- Joined
- 13 Feb 2002
- Messages
- 854
That is the question. I debated whether to ask this here or in the Mac forum, but I decided that I wanted the informed opinion of fellow PC users/builders here, as every computer I've had since 1993 has been built. Yet, I now find myself wondering if my next computer should be a Mac Pro (it would be the long-awaited 45nm Penryn update, not the current hardware) or if I should continue to build?
On one hand, it should be mentioned that I work in media, and I do a lot of work in 3D modeling/animation, motion graphics (i.e., After Effects), and video editing. As such, the kind of computer I'm attracted to is rather high-end, and this is where the Mac Pro is attractive to me. It is competitively priced for this market, I would finally have access to the Final Cut Studio (I currently edit in "Avid Media Composer Adrenaline HD" at work, but I get the sense that the writing is on the wall for them, as their product is increasingly uncompetitive in terms of cost; and so I have been thinking that working knowledge of Final Cut Pro, the other de facto editing standard, might be advantageous), and I would never really even have to give up Windows, if I really needed to use it.
On the other hand, the lack of real control over my hardware is difficult to fathom. As a builder, I'm used to picking "the best" hardware for my needs, since I know which brands are reputable and reliable. Apple's track record on video cards is also downright awful; high prices for obsolete hardware, and no ability to choose anything better. I am also not terribly impressed with Mac OS X as an operating system (blasphemous, I know), but the Mac Pro that our art director uses at work crashes on Adobe CS3 and when I'm asked for help, I find that nothing short of turning it off ever fixes anything. The OS X equivalent to the Windows "Task Manager" (sorry...I forget the name) never seems to actually close anything. And, no, this computer isn't running Leopard; it's Tiger. Plus, I completely hate the fact that OS X hides a good chunk of your folder structure from you, and that you have to access it through the Terminal, if at all. In other words, an intentionally crippled OS to protect its users from themselves is probably a good thing, considering most of their users, but as a "Power User," it tends to bother me.
But on yet another hand (with this number of hands, we must be dealing with the Hindu deities, Lakshmi or Vishnu ), I am getting increasingly nervous about building PCs, inasmuch as the kind of CPUs I'd be interested in buying for my line of work are expensive, and a huge fear of mine would be that I, inadvertently, do something wrong in installing a CPU, fry it, and not be able to return it/replace it. I just cannot afford such a proposition. And looking at the world of built PCs, I tend to find computers that either have what I would consider to be poor hardware for the price or something like Alienware, which is very much out of my price range.
Basically, what would you all suggest I do? Are the above assumptions correct, or am I mistaken, in part--i.e., for one, is my fear about accidentally frying a CPU and not being able to return/replace it warranted?
Your advice is appreciated.
On one hand, it should be mentioned that I work in media, and I do a lot of work in 3D modeling/animation, motion graphics (i.e., After Effects), and video editing. As such, the kind of computer I'm attracted to is rather high-end, and this is where the Mac Pro is attractive to me. It is competitively priced for this market, I would finally have access to the Final Cut Studio (I currently edit in "Avid Media Composer Adrenaline HD" at work, but I get the sense that the writing is on the wall for them, as their product is increasingly uncompetitive in terms of cost; and so I have been thinking that working knowledge of Final Cut Pro, the other de facto editing standard, might be advantageous), and I would never really even have to give up Windows, if I really needed to use it.
On the other hand, the lack of real control over my hardware is difficult to fathom. As a builder, I'm used to picking "the best" hardware for my needs, since I know which brands are reputable and reliable. Apple's track record on video cards is also downright awful; high prices for obsolete hardware, and no ability to choose anything better. I am also not terribly impressed with Mac OS X as an operating system (blasphemous, I know), but the Mac Pro that our art director uses at work crashes on Adobe CS3 and when I'm asked for help, I find that nothing short of turning it off ever fixes anything. The OS X equivalent to the Windows "Task Manager" (sorry...I forget the name) never seems to actually close anything. And, no, this computer isn't running Leopard; it's Tiger. Plus, I completely hate the fact that OS X hides a good chunk of your folder structure from you, and that you have to access it through the Terminal, if at all. In other words, an intentionally crippled OS to protect its users from themselves is probably a good thing, considering most of their users, but as a "Power User," it tends to bother me.
But on yet another hand (with this number of hands, we must be dealing with the Hindu deities, Lakshmi or Vishnu ), I am getting increasingly nervous about building PCs, inasmuch as the kind of CPUs I'd be interested in buying for my line of work are expensive, and a huge fear of mine would be that I, inadvertently, do something wrong in installing a CPU, fry it, and not be able to return it/replace it. I just cannot afford such a proposition. And looking at the world of built PCs, I tend to find computers that either have what I would consider to be poor hardware for the price or something like Alienware, which is very much out of my price range.
Basically, what would you all suggest I do? Are the above assumptions correct, or am I mistaken, in part--i.e., for one, is my fear about accidentally frying a CPU and not being able to return/replace it warranted?
Your advice is appreciated.