Are macs more stable than PCs?

[that1guyy]

Although I don't want to resurrect the thread...I was wondering if whichever one you went with if you were enjoying your new purchase (I didn't see which direction you went unless I missed it in the thread).

Hey, I was just wondering in general. I have a Windows desktop at home and I use iMac in my college classes.

I plan on purchasing the 2012 macbook pro redesign if the upgrade fits my needs.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Not in my experience. Windows has been rock solid for me for years. Issues with the OS slowing down and becoming unstable is MUCH less of an issue than it was with previous versions. I've had my share of stability issues with OSX.

 

[alphaod]

I don't think Macs are more stable than Windows. In fact, when Windows crashes, it tells me an error, which I can usually search online and then I can fix the issue. I can find drivers for most hardware easily, and there is greater hardware compatibility. Of course greater hardware compatibility is what usually causes less stability, but since I find it easier [and cheaper] to fix, it's a more stable and flexible system.

Macs on the other hand give me a grey screen that says nothing when it crashes. Crashes something get ugly and I don't even know why. I have to look in console, and then even then the reports are cryptic. I can never find the right drivers, and most hardware does not even work. Sure it's supposedly virus resistant, but I've never had a problem in Windows either. I find viruses and trojans to be more of an user issue than OS issue. I've seen people who click and install just about everything, regardless to whether or not it asks for their password (and a lot people don't bother with a password, or their password is like 4 numbers—which is also their bank account PIN).

So yes, I think my Windows machines are more stable than my Macs.

 

[theBostonian]

I found Snow Leopard to be very unstable for some reason so I stick to Windows 7 on my MBP.

I suspect it may have something to do with antivirus on the Windows side "touching" the files on the OS X side (even though they're meant to be read only) and changing permissions.

That's just a theory tho, I really have no idea why OS X won't let me do something so simple like while an app is loading to attempt other tasks at the same time. I usually get a spinning ball thing, and crashes. I repair permissions and stuff, but despite fixing things I still get errors.

On the Windows side, everything is fine and fast. I love the hardware and design of the MBP but I have more luck with windows than OS X.

 

[Wrathwitch]

I love general threads too and I also like that for the few pages I read there were no huge flames or rants of PC vs Apple enthusiasts.

There is a hick expression that goes: If it has boobs or wheels you are going to have trouble with it. I ask advance pardon if I offend. I am a female but I found the statement humourous.

If there was a way to measure stability by comparison I guess there would have been articles out by now. Some rough ways of measurement are by examining the types of OS's that IBM and the major banks/databases or world fund folks use. If I am not mistaken most of it is UNIX.

From my limited understanding of OSX (UNIX based) vs Windows software, that over time Windows files can become corrupted if files aren't closed properly, if there are too many hard restarts etc. Face it one of the biggest things you are usually told when you run a UNIX system is to NEVER if possible cold cock it down! People are generally more abusive towards Windows OS. One person mentioned the click or download anything syndrome that Windows users suffer. Something that is recommended or at least used to be was to wipe your Windows hard drive once every 2-5 years or so and do a fresh install to remedy any corrupted files. When you close OSX down, it closes ALL of the programs you are running before the machine shuts down, limiting fragmentation (unless this is not valid anymore).

For a stable system either Windows or OSX you need the following factors: Good hardware (motherboards, vid cards, etc). Not knock off with limited or no warranty. Face it when you change the brakes in your car, you don't go with the cheapest, or you shouldn't. You need limited bloat ware to ensure smooth running, ample RAM and prudent user behaviour. If you take away any of these things, the odds of Stability in your system go down.

My biggest issue with Windows is the constant maintenance ie: driver updates, antivirus, etc. Doesn't sound like much but if you have a self built PC with devices from several different companies, keeping up on firmware and software updates can be annoying. With OSX you just click on the little apple icon and voila!

Anyhow, sorry bout the length, I just felt like making myself seem a bit self important for a while hehe! Even if I failed, I typed a lot of words!!

 

[mikeo007]

From my limited understanding of OSX (UNIX based) vs Windows software, that over time Windows files can become corrupted if files aren't closed properly, if there are too many hard restarts etc. Face it one of the biggest things you are usually told when you run a UNIX system is to NEVER if possible cold cock it down! People are generally more abusive towards Windows OS. One person mentioned the click or download anything syndrome that Windows users suffer. Something that is recommended or at least used to be was to wipe your Windows hard drive once every 2-5 years or so and do a fresh install to remedy any corrupted files. When you close OSX down, it closes ALL of the programs you are running before the machine shuts down, limiting fragmentation (unless this is not valid anymore).

While I generally agree with the point you're trying to make, the paragraph I've quoted makes little to no sense at all. I realize you stated you had a limited understanding, but I'm afraid that this paragraph shows no understanding at all.

Files do not become corrupted simply from not being "closed properly".
Hard resets do not cause file corruptions unless the files were in the middle of being written. In this case, virtually any device with a file structure can be damaged by a hard shutdown.
A fresh windows install does not remedy corrupted files, it remedies the muddy registry that results from the "click or download anything syndrome" that you mentioned
Since windows 95, all windows operating systems terminate active programs before shutting down, just like you stated that OSx does.
Applications running at shutdown have nothing to do with fragmentation.

Hope that clears things up a bit, and hope it didn't come across as rude. Just trying to clear up the false claims

 

[dusk007]

I suspect it may have something to do with antivirus on the Windows side "touching" the files on the OS X side (even though they're meant to be read only) and changing permissions.

I seriously doubt that any anti virus software even attempts to search an HFS+ partition. Whatever your issues are it is unlikely to be the AV software. Also all AV software works read only until the user tells it to edit something. It never edits anything unless being told so. It will usually point out problems and ask if it should quarantine or delete or do nothing. It would never just change any permissions. Never ever that would be like the most blatant security sin.

 

[Xcallibur]

I seriously doubt that any anti virus software even attempts to search an HFS+ partition. Whatever your issues are it is unlikely to be the AV software. Also all AV software works read only until the user tells it to edit something. It never edits anything unless being told so. It will usually point out problems and ask if it should quarantine or delete or do nothing. It would never just change any permissions. Never ever that would be like the most blatant security sin.

Yeah it definitely wouldn't be the AntiVirus app on the Windows partition.

 

[Wrathwitch]

While I generally agree with the point you're trying to make, the paragraph I've quoted makes little to no sense at all. I realize you stated you had a limited understanding, but I'm afraid that this paragraph shows no understanding at all.

Files do not become corrupted simply from not being "closed properly".
Hard resets do not cause file corruptions unless the files were in the middle of being written. In this case, virtually any device with a file structure can be damaged by a hard shutdown.
A fresh windows install does not remedy corrupted files, it remedies the muddy registry that results from the "click or download anything syndrome" that you mentioned
Since windows 95, all windows operating systems terminate active programs before shutting down, just like you stated that OSx does.
Applications running at shutdown have nothing to do with fragmentation.

Hope that clears things up a bit, and hope it didn't come across as rude. Just trying to clear up the false claims

No, you didn't come across as rude. The info that I put in was pulled from dusty grey matter of like 15+ years ago or so haha! Well the part about saying I have NO understanding was a BIT rude. No need to actually say that. Perhaps I could have clarified what I meant. but no biggie.

I did not know that Windows now terminates active programs before shutting down. Either way, what is, is. I only know from past experiences, whether it was registry issues or whatever, I have never had to reformat my mac HD. Mind you, I think I am speaking too soon as all the sudden my machine seems kinda lazy lately.l..

 

[Irock619]

I've used macs for years, but haven't actually owned one. As far as I could tell, their OS and hardware seemed to be less prone to freezing and crashing relative to their PC + Windows counterparts.

However, a quick glance at forums like macrumors show several people complaining about serious problems with their macs.

So my question is, are problems with macs common? How about compared to HP and Windows machines? Approximately what percentage is prone to failure? I understand this is a forum so the people who are having problems are bound to congregate here, but as an onlooker, it seems that macs are likely to break down on you often. Tell me this isn't true.

The reason why you hear negative things on forums is because that's what a forum is for. To get a real opinion you have to experience it for yourself. Go on any forum, you will read nothing but negative things. Forums are to educate people and help them solve issues they might be experiencing. Any problem I have with any electronic I always check the forums.

 

[chanyitian]

I've used macs for years, but haven't actually owned one. As far as I could tell, their OS and hardware seemed to be less prone to freezing and crashing relative to their PC + Windows counterparts.

However, a quick glance at forums like macrumors show several people complaining about serious problems with their macs.

So my question is, are problems with macs common? How about compared to HP and Windows machines? Approximately what percentage is prone to failure? I understand this is a forum so the people who are having problems are bound to congregate here, but as an onlooker, it seems that macs are likely to break down on you often. Tell me this isn't true.

I have been using both Windows 7 and Mac OSX for a couple of years now. Honestly, I think that Windows 7 is an excellent operating system compared to Windows Vista. Mac OSX is equally/ more reliable. However, I recently made a switch to Mac OSX because it offers a better user experience. The choice between windows and mac os really depends on what you want to do with your laptop. Good luck in finding a computer which suits you.

 

[DevinMacGregor]

Interesting

What I find interesting about these arguments is that we relate the term PC to Windows when we are referring actually to a clone platform. A PC can be a mac as well. Clone platforms can as well unix platforms. There is no clone market for Macs because Apple does not want to lose that control as IBM did.

I have messed around with the clones having never owned an actual IBM PC because well I could not afford one at the time. My first exposure was a clone made by Kaypro and a 286 at that running some version of MS DOS. Dip chips removal tool, jumpers etc.

Windows has come a LONG way. Microsoft tried to tell us that with WinXP that rebooting was a thing of the past. That was not true. EVEN for Win7 you have to reboot. I run Win7 Enterprise at work. I work for IT in a Multi Media environment. We are talking well over 100K devices. Win7 we are told was MS writing from scratch a new OS. Well we will soon discover that will be a lie. This is not to say Apple has never lied. It updated iTunes over Thanksgiving 2009 and Nanos and Classics could not sync. It took them a month to admit the patch for iTunes was the issue.

I see the argument of well inside they are both the same but then another argument that well Apple controls its hardware. It can't be both. It either has its own hardware made for it OR it pulls off the shelf, ie third party and has to deal with that as MS does. What I do not see mentioned in these I AM A PC debates is that Apple has offered Duo Core before the clone platforms did then quad core then duo quad core then quad quad core then we had 6 core 8 core and 12 core processors available yet AMD as of last year released a quad core for the clone platform side.

I am in an environment that moved from mostly Macs to mostly Clones running windows and now they are moving back to Macs. I mentioned that once in another forum and I got a response well that is because Apple has been making sexy devices, ie ipod, iphone, and ipad. Umm, no. This is a CORPORATE environment. It penny pinches. IF one can buy a clone that does all that a Mac does in the movie industry then they would. They buy bulk clones because they are cheap.

Someone implied Macs are for stupid people while clones are for thinking people. That kind of argument I find funny. It is more like I am a race car driver. I should not at each race have to be my own pit crew JUST to race the car. My job is to race the car not have to pop the hood and do a tune up before I can race it.

I saw an argument that well Apple is targeting those markets. Um no they are not. MS does not say well ours are business machines. MS advertises Windows as a muiti media platform just the same as Apple does for its Mac. Win7 has come a LONG way but I chuckle in its appleness. I read a book by the makers of WordPerfect that talked of how difficult MS was in getting what they needed to get their product to interface with the hardware THROUGH windows. Apple may be doing or had done the same thing but I am not so sure. The issues of Office on a Mac vs Windows is MS's fubar. Outlook used to work but they decided to go to Entourage. Powerpoint on a Mac sees a plethora of graphics while the Windows version only sees two. This was an issue when production who uses Macs would make a presentation and use a format that the windows version did not see. And it was NOT that the hardware itself could not handle it. Adobe on windows sees those same graphic formats. It is just the MS developers screwed up.

I run Win7 Ultimate at home and have little issues with it BUT my point in all of this was simply to give an example of third party argument. I bought a JVS video camera. I at the time was running XP SP3. I had as well bought an old Mac tower that was pre intel so it was running OS 9 (latest patches). The camera I plugged the USB connector into my clone desktop. Nada. Windows did not see it. No harm, I have the CD. Windows still did not see it. No harm, I downloaded the latest one off the manufacturers website. Windows now sees it. I install the software that came with the camera so I can pull the pics off. The software cannot see the camera. Crap. Oh wait I have adobe photo elements I got from my HP disk for my printer. I open that up and BAM it sees the camera. Well Abobe made software for Apple then Windows, wink wink. I then discover that the motion I have to use a different cable which happens to be fire wire. Hmmm no fire wire connector on my clone is there. Well wait, I have a fire wire card at work I found in a throw away bin. I put that in my clone and then have to get drivers for windows to see it. Wait a minute macs have fire wire. So I get under the desk to get to the back of the tower on the mac and plug in the fire wire. As I get up from the desk I notice the mac is asking me hey this make and model camera has been connected do you want to install it. Sure as what I want to do is edit photos not be a pit crew, remember? I then look at the camera and think I dont like where I set it down so I am going to put it on the floor next to the tower. I look back up and the Mac has opened up iDVD and it is asking me hey there is video on here, do you want to import it? Sure I do. I looked over at my NEWER OS Windows device and thought are you not supposed to be a multi media platform as well?

You see MS does not advertise Windows as the smart persons OS. It has ALWAYS been there to compete with the Mac OS when Apple released the Macintosh in 1984 and to do what the Mac OS does. MS has always advertised it as a multi media platform and people simply want things to work. People should not simply have to be car mechanics to drive to the store to get food or have to be some tech just to write a novel. It is job security for me that this stuff breaks.

This is a debate that will go on and on. I am liking Macs though more and more and at work I have an older 2008 iMac and a mid 2010 iMac that I play around with. And to someone that made the comment that BSODs are the 1990s. Umm no, we see not only BSODs for Win7 but black ones as well. Now Win7 does recover a hell of a lot better than XP ever did. Yes I have see screens freeze and the spinning beachball of death. I have imaged both platforms. I am still liking Macs over Windows. I read an article though that said Clone ratio to Macs was 60:1 in 2004. It has dropped to 20:1 now.

And when one says OSX could you say which version. 10.6 10.7 10.8 etc. It is like saying hey I run windows. Umm ok, XP SP1? XP SP2? XP SP3? etc etc.

 

[mjn298]

I think if you know what you're doing you'll be fine on any platform.

I started college when the "MacBook" series came out and every girl on campus had a white macbook and they would do ridiculous things like run programs from the mounted DMG and not from their applications folder, and have 30 DMGs mounted at a time.

Of course their machines ran terribly.

I have a windows desktop that i built. I use it for gaming/storage.. high hardware/storage demand stuff. It's just better value to get top-tier hardware into a DIY desktop than anything else. The fact that you can make incremental upgrades and have the hardware (99% of the time) work in pretty much any configuration is a huge help too.

I have traditionally used Apple or Asus laptops. Their customer support has been impeccable.. Apple has the convenience of storefronts, but when I had a hardware issue w/ Asus they e-mailed me a FedEx label and I had my computer back within ten days.

I will probably buy no laptops other than Apple from now on, the Unibody MBP is my favorite piece of mobile hardware ever (soon to be followed by the rMBP when I can get 16gb Ram and 768tb SSD without spending $3500 which isn't necessarily Apple's high-margin strategy but the cost of high-capacity SSDs.. in any event I needed new hardware now and went in a different direction).

That said, I love my W7 desktop and have never had any problems with it because I am careful to check compatibility of the hardware I select. There are infinite OEM manufacturers and you have to make sure you're getting the proper gear.

If you take the time to build a windows machine to proper spec you can have something very special that really feels like yours.

Apple's approach provides that everything will cooperate out of the box and that's very valuable as well.

My point in this long diatribe is that stability is often dependent on the end user's ability to optimize, problem-solve, and troubleshoot. In institutional environments this is difficult because of network/security/cost concerns that can manifest in all kinds of frustrating ways.

At the individual level, it's easier to have both platforms running flawlessly.