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Why Windows users don't like to switch

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Hahah all these posts are too funny. Man, I'm surprised a good amount of mac bigots haven't replied to this post.

Geez its posts like these that should just be banned from these forums. All it does is totally bait to all the bitter mac bigots and whatnot. Seriously is there a need to continue to debate this topic. I mean wtf? What the hell are you gonna prove or rather what is the point of all of it? Hasn't topics like these been debated to death? And its not like PC users are gonna read this. If anything, in my opinion, these kinds of threads just sound like a lot griping,sharing of anecdotal evidence and/or mac bigotry.

Heh just end this thread already, its freakin lame.
 
I switched and then switched again

I have used both OS platforms all my digital life since '84 when I received my first macintosh. and '93 my first 386.

I switched fully to PC after some major problems with a nasty mac dealer and a buggy os9 pismo pboook in 1999, but very soon after OS X started to really taunt me with big hopes and dreams....I made the jump to my first ibook 600 last oct.....then in feb a faster ibook 800, and then two months ago I just had to get the 17 inch pbook and I havent touched my desktop 2.66 P4 since....

I really can't believe the PC people who sit there and say that their computers never crash, I watch it daily at the office I work at....and I watch them cntl alt delete and begin closing processes in the hope to recover the one file they have been working on for 30 mins without saving....they waste the same 30 mins finding out they have lost the OS and their application, reboot and then spend another 30 mins rebuilding the file....I have lived it...its the PC world....

To be honest the PC I have is somewhat faster at many things, flash and general windows tasks seem quicker, but the important stuff, like rasterizing a heavily gradiated illustrator file into photoshop at 300 dpi, into a 400 meg billboard file, dang it if the mac doesn't just blow the doors off the PC, both sporting 1 gig ddr 333 ram....I would say the PC will complete the task 90% of the time in about 7-10 minutes, also while still working away, it's telling me photoshop has stopped responding....although it hasnt, but windozes doesnt know this, and this is if I am running ONLY photoshop, running other apps such as Outlook Express can botch the whole process and lead to the system hangups I spoke of earlier.

So lets add it up...30 mins in OS saving attempts, 30 mins rebuilding the file, 1 minute reboot, 12 minute breakdown, what time savings is there in this?....where as the mac just plogs along, email, icq, illustrator, itunes, photoshop, indesign all open, I am not worried about any checking of the email as photoshop plugs out the rasterized illustrator 400 meg file, I just know it will be complete, it always is....and my pbook does it in under 2 minutes.....thats 4X faster.....that's is considerable....especially when the client is making 10 changes at the last minute before we go to print....isn't it?

I will never go back
 
Re: I switched and then switched again

Originally posted by Brundlefly


I really can't believe the PC people who sit there and say that their computers never crash, I watch it daily at the office I work at....and I watch them cntl alt delete and begin closing processes in the hope to recover the one file they have been working on for 30 mins without saving....they waste the same 30 mins finding out they have lost the OS and their application, reboot and then spend another 30 mins rebuilding the file....I have lived it...its the PC world....
Click to expand...

72 hours into my honeymoon with my new 12" PB, I'm finding my experience with it not entirely dissimilar. :p I've had to reboot this thing several times to clear out "glitchiness" like random spinning beach balls, likely to do with internet/network connectivity (and one OS update) and yesterday I discovered my menu bar clock/icon area had frozen, with the spinning beach ball, and that threw ME out of whack because the time had frozen too so I had no clue what time it ACTUALLY was... and ended up being really late.

Yesterday I spent altogether too much time futzing between Terminal, Print Center, and Safari opened up to a help page on how to get this thing connected and printing to a Windows printer. Still can't get it going. Bah.

Now I just tried to download the Zinio version of MacWorld as per my special offer from Apple, but the thing hangs every time I try and I have to force quit. Will a reboot fix it? Hmm.

See? Not THAT different from Windows XP. I think it's better for sure, but still not perfect.

(Not TRYING to be negative. I just dropped thousands of dollars on this machine for no reason other than "I'll try switching", so I certainly WANT this to be a great experience.)
 
Originally posted by dcb
Are you taking creative writing 101 or something or did a computer really make you hate life? You either need a tutor or a shrink!



What am i doing wrong on my iBook where it takes me well over an hour to do a clean install? AND it does NOT take half a day to install windows or xp and have it running correctly.
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I'm not going to go out and kill myself, but it was really getting to me having to fix problems and do re-installs every day.

As far as Windows taking half the day sometimes to re-install and configure, I don't know what you are doing, either, but installing Windows, then installing all the drivers from all the different disks, then downloading updates, and having to manually search Windows itself for drivers it cannot automatically find, then having to adjust settings, then having to re-configure the network, then having to reinstall any extra patches that have been lost, etc, can take a long time. I only re-installed Mac OS 9 once in the years I have used it and it took 10 minutes, then another 20 to just reinstall programs and get an update installed. I did an install of OS X only once, too, but that only took around 20 minutes, and again, just another 20 minutes to do software update, install a few programs, and I was good to go.
 
Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I'm not going to go out and kill myself, but it was really getting to me having to fix problems and do re-installs every day.

As far as Windows taking half the day sometimes to re-install and configure, I don't know what you are doing, either, but installing Windows, then installing all the drivers from all the different disks, then downloading updates, and having to manually search Windows itself for drivers it cannot automatically find, then having to adjust settings, then having to re-configure the network, then having to reinstall any extra patches that have been lost, etc, can take a long time. I only re-installed Mac OS 9 once in the years I have used it and it took 10 minutes, then another 20 to just reinstall programs and get an update installed. I did an install of OS X only once, too, but that only took around 20 minutes, and again, just another 20 minutes to do software update, install a few programs, and I was good to go.
Click to expand...

the pc needs you to answer more questions and go thru more menus on a reinstall

but even on a mac, which is easier, is a chore...reinstalling all the adobe titles and macromedia titles, games, etc...well, that takes time, too...but not as much time as it takes on a pc
 
My 2 cents... ^..^

The main reason I see people switch is because they want a stable OS/machine, so they can get their work done not work on computer (like other's have stated).

I started off on a Mac, I learned a lot just by going into the file system and looking around. I never had troubles like my PC friends did when trying to run a program or game. I didn't have to know which sound card I was running and all these settings when trying to run a game like they did. It was easy...

Eventually I started selling computers (PC's) to consumers, which made me learn more and more about them (I had a decient amount of experience already by messing with other people's PC's and fixing problems). From there I had many jobs fixing PC's (mostly still with family and friends - including in my until in the Army).

I've fixed PC's running win 3.1/95/98/2000/ME/XP, so I'm very familular with the PC line and OS troubles. I built my own PC as a hobby and it works fine (because I did a lot of research, which took a lot of time). I usually tell people NOT to build their own computers because they usualy will run into conflicts with hardware (as most of the computers I have fixed have been user built computers).

In fact my roommate just had a issue where he was forced to upgrade so I sold him my PC, because he couldn't downgrade his current PC to Win 98 from 2000 server due to hardware conflicts (the motherboard was designed around when 98 was out 2!). It the same problem over and over agian, some of which isn't really M$'s fault, but I find it interesting that some have posted linux works better with the same hardware, showing the incompetence of M$ and their products.

My roommate wanted to switch so bad after dealing with this problem with his PC, which consumed 6 days (even with one tech who came over and knew a hell of a lot about PC's and the underworking of the system), which is unacceptable, he has work to do.

My experiences show me that PC's are generally too much hassle and are really not worth the trouble.

I can understand why a PC user likes to have the feel of control as they tweak and find work arounds. It feels good solving problems and making things work, but for the average user, they JUST want and need it to work because they don't have time to waste and most just don't know much of anything about their computers.

It's not that Apple is perfect, they've screwed up and they will. There will always be troubles. The difference is that they move forward and the aim in which they take. They continue to prove the integrity they have. Problems will be fixed, they will eventually listen to the users and comply to their wishes, unlike M$, who would rather force you to comply to their will.

Anyhowl, I could have done a better job, but I have time constraints while I'm at work writing this. (I need to keep your wireless services up) ^..^
-wuff-
 
Re: My 2 cents... ^..^

Originally posted by WolfJLupus
I usually tell people NOT to build their own computers because they usualy will run into conflicts with hardware (as most of the computers I have fixed have been user built computers).


-wuff-
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building a computer, whether it's for yourself or at work or school, is a good thing to do for learning about computers in general...and it's fun

but it's no longer a way to save any considerable amount of money

the big pc makers, of which there are fewer now, because they weeded out the smaller ones, have so much leverage that they buy massive amount of hardware and components and get a great price on them...and then the big companies pass the savings on and to be competitive

right in the heart of silicon valley, i have access to a lot of stuff very cheap and of good quality, but because i am one person, i cannot get volume discounts

and then i walk into any major computer store that is a multinational corporation, and then i see the bargain rack computers which are at most, two months old, and then they turn around and mark the thing down more

how can i build a celeron machine for 299? or a pentium 4 for 399? and the machine has a large hard drive and tons of ddr ram...there is no way i can cut my costs in building a pc box and still get all the goods and have the machine have decent components

there are some small businesses that can build you a comparable machine, but you have the choice of things like case color, nvidia instead of ati or vice versa, and a deluxe larger hard drive but it will cost you a lot more if they build it...three hundred dollars more sometimes...and if you build it, and are somehow lucky enough to get all the right discounts at the right time, maybe you can save almost a hundred bucks...but then you have to research the hell out of every supplier on every solitary component and hope that they all have the deals around for long enough and the stock

unless you want to be a pc hobbyist or a tech, i agree, it's best not to build your own machine these days
 
Okay, lets say that windows released an update to XP and it all of a sudden caused an incessant clicking noise on your computer...and despite that fact, there is no fix...instead lets say that microsoft went ahead and released another update that made the entire OS crash. I could only imagine the uproar on this board. I can see the jokes, the laughing, the "I told you so"...right????? 10.2.6 - 10.2.8

Why don't you guys put apple under the same scrutiny. The truth is, you search for problems with MS and ignore any problem OSX may have...simply because it is Apple.

Solvs, your right...I look back and it realize that it was a bad iBook which has recently been replaced. But, I cannot see how it can be done in 1/2 hour.

Like I said, I like OSX, but it won't be a deciding factor in the purchase of my next computer.
 
Re: Re: My 2 cents... ^..^

Originally posted by jefhatfield

unless you want to be a pc hobbyist or a tech, i agree, it's best not to build your own machine these days
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and to add to that, some people like getting a desktop because they can "expand the componets"

but after getting an upgrade processor, an upgrade video card, and an upgrade sound card and you have made an older machine "up to date", it is actually cheaper to get the next model down the pike which has all those things already and a better, faster bus system so it can utilize those new faster components more efficiently

you can get a G4 processor upgrade card and put it into a G3 tower and update the video card and up the RAM...but now with ebay, you can get a used G4 for cheaper, for the same price...and possibly get a monitor to boot

i once considered putting a G4 processor card into my 604e powertower clone, a better video card, and up the ram to 1 gb...all for about $2500 us...or i could have bought a G4 with a gig of ram for about the same price...so it's pricing that is set up to basically make you and me buy a new machine

...and it's kind of wasteful since i bet the hairdryer, toaster, car, or pair of shoes you have last much longer than a G4 is designed to last in today's world:p
 
Originally posted by dcb
Okay, lets say that windows released an update to XP and it all of a sudden caused an incessant clicking noise on your computer...and despite that fact, there is no fix...instead lets say that microsoft went ahead and released another update that made the entire OS crash. I could only imagine the uproar on this board. I can see the jokes, the laughing, the "I told you so"...right?????

Why don't you guys put apple under the same scrutiny. The truth is, you search for problems with MS and ignore any problem OSX may have...simply because it is Apple.

Solvs, your right...I look back and it realize that it was a bad iBook which has recently been replaced. But, I cannot see how it can be done in 1/2 hour.

Like I said, I like OSX, but it won't be a deciding factor in the purchase of my next computer.
Click to expand...

os x took forever to get out of the starting gate

and apple was very bad about convincing others to support it..maybe 5 percent market share dictates that...hehe

os x is almost there and i look forward to panther:D
 
Re: Re: Re: My 2 cents... ^..^

Originally posted by jefhatfield
and to add to that, some people like getting a desktop because they can "expand the componets"

but after getting an upgrade processor, an upgrade video card, and an upgrade sound card and you have made an older machine "up to date", it is actually cheaper to get the next model down the pike which has all those things already and a better, faster bus system so it can utilize those new faster components more efficiently
Click to expand...

This is the sort of point I use when people talk about how my mac (eMac) is not upgradeable. I tell them, usually by the time I want to upgrade or it's toasted, it's time for a new computer. I usually suggest people buy a low end model emachines (for winblows users) and if it works for more than 2 weeks it should be good. Once it dies or is too slow, or whatever, do the same agian. It ends up saving money and there's no hassles with hardware conflictions from new hardware.

I put my PC together just to learn more, because I have never done it before. I knew full well I might have problems, just like everyone else seems to, but so far the only a problem I've had is with the floppy drive (which I'm sure I just need to tweak settings in the bios - but I'm too lazy to fix it or rather busy with other projects - like my buisness ventures). It worked out well and cost me very little by shopping around through pricewatch.com. I made a workable $1000 system for about $600's. Which I only used for Kazaa and my guests (since most are still winblows users).

I bought the G5 1.8 Ghz because I knew this was a system I would use for at least 2 years (before buying a new computer) and could upgrade much more than the iMacs/eMacs. It was time to go high end and drool some... >;) and I was...

P.S. my mother has been usuing my performa 6360 for years and unfortunately still is... The CD and floppy bays don't work now, but she's still surfing the net with the biggest virus ever (AOL). I still own a performa 450 which has AOL 2.7 on it also and it also runs (not very good of course). - I need to buy my mom a new computer for Christmas. ^..^
 
I thought I read somewhere that it was gpoing to be a free upgrade...didn't think so that is why I asked
 
Originally posted by dcb
Okay, lets say that windows released an update to XP and it all of a sudden caused an incessant clicking noise on your computer...and despite that fact, there is no fix...instead lets say that microsoft went ahead and released another update that made the entire OS crash. I could only imagine the uproar on this board. I can see the jokes, the laughing, the "I told you so"...right????? 10.2.6 - 10.2.8

Why don't you guys put apple under the same scrutiny. The truth is, you search for problems with MS and ignore any problem OSX may have...simply because it is Apple.

Solvs, your right...I look back and it realize that it was a bad iBook which has recently been replaced. But, I cannot see how it can be done in 1/2 hour.

Like I said, I like OSX, but it won't be a deciding factor in the purchase of my next computer.
Click to expand...

Geez, I think we the point that you have not had good luck so far w/yer iBook. You seem to think that your situation repesents the norm from Apple. In a previous post you wondered why some many people love OS X because you were having lots of issues w/it and yer iBook. Well, maybe that means that you have a lemon. If yer the only one having a specific problem, or series of problems, it's probably means there is something wrong w/your particular machine and not a general problem that effects all/most users.

The first 10.2.8 update was a screw up, pulled from the site, and fairly quickly replaced w/a revised version. Now if Apple had a history of releasing buggy updates there would probably more moaning and groaning. But sense they usually don't this mistake isn't met w/harsh criticizism. No product, or company, is 100% error free. But on an consistant basis Apple seems to put out less error prone products than MS does.


Lethal
 
Just a quick note on some of the earlier PC vs Mac discussion:

This is a Mac site. It is visited predominantly by Mac users. If you are expecting neutral debate on platform superiority I suggest you try Slashdot or ArsTechnica, neutral sites that are not targeted towards any one platform.

If you, as a Mac or PC user, come into a discussion and start throwing around derogatory/incorrect terms (peecee, MAC, bigot, zealot, etc) and make sweeping generalizations expect to get people pissed at you.

If you use neutral language and make clear solid points you'll be taken seriously.
 
Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Geez, I think we the point that you have not had good luck so far w/yer iBook. You seem to think that your situation repesents the norm from Apple. In a previous post you wondered why some many people love OS X because you were having lots of issues w/it and yer iBook. Well, maybe that means that you have a lemon. If yer the only one having a specific problem, or series of problems, it's probably means there is something wrong w/your particular machine and not a general problem that effects all/most users.

The first 10.2.8 update was a screw up, pulled from the site, and fairly quickly replaced w/a revised version. Now if Apple had a history of releasing buggy updates there would probably more moaning and groaning. But sense they usually don't this mistake isn't met w/harsh criticizism. No product, or company, is 100% error free. But on an consistant basis Apple seems to put out less error prone products than MS does.


Lethal
Click to expand...

Wait a second...its not just my iBook that has problems for one...but the point was that OSX upgrades were BAD and if the tables were turned - you and every other zealot would have a circle jerk over how much better OSX is because of that fact. You now I am right...but instead you want to be an apologist for apple. THE ONLY ARGUMENT YOU GUYS MAKE IS THAT NO COMPANY IS 100% ERROR FREE!!!!!!!!! If that is the fact then why don't you give microsoft a break. The attitude is that if it isn't apple then it sucks. THAT IS WHY APPLE ONLY HAS A TINY marketshare. Maybe things would be different if you put Apple under the same microscope.

The problems with 10.2.6 and 10.2.8 aren't limited to my iBook...it is a documented fact - I am not making up facts to prove a point like most people on this board.

And uh...the problems I faced with my iBook are not limited to me...just visit the Apple discussion board and see how many people have faced the same issues. And please don;t come back with the same tired argument that only people with proble,s post on their discussion boards...that is a whole other debate in itself.
 
If you use neutral language and make clear solid points you'll be taken seriously.
Click to expand...

BS, BS, BS....if you don't follow the cult like doctrine prescribed on this board...you are open to being flamed and ganged up on.
 
Originally posted by dcb
Wait a second...its not just my iBook that has problems for one...but the point was that OSX upgrades were BAD and if the tables were turned - you and every other zealot would have a circle jerk over how much better OSX is because of that fact. You now I am right...but instead you want to be an apologist for apple. THE ONLY ARGUMENT YOU GUYS MAKE IS THAT NO COMPANY IS 100% ERROR FREE!!!!!!!!! If that is the fact then why don't you give microsoft a break. The attitude is that if it isn't apple then it sucks. THAT IS WHY APPLE ONLY HAS A TINY marketshare. Maybe things would be different if you put Apple under the same microscope.

The problems with 10.2.6 and 10.2.8 aren't limited to my iBook...it is a documented fact - I am not making up facts to prove a point like most people on this board.

And uh...the problems I faced with my iBook are not limited to me...just visit the Apple discussion board and see how many people have faced the same issues. And please don;t come back with the same tired argument that only people with proble,s post on their discussion boards...that is a whole other debate in itself.
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Who has said that Apple is error free? I believe just about everyone has said that they are *not* error free, nor is anyone else...I'm confused...are you reading something I am not? :confused:
 
Originally posted by dcb
THAT IS WHY APPLE ONLY HAS A TINY marketshare.
Click to expand...
Actually, the reason for Apple's tiny marketshare is more likely because of liscensing issues from the very beginning. Apple wanted to sell the hardware also, Miscrosoft sold just the OS and liscnensed it to different companies, getting a lot more exposure.

As far as the update, this was the single worst update that I can remember, and you know, it really wasn't that bad. It didn't effect any of the four computers I manage. And it was retracted pretty quickly, and fixed in a couple of days. That is pretty good turnaround. Now, I'm not excusing the mistake, I actually am pretty confused how it happened since you'd think testing would have caught a problem like this. But I don't see many people saying, oh, it's ok, it's Apple, let them make a mistake or two. I have, however, noticed a lot of people upset about it, as well they should be.

But I would still prefer a mistake like this than to be told, months after I started using an OS, that there was a serious security hole that was currently being exploited.
 
Originally posted by dcb
BS, BS, BS....if you don't follow the cult like doctrine prescribed on this board...you are open to being flamed and ganged up on.
Click to expand...
You are adding nothing to this forum but hot-headed irrational anger. You're making broad generalizations that are pretty insulting. There might be some "zealots" but there are also a significant number of people who are down to Earth, and are not part of a mac "cult". No one gets flamed for opinions, they get flamed for stupid comments or blatant exaggerations or misinformation. Granted, there area couple of people here that will flame people the way you say, and that's unfortunate, but it's definitely not all of us.

i.e. if you were to make a thread talking about your new PC and how awesome it was, there might be a couple that say things along the lines of PCs suck, but there would also be a lot of people saying congrats on getting a good system.
 
Originally posted by Powerbook G5
Who has said that Apple is error free? I believe just about everyone has said that they are *not* error free, nor is anyone else...I'm confused...are you reading something I am not? :confused:
Click to expand...

That is the only argument you have when apple errs...but when it is Microsoft or anything else that does not conform to your way of life...you attack, insult, lie, and go on the offensive. All i am saying is put apple under the same scrutiny, we will have a bigger marketshare...more software and even better perihpheals. Instead, apple screws up, and you guys become apologetics and attack microsoft after you say your 3 hail steves.
 
Originally posted by dcb
That is the only argument you have when apple errs...but when it is Microsoft or anything else that does not conform to your way of life...you attack, insult, lie, and go on the offensive. All i am saying is put apple under the same scrutiny, we will have a bigger marketshare...more software and even better perihpheals. Instead, apple screws up, and you guys become apologetics and attack microsoft after you say your 3 hail steves.
Click to expand...
Obviously you're not a business major, because I don't think you can raise a companies market share by putting it under scrutiny. :confused:

And please, I'm sure if you looked at the amount of times Microsoft has screwed up to the amount of scrutiny they get compared to the amount of times Apple has screwed up to their amount of scrutiny, I bet you anything the scrutiny Microsoft gets in this forum isn't even as much as they deserve. I can't readily remember reading a thread on here that talked specifically about how Microsoft screwed up and update or something of that nature.

Maybe you're the one that's attacking, insulting, lying, and going on the offensive?
 
Originally posted by dcb
That is the only argument you have when apple errs...but when it is Microsoft or anything else that does not conform to your way of life...you attack, insult, lie, and go on the offensive. All i am saying is put apple under the same scrutiny, we will have a bigger marketshare...more software and even better perihpheals. Instead, apple screws up, and you guys become apologetics and attack microsoft after you say your 3 hail steves.
Click to expand...

Ah, why don't you buy one of those Liebermann systems, that should make you happy. You should get one free anyway as passionately as you've defended them around here. :D
 
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