5 Reasons you should get a Mac

DexterPark

This can start some arguments, but whatever, let's be real. I've been a Windows user for a while, heck, I've even worked for Microsoft! Not only would I recommend avoiding the company, I would strongly suggest avoiding the products!

Look, a Mac is basically a usable form of Linux. It has a UI that doesn't suck, and all the built in network engineering tools you could ever need! And god forbid you learn automation and bump your salary by 30%, what platform do you see most Ansible, Python, Javascript, Puppet, chef users, etc?

1) Putty? You mean terminal, ssh x.x.x.x -l username
2) Windows/Android = ~100k /yr
3) It works. Like, at a high level. (If you see someone trying to run Docker on Win10...RUN!)
4) brew install...pip install....parallel....What else do you need?
5) Dota, Stellaris, XCOM, all work on Mac. Steam works on Mac. Why are you on WinBLOWS?

It used to be the old stereotype that only idiots had Macs, now it's the best in class IT professionals (Not all, BUT MOST!). Apple does $230 billion in revenue, Microsoft does $90 and has been around the exact same amount of time. Numbers don't lie.7

NetworkingStudent

DexterPark wrote: »

This can start some arguments, but whatever, let's be real. I've been a Windows user for a while, heck, I've even worked for Microsoft! Not only would I recommend avoiding the company, I would strongly suggest avoiding the products!

Look, a Mac is basically a usable form of Linux. It has a UI that doesn't suck, and all the built in network engineering tools you could ever need! And god forbid you learn automation and bump your salary by 30%, what platform do you see most Ansible, Python, Javascript, Puppet, chef users, etc?

1) Putty? You mean ssh x.x.x.x -l username
2) Windows/Android = ~100k /yr
3) It works. Like, at a high level. (If you see someone trying to run Docker on Win10...RUN!)
4) brew install...pip install....parallel....What else do you need?
5) Dota, Stellaris, XCOM, all work on Mac. Steam works on Mac. Why are you on WinBLOWS?

It used to be the old stereotype that only idiots had Macs, now it's the best in class IT professionals (Not all, BUT MOST!). Apple does $230 billion in revenue, Microsoft does $90 and has been around the exact same amount of time. Numbers don't lie.

I would like to get MAC, but may they're VERY expensive. Why are they so expensive?

Apple makes Macs hard to upgrade/ repair VS PCs....why?

I have run across a lot of IT pros that hate apple and MACS..why?

Do Macs integrate well in a AD environment?

Codeman6669

aannnnddd if you need a cable, a charger, or basically anything, its all proprietary so you gotta pay $ for it.

There is advantages, and i do like the hardware configuration they are nicely built. I saw a macbook pro for about 2k today i can get comparable hardware in a pc for much much less and dual boot with linux os of my choice

DexterPark

NetworkingStudent wrote: »

I would like to get MAC, but may they're VERY expensive. Why are they so expensive?

Apple makes Macs hard to upgrade/ repair VS PCs....why?

I have run across a lot of IT pros that hate apple and MACS..why?

Do Macs integrate well in a AD environment?

1) You've got to spend money to make money.

2) Because they make $230 billion /yr. I am also pissed off that I have to buy the charging cable separate from the base station, but if that's the price to avoid all the trash OS's I'll buy twice!

3) "Salting is used because most bacteria, fungi and other potentially pathogenic organisms cannot survive in a highly salty environment".

4) Yes. MacBooks support AD integration but then again, waterboarding works on everyone.

DexterPark

$2k? DEAL! Mine cost $2600 without a magic mouse, keyboard, or LG 5K monitor...

But YES, NO.....They are not cheap, affordable, reasonable, or whatever but if you want to be rich in this field get with the program or get left in the dirt.

Iristheangel

Trying to convince people of changing their compute platform is like talking about religion or politics. It all depends on use case and what people need them for. Macbooks would suck for my use case.

Personally, if I want Linux I'll get a PC and slap Linux on it or throw it on a VM. I also create a lot of training videos and do a lot of remote presentations/whiteboarding. I have zero interest in carting around a Wacom tablet on my travels and I'm not going to spend another $1000 on another tablet (iPad Pro) to have yet another thing to cart around and it doesn't run full apps. That's why I've been a happy Surface Pro 4 user for the last couple years and just paid for the Surface Book 2 15" inch today funny enough.



That digitizer is gold for me. Not only do I get to whiteboard architectures and walk through fun stuff on a call (humorous sample below)


But I can easily import a diagram and start drawing over it to on the fly. Pretty fun stuff.

As I said, to each their own and use case is important. My wife has a Macbook Pro because her industry has certain apps that only run on Macbooks but she loathes it and wishes she could switch over. She'd held off on buying a newer one because of that annoying bar and some of the poor UI changes they've made to the hardware. For me, I want something that's powerful but I can quickly convert into presentation mode and be able to run a few VMs on if I need to spin something up and test. Big displays are also important. That 15" Surface Book 2 I just bought is going to help my poor eyes as I lab stuff out so I'm happier for it

dave330i

DexterPark wrote: »

It used to be the old stereotype that only idiots had Macs, now it's the best in class IT professionals (Not all, BUT MOST!). Apple does $230 billion in revenue, Microsoft does $90 and has been around the exact same amount of time. Numbers don't lie.7

About 70% of Apple revenue is iPhone.

I had to get a new work laptop early this year. I switched from a Mac to a Win10 for following reasons:

1. Mac Pro maxed out at 16 GB. Seriously?! I need to run multiple VMs. 16 GB is a joke.

2. Smart bar. A gimmick POS that just slows me down.

McxRisley

DexterPark wrote: »

1) You've got to spend money to make money.

2) Because they make $230 billion /yr. I am also pissed off that I have to buy the charging cable separate from the base station, but if that's the price to avoid all the trash OS's I'll buy twice!

3) "Salting is used because most bacteria, fungi and other potentially pathogenic organisms cannot survive in a highly salty environment".

4) Yes. MacBooks support AD integration but then again, waterboarding works on everyone.

I think he's trolling? If not he has definitely had too much koolaid from Apple.

Dojiscalper

There has been a trend of companies moving all their computers to Mac, I see it daily in doctors offices and law firms. Seems like a good idea, but they find out that getting an IT company to support their Mac's is pretty difficult around this region. There's things I like about them and things I don't like. I'm a Microsoft guy until the industry switches to something else. I gotta go where the clients take me, but I won't own Mac's simply out of my price range when a PC will do exactly what I need.

Danielh22185

I've not once run into a problem doing my job as a network engineer that required a MAC to do. In fact, I have seen several occasions of where the opposite is the case. Does this mean Apple is garbage, no.. but this does for me mean they seem to have fundamental problems that have turned me away from them and I will never gravitate to them for a laptop / desktop use.

If I need to code some automation tasks. Simple! I have a dedicated VM I run linux / python on. I will give you a slight win there though because you can do those things more natively from a MAC because it is linux based.

For my home computing, I have a desktop I've had for 7 years and it's still going very strong. Mainly because I have been able to make a few cost-effective upgrades to keep it that way. I built the entire thing for much, much, much, less than the cost of a high-end MAC desktop. You can't even build / buy a MAC with the same high-end components available for PC which really turns me away too because I love building / tweaking my devices.

Don't forget the compatibility issues at the enterprise level, gaming, and the dang peripherals! (yes I know the peripherals is more of a marketing gimmick. My car needs gas too, so I buy it no matter the cost).

Also don't even get me started on their wireless problems...

kohr-ah

As a guy who uses a Mac for work I would prefer going back to Windows if I could. I don't hate my Mac but I have been able to run SSH via powershell or BASH integration. If a part on my Macbook dies I have to send it in for repairs while on my Windows backup I can go up the street and just get a part and have it swapped out. As much as I like lucidchart or draw.io I prefer Visio still for my documentation.

Gaming - Some games work for mac, some games work for linux, all the games work for Windows. I prefer to not have to pick, choose or emulate.

But everyone has their preferences. Just like I have friends that swear linux is the way to go and ditch Mac and Windows all together. Just depends your preferences.

gkca

DexterPark wrote: »

Look, a Mac is basically a usable form of Linux.

Mac is NOT Linux, MacOS is UNIX, actually the closest open-source OS (besides Darwin of course) is FreeBSD.
And getting back to the topic, I plan to replace my ancient MacBook Pro with either Thinkpad or XPS and dual-boot Windows 10 and whatever Linux flavour I prefer on that day...
I'll keep my MBP to have fun with Logic though

wd40

I had very limited interaction with macbooks, I found the menu bar confusing.

Regarding SSH, Python and other Linux tools (vi for example), you can use them now on the windows 10 Linux subsystem without the need to setup VMs.

Regarding Linux, I use Linux (Kali) mainly now, and it is not user friendly at all, if you face a driver (Nvidia driver) or application issue, good luck in finding a quick solution.

Fulcrum45

Iristheangel wrote: »

Personally, if I want Linux I'll get a PC and slap Linux on it or throw it on a VM.

Exactly my thoughts. I appreciate MACs for their design and simplicity but I'm not willing to pay for it.

gespenstern

This thread needs pics of IT folks with Macbooks who run Windows on them.

I have some myself, but not at work where I'm at right now and will supply later if noone else volunteers their time to this noble cause.

technogoat

I use a laptop with only MSDOS installed

what you going to do about that?

networker050184

I've always been a linux guy the past five years or so, but recently made the switch to Mac for my work machine. It's a nice OS and great hardware. My use cases on this laptop are fairly simple though. VPN, terminal, slack and a web browser 90% of the time. No complaints so far. Would I spend a ton of my own money on one though? Not likely.

Iristheangel

technogoat wrote: »

I use a laptop with only MSDOS installed

what you going to do about that?

You'll never break above ~$100k without a Mac!

NetworkNewb

networker050184 wrote: »

Would I spend a ton of my own money on one though? Not likely.

I'm with this. They are nice and I like them, but hard to justify the cost when purchasing one on your own dime.

PC509

All the Microsoft/Windows bashing really makes me question your post. It comes off as fanboyish. You're not wrong on some accounts, but dismissing Windows as a viable and good OS for sysadmins puts me off.

Mac's are great machines. If you can use them for what you need to, great. If not, that's completely fine, too. At work, I have a Windows 10 machine, a Mac (older, but it checks out), and several Linux VM's. All have their strong points, all have their weak points. Use what you have to use to get **** done.

NuclearBeavis

Macs don't have a trackpoint. Thus I have to stick with Thinkpads.

ITSec14

I recently purchased a laptop with Windows 10 Pro, Intel i7 processor, 32 gig of DDR4 RAM, 500GB SSD primary and 2TB Hybrid storage, GeForce GTX graphics and other goodies for $1500.

I'll admit that MacBook Pro's are pretty slick, but you don't get much for your money.

NuclearBeavis

ITSec14 wrote: »

I'll admit that MacBook Pro's are pretty slick, but you don't get much for your money.

I was looking at them recently and to just get 16GB + 512GB SSD, you have to spend about $3000+. That includes their Apple Care, which is a must, since the unit is basically one circuit board, and if anything goes wrong, the repair bill is in the 4 figures.

Dakinggamer87

I will stick with my awesome gaming PC that I can easily upgrade and have full control over the parts and ecosystem...

Apple is overpriced and rather use that money for cooler stuff!! They are nice computers but I can make that 2-3k stretch much further on a PC build all day everyday!! To each his own tho

TechGuru80

I scream, you scream, but we all want ice cream.

/thread

thomas_

Interesting that OP thinks the type of computer someone has dictates their earning potential. I’m not really a fan of Microsoft, but as others have said you get more bang for your buck and it’s easier to upgrade and repair non-mac computers. I’ve read quite a few articles online about how the new mac books aren’t really cutting edge and are to the point where they are just overpriced. I’ve had an iPhone since the original one(not the 3G one, the one before it) and I’m not terribly impressed with the software releases. It seems like they are getting buggier and buggier. If that’s any indication of Apple as a whole, then I’m staying far away from mac books. Besides I need all the money I can get for the increased prices of Cisco exam fees...

shodown

As everyone already said it comes down to personality and use cases.


I use a mac as I do a lot of development work these days and when I first got my mac years ago dev environments weren't' as good on windows as they are now.

My first mac purchased in 2008 still works, and it runs really good. My wife still uses it to this day. I have a 2014 MBP and its still a very capable machiene and it has made me lots of money.

I love the minimalness, but yet still the ability to get everything I need done.

WIth that said I wish it had better integration with Android. I love my Galaxy phones and I cant' see myself getting an IPHONE.


Each person uses what they use for reasons they see fit.

TechGromit

Funny you should ask this, I have a company issued MAC. I played around with it a little, but the interface is alien to me and I'm clueless when it comes to looking under the hood (making changes to registry, security, etc on the command line). It sits in one of my desk drawer. I use a Windows 7 laptop with VM for analyzing malware instead.

boxerboy1168

#1 reason to not get a mac

cost

UnixGuy

Click on this link.


5 ways to improve your MAC Speed ===> Computer Vendors Hate them!!!!!


jokes aside, I moved from Ubuntu/Linux to Mac few years ago and life has been fantastic. Worth every penny.

Moon Child

DexterPark wrote: »

This can start some arguments, but whatever, let's be real. I've been a Windows user for a while, heck, I've even worked for Microsoft! Not only would I recommend avoiding the company, I would strongly suggest avoiding the products!

Look, a Mac is basically a usable form of Linux. It has a UI that doesn't suck, and all the built in network engineering tools you could ever need! And god forbid you learn automation and bump your salary by 30%, what platform do you see most Ansible, Python, Javascript, Puppet, chef users, etc?

1) Putty? You mean terminal, ssh x.x.x.x -l username
2) Windows/Android = ~100k /yr
3) It works. Like, at a high level. (If you see someone trying to run Docker on Win10...RUN!)
4) brew install...pip install....parallel....What else do you need?
5) Dota, Stellaris, XCOM, all work on Mac. Steam works on Mac. Why are you on WinBLOWS?

It used to be the old stereotype that only idiots had Macs, now it's the best in class IT professionals (Not all, BUT MOST!). Apple does $230 billion in revenue, Microsoft does $90 and has been around the exact same amount of time. Numbers don't lie.7

I love Mac's. I have repaired laptop Mac's at work as a laptop tech, got my Mac Certified Associate Certificate from Apple- Mac Integration Basics. I love the Mac's. Bought a used Mac i5 off of eBay for like $200 close to a year ago. I love them.

I love the interface better on the Mac. Seems more reliable then windows. All kinds of problems had with Windows, Neve any problem with my Mac laptop and I never had problems with my Mac mini I had years ago.

Most IT guys I work with at work prefer Windows, more intuitive can play more games on them. I prefer the Mac's though. It is more just how they work... the overall look and interface of them I just like better than windows.

My first IT job I did doing PHP/ apprenticeship one of the partners of the company had a MacBook that he loved.