(02-11-2012, 07:40 AM)Fragma Wrote: The thing is, reliability itself, isn't that reliable with a Mac. What I mean by that is, if something does go wrong, then it's going to be a lot harder to correct than if you had Windows, simply because Windows is easier to tweak, and there's more support for it.
You say you own both Windows and Mac workstations. Are they both similar spec'ed? If they are, then perhaps you just don't use your Windows machine as well as you should. As long as you keep your files organised, have good reliable software, and know how to troubleshoot/keep your computer clean & safe, then you shouldn't have any problems what so ever.
You said:
"But for the reliability, i'm willing to pay the premium price tag."
To break that down a bit, you're basically saying you'd rather pay twice the price just for what you think is a more reliable machine, even though side by side with an average Windows PC, the performance wouldn't differ much at all? Maybe you're just extremely rich and can afford to be scammed by Apple.
I can't say I agree with you here:
"if something does go wrong, then it's going to be a lot harder to correct than if you had Windows"
If something goes wrong with my Mac hardware, I ring up Apple, go to the store and they give me a brand new replacement there and then. No questions asked, no hassle. If something goes wrong with the software, I can simply restore from an hourly backup using TimeMachine that comes pre-installed with the OS.
Replacing windows hardware isn't that hassle free, and if I want backup's i'd have to install some third party software.
But, let's just say I did agree with you, you said
"if something does go wrong"
The thing is, nothing has gone wrong. That's what I meant by reliability.
I have a few Apple workstations now, but the two I was comparing are similarly spec'ed, and I use similar software on each. I do keep my files organised, and freshly indexed. I also do everything I can to keep the computer safe, but under significant usage, the Windows machine seems to get bogged down a lot more than the Mac. I've not got to the bottom of why this happens, it's just what i've found over time.
For your last point, I don't believe I am getting scammed by Apple. It's not what I 'think' is a more reliable machine, it's proven itself over time for reliability, where windows has fallen at the hurdle. And for this proven reliability, I am willing to pay the premium, even if it's double. Yes, the hardware itself is more expensive but when Apple bring out the next edition of OSX it's only $29.99 (£20) for the full release, where as Windows 7 ultimate is $319.99 (£229.99).
So every year that's a $300 upgrade, oppose to a $30 one, I see that as a little bit of a scam.
Anyway; I'm not starting a Mac vs. PC war, I have both, I just prefer one over the other.
If I was to put myself in your shoes, I'd probably choose Windows over Mac also, as you've built your own PC from scratch, and are obviously very happy with it. Congratulations again on your achievement buddy.