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Why choose Mac OS X? Over Windows Operating Systems?

The reasons I personally prefer Mac are as follows:

- It's Unix. This opens up your computer to a world of customisability and experimental/free software that you can miss out on with Windows.
- As a developer, it's very easy to make good-looking applications, fast. Xcode has provided a much better experience for me when compared with Visual Studio, or Eclipse.
- It's reliable. My main computer runs Vista, and I've had several Blue Screen of Death scenarios... my Macbook has never even frozen.
- It's pretty.
- I find the UI more intuitive and faster to use (once you get used to it...). My productivity tends to increase when I use a Mac.
 
i bought a mac for my music studies (im in a band and it is needed for recording and mixing...ect...) and its brilliant for that.

But that only.

Anything else it has the functionality of a fridge. Compatibility sucks, overpriced, yes it is very fast booting and shutdown which is great!!! but it just doesn't cut it as a personal computer. There are no ways to customize, its the Aqua look or no mac, it isn't the best for gaming for there are a lot less games out for it and they cost a hell of a lot more than windows games.

Then again, looking back on my windows years, i hated them n'all. I preffer the mac, but after it becomes dated, it's Ubuntu Linux from then on.
 
Many good posts. G4R2's post hit home for me... furthermore the Start Menu is a clumsy workaround to a convoluted file system. Imagine trying to find a program executable by navigating through folders to:

C:\Program Files\joes software inc\neat program\this_i~.exe

(if somebody uses Japanese on your system, the "\"s turn into "¥"s)

Then if you delete this_i~.exe but not the Start Menu item that refers to it, a search will ensue while the user's waiting...

There is sort of hack on OS X whereby you put your HD icon (or Applications folder or whatever) on the Dock next to the Trash. Then you can click on that icon and navigate through folders like the Start Menu on Windows, except on OS X it's just an always accurate live view of your neatly bundled OS X applications. Although it's simple & superior to Windows primary navigation feature, the Start Menu, it's still inferior to OS X's primary navigation features...

I prefer Linux to Windows (typing now from an Ubuntu box), but OS X offers, IMO, the best overall user experience for a desktop system + the power of UNIX under the hood.
 
Since I fix windows for a living Windows tends to get to me.


After owning a Vista machine and finding Vista to be a completely unusable, unreliable heap of trash for what I needed to do I hesitantly ordered a mac.

Once it arrived and I learned it my productivity skyrocketed. No need to worry about installing damon tools for mounting ISOs, no need to worry about installing burning software and making sure it supported image creation, no need to go find software to create a software raid. I had multiple desktops, an OS that never crashes, no need for virus or antispyware software, and it was FAST. Much faster then windows. Especially using things like lightroom automation and photoshop automation. I was amazed at the speed.

I then fell completely in love with mac and bought my whole family macs. Its amazing not having to fix computers when I go back home now. :)
 
GreatOne said:
The only reason I registered on this forum was to get this question answered:

Why should i get a Mac computer with Mac OS X, and what are it's advantages over lets say Windows 7, or even Windows Vista.

I am thinking of investing in this company which my friend has been hyping up for like a year now and I want to know why it is actually better.​

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Thank you for the help!​
Click to expand...


OS X is acknowledged as a great OS. Paul Thurrot - a SUPER Windows fan has said good things about Snow Leopard. We've recently seen Dvorak, DVORAK even get to use Leopard a bit.

Mac can run OS X, and through boot camp and Parallels/VM Ware run XP/Vista/Windows 7 smoothly (A MBP or Mac Pro running windows is going to be FAST).

What's with the INVEST thing though - you've made a similar thread before.
 
Well... I have Macs, so why not Mac OS X. But here are reasons I like Mac OS X:

First of all, the UI.
The interface is easy to navigate and is visually elegant.
Nothing choppy about it; everything sort of flows. It looks slick and is quick and responsive.

Second: Apple keeps the user-end in mind.
Windows feels too technical. Everything is too sharp and gritty, and every time I use it, as a user I feel distant from the machine. On the other hand, Mac OS X has a warm, smoother feeling to it, that appeals to the user. The ease of use and navigation really helps the user be content with the software.

Third: Reliability
It seems a lot more reliable than Windows. This may not be factual, but from my personal use of both Operating Systems, Windows bugged out on me more often. It was also less reliable in the way that it was harder to navigate, so everything took more time to learn.
 
I have been using OSX for 2 and half yrs now. There are huge things and small things that separates the OS's apart, and let me tell you this, OSX has made me LOVE using computers. It is that great. The real value of OSX is that it will enhance your daily experience substantially. At least, it did so for me. And a better daily experience is invaluable. Let me put it more clearly. Windows may have some big advantages. For instance, gaming is much better on windows for compatibility of games and better GPUs for less price. However, I would never trade the daily simplicity and comfort of my OSX for this big advantage, for some. Here are some examples,

1) The much better, simple UI (I know you said don't mention it, but believe me it is important on the long run)

2) Ease of use and organization. Everything is carefully designed for you to be able to use. All features are right in front of you. Nothing complicated.

3) No viruses

4) Expose, spaces, time machine, quicklook, etc just make your life so much easier and productive.
 
business use

Didn't read the whole thread, but...
I'm a business user since the first Macbook pro with a Core Duo processor.
When I started my own company, I went with toshiba and it was rubbish. The first had a screen that failed after 3 months, the screen, not the backlight. took 3 weeks to repair. When it came back the wireless card wasn't working either, again 3 weeks in repair. That is not why I have a computer, to have it 50% of it's time in repair.
Second windows computer came and went in those 6 weeks, because Toshiba doesn't give you a spare laptop when there is a productionfailure in the product. And I had to fight to get it repaired within guaranty. After 3 months. (**&^%&^%^$%#%)

After 6 months I was so fed up with the whole that I bought another all together, a tablet laptop. nice, but windows XP tablet had really annoying faults, so after 3 full reinstalls in as many months a relation of me said I needed to switch.
Apple? huh? I'm using it as a consultant, common man?!
Well, I've switched and never looked back.
Had the MBP15" CD for 4 years now, and 3 months ago the logic board gave way. Not bad.
Now I've got the MBP 13" and I'm loving it. This thing can boot faster than I can pour coffee, let alone get to the coffee pot and back.
As a business user the main things where:
- stable OS
- Microsoft office (if you like it or not, all my clients are sending me doc's an xls' documents, no choice there)
- no viruses
- compatible enough to work limited on MS/Novatel networks and in windows-using-office environments.

I did a full new reinstall on my MBP13" for the first time in 4 years. I've had other laptops as well in between (my employee used my first MBP for the last 2 years). On install of OS-X in 4 years now that's acceptable stability :)
 
Simple explanation.

Macs feel a lot nicer to use, and are generally faster, even with lower specs. If there's stuff that's windows specific, you can run Windows too, within Mac OS X using an App called Parallels.

It's a win-win situation. Use the Mac OS X mainly though, after a while, it'll grow on you and you'll love it.

Everyone who slates a Mac usually hasn't tried a Mac. Everyone who has a Mac, loves it.

-Sam
 
There's a big technical difference between MS Windows and Apple MacOsX

simple version: Mac OS is technically far more advanced, doesn't lie to the end user.

full version (not by me); http://www.appleinsider.com/article...bits_santa_rosa_and_the_great_pc_swindle.html

Before I read this I already was converted from 30 years of Microsoft Lovage to Apple Adoration. My osX machine rarely locks up (happend once in 3 years) and probably was my own fault at that. My Windows machine required regular reboots to prevent BsoD's. I reboot my mac only when I have to (like with updates)

Also On my windows machine, opening word, excel, powerpoint, photoshop, illustrator and flash all at once will most definately crash it or at the least slow it to a crawl where pushing start will take 20 minutes before showing the menu. I seen it happen far to often. On my mac i can do the same and still be able to work with the machine as if nothing is active. My windows machine has 4g memory and a 3ghz CPU. my mac has 2.4 GHz also Core2Duo and only 3g memory. Go figure.

I was hooked the minute I was forced on a mac (I had no choice then).
I absolutely never ever want any other OS than Apple any more.

If you still need to make the decision, I suggest just try it, really try it. Look beyond the " my application this and application that don't run ". Almost all software has a Mac equivalent. Focus on that.

Good luck with choosing :)
 
Based on user experience (not much technical knowledge), I'd sum it up by overall level of frustration:

Windows (95-Vista): 9-10

OS X (Leopard-Snow Leopard): 1-2
 
I have only had my MacBook Pro for 4 weeks now and as my signature tag states "Why did it take so long for me to make the move to Apple Mac as i love it"

I have been using all versions of Windows over the last 20 years and i was a complete addict with the brand, BUT since the recent purchase of my MacBook I can honestly say with hand on heart that i do not miss the Windows brand one bit!

The UI is fluid and once you learn the shortcuts it makes the whole experience more enjoyable! in fact i can't put the thing down i just love learning the vast array of tasks that can be done!

I have just updated my MacBook to Snow Leopard and things got even better :cool:

One thing you will be impressed with is the start up & shut down time as i was!! 25 seconds to start up & 3 seconds to shut down and this is not a typo :eek:

I personally have not suffered any obstacles with the Mac OS, the set up of everything from Mail, Safari, Wireless Network and transfer of files etc was simple and whent without hitch :)

I am only scratching the surface on the capabilities of the Mac OS but i am sure enjoying finding out :D:D

If you need more concrete evidence take yourself down to your nearest Apple Retail Store! i did and they dedicated nearly 2hrs with me showing me around the OS and what can be done with it and how compatible it is with Windows files, plus they never pressured me once to buy! now that shows confidence & dedication to the Apple brand!

As a recent convert myself i hope this helps ;)
 
The biggest reason: It ain't made by hopeless Microsloth!!

Why would anyone actually want to use a cheap knock-off that is full of stupid viruses and looks as ugly as the boxes it ships on, when you can use the original that's virus free and actually works??

Even Microsloth themselves know the Mac is better - Excel and Word were created for the Mac first, and ever since then they've been badly copying Apple's software and even hardware.
 
macinhand said:
"Why did it take so long for me to make the move to Apple Mac as i love it"
Click to expand...
I second that

I bought my macbook pro in June and it took me a week to get used to mac and find all the apps i needed. Since then I have been loving my mac and the more I become aware of cool features and nice little apps, to make my experience better, it just makes me wonder: "why did I not buy mac earlier". The transition was not hard as I anticipated or what PC people had told me.

My personal reasons for preferring OS X: speed, stability, memory management, no more anti-vrius or mal/spyware software, finder, search/spotlight, expose, trackpad, bootcamp, and ease of multitasking.

So far, I had to (forcefully) shutdown my mac only twice, but that was my own fault - application froze. And I have been able to find windows counter-part apps for mac, which I was using on windows.

At the end of the day, it really depends on your needs and preferences. No OS is perfect, they all have their advantages and disadvantages. Switching to mac does not mean that you won't face any problems, the problems could still be there but with different nature.

I hope this helps
 
There is really no way to answer the OP, but to put it a different way, I was forced to work on a windows machine the other day and this is what I noticed:

1. I hate the all in one window, like photoshop, everything is one entity, on a mac the workflow is seperate from the controls.

2. Believe it or not Windows had a harder time connecting to Samba than my mac!

3. Start - Accessories- Command Promt = Command Shift - Console - Enter on a mac.

4. I didn't have my hot corners.

5. I use spaces to distinguish my workspaces. Everything was cluttered.

6. When I had all those apps open on windows, the machine was sluggish, my mac wasn't.

7. Navigating to where you want to go on Windows really sucks...

8. Multitouch - What can I say I love it.

9. The UI really didn't help much.


There is that whole app debate where not everything is available to mac users. But think about it, there are some mac only apps that I cannot live without. For example: Coda and Textmate. Mac only. :)

I love my mac just because it makes my life that much easier.

By the way to the OP, go to an Apple Store, and use a mac for a little while. You will see where we are all coming from :).
 
My main reason is OSX's UI.
Like said earlier in this thread it is really elegant and consistent.
While spending a lot a time behind my computer I want the environment, the UI to be pleasant and OSX feels more open than Windows.
True with Vista and Windows 7 you no longer get a feeling of claustrophobia with the closed screen filling windows like in previous Windows systems, but OSX still feels more open to me.

This is a great site to compare both systems:
http://macvswindows.com/index.php?title=MacvsWindows_Comparisons
 
heres why i love Macs over Winows over pcs.

no drivers or atleast not as bad as when it compares to windows not having to worry about if this update will make drivers out of date etc

Bluetooth if your a bluetooth user you will realize how simple bluetooth is compared to using it on a mac just pair and sync i can use my phone my ps3 headset etc and it works flawlessly pc you gotta figure out what port drivers etc.

UI i think the macs is simply the best and it has been since OS8 when compared to windows although i admit windows 7 is nice but still doesnt compete with OSX.

Time machine beats any pc backup solution hands down.

Bootcamp no theres no reason why if your thinkin about holding out on a mac if you need that specific pc app or game you can play it.
 
1. Both hardware and software are controlled by one source (apple)
2. It is based on a UNIX file system which is much more stable then DOS (which seems to have been suppressed, or harder to access, in the newer Windows releases for some reason)
3. much better customer support because of the genius bar. No squabbling about whether it is hardware or software issue. Either way it will be fixed.
4. Exposé and spaces are a great way to see what you are doing if you are a multi-tasker
 
roadbloc said:
i bought a mac for my music studies (im in a band and it is needed for recording and mixing...ect...) and its brilliant for that.

But that only.

Anything else it has the functionality of a fridge. Compatibility sucks, overpriced, yes it is very fast booting and shutdown which is great!!! but it just doesn't cut it as a personal computer. There are no ways to customize, its the Aqua look or no mac, it isn't the best for gaming for there are a lot less games out for it and they cost a hell of a lot more than windows games.

Then again, looking back on my windows years, i hated them n'all. I preffer the mac, but after it becomes dated, it's Ubuntu Linux from then on.
Click to expand...

I am surprised you can use a computer at all given your lack of research skills. They let you into a school? To study?

I am not going to talk in depth about games (because I don't care), but I will say this. There may be less games, but most big titles are released for Mac OS and they aren't anymore expensive in my experience. Also, there are many ways to get a gaming experience in Mac OS such as Bootcamp and Crossover.

I really wanted to comment on the "Lack of customizability." I hear this crap all the time and it is completely unfounded. Take a look through the forums here: http://macthemes2.net/, you will find tons of customization options (and no it isn't just icons.) And all of them, even the worst, will be well beyond Windows "themes" in terms of style and usability.

To state this nonsense shows you have done nothing to find out how customizable your Mac OS is. Sure it may not be a simple click and go, but then again to complain about lack of customizability and then demanding simplicity in the same breath would be quite absurd.

I am sorry to call you out, but I see this crap spewed all over the boards and it is complete FUD.
 
Hi, I'm a long time Windows and PC user. I've used Macs from time to time, but never thought it was worth the extra cash involved, lack of programs, etc.
I started using a friends iMac 24" for a job last year and got converted.
I think, today, OSX is overall a better experience compared to XP or Vista, didn't try 7.
- The OS boots faster
- Programs start faster
- Switching between programs is a lot more fluid
- It comes with a good configuration set up – with windows I was always tweaking everything all the time.
- You don't need an anti-virus!!
- It comes with sensible, productive, useful tools: Time machine, Font book, Address book, iCal, Safari, Dictionary, DVD Player, Preview, Quicklook, Spotlight, etc. – Windows comes with **** software: Outlook express, Internet explorer, Paintbrush, Wordpad, etc.
- It will open and print to PDF out of the box. Windows can't even display PDFs without installing Acrobat.
- You can still run your odd windows-only apps with Parallels, Vmware or Bootcamp
- Exposé and spaces are amazing on window managers
- MacBook owners almost never shutdown or restart their computers. They just close the lid, computer goes to stand by, open lid and everything is there, in place.
- Keyboard shortcuts are much more consistent between programs. All applications quit with command+Q; All preferences open with command+,

It's, generally, a "trouble-free" experience. It just works.

Of course it's not perfect. All software has bugs and will crash from time to time. Also, you can get a defective hardware. YMMV. And it's still more expensive than a PC.

My advice is that you try it. See for yourself.
 
calderone said:
I am surprised you can use a computer at all given your lack of research skills. They let you into a school? To study?

I am not going to talk in depth about games (because I don't care), but I will say this. There may be less games, but most big titles are released for Mac OS and they aren't anymore expensive in my experience. Also, there are many ways to get a gaming experience in Mac OS such as Bootcamp and Crossover.

I really wanted to comment on the "Lack of customizability." I hear this crap all the time and it is completely unfounded. Take a look through the forums here: http://macthemes2.net/, you will find tons of customization options (and no it isn't just icons.) And all of them, even the worst, will be well beyond Windows "themes" in terms of style and usability.

To state this nonsense shows you have done nothing to find out how customizable your Mac OS is. Sure it may not be a simple click and go, but then again to complain about lack of customizability and then demanding simplicity in the same breath would be quite absurd.

I am sorry to call you out, but I see this crap spewed all over the boards and it is complete FUD.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree MORE:apple::apple:

Reasons I love my:apple:are:

1.Worry free computing
2. Much easier OS to master, learn on Mac in a month what it takes 10 years for in WinDOWS.
3.Saftey* Keeping windows even semi clean is a full time job
4. Speed
5. It's beautiful
6.Spotlight Search..AWESOME
7.Both hardware and software are controlled by one source
8.I adore the mac mail
9. Made my life so sooo much simpler
10. It JUST WORKS

I got my 1st MacBook 8 months ago after falling in love with my best friends MBP a year ago. I am a Information Systems student.. NEVER EVER looked back!!

Now my husband has one.. life is good, I don't have to scold everyone about viruses-spyware-adware etc.

Once you go Mac you never go back!!!

It's LOVE!
 
Most have covered the important points so I’m not going to repeat those. I’ll just tell you my story. Like most here I started using computer in our early teens. I got my first PC when I was 11 and it ran DOS. Later I moved onto Windows 95, 98, XP and Vista. I always built my own PC (I’ve built a $2k watercooling system) and it was not uncommon for me to upgrade parts every few months or so. I’m also the IT guy for my family (we all know what it feels like). A few years ago I was looking for a new notebook as the one I had was way oversized and too heavy. I came across the 13” MB and found out about bootcamp (it was still in beta back then) so I decided to give it a try.

I got the black MB and the first thing I noticed when I open the box was how elegant everything was put together. From the packaging to the machine itself, everything just looks so beautiful. Aesthetic aside, the first thing I did with my MB, however, is to install Windows XP on it because I will need it at work (mostly for MS Office). For the first 2 weeks or so I used it purely use it under XP because I only used it at work and I had a gaming rig at home already. But then as I read more about Apple/Mac on forums like Macrumors, the more I want to find out about OS X. I want to know why people are praising it so much. So I forced myself to boot into 10.4 (Leopard wasn’t out yet) and after a week it became my primary OS.

The moral of the story is that you have to experience it yourself. You won’t know what it’s like if you don’t try it out. You simply have to force yourself to use it as your primary OS for a period of time to appreciate all the things we say in this thread. What’s more is that the whole experience doesn’t stop at the OS itself. It will extend to the other parts of your life. For example, if you have Mobile Me account and iPhone you will get the most seamless mobile experience (contacts, calendar, Find My iPhone, etc.). If you take a lot of photos you can make your own photobook and purchase a print copy directly from Apple. It’d be even better if your friends use Mac too. Anyway, I suggest you to head down to your local Apple Store and ask the staff there to show you hardware and software. You’ll have a much better idea if you can try it out firsthand.
 
I can't really add much to what people have already said. I used to use Windows for years, but I got a Mac pro first in late 2007 and loved it. If you have a network set up around your home the Mac is set up and on it within seconds. It took me ages to get a Windows network even vaguely working, and even then there were issues such as the laptop downstairs not being able to do something as simple as send a document to the printer.

With the Mac all that changed. I now have an iPod Touch 2G and now a MacBook Pro 13". I like everything about using the Mac. Occasionally I have annoyances, but the user interface on the Mac is so polished it is nice to use. using Windows is like being made to work in a drab soulless office, while OS X is a nice plush office with big open windows and air con. I enjoy using OS X.

Everything about it is polished. From the packaging the computer comes in through to the initial startup and the way that programs are always smooth looking, it is great. Windows always feels cheap and nasty with the way that when you start one up you still get some 16-colour startup graphic at 640x480 res with a DOS beep, along with DOS style memory checks etc before the OS starts to load up. I also don't like the way that Windows still has DOS underpinnings despite MS's claims (else why would Windows still give DOS errors?)

My mum who wouldn't touch computers before is using email programs and web browsing easily now. She even does her online shopping with it. OS X has a "Simple" mode which highly restricts the interface and makes it easy for elderly people or those who have a morbid fear of computers to use it.

Accessibility is also far better with OS X.

Macs are not really more expensive than PC's when you take into account the hardware and the user experience as a whole. Also if you take into account that Mac hardware tends to last longer because successive OS updates make things faster rather than slower on older machines, plus the fact that OS X updates are much cheaper to buy than Windows, and you'll probably find that over the computers lifetime a Mac is actually cheaper than a PC box.

Add to that the fact that you can use Bootcamp to run Windows natively, or something like Parallels to run it in emulation (I can have Windows running on my 23" monitor and OS X on my 30" and seamlessly go between them) and a Mac is definitely far and a way much better value for money than a PC.

You don't get bloatware with a Mac. So your system really is 'clean' when you buy it. You don't get meaningless prompts from Malware finders and virus killer trials. You don't get a hard drive clogged up with DLL files or meaningless DLL errors. You don't get system updates that automatically reboot your computer without your permission when you're in the middle of work.

With a Mac you don't need things like the Adobe PDF reader to read PDF's. All the major software that you need is on the machine, and integrated well into the system because Apple made it.

I am spending so much time sorting out relatives and friends PC problems I sometimes want to slap them with a wet fish and tell them to just get a Mac and be done with it. In fact it seems that my uncle is now going to buy a Mac Mini. It does what he needs it to do (email, web browsing and basic MP3 creation) doesn't cost a lot, takes up next to no space at all in his room, and he won't have all the breakdown issues he's been having with Windows recently.
 
Corrosive vinyl said:
1. Both hardware and software are controlled by one source (apple)
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to say. Because of this, the os and hardware seem to compliment each other, they work together, more so than you would think. For example, when I plug my iphone headphones in, i can control itunes and spotify and quicktime etc through the buttons in the microphone, and the microphone defaults to the one in the headphone. everything is highly optimized. You just can't get this with a windows based computer.
 
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