[Info-vax] Happy 25th birthday Macintosh !

[Paul]

On 2009-01-26 12:01:54 -0600, billg999 at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) said:

> In article <paul.sture.nospam-481CBF.18114726012009 at mac.sture.ch>,
> 	"P. Sture" <paul.sture.nospam at hispeed.ch> writes:
>> In article <6u61emFdre68U1 at mid.individual.net>,
>> billg999 at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote:
>> 
>>> The only thing that makes a Mac easier is it usually comes already
>>> installed.  But then, you certainly pay for it!!
>> 
>> I'm getting tired of this cost argument against Macs. If price is the
>> only factor, why aren't we all driving Yugos and buying furniture from
>> Ikea?
> 
> It's not all about cost.  But one does need to compare apples to apples.
> (no pun intended.  Well, maybe a little)  My example of the Eeepc and a
> Mac is pretty close.  Both are hardware platforms specifically designed
> for the OS that comes with them.  And which is easier to install?  I just
> asked our resident Mac "guru".  He informed me that a raw, from scratch
> install of OS-X installs nothing but the base OS and anything else, like
> X-11 or any apps is separate.  And my example of Ubuntu was taht one click
> gives you a fully functional user system with Office Suite, networking
> (including wireless) and lot's of fluff that you probably don't need.
> 
> So, which is easier?
> 
> And, the same is true of an Ubuntu install on any other piece of hardware.
> And the argument, "Well, only if the hardware is supported." applies equally
> to Mac with the proviso that Ubuntu is likely to support a lot more hardware
> than OS-X.

You need to listen closer to your Guru - a basic install will install a 
fully usable
Mac, including all the normal internet tools such as Safari & Mail, as well as
all the underlying UNIX stuff such as ssh and ftp.

Further you get fully functional photo management, DVD creation, 
multi-track music
recording, media management, DVD player, VPN software, and a whole bunch more.

As well as X11 and all the attendent UNIX stuff, like vi, fgrep, etc.

You *do* have to install the compilers separately, and wordprocessing, 
spreadsheet,
and presentation software costs and extra $79 from Apple - or you can use the
Unix stuff like OpenOffice for free.

That's just for starters by the way.

You can even compile and run SIMH on the Mac with ease, and run OpenVMS 
pretty well.

-Paul


>> 
>> Besides, if you priced up a Dell (or whatever) on a fair like for like
>> basis, you'd be surprised to see very little difference.
> 
> I have never bought or even priced a Dell.  If I am going to run Linux on
> it, I would have little reason to consider them.  All PC hardware comes from
> the same place, not a lot of reason to pay anyone's premium just to get their
> re-badged name on the front.
> 
> bill