13" air vs new dell xps 13"

[Dynax]

Sure it is, because it's highly subjective. I find no great "better feeling" in OS X over Linux. I use OS X right now because I wanted a few commercial applications that Linux didn't have.

Yes it is subjective, very much indeed!
If it weren't subjective then your arguments would let anyone come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter if I'm using OSX or Windows.

But this is a personal preference that doesn't need any more explanation. It's like arguing about two games or movies in the same genre - the one might be better in all numbers. But you can't convince other people to agree with you when it comes to personal preference and "feeling".

I see your point though, its not a reason to say "OSX is something to spend 200$ more". But in a place like this, its normal that most people here have once switched from windows to OSX and don't want to turn back.

 

[KnightWRX]

But in a place like this, its normal [...]

Place like what ?

I'll switch back to Linux in a heartbeat if Apple can't provide me with decent hardware for a decent price.

 

[DannyBres]

Yeah, why is OSX so special?

I mean gestures are cool, but nothing else I see makes it any better than Windows as a operating system.

Of course, if you're a Applene only home or business I can see the need but you are all saying OSX is a critical differce, and I cant see why?

Xcode!

 

[KnightWRX]

Xcode!

Unless you're specifically doing Mac or iOS development (which you have to admit is quite the niche of Apple users), you do not need XCode. There's actually tons of better dev tools out there, XCode not being particularly great or anything.

(I do use XCode quite often, having been working on a big iOS project myself...).

 

[DannyBres]

I am new to software development, hobby not a job!

Xcode 4.2 seems like the best thing since sliced bread to me! Not a lot more i could ask for!

What do other IDEs do that xcode doesn't? Why are they better?

 

[KnightWRX]

What do other IDEs do that xcode doesn't? Why are they better?

They have usuable UIs for one. XCode is just awful in that sense. XCode 4 made it a bit better.

The debugger UI is especially bad.

Plus for anything that's not Objective-C/C/C++ (and even for those last 2), XCode's integration and support is abysmal.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

It's somewhat laughable that people are questioning the benefits of Mac OS. It's overall a more enjoyable and reliable experience. Plain and simple. I'd take a MacBook Air over any of the mentioned ultrabooks.

 

[deepakvrao]

It's somewhat laughable that people are questioning the benefits of Mac OS. It's overall a more enjoyable and reliable experience. Plain and simple. I'd take a MacBook Air over any of the mentioned ultrabooks.

After many years with Windows, I thought of shifting to a Mac Air. Lots pf thought, and decided hat I might not like it. Planned on buying one of the new ultrabooks.

Wife came back from a trip and yelled at me. She said that I should at least try a mac, and if I did not like it, I could sell it and go back to Windows.

Gave in, got an Air. In a week, I was convinced, and got a MBA for my wife, and in 2 weeks got a iMac for my daughter. There is just no comparison.

 

[doktordoris]

After many years with Windows, I thought of shifting to a Mac Air. Lots pf thought, and decided hat I might not like it. Planned on buying one of the new ultrabooks.

Wife came back from a trip and yelled at me. She said that I should at least try a mac, and if I did not like it, I could sell it and go back to Windows.

Gave in, got an Air. In a week, I was convinced, and got a MBA for my wife, and in 2 weeks got a iMac for my daughter. There is just no comparison.

Same here. Built and owned windows PCs for years and years. Bought an MBP on a whim 2 years ago, and not had a windows PC in the house since.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

After many years with Windows, I thought of shifting to a Mac Air. Lots pf thought, and decided hat I might not like it. Planned on buying one of the new ultrabooks.

Wife came back from a trip and yelled at me. She said that I should at least try a mac, and if I did not like it, I could sell it and go back to Windows.

Gave in, got an Air. In a week, I was convinced, and got a MBA for my wife, and in 2 weeks got a iMac for my daughter. There is just no comparison.

Same here. I had been a PC-only user for 15 years. Last year I tried my first Mac. Within a week, I was totally convinced: I will never go back to Windows.

 

[jterp7]

Same here. I had been a PC-only user for 15 years. Last year I tried my first Mac. Within a week, I was totally convinced: I will never go back to Windows.

lol how many of us switched because of the 2010 or 11 airs. I do wish for more user upgradability but I suppose thats something I'll have to learn to live with.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

After many years with Windows, I thought of shifting to a Mac Air. Lots pf thought, and decided hat I might not like it. Planned on buying one of the new ultrabooks.

Wife came back from a trip and yelled at me. She said that I should at least try a mac, and if I did not like it, I could sell it and go back to Windows.

Gave in, got an Air. In a week, I was convinced, and got a MBA for my wife, and in 2 weeks got a iMac for my daughter. There is just no comparison.

Exactly. You can't even argue that Mac OSX doesn't have a great user experience. Even beyond aesthetics, it's an incredibly fast and reliable OS. I can't exactly put it into words, but using a Mac is just way more enjoyable than any other computer I've ever used, and the form factor of the MacBook Air really highlights the experience.

Dell can't even touch it.

 

[gentlefury]

Apple is king, OS X is best, every person in the world should use OS X, wear the same black turtle neck and jeans and new balance sneakers, because its the ONLY way to live. All hail Apple! Not much difference than the Borg, no?

well, except that I have complete choice....I choose to only use high quality products....apple currently makes them. if you choose to only use crap...well thats up to you....but if only using the best quality products is like the Borg....well sign me up...the Borg must kick ass!

oh yeah, and all my Macs have windows 7 installed on them....so I am not a slave to Mac OSX...I just prefer it for day to day...Windows is for gaming. I get to choose which platform I use on the same hardware! Can't do that on any "ultra book".....at least not legally, or stably.

I do think its weird that I have to defend my choice of Mac on MACRUMORS forum!! Its a forum dedicated to mac users....seems odd that people that hate macs would sign up, read and post on a forum dedicated to it.

 

[altecXP]

Well, if everyone prefers OS X, then that says something about the two OSs does it not?

Not really. Most the designers were taught on Mac's so they use what they are familiar with. Same with the video teams. The Flash team wants to move to PC's but their dept. head won't let them. The Developers that use Macs do so because its more convent for testing websites on all browsers, to use a Windows VM, and you need Xcode to develop for iDevices.

 

[gentlefury]

Not really. Most the designers were taught on Mac's so they use what they are familiar with. Same with the video teams. The Flash team wants to move to PC's but their dept. head won't let them. The Developers that use Macs do so because its more convent for testing websites on all browsers, to use a Windows VM, and you need Xcode to develop for iDevices.

Actually I was trained on Windows and Unix. I use Mac, Windows, and Linux in my career. I prefer Mac for all my basic needs. Linux is great for specific applications, and windows is great for gaming. I appreciate them all, but spend most of my time in OSX. Actually where I'm working right now I have Linux on my work computer and my MBA running OSX sitting next to it.

 

[Outrigger]

well, except that I have complete choice....I choose to only use high quality products....apple currently makes them. if you choose to only use crap...well thats up to you....but if only using the best quality products is like the Borg....well sign me up...the Borg must kick ass!

oh yeah, and all my Macs have windows 7 installed on them....so I am not a slave to Mac OSX...I just prefer it for day to day...Windows is for gaming. I get to choose which platform I use on the same hardware! Can't do that on any "ultra book".....at least not legally, or stably.

I do think its weird that I have to defend my choice of Mac on MACRUMORS forum!! Its a forum dedicated to mac users....seems odd that people that hate macs would sign up, read and post on a forum dedicated to it.

Thats great and all except this post isn't about OS X vs. Windows!

 

[taeclee99]

The dell's screen resolution is worse than the air.
1366 x 768 vs 1440 X 900.

 

[gentlefury]

Thats great and all except this post isn't about OS X vs. Windows!

Thats great and all, maybe you should read the thread before making random assertions....reagardless of the OP's original intent, it has evolved into just that topic.

 

[Outrigger]

Thats great and all, maybe you should read the thread before making random assertions....reagardless of the OP's original intent, it has evolved into just that topic.

Right. Its either on topic of off topic. this is clearly the latter.

 

[gentlefury]

Right. Its either on topic of off topic. this is clearly the latter.

Than go chastise everyone else that is "off-topic"...or, if it bothers you so much, go somewhere else.

 

[ericDylan]

Not really. Most the designers were taught on Mac's so they use what they are familiar with. Same with the video teams. The Flash team wants to move to PC's but their dept. head won't let them. The Developers that use Macs do so because its more convent for testing websites on all browsers, to use a Windows VM, and you need Xcode to develop for iDevices.

The groups of people you listed make up an infinitesimal percentage of all Mac users. When I said everyone, I meant everyone. I have never met a person that has preferred Windows over OS X after having used both.

I believe Macs are better because the software and hardware are so deeply integrated. The software is made specifically for the hardware and utilizes the hardware much more efficiently.

 

[Bamboobill]

I go back to the days of DOS, and from there, windows. I was to the point that I was giving up on consumer grade windows boxes because of all the hassles to the extent I literally quit computing for pleasure. Super tired of all of it, esp. the "throw away" build quality of the current manufacturers. Then I bought an MBA on a whim 2 months ago, and I once again am in love... It reeks of meticulous, obsessive design quality.

I did consider waiting for the current gen of windows "ultras", but decided I just didn't want to hassle it any longer, and went for the Mac primarily because my son has a 5 or 6 year old mac book he uses around the clock, and it was clear Apple's build quality was superior to anything I had bought in that class for years and years.

To say that the windows experience compares at all to osx is like comparing a toyota tercel to a jaguar. They both get you to the market, sure. But really, just go install any app on a windows box and compare that wait/hassle to osx. Then go uninstall that same app. I mean really.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

I have never met a person that has preferred Windows over OS X after having used both.

Same here. I believe that's the number one proof that OSX is simply superior: we've ALL used both, and we've ALL opted for OSX. That's iron-solid proof right there that customers speak with their wallets.

I believe Macs are better because the software and hardware are so deeply integrated. The software is made specifically for the hardware and utilizes the hardware much more efficiently.

This is very important for me too. I want my computers to run smoothly and seamlessly without having to mess around with drivers, updates and what not.

 

[altecXP]

The groups of people you listed make up an infinitesimal percentage of all Mac users.

Well duh, I never claimed to know every Mac user.

When I said everyone, I meant everyone. I have never met a person that has preferred Windows over OS X after having used both.

Everyone you've met? To me that sounds, how should I say it... infinitesimal.

I believe Macs are better because the software and hardware are so deeply integrated.

How is it deeply integrated? Just because they use their own EFI?

The software is made specifically for the hardware and utilizes the hardware much more efficiently.

Tell that to all the the people that constantly complain over GPU performance on this site.

 

[chrono1081]

Yeah, why is OSX so special?

I mean gestures are cool, but nothing else I see makes it any better than Windows as a operating system.

Of course, if you're a Apple only home or business I can see the need but you are all saying OSX is a critical difference, and I cant see why?

Support Windows for a living and you'll understand really fast. Windows has a huge flaw in it, called the registry that Microsoft desperately needs to get rid of. Its basically the main source of almost all of Windows security issues (yes there are others but most malware messes with the registry).

Not to mention many things in Windows are just unintuitive and its behind the times as far as normal OS features such as multiple desktops and native ISO support (Mac OS has DMG but still works with ISO).

Oh, and before someone cries "Windows does have native ISO support!" no it doesn't. You cannot both read and create an ISO without something like Damon Tools.