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Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

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Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#21

Post by ewjordan »

Laptop or desktop?

If it's a desktop, I won't comment, that's entirely up to you (maybe others have advice) - I haven't used a desktop regularly in at least a year. If it's a laptop, though, unless you work in a totally Windows-centric environment, a MacBook Pro is the only choice (even in a Windows shop, I'd consider it since you can dual boot and the hardware itself is really nice). Get one N-O-W.

Seriously - these things are freaking awesome, ever since I got one I can't imagine ever buying anything else. I've never met a person that bought one and didn't absolutely love it. First laptop I've ever had that didn't feel like a cheap plastic toy...

Go for a 15" matte screen, though - the bigger ones are too cumbersome, and the glossy screens just suck.

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#22

Post by hs »

joshsharp wrote: post #11

I have a Mac and a PC and I feel more productive on a PC. I think the main reason for this is that I'm a "maximised windows" kinda guy and switching between windows and tasks feels much more smooth and simple for me in Windows. It may sound like a small thing but because the OS X dock deals with apps, not windows, it can be a pain switching between open windows (yes I'm aware of shortcut keys etc). Also the tendency…

tiled wm like ion3, wmii, dwm open new windows automatically maximized

no need to use mouse to scroll, move, resize, min, max window ... huge time saver

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#23

Post by jrockway »

GeneralMaximus wrote: post #12
makecheck wrote: post #3

Mac, most definitely. For one, Mac OS X comes with a Python version installed. It also comes with a whole toolbox of Unix utilities, including a number of text editors. (There are many other 3rd party text editors for the Mac, too. Though I stick with "vim" or Xcode myself, both of which are included.) You can't understate the value of being able to pop down to the Unix layer when needed. There are lots of times wher…

I second that. Sure, you could get productive on Windows and Linux, but they're definitely not low maintainence. Plus, you could always install Windows using BootCamp or VMWare Fusion. I wrote a blog entry on this. although it's from a hobbyists's perspective: http://blog.uncool.in/2009/03/10/thoughts-on-using-a-mac-as-...

I second that. Sure, you could get productive on Windows and Linux, but they're definitely not low maintainence [sic].

Nor are Macs. Every piece of software needs to be updated manually, as there is no system-wide update manager. If you want to install UNIX software (like C libraries that your language needs to bind to), you will need to install some sort of ports system, and maintain that. (When I used a Mac a few years ago, none of the ports systems all had the latest versions of packages I needed, so I had more than one installed. This was a fucking nightmare to maintain.)

Anyway, this (along with Apple's evil-ness) is what killed OS X for me. Yeah, it's really pretty, but it is too hard to maintain. Debian is much better. It is never missing anything I need, and full-system updates are just an apt-get away.

For programming, nothing beats a good UNIX system, as long as you are willing to learn how to use it properly.

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#24

Post by jrockway »

zacharydanger wrote: post #10

PC running Linux is your best bet. Take the money they save versus buying a Mac and use it for a second monitor which I find to be one of the most important development tools. Having your code and browser open at the same time will make your life that much easier.

I disagree. I find virtual desktops much easier to use than looking at a monitor that isn't in my field of vision. I would rather press a key than make my body uncomfortable.

(For this technique to work, though, you need to be very comfortable with the keyboard, and you obviously have to disable desktop-switch eye candy. Not a problem with xmonad ;)

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#25

Post by jrockway »

ewjordan wrote: post #21

Laptop or desktop? If it's a desktop, I won't comment, that's entirely up to you (maybe others have advice) - I haven't used a desktop regularly in at least a year. If it's a laptop, though, unless you work in a totally Windows-centric environment, a MacBook Pro is the only choice (even in a Windows shop, I'd consider it since you can dual boot and the hardware itself is really nice). Get one N-O-W. Seriously - these…

a MacBook Pro is the only choice

Why do you say that? Thinkpads are built much better, and IMHO are better-looking. You should only get a MacBook Pro if you want to run OS X. If you are going to run Windows or a UNIX, you definitely want a Thinkpad.

(Only disadvantage is that Thinkpads are a real pain in the ass to buy. "Ships in more than 4 weeks." Fuck.)

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#26

Post by nx »

MrRage wrote: post #15
nx wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excuse me, "PC" does not mean "Windows computer", so I'd pick a PC and install some Linux distro.

On the same token, a Mac is a PC.

It's not the same. If you say "Mac or PC", it is understood that you mean "Apple computers, or other type of general-purpose personal computers, i.e., non-Mac PCs". But if we interpret "PC" only as "Windows computer", then there's this huge number of OSes we're not taking into account, since we're just considering OS X and Windows.

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#27

Post by falien »

GeneralMaximus wrote: post #12
makecheck wrote: post #3

Mac, most definitely. For one, Mac OS X comes with a Python version installed. It also comes with a whole toolbox of Unix utilities, including a number of text editors. (There are many other 3rd party text editors for the Mac, too. Though I stick with "vim" or Xcode myself, both of which are included.) You can't understate the value of being able to pop down to the Unix layer when needed. There are lots of times wher…

I second that. Sure, you could get productive on Windows and Linux, but they're definitely not low maintainence. Plus, you could always install Windows using BootCamp or VMWare Fusion. I wrote a blog entry on this. although it's from a hobbyists's perspective: http://blog.uncool.in/2009/03/10/thoughts-on-using-a-mac-as-...

I'd argue there is really no such thing as a low maintenance developer system. Any good developer will need to customize their environment alot to be as productive as possible, and this means different things for different developers. Personally I choose linux because I like the development tools available there best and find it easiest to make any changes I need. That said though, OSX and Windows are perfectly legitimate choices for different people. From what I've seen though, OSX is no more low maintenance for your average developer's "requirements" than anything else. For web development though I'd say osx or linux. I just havent seen sort of tools on windows to justify putting up with it unless you're focused on microsoft technologies (or a hopelessly entrenched windows user).

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#28

Post by jrockway »

hs wrote: post #22
joshsharp wrote: post #11

I have a Mac and a PC and I feel more productive on a PC. I think the main reason for this is that I'm a "maximised windows" kinda guy and switching between windows and tasks feels much more smooth and simple for me in Windows. It may sound like a small thing but because the OS X dock deals with apps, not windows, it can be a pain switching between open windows (yes I'm aware of shortcut keys etc). Also the tendency…

tiled wm like ion3, wmii, dwm open new windows automatically maximized no need to use mouse to scroll, move, resize, min, max window ... huge time saver

The downside is that you'll consider complete sentences a waste of time ;)

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#29

Post by zealog »

cglee wrote: post #8
makecheck wrote: post #3

Mac, most definitely. For one, Mac OS X comes with a Python version installed. It also comes with a whole toolbox of Unix utilities, including a number of text editors. (There are many other 3rd party text editors for the Mac, too. Though I stick with "vim" or Xcode myself, both of which are included.) You can't understate the value of being able to pop down to the Unix layer when needed. There are lots of times wher…

As a web developer, you'll also probably need to test in Windows and IE. For that, get Fusion or Parallels and you can have Windows and OSX running side by side.

That's true - and another reason to go with Mac.

On my Mac I can test Mac versions of Safari, Firefox, and Opera. I can also have virtual machines to test for Windows Firefox, IE6, IE7, and IE8 at the same time. If I were on a PC I would only be able to have one version of IE installed.

It's still funny to me that to develop websites that work on all of the Windows browsers a Mac is the only thing that makes sense.

Re: Ask HN: MAC vs PC for a developer?

#30

Post by kwamenum86 »

nx wrote: post #9
makecheck wrote: post #3

Mac, most definitely. For one, Mac OS X comes with a Python version installed. It also comes with a whole toolbox of Unix utilities, including a number of text editors. (There are many other 3rd party text editors for the Mac, too. Though I stick with "vim" or Xcode myself, both of which are included.) You can't understate the value of being able to pop down to the Unix layer when needed. There are lots of times wher…

Excuse me, "PC" does not mean "Windows computer", so I'd pick a PC and install some Linux distro.

Most people mean "Windows machine" when they say "PC" though. Since the way people use a word define the meaning of the word more than even a dictionary definition, PC does in fact mean Windows machine.
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