any Mac users? (that's Mac the puter not Mak the scope)

janoskiss (Steve H) · #1 29-11-2005, 10:48 PM

I'm a long-time (6yrs) happy Linux user but I'm thinking of getting a Mac for a more braindead just-works Unix platform that would allow me to keep using all the open source Unix/Linux software I have grown to take for granted and use daily. I would be getting a cheap Mac-mini: http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Just wondering if there are any Mac user iceinspace members. And if you have any comments/warnings/recommendations post them here please.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #2 29-11-2005, 11:21 PM

Hi Steve,

Go Mac! As they say in the classics, "It just works!" Our two desktop machines started talking together within a minute of having them out of the boxes, and we didn't even have to configure the broadband modem or router - it just found them wirelessly and started accessing the internet instantly. Almost too scarily easy.

But I'd recommend getting something with a G5, though. Those toaster shaped minis, although cutesy, are pretty gruntless and un-upgradable. What software are you planning on running? (I dream of getting a powerbook and wirelessly steering an LX90 via Starry Night Pro.)

In 14 years of daily Mac use I've never seen a virus, or even used protective software. Be prepared to no longer be able to easily borrow software from all your Windows buddies, though.

Happy hunting!

Brian.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #3 29-11-2005, 11:22 PM

PS I've got a Mak, too, and it's pretty cool also!

fringe_dweller · #4 30-11-2005, 02:26 AM

hehe another happy mac user

Steve, as a rabid one eyed mac user I agree with everything Brian said - single chip G4 just too old hat now imo - and memory is only expandable to 1GB- and only PC2700 at that!.
http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html
there was a deal that mac had going about 6 or so months ago were they re-introduced the single chip G5 power mac tower back from oblivion, that was reasonably priced for entry level students i think. i cant find that available these atm? - that was a good deal tho
Do you want to install linux as the OS? otherwise those linux proggys would have to be ones that are ported for the mac os i would guess?
btw heres the aussie mac site http://www.apple.com/au/ click on store for prices in au

davidpretorius · #5 30-11-2005, 05:42 AM

windows does work, well most of the time. it says it might not work at random times in the end user agreement, i think i read that on my 4th try at installing something the other day. most microsoft departments ie office 2003 or visual studio works with the platform department (guaranteed 61.33%).

i thought the viruses were updates designed to test my operating system. hey this one tested it and wiped my hard disk, yup that one works!!!!

people are unfairly against microsoft and i believe that their software should be everywhere even in cars. with cars getting more complicated, they need the solid reliable dependent control only microsoft can offer. besides, when the computer controlled steering locks up whilst driving down the highway, you can always ctrl-alt-del and most of the time, the computer will restart without freezing and 10 minutes later, your car will be right as rain and the car will be back under you control.

isn't technoloy great!!!!

rmcpb (Rob) · #6 30-11-2005, 08:42 AM

Not sure I would go for one of those mini Macs they would suffer the same as the iMacs from any modifications being impossible. I fairly recently bought a twin G4 500MHz with 1GB RAM, twin HDD and all the usual Mac extras and a 17" flat screen CRT for $1100 as an ex leased machine. Works fantastically

Depending on what you want the machine to do, and if you are mainly going to work in Unix, then maybe a G4 may be the way to go - but get a tower unit so you can modify/upgrade it!!

Cheers

fringe_dweller · #7 30-11-2005, 03:12 PM

Steve, i have to admit to ignorance on running a linux os on the mac hardware, I have never loooked into it before - (although i knew of ppl installing and booting up from XP on a G5 for a laugh an it worked 'ok') - but now having read up a tiny bit on the net on the subject - you are right - linux isnt as demanding an os as X is on the puter apparently - so yeah sounds like like an ok idea to go with

pity it can only handle one HD - otherwise you could always have another harddrive loaded with X to boot up off if you want to use a real os

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 30-11-2005, 03:22 PM

OS-X is Unix + a pretty face, so I wouldn't be running linux on the mac. I can do that on any old intel box.

fringe_dweller · #9 30-11-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

OS-X is Unix + a pretty face,

wow I didnt know that Steve

hehe thnx - yer but the X GUI is a monster of GUI!
I dont know personally of any mac users using linux proggys on X? they would still have to be ported for the mac for optimal perfomance?
even tho that isnt no where as hard or as big a deal as it used to be with say OS 9 of course

fringe_dweller · #10 30-11-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

recently bought a twin G4 500MHz with 1GB RAM, twin HDD
Cheers

at least its a type of 64 bit technology with the dual g4

janoskiss (Steve H) · #11 30-11-2005, 03:57 PM

Apple is a strong supporter of open source (and much of apple's software is based on open source stuff), so most apps have either been ported already (and available for download from apple) or can be recompiled for OSX using the GNU compilers with minimal effort. Check out:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/unix_open_source/

I see that one of my fave app LyX is a "featured" headline item.

fringe_dweller · #12 30-11-2005, 04:25 PM

thats pretty cool mate - ta - but i personally have no use for most of those programs unfortunately - i am very happy apple are going this way and is attracting unix lovers but
I just wish they would port the windoze programs for the mac more so - more games and astro stuff is what i want - but on an fast ultra stable and reliable os like x

fringe_dweller · #13 30-11-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

I just wish they would port the windoze programs for the mac more so - more games and astro stuff is what i want

although i had to laugh with all the PC gamers up in arms - its seems a lot of new games are starting to be optimised for the playstation and consoles these days - COD2 being an example

hows it feel?

janoskiss (Steve H) · #14 30-11-2005, 04:47 PM

If you want games you're stuck with uncle Gates' OS.

Or get a copy of gnu chess:

> d4e3
b8c6
> _

Fun, huh?

fringe_dweller · #15 30-11-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

If you want games you're stuck with uncle Gates' OS.

Or get a copy of gnu chess:

> d4e3
b8c6
> _

Fun, huh?

so true - yes gnu chess sounds thrilling doesnt it hehe

I am still waiting for the intel inside macs, maybe in a year? they are to be sold quite cheaply i believe (for a mac)
meanwhile I still enjoy blistering performance with CS - 200 mb files working in layers = anything up and over 1 gig
big bubbles no troubles :-)))))) you can keep your 86x architecture

janoskiss (Steve H) · #16 05-12-2005, 12:37 AM

Well, I've ordered the stock standard 12" ibook; with a 10% student discount as I am technically still a student till the end of the year. The ibook is not for me though, but a pressie for someone who is going to be very pleasantly surprised this week, I hope.

I don't buy Xmas presents for anyone, ever. I like to buy presents at random times when people wouldn't expect them. It's just so much more fun that way.

The G4 ibook is going to replace a Pentium II Omnibook 2000 with 32MB of RAM running WinME, so it's going to be a big leap forward. And I get to check out OS-X on it while deciding whether to get a Mac for myself or just stick with old faithful Linux that runs on just about anything, including cheap hardware.

gbeal · #17 31-01-2006, 10:31 AM

Sorry to re-boot this thread, but I too am leaning in Mac direction.
Any particular issues with the astro side?
Photoshop I understand, and this I will simply have to re-acquire.
What about webcam capture, and autoguiding, at present done with K3CCD Tools.
Also what about stacking, currently with Registax?
Any help.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #18 31-01-2006, 10:39 AM

Might be tricky to get Registax working on anything other than a Windows box. Might work in an emulator like Wine...

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #19 31-01-2006, 10:59 AM

Don't know, and I haven't really used it, but I think Keith's Imagestacker is the main software equivalent on a mac. Gets good reviews, generally. Used to be a free download, but that was in the System 9 days. There is a OSX version, now, I think.

fringe_dweller · #20 31-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Funny you should ask Gary! Just recently on macastronomer yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/macastronomer/ (look thru the links) out of the blue a talented aussie programmer, Rodney Kennedy has joined and he has created his own front end for Keiths Image Stacker 'astro yacker' and has a second version yet unreleased, and some other yet unreleased dedicated astronomy progs that have got everyone drooling - see here for his webpage and results - http://homepage.mac.com/astrod/Sites/gallery/main.html
I dont know about using PC emulators too much - I never liked virtual PC that much, plus as people say PC's are so cheap why would you bother with that when you can have a cheap PC dedicated to that job. Things are afoot in the mac world as well with the imminent release of the mactel macs - althought these will only be in lowend stuff - laptops and the mac mini, imacs - they will never put a G5 chip in a lappy now. They are basically going after dell, I read, but they alledgely can boot up and run from both Windows and mac OS's.
Wish I could endorse the mac as an astronomy friendly platform, but outside of Starry Night and CS/PS, the rest is just flaky and/or not fully formed to me. Their are other webcam/stacking programs like Lynkeous and another one - but i wasnt impressed.
As Steve said and a mate of mine said - if you want a program that doesnt exist currently on the mac, it would certainly exist in UNIX that would fit the bill, but you wouldnt have a dummmy friendly interface/GUI full of shortcuts and automated workflows unless you make it yourself - and you might have to even port it yourself, but that is changing everyday.. wish i could recommend mac as astro friendly - but i would be lying.. but for PS and everything else it rox :-) As for recompiling pc proggy's using wine - i havent heard much about that from real mac people - they dont like stuff that wasnt native X to start with. here is yet another PC emulator for the mac http://openosx.com/wintel/ dont know how good it is. here's a collection of relevant links http://www.macastronomy.com/