Mac or PC

[Billy82]

New to Forum, new to computing pretty much. I want a laptop for a travel Youtube channel I intend to create. PC Specialist said to get the Ionico and Apple said to get Macbook Pro M2. Which do I get? See files for exact specifications…

[Bruce]

g’day and welcome to the forums.

hopefully I’ll stay unbiased.. ???♂️

I have never understood why people get Macs - they aren’t better, and they are not worse - they are simply different - and therein lies their weakness.

forget for starters that you’ll pay almost double for the same spec’d Mac as you would a PC.
then factor in software, hardware, service, and support - all are limited but admittedly better than they used to be.

break a Mac, or want hardware upgrades, or buying software, are all harder (and limited) with a Mac.
and at the very least, more expensive.

then most Mac users realise their limitations so get Parallels or some other Windows emulation virtual machine, so they fork out for a Mac, a licensed copy of Windows, and the software to run it - why not just buy a Pc that comes with Windows???

whatever a Mac can do, a PC can also do (better or worse is subjective).
if you do a lot of media centric stuff, and already have Apple devices, transferring them around each device is easier with a Mac, but that’s why Apple created iTunes, and iCloud, to also make that easy on PC’s.
I’m yet to see some instance where a Mac wins hands-down over a PC.

in my experience, schools and universities are the driving forces behind Mac usage and sales. these locations get the units for a heavily discounted price and the users get to experience them. they usually get mummy and daddy to buy their first one but when it needs replacing, the kid has left home and has to buy it themselves, then realise the price, and surprise!, buys a PC instead.

but the biggest thing for me is the Mac’s market share.

below is from the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for Dec’22 - placing MacOS at less than 2.5% global market share.
link here; Steam Hardware & Software Survey

[ATTACH type=“full”]11947[/ATTACH]

and this report; https://www.digitaltrends.com/comput...-than-windows/ is similar to many other, placing Mac’s global unit share at around 8%.

if they are so popular, where are they all. less than 1 in 10 computers sold are Macs!

I’m not trying to talk you out of getting a Mac - but simply to make sure you are making a decision based on more than your best friend, or someone currently with a Mac, telling you how great they are.

[Billy82]

I heard they are simple to use (Macs) and that the video editing software is very good. Do you know more about this?

[Pyro]

Adding on to what Bruce has said, I have used MacOS before.

They are simple, but Windows 11 has achieved arguably that same design/style with a greater level of support and options for modern games and software.

I’m not sure what editing software it comes with now, but iMovie was remarkably basic. I traded it out for HitFilm Express 13 (which you can get for free!)

[Bruce]

there is no more a learning curve with using Macs as there was when we all learnt Windows.

it’s just a habit to get into - like on a PC, you close a window by clicking the X in the top right corner.
on Macs, you have a red dot in the top left corner.
just simple things to overcome.

as to software on Macs, I don’t use them (as may be easy to guess).

[Billy82]

there is no more a learning curve with using Macs as there was when we all learnt Windows.

it’s just a habit to get into - like on a PC, you close a window by clicking the X in the top right corner.
on Macs, you have a red dot in the top left corner.
just simple things to overcome.

as to software on Macs, I don’t use them (as may be easy to guess).

Right… that said, what games can I play on the Windows laptop I have shown?

[Billy82]

there is no more a learning curve with using Macs as there was when we all learnt Windows.

it’s just a habit to get into - like on a PC, you close a window by clicking the X in the top right corner.
on Macs, you have a red dot in the top left corner.
just simple things to overcome.

as to software on Macs, I don’t use them (as may be easy to guess).

Also, more to the point, is it an appropriate machine to edit videos on?

[Rustys]

What programs are you planning on using to preform editing with?

What type of videos are you planning on making?

Video editing software is and will be demanding?

I know a few editors that have had issues with Adobe (Windows) and others that it does fine with.

It will also depend on transitions, converting, reading and writing speeds which will cause heat and wear and tear on the system.

What about backup?

[Billy82]

What programs are you planning on using to preform editing with?

What type of videos are you planning on making?

Video editing software is and will be demanding?

I know a few editors that have had issues with Adobe (Windows) and others that it does fine with.

It will also depend on transitions, converting, reading and writing speeds which will cause heat and wear and tear on the system.

What about backup?

Backup as in an external hard drive? I’ve been told to get Davinci Resolve but I’m pretty open. I’m making travel vlog videos in Asia.

[Bruce]

as to the specs of the Windows laptop, it is first class - loads of memory, a Core i9, nice video card, massive SSD - what’s not to love.
it’ll play most current games, hopefully at a great setting, but without know the games, or other software, who can say for sure. :unsure:

it may need an active cooling pad to handle the heat load.

in general, laptops don’t tend to make long-tern gaming units, it’s just not what they were made for.
for example, the stand out limitation is that graphics card - you’ll never be able to upgrade it.

as for editing videos - yep, it’ll do it fine, how fine? - too many variables, mainly resolution and file sizes but that Windows laptop will definitely out perform your normal run-of-the-mill spec’d units - to put it simply, you get what you pay for, and those specs would indicate and very high price point!

[Billy82]

as to the specs of the Windows laptop, it is first class - loads of memory, a Core i9, nice video card, massive SSD - what’s not to love.
it’ll play most current games, hopefully at a great setting, but without know the games, or other software, who can say for sure. :unsure:

it may need an active cooling pad to handle the heat load.

in general, laptops don’t tend to make long-tern gaming units, it’s just not what they were made for.
for example, the stand out limitation is that graphics card - you’ll never be able to upgrade it.

as for editing videos - yep, it’ll do it fine, how fine? - too many variables, mainly resolution and file sizes but that Windows laptop will definitely out perform your normal run-of-the-mill spec’d units - to put it simply, you get what you pay for, and those specs would indicate and very high price point!

Can I play RedDead 2? I don’t play like I used to. I tend to have one or two games that I have a little play with when I’m bored now.

[Pyro]

Without a doubt that will handle Red Dead just fine, those are borderline top of the line specs.*

*Laptop components are inherently a bit worse than their desktop counterparts, this is due to size constraints and the sort.

Make sure you’re using the built in display, 240HZ and everything.

[Billy82]

Without a doubt that will handle Red Dead just fine, those are borderline top of the line specs.*

*Laptop components are inherently a bit worse than their desktop counterparts, this is due to size constraints and the sort.

Make sure you’re using the built in display, 240HZ and everything.

How do I do that?

[Pyro]

Don’t plug in external monitors, these can cause issues if they’re not the same aspect ratio, resolution, and refresh rate. (Essentially the same screen)

Advanced display settings allow you to control your refresh rate, it should be set right from the factory.
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[Rustys]

Backup as in an external hard drive?

External, cloud, and or NAS?

If your system gets stolen, broken, crashes that stuff is gone. All you hard work is gone how important is your information to you?

Laptops are also horrible for heat distribution.

Not sure is Red Dead 2 is available for Mac. That is something else to think about is if the software, apps, and or games are available for both.

it may need an active cooling pad to handle the heat load.

Good suggestion yet look at getting one that has its own power source.

It will not draw for the system and does not put added wear and tear on the system.

When you get the laptop test is like you one on your trip to make sure that everything works the way you expect it to. This way there are no surprises, and you can edit on the fly (per say).