PC or MAC for Trading?
- Thread starter ess1096
- Start date
You seem to think that I am defending the mac. I assure you it has nothing to do with it as computers are tools to me and nothing more. You simply don't have a clue what you are talking about, and yet continue to give your third hand opinion of what your friends have told you.
Why don't you actually get a mac and use it for a year? Then maybe you can talk about it ON YOUR OWN TERMS and say something that YOU don't like about it instead of regurgitating other peoples opinons?
nitro
Why don't you actually get a mac and use it for a year? Then maybe you can talk about it ON YOUR OWN TERMS and say something that YOU don't like about it instead of regurgitating other peoples opinons?
nitro
Quote from canyonman00:
Stepped on your precious MAC again. Me so sorry! But that still won't change the reality, DOC. Have a great day!
And you seem to think I'm hating the MAC. Far from the truth. But what you won't accept is that companies that have such a large investment in the PC marketplace are not going to switch over in sufficient numbers to make your dream a reality.
Why? First, because it isn't a smart move IMHO. And whether or not you wish to accept it, they are listening to guys like me. It's is not whether or not I like MAC. It's that there are many years of files and data and other things that have been done on the PC's that we are not looking to convert or risk converting to make YOU happy. It ain't broke so we ain't fixin' it.
The changeover only helps YOU possibly get a better product. It does nothing for our bottom line. And that would be the reason that must drive that change. Secretaries lose no appreciable time using PC's and there is no measurable increase in productivity using MAC's that would say ~ change!
When I'm asked, why should we change? I would have to currently answer, no real reason. These new MAC's, can they be had for a few hundred dollars per unit? We all know that answer. Yet, I can have a PC in office in a few hours for a few hundred bucks. Ready to go! No upgrade or additional linking to make it compatible to the older units in the office that might not play nice with MAC's.
When I am asked will this new machine cause potential conflicts/problems with the network I have to say, "I have no idea. The OS is too new to know. Let's give it a few years and see where it goes." In the meantime, Microsoft bombards the exec's with their sales teams prepping them for Vista in a year or so. They're doing the groundwork and laying the foundation solidly ~ RIGHT NOW! And the MAC, they're counting on guys like you who try to argue their case with no ability to guarantee anything.
So as much as you harp on this matter, there is no hope as it stands right now. Do I see a change forming? Absolutely not! A cute commercial or two on TV does not a market shift make.
Second, did you notice that the new MAC concept is to say that, "We can run Windows products too!" Again, I ask a dumb question. Why would I get a MAC to run Windows programs? Specifically, Microsoft Word! The preferred word processing package of corporate America. I have a better chance of having them go to Officesuite for Linux. I could at least make a case for that.
Third, there is the hardware game. You see until you get more vender outlets for MAC stuff, it ain't going on. Visit CompUSA, Micro Center, Office Max, Best Buy and notice the floor space allotment for PC stuff in relation to MAC stuff.
Check the bottom line at the end of the day and ask them how much MAC stuff was sold in relation to PC stuff. In my local stores in Chicago and Dallas, MAC gear is relegated to a small room in the BACK of the store. It's almost like a sympathy play. And don't give me my own argument that there are more PC's out there. Because that's what I've been saying to you.
Beta was better than VHS. History clearly reflected the winner of that war. Eight track gave you a better foundation than the cassette tape. Another losers history that can be traced. Neither of those products were able to withstand the market resistance, advertising barrage, and passage of time to make their case.
MAC's are in the fringes of the corporate space. They are in the graphic departments and they make good platforms for several other specialty things too. There they will (might) remain. But they are not the machine of the main office place in their current (and/or near term) versions.
Pentium IV's are not at every secretarial station now. Dual core processors will not be needed there to do Word anytime soon either. The majority of corporate machines are not needing upgrades to the latest tech and no changes are coming in mass there either.
The corporate budgets say no to the change. I support that position also. And this is but the beginning of my arguments. I'll be buying another PC (from eBay) by the end of the week. Good luck with your MACdreams.
Why? First, because it isn't a smart move IMHO. And whether or not you wish to accept it, they are listening to guys like me. It's is not whether or not I like MAC. It's that there are many years of files and data and other things that have been done on the PC's that we are not looking to convert or risk converting to make YOU happy. It ain't broke so we ain't fixin' it.
The changeover only helps YOU possibly get a better product. It does nothing for our bottom line. And that would be the reason that must drive that change. Secretaries lose no appreciable time using PC's and there is no measurable increase in productivity using MAC's that would say ~ change!
When I'm asked, why should we change? I would have to currently answer, no real reason. These new MAC's, can they be had for a few hundred dollars per unit? We all know that answer. Yet, I can have a PC in office in a few hours for a few hundred bucks. Ready to go! No upgrade or additional linking to make it compatible to the older units in the office that might not play nice with MAC's.
When I am asked will this new machine cause potential conflicts/problems with the network I have to say, "I have no idea. The OS is too new to know. Let's give it a few years and see where it goes." In the meantime, Microsoft bombards the exec's with their sales teams prepping them for Vista in a year or so. They're doing the groundwork and laying the foundation solidly ~ RIGHT NOW! And the MAC, they're counting on guys like you who try to argue their case with no ability to guarantee anything.
So as much as you harp on this matter, there is no hope as it stands right now. Do I see a change forming? Absolutely not! A cute commercial or two on TV does not a market shift make.
Second, did you notice that the new MAC concept is to say that, "We can run Windows products too!" Again, I ask a dumb question. Why would I get a MAC to run Windows programs? Specifically, Microsoft Word! The preferred word processing package of corporate America. I have a better chance of having them go to Officesuite for Linux. I could at least make a case for that.
Third, there is the hardware game. You see until you get more vender outlets for MAC stuff, it ain't going on. Visit CompUSA, Micro Center, Office Max, Best Buy and notice the floor space allotment for PC stuff in relation to MAC stuff.
Check the bottom line at the end of the day and ask them how much MAC stuff was sold in relation to PC stuff. In my local stores in Chicago and Dallas, MAC gear is relegated to a small room in the BACK of the store. It's almost like a sympathy play. And don't give me my own argument that there are more PC's out there. Because that's what I've been saying to you.
Beta was better than VHS. History clearly reflected the winner of that war. Eight track gave you a better foundation than the cassette tape. Another losers history that can be traced. Neither of those products were able to withstand the market resistance, advertising barrage, and passage of time to make their case.
MAC's are in the fringes of the corporate space. They are in the graphic departments and they make good platforms for several other specialty things too. There they will (might) remain. But they are not the machine of the main office place in their current (and/or near term) versions.
Pentium IV's are not at every secretarial station now. Dual core processors will not be needed there to do Word anytime soon either. The majority of corporate machines are not needing upgrades to the latest tech and no changes are coming in mass there either.
The corporate budgets say no to the change. I support that position also. And this is but the beginning of my arguments. I'll be buying another PC (from eBay) by the end of the week. Good luck with your MACdreams.
By the way, I don't have time to PLAY with a MAC for a year or so. I have work to do.
My laptop PC's play very well should I need to. My main unit happens to have several games on it (Starcraft, Railroad Tycoon, Age Of Empires, Quake, Doom, Oil Tycoon, MechCommander, Submarine Titans and Half-Life) as well as over five gig's of mp3 music should I choose to listen. I can even take time to compose a tune or client jingle (Soundforge, Fruity Loops, Jammer Professional, Sound Canvas and Cubase) should I wish. Special MP3 work (Mp3 Doctor, Mp3 Surgeon, Audiograbber and Mp3Gain), covered.
I can draw things for a client using the graphics packages (Bryce and 3d Architect) that are on it also. For intense drawing I have a graphics tablet (USB). All this ability while still using any part of the Microsoft Windows office suite, at the same time should I choose.
And all my trading programs (Tradestation, Metastock, WizeTrade, Telechart, CoolTrade and TradeBolt) seem to function rather well there also. I even have my horse racing programs for when I want to sit back and play the ponies at lunch.
When I wish to go even further out there I can make my PC into an Internet radio station or portable DJ setup (SAM Broadcaster, DRS 2006 and Winamp). When on the plane I catch up on my DVD's (WinDVD) too! I have a dual battery capability. I regularly get over 3.5 hours of use before I have to switch over to the two spare batteries.
When it needs to double as a business unit it drives presentation software from that cursed Microsoft company also. It handles the ACT and Outlook client databases extremely well for me. Further, it sync's with the Palm and keeps me updated. Then there's that cursed Microsoft Project software that runs on it too. It also runs my MySQL and Access databases without a hitch.
The puppy seamlessly accesses my various client's Novell servers. It clearly has no issues with all the Microsoft Servers that it talks to. The virus protection seems to have worked too. It has even had the nerve on occasion to stream music and data to other servers for their passing through. It maintains on its drive serval folders of drivers for servicing and supplying to other machines. I find myself using it to diagnose and troubleshoot problems on other computers.
By the way, it runs my Dragon Naturally Speaking as well as the full Adobe suite (including Photoshop and ImageReady for my digital camera work). It syncs itself with the atomic clock daily (to make sure I've got the time right). And to keep me shopping happy, the eBay (Snipe) need is covered.
It's wireless (built-in) and I regularly run multiple monitors with it (MaxiVista). For nicer presentations, I have carried a set of speakers (including a subwoofer) and run the whole setup with my Creative labs (Audigy 2 NX) equipment to wow the audience.
And just for the few clients who went the other way, I maintain a copy of Corel WordPerfect (full suite) on the machine. 3D animation and rendering (Spine 3D, Poser and Simply 3D) is handled by this machine too.
All of this on a Pentium IV laptop that I got off eBay for under $700 (used). So I need to talk to my clients about changing to the MAC because of what again?
My laptop PC's play very well should I need to. My main unit happens to have several games on it (Starcraft, Railroad Tycoon, Age Of Empires, Quake, Doom, Oil Tycoon, MechCommander, Submarine Titans and Half-Life) as well as over five gig's of mp3 music should I choose to listen. I can even take time to compose a tune or client jingle (Soundforge, Fruity Loops, Jammer Professional, Sound Canvas and Cubase) should I wish. Special MP3 work (Mp3 Doctor, Mp3 Surgeon, Audiograbber and Mp3Gain), covered.
I can draw things for a client using the graphics packages (Bryce and 3d Architect) that are on it also. For intense drawing I have a graphics tablet (USB). All this ability while still using any part of the Microsoft Windows office suite, at the same time should I choose.
And all my trading programs (Tradestation, Metastock, WizeTrade, Telechart, CoolTrade and TradeBolt) seem to function rather well there also. I even have my horse racing programs for when I want to sit back and play the ponies at lunch.
When I wish to go even further out there I can make my PC into an Internet radio station or portable DJ setup (SAM Broadcaster, DRS 2006 and Winamp). When on the plane I catch up on my DVD's (WinDVD) too! I have a dual battery capability. I regularly get over 3.5 hours of use before I have to switch over to the two spare batteries.
When it needs to double as a business unit it drives presentation software from that cursed Microsoft company also. It handles the ACT and Outlook client databases extremely well for me. Further, it sync's with the Palm and keeps me updated. Then there's that cursed Microsoft Project software that runs on it too. It also runs my MySQL and Access databases without a hitch.
The puppy seamlessly accesses my various client's Novell servers. It clearly has no issues with all the Microsoft Servers that it talks to. The virus protection seems to have worked too. It has even had the nerve on occasion to stream music and data to other servers for their passing through. It maintains on its drive serval folders of drivers for servicing and supplying to other machines. I find myself using it to diagnose and troubleshoot problems on other computers.
By the way, it runs my Dragon Naturally Speaking as well as the full Adobe suite (including Photoshop and ImageReady for my digital camera work). It syncs itself with the atomic clock daily (to make sure I've got the time right). And to keep me shopping happy, the eBay (Snipe) need is covered.
It's wireless (built-in) and I regularly run multiple monitors with it (MaxiVista). For nicer presentations, I have carried a set of speakers (including a subwoofer) and run the whole setup with my Creative labs (Audigy 2 NX) equipment to wow the audience.
And just for the few clients who went the other way, I maintain a copy of Corel WordPerfect (full suite) on the machine. 3D animation and rendering (Spine 3D, Poser and Simply 3D) is handled by this machine too.
All of this on a Pentium IV laptop that I got off eBay for under $700 (used). So I need to talk to my clients about changing to the MAC because of what again?
Is there development tool to write such as MS Visual Studio for Mac?
Never discuss pc's with a MAC lover.
Start here:
http://developer.apple.com/cocoa/
There is also Java with IDEs such as Netbeans.
Also many open source tools.
Use google.
(putting on the hat of the true religious warrior )
I have a bit of background on both platforms. 12 years writing hardcore Mac software, about the same on Windows.
I wrote the database engine in all the top Mac software in the late 80s and early 90s. I also wrote the Pascal to C++ translator which translated 5 of the top 10 Macintosh products to C++ so they could run on the PowerPC chip. Also implemented a cross-platform sales automation product that worked with both Macs and PCs with a single codeline.
I've spent the last five years writing what has developed into TradingBlox along with some server software that runs on FreeBSD and linux, but most of the time has been spent on the Windows Platform.
I have been working on Windows exclusively since Steve Jobs decided to stop trying to sell Macs to corporate customers. I have hated it ever since.
I have also worked quite a bit with FreeBSD which has the same roots as the MacOS at the core.
Windows machines crash all the time. Every few months I have to reinstall the OS. It is a complete piece of shit. My unix machines have been booted and up for as much as a year. Probably would have lasted longer if I didn't have to turn them off for some other reason.
My boot times are worse now than they were 10 years ago. Seems the geniuses in Redmond can figure out how to slow things down faster than Moore's law.
I'm not kidding when I say that I have spent at least a sold full time year of my time over the last 15 years dealing with stupid Windows OS bullshit.
The only reason I'm not using a Mac is because the customers have Windows machines. This will change soon with the advent of the Intel-based Macs.
The only reason I dont' have one of the new Mac laptops now is that I need vertical screen space for software development and their screens are wide and relatively short compared to what you can get on a Windows laptop.
- Curtis
P.S. I should say that development is especially hard on a poorly designed OS like Windows as it crashes the kernal and causes inconsistencies in the file system much more often. If it was well designed this wouldn't be a problem.
)I have a bit of background on both platforms. 12 years writing hardcore Mac software, about the same on Windows.
I wrote the database engine in all the top Mac software in the late 80s and early 90s. I also wrote the Pascal to C++ translator which translated 5 of the top 10 Macintosh products to C++ so they could run on the PowerPC chip. Also implemented a cross-platform sales automation product that worked with both Macs and PCs with a single codeline.
I've spent the last five years writing what has developed into TradingBlox along with some server software that runs on FreeBSD and linux, but most of the time has been spent on the Windows Platform.
I have been working on Windows exclusively since Steve Jobs decided to stop trying to sell Macs to corporate customers. I have hated it ever since.
I have also worked quite a bit with FreeBSD which has the same roots as the MacOS at the core.
Windows machines crash all the time. Every few months I have to reinstall the OS. It is a complete piece of shit. My unix machines have been booted and up for as much as a year. Probably would have lasted longer if I didn't have to turn them off for some other reason.
My boot times are worse now than they were 10 years ago. Seems the geniuses in Redmond can figure out how to slow things down faster than Moore's law.
I'm not kidding when I say that I have spent at least a sold full time year of my time over the last 15 years dealing with stupid Windows OS bullshit.
The only reason I'm not using a Mac is because the customers have Windows machines. This will change soon with the advent of the Intel-based Macs.
The only reason I dont' have one of the new Mac laptops now is that I need vertical screen space for software development and their screens are wide and relatively short compared to what you can get on a Windows laptop.
- Curtis
P.S. I should say that development is especially hard on a poorly designed OS like Windows as it crashes the kernal and causes inconsistencies in the file system much more often. If it was well designed this wouldn't be a problem.