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Why you shouldn't buy a Mac

Not to get off topic, but I honestly don't see whats so great about Windows 7. I tried it for a day, and in all honesty it seems almost identical to Windows Vista. The UI was certainly the same, no real improvements there. Some options had been moved around, but it still felt sluggish compared to Windows XP. How is 7 better than Vista?
 
so the OP purchases the cheapest (headless) mac and try's to compare it to a MacBook Pro or a souped up plastic laptop?

puhleasseeee...


have fun with winblows or linux.
 
CubeHacker said:
Not to get off topic, but I honestly don't see whats so great about Windows 7. I tried it for a day, and in all honesty it seems almost identical to Windows Vista. The UI was certainly the same, no real improvements there. Some options had been moved around, but it still felt sluggish compared to Windows XP. How is 7 better than Vista?
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I disagree. The problems with Vista were that both the actual bloat and the artificial hardware requirements meant that it didn't run well even on fast machines. The ui changes were purely decoration - there wasn't one that actually improved your workflow. Win7 is just the opposite - it is slimmed down so that it works fine on almost any hardware, typically as fast or faster than XP, and the ui, while similar to Vista on the surface has added a significant number of usability improvements - ie. live updating thumbnails of windows on the taskbar, progress bars built into those thumbnails, search integrated so well I rarely use the start menu but to access search, HUGE improvements in Windows Explorer, etc. etc. It's a great update, and going back to XP is hard.
 
CubeHacker said:
Not to get off topic, but I honestly don't see whats so great about Windows 7. I tried it for a day, and in all honesty it seems almost identical to Windows Vista. The UI was certainly the same, no real improvements there. Some options had been moved around, but it still felt sluggish compared to Windows XP. How is 7 better than Vista?
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A lot of it is under the hood. There are less crashes than vista and 7 actually runs really well on older hardware, better then xp on my testing when I put it on our laptops at work.

That being aid though i am still not a fan. For windows people its great but I'll stick with my Mac. Too many things are missing from windows 7 that shouldn't be like built in raid support, built in iso support (creating and reading) as well as built in differential backup and things like multiple desktops.

Yes I am aware there are third party options and windows offers a very basic backup but im talking things on the level of what Mac os offers.
 
I wonder if people troll PC builder forums saying "Why you shouldn't build your own computer".

Anywho, thanks OP. Your gospel has given me many lulz
 
Hellhammer said:
Great post, couldn't have said it better! I use Windows daily and I have nothing against it but it's still Windows with all it's pros and cons. Vista was awful, that made me buy a Mac. W7 is a whole new story but it's not flawless, nor is OS X. If I built a desktop for me, it would likely be a Hackintosh with Windows 7 running in VM 24/7.

In the end, this is a preference thing. There is no best or worst OS out there
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Exactly, I just happen to prefer iTunes (running in OSX) and Aperture.

I also prefer the interface in OSX.

If I could move to Linux on the Desktop (I have tried before and missed Aperture and iTunes too much) with good comparable applications for Aperture and iTunes, then I may do. Although as a server OS, Linux is perfect for me.

Anything Apple sells using OSX as a Desktop is overpriced IMO, that's why my current desktop is a Hackintosh and my next one will be a Hackintosh. iOS devices on the other hand are still kind of expensive, but I am happy to pay the Apple Tax for them.
 
hollyw0od said:
And really, OS X is not the greatest in my opinion. Everything is overpriced! Disagree, Mac fans? That's fine, as we all have our preferences, however, some people need to wake up! :)
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Like many things in this world, your computer choice is personal preference.

I like OSX over windows 7 and found it to be a superior OS, then windows. Windows 7 is probably Microsoft's best OS but that doesn't mean its better then OSX, at least in my opinion.

Yeah, Macs are over priced but you get a design that's hard to beat, a well integrated OS with the hardware and a product that works well for most people.

btw, I opted for the hackintosh route, as seen in my sig, not just because Macs are so expensive (which they are) but I wanted to see if I could. I used windows 7 as my sole OS for a couple of months but found it lacking to a great degree. I now use win 7 in vmware because my work, but OSX is my main OS.
 
Okay, wow, but of an emotive post from the OP. May I undulge the forum in letting me offer a different experience?

I used to use Apple computers back in the 1980's for work - they came with a spreadhseet, that was useful. Then work discovered Windows (1.1 I think it was), wow, a GUI, and I was hooked. Stayed with windows ever since, using each subsequent iteration, although the Vista PC remained largely unused as the OS was dire. Win7 upgrade was quite good.

What got my goat finally in January of this year was just the latest emergency downloads to guard against hackers, and yet more bloated Anti Virus s/w, anti trojan s/w etc etc. From power on my top of the range ACER laptop was taking over 15 minutes before it was useable on the internet. And I had all of the family laptops and PCs to sort as well. I basically had just reached the end of my windows tether.

In a fit of ire I ordered a basic macbook from Apple. It arrived the next day. Okay, wow, it was different. As much as it was the same, it was totally different and I thought I was never going to get used to it. But, from switch on to surfing the web in under 90 seconds is pretty damn good.

I spent the next few months slowly weaning myself off Windows and using the mac more and more. I did try iWorks, but found my self more comfortable with MAC Office, so used that. Didn't like 'mail' so used Entourage for a while (recently switched to thunderbird). I was more or less getting there and beginning to enjoy the MAC experience. I wouldn't go so far as to evangelise it, but, for me, it was beginning to work. My very basic macbook was faster than my top of the range ACER, So far, so good. The rest of the family happy using their slow windows pc's - for them, they knew how to do what they wanted (ebay, surfing, email), and no need to change.

Then my home external backup drive for our Main Windows PC died. Oh damn! So I ordered a replacement. Before it arrived the windows PC died, motherboard 'phut'. Then the daughters XP Vaio died, and my wifes Toshiba battery died. It was computer carnage.

I again visited the apple refurb shop and bought a new IMAC27 I5 to replace the old windows PC, telling myself I could put a windows bootcamp on for the family. Sadly I hit the WIN7 won't load on an IMAC issue - must try and get over that one somehow. I gave my ACER to my wife and my very portable tiny Vaio that I use for writing when on my travels to my daughter.

So now, I am totally Apple ( I ditched the blackberry for an Iphone along the way).

The only thing that I miss that I have not been able to recreate on the Macs is MS Access. I managed to drag my data back from the old hard drives, and am loving Timemachine backing it up for me.

Family use the Windows PCs, and they are happy, but me? Would I go back to Windows? No, not now, I like the simplicity and speed of the apple kit.

Yeah, it is different, but different is not necessarily better, nor necessarily worse, it is just different!

Oh, and before committing to the IMAC 27, I looked at similarly specced all in 1 pc's. The iMac actually worked out cheaper.

I am not saying that MACs are right for everyone, and at first I did think I had made a bit of a mistake, but, what I would say is - Persevere, give it more than a few days and soon you will probably find that the experience is better all round.

thank you.
 
I think I've got an idea... I'm going to a linux forum and post a thread with reasons for not buying any linux OS!...oh, wait! :D
 
CubeHacker said:
How is 7 better than Vista?
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I could ask the same for Snow Leopard and Leopard. Windows 7 is the best OS Microsoft have done since Windows 98SE (which I used a lot and never gave up on me unlike 2000/XP/Vista did).

But on the other hand, OP, was there really much point in this thread? Your just wanting to start another Mac vs PC argument, in hope you can win with your 'i built my own pc for half the price and it was twice the power' argument. If that's all you care about in a computer, you shouldn't have bothered getting a Mac.

You prefer PC. That's nice. I prefer Mac, and I use both often. Now leave us be.
 
Vylen said:
I'm not a "mac fan" but I like what I use cause they provide me with what I need.

And I'm an owner of an "overpriced" Mac Pro - sure you could build a machine just as powerful but cheaper but **** it. I don't want to do that. I'm not going to build a volatile hackintosh, nor a Windows Machine.

Windows isn't what I need. OS X is the greatest for me. And that's what is important.

While some of your points are valid. They're all reasons why YOU, hollyw0od, shouldn't buy a Mac. They're not reasons why every other person shouldn't.
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A good, reasoned arguement, I can gladly use a Mac, I used one during my college course, using Final Cut Pro, and Photoshop. I know my way around OS X enough to happily use it, but I've grown up using Windows. I own an awesome machine that is cutting edge; it runs anything Ive thrown at it like a dream, Ive had a good experience with Windows, I havent seen a BSOD or Malware since Windows 98, even Vista worked ok for me, (nothing special but not a failure) and I love Windows 7.

People use the tools available to them, to get the best done.
 
I just picked up my brand new Dell Latitude E6400. The IT guys argued and argued with me and I caved in and let them keep me on XP rather than 7. What a mistake. I'm getting the same freezes I was getting on my crusty old Dell D630 only they are shorter and slightly less frequent. I remember reading that if you throw the latest hardware at 7, it runs great but that XP would still be slightly faster on the same hardware. Wow. I hope not because XP is a dawg on this brand new machine.

I glanced at the long rant about Mac Pros. I must agree somewhat that hardware upgrades are overrpriced when you buy them from Apple. That's why I bought from Crucial when I upgraded the RAM in my old G4 Mac Mini. My G4 was under AppleCare so Apple would have installed my RAM for free, relieving me of the need to deal with any putty knives. But they wanted 4x what Crucial wanted for the same piece of RAM. I did the update and got the machine up to enough RAM to run Leopard and I never looked back.

I hope to get 7 on this (work-issued) machine soon. If a person is simply looking for a computer and has severe money issues, I would not discourage them from taking a look at Windows. But I would warn them that there are other costs that can crop up later on Windows like virus update subscriptions and maintenance when it slows down (if you don't do it yourself). I did get a chance to use 7 on one of these new machines. I was showing a friend how to run disk cleanup when it becomes necessary. And yes it will become necessary. During its initial scan, disk cleanup proceeded to freeze just as long as it freezes on XP. And on an empty volume. Some things never change.

And I must add my thanks to petvas for summing things up so nicely!

My experience with XP freezes and glitches on this shiny new work machine validates my commitment to Apple gear at home.
 
Yikes

Have Mac's at home [iMac 20", and Macbook]. Had a Macbook at my old job. Just started a new gig, and running Windows 7 ENT. BLECH! I forgot how much I hate MS OS's. Not impressed at all. It's a little snappier than XP, and looks a little better than XP, but overall OSX is just so much cleaner, more refined, and professional looking. Not to mention just more fun to use.

Already put in an order for a new MB Pro 13.3" for my laptop :)
 
This whole thread reminds me of why I am happy to say I own an Apple computer with OS X. I used to be part of the club that said that Apple sucks because they don't offer choices, and they are overpriced. I never took the time to research why. I only saw specs and prices and never considered the incentives computer manufacturers may be inclined to for installing odd versions of software on their PCs. No wonder the pricing scheme is different for a company that chooses to design the OS for the hardware it uses.

I do have to admit I am a little disappointed after becoming PC-free. I spend less time on a computer that cost me over twice as much. I spend less time updating virus software. I spend less time rebooting. I spend less time troubleshooting random problems that all the experts wanted to classify as "user error." I now enjoy much more condensed computing time. I use my computer for what I need, then I shut it off an enjoy my life (although they do tend to overlap!!!!)

Again personal choice is an issue in this topic. Information is a must in this topic. If you are about to run your mouth, please have a little background on the subject. I am not calling out the OP, I am making a blanket statement here based on how I USED to behave towards a company that I knew nothing about, a product that I knew nothing about, only to find out that this company supplying this product was EXACTLY what I was looking for.:apple:
 
In my earlier post I said I was hoping to get 7 at work. No such luck. My new machine is a Dell E6400 but it is still running XP. With 3.5 gig of RAM, at least I'm not seeing long freezes but I'm still seeing freezes. Yes I can get my work done, but XP on the latest and greatest hardware still looks and works like crap. Hopefully the IT group will finally cave in and push 7 to this machine. But for now I can say that simply throwing more MIPS at Windows is not the solution to the problem. The problem is clearly the OS. So many of these threads try to boil the decision down to a purely economic one but on the same hardware, OS X will run circles around XP. I'm not sure about 7 just yet but I would wager the same is true. MS places too much priority on legacy support and software entrapment (you gotta run IE for this, sharepoint for that, office for the other thing, the latest version of office brow beats you when you try to save a file in "compatibility mode"). Apple uses a different method of entrapment. If you like using it, maybe you'll buy it again. In my case, I can honestly say Apple has more of my money than MS/HP/Dell could ever hope to get and I don't feel the least bit burned.

When I was using windows at home, it was like peddling an old rusty bicycle uphill in rush hour traffic in an ice storm. Using OS X at home is like riding a well tuned motorcycle on a sunny weekend.

And when I want to get up and walk away, I'm not stuck there fixing something so I can print or so I can send an email or so I can save a file or so I can do this or do that thing I came to do in the first place.

Yes Apple stuff costs a little more, for the same reason Legal Seafood costs more than Long John Silvers. I guess these pc lovers keep making these threads to try and make Apple users feel bad. Hint: It's not working. ;)
 
My thoughts Exactly.

GGJstudios said:
It sounds like there are a few folks who desperately want a Mac but can't afford it, so they complain about Mac prices. If you can't afford a Mac, buy something else! No one is forcing you to spend money on a Mac. Apple charges what they charge. Period. If you think the prices are unfair or unreasonable, don't buy! :rolleyes: Get over it, already! Macs aren't for everyone. Dells aren't for everyone. Nothing that man creates meets the needs of everyone. That's life.
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I wish I could stamp this to every mac bashers head. if you don't like don't buy. I spent my money on a macbook pro because it makes me happy. Go spend some time at your local apple store or university with a mac and if you still hate it then go buy your pc and quit bashing.
 
Mac Pros arent overpriced, just overkill, only a few professionals actually need Xeon grade processors. Mac upgrades are violently overpriced though, only a fool upgrades their mac on that pre-checkout page.
 
stainlessliquid said:
Mac Pros arent overpriced, just overkill, only a few professionals actually need Xeon grade processors. Mac upgrades are violently overpriced though, only a fool upgrades their mac on that pre-checkout page.
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Yes, you are right, but why not have the best processors and use the desktop ones instead? Having used many Pcs with the latest Intel processors I have to say that the difference is quite big, even for common things like converting video files, or streaming mkv files to the playstation...
I prefer having a great machine with lots of potential than having something that just does the job.
 
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