FFXIV for Mac

[Naylia]

A Macbook running Windows is no different from any Toshiba/Dell/HP/etc running Windows. And I can find you expensive laptops from other brands too...

If you buy the stock Macbook at $999 you get a dedicated Nvidia graphics card which is sufficient to play the game on low settings at a decent frame rate.

But I can point you to plenty of Dells that at the same price point still just included intgrated Intel graphics. If you're not careful there are plenty of people out there to take your money.

[Dubont]

A Macbook running Windows is no different from any Toshiba/Dell/HP/etc running Windows. And I can find you expensive laptops from other brands too...

That's the thing...Apple can afford charging an arm and a leg for it's sub-par hardware b/c it is the only company that sells them. Windows based PCs are made by millions of companies. Also, I said that you can build your own windows based PC for $800, not "go buy a windows PC at bestbuy for a 20% markup!" You can't, technically, build your own mac.

[Naylia]

That's the thing...Apple can afford charging an arm and a leg for it's sub-par hardware b/c it is the only company that sells them. Windows based PCs are made by millions of companies. Also, I said that you can build your own windows based PC for $800, not "go buy a windows PC at bestbuy for a 20% markup!" You can't, technically, build your own mac.

Of course you can easily build a windows based PC that can handle FFXIV for $800...but whoever said playing this game was the sole purpose of his computer. I know that in my household (2 people), we have 4 computers (laptops, desktop, server in a rack) and enough spare parts to build one or two more stashed in a bin under the bed. Each computer runs different software, some run different OS's, and they all have a unique purpose and situation in which they perform best. The Mac has always been our at school computer (through our various times in grad school) because come finals and thesis time it never crashed, it never froze, and it never lost docs - while there would be plenty of our friends cursing their pre-built laptops with hardware sourced from the cheapest provider negotiated that week dealing with mailing them back and all sorts of messes. The Mac and OS X does the things we use it for flawlessly (email, internet, office) and never had any issues.

However - that doesn't make it my computer of choice for gaming. That's my home built Intel Q9550 with a Radeon HD 6850 for graphics running Windows 7. But it doesn't mean that when I've got a half hour to kill in-between classes I wouldn't like to know that I can fire up FFXIV for a lil bit.

People own Macs - fact of life - it is completely rude to deride them for it in an online forum, just because they ask if it's hardware can handle playing the game. The appropriate response is to ask what hardware it has, and encourage them to install BootCamp/Windows if it's sufficient and get them into the game, because that's why we are all here - to play FFXIV.

However, if they say, "I'm building a computer exclusively for gaming" - go for it - encourage them to examine the dollar/performance trade offs that they get from different builds. But if someone says "I have a Mac" and you respond with "Go Build a PC" - don't you see how that advice may be of no use to that person....

[Dubont]

Of course you can easily build a windows based PC that can handle FFXIV for $800...but whoever said playing this game was the sole purpose of his computer. I know that in my household (2 people), we have 4 computers (laptops, desktop, server in a rack) and enough spare parts to build one or two more stashed in a bin under the bed. Each computer runs different software, some run different OS's, and they all have a unique purpose and situation in which they perform best. The Mac has always been our at school computer (through our various times in grad school) because come finals and thesis time it never crashed, it never froze, and it never lost docs - while there would be plenty of our friends cursing their pre-built laptops with hardware sourced from the cheapest provider negotiated that week dealing with mailing them back and all sorts of messes. The Mac and OS X does the things we use it for flawlessly (email, internet, office) and never had any issues.

However - that doesn't make it my computer of choice for gaming. That's my home built Intel Q9550 with a Radeon HD 6850 for graphics running Windows 7. But it doesn't mean that when I've got a half hour to kill in-between classes I wouldn't like to know that I can fire up FFXIV for a lil bit.

People own Macs - fact of life - it is completely rude to deride them for it in an online forum, just because they ask if it's hardware can handle playing the game. The appropriate response is to ask what hardware it has, and encourage them to install BootCamp/Windows if it's sufficient and get them into the game, because that's why we are all here - to play FFXIV.

However, if they say, "I'm building a computer exclusively for gaming" - go for it - encourage them to examine the dollar/performance trade offs that they get from different builds. But if someone says "I have a Mac" and you respond with "Go Build a PC" - don't you see how that advice may be of no use to that person....

Pre-builts are only good from certain places. I used an apple based computer in my Cal2 class and hated it (personal preference). It honestly wasn't worth a crap. It was far too slow to be "$2k computer." I started looking at the specs...and it had a slower processor than my $700 gateway laptop...and only had 2GB of ram...and a vid card that was nowhere near able to support even the simplest of games. My point isn't that Apple comps are bad and I honestly think that all of your comp's problems are user errors or neglect towards the PC...b/c I've only had 1 problem with mine. The HD crashed after 2 years, but I was able to salvage every bit of info and port it to a new HD and it only cost me $50.

So, essentially what I'm saying is that Apple over charges for sub-par equipment...

[Naylia]

So, essentially what I'm saying is that Apple over charges for sub-par equipment...

Excluding the value of service and support - I'd agree that Apple charges more for the same specifications. The hardware itself I tend to find more reliable than your average pre-built provider.

Personally, I agree. My PCs tend to be stable, and reliable. However, when I've built one and given it to a family member, all hell breaks loose. I think your average consumer (if you build your own, and can handle matching hardware and review spec sheets to ensure part compatibility - you aren't average) can break a PC faster then they can break a Mac (excluding the sledgehammer approach of course).

[Speeral]

Pre-builts are only good from certain places. I used an apple based computer in my Cal2 class and hated it (personal preference). It honestly wasn't worth a crap. It was far too slow to be "$2k computer." I started looking at the specs...and it had a slower processor than my $700 gateway laptop...and only had 2GB of ram...and a vid card that was nowhere near able to support even the simplest of games. My point isn't that Apple comps are bad and I honestly think that all of your comp's problems are user errors or neglect towards the PC...b/c I've only had 1 problem with mine. The HD crashed after 2 years, but I was able to salvage every bit of info and port it to a new HD and it only cost me $50.

So, essentially what I'm saying is that Apple over charges for sub-par equipment...

Apple does have to pay for all that fancy marketing somehow . . . .. Not to mention their sales teams in their stores now that's pressure selling. Apple knows that if you leave their store after a flashy demo and do some research you'll find that everywhere you turn everyone has a better product out. For gaming I would never recommend mac, but if you have it run bootcamp and the benchmark if it works it works.

[Grundy]

Apple does have to pay for all that fancy marketing somehow . . . .. Not to mention their sales teams in their stores now that's pressure selling. Apple knows that if you leave their store after a flashy demo and do some research you'll find that everywhere you turn everyone has a better product out. For gaming I would never recommend mac, but if you have it run bootcamp and the benchmark if it works it works.

Hey there! Come and see our new Macbook Air. Yes! That's right it's a shiny mac utilising a three year old CPU; Who needs hyperthreading when you don't get a CD Tray? And guess what, it's even more expensive than the old macbook air - it even comes with it's own box (that costs extra)!

What ... what do you mean you want to choose your own software, at Apple we control your life - and you get to pay for it! GNU public license .... ? Please don't swear in the store sir, you'll reduce the fanboys to tears. Now, look at the mac logo (shiny) and unzip your pants while I close this sale.

[Naqaj]

Hey there! Come and see our new Macbook Air. Yes! That's right it's a shiny mac utilising a three year old CPU; Who needs hyperthreading when you don't get a CD Tray? And guess what, it's even more expensive than the old macbook air - it even comes with it's own box (that costs extra)!

What ... what do you mean you want to choose your own software, at Apple we control your life - and you get to pay for it! GNU public license .... ? Please don't swear in the store sir, you'll reduce the fanboys to tears. Now, look at the mac logo (shiny) and unzip your pants while I close this sale.

Let me guess: you've been kicked out of a Apple Store once because you performed indecent acts with an iMac, and now you hold a grudge?

[Neptune]

You can't, technically, build your own mac.

Very interesting choice of words.. >.>

[Naylia]

Very interesting choice of words.. >.>

Legally, might be the better word.... (if a Mac is defined by it's OS that is).

Otherwise, it's much the same as, you can't, technically, build your own Dell.