Offical 'I'm sticking with OSX and not jumping on the Windows bandwagon' thread

[plinden]

Over the next few days, I'm going to try the Windows install disk that came with my last Dell (that's dead now, so I won't be using it on two PCs), and put it into a Parallels VM.

I won't use it for anything much (assuming it works), but I have Civs II and III, Alpha Centauri, MOO2BAA, MOH:AA, Sim City 4 and AoE 2. My 1.8GHz P4 Dell handled all them ok, so I'm hoping the VM will. If the games don't work, I'll just delete the VM.

Considering the hours I've played games over the past 3 or 4 years, I'll probably be booting up the windows VM no more than twice a year.

I won't be dual booting.

 

[calculus]

I don't understand why anyone would want to mess with the beauty of the Mac/OSX experience. I would have them all declared heretics and excommunicated.

 

[SC68Cal]

I don't understand why anyone would want to mess with the beauty of the Mac/OSX experience. I would have them all declared heretics and excommunicated.

It's not really messing with it. Some people just have to grunt it out and use Windows for a few select tasks.

 

[Roba]

I have a MBP and i bought mine because i wanted something different and wanted to get away from Windows. I was bored by Windows after using it for so many years and i needed a change.

I think if i knew then what i know now when i was making my decision i think that i may have been put of by this adoption of Windows and i may have had second thoughts about switching over. I am not to pleased about all of this but i guess that some people are but i cannot pretend to be one of them right now.

 

[calculus]

It's not really messing with it. Some people just have to grunt it out and use Windows for a few select tasks.

I take the hardline view that if you can't do it on a Mac then it isn't worth doing.

 

[plinden]

I don't understand why anyone would want to mess with the beauty of the Mac/OSX experience. I would have them all declared heretics and excommunicated.

Well, the thing is, a lot of people use Macs for real, productive work and don't just sit and admire the UI all day long.

Sometimes they are required to run a Windows program (didn't even iGary need to buy a Dell?), or like me, are writing crossplatform code that's expected to run on Linux.

Up to now, my only option was to have a separate PC (dual booting windows and linux, but it's in linux 90+% of the time) and install my code on it (and sometimes have to actually build it). Now, with what appears to be a workable virtualization solution, I can use just one computer for my Mac and Linux needs, and windows just for the hell of it, because I might want to play some of the old games I wasted hours on earlier in my life.

 

[calculus]

Well, the thing is, a lot of people use Macs for real, productive work and don't just sit and admire the UI all day long.

Ooooo!
The truth is that I understand that some people need to use windows from time to time. What I don't understand is that this seems to have got a whole bunch of people more excited than anything else Apple has done recently.

 

[realityisterror]

I think we're all with you.

Poll next Friday: "Have you utilized Boot Camp for more than 30 minutes since installing XP?"

It's novel, it's fun, a few people will use it for work, but it's just a marketing ploy really.
At least, that's the way I see it.

 

[zim]

I am undecided... I don't like the idea of running windows, personal preference, but I know that having it would allow me to verify my web content much easier. I do know that if I did add windows onto my system then it would go on an external drive (if possible).

The one thing that I am concerned about right now is all the companies that make porting games and software as part of their business. How will this in the long run effect them? will this cause some long term mac based companies to go under? I know that it would be sad to see companies like freeverse be hurt but I think fortunately for them that this will not be the average user but rather more experienced ones.

 

[iSaint]

I've no use for Windows. I made the switch, and OS X is all I need!

 

[GoCubsGo]

I agree 100%. This sudden love in with Windows is rather disgusting.

You have an amazing point. I've often responded to the people here who are the total apple fanboys and all they do is bash windows without really having any real cause. Then there are the people who use windows and then use a mac and suddenly windows sucks. The truth is, windows in my opinion does not "suck" it just doesn't do what the Mac OS does. But I don't want to run windows on my mac and I certainly don't want to discuss it until I am blue in the face.

 

[iMeowbot]

The truth is that I understand that some people need to use windows from time to time. What I don't understand is that this seems to have got a whole bunch of people more excited than anything else Apple has done recently.

You're right, it's nothing that completely changes the landscape, like the iPod Hi Fi was.

 

[Leraste]

Isn't the point of switching to get AWAY from windows?!!?

 

[cwedl]

When Apple released boot camp, I though great! I will put windows on my soon to be ordered iMac, but now I feel as if I don't want to put windows on it, Thats the whole reason I bought a Mac in the first place, so I don't have to be on windows, and I will stick by my decision until at least Windows Vista has been released then I may consider.

 

[Lau]

To be fair - I can see why people who need to run certain programs are excited about this. If I had to do such a thing, I would rather own one Mac and dual boot than own two machines, or god forbid just use Windows.

Having said that, I genuinely can't imagine ever using Windows again for anything, and I will never install Windows on my Mac. Ever. I've come too far....

 

[calculus]

You're right, it's nothing that completely changes the landscape, like the iPod Hi Fi was.

Irony!

 

[Applespider]

I think the majority of users won't bother with this (including me)

Those who keep a spare PC around for the odd application or game will do. It's switcher bait - and gets Apple another round of good press coverage.

What disturbs me is the amount of press coverage suggesting that we'll be getting OS X Vista as the next Mac OS and Apple will become a consumer hardware company... now that scares me. I really don't want to believe that's the case but I guess if the journos are PC fans, then they can't see why the majority of Mac users are quite happy as they are.

 

[calculus]

I think the majority of users won't bother with this (including me)

Those who keep a spare PC around for the odd application or game will do. It's switcher bait - and gets Apple another round of good press coverage.

What disturbs me is the amount of press coverage suggesting that we'll be getting OS X Vista as the next Mac OS and Apple will become a consumer hardware company... now that scares me. I really don't want to believe that's the case but I guess if the journos are PC fans, then they can't see why the majority of Mac users are quite happy as they are.

I share your concerns.

 

[After G]

Useful for engineers. There is so much CAD/CAM/CAE and design software that is Windows-only.

 

[plinkoman]

i'm with you on this. i despise every minute i have to use windows these days; i bought my PowerBook so i could avoid windows, not so i could dual-boot it(not that i can anyways). the only thing i still occasionally use windows for is an occasional game or two, and to be honest, if i had a MacBook Pro instead, i'd probably consider(key word here) putting windows on for that reason alone, but the only games that have really piqued my interest recently have been on gamecube, or have had Mac versions... so i really have no interest in loading that filth on my beloved PowerBook(which i can't anyways fortunately)

 

[mad jew]

I paid a premium for a Mac. I'm not about to tarnish it with XP.

Plus, Boot Camp is a beta. In Australia, beta translates to a "guy who touches himself to the point of momentary happiness".

 

[FF_productions]

The only reason I got a Mac was for video editing. I discovered how good the OS was when I started it up for the first time. I knew there was cheaper options with pc's, REALLY cheap options, but I didn't like the software offered by windows. I was sick of fixing the family computer, running maintenance crap (still do cuz we still have it).

Now, don't think I'm completely bashing windows, it's usable (I can play games on it). It's an OS with way too much freedom, that's why it's so prone to virus's and s*** and a majority of computer users have windows running on their pc's. My thing is that when a family brings home the 300 dollar dell, a month later they have problems with it. I have always had to help my friends out with their computers (3-4 friends with dells, it's a disaster). I tell them over and over again, get a mac, it's problem-free.

 

[mikes63737]

Me... I'm using a Mac precisely because I don't want to use Windows.

Exactly. Me too.

I do still use Windows software, but I run WINE on my linux box. It's not the best, but it works for the occassional Windows-only-with-no-mac-or-linux-alternative app.

I am still forced to use Windows at school, though. They say that "Macs are for kindergarteners learning their ABC's" and that they can't handle Photoshop (Our Dells barely handle Photoshop 4 LE, which is all the school can afford) and that there'e no Office for them." Talk about ignorant.

 

[kretzy]

Plus, Boot Camp is a beta. In Australia, beta translates to a "guy who touches himself to the point of momentary happiness".

You always provide such an interesting insight!

I'll sign up for this. Bugger Windows. I didn't have to use windows for quite a while until Uni started. I occasionally come in contact with it now, and it just reaffirms how awful it is. I'm so glad I managed to convert the rest of the family so I didn't have to deal with all of the problems anymore.

 

[jaw04005]

Well, BootCamp has allowed me to get rid of my Power Mac and PC and purchase an Intel-based iMac. I now can run Photoshop (until CS3) in Windows at native speed. Also, I need Windows for viewing some video content (MSNBC, CNN Pipeline, MTV Overdrive etc) at least until Flip4Mac gets around to releasing an UB of their software.