I'm pretty sure there's been a point in time where a Mac has overheated- you can't just make that sort of sweeping generalization. Besides, what if he wants to play games? Or have an intuitive interface? Or do something goddamn useful?

*sigh* again? Macs overheat too. Apple does not possess magical technology to create computers that produce no heat.

Macs catch fire. Macbook notebooks have caused 2nd degree burns. You don't cover the fan...period. And before you Apple fanboys get in a twist, I am a Mac owner - but that doesn't give people license to talk while they have their heads up their asses!

#26, you DO realize that you CAN put windows (or any other system for that matter) on a mac, right? and also more and more programs and games are becoming compatible for both systems. And all those "useful" things you can do on a PC can go down the drain once it's picked up a virus. ;) (i am aware of anti-virus software, it's still easier to pick up a virus with PC than it is with mac)

Oh wow. "Hey, I just spent $2000 on a new mac, just to put Windows on it! But don't worry, it's a Mac and it's hip and cool! What? You could build a faster computer for $1200? Well, it's still a Mac, so it's cool!" You people realize the only reason a Mac is $2000 is because, *gasp*, it's an Apple Product and it's a Mac. It's a name brand. You're paying like, $800 for the name Mac to be stamped on it. If you custom build a Computer, you can build one twice as fast for like $1200.

Macs are $2000 because they use components that are expensive. Xeon quad-processers, extra expansion slots, DDR3 RAM, dual layer burners. You couldn't build a computer for cheaper than a Mac that was as powerful. You just can't buy the components that cheaply. And people bashing Mac for not having an intuitive interface? I hope to god you're not using Windows as an example of a system with an intuitive interface. It's one of the worst out there. Mac is leaps and bounds ahead of Windows. Comparing a home-built to a pre-built MacPro: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/apple-mac-leopard-windows-vista,1985-2.html

You do realize macs have no special power to not get viruses. there is just not as many viruses made for macs because so many people use windows. macs can get viruses just as easily as a pc

71: Well, if everyone switches over to Macs, all those virus makers will make viruses for Macs and then everything will go down the drain for them. This is why you should use Linux if all you care about is not getting a virus. Rarely used, from what I've heard.

Not really true. Macs have the same granular access controls that Unix has. The worst a virus could do is delete some documents and music.

When was the last time you built a PC? The latest parts such as those used in that article (last year) are indeed going to be overly expensive. You might recall that the point of building a PC is to customize it to your needs. Of course an individual consumer, part for part would have trouble competing with a company buying bulk's costs. The PC builder can however make up for it by choosing to buy parts after they have been out for a couple months (the bugs get worked out better this way too) and when they go on sale. Shop around - newegg, buy.com, tigerdirect, ect. Windows is also not the only operating system available. Choose a free Linux based OS and you can save 250 bucks (and oh, look even with just that its cheaper than a mac). Why get a solid aluminum case when i can get a better vented and cooled one with a window, fans, led lights, fire wire, usb already included, half the price at a local best buy.

Of course you can start changing the parts out that you get. Of course a computer with no software is going to be cheaper. But to get something as solid and well-ventilated as a Mac Pro with the expansion capabilities and the high-end processing and graphics components, coupled with a commercial operating system, you're not going to get it cheaper than the Mac Pro. Today, Mac Pros use the Nehalem Xeons instead of the Yorkfield featured in the article. Similar pricing as then. The bullshit post I was replying to that stated one can build a computer for $1200 that will outrun the Mac, and that the Mac is 30% marketing markup, is complete nonsense and myth.

Exactly right. They are quality parts and are priced competitively (there is a reason they are still around - Macs do indeed work and work well). Not my favorite os, but then again neither is vista. My point was to say (and agree with you) that someone building at home can't get a better price than a manufacturer. You can get the exact computer you want though ( whether its function for less money, or all the latest parts and which you can keep swapping out with upgrades).

I definitely agree. The issue with the Mac Pro is that you are paying for so much stuff you might not even want or have any use for. But for a studio (and many professionals), it is more economical to pay for the Mac Pro than it is to pay someone for the 10 hours to plan the build, purchase the parts, and assemble the machine that will do exactly what they want. Building a computer is a time-intensive process, and it would be foolhardy to fail to account for the time it takes when considering the cost of a machine. So even if you could build a comparable machine for $400 cheaper (you really can't), it probably wouldn't be worth it for most people. And this is what most computer manufacturers count on. If anything, Mac is closer in cost to the build-it-yourself point than other manufacturers like Dell and HP.

LINUX FTW!!!!

I like you Deja, you defend Macs for a honest reason and not BS that fanboys regurgitate without research. I still disagree with your pricing though; I bought a top end laptop a couple weeks ago for just under $1100 that mops the floor with my pal's mac. I have no use for a mac as I interface with Windows at my job, at my university, at with my family PCs. I develop software for these OS's and will be dual booting to a Linux distro on the weekend to help me maintain my webserver. Macs are good machines... if you use them to their capabilities. I encourage people serious with graphical design or music to look into Macs, but I like to facepalm those who want them just because they're trendy and hip. Then they turn to me because they don't know how to access our workplaces remote access system. Or they get angry when I say that the OS isn't supported by the company and they'll need to solve their own problem. Just to prevent any flame-troll-hate war... I'm a software engineering student who works in IT.

'preciate ya

it does not take 10 hours to build a computer. maybe an hour.

Replace your cooling fans. Loud fans can be a sign of fan failure, add that to the fact that it overheats and you're just asking for trouble.

good typing you sound real smart, the op should probably take advice from you

Hmm, if I read this I wouldn't get an overpriced Mac since apparently the Shift-key is missing.

"if he santa that just install bootcamp" what the **** is that supposed to mean

You must get a PC, I have had one for 3 years now and had no trouble with it. #29 Is a dumbass.

because mac is freakin awesome!!! if i were you i would make your mom buy you a new laptop a macbook or a macbook pro for the win!!!!!!!!!!!!! im tellin you... you wont regret it

You do know that a Macbook is almost completely identical internally to any other laptop right?

46 is right. Mac gave up on their own internals (because of the fail they had) and are using intel based systems now.

ok well mac has the best programs and i have yet to see my mac give me any problems since i bought one... i had two computers that were shitty and its just my opinion excuse me for having one lol it doesnt matter what it is you always have someone that will hate on it...

You're not allowed to have an opinion on things you don't know about.

Because people have very good experience with Apples.

OP: FYL. In any instance of someone not understanding what they are doing to something that does not belong to them, they are inherently in the wrong. The only case in which this can be construed as being a deserved event is if the OP was previously informed that she thought it was too loud and/or the computer should be kept off. Mac Pushers: It's not entirely true to say that Macs are better than PCs in any department with the exception of video editing and possible point of notebook battery life. Macs tend to overheat in the same manner as PCs, that is this occurs in any environment where proper venting is unavailable or when hardware is pushed beyond what the scope of the cooling system can keep up with. When it comes to intuitive interface, it's a matter of opinion. Is it more intuitive to have each instance of a running program displayed or more intuitive to have all programs displayed? Should the tools of the program be attached to the program itself or be set to the top based on which program has focus? There are arguments for both and anyone who claims one is superior is the least qualified to make that judgment as such a conclusion shows bias. When it comes to hardware, there are strictly more options available for PCs but the quality varies and it's the consumer's responsibility to ensure that they make the correct purchase. Apple is successful because there is no choice in the matter, the machines are all of moderate to good specs with the quality strictly regulated by integrating the parts and licensing. That said, under all circumstances, for every Mac available after the shift to Intel chips there is a better one capable of being built as a PC. This is notably true for the i7 processors which surpass Xeons and other processors of equal clock speed in performance. Ergo, the best Mac processor is strictly worse than the best PC processor when a side-by-side comparison of numbers is performed. But, the whole reason Macs are popular is because of the OS and integration of features which require little maintenance. If one is aware of what they are doing and have no intention to edit videos, edit audio, or develop for an Apple product then a Mac is a poor choice.

Macs overheat too. My poor macky is 2 years old and runs at about 45C normally, but if I play a game it runs at around 83C even with the cooling pad on and my fans turned up to 6000~ RPM. I'm not sure what else to do, but I dont think I can afford a new computer just now. *pats it*

I wish I had a Mac, but I just can't afford that kind of horsepower (as far as towers, I hate the iMacs). And I probably wouldn't use it to its potential, so oh well. I end up relegated to building my own. But dual-booting OS X with Linux, and running XP in a virtual machine if I had to do any .NET development would be ******* fantastic.