Do you use a macbook only because it looks cool and sexy

[Piplodocus]

I use mine for Audio stuff. PC's seem to be a lottery. Some run great. Some seem to never run quite right the entire length of ownership, depending on the luck of how happy your particular config of hardware and drivers works with Win (X). I'd never get a cheap laptop, so when comparing with the competition:

• My mac has a long battery life.
• It's thin and light so I take it with me everywhere even though it's 17" and I was never sold on "thinness" before I bought it.
• It runs Windows 7 via bootcamp so I can still game (on rare occasions).
• It runs Win7 via parallels if I want to use MS visual studio/PIC programming software.
• It has a lovely inertial scrolling trackpad I'd now find it hard to give up (with swiping for "back" in browsers/finder).
• It was only about 10% more expensive than a similar spec Alienware/Dell when I bought it. With student discount was about the same.
• Magsafe connector for the lummox in me.
• Aluminium unibody.
• OSX is nicer (IMO).
• It doesn't ask me if I'm sure all the time.

And if that's not a fair comparison which I find happily justifies it...Yes... It looks cool and sexy too...

(Wouldn't mind a Delete key as well as Backspace though! Fn-Backspace is a little annoying, although I'm quite used to it now)

 

[flyersgl]

On the Windows v. OSX debate, I have to relate my experience this week preparing my previously beloved (before I got my iPad) Dell Mini 9 for resale to a coworker for his daughter for Christmas. It took 7 hours to get the operating system, drivers and updates reinstalled. I have never prepared a Mac for resale, but based on everything I have experienced in the 2 years since I made the overall switch, I can't see it taking that long to wipe and restore a machine.

 

[peapody]

it doesn't ask me if i'm sure all the time.

lol

 

[Kildeer]

I completely agree my friend. This has turned into a pissing contest. But whatever works. Personally, I use my mac because I got fed up with all the time I would lose while working with windows. I used windows all the way up through high school, so when it was time for me to buy my own computer, I went with a mac. One of the best decisions of my life haha. Especially for students. You can't beat a mac when you're a student

Exactly, you save a lot of time working on a Mac instead of a Windows computer. The workflow on the Mac is just so much better and efficient when you learn a few of the shortcuts. Also, I bought mine for the stability and great OS.

 

[lilo777]

Exactly, you save a lot of time working on a Mac instead of a Windows computer. The workflow on the Mac is just so much better and efficient when you learn a few of the shortcuts. Also, I bought mine for the stability and great OS.

And all those corporations that prefer PCs to Macs obviously are so stupid

 

[intervenient]

In essence, yes, but not because I think it looks cool and sexy, but because other people do. The only reason anyone should buy a Mac is for resell value, which is insanely high.

If you asked build quality, than hell yes. Apple build quality is unparalleled.

 

[intervenient]

And all those corporations that prefer PCs to Macs obviously are so stupid

Sorry for the double post, but it's comments like these that are unfairly snarky. We both know that corporations are only prefer PCs because the discount they get on Windows XP is massive.

 

[NickZac]

PC users replace laptops faster because they can afford too. Mac buyers on the other hand have to save longer to buy a new laptop. As a result, on average, Mac users have far more outdated hardware than PC users (even not accounting for Mac hardware usually being outdated right away)

Actually, Mac users generally have higher education and higher gross income than PC owners. Obviously this is not always the case and obviously it isn't a clear generalization as there is tremendous variation in PC's

Now, on the other hand, MBP's are sold at virtually every higher education organization in America and so yes, some of us stretch ourselves thin to buy Mac's; I was one of them.

And all those corporations that prefer PCs to Macs obviously are so stupid

We can't even begin to say why corporations choose x over y system. Everyone may reason that 'PC's cost less', but that is also a silly argument as there are a lot of issues at play. User friendliness is another issue and also, most people who know computers know Windows based OSs and not OS X or similar. Unix is a great operating system provided you understand what osdhf3oer;hnvpicwe;sfnpuehoq;nvc98o23uhf9p3o;berivleeo;vn3uporw;v means

 

[AmethystZhou]

Enjoy your Mac life! You'll soon find it really phenomenal.

 

[bigjobby]

And all those corporations that prefer PCs to Macs obviously are so stupid

There are many factors favouring PCs in a corporate environment but making such a ridiculous and unsubstantiated comment exposes ignorance.

May as well say corporates who use Windows or Macs instead of Linux are stupid.

 

[Kildeer]

And all those corporations that prefer PCs to Macs obviously are so stupid

I never said that, but I'll tell you something you may not know. It's all about the bottom line in many corporations and if an insurance company or say a bank has an internal network of 50 computers they are obviously going to buy PCs because of the discount they get (like intervenient already said). I used to work in a place where the CEO thought about every single penny that went out of the company.

I simply stated that the workflow on OSX is so much better than Windows IMO. For instance all the keyboard shortcuts make life so easy. I know far from all by memory yet, but a fair few I'd say. The fact that I can use Spotlight to search and find almost instantly (Windows takes forever). The fact that taking screenshots is so easy if I need to do that. I could go on but then this'll get long.

 

[Yin]

I never said that, but I'll tell you something you may not know. It's all about the bottom line in many corporations and if an insurance company or say a bank has an internal network of 50 computers they are obviously going to buy PCs because of the discount they get (like intervenient already said). I used to work in a place where the CEO thought about every single penny that went out of the company.

I simply stated that the workflow on OSX is so much better than Windows IMO. For instance all the keyboard shortcuts make life so easy. I know far from all by memory yet, but a fair few I'd say. The fact that I can use Spotlight to search and find almost instantly (Windows takes forever). The fact that taking screenshots is so easy if I need to do that. I could go on but then this'll get long.

i am one of the people who think that linux is far better than os x or windows in cooperations. it costs less, offers more flexibility and stability. so why not?
the workflow on os x is not that much superior to windows. there are shortcuts too and you can also create them yourself.

 

[Kildeer]

Well as much as you think Linux is better than the two, I think the workflow on OSX is much better than on Windows, it's the whole feel to the system and not just individual bits. We use our systems differently so IMO OSX workflow is far superior to that of Windows.

 

[gnasher729]

PC users replace laptops faster because they can afford too. Mac buyers on the other hand have to save longer to buy a new laptop. As a result, on average, Mac users have far more outdated hardware than PC users (even not accounting for Mac hardware usually being outdated right away)

In my experience, PC users replace laptops faster because the bloody things fall apart if you just look at them at a sharp angle, compared to a MacBook which will just work and work and work. And MacBooks are lots more upgradeable - when you look at reviews from companies selling internal hard drives, half of them go into MacBooks, and a quarter or so into Playstations. Windows users are generally too lets say technologically challenged to upgrade their computers, compared to sophisticated Macintosh users.

 

[OllyW]

Windows users are generally too lets say technologically challenged to upgrade their computers, compared to sophisticated Macintosh users.

It's counterbalanced by the well know fact* that more smug arrogant tossers use Macs.


*You're not the only one who can use sweeping generalisations based on opinion rather than fact.

 

[Dr McKay]

I always hate it when Smug Mac users say the only reason that I don't use a Mac is because I cant afford one, I generally try to explain I had a bad experience with Tiger at College, crashing at pretty simple tasks several times a day, and then tried Snow Leopard for a few days, and preferred Windows 7.

For the cost arguement, my new laptop getting shipped to me in January.

 

[tigress666]

I always hate it when Smug Mac users say the only reason that I don't use a Mac is because I cant afford one, I generally try to explain I had a bad experience with Tiger at College, crashing at pretty simple tasks several times a day, and then tried Snow Leopard for a few days, and preferred Windows 7.

For the cost arguement, my new laptop getting shipped to me in January.

Posts like this make me curious though, why are you reading this particular forum (not MacRumors, I understand some people are here for iPhones/iPods/IPads) but on a macbook forum, if you don't even like the computers?

And I haven't told people that. I know some people prefer Windows, my roommate included (of course he also bitches a lot at his computer so it doesn't seem to me he gets less frustrated by his). But I think his problem more is not wanting to bother trying to get used to a new OS as it just isn't worth the time to him (he hasn't had enough time working on a mac to really make a proper assessment, he only has used mine just to look something up quickly and gets frustrated when he does something that is obvious that it's cause he's not used to my computer). He's not really big into computers like me (it's not that he is inept with them, he just spends all day at work in front of one and for him that's more than enough computer time) so he doesn't want to spend the little time he has trying to get used to a new system.

And while I have never had huge issues with Tiger, I can understand if you have had your own bad experience, it's pointless to argue otherwise. You wouldn't convince me to go back to using whatever Windows it was on my first windows computer I had (XP wasn't so bad though but I prefer Mac *shrug*).

 

[bniu]

My top reasons for buying a MBP:

1. OS X
2. OS X
3. OS X
4. Xcode (actually need a mac here)
5. 10 hour battery life
6. Easy to use
7. Machine looks great

 

[Jaro65]

+1
In all honesty, we have 3 pc desktops here. Between my husband and daughter using it, the maintainence is quite crazy.
When I first got my iMac, life got so much simpler, very low maintainence.
So, I went to iMac, to MacBook pro, and iPad. We're very satisfied. The design on these are just an added bonus.

As technology matures, it becomes more transparent. This is indeed the case with regards to the Mac (and Apple products in general). The PC world has been a bit slow in that regard. I got rid of all our Win machines after my experience with a couple of MBP's.

 

[calaverasgrande]

We both know that corporations are only prefer PCs because the discount they get on Windows XP is massive.

Haha you couldnt be more wrong. From a total cost of ownership standpoint I dare say that macs would come out ahead. They are much easier to support in a corporate environment. Far easier to work on. Better build quality. Creating a corporate disk image is super easy on a mac and requires no third party tools or "sysprep", Ghost type tools. You just use Disk Utility and make an image from a system connected by firewire. Licensing in Microsoft environs is NOT cheap! In addition to the licenses you have to buy for each OS install you also will pay for the Office suite seperately. In addition to that your Windows servers require licenses per each "seat". So if I have 100 guys, I had to pay for 100 windows 7 licenses, 100 Office 2010's and 100 seats on my server 2008 R2. That is not "cheaper".
The reason most corporations stick to Windows is simple. Excel and Outlook. They suck hardcore on Mac. I havent seen Office 2011 in a corporate environ yet, but 2008 is untenable. Entourage is garbage. Mac Excel cant do Macros. Mail app is cool, but it lacks some of the meeting features that Win-Outlook has (and Entourage pretends to have!).
Then there is also the whole single sign on/Active Directory/Exchange thing. There are Mac/Unix alternatives like Open Directory, but I have yet to see anything as well fleshed out with as much 3rd party support as Exchange and Active Directory.
Don't get me wrong, I hate AD and Exchange. But they are the infrastructure that pretty much ALL companies work on.
The exception being the newer, nimbler startups that have been on hosted web based equivalents since they started. Google apps does this very well and I expect will only get better.

If there is one thing I dont like about Mac os it is the insecure Mac owners. You dont have to belittle other computers to justify yours!

 

[biscuitsxluv]

Oh yeah, I love expose and spaces. Makes everything so much easier than have 20 things on your task bar!

 

[deeddawg]

If there is one thing I dont like about Mac os it is the insecure Mac owners. You dont have to belittle other computers to justify yours!

There's insecurity (immaturity) on both sides of the fence. It's existed since before the dawn of the Mac and PC (some of us remember back that far).

It'll exist for so long as people tie their identity in with the stuff they buy. Eventually I think many individuals grow up and see their stuff as just stuff that enables them to accomplish their larger goals in life; but for each person who "graduates" to that level there's at least one new kid entering the fray touting his or her choice of computer as superior in an effort to prop up his/her self esteem.

A good question is to what degree has Apple encouraged an aura of elitism around their products as a marketing mechanism?

 

[freddy-b]

i use my mac cause its quick, fun, awsome, sexy, and cool!. and GOOD.

 

[NickZac]

i use my mac cause its quick, fun, awsome, sexy, and cool!. and GOOD.

Hell yeah!

 

[Eddyisgreat]

A good question is to what degree has Apple encouraged an aura of elitism around their products as a marketing mechanism?

I don't see how they could. I mean, it's not as if Apple asks you for a college degree before selling you a product. Stupid campaigns by competitors make apple products look better by comparison.

If selling your products at a premium and refusing to adhere to industry rumblings alienates a certain class of customer then...that's unavoidable.