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I await the news of this impending "mid-range desktop mac (+ screen?)" with much anticipation!?!, . . . . . . another forum descending into "macs are great, PC's are rubbish" banality.
Editors' Notes Weblog: What computer should I buy?
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#59
redofromstart 
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Posted 11 July 2007 - 10:38 AM
My viewpoint, as a long time Windows user (non-gamer) who's seriously considering switching to a Mac because of all the virus and malware problems, is that the ability to run Windows on a Mac is neither an advantage nor a selling point. If I wanted to run Windows, it would be cheaper and, in most cases, just as effective to buy a PC and dual boot Ubuntu instead of buying a Mac. Then I could use Ubuntu and Opera/FireFox for Internet access and Windows XP for disconnected work. But *nix isn't for me because of the problems with TrueType fonts and lack of support from broadband ISPs. A Mac doesn't have those issues. So why dual boot a Mac and have all the same old Windows problems to deal with? I recall reading an article, probably right here on MacWorld, about some columnist who set up a Mac for dual boot with Windows and promptly got infected.
Oh yeah, and those "clever" PC vs. Mac commercials don't help either. To me, it's just more of that old-time Mac smug elitism. I feel as if, when I walk into a Mac store, I have to prove that I'm cool enough to be allowed to buy something. (Would a black t-shirt help?) A computer is a tool. I don't see hardware stores running ads about how their hammers are so much cooler than the ones in the store down the street. There may be features that make a hammer better for some purposes than others, but cooler and more 'in'?
If the Mac community is going to continue to put out the "it's just cooler and you'd know that if you weren't a lamer" line, then it needs to be able to answer my nagging pre-sales question: If I buy a Mac, what are the chances I end up drinking grape-aid in the jungle with Steve Jobs?
Oh yeah, and those "clever" PC vs. Mac commercials don't help either. To me, it's just more of that old-time Mac smug elitism. I feel as if, when I walk into a Mac store, I have to prove that I'm cool enough to be allowed to buy something. (Would a black t-shirt help?) A computer is a tool. I don't see hardware stores running ads about how their hammers are so much cooler than the ones in the store down the street. There may be features that make a hammer better for some purposes than others, but cooler and more 'in'?
If the Mac community is going to continue to put out the "it's just cooler and you'd know that if you weren't a lamer" line, then it needs to be able to answer my nagging pre-sales question: If I buy a Mac, what are the chances I end up drinking grape-aid in the jungle with Steve Jobs?
#60
griffman
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Posted 11 July 2007 - 10:59 AM
"So why dual boot a Mac and have all the same old Windows problems to deal with? I recall reading an article, probably right here on MacWorld, about some columnist who set up a Mac for dual boot with Windows and promptly got infected."
Yes, I wrote that article. But if you're trying to sell to a Windows switcher, the ability to run Windows natively is a huge advantage. The switcher no longer has to switch cold turkey; they can continue to run their old software as they need to -- in most cases without rebooting, as Parallels and Fusion run just about everything other than games.
In the PowerPC days, selling a switcher was a lot tougher, simply because the only available Windows solutions were all abysmal.
-rob.
Yes, I wrote that article. But if you're trying to sell to a Windows switcher, the ability to run Windows natively is a huge advantage. The switcher no longer has to switch cold turkey; they can continue to run their old software as they need to -- in most cases without rebooting, as Parallels and Fusion run just about everything other than games.
In the PowerPC days, selling a switcher was a lot tougher, simply because the only available Windows solutions were all abysmal.
-rob.
#61
redofromstart
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Posted 11 July 2007 - 02:46 PM
Quote:
Yes, I wrote that article. But if you're trying to sell to a Windows switcher, the ability to run Windows natively is a huge advantage. The switcher no longer has to switch cold turkey; they can continue to run their old software as they need to -- in most cases without rebooting, as Parallels and Fusion run just about everything other than games.
Yes, I wrote that article. But if you're trying to sell to a Windows switcher, the ability to run Windows natively is a huge advantage. The switcher no longer has to switch cold turkey; they can continue to run their old software as they need to -- in most cases without rebooting, as Parallels and Fusion run just about everything other than games.
I must not be a typical Windows switcher, then. If I'm going to give up Windows for a Mac, I'll do it without a security blanket. Legacy apps aren't an issue for me, except for a bunch of Word documents. And I still think it's ridiculous to give up Windows because of virii and malware and then keep running it on a Mac. My mileage varies, obviously.
#62
montoid
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 05:27 AM
In reality though if your a competent windows user then it's not really a great leap to switch to OS X is it?, be honest, ten minutes getting used to the dock maybe and then everything's pretty much the same, windows, menus, scrolling. They're not worlds apart when it comes to general user interface, are they!? (apart from the single click mouse frustration!) I admit though that due to the nature of my work I'm constantly switching between the two OS's with Virtual PC (customers and their annoying Publisher files!, arrrgh!)
My beef is still with the cost of a mac, I suppose, especially here in over-priced UK land!
My beef is still with the cost of a mac, I suppose, especially here in over-priced UK land!
#63
musocat
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Posted 16 July 2007 - 11:55 PM
Quote:
My viewpoint, as a long time Windows user (non-gamer) who's seriously considering switching to a Mac because of all the virus and malware problems, is that the ability to run Windows on a Mac is neither an advantage nor a selling point. If I wanted to run Windows, it would be cheaper and, in most cases, just as effective to buy a PC and dual boot Ubuntu instead of buying a Mac.
My viewpoint, as a long time Windows user (non-gamer) who's seriously considering switching to a Mac because of all the virus and malware problems, is that the ability to run Windows on a Mac is neither an advantage nor a selling point. If I wanted to run Windows, it would be cheaper and, in most cases, just as effective to buy a PC and dual boot Ubuntu instead of buying a Mac.
True. All the yap about windows on Mac is irrelevant to me - I switched to get away from windows and there is no way in hell I'd install it on my Mac.
Quote:
So why dual boot a Mac and have all the same old Windows problems to deal with? I recall reading an article, probably right here on MacWorld, about some columnist who set up a Mac for dual boot with Windows and promptly got infected.
So why dual boot a Mac and have all the same old Windows problems to deal with? I recall reading an article, probably right here on MacWorld, about some columnist who set up a Mac for dual boot with Windows and promptly got infected.
Egg-Zachary.
Quote:
Oh yeah, and those "clever" PC vs. Mac commercials don't help either. To me, it's just more of that old-time Mac smug elitism. I feel as if, when I walk into a Mac store, I have to prove that I'm cool enough to be allowed to buy something. (Would a black t-shirt help?) A computer is a tool. I don't see hardware stores running ads about how their hammers are so much cooler than the ones in the store down the street. There may be features that make a hammer better for some purposes than others, but cooler and more 'in'?
Oh yeah, and those "clever" PC vs. Mac commercials don't help either. To me, it's just more of that old-time Mac smug elitism. I feel as if, when I walk into a Mac store, I have to prove that I'm cool enough to be allowed to buy something. (Would a black t-shirt help?) A computer is a tool. I don't see hardware stores running ads about how their hammers are so much cooler than the ones in the store down the street. There may be features that make a hammer better for some purposes than others, but cooler and more 'in'?
No need to prove anything. Walk into an Apple store sometime - they'll spend lots of time with you showing you all the models and helping solve any problems you expect in the switch. They really are nice. Much more helpful than at CompUSA et al. Frankly I get more of a snob attitute from Windows salesmen than from Mac people.
Quote:
If the Mac community is going to continue to put out the "it's just cooler and you'd know that if you weren't a lamer" line, then it needs to be able to answer my nagging pre-sales question: If I buy a Mac, what are the chances I end up drinking grape-aid in the jungle with Steve Jobs?
If the Mac community is going to continue to put out the "it's just cooler and you'd know that if you weren't a lamer" line, then it needs to be able to answer my nagging pre-sales question: If I buy a Mac, what are the chances I end up drinking grape-aid in the jungle with Steve Jobs?
You're doomed.
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