Mac vs PC

[boomdog]

For those of you who switched from pc-->Mac, how easy was the transition, learning new shortcut etc?

I am in same position and learning about OSX. The few things that I hope will make life easier - Spotlight, Smart folders, Time Machine, easier control panel.

What I think will make it difficult - no Alt-Tab, instead Cmd-tab + Cmd-~, Dock, getting used to virtual desktops, no right click.

With my minimal experience of OS X in both a VM and on my girlfriends mac I would say it is fairly intuitive. The dock system is brilliant in my opinion and it's easy to set up a right click in the mouse settings.

Installing on a VM really helped with confidence in my decision. Try it if you can, lots of tutorials in how to do it. You can download trials of VMware workstation from their site and should be able to find an iAtkos build of OS X somewhere online for a temporary install.

 

[JoeRito]

I use a PC on my printing press at work but my home is all Mac. Both work fine for what I require them to do. I prefer Mac due to the OS X and IOS environments.

I completely agree. Buy what suites your needs. Ultimately I love both OS X and even iOS and so prefer the Apple experience.

 

[LeandrodaFL]

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

You will never see Mac users hating PC users. At the very best, they will try explaining the Mac superiority. It just comes to the point of who you gonna believe....users who can only buy PCs and are full of hate, or users who can have both machines, did choose Macs and are happy with their lifes?

 

[tech4all]

Hi, I decided to upgrade my old computer. But I am not sure what to buy. I think I want a retina MacBook Pro 15'' . I searched on internet and I found a very big hate for Apple products and users especially Macs and Mac users. I can't find anything wrong with Macs but there must be something wrong with them beacuse everybody hates them. Most arguments were like ''Macs can't play games.'' ''You can't do anything with Macs'' ''My PC beats every Mac on everything'' ''Only hipsters and gays use Mac''. But I reaaly can't find anything wrong. I am a average user and only game that I play on my computer is league of legends. So what do you think? Why people hate Macs?

They still use the "Macs can't play games" argument? lol...although to be fair, iPhone users say similar things about Android...Android can't play games or doesn't have any software...

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

You will never see Mac users hating PC users. At the very best, they will try explaining the Mac superiority. It just comes to the point of who you gonna believe....users who can only buy PCs and are full of hate, or users who can have both machines, did choose Macs and are happy with their lifes?

No offense dude, but your comment is a reason why PC users hate Mac users. "Macs are better than PCs" - get a grip on reality. There's nothing wrong with PCs. I'm using one write now with Windows 7. I prefer using OS X, but that doesn't mean Macs are better at everything.

If you say Macs are better for gaming...you'll be the laughing stock among PC gamers and even Mac users who know that's simply not true.

Again, no offense or anything, but the whole Macs are better at PCs is tiresome.

 

[ecrispy]

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

You will never see Mac users hating PC users. At the very best, they will try explaining the Mac superiority. It just comes to the point of who you gonna believe....users who can only buy PCs and are full of hate, or users who can have both machines, did choose Macs and are happy with their lifes?

Thanks for confirming every stereotype there is about arrogant, condescending and clueless Mac users with more money than sense.

 

[Cyborg21]

Weird thing is I see lots of Android / PC users hating Macs / iPhone / iPad but I can't see any Mac / iPhone / iPad users hating Android / PC. Only a 1-2 years ago iPhone users were calling Android users as ''Losers'' but now Android users call iPhone users as ''Losers''. It looks like arrogant and ignorant people switched to Android. Also I 1-2 years ago I couldn't see any Macs anywhere. But now I see lots of Macs at starbucks, cafes, restaurants.

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And I tried Macbook at a tech store and I think it's better for daily use. I can always run windows with parallels or bootcamp for heavy use and windows-only-programs.

 

[Gav2k]

Today with Windows 8, I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to turn it off. No 'Start' menu in sight. Probably unplug it and wait a few hours.

I laughed then tried it on my daughters laptop...

Click name in top right
Click log out
Wait.............
A holding type screen (dunno what it's for) appears.
Click to reveal login screen
Click power icon in bottom right
Select shut down

Simple see... Ha

Ps once you've clicked shut down it then chooses to install updates. If you have a mech disk and your wanting to pack up your stuffed!!

 

[Saltymac]

Both operating systems work for most applications - the equipment Apple produces is the deal maker for me. It just works. Windows equipment that is "comparable" in quality is as expensive when new in spite of the claims by Windows users. The downside for Apple has always been the difficulty of upgrades for desktops to keep pace with changes - which is why a 2 -3 year change out program is necessary to keep pace. The advances in graphic cards in the past 2 years has made this an even more challenging task. Which is why for me the MacPro has always been a solid choice. In notebooks Apple is the leader in design and function which is why you are seeing more of them. MBA and MBP's are the head of the laptop class.

 

[Mr. McMac]

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

You will never see Mac users hating PC users. At the very best, they will try explaining the Mac superiority. It just comes to the point of who you gonna believe....users who can only buy PCs and are full of hate, or users who can have both machines, did choose Macs and are happy with their lifes?

With your "my s*** doesn't stink" attitude, no wonder PC users hate Mac users. Seriously, you need to grow up my friend

 

[63dot]

Hi, I decided to upgrade my old computer. But I am not sure what to buy. I think I want a retina MacBook Pro 15'' . I searched on internet and I found a very big hate for Apple products and users especially Macs and Mac users. I can't find anything wrong with Macs but there must be something wrong with them beacuse everybody hates them. Most arguments were like ''Macs can't play games.'' ''You can't do anything with Macs'' ''My PC beats every Mac on everything'' ''Only hipsters and gays use Mac''. But I reaaly can't find anything wrong. I am a average user and only game that I play on my computer is league of legends. So what do you think? Why people hate Macs?

There's plenty of hate for both PCs and Macs, sometimes for good reasons but usually not.

I have both and both have their advantages:

gaming: PC wins on this on
viruses: OS X safer and a much smaller target than Windows
cost: PCs are cheaper and most are pretty good, some great
hardware build: Mac without a doubt
software: more titles for PC, Windows 7 better than OS X overall, but apps on OS X better integrated than Windows apps

Final advice: you will do fine with either one

Five years ago I would have said OS X is better than Windows Vista and some PCs are just plain terrible. OS X now has gotten bloated and freezes and doesn't always play well with internet or corporate networks and Microsoft in same time ditched the bad and bloated stuff off of Vista and streamlined it into pretty error free Windows 7. But Microsoft's great Windows 7 will be forgotten if the confusing Windows 8 takes over. It seems Microsoft gets more of their operating systems messed up than Apple. As for OS X, we need to get a swift kick in the pants and not use Microsoft's model of everything and the kitchen sink and learn from Windows 7 in making something that works with what you need, nothing more.

The computer supposed to work for you, not the other way around and OS X has forgotten that of late. That being said iOS is really good, easy, and well laid out thus popularity and dominance of iPhone.

 

[Mr. McMac]

There's plenty of hate for both PCs and Macs, sometimes for good reasons but usually not.

I have both and both have their advantages:

gaming: PC wins on this on
viruses: OS X safer and a much smaller target than Windows
cost: PCs are cheaper and most are pretty good, some great
hardware build: Mac without a doubt
software: more titles for PC, Windows 7 better than OS X overall, but apps on OS X better integrated than Windows apps

Final advice: you will do fine with either one

Five years ago I would have said OS X is better than Windows Vista and some PCs are just plain terrible. OS X now has gotten bloated and freezes and doesn't always play well with internet or corporate networks and Microsoft in same time ditched the bad and bloated stuff off of Vista and streamlined it into pretty error free Windows 7. But Microsoft's great Windows 7 will be forgotten if the confusing Windows 8 takes over. It seems Microsoft gets more of their operating systems messed up than Apple. As for OS X, we need to get a swift kick in the pants and not use Microsoft's model of everything and the kitchen sink and learn from Windows 7 in making something that works with what you need, nothing more.

The computer supposed to work for you, not the other way around and OS X has forgotten that of late. That being said iOS is really good, easy, and well laid out thus popularity and dominance of iPhone.

I agree with most of what you say, even build quality compared to Dell, HP, etc.. But, I can build a PC of equal or better quality than a mac. The fact that I can custom build, and get inexpensive but quality replacement parts if needed. You can't do that on a mac. Basically Apple has you by the balls if something goes wrong.

 

[roadbloc]

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

I really hope you are not serious...

 

[Mr. McMac]

I really hope you are not serious...

Unfortunately I'll bet he is. He probably feels like a dick now since every response has been negative towards his comment. This is probably why he hasn't responded.

 

[Kaspersky]

''Only hipsters and gays use Mac'' LMFAO
Windows 8 is the reason y u should take a Mac!
If u can take a high end Lenovo ThinkPad ultrabook with windows 7 u will b good too...

 

[Wikwoo]

For those of you who switched from pc-->Mac, how easy was the transition, learning new shortcut etc?

I am in same position and learning about OSX. The few things that I hope will make life easier - Spotlight, Smart folders, Time Machine, easier control panel.

What I think will make it difficult - no Alt-Tab, instead Cmd-tab + Cmd-~, Dock, getting used to virtual desktops, no right click.

Macs do have right click, you just need to turn it on.

System Preferences->Keyboard and Mouse->Mouse

 

[Corrosive vinyl]

Macs do have right click, you just need to turn it on.

System Preferences->Keyboard and Mouse->Mouse

i just use either control + click or plug in my logitech mouse. yes, most 3rd party mice, etc. will work without installing evil drivers.

 

[Mal67]

I laughed then tried it on my daughters laptop...

Click name in top right
Click log out
Wait.............
A holding type screen (dunno what it's for) appears.
Click to reveal login screen
Click power icon in bottom right
Select shut down

Simple see... Ha

Ps once you've clicked shut down it then chooses to install updates. If you have a mech disk and your wanting to pack up your stuffed!!

Windows 8.1 makes the process easier. If you add classic shell it's even easier. I don't recall aspects of the original osx being entirely straightforward either but these things usually get better as they develop. However that doesn't excuse making things difficult to find. I do my updating when I'm using it. If I need to do something else and have to pack up I shutdown later with the machine sleeping and update then.
Eitherway I like classic shell and I also like being able to access apps via the start screen on the one machine. I would like a closer relationship between ios apps and the mac so that some of the stuff that's done on the ipad could be done on the mac as well/ instead. And on the subject of apps why did it take so long to allow ibook functionality on the mac. I'm glad you can do it now but this should have been done ages ago in particular when ibooks first came out. My 2cents.

 

[63dot]

I agree with most of what you say, even build quality compared to Dell, HP, etc.. But, I can build a PC of equal or better quality than a mac. The fact that I can custom build, and get inexpensive but quality replacement parts if needed. You can't do that on a mac. Basically Apple has you by the balls if something goes wrong.

Being a techie, I can see where a PC is the better hardware option but I still steer my non-techie customers to a regular brand name whether it be Dell, HP, or Apple. Most won't really know about building a PC so I compare off the shelf items like the Macs you see in an Apple store versus the PCs you may see at Best Buy or Fry's Electronics.

When it comes to laptops, it's certainly easiest to buy one unless you are really advanced and it's hard to beat a really nice, moderately priced Macbook Air. I am OK with my mid-level PC laptop but if I had to cart the thing around a lot I would go with 11" inch Macbook Air.

While it's obvious I like the Mac over the PC, the average user who doesn't have any preference is still probably best suited, dollar for dollar, with an inexpensive yet fairly reliable ASUS or HP laptop running Windows 7.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

If you get a PC, try and pick up a business class machine - a Think Pad or Latitude. Or if you want something sexy, a 14" Razer Blade.

 

[gnasher729]

No offense dude, but your comment is a reason why PC users hate Mac users. "Macs are better than PCs" - get a grip on reality. There's nothing wrong with PCs. I'm using one write now with Windows 7. I prefer using OS X, but that doesn't mean Macs are better at everything.

Come back when you used Windows 8.

 

[7709876]

Macs are better then PCs. Thats why PC users who cant afford a Mac, or dumb people like to post online trashing Mac users. They have a sad life and need to express their rage somehow.

You will never see Mac users hating PC users. At the very best, they will try explaining the Mac superiority. It just comes to the point of who you gonna believe....users who can only buy PCs and are full of hate, or users who can have both machines, did choose Macs and are happy with their lifes?

Macs ARE PCs.

Apple make the best all in one personal computers on the market at the moment. When I bought my iMac I looked around and I couldn't find anything with equivalent specs from anyone else.

If you want an "All in One" you can buy a cheaper machine from another manufacturer. The specs won't be as good and the build quality probably won't be either. It may or may not be cheaper.

The iMac I bought was the top end machine at the time. Its cost was just over £2000. That is a lot of money for anyone to spend on a computer. I had moved to an iMac from a high end overclocked machine that I built myself. I was tired of cleaning the fans out every month. I was tired of the constant temptation to upgrade this bit or that bit. For me the idea of a fairly quite all in one was the way forward if the specs were right.

If someone is buying a computer they need to identify what they want to do with it and how much they have to spend. If you want a computer to surf and use Facebook then an iMac will do that. So will a computer for £300 from Tesco. If you don't want an all in one machine then you will get more performance from less money avoiding Apple. You will also be able to upgrade the machine. If you play some games then upgrading your graphics card in a couple of years time can add huge performance gains. This is something you just can't do with a Mac.

It is important for anyone buying a computer to decide whether they prefer Windows or OSX. If you buy a Mac you can run both. I spend more time in Windows on my machine than I do in OSX but I run both. Both are stable modern operating systems. I personally have had more issues with OSX than with Windows. The issues I have had have been with printer drivers (my printer keeps needing the drivers to be re-installed in OSX) and with partitioning in OSX.

My next computer is going to be another iMac most likely. If a ten year younger version of me was buying then I would build a Windows based machine myself.

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Come back when you used Windows 8.

I use Windows 8 (well currently 8.1) on my machine.

I have zero issues with it. It performs better than Windows 7 and the UI changes I managed to get my head around very quickly.

 

[japasneezemonk]

If you have to ask, then you should probably just stick with you Windows PC. Nobody had to change my mind, Windows ME did a fine job all by itself.

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i just use either control + click or plug in my logitech mouse. yes, most 3rd party mice, etc. will work without installing evil drivers.

hahaha. drivers, drivers, drivers, another bad memory that still gives me nightmares.

 

[7709876]

Using an Apple Computer

Pros :

Apple - Their customer care is better than any of the other major computer companies for consumers. This is especially true if you are within reach of an "Apple Store". Applecare is also great if you think you are going to need assistance over the course of ownership.

Cons :

Apple - Their customer care can be appalling at times. Buy a new computer from them in a retail outlet and have a problem on day one? You need to make a "genius bar" appointment which might be a week from now. I had this issue with a borked keyboard on a new machine. Long term support - at some point in the future Apple will make an arbitrary decision you can't receive updates. Microsoft will enable you to upgrade as long as you want - or can endure the increasing system demands. The smug in their retail shops can be an ordeal as well. If you are a young, hip, worshiper of the cult of Apple then it can be fine. If you are just a normal person who wants to buy something it can be a bit much. My wife has lost count of the times she has been addressed as "dude" by Apple retail staff.

 

[japasneezemonk]

Also I 1-2 years ago I couldn't see any Macs anywhere. But now I see lots of Macs at starbucks, cafes, restaurants.

Where do you live, or how old are you? I've seen macs around for years, especially among college aged students. I think your living proof of an observational selection bias.

 

[Cyborg21]

I'm awaiting delivery of my first Mac and this was one of the many factors that convinced me. I have a fairly decent laptop (Dell L701X; i7, SSD, 16GB ram, 3GB graphics) and it runs windows 7/8 fast! Startup is about 20-30s and I'm off and away in no time, particularly in windows 8 which now has intelligent startup which loads what your trying to use first. Anyway, a couple of months ago, my girlfriend 2009 Macbook needed a hard drive upgrade, she'd filled the desktop with millions of pictures and couldn't store anymore, so she asked me to do it. Before removing her current drive to clone, I asked her (seeing as I'm a Mac novice), how do you shut the Mac down? Her response, yelled from afar - SHUT THE LID! - she had never, in the 4 years of ownership, shut the thing down properly and it was still running smooth with no problems. If I tried this on my windows laptop, I think it would self destruct within a month.

The second big clincher for me was the customer service received with my iPhone, iPad and girlfriends macbook. They just seem to replace faulty goods in an instant and I'm happy to pay a little more for such a privilege.

Having half decided to buy a Mac, I wanted to test it out a little before making such a huge investment so installed iAtkos ML in a virtual machine and used it for everyday tasks for about a week. Though not ideal, due to VM restrictions I liked the environment and had not problems with my general usage. I've now installed rocket dock on my Laptop and moved the task bar to the top of the screen because I missed OS X so much!

If you are really new to OS X and not sure if you could live with it, try installing it in VM ware, or similar. I'm not sure doing so is completely legal but I didn't worry too much as I was only using it for a couple of weeks. Helped me understand the environment and convinced me to buy a rMBP to run alongside my Dell XPS.

I already have an virtual machine program. I run Ubuntu Linux in it but I don't know how to install OS X on a virtual machine.

Also I searched a bit about hackintosh. I think paying for a Macbook Pro is more logical than trying to build a hackintosh beacuse:
1) Most Hackintosh computers are not running as smooth as Macs.
2) I don't want to try to build a Hackintosh for weeks or months. I had a friend that trying to build a Hackintosh (He was really good at operating computers). He tried for months and He couldn't make it run smooth. So He bought a Mac instead of building a Hackintosh.
3) Design, quality of hardware and build quality is really important to me.

So I decided to buy a Mac. But trying OS X on a virtual machine would be great. I heard that most developers are not recommend a Hackintosh or running OS X on virtual machine as a main computer. But doing it for trying OS X is a good idea.