might go for the switch

I'm a long time pc user and been considering the switch for a while now. I know that with osx i can install windows on vm or bootcamp no problems. However, I'm starting to learn C# has a hobby, but don't know how serious it will get. I use visual studio for that. I sometimes use MS Project if I want to plan for projects and less use MS Visio to draw workflow diagrams. Would it be wise to think about switching or stick to windows?

 

It's really entirely a personal decision. Linux would be good for learning to code on just as much as OSX, but if you even remotely like playing games you will not have a lot of success with that on OSX.

 

Well, I don't game, that's why i didn't mention it. My question was geared towards C# because a microsoft/windows thing..

 

Yea C# is definitely more Windows, I have actually been meaning to get more into coding myself, from what I can understand generally speaking OSX is better for coding on than Windows but C# specifically I'm not sure,

 

no it isn't.

coding is all about the IDE and the other tools you use for support.

xcode is just great. however I find visual studio to be better.

all in all regarding workflows there are some other apps that you may use for that

and yes C# is basically MS stuff.

 

So I'm better off to stick to windows then.. :/

...wanted to use osx mainstream...

 

Depends on the model you get. I wouldn't bootcamp a Macbook but it can worthwhile on a desktop Mac. I game a lot but I don't really care about the graphics as long as the games run. So I run Windows 7 via Bootcamp a lot but only for gaming. For my daily driver I stick to OS X. I've definitely enjoyed the experience. My Mac Mini has probably been my favorite computer, even moreso than my last gaming machine.

If you're going to be doing daily tasks in Windows though (all your casual stuff like web browsing, email, media, etc.) it probably isn't worth the trouble.

Hardcore nerdy stuff like coding and whatnot though, I actually stick with my Linux-ified chromebook. Just installing Linux will teach you stuff if you're a total noob.

 

I'm in agreement with the above. If you're going to be using a MS IDE and a MS language, you're better off using a MS OS for that. However, for OS-agnostic languages (C++, Java, etc.), you can use just about anything (especially if the IDEs are cross-platform as well, eg. Eclipse). If you're trying to get into something like Objective-C or Swift, OSX is pretty much the only smart option for the same reasons C# is pretty much for Windows only. You could technically use Mono for C# development, but Mono is suck a crappy, slow piece of .NET wannabe garbage (check out benchmarks to see what I mean).

As for the OS-agnostic stuff, that's what we do at the university I'm going to. Most of the stuff is C/C++/Java based and the school uses Linux for the CS department, and the CS students with OSX basically use it as a very expensive Linux. Personally, for cross-platform stuff I'd just get a well-built Wintel and install Linux over that, though I suppose some people like Apple's look.

Or, if you can stand not using an IDE, you can be a true coder and use a basic text editor and command-line tools

 

I think at a point in market lifecycle we have all been inclining towards console gaming and its only hardcore old school gamers who are still sticking to PC gaming.

so once u get gaming out of the picture, the decision making becomes easier and benefits increase tremendously.

 

While Visual Studio might be OS specific, C# is not. You can use C# in many other IDEs on both Linux and OS X to write software for multiple platforms. C# is even used in Unity if you want to get into some game making. Trapping yourself in a MS only world isn't that great. Best to learn many languages... especially all the C like ones that are all very similar like C/C++/C#/Java etc...

 

I say go for the switch and try it out. If you don't like mac os then go back to windows. It doesn't hurt to try.

 

It hurts as much as the price tag of the laptop, plus the value of OP's time.

 

So are you saying that the op will be hurt if he spends alot of money and time on an important decision? How do you know this? He can always return it rather than not really experiencing the use of mac os and if he doesnt want to waste time then I would understand but he doesnt mention this in his original post. He might like mac os.

 

Maybe, depends on how long OP keeps the laptop (ie, past the return date) and how much each hour of OP's time is worth.
But you're right, it doesn't hurt to something new. Though that doesn't mean that someone should try something just because. I tried out OSX because I wanted to try out objective-c and to be able to perform basic troubleshooting for some of my college friends (who own Apple computers), which was enough of a good reason for me try it. However, if OP won't be using Apple-only programming languages or troubleshooting OSX issues for friends (for example), then objectively I don't see a point (ignoring other possibilities like wanting to use FCP). That, and specifically mentioning .NET programming rules OSX out in my eyes, unless OP it's happy with spending the money for a retail copy of the needed OS.

Same can be said if OP was asking about System76 laptops and .NET, Windows laptops and Objective-C, etc. Just my two cents though.

 

Your experience is important and thanks for sharing. You don't want anybody else to go through what you did. I am sorry that you lost valuable time and money. I can't imagine what you went through.

 

Thanks, though personally I didn't lose that much. I said that I tried out OSX, never said I bought an Apple laptop though . It was just time learning how to do those two tasks.

Though, you could say that learning Objective-C is a very painful experience.