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I’ve been using Macs for about 5 years now, and before that I was a 100% Windows and PC guy. What happened exactly? Why did I switch? Without wishing to start a flame war, here are 8 reasons why I now buy into “the Apple way”.
Installing Flash 11 On Power PC (PPC) Macs. Updated on October 20, 2012. If the video plays, then you have successfully hacked Flash 11 onto your PPC Mac! TenFourFox And Flash Player 11. Enable Plug-ins. The videos play just fine but it still comes as Adobe Flash Player 10 even with the Flash player 11 plugin in both my personal Internet.
This isn’t designed to convince die-hard fans of PCs, but if you’re wondering what the fuss is about, and why someone with a geek level of 9000+ would ever consider a Mac, then read on. The following are 8 reasons why I switched to Mac.
1. OS X happened
Before OS X came along, Macs were pretty bad. Incompatible with virtually anything in the consumer marketplace, they were proprietary machines that hadn’t quite reached that pinnacle of usability that defines Apple today. They were “hobbyist” machines, not for real work or the business place. Then along came OS X, built on a rock solid UNIX foundation and making astounding leaps in UI design. It was a radical change for Apple. I however, was not quite willing to buy into that yet, not until…
2. Apple moved to Intel Hardware
For someone like myself who had grown up with predominantly Intel hardware (after the Amstrad anyway), and who loved tinkering with processors and memory and hard drives – the move to Intel was a big step in the right direction. As far as I was concerned, on an Intel platform I would be far more able to switch out the hard drive, change the memory, and use existing files and data – not to mention thousands of USB peripherals that would work.
3. The Mac Mini Made It Easy To Try
Of course, I was apprehensive about switching 100% to a Mac given I’d never even touched one before – and it was then that Apple introduced the Mac Mini and I finally satisfied my growing curiosity in the platform.
The Mac Mini was revolutionary, and a fantastic marketing move on Apple’s part – in that I could take my existing monitor, mouse and keyboard and plug them into the Mini. It didn’t matter that the thing was underpowered compared to my PC gaming rig – I’d heard good things about the Mac, and I wanted to try it. All at a truly affordable price point. I ran it alongside my PC, and even shared the mouse and keyboard with a standard USB input and video switcher. At first, I only used it for emails. Outlook Express had been my app of choice for so long, and I found Mail.app to be far more reliable piece of software that just worked. It was a slow start, but I was convinced. Pretty soon, my internet browsing went through the Mac too, and slowly but surely I bought into the Apple way.
4. No Drivers
This is one point that seems rather contentious as to whether it’s a good or bad thing. Because Macs are built using a specific subset of hardware that is officially supported, the base systems don’t ever need drivers to function optimally. For someone used to reinstalling Windows on a half-yearly basis and the inevitable hours following spent hunting down all the correct drivers (again), this was quite revolutionary.
Of course, for some this is turn off – you can’t simply swap out your aging video card for the newest model – which is precisely the reason why the Apple platform has remained a loser for the gaming community. At this point though, my gaming was almost 100% done through an Xbox. We should not need to find drivers, and Apple understood that. For Windows users, finding the correct drivers was just an accepted part of owning a computer.
5. It Just Works
I am geek, and I do like fiddling with things and hacking them, but sometimes I appreciate software that just works. I must admit though, I was afraid that the user experience on OS X would be just sodumbed down I might be insulted, or officially lose geek points. It’s a natural reaction to Apple’s marketing – a computer designed for the everyday person to just use and be productive and have fun with! It’s easy to scoff at that – if people don’t know how to configure or protect their computer correctly and download the right drivers, then damn it all – give them an etch-a-sketch or something.
And then something magical happened. I used it, and I wasn’t insulted. In fact, I suddenly became so much more productive that I was able to do more of the geeky things I so loved, like programming and making webpages – and at this point, I was sold.
Adobe Flash Hack For Ppc Mac
6. The Cost Myth
Most arguments in the PC vs Mac debate inevitably end with “well, they cost twice as much for the exact same hardware – I could get a Dell for half the price of a similar specced Macbook Pro! what do you say to that, huh?!”. It seems like a far enough argument, but it completely ignores the resale value. You see, most Mac’s are very good at retaining their value over the years. The first ever Intel MacBook Pro from 2006 is still selling at around £300 on eBay.
7. You Can Run Windows On It
Truthfully, I don’t really need a single Windows PC anymore. With virtual machines on my main Mac, I can run any Windows utility I want simply and easily. The same cannot be said for my PC running OS X apps. Perhaps this is Apple’s fault, or deliberate intention, but either way the truth stands. On a Mac, I can run both. On a PC, I can only run Windows stuff.
8. Steve Jobs and the Apple Magic
This might seem like a bit of an odd reason and is probably going to label me a fanboy, but I have yet to see anyone who with such an astounding stage presence and presentational skills as Steve Jobs. I can remember the last iLife announcement, where my wife and I sat watching the presentation and literally saying “oh, wow, that’s absolutely amazing” as our jaws dropped with each announcement. You simply don’t get that on a Windows product launch, because the world of Windows is just so stagnant. Apple breaks new ground, and the world follows. You only need to look at the iPad “competitors” to see how laughable they really are in comparison.
Have Your Say
Are you steaming at the ears now, ready to type an essay long rebuttal on why the PC rules? Meh, go ahead but don’t expect a reply other than “lol”. Are you considering getting a Mac and need that final bit of convincing? Let us know in the comments, and perhaps I can address some of your concerns. Are you an Apple fan too, and think I missed something key – let me know!
I am currently trying out my Dad's extra MacBook- he's a huge geek and relies heavily on coding software to complete his work and is a dedicated user of the Mac. If I hand down my HP ProBook then I get his extra MacBook. I have to say- at first the swap seemed pointless- the laptops are nearly identical in specs, and in fact, my HP is a bit faster and has a nice new 690GB drive installed. Meanwhile, installing more memory on this one would cost $350 out of pocket. But honestly, your article brought up every single point my dad made when he explained why he made the switch. Not to mention, the OS is beautifully laid out (once I figured everything out and spent 8 hours tinkering with it). I also felt like I would lose the ability to navigate a proper PC, but I don't think I will. Each OS is awesome in it's own way- I can fiddle with Windows right down to the local security policy- but Apple's OS is so clean cut that instead of fine tuning it, I spend more time in apps. Both are great- but I think I'm ready to try Mac.
For what's it worth: 7 years later, I'm still using a Mac. ;) Good luck with your journey!
Personally, I think that windows and macOS are both very good OS's. I've used my friends iMac and helped him install windows using bootcamp. If Apple licenses macOS to other companies, Microsoft would basically be out of business since macOS is faster and easier to use. Depends on your own personal preference. I think the new windows 10 updates are great though. The integration with xbox and windows 10 is also very cool.
I moved to Mac and its the best thing I've ever done!
I only buy used iMacs usually at 15-20% of the original cost. With OSX there are almost no viruses or malware, no blue screens or almost no system crashes, no registry, Installing/uninstalling software is simple, upon reboot Macs repair themselves, they just work.
I was a PC user myself, but since I switched to mac I cannot imagine myself going back to windows. The price is high, I agree, but also the lifetime of a macbook is much higher than the equivalent PC. Windows always becomes slow after a while, but I've never experienced it in my macbook. you can have a quality laptop for life span of 6 years without famous feeling of losing performance, but for Windows you have to consider replacing it after 3 years or it will driver you crazy after that. Overall, I feel it was the best 2500 dollars I have ever spent.
I have to say that despite I am a firm PC user, the only reason I haven't bought back into the Apple environment (not including the iPhone 7's poor design choice on removing the 3.5mm jack) is that they AREN'T breaking new ground or innovating in any significant way since Jobs has passed. He was the main driving force of Apple, and now it is quite frankly a pile of steaming bullsh*t, that rehashes the old stuff with a shiny new coat. I do feel that it is way too simple for me. All in all, it simply is a case of 'different strokes for different folks'.
Macs are overpriced, proprietary garbage, marketed towards college girls in PINK sweatpants and UGG boots, and dipshit hipsters in Che Guevara shirts, writing haikus at Starbucks.
I work at home, sometimes I have to take care of my aging Mom. I forgot my PC laptop so I called my son who brought over his Mac. I haven't used a Mac until the days of the SE, since then I have used every iteration of Windows since Windows 95. Well, I know some of you won't believe it, but I HATED THE MAC. I found it complicated to use compared to Windows. It was great to get home and get back on Windows. I think Windows is great and I love Windows 10.
You found it complicated to use compared to Windows 10? Amazing! I find that Windows 10 is one of the most confusing things to use, as there are so many ways to do the same thing that you used to be able to do in previous versions, that were merely moved somewhere else in the interface, or hidden behind a plethora of menus.
OSX more complicated than Win 10? I don't think so.
Not when the same options that have been on OSX for many years now, and even back to OS9 (Finder) are located in the same place that they always have been, and the interface has stayed very similar to what it was.
I think what you hate about the Mac is that it is TOO EASY to use, and thus, you have to get your work done, and cannot fool around with all the useless settings in Windows.I think it's more an issue of comfort for both of you. I've been a Windows user for years, so I find it more intuitive than Mac OS. That doesn't mean it IS more intuitive, though. It's subjective based on your preferences and experience. Because I know all the nuances of Windows, it comes easier to me than Mac OS.
I imagine the same can be said of your experience with Mac OS and your opinion on Windows. Things that may confuse me on a Mac may be second nature for you, and seem incredibly easy and intuitive because you're used to how it works.
Lol I agree with OP that mac is more complex than windows. I tried macOS out and didn't like it at all. Wanna close a window? can't just use the red X button on top left corner have to press cmd+Q or after clicking the red X button need to right click app in dock to properly terminate it. Wanna cut a file? No simply cut option in right click menu or even a cmd+X keyboard short cut you gotta copy it then do a 3 button shortcut to cut instead of copying the file. Wanna delete a file? Can't simply press one delete key on the keyboard gotta use cmd+backspace why is this a 2 button shortcut? As for uninstalling apps it's easy but not obvious in windows 10 you just gotta search for 'uninstall' in the start menu search bar thing and it opens the program and features list. Non of that in MacOS gotta research it to find that you delete an file from the applications folder but is less time consuming I guess once you know how. Oh and window management is appalling no edge snapping like in windows or even ubuntu for that matter and split screen is so well hidden that even my friend who uses a MBP 2015 model on a daily basis wasn't aware you could do it. How is mac easier than windows when most things are done through keyboard shortcuts that people won't know?
Also there's no unified menu for anything like start menu on windows. Has list of all installed app, cortana is also there, system settings is there, power options are there, mac on the other hand has launch pad for install apps, power options and settings at top left apple logo, siri and search are two separate buttons in top right why is it all over the place?
Only feature that really impressed me was the preview thing with the space bar or force touch. I now have that in windows with a free program tho only works with space bar obviously no force touch but I now have that feature.
I also switched to mac from windows and I am enjoying it but I think the main difference between mac and others is to mac having more User-friendly system.
For example most of the laptops absorb air through bottom and exhaust via left side - I have to put my laptop on a flat surface otherwise it heats up - In MacBook pro you don't have to worry about it
OS X comes with several different useful tools like reminder, app store, notes, map, Time Machine, icloud, sidebar notifications
Specially 'Time Machine' and 'iCloud'
Create a full drive backup and lock your pc or track it when you lost itI have been in the industry since I was 12, worked on Apple ][ machines, then when the mac came out I went PC, until last month when I too purchased a Mac Mini, then shortly after that a Macbook Pro Retina, and yesterday I bought a macbook air for my wife... we are much happier now, no more windows 8!
Let's see if I'm understanding here. You were too stupid to figure out how to use a PC, so you switched to an overpriced toy? You acknowledge that Macs are using the same hardware now, but you don't seem to notice that the price is 5x higher. Enjoy paying $2000 for a $400 PC with less features, but I'll stick with a real computer, thanks.
Its laughable to read your opinion that before OSX arrived Macs were pretty bad, following it with 'hobbyist', 'not for real work' just shows a lack of understanding and unfortunately discredits your review right from the start.
It would be more accurate to suggest that the Mac wasn't a hobbyist computer but rather a computer specific to certain core areas - Advertising, Music and Film. If you didn't work on a Mac within these areas quite frankly you wouldn't be taken seriously. And all this, running under the previous operating systems prior to OSX.
Some points to consider:
Apple brought the GUI to the mass market
Apple brought the mouse to the mass market in 1984
Apple brought one of the first laser printers to be available commercially
Apple and Adobe brought computer based design to the consumer back in 1987 with Illustrator.
Photoshop was originally developed on the Mac, shipping in 1990 and only available on Mac.The list goes on...
P.S. There are a lot of free or very good and inexpensive apps. out there, if one stops sitting on their hands, stop waiting for the magical fairy and simply let one's fingers search the net....... :D
Not being any type of a geek, I had a Windows-based computer and learned a lot about their 'blue screens of death and excessive monthly updates!!!' After 10 plus years and a lot of money spent fixing it, etc., I took the leap and bought an iMac. Took a month for me to learn a basic 'learning curve,' and now after 2 years, NO CRASHES, an occasional update.....and MS can go to hell with their garbage OS!
From what I read here and elsewhere a (windows) computer buyer that buys a car does not look at the overall maintenance/comfort/performance/price but compares every single part of the car: the tires size, wheel diameter, cylinder volume, carpet color, number of airbags,length, turning circle, weight ..
That's not the way you do buy a car and that's not the way you should buy it ,but why do you buy a computer like this ? And do you verify all the benchmarks of your car after you bought it or are you just happy driving it around ? Do you spend your spare time looking under the hood or is it a tool to transport you and your family comfortably from A to B ? Are you unhappy because the neighbours car accelerates from 1 to 100 1sec faster than yours ?expensive software ?? take a look at the app store, ugrading from snow leopard to lion will cost me only 24 euro/dollar if i feel the need to do so..
OSX is so complete you'll need less extra software,I recommend time machine however
There is also plenty of freeware/open_source software for macI am just happy I had so little models to choose from
I am happy there is so few extra hardware to buy
I am happy it so beautifull, silent and compact without spaghetti of cables
I am happy it is so reliable and performant
an yes it is not perfect.. so they keep improving it as they do with every car on the market.I use imac for 1 year now and never want to go back to windows again.
My three year experience with my iMac has cost me a lot less than the software-relateded costs of fellow PC-users. Even the operating system upgrade two years ago was $29 or was it $39? My experience is that the initial cost of the MAC is recouped in the savings over ongoing system upgrades and software enrichment which gets pumped into the PC platform. My Sony Vaio (8 years old) has been running Ubuntu for the last three years, and if it would expire, I would replace it with an iBook.
Just look at pictures of the audience in Java or hacker events, you'll see a large proportion on Macs. Why ? Because among those who cared to try, many of them are convinced.
I switched about two years ago, for me, the reasons are:
- The hardware. Most PCs are just cheap plastic that breaks for no reason. MacBooks have an aluminum unibody that is light, strong and looks good. The fact that there is limited hardware variants also makes the thing more reliable.
- Mac OS X. For me, it's like a Linux that just works. I have all the power of bash and all the powerful commands I like without the failing compilation of the not-really free codecs.
- Overall, compared to Windows and Linux, the Mac has reduced my daily frustrations to about 10%. There are still frustrations of course, it's not perfect. But it's WAY better than the others.So your argument to the cost is resale value? But the poor saps that buy it second hand pretty much have to buy it at an expensive price anyway, doesn't sound cheap at all. But then again, at the rate Apple hardcore followers upgrade their gear I guess it's necessary to keep the prices up.
Seems surprising that a developer can't maintain a PC properly to have to reinstall Windows every 6 months, believe me you can do stuff to make it fast again. You can argue that you don't have to do that with OSX, the only reason I recommend computer illiterate people a Mac.
I've played around with a Macbook pro 5,1 that was was given by a client(why resell when you can afford to buy every iteration and give away the old ones), open source community just moves too slow for OSX. Maybe my interests are unfair to apple, when the wiimote came out, drivers and software and sdk's came out for windows only to come out months later on mac with features missing, same with kinect and other peripherals I like messing around with.
P.S. Fix the Geeky Fun rss feed please.
How valuable is your TIME? I am a retired Systems Analyst, certified with both Apple and Microsoft systems. This was true years ago, and still (close enough) true today: Maintaining PC's takes one full time IT tech per 32 machines. Apple (old IIse pre-Mac's run DNA analysis 24/7 in medical research labs!) & Mac's take one IT Tech per 240+ machines. Do the math! Also, if you have a Mac OS problem, it's basically easy to fix. That is impossible on a Windows machine. You don't 'fix' Windows OS problems, you wipe, and reinstall. In 20+ years, I knew one MCSE that would spend a day or two, actually troubleshooting and getting Windows running, when the client had no backup of current (yet VERY expensive data) that HAD to be recovered. He didn't do it often, but he made a small fortune when he did! My point is, Windows is ALWAYS going down. Be it virus or whatever, it is NOT a cost effective machine, unless your TIME has no value... I once built a Hot Rod gaming PC, just for fun (parts at dealer cost!). OS Crash without warning, anytime, regularly. Yeah, big fun. Dumped it!
MACS ABSOLUTELY RULE!!!!!...thus ends any discussion on the topic!
Only 2.5 hours? Wow, my iBook G4 can run for 5 hours!
Well, I made the switch 3.5 years ago to Mac. Wouldn't do it again if I could turn back time.
Not that my previous Windows computers were anything glorious and free of trouble, but Apple has proven to be no better, thus not worth the huge amount of time & expense it took to convert to the 'Apple way'. I am constantly frustrated when I find a certain task can only be done the way they have chosen for us, without letting me choose.
Plus, the supposed quality is way overstated as well. 4 Apple products and 4 products with major breakdowns ...Apple quality of workmanship isn't as good as the Apple lemmings would have you believe.
Overall they aren't bad, but are overhyped and overpriced. (your argument about holding a resale value holds virtually no economic water)As a financial advisor, they have however made a boatload of money for my clients. I do appreciate them for that.
My thoughts and experiences at least.
I contemplate using osx. I love my iphone 4 , and I'm assuming that the experience is similar. My girlfriend has a MBP and I have always been tempted to try it out. My two problems I have with OSX are the restraints on personalizing and the heavy price tag. Its hard to justify spending an extra G for an aluminum shell and keyboard. And now that I think about it, I like having the number side pad, which the MBP's lack. if Apple would make beefed up Macbook styles, I would prefer that. I currently have a dual boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu 11.4. and the geeky side of me wants me to have all three..... only time will tell
Mac is NOT for gamers
Had Windows not been there, I think there would be less than 30% of today's IT skilled population, thanks to Apple's expensive hardware.
In Windows you can choose from a range of hardware from different manufacturers according to your requirement and budget. According to me the majority of folks don't do intensive processing work and for that cheap Windows hardware is available.
And its on MUO only I saw a cartoon (to which I agree) Reaction of Linux User towards a free software 'Wow a free software', Windows User say 'Another free software' & Mac user say 'Wow just $99'I can find myself in the article of the author . At work I have to maintain over 200 windows computers and I wanted a computer at home for my family that worked just fine, complete silent, small footprint, nice design (stands in the livingroom), no bunch of cables etc..
The Intel processor seemed a good safety net since I can install windows if osx turns out to be no good, but after more than a year we don't even think about swithcing back to windows.
As for the price : not being able to replace audio, video, HD etc.. keeps your money in the pocket. By the way the sound from the invisible built in speakers is super !
The standard software and operating system is so complete you don't need to rush to the shop for extra software . I made a choice for open-source community software some years ago and found that most of them are also available for mac : I continu working with VLC, openoffice, gimp, scribus, etc..
Also my wife and children had no problem making the switch from windows to osx and they love the mac since it is a reliable beautifull device for browsing, mailing,and all other stuff they want to do, they don' t care what is under the hood an I don't need to look under the hood as I do all day at work with windows computers.Now I'm considering a Mac simply because Windows is way too cumbersome to use when you get a mess of smaller programs you like using. Not necessarily on a daily basis, just here and there. This laptop uses Vista Home Basic, my net-book uses 7 Starter (when did we come up with This brilliant idea?!). I think the 'Starter' thing is simply so Windows can make more money off the little guy over the long haul. It's certainly no better than Vista, at least, in my everyday usage. Plus I see lots of free programs that come in either Windows or Mac. Like my Favorite online game. And last report I heard was they were thinking of Linux versions. How far that's gone is anyone's guess.
This article is very timely. I am heading to the Mac shop today to finally take the plunge and switch to Mac. I am tired of visiting clients with Macs and staring with wonder at the screen and graphics and user friendly interface. I want one!! I have run out of excuses and my Mac fan of a brother is going to gloat for years as I said I never would!
You nailed it. I remember my first Mac - we had a video project to get done for PR for an upcoming tradeshow. I was stuck in a hotel in Las Vegas trying to make drivers work on my IBM ThinkPad to offload and edit a digital tape from a Canon Elura DV camcorder ... to no avail. We had just flown in from a client in Sausalito CA (on a houseboat no less) who had an office full of multi-colored iMac 'eggs' - doing all kinds of stuff with video for their own ad campaigns. So.... I called my boss and begged him to let me have an iMac shipped to my hotel room. $1499 and 24 hrs later, I had the iMac. Literally within FIVE MINUTES of unboxing it I was editing my video...and in two hours I'd put a project we'd struggled with for weeks on PCs to bed. THE STUFF 'JUST WORKS'. It's absolutely true.
Fast forward a decade or so - same reason I went with an iPhone instead of an Android/whatever. I appreciate all the 'hackability' of the other platforms, but as i get older and more impatient (because my days on the planet are more numbered...) I didn't want to spend 3 months learning how to use another phone. I wanted to turn it on and start using it - and that's what Apple brings to the table with almost every product they've ever released. On the smartphone front - I migrated from a Blackberry (which was fine, except there was no consistency between apps and therefore every last smidge was a painful learning curve....) - to an iPhone 4 where it was, and still is, a joy to use daily. I've got a pile of geeky friends giving me crap for not buying a Droid Whatever... And in some ways on paper at least the specs look better on those devices ... but I know the truth. It's not the specs - it's what you can do with those specs. Apple has everyone beat. You're right about the tablet market... all the competition is literally a joke compared to an iPad - the only reason they're selling at all is because you have to wait for an iPad and the blue shirts at Best Buy have gotten very good at making the 'next best thing' look like a real option when in fact there is no 'next best'. The competition - all of it - is a cheap imitation and that's the best you can say about it.
Well.... If iam a programmer and web developer what is the best for me?
Mac or windows. I didn't really try the mac and i feel that windows is just awesome doing what i want to do. So what is the big difference between them?None of these 8 reasons were compelling me to switch to Mac, especially the one about Steve Jobs. I find him to be a self-serving, arrogant and paranoid individual and will never buy in to his 'closed', monopolistic empire.
I'm surprised nobody has brought a lawsuit against Apple for their business practices. I guess they do not quite have a big enough share of the market yet....
I use both Mac and PC at work, Windows(laptop) at home which is 7 years old running XP, no crashes yet , no Windows XP reload yet, cannot use Windows 7 as it not compatible. If properly maintained Windows does not crash as often as people think it would.
I just need an honest answer to the quality of doing (I will not say 'playing' :o) Second Life on a Mac?
I need a new computer badly, as my almost 4 year old PC (top of the HP line back then, cost was about $1600.00 canadian) is ready to be retired and turned into computer #2.
Sooooo...do I get a Mac or not? will the graphics be incredible? Really? the most important thing for me is doing Second Life with as much power as possible.
Will a Mac do this for me? Anyone have experience with a Mac and SL?I third, fourth and fifth that.
For someone like me seriously considering the switch, this wasn't convincing enough. I made the switch once to Linux and managed to get it crashing, something I had been promised was a windows thing only. I'm sure if I went Mac, same thing would happen, and therefore I'm still not convinced that Macs 'always work.' They might work right most of the time, more times than windows, but not enough to convince me.
I own both Mac (2 laptops and a top end tower) and a $5K custom PC for my comic books, so I see both sides and use both sides. I hardly use my PC anymore and let my kids use it for FB and games mostly. I have a couple program favorites on the PC that aren't available for Mac--but one just went under (PhotoImpact) and the other is finally being created for Mac anyway (voice morphing for my podcasts).
IMO only, it's all a matter of what you're used to an what you need the computer to do. In my line of work (author of YA Books and comic book creator) the tools are now better on the Mac. I can do it faster, easier, with better quality, which helps me make more...giving the Mac, again IMO only, more value. On the other hand, I have to deal with viruses on my PC several times a year--not that i have to reinstall Windows--but enough trouble that the time costs me serious money. That, my friends, means that PC is FAR more expensive than my Mac.
I will never buy another PC. My son got his first laptop 2 days ago, a PC and in only 2 days he's regretted it--because he's used to working on my Mac laptop.
I could care less about the culture, the close knit anything--so long as i have a product that does what i need it to do, gives me value, doesn't break down and when it does...I get top notch service. Macs have been completely painless and I've been the star at work every time I have to pull a PC using co-worker out of the fire with a Keynote presentation that makes his Powerpoint look like it was done with crayons.
If you like your computer, then good on you--use it and be happy. But unless you work both sides equally to give a comparison like myself (put up the money and the time buckos)...it would be wise to shut it.
Again, just my opinion, nothing more.
Jaime BuckleySeriously this list of reasons do nothing to promote Macs;
1. Ok OSX is better than previous versions, as it should be.
2. Are you saying AMD or VIA don't allow you to switch out hardware?
3. Get a Win7 trial from technet?
4. Mac does use drivers for it's hardware, it's easier because there's less choice in hardware.
5. Win 7 just works.
6. The cost difference is not a myth, something you paid more for in the first place has a higher resale figure...really!
7. You can run Mac on a Windows machine using VirtualBox.
8. So you're a sucker for smooth talking.No Offense.. but all reasons are too dumb. There can be 100's of such reasons I could list now why mac is worse than linux :(
So it looks like out of 8 reasons, the only valid one is Steve Jobs and the Apple Magic, right?
When I look for applications, there are a hundred times more available for Windows. So first, there are apps that I love that don't exist at all for Apple. Just one example: I use a program that will find/replace multiple strings in every Word, Excel and text file in a directory. That thing does five hours worth of work for me with a few clicks. Nothing even close exists for Apple. Second, there is so little variety for Apple. The apps are one size fits all, Steve Jobs knows best. I like to look at a dozen or so similar apps and pick the one that is best for me. That is only possible with Windows.
Linux is the same way. Not saying you are wrong about looking around and finding what suits you best, just that you are wrong about it only being possible on Windows.
Guy James Bruce is, in fact, a classic fanboy in disguise - no cogent argument and his statement about Steve Jobs (him drooling with his wife) shows obnoxious cultic bias and should not totally have been mentioned in this article at all.
Contrary to popular belief, most windows users (eclude the programmer by profession) are dumb/day-to-day users. they don't know how a PC works and rely on Google to find everything which is why they end-up clicking every pop-up that comes along and install every crapware out there, but can you live without that crapware on windows? No windows despite its gigantic 15Gb install space doesn't provide any day-to-day use applicaions. the only reason Windows is where it is today is the basics of human nature and MS marketing skills back in the day, that allowed the OS to grow and had people spend so much time learning to fix it. If you are really looking for an open system, why are you not behind a system like pure UNIX? you could do what ever you want even your own version of the OS. The main reason why many of these people support Windows is not because they love it, they hate Apple just because the hate change as a basic human nature and just because there is a system out there thats better than what they use and they are afraid they would be a lay-man once they switch, thus choose to hating what they don't have...its sour grapes for them. By the way I don't use a Mac, i wish i could, but I spent countless hours on learning how to fix a windows PC when i had time to spend on learning things now i don't have that kind of time to learn another thing that could possibly do things better, but i would rather live with the sucky system because the cost-benefit analysis doesn't add up at this point where i have a busy professional schedule. But one got to acknowledge a better system even if they don't belong there. The mundane arguments like 'I just hate apple' is only going to show that your opinion is useless and immature... for those Apple-haters just tell me exactly after 15yrs of a windows OS, how difficult it is to have a perfectly working auto-hide task bar functionality with a OS that takes up 15GB space. that tells the story about the quality of development team and architects of Windows OS.
hey you mentioned 'geek level'
how do you measure it ??Can you build a mac? i guess another way to say it is, could i buy a bunch of hardware put it in a shell and install mac on it?
I don't resell computers, old computers become small servers. I'm sure there is a point where those old computers will become too old, but I haven't lived enough years for that to happen, and when they do they will not have any resale value, mac or pc.
The Mac is not more expensive than an identically built PC. Identically means: identical components. Look at the comparison presented: different processors, the Intel is net superior to that of AMD (6MB L2 cache compared with only 1MB L2 cache, etc), screen resolution - what a difference!!, battery time, weight. No wonder there is a significant price difference between the two machines.
In September 2009 when I bought my MacBook Pro just for comparison I configured an absolutely identical 17inch DELL laptop and found a price difference of about $100. A few months prior to that (in April 2009) I configured an identical DELL desktop to my newly purchased quad core Mac Pro, and the difference was again $100. And, there is no comparison in the resale value of those two pairs of machines.
Yes, some PC's are much cheaper than the Macs, but the general rule 'you get what you paid for' applies in this case, too.What about the price of the operating system updates? Mac OSX Lion will cost $30, a fraction of the cost of Windows 7. And if you add all the extra 'compulsory' utilities, which you will have to update each and every year, you need for a PC compared with the Mac, the price difference is even higher.
And, finally: the Windows operating system has some minor advantages over Mac OSX, but they pale in comparison with the multitude of significant advantages of Mac OSX over Windows.Nice write up, James. I’ve been a long time user of Macs, especially since Apple made the transition to Intel and the release of OS X. I simply like the fluid UI system of OS X, though the Finder could now be improved a lot. I also like how iLife apps work together, boosting my workflow. I don’t get into the Mac vs. PC debates, because in my view whatever works best for you is what you should be working with.
Confused about the 'Cost Myth'...how is it a myth? The Mac you have listed is FOUR times the price of the HP. This is evened out by a couple hundred dollars in added resale value?
you call your self a geek , but i see u never even heard about hackintosh.
Nice read! Thanks alot. I am a designer, and I know I should switch to Mac one day, but I am really scared that it will be like a rebirth for me, far as I know it's a totally another world...
Yeah, Apple has kind of claimed ownership of iNtuitive, which their products not only aren't, but never have been (I well recall my first attempt to figure out a Mac in 1985). Instead they simply provide virtually no documentation and leave you to decide you're stupid (what? Didn't know you had to double-click the home button on your iPad to see all running programs? Didn't know to hold down an icon on your new iPad for a couple seconds to make it jiggle, so you could move it around or uninstall? What are you, an idiot? BTW know how to take an iPad screen shot? Now *that's* intuitive for ya :)
As a designer, I moved to Windows in 2003 or so when I no longer HAD TO have a Mac - so clearly I don't get where your *should* comes from. 'Course, if you want to code apps for iShit, you have to use Mac.
Lol so wrong in so many ways. Misguided by clever marketing ploys.
I agree somewhat, but to clarify, I switched over the to mac from a phony crap Wang in August, 1984, after being introduced to the first Mac and then Mac plus. This was at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics at the Kennedy Space Center, for NASA. Finally, I could actually do CAD, changes on shuttle, graphics, and finally, no crashes and I could talk to everything and connect to the big CRAY we had also. Today, why anyone would even fart around with the infamous blue screen of MicroBrain is beyond me, but, if you pay $29 for a computer, that is what you get. My latest Mac is now 8 years old and rocks on. Oh well....
Mac: 'Try a Mac, you never go back!' - 27 years and counting.......Hail, Apple!
If that's true that's one annoyance solved for me. I am still very concerned with the app store only download. This will require me to install Snow Leopard just to get the app store so I can down load Lion. Besides the annoyance of jumping through hoops this is also Apple taking one more step closer to locking Mac OS X down like iOS and forcing me to use the app store.
The day is coming that you will not be able to install anything on Mac OS X unless it comes from the app store just like in iOS. I'm sure you will be able to 'jail break' like you can with iOS but why should I jump through hoops to use a system I purchased. The annoyances keep adding up and it is getting to the point that I just don't want to deal with Apple any more. It's too bad to because setting aside the overpriced hardware, the moron fan boy culture, Steve Jobs desire to absolutely control your computing experience, and all the undeserved hype, Mac OS X is a very nice system and I enjoy using it.
Did anybody else notice that in point 6 of the article 'The Cost Myth' the Mac actually cost 4 times the price of the PC? You could buy 4 PC's for the price of the Mac. No way resale value will make up for that. They should probably have used a Mac Book or iMac for the comparison because 17 inch Mac Book Pros are very overpriced.
The cost myth is not one, they do cost mch more. Resell being higher just means an old Mac cost event more than an old pc, worse situation.
Plus with a fixed box like that you can't upgrade things like video or CPU so it seems to me Mac life is shorter.
Scam with fake bidders.
haha, funny problems
//happy linux userA Mac is a PC. The phrase 'Mac or PC' annoys me to no end. PC stands for Personal Computer which is very general. PC generalizes all personal computers, including Mac, Linux, even Google's Chrome OS.
You can now pick up a 15.6' laptop for $400 that will be very fast (and comes with Windows 7). If you need OS X get a torrent to install it for free. Or pay $1800 for a MacBook Pro with the SAME hardware specs. You're paying FOUR and a HALF times MORE for the Apple Logo.
Seems like an obvious scam to me unless you're a millionaire and money is never an issue. You could buy a new laptop every year for the next FOUR years and keep getting better hardware while still only having spent $1600 (or less). Windows computers and laptops keep getting cheaper while Macs stay the same price. The author of this post put that as a positive note which it obviously isn't.
Shut your clap trap, most of your points are null and void.
Were you using Windows 98 or something?
..reinstalling Windows on a half-yearly basis? No wonder you jump ship to Mac.
I've been using a Mac for about 6 months and I truly enjoy doing so. Prior to buying my first Mac I was a Windows/PC geek. I only built my own PC's with the best parts and peripherals available. I must say though, I had dropped using Windows when Vista came out and until the release of Windows 7 I was using one of 3 Linux distros (depending on my mood). Once Windows 7 came out I was sufficiently impressed with the OS that I started using it again.
But I kept hearing great things about the Mac and eventually decided I had to get one to satisfy my curiosity. I bought a 15' Macbook Pro with an i7 processor (Dual core). The first thing that really surprised me was that it performed as well as my Windows PC witch has a quad processor and 4 times the RAM. The only time I saw it perform slower was when rendering some really large Photoshop files. Once I upgraded the memory the speed was the same. And once I installed an SSD drive it blew the PC away.
While it is a myth that Macs don't crash it has been very rare in my experience. I had a lot more crashes in Windows. So much so that it was the crashing that finally made me go to the store. And yes I also re-installed Windows about once a year to get the performance back. If you don't think that's valid or you claim to never do that then I can only assume you don't use your computer all that much.
Using the Mac I've become a lot more productive too. I can't really explain why but I think part of that is the elegance and well designed Mac apps that I use. The work flow just feels better and more streamlined. I'm still learning about all the different functionality but overall I'm very happy and only use my PC for gaming and media as I have it connected to our main TV now.
I've never gotten into hatred for a company because of this or that. I choose to use products based on the products. If they perform the way I need or expect I buy and use them and I really don't care about their politics. Sure I may not agree with every decision a company may make, but it's their company and I wouldn't presume to try to tell them how to run it just the way I wouldn't want someone telling me how to run mine.
A Mac with an SSD against a PC with an HDD is always going to win of course. Because the SSD is faster than an HDD!!
Never owned an Apple-product but I have tried several of them, and my experience with it is that I can't get ANYTHING done on them. Can't get much done on PCs with Windows either, but that's a whole other bag of worms.
My point: Don't compare apples with particle accelerators ;)
Can you believe this?
'This might seem like a bit of an odd reason and is probably going to label me a fanboy, but I have yet to see anyone who with such an astounding stage presence and presentational skills as Steve Jobs.'
So basically you are a fanboy and posting this incredibly pathetic article peddling Macs on others just because you have a crush on Steve Jobs?This means that you look at how things are presented to you, sold to you, and the presenter's personality and that's all it takes to close a deal with you.
I sure hope that:
1. You are not someone who makes key decisions for a business or a group of others.
2. Don't serve on jury duty.All it would take to convince you is some sales pitch, even if the product is blatantly inferior and is a rip off.
All it would take is for the prosecution or the defense in a trial to be of a 'charm' or a good presenter for you and you'd either free a serial killer or condemn an innocent man to death.
Yep, unfortunately there are people like you who walk among us and have such stupid and dangerous standards on what they make their decisions based on.Haha, truly laughable.
What drives someone to write a piece like this I'll truly never ever know. Using Steve Jobs as a reason is just the pièce de résistance.
1 reason why i will unsubscribe from this website right know.
1- For posts like these, this blog was nice before all the steve jobs cock sucking that came around several months ago, this website was made known by windows users and now you are just drinking the apple juice like a retarded iSheep for some pageviews, good bye, you lose another reader.
4, 6, 7 and 8 all made me laugh, but I get your point. To each his own and you like your computing a bit fruity. I have come around these past few years and understand that many folks are just more productive doing things the 'Apple Way'. I still much prefer to do things my way and over-dramatic as it may sound, my stomach turns a little when I think of another dime going into Apple's coffers as their arrogance shows no bounds.
Drivers... really, you're telling me there are more drivers and more compatible hardware out there for OS X than Windows?
Cost isn't a myth its as easy as looking at the stickers. You can get a $400 machine that's is in many ways more capable as a $1200 Mac (the cheapest they sell). You do have a point for resale, and I understand for you its a point, but for most its not. Apple hardware is top notch obviously though and is a point almost no one will argue.
The best part of your Mac is it can run Windows?! For only another $200-400 dollars... Don't pull something reaching for that one...
8, your a sucker for overpriced marketing and flash? I've got some ocean front property in Alberta for yah :) I can show it too you with lots of pizzazz :) I'll only add a 700% lockin and branding fee. You can only get your water, electricity and air from Mango branded sources (again with a roughy %700 fee). But all your neighbors will ooh and aah from the coffee shop as they see the glowing Mango on the side of your house... LOL
Not a bad read, but I didn't want to disappoint you and not provide an appropriate flame response. After all what fun is being a fanboy of the largest tech company the world without a little delusional underdogness :)
Thanks for sharing.
You obviously have no experience with Macs and know nothing about them. The least expensive Mac is a far cry from $1200; it's $699.
and what kind of specs does THAT have? 56k modem? 500 Mhz Cpu? 256 MBs of RAM? lol jk
Instead of displaying your astounding ignorance of everything to the world here, why don't you go look it up yourself? It will be a learning experience for you. But if you want to get out of the basement of your parent's house, go to the nearest Apple Store and see one for yourself.
The model you referenced is the starting point for a mac mini bro. Just because I don't use a mac doesn't mean I haven't looked into them. You're a very uptight commenter aren't you?
Good call, I have minimal Mac experience. I was thinking laptops, but didn't say so. The entry level Mini is $700. It quickly becomes $800 if you want a mouse and keyboard and then $900 for 4GB of RAM. A 'comparable' PC would run $500-600. Not saying it isn't worth it for some though.
I was also mistaken on the laptops though, I forget about the lowly Macbook (the un-Pro version), it starts at $999 which isn't so bad I suppose, but still 2.5x more than a respectable budget Windows laptop.
Cheers
#6 The Cost Myth. If your looking at true cost than you need to consider the total cost of ownership ... not just the buy-in price. There has been some good research into the TCO of a mac vs a pc here is one link that goes into more detail.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/tco-new-research-finds-macs-in-the-enterprise-easier-cheaper-to-manage-than-windows-pcs/6294You can also download a TCO spreadsheet here:Winn's Total Cost Of Ownership Analysis Mac Vs - Winn SchwartauThis helps to put your purchase into perspective.
8 Reasons I switched to Linux:
1. Ubuntu happened. 6 month release cycle, and easy enough for my mom to use.
2. Supports most hardware. Intel, AMD, PPC (PowerPC), and PS3.
3. Can try it on virtually any computer. It even worked on an old Pentium 3 in the garage. 400 mhz, < 300 mbs of RAM.
4. Has many drivers. I loaded a Debian 5 on a Micron PC, moved the HDD to a dell, then a Pentium 3, then another dell. It worked perfectly on all.
5. Works perfectly. My dad keeps asking me how I set stuff up cause of the problems he runs into with windows, and I can't help him cause it just works on my ubuntu.
6. It's a free OS, and I don't have to buy a special computer for it.
7. I can run Windows programs in WINE, or run windows or Mac OS X in a VM with virtual box.
8. ubuntuforums.org An amazing place to see testimonials, and help. Very encouraging.1 reason I will NEVER be in the same room as a Mac (or iPhone,, or iPad or iWathever): I worked at Apple for 2 years!
I was forced to learn Mac's operating
system after enrolling in a film editing class that exclusively used Final Cut
Pro. The switch from PC was foreign to say the least, but once
grasped, the Mac's interface had me hooked. Best investment I've made in
the last decade....a 15' MacBook Pro, in which I used to complete the last
three semesters of graduate school online. It is indeed, one remarkable piece of engineering.On the last argument, 'You only need to look at the iPad “competitors” to see how laughable they really are in comparison.' I look at almost every tablet so far and laugh.
You mean this laughable:
?
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/38038/iPad.jpg
Are you steaming at the ears now, ready to type an essay long rebuttal
on why the PC rules? Meh, go ahead but don’t expect a reply other than
“lol”.So clearly you didn't make the choice on a rational decision and this article is just you finding reasons to support what you already chose.
If you can't be convinced out of something, then you didn't pick it due to any logical process. Plain and simple.
Define your real world needs, project that to 18-24 months in the future, check available cash, go to a store that is touchy feely, tell the sales people to leave you alone, do what you normally do (ie web surf, email, you tube, etc. If you need to ask how to open an email program or other then it isn't 'intuitive'). Repeat this at least twice. Make a choice. THAT is the right machine for you. Period.
While I was a fan of Apple years ago I feel that they have
become too restrictive and overly aggressive in their business plan. I left
Apple mostly because as a computer repair person I was spending all my time
with Winboxes and the OS problems that abound within that realm. As such I
needed a Winbox to stay current and professional. Macs didn't have as many of
those type problems and I didn't spend as much time fixing them. Also, my kids
have all had the Apple toys (and this is one of my pet peeves) which everyone
else wants and steals. Since you are required to jump through so many hoops in
the Apple world regarding the music industry and illegal downloads, I feel Apple
could easily add a trace program into the BIOS or internal hardware that would
track each iWhatever and check it with registered ownership and domain/MAC
addresses. Since they make you pay for each new iThing, you'd think they would
make it easier to recover what was bought, just like they do with their music.
Once you buy their music/whatever from the iStore you can only have it on so many
items and blah blah blah. It's not 'really' yours to do with as you want;
it's yours to do with as long as you follow their restrictions. If they can
keep track of music and video so easily why not the item itself? The hoops my
kids have to do when synching new iPods, iPhones etc, when the old ones get
stolen amazes me. iTunes is a pain also, whenever I have to upgrade I
continually have to go in and remove software I didn't want in the first place.
Apple has just gotten too restrictive, in my opinion; they used to be cool and
open-minded now they just come across as elitist and contradictory while
ignoring their customer’s real needs. I just use whatever is at hand but if I
can buy or build a more powerful unit that meets my needs cheaper than a Apple
I do so and resale only matters if you plan on selling something later, If I'm
spending $2K on a computer I'm thinking lifetime commitment. I've built some
humdinger Winboxes and haven't spent $2K.
IF I was a graphics artist or had a specialty that required the best then I
would buy the Apple as a business expense and not look back. If I'm a web
surfer, email sender then dollar saved is a dollar earned. It all depends on what usage you have for the machine and available dollars in your pocket.'IF I was a graphics artist or had a specialty that required the best then I
would buy the Apple as a business expense and not look back.'And the justification for this?
If you want to write off a huge chunk of your money as a business expense, then I can't argue that.But Macs have 0 advantage over any other platform today in graphics (in fact in virtually any use), as the software exists cheaper and works better on Windows and Linux.
In fact, the only reason you see Macs in such use today is that they are stuck with what they had over the years and the huge investments that came with it. Not because it is better or offers something that does not exist anywhere else.More nonsense from the uninformed. Macs have a distinct advantage over any other platform in the creative and graphic industries; that's why you see them there almost exclusively.
Just one example is motion picture editing. Throughout the world, Apple's Final Cut Pro is used by the majority of professional film editors, and it only runs on a Mac.
You may want to take off those blinders and see the world for what it is, instead of what you imagine it to be. The truth will set you free.
Ahem.... Actually 85% of Hollywood use Linux to do their special effects and editing. Avatar was made solely on Linux boxes, Pirates of the Caribbean was edited on Linux boxes, Wall-E was made using Linux, Indiana Jones (latest) was edited on Linux boxes, 300 was made on Linux boxes.
Linux is for the PROFESSIONALS, Apple is for the AMATEURS.
Earlier you said 'Linux is a failure for the Desktop but rock solid as a server OS.' and 'Linux desktop has no almost no market except for the curious and the adventurous minimalists who are satisfied with less commercial software.' but now you're saying 'as the software exists cheaper and works better on Windows and Linux'
You sir appear to be a troll taking the opposite position of anyone on here.
I used Macs from 1985 through about 2003, when I switched from two machines and a KVM switch to just PC. I've done a lot of graphic design on PCs since.
My wife has stuck with Mac (the mini is quite awesome; also, when my son's apartment was broken in several years ago the clunky PC I'd assembled for him went away while the brand new Mini sat undisturbed on his roommate's desk ;-). I am not in a position to judge, nor interested in taking a side in this old and very tiring pissing match. I bought a MacBook Air for travel, and have thought about getting a Mini myself.
I love the amazing amount of software written for Windows. Used to be you had to pay $29.99 for every bit of functionality that Apple left out. @Mulder thanks for pointing this out - a quick search shows a HUGE change in available freeware from not very long ago - maybe just two years.
What's your experience in terms of moving files around in day to day work? I find the Finder clunky and annoying - is it just that I'm used to Windows Explorer? Is there an equivalent to the Windows-E keyboard shortcut to bring up a Finder window?
'Is there an equivalent to the Windows-E keyboard shortcut to bring up a Finder window?'
Yes. If you're in the Finder, Command-N opens a Finder window. If a Finder window is already open, Command-N opens another one when you're in the Finder.
Argument for price. Want to use OSX but don't want to shell out the cash? Hackintosh.
'But Xin,' you say, 'Then I won't get to use the any of the highly rated apple support programs.'
You just saved $1,500 and built it at home. Save some of your geek cred and fix the damn thing yourself.I use what I use because it is what I have used. True for anyone else?
Family is 99% Windows users. Grew up a windows user. Used Macs in high school. Liked it. Ran with it. End of story.
Why does everyone argue about this stuff? haha
If you're the kind of person who feels the need to reinstall Windows every six months, the for crying out loud, BACK UP YOUR DRIVERS! Geeze! http://www.boozet.org/dd.htm. And it kills me how one of the most oft-cited reasons for owning a mac is that it runs Windows. My Gateway runs Windows, too, and it's not an over-priced, over-rated elitist piece of crap.
It's all true! I work in computer support and work with both platforms. Windows keeps support very busy. Macs just work without being a magnet for every virus, hack or malware known to mankind. If you value your time at all, Mac OS X is a solid and reliable OS.
There are plenty of applications available for OS X. Have you bothered to look on sourceforge.net? Typically people throw out the 'not enough apps' meme when they really haven't bothered to look. Relying on extremely old information (circa 1998) to argue one's case reveals a lack of research.
I just wanted you to know that you made me cry when you mentioned your Amstrad. My first computer was an Amstrad CPC that I purchased at Macys, of all places. Since then, I've never even talked with anyone who knew what they were. You brought a flood of happy memories back. Thanks! :)
What was this article all about? Oh! this guy was tring to sell me a mac!
As is 1000% expected of me, here is my response:
Neither PC nor Mac wins.
Linux has a great base system that works well. Unless you get into the proprietary stuff, you don't need to install drivers either as they're built into the kernel itself. It also supports more than Macs do in the end because you can still stick a lot more hardware into your computer without it barfing.
Also, the desktop is experience is much more customizeable. You can run GNOME. You can even add a dock if you want it to be a bit more Mac-ish. Don't like it. Fine, dump GNOME for KDE and run that. You'll still be happily chugging along on Linux.
Linux's only downfall? The big boys don't give a crap about supporting it the right way. It's very possible, and experiments have shown that Linux is a marketable platform (i.e. People tend to pay more for good software when they're running Linux than any other platform. Just look at the stats for the Humble Indie Bundle). If Adobe and the rest would actually give effort into making their products work as well as they can, Linux would be more golden than Windows and Mac combined. But even now things work well enough to get stuff done and happily use your computer.
Ok, I'm done now. :D
Linux fails when it comes to hardware support and ease of use for the average Joe user, which is one of the 'strong' points this article tried to make.
Not everyone out there is willing or even understands how to compile his kernel to add support for that hardware that the manufacturer never released a driver and only a community driver is available. Linux is a failure for the Desktop but rock solid as a server OS.When was the last time you used Linux? I never have to compile a kernel and there are plenty of graphical configuration utilities in KDE. All the 'complicated' settings exist in other operating systems as well. I haven't had any hardware issues with all six or seven systems I've tried it on in my house.
I use it every day, at work and at home. YOUR personal experience != the real world out there.
I guess you never came across those printers/scanners that needed a community driver and never had official driver for them?
Have you tried installing one?
Obviously not.Also, you are probably new or fairly new to Linux, either that, or you don't have a serious use for it.
Note: Browsing the Internet is not a serious use.
Linux desktop has no almost no market except for the curious and the adventurous minimalists who are satisfied with less commercial software.In fact it is a shrinking market, even iOS and Android shares are more than the Linux desktop share.
That should tell you something.Why do you use a failure of an operating system at home and work?
Maybe other people have experienced different things, but, I've installed Ubuntu on several laptops and have not yet had a hardware issue, all my printers and scanners work too, even the printer that doesn't work on a family member's mac.
In fact, the first time I attached a printer to a Linux machine (Fedora at the time) I was confused because immediately it said my hardware was ready to use and I thought to myself 'how can that be?'
Ease of use has come a long way too. I question when the last time you used a modern Linux distro as a desktop because your experiences with it, or supposed knowledge of it seems dated.
The only hardware I'd expect not to work is obscure hardware. If you have something strange, something really proprietary then there could indeed be issues.
I have no idea how to compile a kernel, I've never needed to and Ubuntu has been my primary OS for 3 years now.
Distasteful & incomplete.
You can run OSX on a PC (admittedly not easily)... Hackintosh.
Yep, and on much cheaper hardware without the tyranny of Apple attached to it.
Which is illegal and doesn't give you the full OS X experience.
'As far as I was concerned, on an Intel platform I would be far more able
to switch out the hard drive, change the memory, and use existing files
and data – not to mention thousands of USB peripherals that would work.'Unfortunately, Mr. Bruce, this is a false and irrational argument. There was nothing stopping any user from changing hard drives, RAM, or 'use existing files and data' when Mac OS X was on PowerPC systems. And there still isn't.
The processor in use has no effect on this and never has.
You keep claiming that anyone's opinion is irrational and false, but see no problems in your own irrational statements that Apple is smarter when they don't allow hardware upgrades, yet come back few minutes later and claim that there is nothing stopping the user from upgrading or changing the Mac hardware.
I've never said anything irrational, and certainly not that Apple is smarter. I also never said they don't allow hardware upgrades. Those are your statements which you are attempting to attribute to me.
You should go back and carefully re-read what I wrote, then come back when you fully understand what is being said.
Typical reply from someone like you when get caught posting irrational statements while accusing others of doing so.
Don't worry, no one accused you of understanding how ironic and unintelligent your posts were.Was it not you who posted this nonsense?
'As far as getting a new graphics card, there's a good reason that Apple
doesn't allow this: it would make supporting their computers far more
difficult and expensive than it is currently.'Are you saying that you didn't imply that Apple is smart for doing that?
Or are you saying that Apple is not smart or dumb when you said 'there's a good reason that Apple
doesn't allow this'?
You seem to be rather confused and have a short memory span buddy. A typical of Mac fan boy. We are here to debate the advantage of one platform over the other, you know, the point of this article, not flame every other post calling it 'irrational and false argument' just because you are a Mac fan while others post their real world experiences.Actually, you're the one who's confused and sadly misinformed. Whatever you think is being implied is a product of your imagination, as it has never been said.
Your memory is the one that's lacking here, bubba. And you have no real experience in what you're talking about; otherwise you wouldn't be trolling and attacking facts. That's what irrational people do, and you are clearly irrational.
This thread would be a lot shorter, less tedious to read and much more pleasant without your schoolyard insults, Ms Mulder (You are! No, you are!)
These comment threads need a button where one can lose the angry, unpleasant troll posts (and these responses, naturally) and just see the posts that concentrate on the actual discourse and have something useful to say beyond their first post
How about it, MUO?
Alternatively, you could just take the hint and give it a rest...
Flamers and trolls invariably operate under nom de guerre
It's the bravery that comes with anonymity
Perhaps I should just invoke Godwin's Law and stop the lot
AppleCare. Always have it, always renew it.
You forgot the main reason why you switched to a Mac.
You are someone who have problems using computers and can't do the math.Mac has a better value over time? Are you serious? Apple drops support for its own hardware within, what, 1 year?
And then the ultra crippleware that you are so happy with called OS X.
Just to do basic things, you have to hack it.
Of course you don't need drivers, there are not much hardware options for you to search for drivers. Intelligent or even semi-intelligent users on Windows buy hardware from reliable manufacturers, therefore no driver issues exist for us, or almost don't exist for us.
You don't see the irony in your article claiming that one of the reasons/advantages of Macs over PC that they can run Windows. So you pay more just to run Windows inside a virtual machine? Does that make sense? Does that make your article coming from an intelligent user or just from a Mac fan boy?
Oh yeah, Steve jobs presents Apple products, there's a real reason why we should all switch to Macs.
I agree with whoever said that makeuseof is getting desperate for articles, since it allowed for such a disgraceful article to get published.They're getting desperste for articles? It obviously got you here.
This is a long list of reasons to not go Apple.
No drivers? Sorry, but there's a reason this is a very bad thing. I've used unofficial drivers before that perform far better than the official drivers. I think back to trying Linux and not being able to use my Logitech MX 518 mouse like I could with Windows. Why? No drivers. I just installed a new graphics card and saved myself having to buy an overly expensive (oh, but the resale value!!!) new machine. Why would I want to be forced to limit my hardware choices and spend countless more dollars on a new computer because of a horrid decision like this?
Resale value. Really. Like a Apple hipster is going to actually buy a used Mac, with a sticky keyboard (it was juice!)
It's not a bad idea at all; you just don't know what you're talking about. There's nothing stopping you from using an 'unofficial' driver; if it works for you, that's the important thing.
As far as getting a new graphics card, there's a good reason that Apple doesn't allow this: it would make supporting their computers far more difficult and expensive than it is currently. This is exactly the reason that no PC maker supports those upgrades, too; they only support the Windows OS.
Your argument fails, so I guess that means you're a failure.
Actually, you've got a big gaping hole in your argument. Apple is not simply a software manufacturer like Microsoft; it's also the hardware manufacturer.
If Apple allows you to install drivers, then the OP is false.
No, the OP isn't false. Apple computers as shipped require no extra drivers. If the included driver, or the manufacturer's driver for their peripheral device fails to perform as it should or as you want it to, there's nothing to stop you from installing and using an 'unofficial' driver.
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
Where, there is a difference. When I buy some hardware, let's say a printer or camera, it usually comes with a driver CD. If I were to use those items on a Windows PC, I would generally need to start by installing the drivers.
Now when I was closer to first starting out using Macs I was always worried because there were never any instructions for installing drivers so the items would be supported on a Mac. The best thing I could do was just plug it in. Most of the time that was all that's needed.
Windows also have the 'just plug it in and it works' feature.
They try. It's not the same.
That's right... Windows will tell you that it doesn't have a driver. A Mac that doesn't have a driver for a device will just ignore it.
I'm writing this comment on a Mac right now. Windows and Mac OS X have their pros and cons, but they're just operating systems. When you start using most of the major applications (that are just about all cross-platform) then the differences are merely cosmetic. Pressing Command vs. Control is usually the biggest difference.
None of my applications are major applications. In fact, most people only have one major application or suite, and that's MS Office. Most of my apps are Mac-only apps.
Secondly, why does the OS need to distract you with the fact that the driver isn't working? You can tell, when the device doesn't work!
Also, that last line is pretty pathetic. Stop being so butt hurt.
quit trolling
that old 'macs just work' line was never true. And it was way better before OSX.
I use Windows, Mac, and several different distros of Linux. I use all of them every day. They all have their strong points and faults. I have no loyalty to any of the platforms and do no get involved the OS wars. Having said that I am very close to kicking Mac to the curb. My final decision will be made when Lion is released.
My problem with Mac is iOS. I will never own a iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Now Mac OS X is becoming too much like iOS I have had enough. Apple's decision to only release lion through the app store and no disc is the final piece of Mac BS I will tolerate. As it stands now if you are running Leopard you will need to buy Snow Leopard install and than buy Lion through the app store and upgrade. There is no option for a clean install. This the most idiotic ass baward upgrade process and coming from a company that claims their stuff 'just works'is a joke. I refuse to be locked into an app store or iTunes just to use the computer. Unless something changes between now and when Lion is released Mac will be history for me.
You should do a bit more research...
'There is no option for a clean install.'
You would be wrong there. When Lion is downloaded it makes a small partition on your Hard Drive and you boot from that partition to install or upgrade. If you want a Clean install, you just delete the other partition and tell it to install. Simple as that.
Despite the cost, I can say I wish I had gone from pc to Mac a long time ago. It's a whole different ball game.
Macs are very well built machines but I can not stand Apple as a whole.
As usual, an irrational person making an irrational argument. That's always a good reason to make any decision.
Trevor didn't make any argument, which is 'an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.'
I actually don't think I was arguing, just stating one general opinion. To expand on my opinion on not liking Apple inc. I will say that I don't like how they act like they are Gods gift to computing and electronics as a whole, and I don't like the fact that they think they should 'own' terms such as 'app store', it's quite sickening to think of. So therefore I don't support them in any way shape or form, in fact I avoid anything of theirs like the plague, which is my right. In fact I don't like windows either which is why I am writing this from my Ubuntu powered lappie.
Here's the thing - if you've ever been involved with any kind of patent/branding/trademark/copyright/ intellectual property dispute - you will quickly learn that you either make 'all reasonable efforts' (legalese) to protect and advance your brand... or you will lose it.
Apple, and pretty much any other large corporation has to take that pro-active approach (sue you before you sue us) in protecting their brands - or they can kiss those brands good-bye. For Apple, it's litigating anything with an 'i' in front of it.
During the dot-com boom of 2000-ish we had a software developer client (small company - but who produced a very important industry-specific vertical on-premises application) who successfully challenged a globally-funded mega-corp for a particular 'e-Brand' ... and won in court.
'Little Co.' had been consistent in defending its brand over the years with a well-established track record of cease and desist letters, trademark infringement actions, etc etc and because of that, the court ruled that 'Big Corp' used it only occasionally and casually and therefore had not established 'reasonable efforts' to protect it. So, after a year of wrangling - they lost.
The big company actually had to re-name their web product line -- re-print all their collateral -- re-work all their big media advertising... etc etc. No doubt it cost them $$Millions to comply with the court order, and they also lost a couple of years of brand-awareness that they may have created.
Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. Apple has to defend and protect its brand or someone else will be using it.
Just like every day people buy Chevys or Fords because they can't stand Fords or Chevys. (applies to Coke and Pepsi; Budweiser and Miller)
Never mind the rational that a PC is still the cheapest way to get into a computer for a new buyer and does quite satisfactorily what most people are going to use a computer for.
Always had more problems myself with cooling in any Apple product than I have had with custom built PCs. Since I work in an environment that reaches 90 degrees without air conditioning this is vital. The last Mac I had, a Quadra, burnt out 2 months over warranty.
Quadra was before the Intel processor and even MAC OS X. So it was the old tech the author used as why he didn't buy Apple.
I think MakeUseOf is getting desperate for articles.
Jefferey, believe me, as a writer for MUO, I can tell you, there's no desperation for articles and material. If you're a frequent visitor to MUO, you should know that James' article is among the many topics we write about. I've written tons of articles on Mac related software and hardware, and will be writing more. So no, we're not desperate for articles. MUO provides more absolutely FREE content than what you will get in paid magazine subscriptions. I think we're getting close to 10,000 articles. If Mac articles are not what you like to read, no problem, there's lots more on here.
I second that!
If someone ever uses resale value in this debate . . .well lets just say I have never heard anyone mention this in regards to computers. Its a stretch to say the least.
Pretending cost and resale value mean the same thing to computer users is a huge fail.
I enjoyed the read, however this is more like a road map to how the barriers of your preconceived notions got broken down, rather than 8 reason why Apple is better. My preconceived notions are much more resilient than yours.
Thanks for the read.
The only time I would consider resale value was if I was buying a Mac. PCs are cheap enough that it is not a concern, for me.
'....For someone used to reinstalling Windows on a half-yearly basis...' Whom are you referring to.? Guys who do this for fun every 6 months? Or are you assuming Windows crashes like twice a year?
lol :)
I personally can't stand the closed ecosystem that Apple has with their products. When I had to use a Mac for some classes, it was hard for me to get used to. There are very few good free programs for OS X and I just felt like Windows could do more.
'There are very few good free programs for OS X and I just felt like Windows could do more.'
Then you obviously aren't looking for any 'free' or open source programs for Mac OS X, since they're all over. If Windows could do more, then why did their ad agency have to use Macs to produce all their TV ads? It's not as though Microsoft or their OEM partners couldn't have provided them with loaners and software to accomplish those effects. But the truth is that Windows wasn't capable of doing those things.
And there is no closed ecosystem with Apple products. That statement alone demonstrates your lack of knowledge about their products, and the term itself.
I don't really understand the why, but it is a pretty much given that Macs are the dominant computer in advertising, graphics and video, so it's no surprise that an agency would use those tools to do their job.
Also, you contradict yourself when you say that MS, or their OEM partners, could have loaned them tools to make those commercials, then say that Windows isn't capable.
There's no contradiction at all. Skyler says he's always though Windows could do more than a Mac. I've merely provided the evidence that it can't.
You really need to learn how to read.
Saying something is so is not providing evidence. And yes, that is a contradiction. Let me explain: First you say that MS could have loaned the equipment and software to accomplish (i.e. GET DONE) what they were using Macs for THEN you say that Windows is simply not capable (i.e. CAN'T DO). So you see, you say MS could have given them the equipment tools to get the job done, but then you say that the tools aren't capable of the job you just said they could do.
Ciao.
No, what he said was **IF** Windows had been capable of the task, then MS & their OEMs could have loaned the equipment & software. But since it was *not* capable of it, then it wouldn't make sense to even try.
That said, I'd agree with Skyler Huse on the closed ecosystem bit. Really don't feel like being beholden to Lords Jobs & Gates, so that's why I run Linux. But if I could afford it, I would consider a Mac Mini as a media center & such. Would want network transparency for native Mac apps, though,, and I don't see that happening.The 'why' is that Apple got a foothold in those industries early-on - even before the release of the Mac. For example - for years Quark was the de-facto standard for any pre-press work, because there literally WAS NO equivalent on the PC side. I worked at a commercial printer at that time - Our first desktop publishing rigs were pre-mac...Apple computers with the monochrome full-page portrait display. There was no 'Windows' yet either - the closest competition was OS/2. Because the pre-print software was all Apple - Font manipulation was all Apple... then the workflow backed up to photo/image manipulation on Apple hardware as well - again, for several years there was no PC equivalent. Ditto for music production. This was at least two full years before the Mac was released - Apple had already gained a near monopoly in those industries. When the Mac was released, Apple's leadership in those areas was already established and the new graphical interface made it just that much easier for non-technical artist types. It made a lot of sense (and still does). Meanwhile, the back-office was buying PCs and running Visicalc.
You're the only person I've ever read in a mac/pc hate session that has put the finger on precisely why certain sections of industry used apple product and still do today
Aside from that, the price comparison shows that unless you have 'more money than sense' or someone else is paying (tax deductible workplace machines) you'd be an idiot to pay 4 times the price for the same basic spec, even if the product is superior on some levels. It's not that good that it's worth that price...
I don't buy things from crooks who charge prices that lack of 'economy-of-scale excuse' cannot justify
Same goes for Steve's phonestrue true true! thats why i bought a second hand mac air for only $980AUD which at the time it is worth $1999, well i mean now it sells for $1999, i wouldn't have bought it unless is this cheap.
after using it for 3months, i actually find that osx does win over win7 by alot, the way it do things is easier, cleaner and faster(also sexier if you get emo over their aesthetic ). I'm speaking this as a [graphic/web designer/developer perspective] and exclude gaming
here is a list why
- super easier to setup/install everything (well those that it is available for mac ofcos, which is like 85% of what windows has)
- nix like environment, and windows virtual machine(with no driver issues, most windows app works [for the developers]
- easier to access of files and window management
- multitouch, currently better than any non-mac mimics [good for designers]
- lots mini apps, but! you wont feel cluttered like windows does, the windows expose clone still dont make you feel home as a real mac expose
- multi tasking, you can open numerous heavy weight programs and it dosent hog your hardware like windows does, unless if you really lag it, you can go apply some heavy filters to a 1g raw image and watch a hd avi, and virtualize 2os etc than you can kill it.things i hate
- yup theres numerous windows only app which i enjoy! its will not be available on mac, unless these developers would port it, eg: thunder download accelerator, best of all download accelerator, PPS free online vedio streaming, well this is only for the chinese background people, so for you hulu guys, nothing to worry about.
- it no longer have the convertable option!!!! i miss my tx2500, why did it get overheated and left me!!!!! i will still go buy a windows machine just for this! probably the e-slate or the next version of tm series.but yeah, most stuff you do on windows other than gaming, you can do it with mac easily, the only question is how much you willing to give for that benefits. As some claims it dosent worth the money, well people who gets mac that dosnt complaining makes more money then you, it is just like people who spend money to get things done faster/easier comparing to those who saves money and do it themself. So my point of view is mac definitely superior than windos as a OS,<---i say os. and the build quality of the hardware is also good, which this isnt a windows fault, it is just that windows manufactures are tring to provide everyone on the planet with a affordable price
given that the mac os is better, if one day all mac products are half priced than everyone include you will go for mac. and from that point on you will no longer need to worry about the software availibility.
PS: i dont like jobs or any evil commercial organisations leaders, but i do admire them! :)
you are exactly right.
No closed ecosystem for apple products? What the app store for then?
It is because designers are raised in the closed ecosystem of Macintosh land and often are the only people in any company that have macs. This is true in any industry.
What are your options for buying apps, where do you go? Do you have a choice when you go app shopping? The very definition of closed. Get over yourself - that statement alone demonstrates your lack of knowledge about their products and ecosystem, and the term itself.