First thanks to those that responded with their recommendations (Jeff, Kirk, Peter, and Chuck).
After reading your recommendations, watching the rumour mill re Apple, checking out some Windows based products, and reflecting on my Apple experience (since I switched from Apple II… to MacOS back in 1987), I decided to put an Apple purchase on hold. It is at 'wait and see'. In my minor league opinion Apple continually abandons their professional users (Xserves, FinalCut Pro, FinalCut Pro Server, MacOS Server, and in their current so called Pro hardware, etc). Yup, been burnt by each of those products. [Rant:=“On”] Not running a company for almost 4 years I could afford to be Apple centric. Over the last month I took my head out of my Apple centric view of computing. It became very obvious that Apple was all about consumer products that they can sell billions of. Their industrial design team is more about the wow look of form factor than meeting the needs of professionals. Designing the smallest possible laptops and calling them Pro, developing a amazing looking desktop and calling it ‘Pro’ is what is driving them. It is so easy to find truly high performance products that are in the Windows Market. Products using the fastest CPUs (i.e. KabyLake CPUs, and latest Intel E-series CPUs from Intel), offering up a range of RAM, and SSD sizes larger than what is avaialbe on the Mac’Pro’ models. I know Apple really likes to push everyone into the latest port types. Spending two months trying to find products to bridge the gap between USB-C and all my current devices was a challenge. Yes, I might like a new monitor but I have 3 great monitors sitting around that work great. I do not need to upgrade to 4k, 5k monitors. The lack of a selection of ports really pushed me to my decision. This then brought me to the realization of how long the last 2 upgrades to their ‘Pro’ desktops have been. This also highlighted the decision by Apple to not have the ability to add cards to provide different kinds of ports. Of course which card developer is going to invest in developing drivers for their cards for MacOS with Apple’s history of decisions? Don’t get me wrong I am still a MacOS person. These conclusions made me think that unless Apple actually comes out with something Pro, I will adjust to being a Windows user with ‘Pro’ hardware, and a much lower class MacOS computer for when I need to test, and compile for the MacOS only. Of course Apple could change that direction if they came out with truly Pro hardware for a few years. The experience of the withdrawal (but not failed) Pro products that they pledged their allegiance to, along with the Pro users has made me think about being a Windows user for my professional life. Apple was making inroads into the Enterprise with their Xserve, and FinalCut Pro products. I know we were selling Xserves into all our client sites. [Rant:=“Off”] After all this what did I just go and do? I have jumped into a DELL XPS 15” with Windows PRO 64bit. It out performs the MacBook Pro on every one of the indicators I mention. It is much less money than a MacBook Pro too. I had to purchase a 4D Windows Development tool anyway to compile for my Windows users. Therefore the 4D purchase is not an extra cost of moving to Windows. As well, 4Ds move to a truly native Windows 4D environment helps this decision too. Time will tell if I can make the switch for real (last). This could be the start of the end of my professional association of MacOS everyday. My shinny new windows box arrives later this month. Jody ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:[email protected] **********************************************************************
