xdcmaniac

Oh, and we need a decent chopper pilot!! 🙂

Interesting read..

I know how 7 feels in a way though. When XDC recruits new members its through a period of play in a particular game, and when “old-timers” like myself who have been AWOL come back it can be a bit odd. What I mean is getting on TS and integrating into the game and general chit-chat, because to the “newer” members the returning AWOL’s are essentialy strangers. From the early days of RS to now things haven’t changed that much, I feel generally the type of person in XDC remains more or less the same. I did however make a brief return during the first Vietnam days, and felt pretty isolated as a new-boy, and because of the large amount of players we had back then it was pretty daunting.

This return is no different really, but with less players, and a few that I knew from RS days it’s much easier.. actually the only “new” folks to me are really Doc, Max, Stalker, Streff & Wolf.

As for the racist (or however you describe them) comments mentioned, I agree that polotics and other inflamatory subjects are not the vibe of XDC… but remember back in the day before TS, it was much harder to guage a person from in-game text chat.

My personal feeling on the competitive side of gaming, and XDC’s participation is that I don’t really care either way. This is a “free” gaming group, where, if you take it seriously, and a few others do as well – fine go and compete under the XDC name, and if thats not your bag, also fine. I played with the “Ringers” for a couple of games on XBOX live, and to be honest when someone I had never talked to or gamed with gave me an ear bashing for a poorly placed shot, I fucked off sharpish. Again, its not because I had a problem with the guys taking things seriously, it’s just not my own preference where gaming is concerned. (Please note: Paddy calling me a cock or other expletive for poor play is not cause for offence, it actually enhances my entertainment) 😀

Over the last couple of weeks I have had a read throught the forum to catch up, and it seems the XDC collective has waxed and wained over the 3 or 4 years, but hopefully with Vietnam still popular and BF3 on the horizon, XDC can grow stronger with new members, and old ones returning.

I’m happy to contribute. My personal opinion is that on smaller maps 32 player servers are more like mindless shoot-em-ups which is not really what BF is about, I think 24 is a good number.. Fills up quicker etc..

On the subject of Admins. I agree there needs to be more. And I also feel that admins need to make keeping the server free of arse-bandits a priority when playing. If we want to attract folks who have a good attitude to the game and are fun to play against/with then the knobs need to be kept out, unfortunately we will all have different “knob-tolerence” levels.. Mine is very low, and as such I would be a bad admin, as Paddy would be instantly kicked 😆

No problemo… Alcohol is my specialist class.. Now, if BF would bring out a “pub” edition, I’d be like totally leet (or however you spell it!)

Happens occasionally Dazzer.. I just restart the game, and if that happens restart steam. Sometimes EA has a wee fart to itself too.

If only your Tank driving and mine spotting was as good as your debating skills…

Ok..

As for your other bits.. i dont think asking a load of security experts for their opinion is ‘skewed statistical nonsense’ There are no statistics there at all in fact.. and it showed quite a balanced opinion overall. (I am discounting the survey mentioned at the start as it is pretty meaningless.)

I could present similar arguments to the contrary. You know this, I know this. Yet you still feel the need to protect your machine against “catastrophe”? It’s simply down to the people who write viruses, and spy ware. Apple has roughly 10% of the desktop market and a little over 12% of the laptop market, and as such the net can be spread over a larger proportion of PC users. However, as the pre-installed software on a mac is written by Apple, including the security applications written into Safari, I actually never know it’s running but’s.. blah blah ZZZzzzzZZZZZ blah (fill in with pro-apple propaganda).. the user experience i.e me and my co-workers in the industry are a testament to that fact.

Why do most creative types use macs? Well… in my experice airy fairy creative types are not the most analytical sensible people when it comes to maiking hardware buying decisions. “Ooooo look at the lovely thin computer thing that is so nice and shiny!” they say as they flounce around in a style over substance ecstasy.

Thats a very wide sweeping generalisation…. I am extremely analytical person. However, you may have a point that creatives like form and design, but never at the cost of a contract or their jobs. If a PC was more reliable, or easier or just plain better I would take a beige box over a “shiny aluminium thin thing” each and every day. My first mac was actually an old G3 power mac, which looked identical to an old typical PC.

Are all GP’s tweed wearing, out-of touch, dorks with bad hand writing? NO, of course not.

As for my game prediction – I think I can make a fair guess… the Mac still uses normal PC components… and he will be playing games in a windows environment… so why can’t I make a judgement based on experience? Sure his mac will meet the minimum specs, but will it play BF3 as well as my PC which has a better processor and GFX card and is overclocked / watercooled? Or even close? How can it possibly? Unless it has magic apple pixie dust inside it too?

No, not even a little bit of “apple dust”. A very efficient OS with good “plumbing”. I can’t speak for Windows 7, but compared to Vista, OSX maximises every aspect of the hardware available. I heard you had to pay extra for the 64bit version of Windows? hmmm.. However, I conceded that point earlier regarding gaming. Egg has quite clearly stated this machine is not for gaming, and my opinion is that should he wish to dabble, then the systems he is looking at will be adequate.

My point re CS5 is valid too don’t you think? Say he does want to use CS5…. which he CAN use in OSX…. will that OSX magic turn his I3 processor and half gig memory GFX card into something special? Which machine would you bet on to render an after effects timeline quicker?

Hang on. He said PHOTOSHOP and a bit of video editing. And are you telling me that an i3 processor is not adequate for general PS duties?.. I will admit rendering HD video effects and AE (generally) are intensive, but only in todays world when handling multi-layerd comps, or truly complex 3D models. I can quite happily work on commercial projects on my Dual-core 3.0ghz without frustration or problems. Ok, in a perfect situation I would personally have at home a Mac Pro running 12 cores, 32gb RAM, 2 2gb gfx cards.. and 2 30″ apple cinema screens… but we’re talking about pros and cons.. I have never said Apple was the cheaper option, but I feel its a better one, albeit with a premium to pay.

You can spend £15k on a car and go fast or £75k and buy a porsche and do it in style (shit, just blown my function over form argument there 😆 )

I was waiting for someone to bite… 😀

Doc, answer me this… why does pretty much every professional editing house, design agency, recording studio, and media agency use apple products?

Is it because they are pretty? nope.

It is because the data has relative value over and above that of “man hours”. The most important single issue in any creative process is workflow, and any disruption of said workflow costs time, and ultimately money. Apple products are simply better supported by a single company (the manufacturer), and more reliable (due to a single design, rather than a box of mixed components).

The final Cut debate is a mute point as CS5 is cross platform, however, as you brought up the subject – The BBC has very little (compared to other broadcasters) sub contracted operators. The last time we did work for them their submission guideline document read like “war and peace”, and as such can choose freely whichever product they desire to edit in (To correct you however, the last system the BBC used was mainly Avid with a number of FCP suits) They, unlike other broadcasters are under public scrutiny regarding production costs (for another debate) However, the hardware is either Apple or PC depending on which suite you are in, and as such a cross platform product is much more beneficial for a large national broadcaster. The main benefit to Premier Pro I will concede is the excellent work flow efficiency of the Adobe suite and I feel FCP could do with an interface update. However, have a quick look at the various forums relating to PC users running various Adobe suites, and in particular Premier Pro, not exactly a glowing endorsement for the PC platform. I personally use FCP because that is what I trained in, and I can achieve the same results as I could in any other suite. However, we use pretty much every Adobe product available for creative media, without any problems. I even use After Effects on the earlier mentioned 8 year old Mac Pro.
I doubt Egg is looking to do any highly intensive video editing however, on that point a copy of Premier Pro 5 currently retails at £810, Final Cut Studio retails at £834… however, for a non professional user you can buy Final Cut Express at £135 or use the excellent and easy to use imovie which is bundled with the ilife suite for Free!! (I am sure there are other freeware options available for the PC, but I seriously doubt they are anywhere near imovie for results. I spend every day and earn every penny I earn from the use of the types of applications discussed, and the ilife suite is bloody brilliant for any non-serious user)

“Photoshopping” – Using the 3D functionality now incorporated since CS4 (I think)? no? then don’t worry about the spec of the GFX card in relation to photographic manipulation. Yes? well, I use a number of pure 3D modeling software suits with my current machines with no problem. My next door neighbour is a Professor of computer sciences at Napier in Edinburgh specialising in 3D, and uses Apple products exclusively. Never asked him why… hmmmm 😉

To respond to your comments on the subject of hardware..

Read my previous post regarding this… It’s pretty tiresome repeating myself. As I have used both PC and Apple machines extensively, I can speak with a certain authority regarding the efficiency of the OS with regard to hardware. No matter what you buy, It will become obsolete… But I would not call a Sandybridge processor or even an i7 processor “shit” as Doc states. However,I’ll agree with Doc on this point – if you are building a gaming machine get a box and fill it with components of your choice, you’ll have unlimited scope to upgrade etc… I never would dispute that.
Regarding BF3 – How can you possibly comment on the ability for a machine (you have never used) to run a game (that is not even released)? I hope your wrong, if your not, fair point.

Viruses…

C’mon Doc… is that the best you could come up with.. a seriously skewed piece of statistical nonsense. Ok, here is my response.

I could like you to hundreds of counter argument pieces written by so called tech Journo’s, but the fact remains. I have (and none of my other Apple products at home or work) have ever crashed, been infected, or otherwise (apart from one hardware problem which was solved out of warranty) had any issues what-so-ever. Remember the XDC site hack last week? my Mac would not even let me near the site.. now I am not saying Paddy’s problems are related but all I know is I have never had to re-install my OS in 10 years of using Apple products.. which PC user can say the same?

Marketing & Fluff… Yes, your right. The marketing is great, and yes the fluff is certainly there.. but why not? Is it a crime that the last run of Microsoft adverts were produced with FCP? 😆

In Summary…

I personally don’t care if a million or a billion folks use Apple products or not, because I have made a personal and professional choice. For some people PC’s would not get a foot in the door, however, I have to confess, I may look at buying a PC purely for gaming (reasons stated above). What irk’s me about this long and often run debate is the vast majority of Apple users have used PC’s at sometimes in the past, yet the reverse is rarely true. Yet, the Apple bashing is based on nothing more than the rubbish written on the net and unqualified opinions … Bottom line is, Try both, if you choose the PC then its the right thing for you, and if you like the Apple, then as before it will be apparent that its best for your needs. (you’ll be at least 10% gay’er, but also 15% more smug)

Peace. 😀

There is no difference in performance between the 21″ and 27″…. but for the love of god get the 27″. The extra real estate for general work is worth it, and for viewing movies the screen is perfect. As mentioned before don’t be too hung up on small spec differences.. Think of it like the difference between a European car with a 6cyl 350bhp engine and an American muscle car with a v8 500bhp.. the european car is refined to get its power down properly in a refined manner. (the mac). The American car is all noise, weight, plastic, and straight line speed. (PC).

The low end 27′ will be lightning quick… as mentioned before most of your gaming will be xbox, so no need for a super high end GFX card.