Play devil's advocate - give me reasons to NOT go mac

[Politis]

Ok,

I have been a happy PC user for about 20 years now. As someone who knows what I'm doing, I've almost never dealt with viruses or system crashes.

My current laptop is a 5 year old acer running a dual core cpu that never, ever crashed on Windows XP.

Based on the software I run so far, these are the biggest limitations I can think of for going Mac/OSX:
- Poker software - lots of software I run is Windows only.
- ECUFlash/Romraider - windows only software for flashing my car's engine CPU
- MS-Office - everyone tells me that the Mac versions have issues and are definitely slower on Mac... etc, etc, etc

Dude, I dont understand most of the things you are referring in this post Wish I did.
Why not quit the pocker and with the money you save splash out on what you really want? But me thinks you are darn happy with PC so stick with the devil you know 'cause pc and mac all want a bite out or our backsides.

Look into bootcamp

 

[alphaod]

If you don't want to pay more, why do it?

 

[chrono1081]

Do you like to- or want to- watch or record Blu-ray discs on your computer? If you do, don't get a Mac.

Windows doesn't do this either natively.

Just like on Mac, if you want to do anything with Blu Ray on Windows you need extra software.

I rip blu rays just fine on my mac.

 

[GGJstudios]

are you a moderator? I always see you posting links to other threads. If someone wants to make a thread, they WILL make a thread. Regardless of whether the question was asked or not.

As you are new to the forum, you would do well to take the time to read the Forum Rules, which state:

The best way to be helpful is by posting a link to a relevant thread

There is nothing in my post that suggests that anyone not start a thread. Try hard to read and comprehend posts before you attack others.

 

[Apple OC]

Congrats on your Acer lasting 5 years ... as for switching to Mac?

If you do not know why you should get a Mac ... stick with Acer

 

[alt]

can we please stop using luxury car references for macs vs pcs...that shiz is getting old and it makes no sense.


@OP

1. Spensive
2. You will now have the social stigma of owning a mac. If you are anything like me, I am embarrassed to pull it out in public cuz it makes me fell like a douche.
3. If you are anything like me, switching from windows can be a pain...I am a power user and I find the most efficient ways to do things on my machines. There are small things that piss me off about OSX...that just take a long time to get used to.

Reasons you DO want a mac

1. Investment rather than purchase almost...take good care of it and it will retain its value for a long time. Once you buy a windows based laptop it gets pretty hard to resale....esp for a decent amount. I am a techie so..I have to have the newest of the new...which means macs are good for me because I can sell them every year and spend a little bit more cash to upgrade. Can't do this with windows based laptops unfortunately or I would.
2. Maybe you want to be that douche in the coffee shop!
3. You will never think its ugly...not a big deal..but I like to look at them..they are so nice.
4. Applecare

my .02

 

[whitegoodmen]

Just like whiteDragon said I'm also an advocate for Open Office or Libreoffice. All of these people that steal Windows Office should give one of the free office suites a try. I use more Linux programs like DVD rippers and media players that play any format because they are made to just work well for that one application.
For people that say that Open Office does not offer as many options as MS office they are right but 99% of people don't use those extra feathers anyways. MS does surveys of what people wont for the next version of MS office and 90% of those feathers are already there.

 

[acedickson]

I would suggest buying whichever Mac you're considering and trying it within the return window to see if it suits all your needs. If not, return it and find a suitable PC.

As you are new to the forum, you would do well to take the time to read the Forum Rules, which state:

There is nothing in my post that suggests that anyone not start a thread. Try hard to read and comprehend posts before you attack others.

IMO, you often come across as condescending by posting 10+ links regarding the OP's post. This time you didn't do such with the OP but stating forum rules to a very active member, even though they just joined, isn't really your place. We're always going to have people asking the same questions; most of the time it's easier to just answer them and suggest searching afterwards.

It comes across as though you have aspirations to become a mod, that's fine if you do but you're not at present, can't you see how come people see it as policing?

2. You will now have the social stigma of owning a mac. If you are anything like me, I am embarrassed to pull it out in public cuz it makes me fell like a douche.

Owning a Mac shouldn't make you feel that way. Why care what other people think? Owning a Mac doesn't make anyone a douche.

 

[GGJstudios]

IMO, you often come across as condescending by posting 10+ links regarding the OP's post.

I posted one link, not 10. And there's nothing condescending by posting a link. I made no condescending or critical remarks in posting the link; only a question.

This time you didn't do such with the OP

Posting multiple links is sometimes appropriate, when the OP is looking for answers and such answers appear in multiple threads.

stating forum rules to a very active member, even though they just joined, isn't really your place.

Criticizing someone else for posting a perfectly legitimate response in a thread isn't really your place, either. I stated rules because someone inappropriately criticized my post. I have every right to respond to such attacks.

We're always going to have people asking the same questions

That's why posting a link to existing answers is efficient and appropriate, rather than typing the same response to the same questions dozens of times.

most of the time it's easier to just answer them and suggest searching afterwards

It may be easier for you, but I prefer not to waste time typing the same thing repeatedly. You post your way; I'll post mine.

It comes across as though you have aspirations to become a mod..

That's only your mistaken impression. I have no desire whatsoever to be a mod. Posting a relevant link, as the rules suggest, in response to a post is not a moderator action, nor is it an any way "policing" the forum. It's simply an effective and accurate response, which any forum member can do. There are links posted by thousands of forum members in response to questions.

Now can we PLEASE get back on the thread's topic, and stay there?

 

[alt]

Owning a Mac shouldn't make you feel that way. Why care what other people think? Owning a Mac doesn't make anyone a douche.

Thats because your soul has been hardened. Keep thinking that way!

 

[vincenz]

You'll get to blend in with all the other apple users at Starbucks? Oh wait

 

[acedickson]

I posted one link, not 10. And there's nothing condescending by posting a link. I made no condescending or critical remarks in posting the link; only a question.

I stated that you often post 10+ links and went on to state in the next sentence that you didn't on this occasion. I was giving you credit in this instance.

Posting multiple links is sometimes appropriate, when the OP is looking for answers and such answers appear in multiple threads.

Yes it may be, but I fail to see why that is your calling every time a question that's already been asked is asked again? I think, in most cases one link would suffice. One link, that has a sufficient answer to said question.

Criticizing someone else for posting a perfectly legitimate response in a thread isn't really your place, either. I stated rules because someone inappropriately criticized my post. I have every right to respond to such attacks.

I wouldn't have responded until you took it upon yourself to tell FunkyMonk the forum rules and smugly state "Try hard to read and comprehend posts before you attack others". I don't see any attack in his post just his opinion.

That's why posting a link to existing answers is efficient and appropriate, rather than typing the same response to the same questions dozens of times.

Why say anything at all? That tends to make me think that you intend to be condescending because you're going to respond with your multitude of links. It has to take longer to MRoogle and copy multiple links than to simply answer most questions.

It may be easier for you, but I prefer not to waste time typing the same thing repeatedly. You post your way; I'll post mine.

What I'm suggesting is to let it go. Again, you don't have to type anything.

That's only your mistaken impression. I have no desire whatsoever to be a mod. Posting a relevant link, as the rules suggest, in response to a post is not a moderator action, nor is it an any way "policing" the forum. It's simply an effective and accurate response, which any forum member can do. There are links posted by thousands of forum members in response to questions.

That may be, but in this thread alone more than one person got the same "mistaken impression". I think you fail to see, or accept, the point. You appear to be bothered by people asking the same questions over and over again but it's always going to happen. I've seen you put multiple links many times when the same questions about the upcoming MBP release are asked.

I'm not, nor was I, attacking you in any way. This is a forum with people that have opinions and we discuss things. That's merely what I was doing. We're all friends here or we should be.

 

[acedickson]

Thats because your soul has been hardened. Keep thinking that way!

I love that response. I hope my soul hasn't been hardened; damn you Steve Jobs! I would like it stated, for the record, that I also don't feel better than anyone when pulling out my MBP although I do feel it's sexier than the other laptops that may be in the room.

 

[GGJstudios]

Why say anything at all?

I have as much right to respond to posts in this forum as anyone. Just because you have a personal problem with my posting methods doesn't make them wrong. Many people understand and appreciate the links that I post. I find only a very few who complain, and they're usually people who join a thread just to criticize a post, rather than offering any useful information themselves, like Richard1028 did. The link I posted was for the OP's benefit, not yours. I don't care if you like my posts or perceive their intent properly. I'll continue to provide help to this forum, despite the few who choose to derail threads with off-topic criticisms.

As I said, you post your way and I'll post mine. You're quite welcome to add me to your ignore list, so you don't have to go through the pain and suffering of seeing links that I post. If you think I've posted anything in violation of forum rules, report the post. Otherwise, stop derailing this thread with criticism of those who don't conform to your preferences in posting.

 

[acedickson]

I have as much right to respond to posts in this forum as anyone. Just because you have a personal problem with my posting methods doesn't make them wrong. Many people understand and appreciate the links that I post. I find only a very few who complain, and they're usually people who join a thread just to criticize a post, rather than offering any useful information themselves, like Richard1028 did. The link I posted was for the OP's benefit, not yours. I don't care if you like my posts or perceive their intent properly. I'll continue to provide help to this forum, despite the few who choose to derail threads with off-topic criticisms.

As I said, you post your way and I'll post mine. You're quite welcome to add me to your ignore list, so you don't have to go through the pain and suffering of seeing links that I post. If you think I've posted anything in violation of forum rules, report the post. Otherwise, stop derailing this thread with criticism of those who don't conform to your preferences in posting.

A bit dramatic are we? It's apparent that you just don't get it. I didn't accuse you of anything against forum rules, I'm sure you know all of them. I hate to tell you but you've contributed to any derailment of this thread but I digress.

So, for now, be at the ready with your MRoogle window open!

 

[BetaPro]

Hah, poker softwares, holdem manager?
Me too I need to run those, and have mods for Full Tilt that will only work on windows.
I think I will buy a 17 inch, and run windows on bootcamp when playing. As I think virtualization won't be fast enough to support the poker database.

 

[arcite]

Look, if you want a Mac, experience Mac OSX, then buy a Mac.

Don't buy a Mac if you are under the illusion that it will cost less than a pc, because Macs do indeed cost more. By the time you buy Apple Care, a macbook pro will be at minimum $300 or more than a PC. I use all the major Adobe apps, microsoft office ect and like them better than their pc couterparts.

That said, money is no option for me when it comes to buying Apple. The efficiency and ease of use, not to mention the design of the hardware and software make it more than worth it to me.

As everyone else is saying, buy what you want and deal with it.

 

[eljanitor]

I noticed lately that many PC manufacturers dont include system discs anymore with these elegant windows machines. So lets tell a true story here.

Someone buys a computer and says to themselves some thing like: oh how cool I spent 500 on up on this thing and I got a copy of windows 7 64 bit version!!!!!! How cool its so expensive how can I go wrong?!?!?!?! Something does go wrong. So then I get a call from my friend saying hey um my Hockey Puck crashed.

Ahh so I come over there being all tech savy and say," Wow this sucks so um wheres the Disc(s) that came with the computer?" I'm handed theese DVD's from a major tech support company and in marker it says disc 1 , 2 etc......... Again I ask, "so wheres the Windows Disk that came with it?" I'm told that's what I was given by them. I put them in and it says Would you like to run system recovery? So I say sure lets do that. No surprise here Windows fails miserably to try to repair itself and I try all kinds of goodies in the command line etc etc.

So I call the manufacturer and say um hey we bought blah blah blah model and it crashed and wed like the windows installer disc that came with the machine. I'm greeted by a very helpful tech support staff that says we will send you recovery CD's for the machine for a fee etc etc. Ok so he pays the fee, and they arrive all nice and professional looking in a nice package. I put them in and it runs its scripts and says Oh sorry Windows recovery sucks and your just out of luck etc etc. Well after we replaced the logic board (because it was faulty) I install the recovery disks and it says, something like: This is not a crappy company machine sorry your disks are useless.


So I call the manufacturer back and say," Ok Id like the Windows 7 disk that comes with this machine." Again I'm told we can ship recovery disks to you at a fee of............ So I proceed to ask them why can't we get the windows Disk? My old XP machine had one. then I'm told oh were sorry but you can buy a retail copy from Microsoft and......... At this time my friend is pissed, and the manufacturer of this PC is not willing to do any more and we end it with them after a long long time on the phone.

So we call Microsoft and we get hung up during the transfer to the correct department 3 times consecutively. After the third time I call them directly, and calmly explain the situation (as I was doing the whole time) and I'm told: oh well hmmmm lets see here uh no you're not entitled to the Windows OS disk that came with that machine, because its bundled installed software, would you like to purchase a retail copy of it for a ridiculously high price?

After consoling my friend on his issue and calming him down, I'm sitting there thinking," Ok so lets see the manufacturer of the PC here installs a recovery copy on a separate partition on the same physical hard drive at the factory. So if the hard drive just dies and he goes to someplace to buy a new hard drive that's not the EXACT same one that shipped with the computer he has to buy a retail copy of Windows?!

So you spend 800- 900 bucks on a computer and now you have to spend 200- 400 on up for the OS which you paid for with the computer in the first place? I start thinking oh yes yes its software piracy stuff, and I pause and say no no that's why they have that nifty product key so you can reinstall the OS. However apparently nowadays that's not the case.

With a MAC you get theese round shiny circular objects that GASP! come with the computer? And if I add something like oh lets say an expansion card from somone other then Apple I don't have to remove it from the computer if I want to reinstall the OS on the discs that come with the machine?

I remember people used to say stuff like," Yes well nice MAC but my PC is expandable, did you enjoy spending the extra money on that paperweight?" I sure did even 9 - 10 years later as it hums along just like the day I bought it.

Apple knows how to build a good reliable computer that lasts a long long time, and they treat their customers well. Oh yeah and If I didn't mention this they also give you these things called" installer discs" with the computer too even today.

 

[torbjoern]

Here is a reason: BLU-RAY

 

[Funkymonk]

Well if you were planning on getting a 13" now you have a new reason. They're all.pieces of of crap.

 

[skidmarc]

You seriously might want to read post #43 by eljanitor.

I'll call names here. My wife bought an HP laptop before we meet, her HDD crashed after we met (she has this issue with computers ), bought another HDD, installed it, asked her for her discs from HP, she handed them to me, not one Windows disc. I called HP, they wanted me to pay for the recovery disc. I told them I was not and that they should have some with the computer to begin with (raising my voice a little). In the end we received the recovery discs in the mail free of charge. Didn't really need them except for a couple of drivers but we received all the discs, OS included. Now the laptop has been recalled in the NVidia lawsuit.

This is definitely where Apple shines through and their phone support (based on the one time I called) is great.

 

[DarwinOSX]

Reasons not to go Mac.

You like mediocre OS's like Windows 7 built on top of years of cruft from previous versions of Windows.
You like malware
You like cleaning your registry
You like manually defragging the hard drive
You like completely reinstalling the OS once a year or more.
You like constant security and other updates that break things.
You don't want quality hardware, service, and support.
To get a PC laptop, say the HP W series that is equivalent to Mac build quality and service and support you pay more than you would for a Mac. Which alos means you like paying more than you would for a mac but would still be running Windows.

 

[ESPN]

"Play devil's advocate - give me reasons to NOT go mac"

Nah. I don't really care if you do or don't. You decide.

Why respond to a thread with that irrelevant comment?

Anyways Windows has a larger marketshare and most likely your friends will also have Windows, the sense of familiarity is priceless.

 

[ABadSanta]

I think the main reason why someone wouldn't get a mac is because the software they work with is only compatible with windows (perhaps you're a graphic designer, architect, etc). Example: my college requires windows in the business school because they teach using the Windows version of office.

Other factors are price and maybe an inability to take the battery out?

 

[Hyper-X]

Reason not to go with a Mac?

TBH, there's absolutely no reason to ever go with a Mac unless there's Mac-specific software that you must use.

Mac owners don't like this topic because it hurts them where it does count but cost-wise, you can always get more machine from other systems other than a Mac. OS choices are plenty and there's many other choices besides Windows and OSX that you could use on that machine.

Run Windows on Bootcamp... sure you can do it but it's not the same as using a true PC with Windows. Bootcamp drivers aren't always very good. It's always better to run Windows on a true PC and it's always better to use OSX on real Apple hardware than on a Hackintosh.

GPU, many complex apps can make use of both your CPU and GPU very efficiently aside from games. Macs are often hampered by using mediocre video cards and touting themselves as "king of graphics platform". That's like someone in a Honda Civic claiming to be king of muscle cars because it has VTEC.

Keyboard layout on a Mac is inferior. Having to rely on a Fn button to access normal F keys, not having a built-in numberpad, no Home/End/PrtSn keys, having to use 3 sometimes 4 key combinations can really hamper productivity. We did a study back in 2010 testing to see which users would produce more in an enterprise environment and Windows users always came out on top. The keyboard is no different across all Macbook products.

USB ports on a Macbook-anything are poorly spaced and implemented. Granted it's not an issue exclusive to Macs but they put the ports so close together that it's quite often where you'd have to carry a separate hub or USB extension just so you can fit 2 flash drives side by side without interfering and there's only 2 of them. PC laptops come with 3 on Netbook-class machines, 4-6 on higher models. The 17 inch MBP with only 3 USB ports...

You have to dish out $30 or more to buy an adapter just to connect your MBP to another external display. Most sub $500 PC notebooks now come with both HDMI and VGA ports.

Glossy screen and glare. Many laptops use glossy screens because they look prettier but while this is a personal preference of mine, I prefer Matte screens.

Screen resolution, Macs use some of the lowest native resolutions around. 1280x800 on the 13inch model... my Netbook supports 1366x768 and it's noticeably sharper and cleaner on HD stills and video on an 11 inch screen.

Firewire port... who the heck uses this? 1 person out of a thousand? Video professionals? Yeah, because every Mac user is automatically a video professional...

No Expresscard slot but on the 17 inch model.

Despite all this I love my MBP 13. However I own Thinkpads to quench my PC needs. I don't see why you have to have everything in 1 machine, I prefer to diversify, use OSX on a true Apple machine and use my Thinkpad for everything else.

Unless you're one of those Alienware type folks that much have the highest benchmark scores and play every game at the highest settings, you won't be disappointed with any MBP. To me, they're a lot of fun to use.