Getting a Mac!

[Xaixis]

I finally saved up enough (with help with my recent confirmation) and have finally ordered my macbook <3!

I was curious about some things before I start using it though (I'm getting it Tuesday-ish).

Is the rpgmaker series compatible for Mac? Also, what is the cheapest way to obtain Parallels desktop or at least a clone of one?

I can use Open Office in replacement of Micro$oft Office so I'm good for my reports and what not. I also have the XP installation CDs, would they work with my mac? Or is there a way to make them work for my mac if not?

 

[Stupid Penguin]

Ok, so first of all, what MacBook are you getting?

RPG Maker will NOT run on your Mac unless you use Windows Emulation software or Bootcamp.
That means you will need to buy a copy of Windows to put on your Mac

I use VMware Fusion which is good but pricey.
It's worth paying for quality.

 

[Xaixis]

hmm... alright, would my old xp installation cds that came with my computer work?

 

[$t3v0]

If it's your key then yes. You MIGHT need to contact Microsoft if you have any issues but if you paid for the code then you should be fine

 

[Tohsaka]

I suggest you get a Windows Laptop, instead of a MacBook. The MacBooks are pure rubbish- You'll want a MacBook Pro. Better graphics card, Firewire, and a screen that Apple didn't skimp on. The MacBooks have horrible screens that are lower quality- And you can see it in the visuals, the graphics card is of a lower strength. For the price of a CrapBook, you can get a more capable Windows Laptop- Dual-booting Linux Even.

Since your link goes to the older gen MacBook- I advise against it even more. The Last Generation (White/Black) has Firewire, yes- But the Graphics card is incapable of playing modern games, even if you boot Windows. Spore looks like crap on it, Oblivion won't run, and most other things won't run. A horrible computer if you're planning on doing anything major (Video, 3D, Gaming...etc). Get a PC Laptop. Or a MacBook Pro (Current Gen or Last Gen).

 

[___]

Regarding the old Windows discs: if they are OEM or storebought discs, which have shiny holographic microsoft labels, not the reinstall discs provided by the manufacturer, which have the manufacturer's logo, you should be good to go. When you go to activate it after installing though you will probably have to call in to Microsoft which is a relatively painless process. Just don't tell them the discs came from another PC, even if you're not using it anymore, as the license is non-transferable and doing this violates your EULA.

Like Cocoa said, you won't be playing anything impressive on that thing, but if that's not a problem consider either dual-booting via bootcamp or a free virtual machine like Virtual Box rather than VMWare Fusion as all that Fusion really adds is 3d acceleration support.

 

[Tohsaka]

Even though the 3D Acceleration in Fusion won't get you much (Even Neverwinter Nights won't run).

The Newer MacBooks have decent gaming capabilities, but once again- Screens were skimped, the LCD displays aren't of decent quality. Same with the one you're looking at, save for you get Firewire and a incredibly weak graphics card (BootCamp, or not, you won't be getting much).

 

[Xaixis]

Well too late now, I have my new macbook... and I love it!
Sure I won't be able to play oblivion (didn't play it much when I had it before anywhos).
Making movies on it works just fine, It's a little slow sometimes when uploading, but that's fine. I'd much rather put  up with the slower upload then PC. Linux is decent but unfortunately doesn't have the programs that I need.

Plus memory that runs under OS X runs more effienctly than XP... much less Vista which takes a couple gigs just to function... let alone to do much else...

Plus, I hate vista, I hate the layout and how they tried to be like mac, I like XP much better... but then again I still get tired of the annoying errors and what-not.


Anyways, I still have my old computer for now until I save up for Parallels or something. Until then I'm loving my new "Crap"Book

 

[Anski]

Plus memory that runs under OS X runs more effienctly than XP... much less Vista which takes a couple gigs just to function... let alone to do much else...

No it doesn't. XP runs SO much more efficiently than OSX it isn't even funny. OSX uses so much more cpu to continually run itself in a constant state, to give you all the eye appealing effects that people like you apparently seem to love. Vista, however, does not need as much as you think if you would turn off all the bullshit that came with it, and learn how to stop processes.

Plus, I hate vista, I hate the layout and how they tried to be like mac, I like XP much better... but then again I still get tired of the annoying errors and what-not.

Vista did not try to be like mac you idiot, XP was made so long ago that it didn't matter how a operating system looked. Microsoft stepped into current times because they hadn't released an operating system in what, 8 years?

The only time I ever get a single error with my PC is whenever I am playing a game and it crashes, which isn't Microsofts fault. Other than that I have never seen a blue screen in the year I've had this PC. I'd much rather have an error a month than a computer that does nothing more than easily find things, connects to the internet and does the same things photoshop and Sony Vegas do but with different names.

Enjoy spending a thousand two hundred dollars on a computer that could have been matched by 600 to 800.

 

[Tohsaka]

In all reality, you could've spent less on a PC laptop- And PC =/= Windows. You can get Linux, with Gnome installed, and get the same visuals on a stronger machine. In addition, WINE actually runs on Linux, unlike Mac.

There are plenty of Linux specific video editing apps, as well.

 

[psiclone]

Well too late now, I have my new macbook... and I love it!
Sure I won't be able to play oblivion (didn't play it much when I had it before anywhos).
Making movies on it works just fine, It's a little slow sometimes when uploading, but that's fine. I'd much rather put  up with the slower upload then PC. Linux is decent but unfortunately doesn't have the programs that I need.
Plus memory that runs under OS X runs more effienctly than XP... much less Vista which takes a couple gigs just to function... let alone to do much else...
Plus, I hate vista, I hate the layout and how they tried to be like mac, I like XP much better... but then again I still get tired of the annoying errors and what-not.
Anyways, I still have my old computer for now until I save up for Parallels or something. Until then I'm loving my new "Crap"Book

I don't get people who whine about Windows errors and all that bullshit. There's nothing wrong with Windows, the only errors are people who don't know what the fuck they're doing, or if they're from games or non Microsoft products giving errors, which isn't Microsoft's fault, it's the programmer's fault for (not) doing something, just like Revolution said. The thing with Macs is they're foolproof.

I personally don't use Vista, and don't really plan to till, maybe, my next PC purchase sometime next year.

 

[___]

Actually... Windows has a broad variety of bugs. All large, complex software will have bugs. Windows does crash. XP is better than earlier versions about it, and Vista is pretty bad, but it does crash, through the fault of the software itself, not just user error or 3rd party software error. This is Microsoft's fault. What distinguishes Microsoft, and companies like them (including Apple), from open source projects is that they fail silently, they give you little information about what's going on, and they don't fix the problems swiftly or allow 3rd party participation in bug fixes and bug reporting.

Beyond bugs and crashes, all versions of Windows, even the ones running critical infrastructure, have serious security holes and it is something to be concerned about because some of these holes have been present for years and years without seeing patches because Microsoft just does not care. A very large portion of the bandwidth used on the internet is wasted due to viruses that can only exist because of these bugs and holes, so it's something even Mac and Linux users who don't give a damn about world events have a right to be upset about.

Windows also has relatively low performance for the amount of resources it consumes compared to other major operating systems, especially in the case of Vista which spends a large amount of kernel processing time and RAM on cryptography and copy protection that 95% of the people who use it do not get any use out of, but which cannot be disabled (because they're integrated into the kernel).

So, in short, don't be ignorant

 

[Tohsaka]

Actually, the Mac OS X Core (Darwin) is an open-source project; Probably not going to fail as easily, and there are also non-Apple coders that contribute to the OS. I wish Microsoft would do this, as ReactOS is already working on a WinCopy which should run the same binaries as NT. Likewise with Safari and WebKit: IE would be better off if Trident was OpenSource.

Vista actually consumes RAM on a percentage unit. It's a horrible level, so don't use Aero.

 

[___]

Yeah Apple's move toward open-source is a sign of the times. Microsoft made a similar move with its announcement that it will be steadily opening up the Windows API over the next several years. Both companies are starting to realize that open source has been the right way to go all along and jumping on the bandwagon now that they can take advantage of the benefits of open source and an established market share simultaneously.

 

[Anski]

Actually, the Mac OS X Core (Darwin) is an open-source project;

This is because it is a Unix-Based OS, there is no reason to not have it open.

 

[Mistraval]

Why on earth would you get a mac? They're ridiculously overpriced and sport an annoying white gloss used on almost every single one of their products. Honestly though, for an everyday, non savvy computer user, I get it. Macs are simple. But for you?... common now... I guess it's too late now though since you've purchased it already, but why would you emulate a windows PC instead of just having a real one...?

Plus memory that runs under OS X runs more effienctly than XP... much less Vista which takes a couple gigs just to function... let alone to do much else...

Yeah, bullshit. Sorry but now you're just trying to make yourself feel better for making a crappy purchase.

Plus, I hate vista, I hate the layout and how they tried to be like mac, I like XP much better... but then again I still get tired of the annoying errors and what-not.

Vista looks nothing like os x. And if you like macs so much, you should be liking it then, no? And do not even start with the "vista has a bunch of errors", I bet you couldn't even name one. I suggest you sell your macbook on ebay, and get a notebook for hundreds less, and hardware surpassing it by leaps and bounds. There are TONS, believe me.

 

[___]

@Mistraval: see: http://www.rmxp.org/forums/http://dev.r ... 60#p581560 and http://www.rmxp.org/forums/http://dev.r ... 19#p576919
(I don't feel like repeating myself on the subject *again*)

I will never understand the evangelistic zeal some people feel for their software. It's okay to like something and at the same time admit it has flaws.

Oh, also, as far as visual look goes, Vista took more from Gnome & KDE than it did from OSX if it took it from anywhere. It's not so much the look, which is nice, as the performance and the pricetag (aero isn't included in basic), which are both not so nice considering the result.

 

[Mistraval]

I've owned my Vista computer since it was in RC, and it never crashed once; itself, or an app on it. I know there's no way of actually proving this, but I'm sure plenty of other Windows user could say the same. It's not that I have an evangelistic zeal for Windows, infact it's more the other way around. All those stupid I'm a PC, I'm a Mac bullshit commercials are really annoying. It's like having a car, and a commercial keeps popping up saying it sucks and you should get this one instead.

Sure Windows might have some security holes (not serious ones, by the way), but that's because hackers actually give a shit about PCs since the majority of people use them. For example the Macbook was the first to get hacked into at the CanSecWest security conference for the simple reason that he was given reason to. http://www.macworld.com/article/132733/ ... /hack.html

 

[Glitchfinder]

I've owned my Vista computer since it was in RC, and it never crashed once; itself, or an app on it. I know there's no way of actually proving this, but I'm sure plenty of other Windows user could say the same. It's not that I have an evangelistic zeal for Windows, infact it's more the other way around. All those stupid I'm a PC, I'm a Mac bullshit commercials are really annoying. It's like having a car, and a commercial keeps popping up saying it sucks and you should get this one instead.

Sure Windows might have some security holes (not serious ones, by the way), but that's because hackers actually give a shit about PCs since the majority of people use them. For example the Macbook was the first to get hacked into at the CanSecWest security conference for the simple reason that he was given reason to. http://www.macworld.com/article/132733/ ... /hack.html

You're right, of course. People use "errors" and "security flaws" way too much when defending their reasons for purchasing an overpriced mac. If you don't know what you're doing, you can cause errors on any operating system, especially if you're into some more advanced software. The "security flaws" in windows are no worse than those in Macs or Linux computers, the only difference is that they're exploited more often because most people use PCs. I know for a fact that more viruses are beginning to appear for the less popular systems because people are switching to them. Did you know that people can make a virus for a mozilla based web browser just as easily as for IE? And that they are doing it more and more as mozilla increases their market share? Really, the only problems you can tout are that aero is a ram hog, windows spends way too much time with anti piracy, and that windows isn't as "pretty" as mac. Well, I know exactly where to get software to make my PC look exactly like a mac, if that's the only reason you switched. And, with no lag and costing virtually nothing compared to an actual mac, I'd say that if you switch to a mac for looks alone, you are making a very bad business decision.

 

[Tohsaka]

Why on earth would you get a mac? They're ridiculously overpriced and sport an annoying white gloss used on almost every single one of their products. Honestly though, for an everyday, non savvy computer user, I get it. Macs are simple. But for you?... common now... I guess it's too late now though since you've purchased it already, but why would you emulate a windows PC instead of just having a real one...?

Plus memory that runs under OS X runs more effienctly than XP... much less Vista which takes a couple gigs just to function... let alone to do much else...

Yeah, bullshit. Sorry but now you're just trying to make yourself feel better for making a crappy purchase.

Plus, I hate vista, I hate the layout and how they tried to be like mac, I like XP much better... but then again I still get tired of the annoying errors and what-not.

Vista looks nothing like os x. And if you like macs so much, you should be liking it then, no? And do not even start with the "vista has a bunch of errors", I bet you couldn't even name one. I suggest you sell your macbook on ebay, and get a notebook for hundreds less, and hardware surpassing it by leaps and bounds. There are TONS, believe me.

They're great computers, especially since it has proprietary support, and it contains a UNIX foundation. All my linux code works on it, so that's great. Much better than Windows that requires an emulator to get GCC running.

Not that I'm dissing on PCs- It's better to get a PC with Linux, but I wanted to try something new.