You’ll see that the underlying reason in almost every case where the Mac lost out to Wintel doesn’t have anything to do with rational arguments based on cost, performance or functionality. Instead, Wintel proponents are shown as consistently fudging such arguments as rationales for decisions already made.
Macintosh Justification
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
In almost every case where an article like this is written, authors of this calibur do not give justification with rational arguments based on cost, performance or functionality.
Instead its a hate filled rant complete with name calling.
“Wingots” ??? wtf is a wingot ?
People like this make us wingots or wintels or whatever you want to label us – people like this make us want to stay away from the Operating Systems they are preaching about for one simple reason – they come off as uneducated and seem to harbor deep anger over something that is nothing more than a tool.
Whens the last time you saw a carpenter get angry like this over a hammer ?
If they released OSX for the PC i’d be all over it. I think it would be the smartest move they’ve ever made.
I do not like the closed hardware platform of macs. If I could build my own, if parts were readily available from a variety of sources I would buy one.
As it stands they are way overpriced and have limited hardware upgrade options, not to mention very few games.
“I do not like the closed hardware platform of macs. If I could build my own, if parts were readily available from a variety of sources I would buy one.
As it stands they are way overpriced and have limited hardware upgrade options, not to mention very few games.”
Ths is the argument that has been written here in all manner of versions, and this is what you all boil down to.
“Ths is the argument that has been written here in all manner of versions, and this is what you all boil down to.”
That would be what, exactly?
If they released OSX for the PC i’d be all over it. I think it would be the smartest move they’ve ever made.
It’s allready there in it’s raw form: FreeBSD.Agree it’s not for the lazy or mentally challenged.However there’s practically nothing i can’t do on FreeBSD that is *for me* interesting and feasable on my Linux system.Coding (C/C++/eclipse ide, with all plugins,assembly),3D gaming,ripping/authoring dvd/cd’s,editing music etc.If i would install a real MacOsX theme it’s allmost complete.
Actually, no. I don’t have to buy a current Mac to know it isn’t suitable for my uses. One can perform *research* for a purchase, not blindly spend money and hope for the best.
Can’t agree more,”the best” is relativ though.
According to ones needs and budget it’s absolutely possible (and sane) to do some research before a purchase of anything.DVD authoring is a background and a few knobs for me,if i had to make a living with it i would certainly consider buying a mac,and still use FreeBSD and Linux for serving and coding (more mature and cross platform).Still MacOsX is a exellent platform.Not for me because i like to build/update everything from source.If i could afford one i would buy a mac for my mother so i don’t have to maintain much,all is comfortable non-adventurous,slick,etc.
For the vast majority buying a ps3 and a mac would do much good and saves some stress.For the rest unless you have to buy one for your specific software needs MacOsX isn’t an option regardless what the prize may be.
“It’s allready there in it’s raw form: FreeBSD.”
OS X isn’t FreeBSD. It uses portions of FreeBSD, but that’s not the same thing.
OS X isn’t FreeBSD. It uses portions of FreeBSD, but that’s not the same thing.
My bad,i only researched the software packages and basic hardware connectivity.I wonder if all PC monitors can be connected to a mac or do you have to buy a mac monitor/adapter?
“My bad,i only researched the software packages and basic hardware connectivity.I wonder if all PC monitors can be connected to a mac or do you have to buy a mac monitor/adapter? ”
That depends on the Mac. Really old ones require a special monitor. ADC-equipped ones require an adapter. I doubt they’ve done anything odd like sync-on-green.
They don’t actually manufacture anything anymore, so you’ll find most components are “PC” derived – save the processor/motherboard which, while custom for Apple, isn’t manufactured by them. Even the ADC connector is really just a DVI connector with line power.
“$750 or better yet $899 for a machine with a CPU that runs well against a $2500 dual 2.0GHz G5”
Yeah, maybe. But, can it run OS X? Didn’t think so.
What is this for djävla grej att posta?
I have been supporting Windows platforms for 10 years now, that’s why I use privately OSX, I can truly confirm the next statement:
“The entire national economy, in fact, depends on the incompetence of Microsoft. If everyone switched to Apple, the unemployment rate would skyrocket and we would fall into a depression. The government would be forced to give away Microsoft-based computers to stimulate the economy.”
You think that Windows is an reasonable OS until you know the quality of its design compared with OSX. To me it is is a real frustration that so many people want to keep living in their own ignorance. Is OSX superior to MS? Yes it is, whether you like it or not, maybe you could call me arrogant, never mind it doesn’t matter.
Come on, people use Linux because it is free and they don’t want to pay for anything. If OSX came out, it would be heavily pirated.
@Mike
I’m talking about the powerBook, and especially the powerMac.
The 17″ PowerBook costs $2800. I compared that to Dell’s InspironTM 9200 17″ which i configured to to cost $2260. True, its not double, but $500 isn’t money i sneeze at. It looks much more grim for apple when you compare to the offerings from ibuypower.com, where i was able to configure a machine comparable to the PowerBook for only $1800, a full $1000 cheaper.
Without seeing the configuration, I can’t say whether your comparison is valid.
And remember, there’s now a high-end iBook that competes quite favorably for much less money as well.
There’s no way to put a dollar amount on User Experience. And the User Experience with MacOS X is superior to Windows. And will continue to get better with Tiger, while Windows XP has stood still.
I like Windows. I’m using it now. I’m not saying Windows isn’t usable. I *AM* saying that Anti-Mac people compare CPU GHZ, and Prices, and NEVER compare actual value.
You get MORE value with a Mac.
A Better OS. A better User Experience, better ergonomics, and you pay more for that.
On the Desktop side, i found that the AMD64 is considerably faster than G5, or even Dual G5 based systems.
A race car is faster than my Saturn too…
How suitable is it for doing what I do every day?
What is the user experience?
Speed isn’t everything…
At the speed of current computers, it’s hardly ANYTHING.
Computers have been much faster than we’ve needed for YEARS.
The speed difference between an AMD64 and a G5 doesn’t translate into more value for the user…
The usability difference between MacOS X and Windows XP DOES. It makes a MUCH bigger difference than the number of CPU Cycles being processed.
Unless you are playing one of these CPU Cycle Hog Games. And Gamers are a small part of the market, smaller than the Mac Market. And they are welcome to buy ANY machine they like to play their games the way they like.
Most of those people configure machines that smoke most of the PC’s anyway, and their machines tend to cost MUCH more than the average PC. Often two to three times more, based on the high performance components they tend to use.
It’s just like guys who used to turbocharge their cars.
That they did that, didn’t mean a Factory Standard Ford was a bad car…
You can see in this benchmark (subtitled: “Not Even Close”), the Alienware Aurora shows better performance than the PowerMac and that system is priced at $1650. Alienware is a premium brand however, and a self-built system could be configured for around $1000-$1200.
Not a valid comparison. You need to compare one Mass Market Computer with another…
What you are trying to do is compare a BMW with a George Barris Custom Car…
Of course, George Barris could build a car cheaper and faster than the Mass Market BMW. He can cut all sorts of corners, and leave out things like Air Conditioning and Driver’s Side Airbags…
People who build systems at home don’t have to provide Telephone Support, write manuals, fix bugs in software, take returns, eat theft, etc…
There’s NO COMPARISON between self-built systems and ready made systems.
I have no agenda against Macintosh. I already showed you that i personally own a Mac.
No. You SAID you owned a Mac, and then made an observation about it’s speed that convinces me that you don’t…
Owning a SLOWER mac than the one you claim to own, and NOT seeing the performance problem you claim to have… I know you don’t actually own a Mac.
And my G3 has NO SPECIAL upgrades, or software. It’s STOCK.
I’ve said before I wouldn’t be so quick to put them down if their supporters weren’t so adamant that they are the absolute best.
Uh, I’ve NEVER said it’s the absolute best. But, my Macs are a lot nicer than ANY of my PC’s.
And I like my PC’s a lot.
Its simply not the case, and its not even close if we compare equally priced systems.
I haven’t seen you do that.
You compare higher priced Macs to lower priced PCs. Or you compare Lower specced Macs to Higher Specced PCs.
And you ONLY compare specs which often don’t translate across the different platforms.
You leave out half of the important parts of the system, as the PCs you compare don’t include OS, Burning Software, DVD Players, ZIP/UNZIP Programs, Office Suites, Checkbook Programs, Games, etc…
You don’t compare systems that exactly the same, or as equivalent as possible, Including after sale support, included applications, and user experience.
It’s why these comparisons serve no purpose.
Anyone can make up ANY comparison to prove any point.
For me, the bottom line is that Macs are Great computers. Not overpriced for their value, and they deliver TREMENDOUS Value.
Not the least of which is longevity.
I can use a Mac Twice as long as one of my PC’s. The Mac I bought in 1996 is as useful and useable today as any current PC.
I can still Surf the Web, Get Email, and do my daily work with Word and Excel, and FAST…
A PC from 1996 is slow, and can’t even run current OS’es. And is MUCH slower than my PowerCenter 132.
To this Mac users will say “you have to pay more for the best”. Well shouldn’t the best perform the best?
Depends on what you think performance is…
You think it means CPU Cycles. I think it means uptime, and user experience.
Or does “the best” mean “looks the best”?
That’s one possible dimension. I think most PC’s look awful. Especially the ones that look like Transformers and Aliens. Yet, others like them…
I like the looks of DELL computers and Gateways. I always have. I even like the looks of the EMachines Computers these days…
But I don’t like all the chrome and neon lights that others do.
Since asthetics are subjective, I don’t think one can include it.
Either way, its my opinion that the Macintosh platform has little going for it besides “lifestyle points”, which is just a fancy way of saying they are “trendy”.
You are welcome to have that opinion, even if it’s not backed up by the data or reality…
It just means that you have an agenda, aren’t being fair, and don’t have reasoning skills the rest of us can respect.
I’ve been a consultant for over 25 years. And I’m aware that amateurs often think they are experts. Often I’ve had to re-educate a customer after a “friend” filled his head with a load of crap like what you are pushing here…
I get repeat business based on my word, and how I fulfill on it. That “friend” can say ANYTHING, and there’s no accountability. If it sounds good, that’s all that matters.
In my case, I’ve saved companies THOUSANDS of dollars on systems, by recommending systems that reduce down time, have a longer service life (at least as long as the Amortization Schedule), and aren’t “stop flows” to the business.
For MANY years, those haven’t been PC’s.
They’ve been Macs.
All computers are the same. It’s not like in the early days when there was a big technological difference in the hardware that allowed for certain things to be accomplished on one machine and not the other. Nowdays macs and pc both use monitors, keyboards, and mice (pc mice come with at least 2 buttons by the way). The human interface is the same.
Anything that can be done on one platform can also be done on the other. It’s only a matter of software.
There is nothing the mac can do that cant be programmed for the pc and vice versa.
We have heard it all before. “Mac is better but more expensive than Windows”. I use both on a daily basis and I really don´t understand why Mac’s would be better. They are still generally much slower. The G5:s I use don’t get close to being “the fastest in the world”. Using them this claim seems like a lousy joke. Only the double processor ones compare to a common 32-bit PC, in my experiance.
OSX is flashy but confusing to use. It is fairly stable but many applications are not, Indesign for example.
The “cool” design is mostly just silly. Like the well hidden On/Off-key on the new “all-in-one” iMac g5. Or these useless transparent single button mice.
If you think Macs are better then buy one, I don´t mind. Still it is silly to try to persuade people that Windows larger market share is the result of some overnatural conspiration. It is simply reflects most users prefer the Windows environment and the PC hardware. That is rational for most users, people are not stupid.
Remeber that even most mac users have not upgraded to the “superior” OSX.
“Yeah, maybe. But, can it run OS X? Didn’t think so.”
Nope it sure can’t. But it can run Windows Media Center Edition 2005, Tablet PC 2005, XP Pro or Home, Windows Server 2003, Solaris, myriad hobby OSes, and about 250 versions of Linux. So x86 and x64 CPUs leave one with quite a few more choices than the G3s, G4s, and G5s in Macs.
“I’ve been a consultant for over 25 years. And I’m aware that amateurs often think they are experts. Often I’ve had to re-educate a customer after a “friend” filled his head with a load of crap like what you are pushing here… ”
Oh, a “consultant”.
ROTFLMAO!
Please remember that your subjective opinions aren’t objective facts just because you call yourself a “consultant”. BTW, a PC from 1996 most certainly will run Windows 2000. The rest of your screed is just as incorrect or entirely subjective.
Please.
“You think that Windows is an reasonable OS until you know the quality of its design compared with OSX. To me it is is a real frustration that so many people want to keep living in their own ignorance. Is OSX superior to MS? Yes it is, whether you like it or not, maybe you could call me arrogant, never mind it doesn’t matter. ”
I call you “incorrect”. Your subjective opinion is not objective reality.
Oh, a “consultant”.
ROTFLMAO!
Nothing to laugh at. Amazing that you do.
Please remember that your subjective opinions aren’t objective facts just because you call yourself a “consultant”.
I don’t “Call” myself a consultant. I *AM* a consultant, and have been since you were sitting in front of your TV in you Jammies eating Cheerios and watching the Road Runner.
BTW, a PC from 1996 most certainly will run Windows 2000. The rest of your screed is just as incorrect or entirely subjective.
Uh, no… Not as nicely as a Mac from that era will run MacOS X.
If you think a P133 runs Windows 2000 acceptably… That’s your hangup.
It’s amazing how personally you’re taking all this, and how much you need to validate yourself by putting others down. As well as the Macintosh Platform.
The fact that the Macintosh is a fine platform and works well, and has provided TONS of value and enjoyment to it’s owners, as well as BILLIONS in profit and prosperity to Apple and it’s shareholders, shouldn’t cause your ego to be harmed in ANY way.
Yet, it is.
Amazing.
Take YOUR ego and subjectivity out of this discussion.
How does it harm YOU, the world, or ANYONE if you can simply say that Macs are good computers, and the people who love them have PLENTY of good reasons to do so.
Do you feel invalidated because you like a certain flavor of Ice Cream that others DON’T like???
Amazing how much of your ego is invested in this, and how driven you are to lie and distort the facts…
The only person using subjectivity here is you. And rather negatively at that.
“”$750 or better yet $899 for a machine with a CPU that runs well against a $2500 dual 2.0GHz G5″
Yeah, maybe. But, can it run OS X? Didn’t think so.”
And now its not $750 or $899, its $675 or $810. All MCE PCs are 10% off this week at Circuit City
http://weeklyad.circuitcity.com/circuitcity/default.aspx?action=bro…
“10% OFF
After Mail-in Rebates
thru Jan 29
all Media Center PCs”
Compare this to a 17″ iMac–
$1090 versus the iMac that sells for $1299
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/bundleDetail.do?oid=115459&bundleId=…
Gateway Media Center Desktop PC (816GM) • AMD Athlon 64 3400+
• 200GB hard drive
• 512MB RAM • Dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive
• 7 USB 2.0 & 3 FireWire
• 8-in-1 memory reader
Gateway Monitor (FPD1750) • Flat-panel LCD
• 17” display • 1280 x 1024 resolution
• On-screen controls
Lexmark X2250 Printer/ Scanner/ Copier (0021T0000) • Print up to 14 ppm
• Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi • 48-bit flatbed scanner
• Copy up to 13 cpm
$210 less and you get:
an all-in-one printer
double the memory to 512MB
120gb bigger hard drive
8-in-1 card reader
dual layer +/- dvd burner in place of just a combo drive
double the video memory to 128mb
tv tuner card
more expansion and more usb 2 and firewire ports
http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html
So in reality, this pc is better compared to the 17″ imac that costs $1499 and it still has over that model:
an all-in-one printer
double the memory to 512MB
120gb bigger hard drive
8-in-1 card reader
double the video memory to 128mb
tv tuner card
more expansion and more usb 2 and firewire ports
faster dvd burner that does dual layer and +/-
All for $410 less. Anyone doubt PCs cost less than Macs yet?
“BTW, a PC from 1996 most certainly will run Windows 2000. The rest of your screed is just as incorrect or entirely subjective.
Uh, no… Not as nicely as a Mac from that era will run MacOS X.”
Mac OS X isn’t supported on a single Mac made in 1996.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/
Requirements:
Power Mac G3, G4 or G5
iMac
eMac
PowerBook G3 or G4
iBook computer with 128 MB of physical RAM
Built-in USB
Win2k however:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/sysreq…
Minimum Requirements
Computer/Processor 133 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU.
Memory At least 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM; more memory generally improves responsiveness.
Hard Disk 2 GB with 650 MB free space.
CPU Support Windows 2000 Professional supports single and dual CPU systems.
Drive CD-ROM or DVD drive.
Display VGA or higher resolution monitor.
Keyboard Required.
“Nothing to laugh at. Amazing that you do.”
I’ve encountered enough consultants to not take your word on anything.
“Please remember that your subjective opinions aren’t objective facts just because you call yourself a “consultant”.
I don’t “Call” myself a consultant. I *AM* a consultant, and have been since you were sitting in front of
your TV in you Jammies eating Cheerios and watching the Road Runner.”
You presume much, Mr. Consultant.
“BTW, a PC from 1996 most certainly will run Windows 2000. The rest of your screed is just as incorrect or
entirely subjective.
Uh, no… Not as nicely as a Mac from that era will run MacOS X.”
A Mac from that era won’t run OS X without a great deal of 3rd party help – and yes, a P6 will run Windows 2000
just fine.
“If you think a P133 runs Windows 2000 acceptably… That’s your hangup.”
The Pentium Pro was out in 1995. You didn’t know that?
“It’s amazing how personally you’re taking all this, and how much you need to validate yourself by putting
others down. As well as the Macintosh Platform.”
Come on, you capitalize things like “User Experience” and “Macintosh Platform”….
Why do YOU take this so personally? I, frankly, find the lengths Mac fans will go to defend themselves amusing.
“The fact that the Macintosh is a fine platform and works well, and has provided TONS of value and enjoyment to it’s
owners, as well as BILLIONS in profit and prosperity to Apple and it’s shareholders, shouldn’t cause your ego to be
harmed in ANY way.”
That’s nice. Why does the
“Take YOUR ego and subjectivity out of this discussion.”
You have this idea that your anecdotes are data… Amusing.
“How does it harm YOU, the world, or ANYONE if you can simply say that Macs are good computers,
and the people who love them have PLENTY of good reasons to do so.”
That isn’t what people like you say. That isn’t what the author of the “article” said.
“Amazing how much of your ego is invested in this, and how driven you are to lie and distort the facts…”
Please point out any lie I’ve made. I can point out a number of incorrect statements you made. Which may or may not
be lies.
“The only person using subjectivity here is you. And rather negatively at that.”
ROTFLMAO!
@guccen
We have heard it all before. “Mac is better but more expensive than Windows”. I use both on a daily basis and I really don´t understand why Mac’s would be better.
Then, most likely you DON’T use a Mac on a daily basis. If you did, you wouldn’t say this silly statement.
They are still generally much slower
No. They aren’t. My G3 350 is as responsive and as usable as as my Celeron 2.4. Processor Ghz isn’t everything. It’s the design of the OS and the user experience.
And the Mac User experience is just better. No surprise. It’s designed to be that way. It’s constantly upgraded to STAY that way.
The next version of MacOS X will make the gap for Microsoft to address EVEN LARGER.
The G5:s I use don’t get close to being “the fastest in the world”. Using them this claim seems like a lousy joke. Only the double processor ones compare to a common 32-bit PC, in my experiance.
I don’t know. I don’t have a G5. I can agree that Steve Job’s pushing of the G5 as the world’s fastest MicroComputer is probably wrong.
It doesn’t make the Mac a bad platform.
OSX is flashy but confusing to use.
Not in any way.
Still it is silly to try to persuade people that Windows larger market share is the result of some overnatural conspiration.
We don’t have to try. This contention was litigated in court, and Microsoft lost. They have to pay a LARGE Settlement based on just this issue.
Seems like you are not informed.
It is simply reflects most users prefer the Windows environment and the PC hardware.
No, it reflects that most people consider themselves unknowledgeable about computers, and were SOLD PC’s instead of Macs.
I worked for CompUSA for awhile, and I watched MANY people come in, look at Macs, and walked out with PC’s because the salespeople lied about the Macs (No Software, 400mhz is slower than 1ghz, not expandable…).
NOT because they chose in full knowledge of the relative merits of the platforms. But based on the lies told to them by a salesperson who wanted the “Spiff” from selling an inferior product.
That is rational for most users, people are not stupid.
They are NOT stupid. Just uninformed. And they trust someone they percieve to be more knowledgable about computers than they are.
It’s the same deal with used car salesman, who sell people lemons instead of a car they’d REALLY be happy with.
Remeber that even most mac users have not upgraded to the “superior” OSX.
Now I *KNOW* you aren’t a Mac user. We passed the 50% point a LONG time ago…
MOST mac users now use MacOS X. Very few still use MacOS 9. And less every day. The sales of NEW units would guarantee that.
You are like a LOT of the Mac Detractors. You’ve bought a LOT of the myths, unquestioningly. Beleive even more that isn’t true. And somehow thing that for the Mac to be good, Windows has to be bad.
Or, for MacOS X to be “better” than Windows, that Windows has to be bad.
Windows is a FINE OS that people use EVERY day to get their work done. That many people (almost EVERYONE that has USED MacOS X) believe MacOS X to be better designed, easier to use, faster, more secure, and prettier…
Doesn’t make Windows a piece of crap.
It’s just a gap that Microsoft has to address.
TheSeeker is back, eh ChanMan. Being banned wasn’t enough, was it. Right back to your same old routine.
“And the Mac User experience is just better. No surprise. It’s designed to be that way. It’s constantly upgraded to STAY that way. ”
See, this is one of those “subjective” opinions you think is fact.
“I worked for CompUSA for awhile, and I watched MANY people come in, look at Macs, and walked out with PC’s because the salespeople lied about the Macs (No Software, 400mhz is slower than 1ghz, not expandable…). ”
Wait! Aren’t you supposed to have been a “consultant” for 25 years?
One thing I think what people ignored is the idea of “Just works”. Mac OS X is good not because it’s flashier (which it is), but because it allows you to get work done: There are less tweaks and maintenance works required on a Mac. You don’t need several spyware scanners (usually you won’t encounter one and if you want to be safe, there is MacScan), registry cleaners (OS X, like most POSIX systems, use standard folder structure instead of the corruption prone registry) and uninstallers. Firewall is built into the system and is well tested (it’s the same one used in FreeDSB), unlike the one that comes with winxp. There are reliable and well-tested anti-hacking tools if you need them (tripwire etc.), which is generally better compared to their win counterparts.
As for productivity, MS Office 2004 is available, so is Openoffice.org and on the user friendly side you have iWork. I seriously doubt you need more than that. For Entertainment, iLife generally works better compared to the myriad of windows equivalents because it requires no tweaking, have everything you need (and can be accessed with the click of a mouse, instead of requiring you to configure etc.) in a HIG-compiant interface and aren’t as fragile (we have all heard of the Directshow filter horrors caused by codec packs)
fine you guys. Macs are the best. They are the best value. They are cheaper and faster than any other computers out there. Plus they look cool. and OSX is the best OS in the world. and I actually really like not being able to choose what parts i use, it makes it easier for me.
i’m not posting in this article anymore. i have an agenda … to end this lame discussion.
http://pcnmac.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=296#296
“Target.com has a 10% coupon (TDWELCME2224), which can be applied toward the Mac mini
40gb model for $50 off
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-3/qid=1106516295/ref=sr_1…
80gb model for $60 off
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-4/qid=1106516295/ref=sr_1…
nice.”
#Mike:
Nice strawman you’ve setup here…
ANOTHER negative post from you…
fine you guys. Macs are the best.
Nope. I never said that. “Better” and “Best” are two different things.
They are the best value.
Never said that. They are a VERY GOOD value. I NEVER said “Best”.
And remember, people like you with an Anti-Mac Agenda have been saying they are a bad value..
They are cheaper and faster than any other computers out there.
I never said THIS either.
Boy you sure are good at building strawmen…
Plus they look cool.
The first true thing you’ve said.
and OSX is the best OS in the world.
Nobody said this. Being BETTER than Windows does NOT make it the best OS in the world.
You keep stuffing straw into that strawman…
and I actually really like not being able to choose what parts i use, it makes it easier for me.
I wouldn’t know. Considering how poor your reasoning skills have shown themselves to be. You’d probably be MUCH better off letting someone else choose for you.
i’m not posting in this article anymore. i have an agenda … to end this lame discussion.
Except you keep building a strawman, setting it on fire…
And feeding the fire.
Why don’t you give up now. You’ve made quite a LARGE fool out of yourself all the way through this discussion…
Just tell the truth.
The Mac is a good computer, anyone who buys one will get good use out of it, over a long period of time.
And PC’s are good computers, and make millions of people very happy.
And that Macs are good, and PC’s are good does not take away from the relative merits of the other platform.
That MacOS is a cleaner, faster and more secure OS than Windows, does not mean that Windows isn’t “Good Enough”. It just means, MacOS X is cleaner, faster and more secure…
There. That wasn’t so hard was it?
And the Strawmen won’t have to file an abuse class action lawsuit against you…
@JCS
“And the Mac User experience is just better. No surprise. It’s designed to be that way. It’s constantly upgraded to STAY that way.”
See, this is one of those “subjective” opinions you think is fact.
You are good at setting up strawmen too…
There’s NOTHING wrong with a subjective opinion about a UI. That’s the only thing you can have about a UI.
When it comes to a human’s interaction with a UI, it’s ALL subjective.
And people who have been polled and have used both platforms OVERWHELMINGLY prefer MacOS X to Windows. Especially after using MacOS X for an extended period of time.
People just like not having blue screens, rebooting constantly, and applications crashing.
They also like hardware that just works.
Wait! Aren’t you supposed to have been a “consultant” for 25 years?
Yup. I am. I consult on weekends, and evenings when I’m not working a full time job. I used to be self-employed, but the hassle of paying taxes and filing all the legal documents wasn’t worth it to me.
Working part-time, I don’t worry about that anymore.
And even in my full-time job, I do the same thing I did as a consultant.
I support people building and using cross platform networks.
“It is better to be silent and appear a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”
Thanks for removing all doubt, Sherlock Jr.
In the future, attack the premise.. Not the speaker.
And if you can’t attack the premise (which you can’t in this case…), admit it and keep quiet…
“There’s NOTHING wrong with a subjective opinion about a UI. That’s the only thing you can have about a UI. ”
The problem here is that you present it as an objective fact.
“And people who have been polled and have used both platforms OVERWHELMINGLY prefer MacOS X to Windows. Especially after using MacOS X for an extended period of time.”
I would wonder who’s conducted those polls. I’ve used the original Mac OS gui and found the “single menu bar at the top of the screen” rather clumsy. It’s no wonder no one else has implemented a GUI like that.
“People just like not having blue screens, rebooting constantly, and applications crashing.”
I do too. I don’t have blue screens. My systems don’t reboot constantly and my applications don’t crash all the time. I use IRIX and Windows XP and neither do this. It’s this kind of nonsense that makes your argument weak. You have to make things up.
“They also like hardware that just works.”
I’ve seen far too many little black timebomb icons to believe that. Pull the other one.
“In the future, attack the premise.. Not the speaker.”
When you present your supposed credentials as evidence that your opinion has more weight (the “as a consultant”), you make those supposed credentials open to disagreement. I find it odd that a “consultant” would work retail – unless “consultant” means that you work as a job shopper (temporary jobs). Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t lend a great deal of credence to your argument when you mention that you’ve worked retail during those “25 years as a consultant”. Working part time isn’t really “consulting” in the usual use of the word.
“One thing I think what people ignored is the idea of “Just works”. Mac OS X is good not because it’s flashier (which it is), but because it allows you to get work done: There are ”
Funny. For my work, Mac OS X would be an impediment.
“less tweaks and maintenance works required on a Mac.”
What “tweaks” and “maintenance works” am I missing out on on XP?!?
“You don’t need several spyware scanners (usually you won’t”
You need at MOST one – and the only thing mine ever finds are cookies. Are cookies not used by Safari?
“encounter one and if you want to be safe, there is MacScan), registry cleaners (OS X, like most POSIX systems,”
I’ve never needed a registry cleaner on XP.
“use standard folder structure instead of the corruption prone registry) and uninstallers.”
That’s not what “POSIX” specifies.
These arguments really don’t hold a great deal of water and seem based on some bad experience with Windows 95.
I’ve used everything from the original Mac OS to UNICOS to Solaris to IRIX to Windows NT->2k->XP and XP just doesn’t give me problems.
“Funny. For my work, Mac OS X would be an impediment. ”
Thats fine.
For my work, Mac OS X is not an impediment, it helps me.
All your posts here reflect the fact that you don’t like or need Mac OS X.
That means little or nothing to me, because I use and make my living using OS X.
Surely you don’t want to limit my choice of OS’s?
Cause the totality of your posts here sure seem to indicate you want to make the choice for all of us.
“All your posts here reflect the fact that you don’t like or need Mac OS X. ”
No. My posts here have very clearly disagreed with the original article – which stated that there is no rational basis for any choice that doesn’t result in Apple. That is not a supportable statement – despite attempts by Apple proponents to support it.
Pay attention.
“That means little or nothing to me, because I use and make my living using OS X.”
So why did you reply?
“Surely you don’t want to limit my choice of OS’s?”
Again, read before you reply. I find it amusing that a disagreement with the original article is somehow taken as an attack on Apple.
“Cause the totality of your posts here sure seem to indicate you want to make the choice for all of us.”
Oh, please.
Some facts:
1) OSX doesn’t have the registry-hell.
2) OSX doesn’t have the DLL Hell.
3) The use of Application packages.
4) System files and user files are strictly separated, by which it is possible to secure the most critical files in the very best way.
5) OSX supports every open file- and protocol standard, while M$ tries to kill:
HTML (W3C), PDF, JAVA, MP2, MP3, MP4 and OpenGL and maybe even XML (W3C).
PS:
Only propriety standard Apple supports is Fairplay (DRM), which I must admit is a shame for Apple.
I forgot:
6) No viri, spyware open ports.
The day after tomorrow again I have to help an Windows-friend out, he and I deserve better.
“Some facts:
1) OSX doesn’t have the registry-hell.
2) OSX doesn’t have the DLL Hell.
3) The use of Application packages.
4) System files and user files are strictly separated, by which it is possible to secure the most critical files in the very best way.
5) OSX supports every open file- and protocol standard, while M$ tries to kill:
HTML (W3C), PDF, JAVA, MP2, MP3, MP4 and OpenGL and maybe even XML (W3C).
PS:
Only propriety standard Apple supports is Fairplay (DRM), which I must admit is a shame for Apple.”
An Apple boot rom is now an open standard huh? To say Apple only supports one proprietary standard is absurd.
And since you don’t even know that Java is not an open standard but remains firmly under the control of Sun, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language “Specifications of the Java language, the JVM and the Java API are community-maintained through the Sun-managed Java Community Process.”, we can safely dismiss your point.
i replied because you constantly post in these mac threads the same thing over and over and over.
My comments to you aren’t based solely on your critique about the article, get real, you have gone all over the place in these threads.
Jeez, you be one sour dude.
@JCS
“There’s NOTHING wrong with a subjective opinion about a UI. That’s the only thing you can have about a UI.”
The problem here is that you present it as an objective fact.
The ONLY thing I present as a fact is that most people who use it, love it. That they love it, is their subjective opinion.
I would wonder who’s conducted those polls. I’ve used the original Mac OS gui and found the “single menu bar at the top of the screen” rather clumsy. It’s no wonder no one else has implemented a GUI like that.
Entirely Subjective. I thought you disliked Subjective Opinions? Guess they only OK when YOU do it.
“People just like not having blue screens, rebooting constantly, and applications crashing.”
I do too. I don’t have blue screens. My systems don’t reboot constantly and my applications don’t crash all the time. I use IRIX and Windows XP and neither do this. It’s this kind of nonsense that makes your argument weak. You have to make things up.
Not made up. Mazel Tov if your system is so simple, and you never add software or hardware to it…
It happens to my clients on a regular basis.
My neighbor has blown out his Windows System and trashed it with Virii and Bots, four times in the past year.
My friends with Macs run without a problem.
“They also like hardware that just works.”
I’ve seen far too many little black timebomb icons to believe that. Pull the other one.
Bad RAM has nothing to do with the design and day-to-day operation of MacOS X. Try again. And stop pulling that leg, you’ll go blind.
“In the future, attack the premise.. Not the speaker.”
When you present your supposed credentials as evidence that your opinion has more weight (the “as a consultant”), you make those supposed credentials open to disagreement.[i]
How can you disagree with a fact? You don’t like “Subjective Opinions” and NOW you don’t like facts???
Make up your mind.
[i]I find it odd that a “consultant” would work retail – unless “consultant” means that you work as a job shopper (temporary jobs).
You can find it “odd” all you want. The reason you find it odd, is because… Like your “knowledge” of the Mac World, what you know is incomplete, incorrect, and badly interpreted by you.
I’ve worked retail a bit when I was younger, while STILL consulting on the side. That’s NOT unusual.
And CompUSA had a section called “CIS” (Computer Information Services) that handled installation of systems to large accounts like the U.S. Government, Banks, Schools, and businesses.
I did that for 6 months before CompUSA closed that division. And I worked in the Tech Shop at CompUSA so they’d pay for my training to get A+ (seems I already had that in my Novell CNE circa 1989), Apple Certs and an MCSE.
Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t lend a great deal of credence to your argument when you mention that you’ve worked retail during those “25 years as a consultant”.
See above. You making something unreal and untrue up, doesn’t mean there’s no credence to my credentials or my 25 years of experience selling, installing, configuring, repairing computers, or my 20+ years of Networking Experience which starts with Corvus Hard Drives and Novell 1.0a 8086 and culminates with Windows 2003 Server and MacOS X Server.
You know NOT what you speak. And it’s obvious everytime you post.
A friend once told me that opinions are like the spincter in people’s rear ends. Everyone has one. And they stink.
Yours, seem to stink more than most… It seems.
Working part time isn’t really “consulting” in the usual use of the word.
I’ll make sure to shred all those pieces of paper that say “Invoice” at the top, and “Consulting Services” in the middle.
Not to mention informing my bank that all those little pieces of paper in payment of those other pieces of paper, weren’t really checks.
You think YOUR fantasy world is more valid than reality???
I’ve noticed that all throughout your posts.
You claim to ABHOR Subjectivity, yet you live in a subjective world. You ignore facts, and give your subjective fantasies primacy.
That’s called “Transferrence”, when you hate in others what you hate in yourself.
I suggest you deal with that in some other way, rather than contributing your false and anecdotal experiences to a discussion, and then complain that OTHERS introduce “subjective” opinions…
ROFLMAO!
You are HILARIOUS!!!!
“1) OSX doesn’t have the registry-hell.”
Which would be what?
“2) OSX doesn’t have the DLL Hell.”
OS X doesn’t have dynamic libraries?
“3) The use of Application packages.”
So? If I don’t want to write my app for MSI, I don’t have to.
“4) System files and user files are strictly separated, by which it is possible to secure the most critical files in the very best way.”
Kind of like how I operate as a regular user in XP…..
“5) OSX supports every open file- and protocol standard, while M$ tries to kill:
HTML (W3C), PDF, JAVA, MP2, MP3, MP4 and OpenGL and maybe even XML (W3C).”
This is a silly statement. Apple is just as proprietary as they wish to be.
“6) No viri, spyware open ports.”
“Viri” isn’t the plural of virus.
“The day after tomorrow again I have to help an Windows-friend out, he and I deserve better.”
Funny. I don’t have these problems. Viruses are spread through social engineering.
@JCS
“The ONLY thing I present as a fact is that most people who use it, love it. That they love it,
is their subjective opinion.”
You really don’t read what you write, do you? Read your own posts. You make unsupportable absolute statements.
“Entirely Subjective. I thought you disliked Subjective Opinions? Guess they only OK when YOU do it.”
Of course. See how it works?
lications crashing.”
“Not made up. Mazel Tov if your system is so simple, and you never add software or hardware to it…”
My systems are hardly simple.
“It happens to my clients on a regular basis.”
Well, I’m sure you want to stay employed.
“My neighbor has blown out his Windows System and trashed it with Virii and Bots, four times in the past year.”
“Blown out”? Come on! Virii isn’t even a word! What the heck is a “bot”?
“The ONLY thing I present as a fact is that most people who use it, love it.
That they love it, is their subjective opinion.”
That’s not what you’ve said. That certainly isn’t what the original article said.
“Bad RAM has nothing to do with the design and day-to-day operation of MacOS X. Try again.
And stop pulling that leg, you’ll go blind.”
If you think bad ram is the only cause of a Mac crash, you have little history with them.
“When you present your supposed credentials as evidence that your opinion has more weight
(the “as a consultant”), you make those supposed credentials open to disagreement.
How can you disagree with a fact? You don’t like “Subjective Opinions” and NOW you don’t like facts???”
What FACT would that be?
“You can find it “odd” all you want. The reason you find it odd, is because… Like your “knowledge” of the
Mac World, what you know is incomplete, incorrect, and badly interpreted by you.
I’ve worked retail a bit when I was younger, while STILL consulting on the side. That’s NOT unusual.”
CompUSA just isn’t all that old. Working retail is certainly not something I’ve ever seen a consultant do. Then again,
a “consultant” is a degreed professional with a great deal of experience. You sound like you’re a part time network tech.
“See above. You making something unreal and untrue up, doesn’t mean there’s no credence to my credentials or my
25 years of experience selling, installing, configuring, repairing computers, or my 20+ years of Networking
Experience which starts with Corvus Hard Drives and Novell 1.0a 8086 and culminates with Windows 2003 Server
and MacOS X Server.
You know NOT what you speak. And it’s obvious everytime you post.”
Hartman, you can claim anything you want in an environment like this. Doesn’t make it true. Come on, you even capitalized
“network experience”!
“Working part time isn’t really “consulting” in the usual use of the word.
I’ll make sure to shred all those pieces of paper that say “Invoice” at the top, and “Consulting Services” in the middle.”
Please do. I’VE worked as a consultant and I certainly never worked retail while I was doing it. Frankly, CompUSA
couldn’t afford my rates.
“You think YOUR fantasy world is more valid than reality???”
You seem to.
“That’s called “Transferrence”, when you hate in others what you hate in yourself.”
Oh, this is amusing. Your first post in this thread is EXACTLY what you accuse me of doing.
I haven’t said the Mac is a bad platform. I’ve just said that it isn’t the BEST and that the original article is garbage.
“BTW, a PC from 1996 most certainly will run Windows 2000. The rest of your screed is just as incorrect or entirely subjective.”
Uh, no… Not as nicely as a Mac from that era will run MacOS X.
If you think a P133 runs Windows 2000 acceptably… That’s your hangup.
You have NFI what you’re talking about (and this isn’t the only example, after reading through a number of your posts in this thread, merely to most obvious).
No version of OS X is supported on a ca. 1996 Macintosh (minimum requirement is a G3, and the first G3s were released late 1997). A Mac from 1996 is going to – at most – a ca. 200Mhz 604-based machine. The majority of them are going to be 100 – 150Mhz 601 or 603 based machines.
(Some people may recall Apple’s non-support for anything older than a G3 – and its poor support of the G3s themselves – led to a lawsuit).
I seem to recall there are a few hacks around the place that might allow you to some versions of OS X installed on one of these machines. However, performance is going to be *dismal* (and that’s being extremely generous). I’ve used OS X (Public Beta, 10.0, 10.1) on a 233Mhz Beige G3 and even calling it “sluggish” is being too nice. A typical ca. 1996 Mac would struggle to have half that performance.
A typical ca. 1996 PC, OTOH, is a 166Mhz Pentium, exceeding Windows 2000’s minimum requirements of a 133Mhz Pentium. Then there’s higher end PCs – dual Pentium or Pentium Pro machines – that are quite capable of running Windows 2000 acceptably. I have personally installed *XP* onto a ca. 1997 200Mhz dual Pentium MMX machine and, while certainly slow, it was usable. It was definitely no less responsive than OS X on an early G3 iMac or G3 PowerMac.
If *you* think OS X is going to run reasonably on a typical 9 year old 601- or 603-based PowerMac, then Windows 2000 on a 9 year old PC is *blazingly* fast.
It seems to me Mac zealots think of an Apple badge much the same way riceboys thinks of aftermarket VTEC stickers.
@JCS
You really don’t read what you write, do you? Read your own posts. You make unsupportable absolute statements.
No. I leave that to you. You’ve got that area WELL covered.
“Entirely Subjective. I thought you disliked Subjective Opinions? Guess they only OK when YOU do it.”
Of course. See how it works?
Hypocrisy? Sure, you’ve provided a good example of it.
“It happens to my clients on a regular basis.”
Well, I’m sure you want to stay employed.
LOL!
Nope. I fix ’em and they stay running for a fairly long time. Until the next time my client adds hardware or software that isn’t well tested…
“My neighbor has blown out his Windows System and trashed it with Virii and Bots, four times in the past year.”
“Blown out”? Come on! Virii isn’t even a word! What the heck is a “bot”?
More ignorance?
And you claim to be someone who can opine on whether someone is a consultant or not? ROFLMAO!
“Bad RAM has nothing to do with the design and day-to-day operation of MacOS X. Try again. And stop pulling that leg, you’ll go blind.”
If you think bad ram is the only cause of a Mac crash, you have little history with them.
It’s one of the main reasons. Another reason is file corruption, also not the fault of the OS.
“When you present your supposed credentials as evidence that your opinion has more weight
(the “as a consultant”), you make those supposed credentials open to disagreement.
How can you disagree with a fact? You don’t like “Subjective Opinions” and NOW you don’t like facts???”
What FACT would that be?
The fact that I’m a consultant with over 25 years of experience. Which exists without your dubious agreement.
CompUSA just isn’t all that old. Working retail is certainly not something I’ve ever seen a consultant do. Then again, a “consultant” is a degreed professional with a great deal of experience. You sound like you’re a part time network tech.
ROFLMAO!
There you go, indulging your fantasy world again…
Why does CompUSA have to be old, for me to have worked for it??
And I’ve been both a part time AND a full time Consultant.
That’s NOT odd in today’s world.
What’s odd are your failed attempts to play “Sherlock Holmes”.
Hartman, you can claim anything you want in an environment like this. Doesn’t make it true. Come on, you even capitalized “network experience”!
I did indeed. So?
Please do. I’VE worked as a consultant and I certainly never worked retail while I was doing it. Frankly, CompUSA
couldn’t afford my rates.
I wasn’t consulting for CompUSA. I was working for them. ROFLMAO!
Holmes, you are not.
“You think YOUR fantasy world is more valid than reality???”
You seem to.
LOL! You really DO indulge in fantasy.
“That’s called “Transferrence”, when you hate in others what you hate in yourself.”
Oh, this is amusing. Your first post in this thread is EXACTLY what you accuse me of doing.
Uh huh… Nice try. You aren’t fooling anyone.
I haven’t said the Mac is a bad platform. I’ve just said that it isn’t the BEST and that the original article is garbage.
The article didn’t say it was the best. YOU did.
And you’ve posted MANY messages denigrating the Mac. I’m not surprised you overlook all your trash talking of the Mac. Reality isn’t your thing.
And the article may indeed have problems. But then, so does your knowledge of the Macintosh and the realities of comparing it to Windows based systems.
“No. I leave that to you. You’ve got that area WELL covered. ”
So, you didn’t make statements like this:
“There’s no way to put a dollar amount on User Experience. And the User Experience with MacOS X is superior to Windows. And will continue to get better with Tiger, while Windows XP has stood still. ”
“Computers have been much faster than we’ve needed for YEARS”
Now, this is just silly. Unless your “systems” are simple.
“A PC from 1996 is slow, and can’t even run current OS’es. And is MUCH slower than my PowerCenter 132. ”
This is just plain wrong. That Powercenter isn’t a supported platform, while a 1996 PC is. Like the 1996 PC I ran 2000 on. It ran fine.
“You are welcome to have that opinion, even if it’s not backed up by the data or reality… ”
This was in your FIRST post, yet you provided no data at all of your own. You only provide proof by assertion.
“And you’ve posted MANY messages denigrating the Mac. I’m not surprised you overlook all your trash talking of the Mac. Reality isn’t your thing.”
Actually, I’ve not denigrated the Mac that I can recall – least of not in this thread. I’ve disagreed with people over whether or not it’s the “BEST”, as they claim. I’m not advocating Windows XP, I just disagree with the silly Win95-ish arguments trotted out by people like you. The funny thing is is that my current main desktop runs IRIX (wait, I do think you said all my “systems” are “simple”!).
If I’ve denigrated anything it’s the Mac zealots. I find them amusing on occasion. Like the author of the original article. He’s a “consultant” too, from what I understand.
Oh, I forgot the rule – not agreeing with a Mac advocate means you’re attacking their platform, since it is tied so closely to their own self worth! Comedy gold!
“And the article may indeed have problems.”
The article was complete BS. Even more BS than you’ve spewed.
“But then, so does your knowledge of the Macintosh and the realities of comparing it to Windows based systems”
Well, in the real world your examples are at best dated and at worst wrong.
“I wasn’t consulting for CompUSA. I was working for them. ROFLMAO! ”
You seem to like pithy sayings, so here’s one:
“The only difference between a used car salesman and a computer salesman is that the car salesman KNOWS he’s lying.” You in a nutshell.
“”Hartman, you can claim anything you want in an environment like this. Doesn’t make it true. Come on, you even capitalized “network experience”!”
I did indeed. So?”
If you’re an American, it generally indicates that you don’t have a clue. Next question? Kind of like a “network consultant” using the word “virii”. The plural of VIRUS is VIRUSES. A professional should know his field well enough to know that.
“The fact that I’m a consultant with over 25 years of experience. Which exists without your dubious agreement. ”
The thing is, you state this as evidence that you’re right, but don’t back it up. Anyone can say anything on the internet.
“The article didn’t say it was the best. YOU did”
Did you read the article? Apparently not.
I’m done with you, Mr Consultant.
>Come on, people use Linux because it is free and they >don’t want to pay for anything. If OSX came out, it would >be heavily pirated.
Refer to PearPC + MacOSX on X86.
@JCS
I’ve replied to your missive twice, and the reply has been lost by this stupid browser…
So, I’m going to make a short and sweet reply.
You have NO factual basis for your remarks. You employ your own “Subjective” opinion allong with fallacies and non-factual statements to shoot this article and it’s author down.
A simple search of the article does not find the use of the word “best” even once.
If you want to interact with reality from your fantasy world…
Where you think YOUR subjective opinions have merit, and nobody elses does.
Where you think YOU are Sherlock Holmes.
Where you think it’s ok to use Ad Hominem Attacks on Mac Users and Consultants because you have no factual basis from which to argue…
Go right ahead.
The rest of us call that “grasping at straws”, and just plain meanness.
Why your ego is SO tied up in MacOS X not being better than Windows escapes us.
There’s no ego involved.
That Mountain Spring Water is better than Sewer water does not engage my ego at all.
That Windows is better than GEOS, does not engage my ego at all.
That MacOS X is better than Windows, does not engage my ego at all.
I use what’s best for the task at hand.
In some cases, that’s Windows. I love Windows. My Main computer is a Windows XP based P4 3.2ghz.
I also LOVE MacOS X. And my secondary computer is a G4 500mhz Machine, about to be replaced by a Mac Mini. (I just sold my G3 700 iBook, and I’m saving to buy a new 1.3ghz iBook).
I’m looking at swapping my machines and making a Mac my main machine. I might decide to go for a G5 Desktop if I do that, though I think the Mac Mini may be enough machine for me to do that anyway…
You can keep being negative and hateful, and ignore all the realities of the world, due to having your ego all wrapped up in this.
That’s fine.
Just don’t represent your subjectiveness as a reflection on reality.
Your opinion is in the VAST minority in this thread, which ought to be a clue Sherlock…
My neighbor has blown out his Windows System and trashed it with Virii and Bots, four times in the past year.
My friends with Macs run without a problem.
Viruses aren’t any problem on all the other unixes either.
– I’m disappointed that most Windows programmers have Zero experience on other platforms. This generally is the reason they tolerate poor sloppy software. Had they ever run on IBM mainframe software, for example, they’d be shocked how well it’s written. It essentially never crashes. In the shop where I worked, if we found a bug a year, we celabrated. Just for the uniqueness of finding a problem.
WinXP Pro has improved greatly from Win9x and even Win2000.
But, Microsoft’s attitude about not going all the way when it comes to security, not shutting down all the ports, is just to great a risk for most home users.
– Most users running still running as Administrator, all the time == Problem.
– People without an IT staff can’t keep up with the trojan / virus assault on this platform..
On Windows, if I use the Office products for anything but the simplest tasks I run into problems. I feel that Ms should test their app’s as well as IBM, not 10 times worse. They’ve certainly got the money.
Apple may not write as well as IBM’s mainframe division, but, it’s close enough, far better then Microsoft.
For me, it’s about the time not spent on Virus/Trojan/Disk Defraging/ Registry cleanup. On an Apple I Get More Done.
And, it’s a pleasure to use.
Just remember: a computer is a tool, not a lifestyle choice.
I was intrigued by this one. Considering that the choice of computer platform you make will have a huge impact on how you will be working with said platform [I’m heavily biased towards the Apple platform, but I am forming the language so that it can be read and accepted by the afficionado of any platform], I would say that this is most definitely a life style choice. The time I spend at my computer is just as much a part of my life as anything else I do. The platform I use will therefore directly impact on my lifestyle, and that is a valid point for any platform that you prefer to use.
To me that means creating a mind map to plan the novel, to build the essay, while enjoying iTunes [it’s a crime how easy it is to spend money without thinking about it buying songs online. If anyone knows of a more efficient, user-agreeable way of implementing this kind of technology -sans the DRM crap which Apple would not have put into it had they not been forced to-, you have to send me a link. That I have to see].
I can only hope that the throngs of Windows users have the same, serene experience of working with their machines as I do using my Mac. But I’m a bit cautious about that because I work on a PC from hell [can you guess what brand it is?] at work, running Win XP and all things being equal I can honestly tell you [but please feel free to disagree] that if my only choice was a Windows machine, I’d rather not use a computer at home at all.
I have more experience with other platforms than I have using my Mac[s] [in toto] and as far as OS X goes [10.3.7] nothing comes close to that user experience [not versed in Linux, never seen a BeBox from up close and personal].
My downfall will probably be that I don’t spend enough time managing my system. It seems to get by without my interference just fine. I think deep thoughts about the projects I’m working at. Not about drivers for devices, not about compatibility issues, not about the tens of thousands of extra software offerings that the Windows world boasts about. What do you call them? Viruses, trojans? Quaint software, obviously useful if enjoyed by so many millions of users. I haven’t missed not having them on my system. I don’t feel as if I’m losing out on anything.
Apple = bliss.
after reading the first ~75 article responses or so, I see a lot of people waving the “It’s more proprietary” flag against Apple.
What these people fail to see is that no matter which platform you choose, you are locked into certain subsequent decisions regarding ancillary items no matter what.
nearly all the off-the-shelf commodity hardware out there works equally well on Mac, Windows, and Linux (needing only drivers to work on either platform) Macintoshes use the same AGP/PCI USB IDE Ethernet, hw as any of the others. RAM is a bit more of a commodity, but is a small portion of the purchase relatively and is usually something one “buys more of” rather than “replaces”.
Another thing I’m seeing is the “software” banner being raised again by people completely ignorant of the fact that the current Macintosh runs, and lets be clear about this: ‘on the close order of’ _ALL_ the software.
All the Mac software
damn near all the OSS/unixy software (side by side with Aqua-based apps)
and with emulation, damn near any Windows software too (or at least those few apps you can’t find cross-platform for Mac, or a free OSS variant thereof)
In my humble estimation, there’s not enough software available for WINDOWS — i.e. software that works the way *I* want it to. (by the way, I loved the other poster’s comment regarding “there’s what, two browsers?”
(ok ok, Opera users, three, but still.)
You’re just as “locked in” with Windows as your platform, WRT software, as you are with a Mac, however the Mac gives you MORE available choices in addition: OSS, and in a pinch emulate til you can replace with something native.
When you buy a car, there’s only a few commodity parts you can replace off the shelf — some of them you still have to get from the manufacturer, sized for your specific type of car — that’s not lock-in? gimmie a break people.
This is a fallacious argument being waved about because it *seems* to make sense, until you examine the facts. The trouble is most people don’t bother.
“Wintel was the first open platform that everyone could implement.”
err come again? Has everyone forgotten why they were originally called “IBM-clones” ?
Why do Alienware’s offerings generally cost more ? When you understand the answer to that, therein lies one of the reasons that Apple’s offerings generally cost more. And no, not a lot more, considering all that you get (and I’m not just whistling about the hardware and software here either)
Why do Alienware’s offerings generally cost more ?
They base their products on latest and greatest and hold your hand with everything,that’s going to cost something.
I like to build them myself,with the same hardware.
I know I shouldn’t, but:
“I’ve replied to your missive twice, and the reply has been lost by this stupid browser… ”
I believe the technical term for what you’re doing is “primitive projection”…. You really do seem to have a lot of your ego invested in Apple. Especially when you view comments critical of this article or of baseless complaints about, say, Windows, as an *attack* on Apple.
Funny to watch. Just as funny as comments like “UNIX has no viruses”….. or UNIX == SECURITY or “Apple = bliss”.
“You have NO factual basis for your remarks.”
I’ve yet to see actual facts from you here, Hartman.
Anecdotes aren’t data, son.
“You employ your own “Subjective” opinion allong with fallacies and non-factual statements to shoot this article and it’s author down.”
The very basis of this article is a logical fallacy. I don’t have to use subjective reasons to demonstrate that the idea that there is NO rational basis for choosing Windows is wrong. That’s obvious merely by showing that there can be a rational reason for choosing it. There are quite rational reasons for not choosing Apple, too. I chose not to buy a Mac due to three rational reasons:
(1) I don’t care for single-source platforms.
(2) The hardware I need isn’t available for it.
(3) The software I need isn’t available for it.
I don’t buy a computer to run an operating system, but to run applications on that operating system.
That invalidates the entire thrust of the article right there.
Calm down, kid. Lay off the coffee. The fact that you posted this screed THREE times just to get your rage out lends me to believe you ought to stay away from your computer for a while.
“Your opinion is in the VAST minority in this thread, which ought to be a clue Sherlock…”
This is yet another logical fallacy – popularity. In a thread praising the Mac platform, there will obviously be many Mac users who agree – and they tend to be vocal.
I take it you’ll agree (since it uses the same logic) that Windows is superior to Mac OS X since far more people use it?
Well, I told you about objective experience in using both a MAC and AMD machine, for the work (I am physicist). I told you I had to use a MAC and I could afterwards use a PC. I told you that I was able do my work better on that PC (a lot cheaper) than on the MAC (that was more expensive).
Then you tell me that the PCs I could buy would not be “powerful, integrated, or useful as the one Mac Mini is”.
Let me tell you that I was very much expecting that when the lab bought that G3 for me some years ago, because MAC fans told me that they were 2 times faster than PCs.
I’ve PROVED then they were wrong and that a used PC could ran my number-crunchig than that new MAC. I’ve shown that to them!!!
Today they tell me “yes, you know..those were old times when G3…blah…blah… Now it is different!…”
Now you tell me that I would better pay twice the price to have a miniMAC without monitor to be more “powerful, integrated, or useful”.
Tell me one thing: Why would I believe you MAC advocates now if before (OS9-G3 times) you kept saying it was faster WHEN YOU KNEW that it wasn’t? Or maybe you didn’t have an idea on which was faster…
And.. yes… the AMD I bought made me work better, more powerful, integrated and useful FOR MY NEEDS than the G3.
I am ensuring you that. By experience.
Just correcting:
I’ve PROVED they were wrong and that an used PC could run my number-crunchig tasks faster than that new MAC. I’ve shown that to them!!!