Media servers adopting the Mac platform include the Catalyst, developed by Richard Bleasdale, and PRG’s Mbox EXtreme. Media servers that were developed on a PC operating system platform include High End Systems’ Axon, Green Hippo’s Hippotizer and Martin Professional’s Maxedia. For its MediaMaster, ArKaos opted for the cross-platform programming route…Macs are known to be very user-friendly, more secure and stable, but upgradeability is limited and the OS can not be used on any other hardware than a Mac. PCs, on the other hand, can be purpose-built, and they have more upgradeability via graphics cards, RAM and other hardware, thus making them great for gaming. However, certain OS versions can be unreliable and are more susceptible to viruses than Macs. “These days you will find successful products on both platforms, so while there are pros and cons either way, both are viable,” noted PRG engineering manager and chief software developer Charles Reese.
—Vickie Claiborne, from “Video Digerati,” PLSN, Oct. 2011
