Comments on: Religion aside, is Mac better than Windows?
That age-old question is as relevant as ever. And there are some nuts-and-bolts things that make the transition a challenge.
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About Nanotech - The Circuits Blog
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
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At my employer we are about 70 Mac, and 30 percent PC (how's that for a twist?). We had 4 Vista machines in our main conference rooms (other PCs run XP) and we worked on those things more times than any other computer. We replaced them with Mac Pros and we have not had a problem since.
The Macs we hardly ever have a software or Hardware issue. More users are continuing to move to Mac at work, and it makes our job easier.
Second, not sure why you couldn't search for jpegs in a folder (and why it might be fixed) but next time try Command + F and type the search into the search field at the top of the finder window. And type .jpg and click on "name."
A much more compatible version of Entourage is in beta. If you have Exchange Server 2007 it will be much better. And the next version (Server 2010) will have OWC that is just like using the standalone version of Outlook. Better for PC AND Mac users. OS X 10.6 is going to have Mail and iCal and Address book that will be fully compatible with Exchange 2007.
You can get a plug-in for Quicktime (Perian) that will let it run WMV files. Check it out.
LEARN APPLESCRIPT. It will amaze and astound you. (See Sal Soghoian and Bill Cheesman's book "Applescript 1-2-3.) That is all. You will laugh and point and Windows scripters ever after. :-D
The way OS X handle's external displays is in fact much better. I learned that first and find Windows way an abomination - even after using an HP laptop for five years at work (when I can't use the MacBook Pro).
There are docking stations for Mac laptops, always have been. Though early ones would fry the motherboard if you didn't eject it properly. I saw an Associated Press bureau chief turn white when he realized he was going to have to explain to his IT department why he didn't shut down the computer before ejecting. (This was the very first docked laptop of any kind - which was a Mac-first. ) Google (or Bing) it. But now with the new wireless mice and keyboards and the new mini display port Mac setups, there really isn't much need of a docking station any more.
What? You use a USB cable to your printer? Hear of WIFI? :-D
You forgot to mention that Mac OS X 10.6 will have Exchange support built-in. And he can use Automator without ever having to learn AppleScript (although I highly recommend it).
He could also just hook all his USB stuff up to a hub and that way, there's only one plug to deal with every morning.
Last month, I had a presentation in Hawaii and did it in KEYNOTE. I saved it as a DVD in Quick Time Movie. All those special effects were just fine. I had several people from Europe and Asia ask about the special effects--MAC I replied. They asked how I did it on a Dell laptop that the Convention Center supplied. I told them EASY. The One to One geek told me how to do it. I will do that at an International Convention presentation that I am doing in Oct.
I have never found anything that my laptop won't do; more than I can say for that school computer!
Anybody flaming me, insulting me, etc. will be reported--much in the same way many of you have called the Cnet board police on me in the past. I don't care if you disagree and want to tell me so; however, keep in mind that nobody really knows anyone here so keep the personal insults to yourself.
Please spare me the typical response such as:
'You got another dollar from Apple for posting'
'You're a fanboy'
'You're a *******'
'You worship Steve Jobs'
'You work for Apple'
'How do you expect to convert anyone with your postings'
'How much does Apple pay you?' Blah, blah, blah.
I used to use Windows, built my own machines for 15 years. I'm older now. I have no desire or feel the need to tinker with them anymore--It's boring and mundane--I do enough of that at work, I don't need it my house, too. I leave that to others. I just want my machine to work and not have to worry about someone trying to infect my computer with a virus by email, by visiting a website, blah blah blah. Who needs the aggravation? You say you don't mind? well good for you. I value my time. I don't feel like making sure I have to update my Anti-this and that every 12 minutes. You say there are no games for the Mac? So what? that's what a console is for. Yes, I admit it, I own and Xbox. Does that make you happy now? You say I'm elitist, arrogant, etc. etc. I don't care. Do you call someone who drives a BMW elitist because they have the money and want to drive a superior car? To each his own.
Live and let live, that's what I say.
Ciao and peace to all.
Of course, what you mean to say is OS X better than Windows?
No doubt the several pages of comments so far will have argued all the technical corrections this way & that, so I don't need to get involved in that.
Just one thing to point out really - - -
"...dialogs between a customer and a salesperson. "Are all of these camcorders Mac compatible?"--the customer asked. "No," the salesman said. "Only the Panasonic and Canon."
Right, this is a big gripe for me. When has a salesperson in a shop ever proved to know anything about the products? Most of the time if you ask any question that is beyond the understanding of a 9 year old you will get a made up answer.
I once asked in "PC World" at the software section "Do you have Mac OS X?" & the response was "What version of Windows is it for?" - I kid you not.
Just because you 'overheard' someone in a shop doesn't make it true, in fact quite the opposite, its probably a load of garbage. I don't think you should be including things like that in your article, its just very misleading information.
Yes, I will admit it: I am a Windows lover. However, when I was at Best Buy recently getting my parents desktop Windows PC checked in for warranty service (the first done on it in 4 years) for a dead motherboard, I tried a Mac once again to 'give it a chance'.... I sat there playing with it for about an hour, and I just still didn't like it.
Went over to an HP Touchscreen PC (with Windows Vista on it!).... I was in HEAVEN with it, to be blunt. I could see myself tripping through the clouds while using it in my mind (all right, that's an exaggeration, but not much of one!).
- BookEndzDocks.com makes docking stations for all Mac laptops.
- In order to stream most Windows Media Player videos on the web, you need to install Flip4Mac's Windows Media Components for QuickTime. This is freely available as a download from Microsoft's Mac website at microsoft.com/mac
- If you need to stream even more videos on the web that aren't working for you, try installing Perian. Or try installing VLC, and then downloading the videos and watching them that way.
- You're taking something that an uneducated Best Buy salesperson said, and then turning that into a complaint? Apple's iMovie and Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro products work with almost every camcorder on the market. Apple has a PARTIAL LISTING (not full by any means) of compatible camcorders here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
- All your other complaints have easy simple solutions as well. I don't have time to answer them all right now. I will address them in a future blog entry on my site, where I currently list the top Mac resources here: http://scottworldblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/mac-resources-at-your-fingertips/
e-mail - I'm not sure what kind of thing you'd be using for e-mail for which OSX 'Mail' wouldn't work. It probably, then, is some kind of M$ based messaging system or something like Notes, which isn't really standard e-mail.
Web compatibility - I've run into VERY little I can't view. When I do, it is usually something done by very stupid M$-centric web content producers, but is getting quite rare these days. Usually these sites are so bad overall they aren't worth visiting anyway. BTW, do you have Flip4Mac WMV installed? (check in your system prefs... can't remember if it is installed stock these days or not).
Hardware compatible - translation... 'not compatible' typically means it doesn't come bundled with Mac editing software, etc. Hardly a problem with iLife on the Mac. I have NEVER installed the included software with any of my digital devices. I suppose there are a few off-brands that might not be supported... but it is quite uncommon in my experience. I'm not sure what the relevance is of including low-knowledge (I'm being generous here) sales people into your mix.
external displays - umm... you might want to actually read some of your user docs... no, it's not the same exact key-stroke... but certainly no harder to do on a Mac.
Lack of software dev - you just have to find good software developers... not Windows devs who begrudgingly make a Mac port. In my years of using both platforms... good Mac apps are typically a level above the best windows apps.
I agree on the docking station... Apple has had such models in the past... maybe it is time for them to revisit it. Just remember, a docking station is quite proprietary. When Apple has had such solutions (such as even things like 1 cable that runs many things... they have been written up negatively in many articles for it).
You're also right on the hardware... there is hardly a comparison. People will have to judge if it is worth the bit of extra $... but IMO, often no comparison.
Windows is software. If you've switched to Mac because of hardware, it's really not fair to put that on Windows, and it's not right to talk about docking stations etc - an OS really isn't responsible for that.
I used Macs for five years before switching to Windows. Both seem to shut down spontaneously, both have annoying ways of locking up whenever you're almost finished with a project or about to save, both can be frustrating as hell. Windows however seems to always have an answer that doesn't cost me money. There is a plethora of free software/hardware available for Windows that is not available for mac. And if I can't find a free version there are always torrents and the like which I can search through until I find what I need. With PC I can find great free audio editing software online in seconds, for Mac it involves a trip to the store and a few hundred bucks. For those that know how to use them and don't mind twiddling around for an hour to save a couple hundred bucks PC wins.
Numbers of applications is irrelevant. What about the quality of those applications? All too often, the Macintosh versions of apps is rated higher than their Windows component. Even the Macintosh version of Office got higher marks, and it's a Microsoft product!
And if you are trolling warez sites and downloading illegal copies, there's no hope for you anyway. That's not even close to a legitimate comparison.
Open source a freeware applications can be distributed using torrents too
I know, but somehow, I doubt that's what he was referring to.
- by BuyAppleMac June 8, 2009 5:31 AM PDT
- The fact is, a PC and a Mac both do pretty much the same things. That is, both get you where you want to go. It?s just that the drive is much nicer using the Mac. Another fact is the fanboy war, that it?s really the PC fanboys that drive with blinders on, bashing Mac users as they go. Without question, this does rankle Mac users at times; but this is not our war?long time Mac users know the Mac is superior because we have to use both platforms yet are far more productive on the Mac. That being said, there are specific applications for either platform that simply work better for a given platform (if offered on multiple platforms). For example, if I have to use Excel, the Windows version is the way to go. The Mac version is a joke comparatively speaking; and I?m sure this is not coincidental. Bottom line, PC fanboys, let it go. We know you love your PC and that?s okay by us. Now ****.
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- by kcotham June 8, 2009 6:29 AM PDT
- Bravo, bravo. That was very well worded and touched on some key issues in these "debates". I hope to see more posts by you and more posts like this in the future.
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- by sellitman June 9, 2009 9:32 PM PDT
- Another Bravo!
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Showing 4 of 6 pages (316 Comments)Brooke, I don?t know how long you?ve used the Mac, but I suspect there is far more for you to experience before it really settles in how much more productive the Mac can be. I?ve been using a Mac since 1989 yet still pick up tricks. Mac OS X is a powerfully rich environment with an elegant user interface. Yet you can get down and dirty if you care to raise the hood and tinker with it?s Unix powertrain. It?s not perfect, however, and don?t let a PC fanboy tell you so. They know not what they say.
For example, Apple utterly dropped the ball with Spotlight?not so much with Spotlight per se, but rather that they took away the ability for the Finder to search for anything meaningful without it. That?s about as stupid as it comes; and I often think Finder should be rebadged as Loser since it can?t find anything. My G4 Mac is old, so I?ve disabled Spotlight searches for all but one small partition. And I use EasyFind instead for my search needs. I don?t like it as well as searching with Panther?s Finder, for instance, but it gets the job done and the price is right.
One cool thing about running a virtual machine to run Windows, say with VMWare, is that you can essentially sandbox it so malware cannot punch through to infect your Mac. Configure a virtual machine just like you want and make a backup. If (when) the original virtual machine gets infected with malware, don?t worry about trying to eradicate the virus or whatever. Just replace the infected virtual machine with your backup virtual machine and you?re good to go. It?s takes but a few minutes to go this route?much quicker than scanning for malware in the first place.
Finally, regarding the internet. That?s a pet peeve of mine because Microsoft effectively hijacked it long ago. It?s just a fact that some sites don?t work well with anything other than Microsoft proprietary technology. That?s wrong. Bad wrong. The internet is supposed to be a transparent experience, with hardware and software separated from the underlying transport stacks. As Microsoft continues to lose market share, they might one day embrace open source and be a good netizen; but that?s not going to happen anytime soon. Embrace. Extend. Extinguish. It worked for Microsoft in the past, but it?s not forward looking. Eventually people will tire of any platform that attempts to control the internet, which promotes connectivity over proprietary.
Mac, it just works. Isn?t that what most people want?
***Ding****Ding*****
We have a winner!