[ChrisLJ]

The only issue I've had with Leopard installs was my initial on my iBook. I was trying to do an 'Archive & Install' but my hard drive was just too full. Ended up doing a clean install and migrating my stuff from a Super Duper backup and I was good to go.

I'm also intrigued by Windows 7, although I didn't try the Beta. Then again, I was highly interested in Vista until they dropped so many of the features and made such idiotic hardware requirements. I'm sure not going to build another PC just to try MicroSoft's experiments.

[tomascco]

Then again, a Mac is insufficient when it doesn't do what you need it to as well. That' why I have VMWare Fusion on my MacBook Pro. I also have a Dell Latitude sitting unused, for the most part, right besides the Mac.
Total cost of ownership has proven time and time again (reader Gartner) that the Mac comes out way ahead. I've been in IT, and specifically Mac IT, for over 20 years. The latest Imacs that I've unboxed do what we need to do with hardly any further software purchases. Add a few open-source programs and my cup runneth over.
To be as efficient as possible you need the right tool for the job. With the proper software there's little that the Mac cannot do.

[SeanU]

Apple and Microsoft are just trying to distract you from the fact that soon their platforms won't matter... all you will need is Firefox, a few open source Plugins and a Google Account to do 90% of your stuff. Then we can finally all stop the Mac vs PC nonsense.

[Swordman]

StarWarsEpisode7 said:

Windows PCs never get anything done. The 95% of people never get ANYTHING done. Macs, the greatest creation in the world, no, the universe, gets everything done (despite not even running half of the world's software).

Of course you're being sarcastic, right? Macs run 100% of the world's software. You can install any common OS you want on them:
Mac OS
Linux
'Blow$

just to name a few. Your comment could only either be serious, or sarcastic. Given the FACTS, I'll take it as sarcasm.

[trichardlin]

Quote

I'm primarily defending good quality PC hardware. OSX could work beautifully it.

Hmm, I have not seen many good PC hardware designs. Most designs are crappy, their plastics look cheap (well, they are cheap). Most have terrible fit and finish. When you actually buy good PC hardware, they are not cheap. Look at the Toughbooks. They are in the $3K range, but it's worth it. Look at the new Dell Adamo, they are more expensive than the Air. One can complain about Apple's decision of not running MacOS on PC, one can also complain that Apple does not make cheap, crappy Macs, but they make good hardware and good hardware ain't cheap.

-Richard

[mrbach]

It is such an asinine argument. I use a Mac because of the OS and how things like iPhoto and Mail and iTunes and Address book all work together. It's the OS.
My PC is great because I can do stuff like Solidworks or play amazing games that aren't available on the Mac. My PC was built by me, it was expensive, and has the same parts in it that my Mac does. Even the motherboard is a brand that Apple uses. If I put OSX on it, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
XP is not as smooth as OS X, but it's OK. I don't spend much time in OS on that machine. I just want a few apps and my games to run.
The Mac/PC debate is basically stupid, and driven mostly by people who are envious that they can't own a decently tricked out PC, or even a nice Mac. Yeah, Macs are more expensive. Duh. So are BMW's.
MacWorld could do us a favour and leave this sort of nonsense for the fanboy sites. Some of us are cool with both platforms.

[hal9000mx]

"My time costs a lot more than my computer, never mind my operating system. For me the MacOS and Apple computer combo is the most cost efficient alternative."

Amen.

What the series of microsoft commercials don't show is all the tiem and money the companies and individuals lost everyday caused by windows errors and viruses. i Just wandering how much money will Lauren will add to the "inexpensive" $ 700 bucks pc she just bought when she lost an important document or a all day working effort caused by a windows error or if she lose all the files in the "inexpensive" PC caused by a virus attack. How mucho will that be?

Thx.

[ChrisLJ]

mrbach,

Yes, the Mac vs. PC argument really is stupid. It's also counter-productive. But, it's also human nature and just part of our competitive makeup. If it wasn't computers, we would be fighting over something else.

And, if we were all just one big happy family, there wouldn't be a need to have a Macworld magazine; everything would be covered by PC World. Now we wouldn't want that, would we?

[wynand32]

How absolutely silly a comment from Apple. I can't think of a single thing that I've ever wanted to do with a computer that I haven't been able to do with Windows. Not. A. Single. Thing. And, I doubt that most of the 90%+ of other computer users would disagree with me. Even if you want to argue that things with OS X are more elegant (arguable), easier (sometimes, not always), more reliable (don't really agree), more secure (yes, through obscurity), etc., that's not at all the same as saying that the Mac can do things that Windows machines can't.
In fact, I can think of quite a few things that Windows machines can do, that Macs can't. Like, play every game I've ever wanted to play (almost true by definition). Work well in corporate environments (until there are Mac clients for all of the major enterprise applications, Apple can't make that claim). Work with all major hardware accessories (Mac-compatible hardware is just a subset of the market, and not that large a subset).
Actually, need to amend that: I can think of something a Mac can do that a Windows machine can't (to the same extent): work with an iPod. Of course, I did start this by talking about things I want to do...

[tomascco]

Well, of course, it does everything that YOU WANT IT TO, but maybe you don't know what a Mac is capable of. I'm not an evangelist, but I've recently switched a few hard core Windows users to Max OS X, and I still get phone calls from them saying "did you know it could do this?" Yes, I did.

But counting the investment in time and energy to just manage the computer, there's no contest. I've been a PC user since DOS. I hated Windows 1 through 3, including NT. Finally 95 sort of made it less obnoxious, but even with XP I've got to go through so many windows, command lines, tweaks, downloads, updates that a simple menu selection will do for me in Mac. PCs are fine for people who like to work with computers. Macs are perfect for people who need to use a computer to get work done.

[ChrisLJ]

wynand32,

You say that "Windows machines can ... play every game I've ever wanted to play ..."

That's a mighty broad claim for ANY Windows machine. Maybe for solitaire, but since there are a heck of a lot of PCs out there with integrated graphics, I don't think so for the many graphics intense games. I'd say the majority of Windows machines aren't much better than the average Mac in that instance.

"Work well in corporate environments ..." They are used by default in corporate environments. That doesn't necessarily mean they work well. I know that from experience, although they normally get the job done.

But I will agree that a PC can do the same job a Mac can do, one way or another. Eventually.

[euphonius]

one final comment on the PC vs Mac naming debate: for those of you too young to remember, "PC" was actually part of a trademark ("IBM PC") owned and jealously guarded by IBM. these happened to run M$-DOS until IBM had the brilliant idea of launching a rival operating system OS/2 (I guess DOS was OS/1). As we know IBM finally and fully exited the "PC" business a year or two ago with the sale of its ThinkPad line to Lenovo of China.

Is "IBM PC" still a registered trademark? How long do these things last?

[mbaggio]

I agree it is best for Apple to ignore while continuing to make the other more and more obsolete. It is always the lesser that attacks the greater not vice versa

[wynand32]

mbaggio - "It is always the lesser that attacks the greater not vice versa." Fascinating--then how do you explain years of "Mac vs. PC" commercials from Apple?