Microsoft Posts 'PC vs. Mac' Section to Windows 7 Website

[bluedog3401]

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... Ironic since Apple was accused of being a 'toy' computer in its history. There are games, many serious gamers are using consoles. The only place I see a desktop computer excelling is with MMORPs and the twitch shoot'em-ups.

Blue-Ray... Streaming HD or downloaded HD content for OSX. Blu-Ray would make sense in a Mini set up as a media center, sadly that is not available.

Transcoding... free option is Handbrake (unless I'm not clear what Nero Vision is doing), other options are available

Flash videos... Adobe is working on it and yes Apple may not be helping. Ideally we would not be using Flash just for video. Historically it filled its niche well, today its a resource hog on either Mac or Windows, moreso on Mac.

Media Serving: Try Plex (based on Microsoft Media Center), MediaCentral, FrontRow or Boxee. Perian is an extension that adds most commonly found codecs for Quicktime playback.

The biggest thing I hear from anyone claiming superiority of Mac or Windows is what each has as a strength. In reality both are capable as an OS, some features are easier on one over the other. In some cases it requires most cost or more time in setup. Software support may be broader when running Windows by more vendors, but the majority of applications and needs are definitely covered in OSX, when not virtualization or dual booting is an option.

Undeniably, viruses and malware are a greater issue when running Windows. Security may not be the only reason for why the Mac OSX is not affected more than windows, but in reality running the MacOS requires much less effort to maintain and protect the system from malware.

Advocating either platform choice or not, it is ultimately preference, cost, ease of use, software availability and experience that helps inform a user on what system is right for them.

 

[CFreymarc]

You're right, but this ad is only spreading the ignorance instead of educating people on the actual differences between the two platforms. That's really what frustrates me about it.

Of course, Apple's ads are biased and exaggerated as well, but they're nowhere near the same level of BS as this.

Just like the bar scene. The best guy in the place doesn't go home with the hottest girl.

 

[D'Illusion]

I'm so sick of the Mac vs. PC debate. Why can't people just use what they want to and shut up about it?

If you post in Macs/PCs are better threads enough times then Jobs/Gates send you a christmas card.

 

[pebbleit]

Obviously posting with a Mac bias, but we've debunked a few of Microsoft's 'bolder' claims on our blog:

http://blog.pebbleit.com/post/931643829/pc-vs-mac-microsofts-perspective

 

[Rad99004]

I think the Apple or Microsoft decision in my house is over.

The switch over will be complete when I buy my wife her I-Mac for christmas.

 

[genosseinski]

Flawless and iPhone 3G don't go well on the same sentence, have you tried iOS 4? How flawless is that....hell, OS 3.0 was far from flawless.

well, I haven't upgraded to iOs 4, but usually my iPhone works like a charm. I don't want to compare mobile OS with desktop OS, but in a way I think many people are drawn to Macs just because of their satisfaction with iPhones or other iDevices

 

[notjustjay]

Lies and misleading statements like this are so unethical to even post.

How can you possibly state that a 4 year old "machine" is faster than any "new machine" by HP or Dell...or by any computer manufacturer?!

I'm not going to speak for the person you quoted, but I can say from experience that it's not the ACTUAL hardware speed that counts, it is the PERCEIVED speed by the user. Does your computer FEEL faster? Does it get work done faster?

Many years ago I scoffed at Macs. I had my brand new Dell. It was the most powerful laptop workstation I could afford. 15", widescreen, 1920x1200 resolution. 5+ hour battery. The latest Pentium M (Centrino) chip. Blazing 1.5 GHz. I bought it for video editing using professional editing software. My friend had a Titanium PowerBook which was at least 2 or 3 years old. It was like a 867 MHz G4. I laughed at it. A lot.

Then one day I was at an event and was called to quickly edit and present a video. On very short notice. I considered the time it would take to capture (in real time, via Firewire), do the edits, render the final output, and said I couldn't do it. There just wasn't enough time.

My friend with his PowerBook said he'd do it. Again, I laughed. MY machine was WAY faster than his. And I had professional editing software at my disposal, he only had iMovie. There was NO WAY.

But he did it. He threw the video into iMovie, did the edits, and to present it, he just did a full-screen preview that didn't skip a single damn frame. No rendering time. He was the hero that night, and I was flabbergasted. How the hell did he just outperform my BRAND NEW, cutting edge, super workstation with professional software, using his YEARS OLD PowerBook running OUT OF THE BOX software?

OK, so I'm playing this up a little bit for dramatic effect, but in all seriousness, that one night was what caused me to rethink the whole PC versus Mac argument. If he could be that productive on older hardware, maybe I needed to consider what could and could not be done. As it turns out, of course, it was not the raw computing power that made him the hero, it was smart software. iMovie rendered transitions in the background and was well enough in tune with his PowerBook hardware that it was capable of a very smooth full-screen preview. On my Dell, with my particular software, for whatever reason, I simply couldn't do it -- previews were always jerky and clearly "preview only" quality. So I had to render a full-quality file every time I wanted a final product.

So, within 6 months, in October 2003, I was the proud (but still skeptical) owner of a 12" PowerBook G4. Within a year, I was convinced enough that I sold the Dell laptop, and I've been a Mac user ever since.

 

[macsmurf]

The whole "Mac vs PC" thing is silly. Each has its place. Although I guess some Mac-fans could consider it an insult if I mostly recommended Macs for people who "don't know what they are doing with a computer". It's a good thing that Macs (for the most part) "just work".

I do agree with you that Windows is the only sensible choice for desktop systems in the enterprise. However, I use OS X because it is the only OS where the GUI and the shell doesn't suck. In Windows the shell sucks and in Linux the GUI sucks.

...So it's not just for ignorant people. Don't let MacRumors fool you

 

[JAT]

With a locked down PC, up to date security software, everyone behind a firewall, and somewhat educated users, everything can run like clockwork.

Except you mean "educated" as in, "don't touch your ****ing computer, you freak user". And nothing runs like clockwork, people don't know **** because nobody will bother to teach them, you'd rather lock down their computers so they can do nothing except slowly type an email or letter. I'm considered some sort of super-user in every company I work for. Why? Because I escape the lockdown as much as possible, add on useful software, and increase my productivity with every step.

God I hate IT people.

 

[jeznav]

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...Yep, Steam, or Bootcamp
Blu-Ray...Yep, I have one in my MacPro. Oh it burns Bluray disks too. For playback I use MakeMKV UDP live stream to VLC.
Transcoding videos (Nero Vision)... Uhh Handbrake, Adobe Media Encoder which ever is faster.
Flash videos without using 75% CPU...And thats Apples fault because Adobe can't write optimized code?
Media serving...Assuming over Media Center PC. There are tons out there, free and open source.

Try harder.

 

[Inconsequential]

Some of that is utter, utter rubbish.

Windows sharing is simply awful.

Frankly they are clutching at straws for most of it.

Oh well, I'll stick to my mac thanks

 

[RetepNamenots]

Some of that is utter, utter rubbish.

Windows sharing is simply awful.

Frankly they are clutching at straws for most of it.

Oh well, I'll stick to my mac thanks

Really? My experience with W7's home sharing feature has been fantastic... check the box and you're good to go! Sure, in XP (and even Vista) it was a pain, but it has been improved to the point now where even an idiot could set up a home network.

 

[ericinboston]

Very good points! But it seems to me that Apple likes the quick bucks from its gadgets and if anything, they want to keep the price levels as high as possible for the computers. They are relying on middle class aspirations and they are milking lower classes who buy into the idea that buying a particular consumer electronics makes them better. It doesn't, but that is just human nature. For that, I don't blame Apple Inc.

And I APPLAUD Apple for not only making pretty/sexy Macs (and other devices) but convincing people to pay through the nose for them! Seriously, I really have to hand it to Jobs to convince people to spend over $1200 for a computer system when non-Apple personal computer systems have been far less than $1000 for over 10 years.

Now the real food for thought: What is Apple going to do *IF* the Mac sales continue well and Apple gains more than 10% market share? Apple has already told the world it was no longer a computer company and now a consumer electronics company (like Sony who sells CE but also sells a few computer models)...is Apple going to start spending bucks and developing the Mac line or is most of Apple's time/budget going to be on the non-Mac line. I really don't follow the Mac OS threads here but it does seem there are a lot of complaints about missing features and/or it's simply outdated (by Apple standards).

-Eric

 

[kernkraft]

I don't want to argue, but you have to stop throwing insults to people who disagree

...
A typical bogus assertion from the standard Apple haters' list of talking points. I've yet to see anything from Apple that implied that use of its products makes you "cooler" than anyone else.
...

Obviously these ignoramuses should be embracing the Windows "computer for the people," eh comrade? And they should be spending their money on cool cars, furniture, and flats with high ceilings, not cool computers! Amirite?

Wow, talk about doublespeak. Talk about smug.
...

So you are suggesting that I am an Apple hater just because I disagree with your point?!

You called me 'comrade' and 'Amirite'? Are you suggesting that I'm smug?

Anyway, I got worse insults from you...

You 'cleverly' cut my comments to pieces and excluded important points just to focus on a few. I think you should ignore me and leave me alone in the future. You obviously have a personal issue with me and I am getting tired of your continuous insults.

 

[Tommigun]

"Why would Windows combat Apple at all? They are merely advertising their insecurity and the opponent's product. Most people will always buy PC because they want to save cash or play games or a dozen other nearly valid reasons.

1) So when Microsoft advertises it's because of their insecurity, but when Apple advertises everyone here hail them? Strange, very strange.

2) Most people buying PCs want to save cash or play games? I'd rather say that buying a PC is the only viable option for many due to the fact that PCs *ARE* the de-facto standard in a lot of environments and people who are not into computers know Windows. Come on, saving cash and playing games is only what a marginality of people do, PCs are still the de-facto standard in this world.

 

[D'Illusion]

I don't see why anybody would get a Mac as their primary or sole computer.

I've managed fine for the last 4 years with just a Mac. If I wanted a serious games machine I'd get a PS3. Everything else I do is easily done with just my iMac. Not everyone has the same needs.

 

[ericinboston]

I'm not going to speak for the person you quoted, but I can say from experience that it's not the ACTUAL hardware speed that counts, it is the PERCEIVED speed by the user. Does your computer FEEL faster? Does it get work done faster?

I agree with your entire post...my main point was the original poster offered NO information on what his wife used/uses the Mac for and then throws out a broad statement that it is far better than anything that was created 4 years later.

So not just on bits/bytes/hardware but use cases. I do very minimal movie editing too...which is why I bought my Mini...not because Mac rocked, but because 4 years ago I couldn't find an easy to use movie software title in the PC world. So instead I bought the Mini which to me is essentially a $900 movie editing machine. I could have bought $300 worth of software for my $500 PC but I figured, what the heck, I'll try the Mac...and I do like it for movie editing. We use the Mini a few days a year...literally...for movie stuff or my wife doing iPhoto (which she loves but I think is just pretty similar to the 1000 other PC software photo titles you can buy). The other 360 days of the year are on the PCs because there's no reason to learn (no matter how easy or hard) how to do it on the Mac.



-Eric

 

[Tonewheel]

Laurels?

Microsoft, for all their faults is working very hard on Windows.... Windows 8. If windows Mobile 7 is any indicator, I predict a slick and sexy new UI to go with the stability and flexibility Windows 7 already has.

What's Apple doing on the OSX platform?
Why not even a mention of OSX at WWDC?
Why all this hate from Steve Jobs for computers or as he calls them, "Trucks"?
Why did apple get rid of their 'Get a mac' campaign and replace it with...NOTHING?
Surely not everyone at Apple is working on the ipad and iphone?

You're way ahead for now Apple... but I wouldn't rest on your laurels.

I can't think of any instance where Apple rested on their laurels.

 

[macsmurf]

Except you mean "educated" as in, "don't touch your ****ing computer, you freak user". And nothing runs like clockwork, people don't know **** because nobody will bother to teach them, you'd rather lock down their computers so they can do nothing except slowly type an email or letter. I'm considered some sort of super-user in every company I work for. Why? Because I escape the lockdown as much as possible, add on useful software, and increase my productivity with every step.

God I hate IT people.

I my company we lock down the desktops. If anyone have a work related argument for why they should be local administrators, we oblige.

We would really hate users that try to hack themselves out of the restrictions instead of coming to talk to us. In fact, they might even get fired.

 

[Tonewheel]

I take advantage of the hardware support, the game support, the application support, etc. I don't suffer from any of the downsides. I'm always up to date, I don't suffer from viruses or malware, etc. (on PCs)

Good post, but you would be in the clear minority of Windows users.

 

[2499723]

The whole "Mac vs PC" thing is silly. Each has its place. Although I guess some Mac-fans could consider it an insult if I mostly recommended Macs for people who "don't know what they are doing with a computer". It's a good thing that Macs (for the most part) "just work".

You've definitely hit on my general sentiments in the whole debate. In a perfect world, I guess I would have the Mac OS X interface with all of the universal compatibility of Windows. And if anyone tells me to run Windows within my Mac OS, please don't waste the effort. On the surface, I would say I prefer Mac OS, but Windows 7 is an excellent operating system and has some features that Mac OS can only dream about. Even some of the gimicky things, such as auto-resizing windows to half of the screen space when they are dragged to either side of the monitor, are excellent little tools in Windows (especially for users who need to do REAL work, such as take notes from an article and not have to manually resize the windows or constantly hit ALT-Tab).

Mac OS is near and dear to my heart and it definitely serves a purpose. I am happy to use it to type a document or work with photos, etc, but when it comes to entertainment and real work, it's all about my PC tower. The reliability of Mac OS is where Apple really shines. My girlfriend has had nothing but trouble with her Toshiba notebook, and she has talked herself into getting a Mac, because she witnessed my old TiBook running flawlessly after 7 years. I also believe that Apple does notebooks right, whereas PC laptops can be hit-and-miss. BUT, when it comes to desktops, I would never be caught dead buying a Mac for myself. Again, someone else might be okay with an iMac, but the way I see it, buying an iMac is like buying a new car. As soon as you drive it off the lot, it's obsolete. With a PC tower, you can upgrade EVERYTHING and do it for a fraction of the cost of building a new computer. That's the kind of freedom Windows (and Linux) machines grant you, and I think that's a pretty sweet deal. So, like you said...both OSes have their purposes. This isn't an 'either-or' scenario.

 

[jeznav]

Also Windows has a MUCH better API structure than OSX.

I'm assuming your not a programmer. You programming in .NET?

Drivers work better on PC than they do on Mac because the PC is more open.

So in that case More Open = Works Better. Works better in Windows!
Linux drivers are more open. Do you see them work better in Linux?

 

[giosaccone]

Microsoft is very ridiculous!

 

[notjustjay]

So not just on bits/bytes/hardware but use cases. I do very minimal movie editing too...which is why I bought my Mini...not because Mac rocked, but because 4 years ago I couldn't find an easy to use movie software title in the PC world. So instead I bought the Mini which to me is essentially a $900 movie editing machine. I could have bought $300 worth of software for my $500 PC but I figured, what the heck, I'll try the Mac...and I do like it for movie editing. We use the Mini a few days a year...literally...for movie stuff or my wife doing iPhoto (which she loves but I think is just pretty similar to the 1000 other PC software photo titles you can buy). The other 360 days of the year are on the PCs because there's no reason to learn (no matter how easy or hard) how to do it on the Mac.

The software I was using on the PC was Ulead Media Studio Pro. Of course the heavyweight contender at the time was Premiere. Sony Vegas hadn't come out yet, and the viable alternatives were Pinnacle products -- cute and easy to use, but not very flexible. I liked how much iMovie could do, and Final Cut Express was a natural step up.

As for me, I use a PC at work every day (typing on a Dell Optiplex tower right now) and my MacBook Pro at home. I consider myself equivalently skilled on either platform, and I could do any project on either platform, given the right software. My thinking has changed since I switched to the Mac, too. Nowadays I think about my computers in terms of the work I need to get done, and how well I can do the work -- not about tech specs and hardware. Apple has always touted its "polish" on products like Pages, Keynote, iDVD, (and nowadays with its iOS apps) and this is where I get the most mileage out of owning a Mac. I can produce newsletters, slide shows, DVDs, whatever, that look good, and that in turn makes ME look like a genius.

The gap has closed considerably since I switched in 2003, though. To be honest, I question whether I'd be making the same switch today given the current state of things. W7 actually looks like it might not actually be all that annoying. PowerPoint is catching up to Keynote, there are some very nice photo management and slideshow apps on the PC. In the meantime, Apple has been making some very strange decisions. The "new" iMovie absolutely sucks compared to the "old" version. There are rumours that the next version of iLife won't even include iDVD anymore. Macs continue to have a very hard time with AVCHD video. PCs, well, they don't. And Blu-Ray, well...

So we'll see. I love my Mac and I don't regret switching when I did. But the landscape is always changing, and blind loyalty doesn't do anyone any good. I truly hope Apple continues to have game-changing ideas and plans (I love my new iPad, for example) but I'm not going to continue buying Apple out of blind devotion -- if Microsoft or Dell or whoever truly does come out with something better, I'll certainly consider it.

I agree with the sentiments of many previous posters -- both platforms have their place.

 

[TheSlush]

Ballsy.