target="_blank">http://abspc.com/app/config.asp?mono=1519</a>;
If the network is novell based (which could be a possibility) then Prosoft have released the novell client for Mac OS X.
low-fi
in this case i would say that MS office is your best bet. every Uni i've ever heard of has office on their machines, and Office docs are seemless between platforms. as for rendering?
you're more likely to run into problems between browsers than between platforms. if they wrote decent code, you should be fine there as well.
as for easy to use tool vs. source of worries? i'd say the mac is the worry free machine of the two, and i own and use both on a daily basis. all my real work gets done on a Mac. i use my PC for gaming.
<strong>
in this case i would say that MS office is your best bet. every Uni i've ever heard of has office on their machines, and Office docs are seemless between platforms. as for rendering?
you're more likely to run into problems between browsers than between platforms. if they wrote decent code, you should be fine there as well.
as for easy to use tool vs. source of worries? i'd say the mac is the worry free machine of the two, and i own and use both on a daily basis. all my real work gets done on a Mac. i use my PC for gaming.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sorry, lost my password ages ago and now have two accounts. For some reason my second machine won't let me log out - but it is me!!! Just looked at athe Sony VAIO W - a very attractive machine, Just what I'd want if I get a PC. As yet, can't see any details of it being available in the UK. Can anyone help me there?
There would be lots of things I'd miss about my Mac. Some of you might think they're very superficial, but I'd miss the widescreen display for when I wanted to play DVDs, and above all else I'd hate to return to a system with a noisy fan again - that was one of the best things for me about having a Mac. Some things have disappointed me, however, Such as the lack of compatibility between my Nokia and iSync - that could be really useful. Do any of you know whether such a feature is likely in the near future?
Ultimately I suppose I could get some really cheap gaming PC ... but just in case, any news of the Vaio W coming to the UK?
Many thanks, once again.
Oh, and the uni I'm going to is Oxford - I don't know if they use Novell. How would me getting the Mac version help?
At the very least, compare the Mac offerings (most likely Power PC 970) with the PC offerings (most likely Pentium 4) when you are going to buy. You might be surprised at how much the prices on the PC your considering will plummet in the time before you go.
[ 03-03-2003: Message edited by: Fran441 ]</p>
But then again I have the space for my 4 'puters and working on the money thing
Do what you need to do. At first I was upset about your post but then I realize if you're a student you have to spend you money wisely. Good luck.
Get a nice mobo, maybe one with the integrated nForce sound system. It's good enough not to require a sound card for good audio quality.
For a processor, AMD offers a lot of bang for the buck, as well as a lot of overclocking capability. A friend of mine made a system with an AMD Athlon XP 1700+ which he overclocked from 1.46 GHz to 1.84 GHz. You should be able to get it to at least 1.6 or 1.7 GHz (basically a 2100+). And you can upgrade the processor later.
Try and nab one of ATI's video cards when they're on closeout after the new models come out in a few weeks. You could get a really good deal on a powerful card like the Radeon 9500, which can be software altered to a Radeon 9700.
Then it's basically up to you. Get whatever HD you need, some RAM, a CD-RW, etc. It shouldn't cost more than $600 or $700, and it'll end up being much more powerful than an iMac.
Or, you could get a case+mobo combination with one of those small cube-like Shuttle cases. There are quite a few out there, great for LAN parties. They take up very little room, which is good. Some also come with short keyboards.
<strong>Glad to see americas youth go to college to buy pc's and play games <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
He's not in America. Nice try.
Irony. Mac OS has more viable browsers to choose from than Windows.
iCab
Chimera/Camino
Safari
Netscape
Mozilla
OmniWeb
Maybe we've lost Opera, but I can tell you I've never used it willingly.
<strong>Absolutely positively don't get an AIO PC. The entire point of getting a PC is to have a really open-ended upgrade path for your computer. Ultimately, you want every part to be fully customized to your liking. Build your own. It's the best way.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This is true, unfortunately amherst seems to think that an AIO is nice and simple, kinda like the way he wants his comp to work. If he wants to play any of the latest games though, he'll be killing himself less than a year from now. AIO's are definitely not the computers to buy for any serious gaming... but there'll always be tradeoffs with what you buy if you want simplicity.
An honest suggestion: Wait until you are actually at school for awhile before buying a machine. You'll know more what you need once you are there. The university I attended was installing more wireless access points all the time so a laptop was great. Heck, I submitted reports at 3 am from the campus lawn. Once you are there you will see how your profs want things submitted too. They may just want Word Docs in which case you can use MS Office for everything. Many schools are also moving to web based submission. Most of these work with IE on the mac too. Library research is usually web based so you should be fine on any system.
For gaming, you might have a slight point but the games most of my friends played when I was in school I could get too. Funniest thing was, after the first year we didn't play games much. Now that I'm out I bought a PS2. I'd rather have the games on a big tv than my monitor anyway.
As for your network, I'd be suprised if there isn't a way to connect to it. I have yet to be to a school that doesn't have a few macs floating around so you should be able to get on.
<strong>...Macs usually just set to DHCP, (make sure all your cables are in place first.) and then restart..nothing else had to be done. BOOM..your on...</strong><hr></blockquote>
You don't even need to restart on a Mac. Try changing network settings in Windows, and it will require a restart. I'm not if this is the with XP though: can anyone correct me?
low-fi
According to <a href="http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/oxford/StudentIT/"; target="_blank">this page</a>, Oxford University runs a DHCP service: out of the box, OS X has this turned on (freaked me out when I did a fresh install on a spare HD the other week) and it will hook up to a network without even being asked.
Oh, and <a href="http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/connect/"; target="_blank">this page</a> explicitly mentions Macs, from which I would infer they'll support Mac users.
As far as documents are concerned, the import in AppleWorks is pretty good, and OS X can print every single document as a PDF which can be ready by anyone with a copy of Acrobat Reader. Which is everybody.
Still, I suppose if you're going to Think Different, first you have to Think.
[ 03-04-2003: Message edited by: Overhope ]</p>
Now, if you're looking to buy a new desktop, I can understand not wanting a mac, but I wouldn't want to overspend on a PC AIO or a high-end tower. You can get a Shuttle system with integrated video but with an open AGP and PCI slot for future upgrades. Then when Radeon9500-9700's drop to dirt cheap levels you can instantly bump the video for 100 bucks in a few months. They come with plenty of USB2.0 and firewire ports too. I hear they're a little loud, but the form factor is great, they even hold two HDD's, perfect.
Really think about it. You have a perfectly good machine already, no need to spend more money on ANY platform, just take it with you and use it. And remember, by the end of the year, there will be 970 based macs to consider too. This isn't the time to be buying a new desktop.