Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#151

Post by ashleyw » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 7:44 AM UTC

Made the switch earlier in the year; though I'm a poor student, so ended up downgrading from a decent Windows machine to a 2006 CoreDuo 1.83Ghz Macbook Pro — but even then, its defiantly been worth it!

I'd never switch back to Windows, and I prefer to run Adobe products natively, so I don't want to use Linux (however I like the unix enviroment). So really its just a good compromise between both — the commercial side from Windows, and the open source and unix side from Linux. Perfect! :-)

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#152

Post by boundlessdreamz » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 7:47 AM UTC

For tortoisesvn there is scplugin. Last time I tried it was not as good as tortoisesvn. I just learned the command line commands and now I don't miss tortoisesvn. http://scplugin.tigris.org/

For SQLog you can run it on OS X using Wine. I have a written a guide on how to do that http://www.manu-j.com/blog/run-sqlyog-mac-os-x-wine/148/

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#153

Post by rbanffy » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 9:37 AM UTC

lallysingh wrote: post #144

minalecs wrote: post #18

I recently switched from linux to mac, and I would not pay the apple tax again. I force myself to use the fisher price os they call osx, to justify the apple tax i payed for the hardware. But being a windows to mac user may be a better transition. For those that say use Vmware.. why not just buy the cheaper hardware and run windows. The hardware is all commodity, and you are not getting any benefits from the hardware…

I was going to go into a rant here, but I don't feed trolls anymore, I'm too old for this shit. 1. Map control to caps lock, like you should be doing on any keyboard you have. 2. Use the 'enter' or 'return' key to make paragraphs. 3. Use your left thumb for the command key. 4. Stop pretending that this is an Ubuntu box. It's a mac, treat it like one & give the mac versions of software a look first, before running bac…

"Then again, hackers usually need more machine than the low-end crap."

Microsoft did that. Look how well their OS runs on low-end hardware.

I don't do client side programming anymore and I am _very_ happy with my Atom-based netbook for work. When I get home, I just hook it up to a giant monitor and happy I go.

And, BTW, Zope and Django run acceptably on it, so, I won't be seen migrating to a backbreaker notebook anytime soon.

I find OSX somewhat uncomfortable to use for me (a lot less than Windows - boy, why do people subject themselves to that?) mostly because it's Unix to a point and something completely alien beyond that. The problem for developers is the Unix half is very traditional 80's Unix and things have evolved a lot since that was cutting edge. I like my package manager to help me reassemble my box the way I want it to be and do so in servers in a repeatable way.

If your hacking is only around programming and reading Office documents and you don't touch system configuration at all, the Mac can be for you. If not, I would consider a vanilla PC with Linux as the superior choice.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#154

Post by mstevens » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:24 AM UTC

I started with Linux and some windows, went to Mac, and have gone back to Linux (with windows for gaming).

For you I'd recommend it. Everything is just that little bit easier and more consistent. You do seem to spend more money but I think it's worth it in time saved.

My main reason to avoid the mac is wanting to avoid lockin - I've decided to move as much of my computer use as possible over to open software and file formats with the goal of being able to retain my data for longer and use it in more ways. You can go a long way towards this goal on a mac, but it's not quite as natural as doing it on Linux.

For me, I got annoyed with Unix software not having quite as nice an experience on OS X as it does on Linux, but it doesn't sound like that'll be a problem for you.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#155

Post by mstevens » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:25 AM UTC

jwilliams wrote: post #93

neovive wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found equivalent apps for everything except TortoiseSVN (Versions or SCPlugin seems like a fit). I would only use the VM for testing on IE and a few Windows-only apps. Keyboard shortcuts are one of my big concerns -- I'm a big Ctrl key user on Windows.

> Keyboard shortcuts are one of my big concerns -- I'm a big Ctrl key user on Windows. You get used to it pretty quickly - and I swap back and forth a fair bit. OSX will let you remap important keys any way you like - but I think it's generally easiest just to stick with the native mapping (otherwise you jump on another machine and get lost).

I found OS X applications generally seem to have slightly fewer keyboard shortcuts than Linux/Windows.

They're there, but for example I think menus are easier to access on Windows (still possible on both though!).

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#156

Post by mstevens » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:26 AM UTC

cpr wrote: post #97

drwh0 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah its amazing that apple touts themselves as pro-user but their external keyboards are without a doubt the most craptastic worthless keyboards on the market. they look cool but are utterly useless for prolonged use and yes apple takes your freedom and will slowly turn you into an idiot. we're software developers damnit, we're supposed to be interested in how the computer works under the hood, not looking to put a…

The latest flat aluminum Apple external keyboards are the best I've ever used, and I've been a keyboard snob for decades.

I can't stand them myself. But other people I work with use them more regularly than me and seem to love them.

No proof of anything, but possibly more useful data.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#157

Post by lallysingh » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:31 AM UTC

LogicHoleFlaw wrote: post #111

teej wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd only be more efficient on Linux because it doesn't support WoW.

Except that WoW runs fine on all three platforms...

A great reason to go OpenSolaris!

And seriously, (IMHO) it's actually pretty good.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#158

Post by lallysingh » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:35 AM UTC

mattmaroon wrote: post #79

flashgordon wrote: post #30

actually if you are not doing any iphone development (or mac development) i dont see the point. i am on a dell inspiron (bought early last year) and is very solid. running fedora 9, only log in to XP if i have to (around once a month).. cost of hardware is lower (id say atleast 10%-20%) and you have a lot more freedom with what you can do without running into the JobsWall! plus for webapps i can get it to mimic the p…

It's a lot more than 10-20% for a lot of desktop users because Apple doesn't offer a middle of the road desktop without a monitor built in. Personally I already own two great LCDs, so when I went to pick one out, my options were the mini (which has only one video jack and is pretty weak by desktop standards, though small and silent and therefore great for casual use or probably as a media hub) or some ridiculously ex…

No mac user's going to argue that Apple's got good selection in hardware :-) If what they've got fits your needs, you're good. Otherwise...

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#159

Post by Jem » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:46 AM UTC

When I first started my job (where I am now) they put on a Mac. My biggest pet peeve as a developer was having to use a keyboard shortcut to get # instead of being able to press 1 key. (There were other keyboard issues too, but these were specific to me as a UK-er; can expand if necessary.)

If you're already using the mac os in a VM, I don't see the learning curve/adjustment period as being THAT big.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching to a Mac?

#160

Post by Jem » Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 10:55 AM UTC

tdavis wrote: post #59

I switched from Windows to Mac about 2 years ago and never looked back. My main reason for going to OSX instead of Linux at the time was because Photoshop wasn't available on Linux and GIMP makes me cry. I used Photoshop a lot. Still, I'd do it again at this point. I found the adjustment period to be quite short, but then again I had been working on both Windows and Linux for quite a long time so I was already used t…

"Just remember: The camp that says there's no reason to go Mac over Linux are just as bad as the one that says there's nothing better than Mac. Choose whichever one suits your purposes better."

Well put. Now convince the hardcore fanboys to take that approach! ;)