Google Earth for the Mac: What Happened?

Hi, I have checked the above url for Google Earth (http://desktop.google.com/download/earth/index.html). As at 15:30 6/07 [NZST] it is available for download.

It appears to go up and down at various times. When I first checked it was down, but about 4 hours later was available again.

Hi.

Just to clarify, the demand for Google Earth has been *very* big, and we switching downloads on and off periodically to ensure that all current users have the best possible experience.

Furthermore, downloading the executable from elsewhere won't do you much good, as the product has to be activated before use. This is also being throttled to ensure current users don't get slashdotted.

We are, however, confident that everyone who wants Google Earth *will* get it. We know how frustrating it is for those of you who have been trying unsuccessfully, but trust us -- the wait will be worth it.

It is availible right now.

I didn't have to activate it, works fine for me

"availible" is correctly spelled avaliable. and is is avaliable now. works fine.

"Available" culd werk two

on the link from the page it says that macs arent supported but it is being worked on.

I'm sorry, but if software availability is an important consideration, then perhaps you should not have purchased a Mac. I use a 2002 flat panel iMac, 800 MHz, 256MB w/OS X 10.1.5 that I purchased new before they started shipping. I have and do enjoy it very much but my next computer will be a PC. BTW, I don't regret not "upgrading" the OS every year for $129 a pop.

I'm sorry, but if software availability is an important consideration, then perhaps you should keep purchasing Macs or running Linux. Alternative Operating Systems have vibrant developer communities that release excellent software, in contrast to the stale, commercialised Windows software 'market', that more than often produces software that even someone used to the kludge called Windows cannot tolerate.

OK pal. Go on with the "VIBRANT" developer communities and ask them a Mac or Linux version of Google Earth.
If you want any kind of software, at any time, don't try to fool yourself with a mac or other imitation of a computer. Google Earth is just a small example to have in mind.

my pc mates have drooled a aheap of times over free or cheap mac software that they can't get, it cuts both ways, but the spanish inquisition couldn't get me to buy any machine running windows again.....

Since Ive been a happy windows user for 10 years and now a happy mac user since 1 year, I feel a bit frustrated I cant run Google Earth on my PowerBook, but I am quite happy I can run it from the office with my Windows computer and Im about to try it with my windows running on my PowerBook thanks to VirtualPC 7. Nonetheless, being not able to run the first Google Earth's release bcuz I am using a mac, I am very happy to know once again that I am doing the right thing because only the good things go for MAC after being available for Windows. It'll just a little wait but running OSX is nothing to do with running a pseudo OS as Windows is. (XX, worked for Apple Computer)

To correct the article, Google says that they are working on the Macintosh version. It says it at http://desktop.google.com/download/earth/index.html. It says plain as day: Apple Macintosh computers are not supported at this time (but we are working on it). And to the Windows guys, you don't know a thing about Mac. For every application on windows, there is a better application on the Mac. I know this 'cause I am a switcher, and I love my iBook, iMac, and iPod.

Whoa! This is pretty crazy. I've observed this sort of ranting (intermixed with useful information) for quite a while and it always amazes me that folks get their shorts in such a bunch over a topic a mundane as computers. Google earth is a fine application; it has its issues, but is still a fine application. That it doesn't run native on Mac at the moment is not a life and death issue - it probably will sooner than later. For now it works on MS Windows.

Get a grip.

Well, very soon, it will not make much difference whether you buy a Mac or PC, except that the Mac will give you more options, because the new Macs will be running the Intel chip instead of the IBM processor, so they will run either the Mac or the Win OS, with no speed loss. You can battle back and forth about PCs vs Macs, but I have over a half dozen of each on my network, plus a 2.6 TB linux server, and the truth is that each has their advantages and disadvantages. But I prefer the Mac, because they don't get viruses, and have a few other advantages in my line of work

Google Earth is neat.

I run Linux because I was tired of supporting Symantec, Mcafee, and Panda. Windows has more holes that Swiss cheese.

I have run both mac and PC's and find operating system wise OSX is far superior to any Windows version PC. It is far more stable and adaptable, and as may have pointed out doesn't get viruses. My work has state of the art Windows machines that run at a 1/4 speed to my old G4 tower. Anything windows has that Mac doesn't is usually only temporary as far as programs (such as Google Earth) are concerned. As far as updates are concerned A Windows update is guaranteed to have you ripping hardware out of your computer - Mac is always plug and play.

I guess it depends on what you're used to. The Mac/PC debate has been going on for years. Personally, i find the Mac to be a far easier and better thought out operating system. It's intuitive, not to mention the best looking computer on the planet. Give me a G5 over any PC - any day.

As a recent mac switcher at home, and windows sys admin at work, i'd take a mac any day. But I would like to show google earth off to the missuss at home...

geez people, grow up. i use a mac, all my friends use PCs. we stopped insulting each others computers a year ago. we have settled that they each have there good and bad points. macs are great for video. premiere is no comparison to final cut. and good luck to any mac user who wants to run half-life, or for now google earth.

I bought a Mac because alot of the software on the PC sucks. Apple has way better programs for video and graphic editing, the only thing it lacks is some games, but a windows PC is a poor subsitue for a PS2 or any othere real gaming system.

I would really like to see Google Earth on the Mac very soon.

coming from a decade of development on most all major business platforms and a hearty overclocking hobby i can offer one realization when reading these posts...apple users are completely out of touch and have lost any critical thinking ability as they bow nightly to their god..an etched apple on the side of their increasingly PC-ish home box or the window decal on their hybrid mini-van...this religious image (to these crazies) is what they need to make themselves feel important and progressive..going against the grain!..thumbing their nose at big business and the evils they wished existed.

hmmm, that's funny; coming from two decades of development on most major business platforms it seems perfectly obvious to me that windows users are completely out of touch and have lost any critical thinking ability due to their religious, fundamentalist mindset which keeps them financially supporting totalitarian companies such as microsoft. windows users need to believe that no solution other than microsoft exists because the alternative is to own up to the self-loathing that makes them prefer an operating system for no reason other than that it's dominant. they can't see that their attraction to microsoft's bullying is a compensation for their own feelings of weakness.

Microsoft's business practices stiffle competition and innovation, and hurts everyone in the long run. If Mac had the foresight to lease their OS as MS did, perhaps the Mac OS would have dominated. The difference is that I believe that Jobs and Woz wouldn't have destroyed their competitors with such singleminded viciousness as Gates and Ballmer, and we'd all have insanely great software.

Microsoft's business practices stiffle competition and innovation, and hurts everyone in the long run. If Mac had the foresight to lease their OS as MS did, perhaps the Mac OS would have dominated. The difference is that I believe that Jobs and Woz wouldn't have destroyed their competitors with such singleminded viciousness as Gates and Ballmer, and we'd all have insanely great software.

This is whats crazy, no one promotes development more than m$. They hand out beta vs.net copies and instructional soft to boot left and right; they give out full pro versions of dev soft at 1/10th the cost to academia. They want people to develop their own software, just in a windows environment. It's a win win for them (Freudian slip) Now lets look at the apple/mac side: ohh wait THERE IS NO GOOD DEVELOPMENT!! They provide the most closed, secretive system of anyone. Why do you think there's so much more software available on a windows/pc platform from 'non-M$' independent developers? Have any of you thought of that before? Why do you think Google Earth Mac wasn't developed first? How can you people be so friggin ignorant and complain about M$s practices when they at least provide somewhat of a decent development avenue?

Xcode is free. ADC Membership is free. What's closed or secretive about that?

no one special: Xcode comes free with OSX. and its very very good. had you not heard of Xcode before you wrote that innane rant??

Inane? What's inane is your idea that XCode is actually a worthwhile dev tool. Come on people, be just a little bit open minded here and drop your knee jerk reactions to defend Mac and everything they do and make. Personally, I want to develop for the rest of my career; to me its not really like working, more of a hobby. If you actually think that x-code is "very very good" go out and find a job using it. Surely businesses would have wised up to how "good" it is! Here's a thought, go right now to careerbuilder and search for "X-Code". I just did and found a whopping 2 results NATION-WIDE...2!!! Now try "vs.net" or even "c#" or even "vb.net" Why do you think that is you lemming? I'm sure you have conspiracy theories on how Gates and his team of druids have taken over the buisness world with iron-fist and shady under-the-table deals. Or maybe even the business world is full of nothing but crooked conservative suite-types that all hang out at the country club together, bashing the 'think-differently' crowd. Keep on telling yourselves that while you flip my McChicken, just be careful not to get any grease on that overly priced iPod of yours.

Honestly, I have nothing against macs. They're eyecandy (not on the outside IMO) perfect for most personal at-home users like my elderly mother who just loves her iMac. (only if she would lay off the spam) She agrees with a lot of what you guys are saying: 'it's easy!" I don't even have a problem with mac-users, just the ones who make them out to be something they're not. Or should i more accurately say, just seemingly the majority of you guys who act like you really own a set of powerful tools and can't wait to talk about 'em. Must be the fact of dropping so much dime for so little shine.

FIrst off, xcode is just one of the tools for coding on mac. Since mac runa unix core it is an open source machine. You can now runa y *nix program on it, and code almst any *nix language. THe fact that you are stuck using the .net which by the way is very limited to the target group of platforms (winblowz) and mac users our now ina world that is growing daily, ie *nix users. WE have access to millions of FREE applications. YOur ranting and raving sends chills up my spine, you are uneduacted thinking that DOTnet is the way of the future. Just go and take a look at what languages the *nix platforms can support.

Jesus I have hundreds of great applications on my mac tha ti did not pay for not because I stole them ut because they are open source, and it is ment to be free, unlike your money hungry windblowz!!!

Totally agree with "no one special"... and by the way mac users, I'd like to Biggy size that McChicken order with fries...

Well... just spent my lunch hour checking out the "Mac store" that is inside our local CompUSA. Just on simple things like using the Word/Excel, and even viewing pictures and movies I saw no "Great Divide" in the quality OR speed from Windows PC's. I would like to note that the Mac salesman was just like the 98% of other Mac fanatics... first thing out of his mouth when I politely asked him to show me around the Mac was "well it doesn't break like Windows"... so... let us move on. I took my time, trying to learn the mouse, GUI, and other interesting items and found that other than just the fact that it would take me a good couple weeks to get good at using MAC there was nothing special.

The salesman had these pointers:
1) "You'll never get a virus, not like Windows, Macs don't get viruses" --- nice but I don't get viruses on Windows either, any power user knows how to prevent this. In fact, I have NEVER, in the last 15 years had a virus on any machine I have been responsible for.

2) "Macs don't have spyware or adware, not like windows." Nice, but again, you gotta be an ignorant Windows user (note the true meaning of the word ignorant) in order to end up with this crap on your box anyway.

3) "Macs have been plug and play for the last 4 years" -- Hmmm. OK. Big deal?

4) When asked how to kill programs that were doing something you didn't want his response initially was a dumbfounded look, then he said something like "you can hit control-escape and kill the process, it's unix bases so it doesn't work like windows".

OK folks... I think from my 72 minute lunch break I figured out one friggin thing... IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE WINDOWS!!!! So, keep using your Macs and quit friggin whining about stuff that doesn't work on Mac BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE WINDOWS!!!!

at least you didnt punch him in his fat face boris...like i almost did! he was a fine example of why mac-aholics get under my skin

I have a Mac (Tiger), a Window's PC (XP SP2), a Linux box (Fedora 4) and a Linux laptop (Debian Sarge). I've been using Windows since 98, Mac since Panther and Linux since kernel 2.2. This is my opinion.

Mac's are like fine wine or classical music. Those who have them often love them, but they arn't for every one becuase most people don't really want to spend the time understanding the point. Most peoples opinions of Macs can be summed up with the question "It's only got one mouse button?" Sadly this breeds snobbery in users that understand why.

Windows PC's are like a cheap special deal on a 24 pack of beer or pop music. Most people can get down with them even though they are somewhat soul-less and it operates like a bar room brawl. However cheap hardware and the prevailance of cheap / pirate software (plus the full support of a monopolistic coproration) make this an attractive option to some people. Sadly this breeds arrogance and ignorange in some users.

Linux is like rolling your own or underground indie music. The steep learning curve fosters a more intimate understanding and accessibility to the computers fundamentals which average users don't really want, but do usually need to bother with to get what they consider to be "basic" features, such as Windows Media playback. For those willing to invest time and effort (and more often than not frustration) they will find an active community spirit that is supporting a rewarding and fun operating system... Or elitist gurus and wizards who wont give them the time of day until they have RTFM. Sadly, this breeds elitism in some of the users who know how to solve these problems.

Well, that was longer than I thought it would be! Not to mention how far off topic it was. In fact, I'd need Google Earth to find this post, it's that far away from the topic of Google Earth.

Interesting points Anon but I get a little fuzzy on a few details. You seem to be describing the perceptions users have of themselves (or at least your personal perceptions) depending on what flavor of OS they use (as so many others here have) rather than actual substance. Case in point, you refer to "Windows PCs" (whatever the hell that is) as "cheap hardware" and then as a separate entity from a *nix box?? I'm lost here man. Another thing, I assume you mean "cheap" in the monetary sense, not performance as PCs will run circles around Macs in reference to sheer flops. Yes, ignorance exist, but obviously on both sides. Now for my opinion:
If Mac="Rabbit Ridge" Then
PC="Opus One"
End If

most people above seem to have way too much time on their hands...either that or its raining where they are.

umm interesting - can anyone tell me if there is anything simular to goggle earth for the mac

Wow, i actually wasted about ten minutes of my life reading all of the above! i award you no points and my God have mercy on your souls!

Stop this now, fools! Lets be platform agnostic. They are tools. Fellow mac users, why not buy a ?400 laptop off ebay - use it just for ftp, disk burning, test bed stuff, ikea kitchen designer and google earth! Or dont. One day they will release it, bound to.

Nod to Anonymous on Friday, August 05, 2005, 06:48 PM

Actually you have to pay MS money if you want to write anything that isn't pathetic for winshit, there is no free information worth having, if you want to produce something that works you need insider knowledge because windows is such a messy unstable disaster area of an OS. Yes it is that bad. The programming languages they keep inventing stink and the world would be better off without them, they're just more flimsy badly designed crap designed to suck inexperienced developers into the MS world.

Google Earth is working on Mac Development. It's on the FAQ depending on which page u hit.

I dont care what u losers say about macs. They are a hell of a lot better than those ugly chunky windoze machines which run an operating system stolen from the original apple OS anyways. But now mac has changed their OS and it shits all over windoze. Wonder when they will copy that too? ANd yes alot of windoze machines are cheap - build it urself, radio shack red lite specials which ask you to submit a report every 3 hours after a program crashes. No thanks

Here's my "radio shack red LIGHT special"

http://168.144.136.42/images/image072.jpg

wanna race kid?

Why does every debate on the internet end up like this. I blame Bill Gates...

"Wonder when they will copy that too?"

maybe like intel procs...or two buttom mice...or a M$ office suite?!?

"I blame Bill Gates..."

i blame ignorant feeble minded mac fanatics

Hahahaha... well, about 5 posts up... if M$ is so hard to program with, and Macs are so easy... WHERE'S ALL THE GREAT FRIGGIN PROGRAMS WRITTEN FOR MACS????!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA, you guys come up with the weakest responses and arguments for MACs... simple minds, simple minds...

I have worked on both, have a G4 and you guys are taking it way to personally.

I think they should make programs like this for Mac initially and that way the best is finished first. Since it is so simple to create stuff for Windows the hard work will be done and no one will have to wait.

I want the Google Earth for Mac right now. . . . . if you have it pass it over.

Hey and everyone else. . . . . . lighten up, there is beauty in everything you just have to look for it.

perfectly executed mac-ology right there folks....lets concentrate on targeting the small, inferior crowd?s demands first...since they lack software and have nothing to do all day long but float their mouse over their pretty little dock back and forth and watch the pretty little icons jump up and down when selected...fun fun fun! at least the closeminded "Starving Artist" will be happy, right!

"Hahahaha... well, about 5 posts up... if M$ is so hard to program with, and Macs are so easy... WHERE'S ALL THE GREAT FRIGGIN PROGRAMS WRITTEN FOR MACS????!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA, you guys come up with the weakest responses and arguments for MACs... simple minds, simple minds..."

Sums up PC users, why the need for that? Macs run so much smoother and are so reliable and do everything that you want. But, PCs have more programs and are more widespread. Both have advantages and whatever you own doesnt effect the other person, so give it a rest.

Macs!....Pc's! you people should buy yourselve's a pen and paper (or a dual 2.0 Ghz G5!).

yourselve's?

PC's!....Macs! you people should buy yourselves a dictionary

Does any pc (personal computer, mac or 'windows') have a pencil sharpener built in to the OS?

PC's have better porn!

People love to argue don't they. I have a PC, a Mac (powerbook) and a Linux server. I grew up with an Amstrad CPC464, a sinclair, BBC micro and Archis. I got a job in IT and worked with DOS, Win 3.1, Win 95, 98, NT, ME, 2K, XP, 2003 and a bit of Vista. In this world most businesses HAVE to run Windows cos its the standard and most developers write for it...our business depends on it as all our clients run it. However, being awindows user I hold my hands up and say it has fundamental problems. I hate the fact that once a year I have to reinstall my PC and other PCs in the office becuase they are become so slow and bloated with that little thing called the 'registry'. sure I can get utils to uninstall all the crud but it always seems to crash the machine. If your on the net also then essentially your going to get hit by some crap at some point unless your very lucky or very clever. Also having the explorer or a 'driver' glued into the Kernal at such a high or low level (whichever one) is a stupid design, being that if you have a simple glitch then it kills your machine. My linux server has its problems in that its flippin hard to work out, but once you set it up then basically thats it (and rewarding). Leave it on and forget about it. I switched to a Mac at home for a trial and dont think I would ever go back. It works, it does exactly what I want it too and never crashes, never gets 'slow' from bloating. Its great to have an application that runs from one location that does not install a squillion stupid files all over my hard disk and stupid registry. Its floored though as many say in that you cant get all the software for it and that is a shame. That is its weakness, but if you dont need 'specialist' software then it makes sense. I have many PC friends who have now also bought Macs or want one because they love the way it works. I am a PC user and owner and think the PC is fine, I just think the Mac is alot better. I guess you have to own a modern PC, Mac and Linux box to appreciate the difference and make a fair judgement.

quick rule of thumb people should live by:

if your copy of windows bloats up, gets ad/spy ware, virii, slows down, etc.. then a mac might be PERFECT for you as you are not a competent windows user..plain and simple. i dont care how many boxes or different os' you've run on, a switch to mac is what you need. that simple! for me its simple to keep junk off my many wintel boxs, but hey, they're not for everyone.

as others have said what bugs most of us pc users is not macs, but the people that use them..theyre ignorance, incompetence and fanaticism

Who really cares? It only matters to the end user!

Maybe Macs don't currently have Google Earth, but maps.google.com works - try it....

Macs are better. I constantly hear PC's users call mac users simple minded. Even most honest PC's user will admit that Mac has many more advantages. You will hear, "Where are all the programs for MACs?" Are you kidding. Macs have the best programs to date. Every innovative idea has come out of Apple.

There is more availability out there for PC's, which is why the program count is higher fo PCs. There are more Honda's out there then BMWs. We all know which one is a better machine. Same goes with computer. Macs use every MAJOR program that windows does. Graphics, sounds, etc. will always be better on a MAC. I have used both Macs and PCs for years. PC has not even come close to the performance of my iMAC G5. I also own the top of the line Dell, and they are not nearly as good, despite popular claim from PC users. They reason they defend a PC, because they own one. Simple as that.

Windows users will always defend what they purchased because they know they bought the cheap knockoff they always have been and always will be. Just read the info on the MS website about the features of the new Windblows. Faster searches, etc. It sounds exactly like Tiger! MS does not have an original in it's head. All they do is wait to see what Apple does and then knock it off. Even then they still can't get it right!

It is OK all your PC heads, we forgive you, it is not your fault, it is just human nature to defend yourself when you know you took the second rate choice. As for the guy who posted his stupid looking PC asking for a race. It is just like when you buy and Honda and put a bunch of plastic tuner crap on it. In the end it is still a honda because it has windows under the hood. It will never be a BMW! Anyway that thing looks stupid. What is the pink crap for? Keeping your hands moist while you look at your superior PC porn! Enjoy!

would someone PLEASE care to explain to me how this does an ounce of good for anybody, nobody gives a flying fuck if you like macs or pcs it doesn't matter. the question that was asked is "will google earth be available for mac" and how many posts are there on the topic cause i didn't see any, all i saw was "macs suck" "macs rock" and other things that make people look like dumbasses. why is it that no one can post a question asking if a piece of software is available for mac without getting a bunch of mac hater bullshit, it's pointless. i'm so sick and fucking tired of trying to find out if a game will run on my powerbook and just getting bitched out cause "i'm a dumbass and i bought a mac". ok i'm done ranting. oh btw - ultimate way to fix mac compatibility issues: go buy a PC and KVM switch, it's what apple says you should do

It does not do anyone any good really! It is just fun to do!

fun my ass it's a load of shit

No viruses, flawless stability. Switched last Spring. OS X Panther is a wondeful OS. Though since I upgraded (for free) to Tiger, I wouldn't go back. Spotlight is such a useful feature. It drives you past the file/folder paradygm. No need to bother remember where one file is located, just hit the spotlight button and type your first thought.

When I chat cpu with some mates, I got the feeling mac lies in a different era than pcs.

Besides, I luv the look of my iBook. It's a beautiful machine. Flawless design.

Smart and beautiful wannabees, get a mac.

Can someone please pass me the salt?

The problem with mac haters is that they can't appreciate the beauty of simplicity. My mac is easy to use, it's done averything I've ever needed it to, and after nearly 2 years, it has yet to crash/ freeze/ slow down once. That's more than I can say for the PC that sits on my desk at work.

If I wanted viruses, spyware, and crashing, I'd buy a Windoze machine, however I don't. I like things to work... period. Macs don't get viruses, Macs don't get spyware, and they're stable (I've never crashed either of mine in two years of heavy use using FinalCut Pro, Adobe CS, etc.). My friends running Dull (Dell) and Windoze XP were talking about how they have to restart every week, one every other day, and then about the myriad of programs to keep them clean, virus and spyware free (that don't always work), they turned to me asking what I used. I shrugged and said "nothing, I don't have to deal with any of the stuff you're talking about, I'm on a Mac." And they sat there stunned. Welcome to a better computing experience... welcome to the Apple Macintosh. Google needs to get thier crap together.

What I find most humorous about the whole argument of Mac Vs. PCs is that almost everyone who owns a PC and swears that it is better did not buy it because it was better. They bought it because it was cheaper and it was what everyone else has. I can certainly understand going that way for either of those reasons, especially the latter. But where I get annoyed is that after making an uninformed decision and with little or NO knowledge of what Mac has to offer they then swear that what they have is better. It is like the old saying goes. You get what you pay for. You spend less and you get less! I also find it interesting as to how many people you find that swear by Macs that were once PC users but there are so few that went the other way. And the ones you do find usually say they made the switch because the HAD to for one reason or another.

I like my mac. I like my PC. I'd like to run google earth on both.

fuck u guys...macs rule

screw u guys...macs kik ass

screw u guys...macs kick ass

woops , i didnt realiz i was sending it all those times...sry

lol, i've never read such fun ::: i use XP, X.4, Cent OS 4.1 and Linux 7.3 extensively. they all have their place but the only one i can love is X.4 because it cares :-)
has anyone noticed that google earth is a product they bought? it is derived from Keyhole, my guess is they developed for the PC (as anyone wanting to make money would) and didn't spare a thought for the other platforms. so all those mac lovers and unix specialists - BEAT GOOGLE, just for once produce the ultimate open source product for all platforms after all they are ALL derived from Unix now (look at the history of XP guys)... if you need inspiration look at FireFox - IT CAN BE DONE ;-)

Funny how you come looking for one thing, and end up posting on these random sites :)

The way I look at it is this.. you start off with your first computer (likely a PC, but could very well be a mac) - this is where the first split in computer users is... some stick here in this phase of downloading the latest funny video.. or leprechauns dancing on their windows (spyware) and grind their machine to a halt.. (unless it's a Mac.. I think we all agree that there is little if any spyware / viruses out for OSX) - some go on to the next phase, the tinkerer..

- this is the phase where you feel comfortable building your own machine - and you take pride in your customisations, both hardware and software.. and for some people this is where THEY stay.. the mindset that it's more important to have choice in what you are running and what your computer looks like is a perfectly valid reason to stay on a PC platform (and by PC, you know what I mean.. just because Macintosh is going X86 doesn't mean it's a PC) - now, an interesting thing happens in the tinkerer phase.. some stick with windows - some start to play with linux.. a great tinkerer OS - hell, there must be 40 different text editors you can install from APT.. (debian) - I generally associate my engineering friends with this stage.. get in, break something, figure out how to fix it.. it's a learning process that can be a lot of fun, and educational..

the next (and I believe last) phase is almost a regression... you finally decide tinkering is fun, but it's not quite doing it for you you want a machine that:

may not have neon lights and an 18 cubic foot plexiglass case, but looks stylish..

may not be the fastest system in the world, but is plenty fast for what you use it for..

has a functional console (for those that started using Linux.. )

may not have the biggest software library, but has important apps you need natively supported (Office / Photoshop / Outlook/Notes)

and at that time you find the Macintosh.. it's a system you can be proud of whipping out on a plane.. and there's actually a phone number you can call if anything goes wrong.. It's a UNIX -based box with Microsoft Office native, AND supported! - it's a UNIX based box that plays with windows shares right from the get go! -

I think people get to this stage by still wanting to tinker with machines (I sure do) - but you want to have a machine that you don't really feel the need to tinker with (for me, it's an iBook G4 800 MHz)

Oh, and just as a parting note: ever try to have a PC sleep correctly? - I have had 1 out of countless laptops throughout my career that actually slept when I close the display, and awoke reasonably fast when it was opened (a Dell, if you're curious) - but even that dell, which is a P4M-2.0 GHZ gets OWNED in wake time by my 800 mhz ibook G4.. funny huh? Ok, so I can't play UT2004 on my iBook.. I do have a PC for that purpose.. but that's all I use the PC for anymore..

2 last parting comments for other posters..

1) MS hands out free copies of their software because they want people to use them and use windows.. (makes sense, it's not charity though..) I'll be interested to see if big bill sweeps into NO, and offers to replace all computers lost in the flood with windows PC's... - oh, and as far as programming languages.. I don't think anyone cares about C# anymore, .net is already ported to Opensource (mono), and telling a real programmer you code in VB is like walking into a Mormon convention and announcing "I'm gay" - my 12 year old cousin "codes" VB.. it's more like a video game than a programming language..

2) as far as putting up pictures of your bitchin rig (and it does look like you put some work into it, which is cool in it's own right) - and announcing you'd like to race... my mac works just fine for what I do with it.. (I don't race people on my ibook) - Oh, and I promise you I've got machines from 1996 in my datacenter that will put that thing to shame in terms of FLOPS and disk IO's/sec, but what do either of those 2 things mean in reality? - nothing.. if you're going to say something meaningful, by all means.. go right ahead..

Reasonable comment apart from:

it's a system you can be proud of whipping out on a plane.. [not sure I'd be proud of a 4 year old laptop?] and there's actually a phone number you can call if anything goes wrong.. [a. you pay for it and b. if you're willing to pay for it any company will give you a service contract; I think Apple would have a hard time proving they have better service than anyone else...]

Conclusion: an engineer uses linux; a tinkerer uses either windows pc or mac, i.e. they are equivalent.. its not realiistic either to suggest non microsoft programming languages are only possible to develope on macs??!!! I use SAS with perl html and ftp plus some vb and wsh script - you've got to wonder why no console equivalent exists for the pc after 20 years - the answer is because the functionality can be accessed through other means. I don't think its reasonable to suggest that amongst the panapoly of programmers who use PCs that not one or one group could reverse engineer something like BASH, which after all is just a suite of !open source! C programs. At the end of the day no one has done it because a. they don't need to and b. there's no money in it.

Clearly then if you want to use a console - and why would anyone be cut and
dry on that without having worked for years in unix - you won't want to use
a pc.

I'd finish off by parrying his comments where, in comparison to ridiculing kids who mod their machines he, in a most mature manner, concludes that PC users are gay, by pointing out that the homosexual community is famously attracted to the concept of style over substance. The soft white curves and foppish media leadership of apple are all overtly homo-erotic and where performance per dollar is perhaps two thirds that of equivalent although less "neatly" designed PCs, you clearly have to wonder at these people's obsession with gay style... Equally no engineer would ever introduce form before function, and I can't see how form can but fail to distract from the ultimate purpose of function at the margin. Sure, the New Orleans levees
*looked* nice...

and google earth on the mac?!

the fact that google earth isn't available on MAC COMPUTERS is total BULLSHIT!! you'd think with the kind of technology out there, they'd be a little more on top of this problem!

first of all you people are all very lame for even having an argument like this. i have had both a pc (dell) and a mac and personally i love my mac. and i love the dumb-founded look of pc users when they say "its only got one button??" so i will go on being happy with my ipod, isight, and all the other items mac has created and are now being called "The best on the market" by many computer critics.

thank you, i really enjoyed reading this. loadsa wonderful points, some meaningless bantering and some plain crap.

all in all, an enjoyable experience!

*thumbsup*

When I think Pc I get remininded of the office. Mac makes me feel warm, comfortable and at one with technology

You know I have just spent too long reading this b*****s (us brits will know what this stands for). All I want to know is - is there an alternative option for google earth on mac. Being a hardened lonely planet traveller, who really couldnt give a f**k about computers - just want to look a bit of the planet and remember what a beautiful world I live in - thats all!! If anyone can be arsed to respond - or could be bothered to read all of above, please let me know - cheers Jo

actually apple did license their opperating system to other companies, which almost killed them. HURRY i want google earth for my mac!

Wanna see tomorrows PC? Look at todays Macintosh.
Who cares if Microsloth users have 10,645,132 programs to choose from. Only the cream of the crop gets ported to Mac. If Google ports it, we will buy it. If they don?t, we?ll still own the finest personal computers available. And sooner or later, because of open source, one of our brothers will write a even better program based on the NASA database anyway. So suck it up Mac users. PC users, just suck.

Wanna see tomorrows Macs?? Like the ones that are going to be using Intel chips and two button mice??

Nice combo usage of frames and flash, mister webmaster...i guess its still 1998 in Sweden.

"one of our brothers will write a even better program based on the NASA database anyway"

you mean like WorldWind?

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/download.html

ohh wait, that's a Win app & uses the .net runtime. time to buy a clue, Kalle

I don't much care whether it's a Yugo, a Riley, a Ferrari, or an Edsel. If it gets me there and back, it has done its job. If it doesn't, I replace it. So far, all my machines have gotten me there and back. And that includes CP/M machines...

Did anyone ever switch from Mac to PC?

No. Case closed.

yeah, case closed on macs because you can't buy replacement parts.

even Microsoft Office is better in a Mac.

no need to say anything else.

Why would we need replacement parts for a Mac when they rarely break? What a dumb reply that just proves the point! There are more replacement parts out there for PCs because they are the ones who really need them!

Wow, a Mac vs. Pc debate.

and here i was looking for information about google earth mac. what a fool i am.

*goes to look elsewhere*

Still no port to Mac! What's going on!

OK Biffard. MAC-101 chapter 1 located at .../support/mac101/help/ off the main apple page:

"Sometimes your Mac forgets where it stores things, gives you disk error messages, starts acting sluggish, prevents you from doing things, or exhibits other rebellious behavior. This lesson shows what you can do to whip your computer back into shape."

Read through the rest of that stuff on their site and tell me MACs rarely break...

Gee I like they way they sugar coat it... BTW, you guys see the new IWish product they got coming out?

What another dumb reply! The word was "Rarely" people. Here is the definition "rarely
adv : not often; "Macs rarely need replacement parts" "Macs rarely break" "PCs rarely work" [syn: seldom] [ant: frequently]"

Although you have not shown it yet, assuming that you CAN read. The word was I used was not "Never"

Counter Point 1: They are all computers and all victim's of their owners at times. Obviously things break. It is stupid to assume they do not. Ultimate point is that PCs are made by God knows who and are very unstable and unreliable! That is a fact. Why else is fixing them such big business.

Counter point 2: The example you gave was a pointless one because the point I replied to was "replacement parts" i.e. hardware. The example you gave was a software related issue. Was that all you could find? I am disappointed.

Counterpoint 3: I would be willing to bet that for every page of Mac related issues their are probably 50 times more for PCs.

Lastly, Speaking for myself, I have been using a Mac for almost 15 years now and have had to replace 0 parts on any of them. I doubt a PC owner can say the same!

It is accepted by many that the main advantage of the mac is that it is less likely to be plodding along with hundreds of spyware/virus applications running. However; this is because the developers of these programs, like google, only develop the programs for windows. The reason you can't get google earth on a mac is (fundamentally) the same reason you don't get loads of spyware. If mac did take over the world, then you can be sure that it would be a lot easier to get a virus on one.

In conclusion: let the PC users condemn the mac, and hope that they continue to do so. Us mac users can sit quietly happy in the knowledge that we have a computer that keeps us smug and warm, and wait patiently for google.

I finally made it to the bottom of this post stack. To think I will never get those 15 minutes back. It's like going past a road accident. You shouldn't look but you can't help yourself. Maybe World War 3 will actually be the Mac world vs the PC world. Stranger things have happened, like spending your time reading this post instead of realising the beauty of life beyond your screen. Hasn't anyone here got a real girlfriend?

No, just the fake blow up kind. And by the way, made by Apple. It is called the iHump. Also very reliable and need little maintenance. Not like those flesh and blood kinds.

bad spellers of the world, unite!

Just goes to show how good google earth is eh, a whole debate on the meaning of life over one free download. I love pouring over the images in google earth on my work pc, and look forward to google's mobile operating system which will perhaps put an end to this immature bickering.

just ONE question, does anybody with ANY reliable source other that their own self-righteousness know if and when there will be a release of google earth for the IBM power-pc architectured operating system known as THE MAC. Jesus.

Oh and I will not take a Biased opinion here, but, why do you people say that a windows computer runs circles around a mac or whatever? windows dont even make hardware!

Anyhoo, below are the specs of the best of each set of computers, intel and IBM alike. See which one works best hardware-wise (we all know the mac os is a stable piece of software, so we won't even go there).

New Power Mac G5: Two 2.3Ghz Dual Processor Cores(4.6 Ghz for the not-so-swift among us), up To 16 GB of Ram, up to 1 TB Hard driveNvidio Quadro FX 512MB Vmemory, Liquid Cooling

New Alienware Aurora 5500, A prett Damn good Piece of Hardware: 1 Dual core 3.2Ghz Processor up to 4 GB of Ram, up to 1TB hard Drive, Dual 512 Nvidia GTX Graphhics Cards.

now apart from stupid things like sound cards, which i will not include for the fact that i on't actually care what it sounds like to hear someone's head getting shot off in surround, except for the superior graphics card inside the alienware, The power mac has some of the best windows based hardware wetting the bed at night, PLUS it is supported by the software manufacturer, so it has increased stability in itself. Lets put it this way, with or without the two (or whatever, they are all the same anyway) games that are PC only I would go for a mac anyway. And for all of those that are slagging X-code off, may I say just one thing. Woo hoo for .Net.....

OKay, umm. well, we seem to have forgotten about the topic... Months l8r, no google earth for mac.....

O, and by the way, Macs, in my opinion are better..

However, the keyword is OPINION!!!! I use my mac for graphic design, (photoshop, flash..) and find that for those apps, mac is more stable and quits unexpectedly less. However, If you are a gamer you need windows. You can see the difference, all of the design firms I have been too, Random House, Time Inc., etc.. I have only seen macs. Yet as soon as I walk into an EBgames, or a supermarket, I see windows. Macs, for me, are better... Yet it is all a matter of what you need your computer to do...

Yet I am so pissed at googlefor not releasing GoogleEarth for mac... C'mon.....

I was looking for google earth on mac (sadly not available). I found this, i read this. How sad! Have we all not grown up! I have used EXCLUSIVELY macs at home since 1990. I have used only PCs at work for the same time. I prefer macs, but am cognisant of the up side of PCs in some areas- why would ANYONE use a single button mouse?? i throw them away and buy a cheap 3 or 4 button "generic" whenever I buy a new mac.....and they work just fine!! Games....how sad for mac. Yes they work fine, the few you can get, a year or so after their PC debut!

I'd love to run Google Earth on my G5 iMac - but it's not available. So, i will continue to look at it running seamlessly on my work PC, and dream.

Still prefer the mac, the "safer" and more stable environment (which is why I keep buying 'em), and the OS features, but mac user need to get a life and accept the downsides a little more.

I was looking for google earth on mac (sadly not available). I found this, i read this. How sad! Have we all not grown up! I have used EXCLUSIVELY macs at home since 1990. I have used only PCs at work for the same time. I prefer macs, but am cognisant of the up side of PCs in some areas- why would ANYONE use a single button mouse?? i throw them away and buy a cheap 3 or 4 button "generic" whenever I buy a new mac.....and they work just fine!! Games....how sad for mac. Yes they work fine, the few you can get, a year or so after their PC debut!

I'd love to run Google Earth on my G5 iMac - but it's not available. So, i will continue to look at it running seamlessly on my work PC, and dream.

Still prefer the mac, the "safer" and more stable environment (which is why I keep buying 'em), and the OS features, but mac user need to get a life and accept the downsides a little more.

Let's face it folks. It Stephen Jobs hadn't made the bonehead play of the century and given Bill Gates an original Mac, Gates would be working at McDonalds. We have both paltforms at our business, but as the PC's die, they will be replaced by Macs. There is absolutley no way a PC compares to a Mac, unless you are the type of person who enjoys fighting with their equipment. I'll give you the few pieces of software that aren't out for Macs for not having to deal with the enormous hassle of a PC. Nuff said!

Let's face it folks. It Stephen Jobs hadn't made the bonehead play of the century and given Bill Gates an original Mac, Gates would be working at McDonalds. We have both platforms at our business, but as the PC's die, they will be replaced by Macs. There is absolutely no way a PC compares to a Mac, unless you are the type of person who enjoys fighting with their equipment. I'll give you the few pieces of software that aren't out for Macs for not having to deal with the enormous hassle of a PC. Nuff said!

mac is better.

when apple change to intel there will be no option to change os thats all part of the mac experience. Drivers will be needed that 3rd parties will have to produce, look mac and windows are equally as good just a diffrent approach, this argument is just so stale you geeks

Geeks? What does that make you? You read it all. Why don't you go eat a bag of poop?

it's funny how the people who slag off macs are the people who've never used one. most mac users are forced to use windows at work, and love coming home to their macs. it's not like we have no idea how windows works, i use a windows machine for 7 hours a day like most people, and when i get home i like to use my beautiful powerbook that is actaully a joy to use. don't knock it til you've tried it.

There is reason why people use mac's at work and home. FOr example there is no "ctrl+alt+del" no c: no d: ... just working non dos-based systems witch are designed to work ... and btw, really that one judge who said that Bill is not copying macintosh ideas in the begining of 80's, would now say something else. Icon based systems are developed by macintosh. Microsoft and 8bit system called "xp" will never stay "up and running" like macintosh. sorry.

regards, old windows/unix/OPEN vms system designer

all i need is, google earth for mac. i'm almost into the throwing-a-tantrum stage now. c'mon google! hurry up! i'm waiting...

Rumor has it a beta may be out within a week.

Cool debate - I got an IMAC G5 a week ago - so I am a geniune switcher. I wish I had bought one years ago. Its excellent, so easy to use, so quick, looks amazing - everything just...WORKS... I am 100% converted. Get one and you will love it

AMEN -- THE MAC NEEDS GOOGLE EARTH!

Fark that was so damn funny!

If google earth Mac isn't made available in the next week, I'm throwing my Mac in the dumpster, and buying a PC. I've lost my patience.

....another mac user (who LOVES her mac) ..still waiting for Google earth...how many months has it been?

Whew - took some time getting through :) If you can't wait just use Virtual PC. Unless you have issues intalling XP on your mac lol :) - quite upsetting to see windows boot on my powerbook ;)

A couple of things i i picked up:
1. I'm playing lots of games on my 17" pb - no problems, mostly 3d shotters.
2. Spareparts a problem... why??
3. Do you actually need to be able to run ALL software EVER developed - why not settle with the best?
4. Sure macs are limited, so are all good things.

Swithed after 15 years of PC-tinkering - realizing that I actually didn't want to spend my life fixing my computer. Think it over - how much time do you use fixing any other thing in your house?

People are just used to their computer crashing - why? And don't pull that stupid "any poweruser can make his computer work", that blows - I've got a car, do I have to be a mechanic? Things should work as intented.

There you got me all worked up :)

/Xan

I agree XAN - I switched to mac a couple of weeks ago - I just wish I had sooner! Its so much easier to use, much much quicker, and I dont have to worry about spyware, viruses and security holes in Windows. I cannot think of 1 thing that would make me go back to using Windows.

Apple fans have the buying habits of teenage girls. They're the same crowd that purchases overpriced VW bugs because they are available in cranberry red and look cute.

Am also waiting patiently 4 Google earth 4 Mac.

I've got a PB 17'. This is the best computer I've owned so far and I don't c myself going back to PC in a hurry. It is one of the few times I have bought a piece of technology that has lived up to the hype....I have no doubt Apple will replace PC as the #1 used computer within the next 5 years..maybe a bit longer. What do u think?

I am also waiting for Google Earth for mac...and whilst we're on it, how about a decent version of MSN messenger for mac? Come on Microsoft, pull your fingers out.

I'm in charge of an IT departement and a switcher. I'm also a Linux/Open source promoter. Things I've noticed so far:

In day to day "office" use - the mac can 100% replace the PC. It runs just as fast as a new XP-SP2 computer would. I think MS Office for Mac is probably just ahead of Win in the usability stakes.

However, it DOES crash. So far is feels like it crashes under similar circumstances to the PC - very heavy load, tinkering in the OS, making OpSo apps work. Although it's tollerance for this kind of abuse seems higher than the PC, and recovery from a crash is certainly easier.

The mac also suffers a kind of bloat I've noticed by system folders growing dramatically and failing to shrink after removing applications as per their instuctions. It doesn't seem to affect performance however.

All in all, I think the mac is a fine computer, and I preffer it over my PC - but the two are much closer than ppl would like to admit in overall experience.

For all you pc users who have never even used a mac, take it from a pc user and a mac user the mac is a lot better, don't knock it untill you try it. Have you ever used a ibook or power book, it doesn't even have a fan to keep it cool. I use my pc laptop and it gets so hot even with a fan running. you are comparing the mac which all the hardware and software are developed by one company, to a pc, which is a crazy compilation of all kinds of parts and software from who know where, do you really need to ask why the pc is such a piece of crap? Try a mac I guarentee you'll love it.

they made it look like I said the s word in that last one but I really said the c word

Macs rule, pcs crash

macs are prettier too
just a little bonus to its awsome abilities

google earth gets old after a few days, but its' fun till then

Oh yeah! Well my s**t don't stink and yours does!

Although it's not as good as Google earth, why not try flashearth? Works on my Mac just fine! flashearth.com

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01H260IZ43WTZ3OTEBSWPXG48L

get it!

Phew Just looking for Google earth for the Mac.

As a 12 year DOS/WINDOWS/LINUX veteran and Software programmer I just bought my first MAC (PowerBook 15" 2GB RAM) a month ago.
I must say that Mac OSX and applications are lightyears ahead of Windows XP.
Every week I discover nifty things which I never had on my PC.
Top of my list is:
1. Expose The ability to show all windows at once and selecting the one you want to work with have totally replaced ALT-TAB'ing as known from windows
2. Spotlight - I never browse around for anything anymore.. Just type something remotely close to what I want to do and OSX show me the matches like google on steroids
3. ImovieHD,IDVD. Just the other day I made a DVD from some movies I had recorded with my digital camera. No having to search the net for apps to convert from one to the other. No need to add sound a special way.. Just add your movies to IMovie Select "Share" and choose IDVD add title screens, menus and burn it.. Wow so simple. I could even have shared to email, streaming or the like and
ImovieHD would have selected a fitting format for me.
4. IPhoto application Never tilt your head when your looking at pictures.. Just rotate em in IPhoto without altering the physical image.. And it remembers to the next time!
5. Installation/removal of "REAL" mac applications is soo simple.
No more Add/Remove program or setup files.
Just Drag the application Icon to whereever you want to install it. If you want to remove it again. Just drag it to the Trashbin.
Microsoft programs are the only ones which actually have not seen the light, but supply their own install/uninstall programs and even require admin access to install.. That sucks!
6. Dashboard - I love the fact that the simple applications like calculator, weather forecast and dictionary can be called up with the touch of a button. and hidden away again just as easy.

My list of positive words about Mac just grows and grows each day.
The only negative thing I have to say sofar is that the Safari browser isent working on quite a few webpages I regularly visit. I have installed firefox as my main browser - And for the really rare occasion I also have IE installed (My bank only support IE).

Regards.

See two posts up. Download the beta version of Google Earth for Mac OS X. I'm using it. It works slick. Works best if you have a mouse with a scrollwheel (good for zooming).

I began reading this article thinking that I would learn something about Google Earth........clearly I was wrong. Unfortunately its just the usual ramblings of a few geeks who evidently to have nothing better to do with the seemingly endless amounts of time they all have.

Still, it gives the family a break so we shouldn't complain too much.

The first computer I used was one of those old BBC things... (people going to school in 80's britain will no doubt remember them.....) about the most useful thing that you could do with them was program them count to 100 and then display a rude word... (its amazing how many budding programers start this way!) then we bought a winbox running 95 and then ultimatly a fujitsu seimans laptop running XP.

I then thought maybe it would be worth giving mac a try, not because I didnt like windows (it functioned just fine for everything I needed it to do), but because I had one of those moments when you decide that you have to learn about something new.
I bought a 15 inch power book, and have never looked back! It is a complex feeling that I have towards it, and hard to justify really in a completly rational world. But each time you open it, it gives you the feeling that you are insomeway in contact with an old friend; it is everything that was special about your first girlfriend withought the attached heartbreak, it seems to be part of you on a much deeper level of processing than XP ever was! it is easy to see why users of PC's have issues with mac fanatics.. I mean windows is a perfectly capable operating system, and the hardware it runs on is for the most part perfectly acceptable (people generally arnt completly stupid afterall.. they would'nt buy them if they were anything els). And it is easy to see how the sort of irrational attachment that I for one demonstrate is a mystery to most sane human beings! But it is there.... and the only people that understand it are the ones that feel it too, other people who own one of these machines.
People love cars. The biggest selling car in the world is the toyota corrola. It is perfectly capeable safe and comfortable. But who would'nt rather drive to work in an astin martin, mustang or inspector morses jag!
Windows users, we dont expect you to understand! infact it is better for us that you dont.... Because if you all join us then we may one day have to start installing virus software on our brushed alluminium machines. But Dont knock us... afterall... most of us have alot more experience with your world than you have of ours. Who is in a better position to judge?

roflmao .... its funny how A Simple question can start another OS War/Debate ... Each OS has its good points and bad some are more adaptable in one task than another .... Yes it would be great if develpors of Windows products would port their products over to support other platforms but it doesnt happen too often usually due to lack of knowledge of the interface changes .. but its ok as eventually the real pogramers that do have the knowledge tend to write a better one later tha fills the need for the OSes that got left out by windoze developers.

btw... go to the link 6 posts above... you asked for google earth for mac... and there it is! its great... gues this column is now obselete! play nice children!

Hey, there is an meaningful answer here!!!

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01H260IZ43WTZ3OTEBSWPXG48L

Google earth for Mac

Hey, there is a meaningful answer here!!!

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01H260IZ43WTZ3OTEBSWPXG48L

Google earth for Mac

Hey, there is a meaningful answer here!!!

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01H260IZ43WTZ3OTEBSWPXG48L

Google earth for Mac

thanks

NICE thank you jesus

so, can anyone tell me now which version of google earth is better? I have a mac, I just got google earth, but I've never even seen google earth on PC. Is there much difference?

wtf? where did that come from?

I love my Mac, never heard anone say they love their PC .. Windows sucks..

Instead discussing pro/contra Mac/PC I thought I will get an answer why the Mac version is not available on google earths' site.

Back on topic--
I'm actually played with the Mac version, not quite bug free- it should be available shortly.
very very cool...

i'm running the google earth app. on my mac. just got it. works great. (yes the mac version)

"but a windows PC is a poor subsitue for a PS2 or any othere real gaming system."

thats complete and utter bull, sorry.

Please stop whining and type search for 'google+earth+mac' with google. There you can find the beta-version for mac osx. It kicks ass on my Imac G5.

Here's my opinion and experience, for what its worth:

1. Its not what you've got, its how you use it... great things have been and are being done with pc's, macs, linux boxes and also SGI, Amigas (still around), mainframes and whatever.

2. Horses for courses, as we say in the UK... if you want to play games, get a pc or better still a console (cheaper in the long run and less frustrating - no driver issues!). If you want reliability, no viruses or spyware and the best OS for graphics, DTP, digital photography, web design etc, get a Mac; if you like tweaking things to the nth degree and delving deep in the OS then get Linux, if you need all these, then get all of them!

3. As regards cost, the Mac is getting cheaper and fewer hidden costs than a Win PC (especially if you are a business) and the stability and virus/spyware issue means it less frustrating. I know, I run macs and pcs (and occ Linux) at home, fix pcs and software isues for a living and have wasted many a day and company ??? fixing windows and pc hardware problems.

You pays your money and takes your pick, just don't berate ohers for making their choices.

yeh its all nice an all to have google earth availible for mac now but it kinda sucks for all of us using 10.3.9 out there coz it wont wrk. hopefully google earth will be made availible for 10.3.9 but i doubt it coz it takes them forever to get anything done.

I work in the IT department of my university. We have this annoying program from Cisco called CleanAccess. All Windows computers that want to use our networks must have this program installed. What it does is verify that the operating system has all of the available updates installed, runs a preliminary spyware check, and analyzes the anti-virus software to make sure that it is installed, supported, and the definitions are up-to-date. If your computer fails the check, you're given access to only the campus web site and Windows Update. Once your system is patched and hardened, only then does it allow you to authenticate and then gain access to the network. Total time spent: 45 seconds for a good system

All other operating systems merely have to authenticate through a Web browser before access is granted. Total time spent (with Safari saving my password): six to ten seconds.

The task here is not "How do we circumvent CleanAccess?" The task here is "Why must other people secure Microsoft's OS?" Windows should be able to take care of itself and not rely on third-party applications to do the security work for it. Mac OS X, whether due to its UNIX core, clever design work at Apple, or "security through obscurity," seems to have mastered OS security fundamentals.

Come on people let's not make a big fuzz about it. So Mac is better, but can't run google earth as yet. Who cares?

I can't use a windows pc after switching to mac anymore. I actually get angry at the thing and it makes me agressive. Mac doesn't.

If you tried mac but you're too conservative for it, use windows. Email and internet works fine (sometimes).

In the end, every company will make software and hardware like apple does. And then, even windows will run like it should.

Bob - you CAN run google earth on mac -just search for it. It works fine - Its a bit dissapointing as its a striaght port of the pc version, but it works.

there is a program called earthbrowser for the mac. its been around for some years, and has alot of options and webcams. google earth is better, but i would suggest earthbrowser in the meantime.

Hi guys

Get Google Earth for Mac here:

http://homepage.mac.com/hogfish

Merry Christmas :)

why does evey forum go to the MAC V PC debate. I have been using PC's since 1988 and have recently moved to MAC because of the Microsoft, Symantec and other $hit. Windows updates each day, thus slowing the pc down, virus attacks each week and spyware galore!!! If it wasnt for these problems and the constant need to upgrade then i'd still have a major dektop PC today. Moving to the Mac is great!! try it!!! p.s i still have a test rig pc, just for burining dvds etc and ripping!

This thread is hilarious! People get so defensive... You PC users out there- try a Mac, and actually see for yourself what you're missing instead of doing what "everyone else does"- like when you bought your PC in the first place. If you don't like it, eBay it. Tinkerers like PCs- they actually like running disk defragmenters, reinstalling windows all the time, removing spyware, etc... Me, I like to get work done. I'm an engineer- Mac is the only way to go. I don't have the free time to tinker with Windows, or Linux for that matter. So what if I can recompile the kernel- who cares. Mac is out of the box compatible with everything- on Windows, I need to purchase / load all sorts of sh*tty third-party software just to do the basics. Not to mention my 1.5GHz Mac feels much faster than my 2.5GHz Intel machine (running Windows)- now you PC heads are going to say "2.5 is faster than 1.5!" Google the "Megahertz Myth"- and remember the operating system also plays a large part in perceived performance. What takes 10-15 seconds to load on my PC is instantaneous on the Mac.

Performance is of course application dependent as well- who cares if your processor is fast if you have a slow disk, if your operating system adds tons of unnecessary overhead, etc. All the gigaflops in the world won't help you either if what you're trying to do takes 12 clicks instead of 1- take a look at the user interface of your machine and how productive it makes you.

So i've stooped to the level of any other Mac vs. PC weenie- but my point is, actually compare them for yourself like I have. Then you'll see the difference. BTW- Macs have supported two-button mice since the 90's. They've run office since then as well (if you're forced to use it- instead of the several much better alternatives out there). The OS is designed with security in mind- sure, if Macs became more popular people would find a way to hack them- any machine can be hacked- these guys are bright.

On second thought- you PC users out there- keep using PCs! Leave Macs to us! That way we can be more productive than you, and spend our free time skiing, going to the gym, and having fun in life instead of reinstalling Windows, installing patches, removing viruses, etc!!! Computers should be tools that make us more productive!

amen. i think apple marketing has been doing a terrible job of pointing out that macs aren't mainstream machines for non-professionals. but in a way that's good for us- it keeps the techie tinkerer crowd away. for home users and tinkerers, all they care about is the "specs"- oooh i got a forty ga-jiga-hertz processor baby- oh my! for professionals, what matters is productivity. like having a full suite of unix tools available out of the box, native, not as some third-party addition. or having an intelligently designed user interface and security infrastructure. or being able to run X11 natively- again, fully integrated into the OS and not a 3rd party kludge. or, for instance, top notch mail access that's outlook compatible for office environments (when the IT dept is ignorant and does't know how to set up a mail server themselves). macs do so much out of the box that make you productive. and any mainstream useful application out there is available ont he mac- in fact, chances are, it began life as a mac application.

and macs can even appeal to the techy nerdy types who just love to tinker! you've got full UNIX under the hood- you can do anything you want on a mac!

apple markets these things as these fruity machines for "artsy types"- completely missing the mark. yes, macs appeal to people like this because they, too are professinoals and have a job to do- and don't want to spend their time constantly tinkering just to keep their damn machine running.

but what apple misses is what i think is their true user base- all of the professional salespeople, engineers, scientists, and other professionals that use macs because they make them productive. much moreso than they could ever be on "yesterday's" software- i.e. the windows world.

let the PC users keep to themselves while we get real work done!!!!

thanx guys

Thank you Moonjam for providing Google Earth for mac.

For those that missed it here it is again:

Posted by Moonjam on Saturday, December 24, 2005, 03:13 AM (PST)
Hi guys

Get Google Earth for Mac here:

http://homepage.mac.com/hogfish

Merry Christmas :)
-------

Thank him! ^^^^^

Youre welcome baki, and thanks :)

google earth from moonjam downloads, but when i open it on my computer, it just quits..any suggestions?

Not really - I know quite a few who have downloaded from there, and have had no problems :-/

Are you running Tiger?

yeh you should probably check wheter your using tiger or not coz if your running on any system thats before 10.4.x it just won't work as is the case for me. Hopefully the google earth people will bring out a version for us people using the older OSs but I greatly doubt it

Moonjam, you rock!

So when are they making Google Earth Mac????

SWEET FLAMING JESUS! Moonjam, it WORKS! And it's really really cool!!!

Who do we have to thank for this?!?!? I'm running it right now on a Powerbook G3. WOW!

hey moonjam thanks for the link, I tried many, but none of them worked. I am now running google earth on my mac and my pc,
cheers love!

hey moonjam thanks for the link, I tried many, but none of them worked. I am now running google earth on my mac and my pc,
cheers love!

ROFLMFAO!!!!!

I don't believe I just read through all that!

:D

The current last word.
The PC world is there to sieve through the endless cr*p software and ideas letting only the shiners be ported ot the Mac - so we have to wait longer sometimes but it is always worth it!
Therefore Mac faithful embrace your PC user friends and quietly smile. ;-)
Oh, and of course - enjoy GoogleEarthMac ::: LOL

I LOVE THE MAC BEEN USING IT EVER SINCE I COULD USE A COMP!

but guys lets be honest about it.....the mac(though perfect) does have a couple of problems.......BUT OTHERWISE THERE CANT, NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE ANYTHING BETTER .

c i live in india and as a kid in high school i need to do say c++ programming which to be honest about how good x.code is... it aint the best and gettin something like the c++ compiier that i use and have been taught on is nxt to impossible but i am still lookin.
U see all the good software comes out for the mac but then there are those few of us who actually do need the "not" good stuff which is why some poeple (NOT ME NEVER ME) get irritated about it.
another thing being games.....(this might be the point where for a minute or 2 i might say "dayam mac!)
good games like nfs etc or for that matter any good racing games and fps' are not available for the mac and more often than not when a game developer say we are workin on a mac version there is a fair chance that it wont happen.
how ever the mac is was and always will be the best desktops and laptops.
so CHEERS for the mac
ALL HAIL STEVE JOBS!!!
o btw if any of yall know about some good racing games or games like counter-strike for the mac .... pls do let me know

I LOVE THE MAC BEEN USING IT EVER SINCE I COULD USE A COMP!

but guys lets be honest about it.....the mac(though perfect) does have a couple of problems.......BUT OTHERWISE THERE CANT, NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE ANYTHING BETTER .

c i live in india and as a kid in high school i need to do say c++ programming which to be honest about how good x.code is... it aint the best and gettin something like the c++ compiier that i use and have been taught on is nxt to impossible but i am still lookin.
U see all the good software comes out for the mac but then there are those few of us who actually do need the "not" good stuff which is why some poeple (NOT ME NEVER ME) get irritated about it.
another thing being games.....(this might be the point where for a minute or 2 i might say "dayam mac!)
good games like nfs etc or for that matter any good racing games and fps' are not available for the mac and more often than not when a game developer say we are workin on a mac version there is a fair chance that it wont happen.
how ever the mac is was and always will be the best desktops and laptops.
so CHEERS for the mac
ALL HAIL STEVE JOBS!!!
o btw if any of yall know about some good racing games or games like counter-strike for the mac .... pls do let me know
PEACE!

To put this thread to rest, Google released Earth for the Mac a couple of days ago. beta only, but working well.

Enjoy.

y didnt they make a version of google earth for mac OS 10.3 and up instead of 10.4 and up, it sucks to be waiting for google earth for mac then when its released it cannot work on your system

For goodness's sake people, keep it on thread. Bloody Google Earth don't work on either a Mac mini, or a G5 twin 1.8. The icon bounces for a while, and then nufffink.

G4 TiBook runs fine, though.

remember it is only for TIGER OSX.4..........run that and it runs fine.

Oh. One more thing:

Macs are better.

Have a nice day. ;)

Ex2bot

AHAHAHAHAHAHA... PC's rule! I get the last post!

ok! im back i downloaded the thing 10.3.9 version, it works fine on my mac. Thanks google Earth.