[sac-forum] Re: Mac vs. PC

Certainly software preferences are subjective, and I prefer Megastar, Sky Tools and Lunar Map Pro as my favorites. None can run on a Mac. Sometimes I do run both of them simultaneously because they have very different feature sets.
To me having more available choices _is_ a good thing. :-) I like having a host of programs from which to use.

Sure, I can use software like Bootcamp and then load XP onto a Mac (dual boot), but -- to me -- that defeats the purpose in buying the Mac in the first place. If I am going to run Windows software, why not save some money up front and just buy a PC?

Simply stated, there is no right answer. I use a PC most of the time, but also enjoy using a G5 Mac or Solaris or even Kubuntu. I'm sure everyone also uses whatever they feel is best for them. That's good. I am certainly not trying to convert anyone to anything.

This discussion is analogous to star-hopping vs GoTo...   ;-)

Peter

----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Dickson" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 7:33 AM
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Mac vs. PC

What do you mean by choices?  Are you running more than one planetarium
at the same time?  Or serially?  Or are there other types of software
that you need too?  Choices are not necessarily a good thing, especially
if each choice is going to cost you money.

I only run Linux, but I don't find that to be much of a limitation.
I have several planetarium programs available, although Kstars seems to
be currently the best.  It includes driver software for about a dozen
different telescope controllers.

The only astronomy related PC software I miss is Deep Space.  This was a
DOS starcharting program.  The charts were fairly simple (easily enhanced
with a vector drawing program), but I haven't seen anything with better
output.  I've been toying with the idea of writing my own; and I have even
downloaded the Tycho and Hiparchus databases (way back when I was on
dialup!).

-Paul



Other related posts: