Spinoff, PC seems to be more intuitive for "low end" users

[tazo]

Originally posted by Caddy
OHHH, you've got me all figured out, I am posting for some insidious reasons! Please, have you ever considered that we are not all created the same; something that may not be a major inconvenience to you *Surprise, Surprise* might be quite problematic for me. As I have mentioned on more than one occasion, I write avidly. I am finishing my M.A in two weeks and I begin my PhD next fall. My main computing use is word processing. For those who do very little word processing, it may be difficult to fathom the hassle that the lack of a two button mouse can cause. I highly doubt this is the case since more than one other person has expressed his/her frustration with this same problem. I am used to highlighting and then cutting and pasting all with my hands on the mouse. And for the ump-teenth time, I have a plug in mouse, the point of having a laptop is that it obviates the need for a desktop. If I wanted to sit at a desktop, I would have retained my original desktop; I wanted a laptop *another Surprise, Surprise* so I could sit on my chaise lounge and write. I find it highly inconvenient to use an attachable mouse while sitting on the couch.

I wasn't going to post but yes, I do browse the web and I was taken aback by how critical many of you were to the user who started "I hate myself." As if it is purely unheard of to regret buying a Mac; that anyone who does so should be accused of blasphemy! Shame on her, may she rot you know were. Because of that, I thought I would share my experience. Contrary to what I thought, many of you have echoed my sentiments. For those of you who can't understand, I suggest you try to equate it on terms you are familiar with: If within the main reason for your computer use (whatever it may be) there was something substantially bothersome, would it not irritate you? Of course! So again, I am sorry some of you cannot comprehend that the "little mouse" problem was much more than that.

Good night to all.

Your argument is flawed, word processing does not require a 2-button mouse. I use a MS optical wheel mouse, and I rarely use the right mouse when I use MS office, i always use the top menu, and the keyboard. What do you even use the right click for? the only thing it shows is the thesaurus, and font/paragraph stuff. Isn't it easier to just use the top menu then bitch about Apple's nonexistent 1-button flaws?

 

[Stelliform]

Originally posted by dkeninitz
I've been using a TiBook for a little over three months now -- my first Mac, though I've been using PC's of all stripes for 20 years.

Well I guess I have only been using PC's for 13 years. Since My Leading Edge Model 'D'. <sigh> nostalgia...

I have had 4 PC Laptops and 8 PC desktops. (Just counting my personal machines, I own 10 computers at my office currently)

I have to admit I wasn't truely hooked on my TiBook until 4 months had passed. For me it has all been about finding apps that do what I need quickly. I do alot of remote access to my PC networks. I had to play alot with VNC clients until I found the quickest version. Now that M$ has released a new Terminal server client for Mac I can very quickly fix problems on my servers.

I find no slowdown on my TiBook over any PC I use, and the way I use my TiBook shaves off a half hour of waiting versus a PC. (Mainly on waking up. I sleep my TiBook always and then I open it up and use it. (Current Uptime 5 days...) I always leave open the apps I need, so I seldom wait for my laptop to do anything.

I have had to bend how I do things a little, but I can respond so much faster to clients now I often fix things remotely as they call me. (I just added internet via a sprint cell phone so that I will have even more opportunity for remote fixing.)

I am a 100% happy switcher. I don't think that I have to find fault in my TiBook for my opinion to be more valid. I wouldn't change anything.

 

[beatle888]

tazo's one of the hungrier lions

 

[Raiwong]

I find using top menu cumbersome, right mouse or apple C , Apple V is easier.

 

[kangaroo]

I can relate to Caddy’s post. I had an iMac, which I started to ‘bond’ with, but negative display clarity and speed issues ultimately forced my logic to trump my emotion. Caddy said: ‘I just couldn't believe I was returning a computer for something as simple as the mouse’. I couldn’t believe I was returning my iMac for something as fundamental as text clarity! After I returned my machine, I too wanted to know if others shared my angst. After surfing several forums I learned that I wasn’t the only one frustrated by fuzzy (iMac) fonts—and there was some comfort in that.

I think if Caddy had given her machine more time she would have eventually adapted to its idiosyncrasies and/or found workarounds. Given enough time I might have adjusted to the iMac font issue but I wasn’t going to let my eyes suffer or my return window close.

As to Mac vs. Wintel suitability to a particular <general> user I would tip the balance in favor of Mac although it’s obviously subjective. In the look/feel of the OS I believe Apple innovates and leads at this point. The reality is, however, that as time passes and Microsoft lifts Apple’s features—the OSs will look and feel so similar that differences and then distinctions will start to fade.

As a Mac buyer I was willing to sacrifice additional $$$ and speed for everything else the Mac has to offer but it’s downright sloppy on Apple’s part to lose customers for issues as fundamental as text clarity and mouse buttons. I’m still willing/able to be a Mac convert, however, as I eagerly await the upcoming hardware changes coming with the 970.

 

[mactastic]

I don't know if I really want a 2 button trackpad/scrollwheel on my TiBook. Those things look terrible and are one more thing that can go wrong, or collect dirt and grime and transfer it to the interior of the computer. That said, apple needs to get over it and admit people want a 2 button mouse with scrollwheel. As for speed, it's not like I do a ton of compiling or rendering, but I have never had any major problems with the beach ball. Plenty of RAM seems to help. Plus, I don't want a workout everytime I pick up my computer, but I want it to be as functional as a desktop. Only one computer I know of that fits that requirement!

 

[Caddy]

Originally posted by tazo
Your argument is flawed, word processing does not require a 2-button mouse. I use a MS optical wheel mouse, and I rarely use the right mouse when I use MS office, i always use the top menu, and the keyboard. What do you even use the right click for? the only thing it shows is the thesaurus, and font/paragraph stuff. Isn't it easier to just use the top menu then bitch about Apple's nonexistent 1-button flaws?

Please! I didn't know that what works for you is universally applicable to all individuals and then if someone falls out of what you legislate is appropriate, his/her argument is flawed. Haven't you ever heard of "Different strokes for different folks?" Perhaps to say that my preferences are difficult to understand would have been more appropriate, but to consider my argument flawed based on your preferences is, indeed, the epitome of flawed logic.

I use the right button for cutting and pasting as have made abundantly clear! I have repeated myself numerous times and I apologize to those who have the reading skills to have apprehended this by now. For those who don't, well I doubt they'd even understand this, but what the hell. I write avidly and I am constantly highlighing and cutting and pasting. Why should I have to take my hand off the mouse to press Cntrl P or whatever it is? It isn't convenient for me in the least.

No, it isn't easier to shut up and learn to use the menu bar than "b1tch" about Apple's flaws. It wasn't easy either to be socked with the restocking fee of 10% of my purchase. This should be a testament to the gravity of the problem in my case. If it were as easy as you proclaim it to be, I would have preferred to keep the computer.

Next time, please don't legislate in your crude and unrefined way what you think is "easier for me." Obviously I wouldn't have returned it if the problem were trivial.

 

[trebblekicked]

Caddy-

i'm sorry if you are detecting some hostility towards you. i'd say most if the posts in this thread have been gracious and inquisitive, not rude or insensitive. obviously if we spend this much time on a mac user website, we have clear preferences in our computing experience. some people (perhaps the "i hate myself" thread starter inlcuded) come on this site specifically to pick fights exactly like this. Do a search for "PC Clone" if you want to see an example of what a PC troll does here. this leads to a fairly charged reaction to posts like these. I hope you stick around and take the anti-anti-mac posts with a grain of salt.

As for your thread: if you have a fundamental problem with the design of the ibook, i can understand and respect that. they aren't for everyone. personally, switching to the mac led me to a more efficient use of Word. using ctrl-click eased me into keyboard shortcuts, which made writing a lot easier. for the things w/o a shortcut, i began writing macros and finally took advantage of the things that make Word a decent program. Anyway, to each his own.

 

[simplebird]

I usually don't post anything on forums, but this one just made me reel sad..

I'm a software developer, and I try my best to make my software to bring productivity but not waste users time.

I strongly believe that the whole computer users population's got it all wrong, and I wonder why. Some companies just like to "educate" their customers to cover up flaws.

It's simple: Computer is a tool. If that tool wastes your time instead of helping you out, drop it. Starring at a tool doesn't do it. Frustrating yourself doesn't do it either.

If you feel pleased while learning to use a tool, great! But if you don't like a tool, don't put it down like they owe you money. It might be useful to others.

I personally like PC simply because I work with PC software more often. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not a fan of MS products.

Anyway, if you are fascinated by a screw driver, do realize it doesn't work well on nails, and nobody is telling you the hammer is forbidden. So, get both and use them where fits.


Hahaha.... Anyone still on this Thread??? I'm a newbie on forums after all.

 

[vollspacken]

@ Caddy

well, if you can't adjust to an OS that is infinitely much easier to use and more elegant than windows, fine... be happy with your PC notebook..! most people don't like changes (even if it's for the better) and try to avoid them at any cost. if you are one of those, I think it's better if you stick to your PC (I'm NOT saying that you are a stupid/bad/heretic person for that!!!)

I also own an IBM Thinkpad, all my roommates are PC users, and everybody in my family has PCs... everytime I have to use windows, it drives me nuts because of the non-existing intuitivity and the flawed and bloated GUI.

as you said, everybody as he/she likes, have fun with your PC...

vSpacken

 

[baby duck monge]

Originally posted by simplebird
Hahaha.... Anyone still on this Thread??? I'm a newbie on forums after all.

alas, no. the last post before you was like 4 months old. it's all good, though. i was glad to get to read all these posts.

i definitely agree with your screwdriver/hamer analogy, though, and i wish more people would think like that.

 

[Abstract]

Firstly, when Caddy said that she's not a techie computer person, I'm sure she was referring to the fact that she doesn't do anything like render graphics or edit videos with it. She wasn't just referring to "programming" and stuff like that. I know that may not be the correct way of putting it, but since she really isn't a techie whatsoever (she didn't even know how to refer to a "2-button mouse"), audio/video/graphics work is considered technical work to her. Emailing, using office programs (like Word and Excel) and surfing the internet isn't.

Secondly, if she uses the right mouse button often, then the Mac is definitely not the right machine for her. You can say as much as you want about keyboard shortcuts, but most people don't find THAT intuitive, either. And people shouldn't tell her to get an external mouse........she has already mentioned why numerous times.

Originally posted by beatle888

please note: none of the above was meant to sound mean or spiteful. enjoy the computer you end up with.

Bull****.

The thing about a one-button mouse on a laptop is that its much more useful. On a desktop, I love having a 2 button mouse, but on a laptop, its easier to just hit down and press that big button to click. I find it difficult to use the right button on PC laptops....

Caddy actually sounds like the more open-minded person, not most of you...