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That's actually quite right and one of the main reasons (if not THE main reason) Microsoft remains dominant. For business users, the ability to share documents is critical. Using Numbers or Pages just won't cut it when there are tens of thousands of dollars riding on your report/analysis/calculations/etc.......

Macs work great for families and some small businesses, but when it comes down to it the majority of businesses run Windows because they have to in order to productively compete.

I work in a Windows-only Fortune 100 company (meaning IT only supports Windows) and many people have introduced Macs on their own. People run Mac native applications (such as MS-Office) when they can; and run the corporate Windows image when they have to, via VMWare Fusion. I happen not to be one of those (I want to be able to choke a single IT throat when my work environment goes down), but said stealth Mac users claim to be quite happy about this. Most everyday business applications can be run, quite compatibly, natively on the Mac.

Obviously, this particular claim by MS is bogus, since Office for Mac is highly compatible with Office for Windows (if it weren't, which corporation would be at fault? ;)). Neither comes "free" with the OS, so where is the advantage?
 
Office for Mac comes close but still not 100% compatible. Step away from Microsoft software and the gap begins to get wider. Most CAD work is done using Autodesk or Dassault software. Structural engineering software is non-existent on the Mac platform. Try finding software to run a CNC machine or laser cutter on the Mac.....

As others have said - there are pros and cons to each operating system. It largely depends on the field you are in for which system works best.

What you mean is that *sometimes* the field you are in dictates whether or not you HAVE a choice. There are a lot of people in these fields who would love nothing more than to ditch Windows, but can't (well most of them do for personal use). This really has nothing to do with "pros and cons of each operating system."

Until software developers "get around to it", there will not be competition in these fields. This is one of the things that sustains Microsoft. I suspect things will begin to change in the next few years.
 
In fairness though the PC world hasn't had a virus in years - most of the stuff these days is malware, spyware, phishing, scareware and other issues unrelated to the traditional virus that existed years ago.

Perhaps this is because everyone in the PC world is running AV, but this is a double-edged sword. My corporation (and many others) was brought to it's knees by a McAfee bug last year. This was far more disruptive to our business than any virus has ever been. If you look at the number of corporations using McAfee and the nature of the bug, it's clear that many more people were impacted than McAfee acknowledged. My system was down for a day, and although they did get it back up within 24 hours, it never worked quite right and eventually had to be re-imaged.
 
what about office:mac? doesn't this solve the problem?

I am cooperating with an advertising/communication strategy company, and they use just macs in all departments, though with mac office for word/excel & keynote for presentations. pages/numbers are not used. relevant adobe suite is existant on all systems of course.

there are workarounds in my opinion, you just need a savy IT to manage it

Another very important issue is that the windows computers can be managed through Active Directory which is a very mature product these days.

Management tools for macs still aren't anyway near the Windows platform in the enterprise. Windows usually compete with Linux on the servers and on the desktop Windows is king. OS X? Not so much.
 
In fairness though the PC world hasn't had a virus in years - most of the stuff these days is malware, spyware, phishing, scareware and other issues unrelated to the traditional virus that existed years ago.

True, but often times these kinds of problems are just as annoying and hard to get rid of. It seems like one person per week comes to me with some kind of problem related to malware/scareware on their personal computer. I often use the opportunity to explain how this kind of thing never happens on Macs, and about half the time they go out and buy one the same day.
 
It's interesting that MS is focusing on convincing people not to get Mac, rather than actually getting Windows.

Would it be better to do opposite - shop people why is it better to install full-time Windows on a Mac, rather than using Mac OS? Improve support, provide out-of-the box drivers (come on MS, you know and are working with all manufacturers of the bits and pieces inside a Mac!). MS could change Apple victory, into their own...

I couldn't help but wonder - is that because they know, once someone goes Mac (OS), will never go back?

actually, when i got my own first mac, I was so psyched with the ui flow, that I was sure I wouldn't dare to look at windows again, though w7 launch changed my point of view again.

minor note, when I was working on a ppc mac back in '99, I wouldn't consider ever buying one for myself, even though more stable, support was lousy back then, prices were untouchable and if not in business yourself, no need to have had one anyway.
 
Perhaps this is because everyone in the PC world is running AV, but this is a double-edged sword. My corporation (and many others) was brought to it's knees by a McAfee bug last year. This was far more disruptive to our business than any virus has ever been. If you look at the number of corporations using McAfee and the nature of the bug, it's clear that many more people were impacted than McAfee acknowledged. My system was down for a day, and although they did get it back up within 24 hours, it never worked quite right and eventually had to be re-imaged.

Yeah, using this software is like wearing your seat belt. It doesn't guarantee you won't get a virus (or spyware, malware, scareware), it just makes it less likely. Ironically, recently I have found the free solution from Microsoft to be about as good at catching things as any of the paid solutions.
 
I love Mac errors like "The file cannot be copied because the file cannot be copied", or how about "The file cannot be modified because the file cannot be modified."

Windows 7 just makes sense. Its faster (even on macs compared to osx), its sleeker, its less obtrusive, its intuitive and its more compatible. Its also a helluva lot more powerful. I can do so much more with my OS than Mac fanboys can. Hell, its even easier for me to just maximize a windows to view it at fullscreen. I love the way explorer works compared to macs convuluted version. I like that I can even move my taskbar to be where ever the heck I want. I love being able to drag files to a CD/DVD and simply clicking "burn to disc".

I also love being able to use whatever hardware I want and not having to worry about my OS supporting it. Thats so important to someone who wants speed out of their PC without waiting 6 months to a year for a full system replacement to come on the market. I also think its great how an open ended hardware system creates competition in the market instead of leaving it potentially stale if OSX took over.

Isn't it great that Windows 7 is also very touch screen friendly? Man, who woulda thunk that Windows 7 would be more compatible than a mac for touch screen when Apple created such great devices as the iPad and iPhone.

Also, I love that it doesn't come with iTunes! iTunes blows. I know its a minor annoyance, but its great that not everything on Windows has an "i" in front of it.

If you were to create 2 countries, one for mac, and one for pc, you'd find that even though the pc country outnumbers mac by more than 10 to 1, they would be quiet. We windows users are too busy using our PC's to constantly insult the other. You guys spend most of your time in forums thinking of ways to defend your stupid waste of money so you don't have to feel so bad. Its ok, you made a mistake, your next PC can have windows on it.

And best of all, even though there are vastly more windows fans than mac fans... there are less windows fanboys to deal with than mac ones.

Last, but not least.... I win.

What a load of spurious ************

I love Windows errors like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or Stop 0x0000007B.

Windows is faster is it? Benchmarks please.

Sleeker? That's down to personal preference, personally I think your eyes aren't working right.

Finder convoluted? How?

Burning disks is fairly simple in OS X, have you even used it?

Your desire for 'speed' is incredibly vague. If by 'speed' you mean gaming performance, you're right, PCs would be better. For actual productivity (which is what everyone else uses their computers for) I'm not sure they're really that fussed about expandability beyond RAM / HDD / SSD options, which is exactly Apple's stance on it.

Touch is a gimmick at the moment, everyone can see that. Windows 7, OS X and all other major Operating Systems don't have any / a proper implementation of touch, because it would require a complete UI redesign. Apple might be late to the Desktop OS Touch implementation, but unlike Microsoft charging headlong into the public with a not-even-finished version clamouring for attention, Apple will hang back, develop a killer method of integrating it, and bring it out when the time is right.

The Windows version of iTunes can be a little flakey, sure. The OS X one is fine, I've been using it for 2 years having come from WinAmp, I've not been disappointed by it once.

You're calling everyone here a Mac fanboy, but you're on a Mac-orientated site, spewing your poorly thought-out arguments, claiming you're not some hideously ignorant Micro$oft fanboy when clearly you are :/
 
Exactly what I was getting at, thanks.

I still have yet to run across a usb 3.0 computer anywhere in the wild.

Hey, I wasn't able to read through all the posts following yours, so if I write something that has already been written, sorry for the waste of space.

Anywho, went to bestbuy.com and looked at a few computer systems. As you said, no one really seems to carry USB 3.0. If you look at the XPS studio 7100 at bestbuy the tech specs doesn't mention USB 3.0. However, at dell.com, the same line-up are marketed with USB 3.0 - so I guess either do bestbuy carry an old line-up of the 7100 or they don't care to market it. Anyhow, I would still say that there are computers available for the soccer moms with usb 3.0/ in the wild.

Dell's webpage for xps 7100
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/desktops/desktop-studio/ct.aspx?refid=desktop-studio&s=dhs&cs=19

Bestbuy's dito: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+Studio+XPS+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive/9973586.p?skuId=9973586&ky=1whxm51gbOgORrn6M8JOUlLjDtR0yY7Rx&cmp=RMX&id=1218202914651

On a different note, even though a lot of the stuff on the webpage was bogus (I can't ever say that setting up a network on a windows computer have been easy) some of it is true. I inherited my dad's MBP from 2008, and it has made my daily computer activities (internet, emails, calender) a lot more aerodynamic compared to my old XPS m1330.

However, I still chose to buy a new windows based system, so I could play some games (and before anyone goes on and on about consoles, I own a PS3 and a Wii). Because Apple just simply doesn't offer the same value as any win brand builder/OEM/generic builder does.

So as so many have concluded before, the commercial is not aimed at macrumors RSS subscribers, but rather anyone who's thinking about a switch from PC - and for most of those users, it hardly matters what OS the machine runs. Windows 7 is great, and has been so since early RC releases, and Mac OS X is in my opinion fantastic, due to its' wonderful integration (bundled software and iPhone/iPad) - but it does involve a learning curve for any soccer-mom switcher and it's up to him/her to decide whether it's worth it or not.
 
worst ads ever

God, I cringe everytime I have the displeasure of seeing a Microsoft ad. They make the absolute worst ad's next to Rogers cell phone ad's. Annoying people saying stupid things. The one with the douchemeisters watching Zombie. Oh jeez. Come on! Guaranteed, these particular losers have got the Tranformers movies on 24/7 rotation (when they're not watching Do You Think You Can Dance?)

:p

I would have to say that the new black berry messenger ads are the worst I have ever seen - though the kin ads were close (very creepy)

j
 
And best of all, even though there are vastly more windows fans than mac fans... there are less windows fanboys to deal with than mac ones./

No, there aren't. Far more Windows fanboys out there. Microsoft has a multi-decade history of astroturfing to get their word out. Letters to the editors, articles placed in tech journals, Slashdot moderation, Digg rigging, the Windows playbook has it all. And as Windows fanboys love to remind us, with Microsoft having 90+% of the market, it's no wonder Windows fanboys are EVERYWHERE.

Now on MacRumors you are going to see more Mac fanboys. But why on earth would you expect otherwise? The real question is why a Windows fanboy would be on this site to begin with.
 
Can't figure out

I don't see why anybody would get a Mac as their primary or sole computer. There's so much you can't do on one because Steve Jobs can't find a way to monetize it. I have a mac mini, which I only got because Jobs wont put out a windows or linux version of the iphone SDK. Thats the ONLY reason I even own a mac. And its a decent computer and OS but there are a ton of things that I do on my PC every day that I cant do on my mac at all.

Gaming...nope
Blu-Ray...nope
Transcoding videos (Nero Vision)...nope Titanium Toast 10 sucks compared to Nero
Flash videos without using 75% CPU...nope
Media serving...nope

Macs are elegant machines but they just arent worth the premium price when there's so many basic computer functions they just wont do.
 
Dear Microsoftie,

Your PC-VS-MAC page is completely diluted. The Mac can do EVERYTHING a pc can do.. it it works BETTER for Business than a PC. Why? because it JUST WORKS.. Compatibility it null since everything made for a PC will work with a Mac. so get your head out of your ass and look at the FACTS, your losing the war.. I converted to a Mac after VISTA kept crashing while I was doing video editing.. and I needed stability.. you lost.. so stop LIEING to people and just accept the fact you lost..

An outraged EX-windows user
 
I also love being able to use whatever hardware I want and not having to worry about my OS supporting it. Thats so important to someone who wants speed out of their PC without waiting 6 months to a year for a full system replacement to come on the market.

This might be your only valid point, but as others stated, why are you trolling in here?
 
Office for Mac comes close but still not 100% compatible. Step away from Microsoft software and the gap begins to get wider. Most CAD work is done using Autodesk or Dassault software. Structural engineering software is non-existent on the Mac platform. Try finding software to run a CNC machine or laser cutter on the Mac.....

As others have said - there are pros and cons to each operating system. It largely depends on the field you are in for which system works best.

By 2015 (more or less), all of those applications you are talking about, and more, will be running on servers (if they are not already), perhaps in the cloud. The user interface for most apps will be browser-based, and thus will be able to run on any client, Windows, Mac, Linux. Every maker of computationally-intensive business or technical applications is trying to minimize their footprint on the desktop; they will be non-competitive otherwise. Business PC clients will be thin, business servers will be fat and running 90% of their applications under VMWare, Hyper-V, or some other virtualized environment. Every major IT-intensive corporate is relentlessly trying to reduce costs--hardware costs, energy costs, physical foorprint, management costs-- which is why this is inevitable.
 
I don't see why anybody would get a Mac as their primary or sole computer. There's so much you can't do on one because Steve Jobs can't find a way to monetize it. I have a mac mini, which I only got because Jobs wont put out a windows or linux version of the iphone SDK. Thats the ONLY reason I even own a mac. And its a decent computer and OS but there are a ton of things that I do on my PC every day that I cant do on my mac at all.

Gaming...nope
Blu-Ray...nope
Transcoding videos (Nero Vision)...nope Titanium Toast 10 sucks compared to Nero
Flash videos without using 75% CPU...nope
Media serving...nope

Macs are elegant machines but they just arent worth the premium price when there's so many basic computer functions they just wont do.

Gaming? Steam
Blu-Ray? Sure, (some) PCs can play them, but a) isn't it better to get a proper Blu-Ray player and b) Microsoft's own console doesn't even support it.
Transcoding Videos? Handbrake, VLC, numerous others.
Flash? HTML5, soon.
Media serving? OS X Server.

Can't you people think of anything good? :/
 
No, there aren't. Far more Windows fanboys out there. Microsoft has a multi-decade history of astroturfing to get their word out. Letters to the editors, articles placed in tech journals, Slashdot moderation, Digg rigging, the Windows playbook has it all. And as Windows fanboys love to remind us, with Microsoft having 90+% of the market, it's no wonder Windows fanboys are EVERYWHERE.

Now on MacRumors you are going to see more Mac fanboys. But why on earth would you expect otherwise? The real question is why a Windows fanboy would be on this site to begin with.

I don't think there are that many Windows fanboys here, except the occasional troll. The people that are called Windows fanboys, fandroids etc. by Apple fanboys are usually Apple customers with the abillity to think for themselves. In other word, they sometimes disagree with Jobs. The blasphemy! ;)
 
Trying to decide between a Chevy and a Ford. Well here's why you should choose a Chevy.

Chevys have tires. They are great for driving from A to B.

Chevys have a steering wheel. From the moment you hop in the car, you are set to turn the car to the left AND to the right.

Chevys come standard with seatbelts. Don't settle for less.
 
All fanboyism aside, this has got to be the worst "professionally" written copy I have ever seen. The least Microsoft could do is provide some facts that don't sound like they were written by a 5 year old. It was hilarious to read though, lol.
 
i like this better

(amended pic)
 

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