PC or Mac?

[VBSnus]

Avast. End of story.

[RRK]

If you are a complete ****ing moron and can't keep your PC clean and problem free... The your really don't deserve a computer in the first place.

Do you know how many people you are talking about here?

Is it really that hard to purchase or download a "Borrowed" copy of some great antivirus software? Sure running a virus scan once a day seems tedious, but thousands of dollars saved it makes alot of sense! Plus there is a world of options for a PC. So many upgrades so little money. A person could build a super/gaming/design rendering super computer for 1/4 of the price of a mac! Hit up Tigerdirect's website and take a gander.

Listen I worked customer support for AT&T internet for a short time and people don't even know that a phone line needs to be connected to the computer let alone how to build one. Many, many, many people are completely clueless when it comes to computers. People don't know the difference between a right click and a left click. Some people cannot open a program if there is not an icon on the desktop. Etc.

[Roo]

Hey capncaveman: as it turns out, I would be the ****ing moron who can't keep their PC clean and without problems, but ya know what? I've never had to worry about viruses. I've been a mac user all my life. And I don't spend loads of money on updates, I buy a new one about every 5 years because my needs are minimal (primarily internet). So if you will allow me to employ your belligerant delivery, you are also a ****ing moron for getting all riled up because there are happy mac users out there. Calm down man.

[chadizzy1]

Hey capncaveman: as it turns out, I would be the ****ing moron who can't keep their PC clean and without problems, but ya know what? I've never had to worry about viruses. I've been a mac user all my life. And I don't spend loads of money on updates, I buy a new one about every 5 years because my needs are minimal (primarily internet). So if you will allow me to employ your belligerant delivery, you are also a ****ing moron for getting all riled up because there are happy mac users out there. Calm down man.

It's why most schools are using Mac or integrating into Macs for their school. Because of the simplicity of use, and lack of viruses. It's the most efficient machine you can buy and use.

[Bigblue1]

Not to mention it's just so damn intuitive. If PC clones running windows are so great, why is it that every windows upgrade employs the last version of Mac OS features? Just asking?

[captncaveman]

Hey capncaveman: as it turns out, I would be the ****ing moron who can't keep their PC clean and without problems, but ya know what? I've never had to worry about viruses. I've been a mac user all my life. And I don't spend loads of money on updates, I buy a new one about every 5 years because my needs are minimal (primarily internet). So if you will allow me to employ your belligerant delivery, you are also a ****ing moron for getting all riled up because there are happy mac users out there. Calm down man.

I'm not riled up. Just don't understand how so many people find "PC's" so confusing, and hard. I upgrade all the time. I love gaming. I am a software / web application developer. Do i need a beefy computer? no but i love gaming.

I'm sure there are a ton of happy mac users out there. Many that just use their machines for internet.

I'm not saying Macs are bad, but they are not the machine the commercials would have most to believe.

Pc's more bang for the buck!

But like Adolf Hitler said "Lie loud enough and long enough... and eventually...... the people will believe it."

[chadizzy1]

PCs are more bang for the buck because they make bigger explosions when they piss you off enough to explode them.

[captncaveman]

Not to mention it's just so damn intuitive. If PC clones running windows are so great, why is it that every windows upgrade employs the last version of Mac OS features? Just asking?

Well thats not really any kind of shot at pc's. Thats a shot directed towards Microsoft, and other companies making a dime from operating systems.

The Mac Os has great design, very shiny and smooth. But an os really doesn't make the system. If its the OS you want, then Make a Hackintosh like i suggested earlier.

[lxskllr]

I know Microsoft is guilty of some of these things, but they are also #1 in the market, and they are the industry standard. If Apple loosened up a bit, I think they could really give MS a run for the money.

MS looks like open source compared to Apple :^D

?What parts of Windows is Open source?

OS X ships with over 200 open source components. http://www.apple.com/opensource/

No parts are are os in Windows AFAIK, but MS lets you customize the O/S as you see fit. With Apple you do things their way or GTFO. You can't even get rid of that ugly assed silver theme on a Mac :^S

Macs easy to use? Not really. It works the same as Windows, but the stuff under the hood is hidden better(worse?) so it's harder to do things outside of the norm. All a Mac is, especially these days is a neutered PC in a pretty case.

[RRK]

No parts are are os in Windows AFAIK, but MS lets you customize the O/S as you see fit. With Apple you do things their way or GTFO. You can't even get rid of that ugly assed silver theme on a Mac :^S

Macs easy to use? Not really. It works the same as Windows, but the stuff under the hood is hidden better(worse?) so it's harder to do things outside of the norm. All a Mac is, especially these days is a neutered PC in a pretty case.

There are third party apps to change themes. Infact, I believe there are other gui's that will run on darwin.

[shikitohno]

As far as I'm concerned, Macs are basically computers for people who have a lot of money, and can't be bothered to learn what to do with their computer to keep it from breaking. Windows, you need to install virus software. You can get an unlimited free subscription to avast, that you just update once every couple of years, keep you virus free. Can't be bothered to run a scan? It takes maybe a minute to configure it to run automatically at a time of day where you're typically not at the PC (say, 3 in the morning). I work for my school's IT department, half the stuff we use to clean up computers people bring in doesn't cost a thing, so the argument about cost evening out with anti-spyware and anti-virus subscriptions is bull.

Macs are very stable, but I'd be willing to wager there are two other reasons universities favour them. First, to implement any sort of change that might alter the system, you need the admin password, which we here don't give to students. That means the kid that thinks he's a computer whiz because he read one HTML tutorial can't turn a very expensive machine to a pile of crap. Windows, even a low level user can change some very important settings. Second, universities purchase in very large quantities, so they can get discounts from Apple. If they cut a deal on a contract 8 or 9 years ago, they could probably get an even better one. Mac fan boys seem to forget, until not too long ago, Apple was in dire straits, and their computers were widely regarded as over-priced crap. They managed to hit gold with the iPod while simultaneously improving their computer offerings drastically.

Also, Macs aren't "virus-proof" as many like to think. It's true, the way user privileges are set up in the Mac OS, it's harder to write an effective virus for it. But it's still more than possible. The only reason Macs (or even Linux for that matter) don't have as many viruses as Windows is because those two alternatives represent such a tiny part of the market. According to pcmag, as of March third, Windows had a market share 88.42%, Apple was 9.61%, and Linux .88%. Think about it. Designing a virus for a Mac is like designing a lock picking and hotwiring kit that only works on Yugos. How much can you really hope to make?

Really, what it comes down to is what you're comfortable using and have the money for. Personally, I like Linux. As stable as a Mac, probably more if you know what you're doing, and I can upgrade parts. Plus, building a Linux rig won't run me $2000 to get a machine that won't freeze while I use it, with a hard drive that won't be full in six months. I'd prefer Windows to Mac, because I find the interface easier to use, and know what not to do. I must admit, I did like the Apple II back in the day. Last thing Apple made that I thought was any good.

And as far as the PC vs. Mac ads go, one question. If you're so much better than the leading brand Mr. Mac, why aren't you the leading brand?

(If you answered, "Because it's only better for some people, and not most." go buy yourself a cookie. Sorry, I can't afford to give everyone on the Internet that figured that one out a cookie.)

Edit:Clarity & spelling.

[Roo]

Nice post shikitohno. I totally agree with everything you said except the part about me having a lot of money. I am typing this on my home computer -- a 2002 imac that was a hand-me-down, bound for the dump. It's a piece of shit and I can't afford to do anything about it right now. Ah, long story. Anyway, good post.

[truthwolf1]

I hate it that "designers" use macs. Most claim better color. Why is that?

In my experience the mac moniters are calibrated more correctly right out of the box which saves a big step when trying to match color with print houses. I calibrated my acer moniter here at work and it was not that difficult but I know that it is off and have to check anything I send to print on the wife's mac.

[blotgode]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEizg6ImkO4 8) :twisted:

[RRK]

If you're so much better than the leading brand Mr. Mac, why aren't you the leading brand?

Apple runs with specific philosophies that they have always believed produce a better product. One is that they are a hardware company and software should be designed to sell hardware. Microsoft took the opposite approach and they then have to design an OS that will work ok with all current hardware rather then working well with a limited set of hardware. Microsoft's approach allows for a larger range of machines at a wider price point so they have a larger audience.

Also, Apple was dominant until they fired Steve Jobs and they have been successful since they hired Steve back.

There is an extraordinary breadth and depth and tenure among the Apple executive team, and these executives lead over 35,000 employees that I would call "all wicked smart". And that's in all areas of the company, from engineering to marketing to operations and sales and all the rest. And the values of our company are extremely well entrenched.

We believe that we're on the face of the Earth to make great products, and that's not changing. We're constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple, not the complex. We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products we make, and participate only in markets where we can make a significant contribution.

We believe in saying no to thousands of projects so that we can really focus on the few that are truly important and meaningful to us. We believe in deep collaboration and cross-pollination of our groups, which allow us to innovate in a way that others cannot.

And frankly, we don't settle for anything less than excellence in every group in the company, and we have the self-honesty to admit when we're wrong and the courage to change. And I think, regardless of who is in what job, those values are so embedded in this company that Apple will do extremely well.

Just different philosophies. Apple sacrifices market share for "excellence" and they feel like they actually move the industry forward and aren't concerned with the same things that Microsoft is concerned with. Check out the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley and it will make more sense, and do a quick search on the inventions of Apple vs the invention of Microsoft. I think both philosophies are important for the computer industry.