Yep, I want a Mac. Although I’m not going to cry like a baby until I get one. But my computer has really been doing my head in recently, for example:
- I’ve been trying to convert a few videos to an iPod compatible format, I wrongly assumed that this would be simple. The files are in MPEG-2 format, and I want them in mp4 (I think that’s it), but no matter what software I use it just won’t happen. “SUPER” video converter just doesn’t like vista. VLC creates the file, but nothing will read it. iTunes, no chance. It seems something which I thought would literally be a task of opening file, choosing format, clicking convert, seems to be impossible. Now, it may not be easy on a Mac, but it can’t be this difficult can it?
- iTunes. One of the best pieces of software, but yet again it doesn’t seem to like Vista, scrolling is like you would expect from an old PC with integrated graphics, and it is generally laggy.
Plus there are other reasons, so I’ve decided that I’m buying an Apple PC. It’ll be between a Mac Mini (would make be nice with a big TV screen … need the TV), or a MacBook (would be nice for general portability).
Also my new iPod Touch hasn’t been shipped yet, which it shouldn’t have been, but I’m getting a tad impatient!
Update: I’ve found something which works for ripping DVD’s, Magic DVD Ripper. Has an iPod mode, just need to change the resolution for iPod Touch. Excellent.
I’ve tried Handbrake for windows, and it just doesn’t work. Using DVD from drive freezes it … Using “backup” dvd from HDD freezes it, although I can’t really find any documentation saying if Handbrake is an all-in-one solution, i.e. it removes Copy Protection, as the windows version doesn’t seem to.
I’m just looking at VisualHub, and it looks amazing, also found some software called ffmpegX last night, which seemed like a good solution aswell.
And I’m glad I’m not the only one with iTunes slowness, I was beginning to think it was something to do with the fact that I had my music stored on a network drive.
Macs pwn.
Handbrake is great for ripping DVDs. Fast, efficient, and powerful. From there, you have a multitude of options for converting it (if you didn’t set the right option during the rip): I personally like a stunningly simple piece of shareware called VisualHub.
iTunes is blazing in OS X – the experience on Windows is pathetic. (I’m on Windows now because I’m getting my iMac repaired (I broke my motherboard whilst playing around with hardware) so I can definitely judge!)
It’s also a great platform for development because you get the nice GUI of, say, Windows (but with a better design!) and you get the command line power of a *nix system.
Definitely go for a Mac if you can. You won’t regret it!