Comments on: Do you use a Mac? How about an iPod?

Readers weigh in on which computer company has had the bigger impact on the tech industry.

[Leo Regals]

Apple keeps on surprising

The best that Apple does is surprise us with something new,
whether you need it or not, it is always so refreshing that you want
it. Apple has become a way of life. It only gets better. After you
bought your latest Mac or iPod, there is already a better version. It
never stops. No other company I know of is so innovating. So I
wonder what will be the surprise Apple brings us on it's 30thst
birthday?

[deadcow]

Owned a Mac since the Mac 512K

Currently my household happily runs 3 Macs and 3 iPods.
And one (always crashing) peesea notebook.
Very happy. With the Apple family.

[deadcow]

...and i used to...

program for ibm.

[chuck_whealton]

I have 'em both!

Once the Macs started using UNIX, I figured they were finally
serious. I bought a powerbook and use it way more often than
either of my Windoz laptops. In fact, I'm using it now. It's a
much higher quality piece of technology.

I also have an IPOD. Apple's got some good technology. No
question about it...

Chuck

[maxeythecat]

Once you go Mac you never go back!

I took the plunge into cyberspace with the purchase of my very
first mac 5 years ago and I gotta tell ya, it's probably the best
decision I ever made. When I see how much trouble that my
friends and co-workers have with their Win-doze based
machines, I try not to laugh out loud..........yeah, I know that's
mean, but when I look at all the viruses, crashes and out n out
headaches that seem to go along with the "PC experience" it's
kinda hard not to. Easy to learn, easy to use and virtually
dummy-proof for those poor souls such as myself who are'nt
the most computer savvy shmucks on the planet, it's a rock solid
machine that's more than guaranteed to give you your money's
worth and then some. Oh, did I mention that they look pretty
good too? For the most part they're still a bit pricier than a "Bill
Gates Virusmania Special", but believe me, these babies are
worth every single penny. PCs? Yeah, I reeeeeally want one of
those.......and I gotta real nice bridge I can sell ya too!

[pointygnomehat]

I <3 my Mac!

I'm a computer scientist who's had gobs of experience
developing in a Windows, Unix, and Linux environment. Sure I'm
paid to deal with the details of each of these different
environments and architectures for 10 hours a day, but I'll never
use anything but a Mac for my own pursuits.

People talk about the "buisness world" and "Macs as toys". And
they'll knit-pick about architectural differences that they don't
understand (and don't care to understand) until they're blue in
the face.

The truth of the matter is this: that any computer out there,
whether it be PC, Mac, or a PDP-11 is capable of doing what you
need it to do, and that people should use whatever they feel
they're most comfortable using.

For me, that's a Mac. Why? Because when I use my Mac, I feel like
it and I are working together. I spend all day in a contest of wills
between me and my workstations, and, unless it's your job to
force computers to do your bidding, no person should have to
fight their PC to get it to do what you want it to. My Mac is a
genuine pleasure to use. And I'll never, ever spend my money on
anything else.

[Thomas, David]

Hear Hear

I am exactly in the same boat. When personal computers were
new, many of us from back then had a vision of what it would/
should be like to work with a computer. The ONLY one that has
delivered anything close to that vision has been Apple Computer.
As it turns out, its seems they were the only ones to take that
dream seriously.

Hence, the legions of loyal fans, who are in their camp BY CHOICE.

[JFDMit]

Macs are great, but...

Now, I love a lot of things about the Mac (usability, stability, design, security) but there are two areas where PCs have it beat:

(1) Games. If you're a hardcore gamer, the Mac just doesn't cut it. Sure, a few of the bigger games ultimately get ported, but most never make it to the Mac. If you like games, you almost have to go PC.

(2) Hardware variety. Mac hardware is sleek and stylish, without a doubt, but it only comes in a limited range of formfactors. Specifically, I'm talking about laptops here. PCs come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from gargantuan desktop replacements, to flyspeck ultraportables and the upcoming UMPC (for better or worse). Mac laptops come in 17", 15" and 12". That's it. While that may cover 90% of Apple's target user demographic, I wish they'd develop some really imaginative smaller machines (to compete with the likes of the Sony TX range). Flexing the formfactor a bit would open some new doors for Apple.

[kelmon]

4 Years Happy - 2nd Mac Soon

Just in reply to the story, I've been a Mac user for the past 3-
years since a "there's got to be a better way" moment when I
encountered reliability problems with my Windows XP system.
Following this I bought a PowerBook G4 and have loved using it
ever since. It's hard to put down the reasons why I'm so happy
with Apple at the moment and why I don't plan on going back to
Windows anytime soon. I think the easiest way to say it is that it
works how I want to work and it doesn't annoy me. To give a
simple example, as a mobile user I can switch network settings
(wired without proxy to wired with proxy) at a click whereas the
Dell laptop issued by work needed to have its network settings
changed manually. Currently I use it at work in a PC-centric
organisation and I find that I can get my work done faster on an
older model laptop than I can on a new desktop...

The next Mac is planned for later this year when the 17" Merom-
based systems arrive.

[booboo1243]

Wouldn't own either

I will give credit where due. OS X is the first Mac system that us functional. It's nowhere near as much trouble as the previous systems. Before OS X, the Macs were terrible. Still, why pay more for a computer that will do less? Anything a Mac can do a Win machine can do better. More options. And by the way, as a graphic designer, I have about 14 years professional Mac experience, going back to the little one with the 6-inch screen and the handle on top. But all that time, I've owned Win. And as far as iPod goes, why pay all that for something so limited. Maybe it's great at playing music, but I have a pda that plays my music AND videos, has a camera, games, appointment calendar, contacts. I read novels on it. Spreadsheets. MS Word and Acrobat compatible documents. Checkbook and bank account tracking. Car maintenance and MPG. Spanish language excercises and drills. etc. etc. etc. And I should give all that up for something that only plays music?

[ross brown--2008]

Er...

"...why pay more for a computer that will do less?"

Could you put some, you know, facts to that statment please? I
think you'll find that Apple prices are comparable with *similarly
specced* PCs and precisely what can PCs do that Macs can't?

As for your PDA va iPod argument - well, of course, your PDA
can do more... it's a PDA. Not quite sure what point you're
making, except to say that an iPod isn't a PDA, which I thought
was self-evident.

[Thomas, David]

LMAO FOR REAL!

If ANY of that post was true, you should get checked into a mental
hospital.

[KsprayDad]

Nope

The question is "Do you USE a Mac? How about an iPod?"

No...I work in Finance and you woulnd't see a MAC for as far as you could see. Use an iPod? Haven't had anyone offer to lend one.

As far as OWNING one...

Both are too expensive versus a comparable non Apple product.

I do however own/short Apple Shares... :)

[ross brown--2008]

This "comparable" line does annoy me

"Both are too expensive versus a comparable non Apple product."

Show me a comparable PC-based product to the Mac mini, iMac or,
even, MacBook Pro (and, remember, it's got to be comparable, not
the cheapest Dell you can find) and your comment might have
some validity...

Well?

[Eslinda]

BOTH! Is there anything else?!

I actually use an iMac at home, a Windows box at work. Mac =
exciting champagne; Windows = boring flat beer. The Mac is
elegant, easy, reliable, sophisticated and FUN. OS X is a dream
come true. It just WORKS. Why do you think Windows users often
refer to their computers as "work stations" and Mac users are...
well, in LOVE with their machines?

[rleon]

My 1st Mac, a big mistake....

... or at least that was my impression at that time. Long ago, I
used DOS and Windows, up to 3.1.1 (I think) the I went to LA
tronics and bought this "new windows machine" which cost me
over $3200, it was the PowerBook 165c , it was expensive maily
because I asked for 12 MBs of RAM, it had a great 80 MBs HD.
When I got home and try to run a game I had it wouldn`t run
and that really made me very angry. Now I think about it and I
laugh.
I have owned , that PowerBook, Performa 6300CD, a 4400,
7200, G3 B/W 350Mhz, 3 iBooks and a eMac.
The G3 is our Server, and the eMac the Dj in our Club.
With My Macs I Host our own homepages, that is, our club, our
band and an Event we do every year. Also, I design our WebSite,
Flyers and posters for our parties, Postcards, Business Cards,
Posters, Menus, News Letters and lot of other things. We also
give free internet access to our customer via AirPort, SlideShow
on the bigscreen, and also via the proyector we show iTunes
visualizer.
I do shoping for our club, manage finances and more.
Applications that I used are: Adobe CS, Macromedia MX (By suit
to make it shorter) iLife, iWork EvoCam and all bundled softwafe
exept Chess. We also have Virtual PC for my wife... well she only
uses IE and Exell, I do check how our website looks in windows.
Games? I`ll do that on my PS2 or PSP. And I do also have an iPod
Nano just for the ride.
For a long time I worked on DPT making lots of bucks, then as a
PC consultant, it also makes you rich finxing PCs, it is a great
market. But I loose my customers converting them to the Mac,
they never called me again :(
But they are happy satisfied customers, and that what matters.
Any way,

Thanks Apple for making my life a Party.

[yikes31]

maccie and proud!

having used windows, unix, linux and mac os, I know which one I
have to choose - mac. hands down winner. has the grace and style
of a balet dancer with the killer punch of a heavyweight boxer.
As far as my 3rd gen Ipod is concerned, all I can say is what
alternative?????

[TyTyson]

No - I prefer peecees...

doh.

I use many platforms every day and have done for decades.

I never have and never will use a Windows PC through choice,
and anyone who does hasn't done their research. Simple.

Apple has got it right.

peecee weenies report back in 2 years and let's check AAPL and
Apple's market share.

[djemerson]

Choice, Plus A Fun Fact!

"I never have and never will use a Windows PC through choice,
and anyone who does hasn't done their research."

I'm interpreting this to mean that you only use Windows PCs
when forced to do so, as opposed to it being your choice to
never use a Windows PC. Either way, the comment is ridiculous.
There are things that you can do on Windows that you can not
do on a Mac, and vice versa. They are numerous and go far
beyond games and Microsoft software. However, I've learned to
accept you will never be convinced of this as you do not appear
to apply logic to your commentary.

Fun Fact!

The price of a share of AAPL has dropped about $20 since
January. I'm sure it will go back up, (a quick check of the stock
at the moment reveals a large upswing already in this mornings
trading) but anyone making buys based on your
recommendations has already lost money, or if they hold off for
the price to raise again, minimized their gains. Stick to helping
grandmothers set up their email, and let go your dreams of
investment advisor.

[Charleston Charge]

So

every single PC user has purchased one because they were forced. I'm guessing there might be 1 or 2 people out there that are using Windows by choice.

[zeeboid]

Never

due to the lies that apple spreads and calls marketing. saying their risc processors are as fast if not faster then the Intel chips out, then switching to Intel and saying the new Intel Macs are 3-4 times faster then the old ones... Do even the Cultist Mac users see this as brainwashing?

or how about the fabled dual processor Mac vs. the Dell benchmarking that apple rigged...

or what about Adobe saying on their website that their products run better on a PC until getting heat from Mac users...

come on Mac users... its okay to take criticism.

Mac products are not superior by a long shot. If they were, the public would have made them more then 3% of the market share a long time ago.

and why is apple not sued for anti trust for forcing their users to use an apple operating system on an apple PC and yet microsoft gets sued for including a utilities like Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player with their operating system. the double standard is insane.

[TyTyson]

Superior display of ignorance.

That was amazing.

It's not that usual to find so much delusion in one post.

Congrats!

Have you EVER got anything right?

[Olu070]

A few things...

Apple didn't lie about the processors. At the time risc
processors were faster and more efficient than their competition
(P3s and P4s). With the introduction of the Pentium M the tide
began to turn. While G5s kept PowerMac speed up to date the
G4 was beginning to show it's age.

The Intel Duo not only smokes previous Pentiums chips, but it is
equivalent to the G5 in many aspects. The G5 has no future
(especially in portables), hence the switch to Intel. So there's no
deception on Apple's part. The benchmarks of 3-4x faster are
clearly stated for specific benchmarks and applications that take
advantage of both processors. (And yes there are applications
today that show Dual Core MacBooks are several magnitudes
faster than it's predecessor.)

I use both Macs and PCs. I use PC tablets at work for patient
charting. I can tolerate Windows, but several times a week I do
feel like smashing the machine (this is without spyware or
viruses). I've never bought a PC for personal use, and now with
the ability to dual boot Mactels, I will never buy a PC.

My History:
Apple ][ plus -=> upgraded to 64K!
Apple Color Macintosh
Apple Performa 6500 -> upgraded to 300mhz G3
HP Brio -> upgraded to 500mz P2 (A gift)
G4 Dual 500mhz
12" Powerbook
15" Powerbook
60gb iPod Photo, 6gb Mini(wife), 4gb Nano, 2gb Nano (son),
iPod Shuffle (now used as a flash drive)

[Gromit801]

LOL

The overwhelming majority of home PeeCee users, have one for
just three reasons:

1. The believed PeeCee's (ha ha) were cheaper.

2. People they knew had PeeCee's (see reason #1), and that's
what got recommended to them.

3. They use a PeeCee at work and don't know anything else.

For the masochists out there that use a Windoze based PeeCee
by choice, nothing said by anyone will change your minds.

[fakespam]

Both

Some days I want Windows, some days I want Mac OS X.

Seriously, I prefer Windows 3.5 or 95 and Mac OS 7.6.1 on old,
simple computers.

Just websites are too Shockwave and Java intensive these days to
run these machines.

[herkamur]

Apple is just part of my collection

I own an Apple iMac G5 and an iPod. I bought the iPod because I preferred the AAC format. I bought the iMac shortly after the Intel announcement because I wanted a PPC version. I've always appreciated Motorola chip designs and had wanted a Mac for a long time but never really had the funds.

The iMac is only part of my collection though. I have three SuSE Linux machines (Opteron, Athlon64 X2, and P3), one WinXP P4, and four Amigas. I like OS X, but then again I like GNU/Linux and AmigaOS too. I'm not very keen on Windows, but it serves its purpose.

[cjc6591]

macs & iPods

can't live without 'em.

thanks for askin'. :-)

[jmecham]

Mac Addict for 30 years.

I have used Apple Products since the birth of the Apple IIe. I currently own both a Power Mac G4 Dual 1GHz tower and a Powerbook 17-inch Aluminum. I use Macs because they work and don't have the problems found with Windows OS machines.

[Thatcherman]

I'll never go back to a PC again

Bill Gates owes me several months of my life I wasted upgrading various versions of Windows. I just couldn't take all the crashes, security problems, etc. Too much wasted time and lack of productivity-- computers were supposed to make things more efficient, remember? Plus the Windows GUI is so uninspired, so utilitarian. PCs are like Ford Explorers and Macs are like BMWs. Windows is like Eastern Europe before Glasnost, and OS X is like Florence in the summertime. I switched to a Mac after 16 years of imprisonment in PC-land, and I will NEVER go back.

[SystemsJunky]

Botjh, but lean more to Windows

I have Macs and PC's, I have tried in the past to go Mac only, but it just doesnt work. I never have problems with my PC's(mostly because I build my own, with high quality parts) I have on the other hand had problems with my macs, very bizzaro problems too. Nothings perfect but I'll stick with Windows for programming and my mac for creating graphics and what not, Other than that, the Mac is pathetic when it comes to games, and can be very sloooow at times. Mostly my mac sits there in the corner showing pretty pictures on its 23"hd display. My 17" Powerbook, is a paperweight or a firestarter. The damn thing gets so hot and runs so slow im sick that I even bought it. As far as iPods? I stick with my Creative Zen's (2 generations now) and see what comes along the next few years. I do like OS X but its still lacks some very important Features that I am used to in the Windows world.
Too bad Apple doesnt sell OS X for the masses, I think their hardware sucks, it pretty, but it still sucks.

[TyTyson]

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