Chris Pirillo has the evangelical intensity of a new convert.
Several things keep me in Windows (and Linux)...
1. No integrated DVR applications. Both Windows Media Center and Linux MythTV turn your computer into a networked TV server. Apple TV is a platform for iTunes sales.
2. Unless you are willing to build a “hackintosh,” Mac means Apple hardware. It isn’t as overpriced as in years past, but you are still stuck with Steve’s vision of what a computer should be. Want a simple tower with a CRT monitor (still the best option for photographers) and three internal hard drives? Be prepared to shell out $2500.
3. No Blu-Ray support. Vista has (for good or ill) integrated much of the technology needed to support Blu-Ray and HD DVD (R.I.P.).
4. Games. Windows and DirectX is still the platform of choice for PC gaming.
5. Upgradeability. Machines like iMacs are designed to be disposable. Most of the parts are proprietary. No new motherboards, no new processors. Take it down to the recycling center and buy a new Mac in a few years. The new Macbook Air is the ultimate statement of the computer as disposable commodity.
Don’t get me wrong. Macs are nice machines. I enjoy using OSX, but I don’t enjoy the idea of tying myself to one company. I have built my own machines for more than a decade and don’t want to give away that freedom for a nice OS.
1. http://www.miglia.com/products/tv.php
3. Apple declared support for Blu-Ray back in 06, and the OS has been ready for it since then. Apple isn’t shipping any BR drives just yet because of certain non-Mac-related compatibility issues: http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/11/1815258
5. As a consultant, I can tell you that most “normal” people (not geeks) prefer to buy another machine rather than upgrade what they have.
You are obviously capable of building a Leopard OS capable machine
Only reason you cannot easily run it as an Apple computer is because Apple has designed the OS to run only on computers bought from Apple
IOW the latest and greatest Apple OS can be run on Wintel equipment same as Linux is, same as XP and Vista are --- Except that Apple wants the revenue from forcing its cultists to buy Apple hardware. So Apple hobbles the OS X to make it very dicey to run on hardware you don't buy from Apple
I've been running El Gato's eyeTV as a Mac-based DVR for years now. You also have options from Miglia as well as Equinux.
I also think Myth has been ported to Mac OS X, but don't hold me to that...
I use Elegato's EyeTV... works great for either Standard or HDTV. 4. Games. Windows and DirectX is still the platform of choice for PC gaming.
Fine, run your games in Boot Camp.
5. Upgradeability. Machines like iMacs are designed to be disposable. Most of the parts are proprietary.
Uh, no. Most of the parts are from the usual suspects... and you can change out processors if you want. Most don't.