Ask OSNews: Should I Switch to Mac?
Linked by David Adams on Mon 25th May 2009 21:22 UTC
OSNews, Generic OSes Over the years, we've occasionally run an "Ask OSNews" feature, wherein a reader asks us a question and we answer it publicly. Lately I've really been enjoying Slate's Dear Prudence advice column and the ever-interesting Straight Dope, and I thought we should see if we can get more OSNews readers to submit questions, and turn Ask OSNews into a more-regular thing. If your question falls outside of our domain expertise, we'll try to track down an expert to help out. And of course, our responses will always be supplemented by further advice from OSNews readers in the comments. Questions are welcome on any topic ranging from OSes and computing to science and geek culture. Contact us with your questions. (Please include "Ask OSNews" in the subject). Today's question is from a young student in Hungary who's seduced by the faraway siren song of Apple's marketing and wonders, "should I switch?"
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RE: No you should not buy a Mac
by kaiwai on Tue 26th May 2009 10:00 UTC in reply to "No you should not buy a Mac"
kaiwai
Member since:
2005-07-06

Oh why oh why do I feed the trolls (notice he is a one-post wonder - post something then run?)

Where to start?


How about not lying.

- Hopelessly overpriced (ALL Apple's). Both software and hardware.


You pay to get Mac OS X; I'd buy a PC if Windows wasn't such a horribly disfuctional operating system whose UI design is so counter intuitive you wonder whether it was created that way simply to 'stick it to the man' (the man being the Xerox UI design and subsequent variations up on that like Atari, Amiga and Apple with the single menu at the top of the screen etc).

Don't get me started on Linux where one plays, "pray that your computer works properly with it". Hardware feedback? useless; I read pages about a given printer supported by Linux only to find that the people offering feedback HAD NEVER USED IT.

- Incredibly bad designs. I hear you huffing and puffing but let me explain. All Mac's look gorgeous, but almost every piece of hardware has major flaws. Apple takes form over function, something you should not do for a something you use every day. The one button mouse: hopeless, and the 2 button white mouse?


I have a Mighty mouse right now, it has 4 buttons; two side, two top and the 'nipple' ontop is also a button. What more do you need? Or are you one of those individuals with a button fetish whose modus operandi amounts to "the more buttons the better". Talk about boys and their toys!

even more hopeless. The keyboards? I have the wireless Bluetooth white keyboard, they keys are so heavy to hit, it is painful. The keyboard of the older Mac G3 is too small and also has a horrible feel.


What the hell are you going on about? I have a keyboard right now and it uses the same chicklet keyboard as my Macbook - oh, thats right, you're complaining about stuff from 2 years ago! yes, its alot easier to complain based on outdated information than debate based on 2009 specifications.

Non standard display port? why?


Where? give specifics - you mean the new unibody MacBooks?

Using the Apple key for cut and & paste instead of the more ergonomical Ctrl key on the outside?


And thus the conclusion that you're a troll. I might as well say Windows sucks because insists on using the pointless Startmenu to load applications.

No cut & paste in an iPhone? Why, why?


iPhone OS isn't a multitasking OS hence they probably saw little demand for it in 1.x and 2.x (I can't speak for 3.x since I don't have access to it).

- Apple is one of the most irritating companies on the planet, with little to no respect for its customers or fanboi's. It ranges from sueing fans for hosting websites about Apple, tie-ins with iTunes, DRM, using open source but not giving (much) back, mobile phones that need ridiculous expensive contracts with single vendors, ad hoc decisions who is allowed to develop for the iPhone and sueing people for using Apple software in a way that the company does not want (Psystar)
-the cult of Mac, for blindy following the leader with no criticism - after all, it's an APPLE!
-Mac OS is at best mediocre, too many flaws to mention, ranging from a bad finder, ergonomy, lack of customisation, games, but it looks pretty!

Steer clear!


And thus you further re-enforce what I stated; you're a troll. If you weren't you wouldn't have done a post and run.

No, I'm not going to moderate you down because life is punishing you enough already.

Edited 2009-05-26 10:03 UTC

Reply Parent Score: -1

Wondercool Member since:
2005-07-08

Oh why oh why do I feed the trolls (notice he is a one-post wonder - post something then run?)


Err, unlike others I try not to repeat myself with the same arguments, I thought my post speaks for itself? And more importantly, why is someone a troll if he posts only once?


How about not lying.


Ad hominem attack, I only stated my opinion.


You pay to get Mac OS X; I'd buy a PC if Windows wasn't such a horribly disfuctional operating system whose UI design is so counter intuitive you wonder whether it was created that way simply to 'stick it to the man' (the man being the Xerox UI design and subsequent variations up on that like Atari, Amiga and Apple with the single menu at the top of the screen etc).

Don't get me started on Linux where one plays, "pray that your computer works properly with it". Hardware feedback? useless; I read pages about a given printer supported by Linux only to find that the people offering feedback HAD NEVER USED IT.


You are avoiding the point here: Apple's are expensive.
Agreed, Windows is not very useful out-of-the-box but there is so much free software out there that it doesn't matter that much. If you buy Windows, you get 5 years worth of service packs (XP), Apple makes you pay every 18 months if you want to upgrade.


I have a Mighty mouse right now, it has 4 buttons; two side, two top and the 'nipple' ontop is also a button. What more do you need? Or are you one of those individuals with a button fetish whose modus operandi amounts to "the more buttons the better". Talk about boys and their toys!

What the hell are you going on about? I have a keyboard right now and it uses the same chicklet keyboard as my Macbook - oh, thats right, you're complaining about stuff from 2 years ago! yes, its alot easier to complain based on outdated information than debate based on 2009 specifications.


You are avoiding again, yes you can name some hardware that works well, all I say is: my experience with some of that expensive Apple hardware is horrendeous.
Other people have some opinions about Apple's Might mouse too. Here is a link. The whole thread is interesing.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1216799&cid=27769445


...Non standard display port? why?

Where? give specifics - you mean the new unibody MacBooks?


Yes and mini's (mini DVI)
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html
and
http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

Using the Apple key for cut and & paste instead of the more ergonomical Ctrl key on the outside?

And thus the conclusion that you're a troll. I might as well say Windows sucks because insists on using the pointless Startmenu to load applications.


It's easier to reach the CTRL key with your little finger and your index finger than to reach the Apple key with your thumb and reach over with your index finger, though I guess it is partially what one is used to.


...
And thus you further re-enforce what I stated; you're a troll. If you weren't you wouldn't have done a post and run.


I am here, my post was at 1am, I need to sleep as well!
You didn't address the points that Apple is a company that treats its customers with little respect.

No, I'm not going to moderate you down because life is punishing you enough already.


I thought voting down on OSNews is only used if something is factually not right or obnoxious, I was only stating my opinion..

Reply Parent Score: 2

kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

I thought voting down on OSNews is only used if something is factually not right or obnoxious, I was only stating my opinion..


You were presenting opinion as fact - that is what I object to. You can have what ever opinion you want, the moment you start declaring your opinion as fact - just as you did, you lose all credibility. You also failed to enter into any sort of meaningful dialogue - are you here to enter into a conversation or do you expect a monologue where you can do a sermon on the mound with all those present merely bobbing their head in agreement?

By the way, I never moderate people down because that would be openly declaring that I'd sooner silence your opinion than post a reply. Unlike a good portion here, I am not a coward who needs to shut off my brain and engage my clicking finger instead. If I have a problem with a post I either rebut, ignore or flame them.

People who moderate posts down are no better than those who throw the first punch - vile and disgusting creatures who resort to primitive ways of behaving that allow them to disengage their brain from any possible thinking.

Reply Parent Score: 1

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Windows Sucks Member since:
2005-11-10

"You are avoiding the point here: Apple's are expensive.Agreed, Windows is not very useful out-of-the-box but there is so much free software out there that it doesn't matter that much. If you buy Windows, you get 5 years worth of service packs (XP), Apple makes you pay every 18 months if you want to upgrade."

Yes Mac's are expensive, but they last longer and have a much better resale value then a better Windows machine. So if I get a Mac book for $1000 and a better Dell for $800 after 3 years my Mac will be worth more if I want to sell it.

Also the Mac OS does come out every 18 months, looks like MS is following that now also. BUT for the full Mac OS its $129. Been that Way since 2000. With Windows you have to wait till the day of release to figure out if the price for a similar version of Windows will cost %5 or %10 more then the last version of Windows which is going to be no less then $200 if you want a good version.

Also I am still using Tiger on half my machines still which came out in April of 2005 and its still fully supported by Apple. Each version is supported for almost 5 years even though the new version comes out during that time.

Oh and lord forbid if you want to go from XP to Windows 7. You have to perform back flips. LOL! While I can move from almost any version of OS X to almost every new version so far with almost no issues. Even if I want to start from scratch its simple:

1. Make an image of the hard drive to a USB drive using the disk utility. (Boot from the USB drive to make sure it's bootable)

2. Wipe the drive and install the new Mac OS.

3. Keep the USB drive with the bootable image plugged in, boot with the new OS, in the set up the OS will ask you if you have an older Mac, it will see the USB drive with the image as an older Mac and ask you if you want to move all your data, files, settings etc to the new install.

4. Reboot and you are like new with the new OS and all your old settings. If you have a problem with the new set up you can just boot from the USB image and image your old install back to the machine from the USB drive.

Try that 4 step process on a Windows machine. Your data will be in the ether. LOL! Only thing more simple then upgrading a Mac or moving to a new Mac is upgrading your iPhone OS.

I mean using a Mac is like using an alarm clock. You plug it in and go. It just works. Shoot the hacked version of Mac OS 10.5.7 I have on my MSI Wind U100 works better then Linux and Windows 7 beta on the same machine. This also goes against the fake point that the Mac OS only runs good because Apple controls the hardware. I also have a hacked version of Mac OS on my Dell GX620 desktop. Works fine.

The point of my post is that price doesn't mean anything. The usability is where its at. Consumer Reports and other rating companies almost always rate Apple near or at the top in Quality and Customer satisfaction.

Reply Parent Score: 3

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