Why you shouldn't buy a Mac

[snberk103]

As someone who has experience in IT and is doing a degree in the subject AND who has installed all versions of Windows from Windows 3.1 onwards, I call bull on your theory that Windows 7 is "crap" as you so elequently put it!

Ironically enough, you have listed below several reasons not to buy Windows...

Didn't you even know that the reason why your sister had problems with her laptop wasn't necessarily because of Windows 7 but because it's a Sony laptop, and they have a horribly bad reputation! Also, haven't you thought that your parents may have just had bad luck with their new Windows 7 devices...

Some models of Macs may have had less than stellar reputations, but I don't think there has every been a model that has had a "horribly bad reputation". One of the advantages of the HW and OS being created by the same company.

I own 3 laptops; a HP which I installed Windows 7 Ultimate on, a Toshiba which I've also installed Windows 7 Ultimate on and a Samsung Netbook with Windows 7 Starter, and with all three of them I've never had a problem connecting to a network at all, not even my own home network (my router is in my bedroom and I can easily get a decent signal in the living room without any problems at all!)

You don't need to choose which 'version' of OS X you need. You just buy/get the current one. You don't need to foretell the future to see if in 2 years you need 32 bits or 64 bits.

Out of curiosity, what kind of anti-trojan/anti-spyware software did you install?

Whenever I build a computer system for someone, I always do my research not once, not twice but three times, especially where software is concerned, and definitely where anti-virus software is concerned as a lot of the anti-virus software out there aren't worth the money that's charged for a yearly licence!

Anti-Virus. Arguably a good practice for a Mac user, if only to catch and delete viruses that your Windows colleagues are sending you before you re-send the document onto another Windows colleague.

In other words, I'd rather build a computer system that has quality parts and the OS of the buyer's choice, and if they want Windows, which 9/10 people do, then that's what they want.

If they want Windows.... then good. I don't really care.




Funny story. Several years ago my wife, who uses a MBP, was tele-commuting across 3 time zones. Her office was a Windows workplace, so they bought Mac for Office and everything was fine on that front. But they also required her to use a particular VPN client to tie into their server. It was, of course, a Windows only client.

So we installed VMware Fusion and XP and the client and mapped the server drives so that OS X could see them. Each morning she would boot XP into a VM and sign into the office servers, and work away. About a year later she couldn't sign in. We looked at things at our end. We re-booted everything we could. We re-installed the VPN client. Finally we called tech support in Ottawa.

We discovered two things. One: They had changed the VPN password, and forgot to tell my wife. Ooops. Two: The reason they forgot to tell my wife was because they had forgotten that she was using the VPN. Out of an office of about 40 VPNers, she had not called in for tech support once. Every other (Windows) user had a tech support ticket and that was how they had created their password change contact list. They told my wife that some people were calling in weekly to trouble shoot connection issues.

So, my wife's MBP ran the Windows VPN client better than the Windows machines. But I'm sure her experience was unique, and we can't generalize.

 

[MonkeyET]

PS: Yes, I know this site is called "MacRumors"[/sarcasm] and a lot of the diehard fans here make the Reverend Terry Jones [aka the dude who wanted to burn copies of the Koran on 9/11] look like a sane guy, but I never knew it was a crime to have a opinion on here against Macs or OSX or Steve Jobs! As far as I know, there's nothing in the rules against expressing opinions concerning those particular subjects...

Express yourself, and have fun with it. I do find it quite a bit different comparing some folks who choose to support a company (some be it with a little too much dedication) with someone who wishes to potentially offend an entire religion and possibly cause issues with our country? Not even close. If someone defending Apple or Steve Jobs is offending someone then they can be ignored. I think offending a religion is a bit more extreme. Then again, a religion should know that one person is not representative of an entire population.

That being said, I love Apple. I don't love everything they do, but overall they are awesome. I would probably buy a new product from Apple just because they invented it. I have trusted their judgement in the past, and will continue to do so. But, they are just a company, selling stuff to make a profit...

 

[snberk103]

I take it they don't teach classes in sarcasm in your part of the world?

And I don't think I'll be merging my posts anytime soon, thanks!

PS: Yes, I know this site is called "MacRumors"[/sarcasm] and a lot of the diehard fans here make the Reverend Terry Jones [aka the dude who wanted to burn copies of the Koran on 9/11] look like a sane guy, but I never knew it was a crime to have a opinion on here against Macs or OSX or Steve Jobs! As far as I know, there's nothing in the rules against expressing opinions concerning those particular subjects...

There is difference between actions that are a "crime" or not, and then there are are "rude". No, there is no "crime" in being rude. It's just rude.

 

[natekettles]

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.

Brilliant post. I agree with everything said by MonkeyET. I have had a very similar experience. I was against Mac's because they were too expensive. Then after I used and eventually got an iPhone, I realized why Apple products are "expensive". It's because they work, properly, first time.

Ultimately, the proof is the the pudding. You get VERY few totally unsatisfied Mac users...but millions of unsatisfied Windows users. Every time I use my Mac I find a new feature of the OS, or discover something awesome. With Windows, every time I used it, it would get slower, have more viruses and spyware, and irritate me.

Apple are not perfect, but the iMac (and other Mac's) are incredible devices that bring together the best that the computing world has to offer. The OS, the hardware, the screen, the camera, the wireless mouse and keyboard, etc. I HAVE NOT SEEN a complete PC deal that can do this. If you find one, I would love to try it!

 

[Batt]

If that's aimed at me, I'm definitely enjoying my Windows 7, thank you very much because at least I can play most computer games without any problems unlike OS X which has problems with a lot of games, especially MMO's!

Gaelic2; I could have sworn this was a board where anyone was free to express their view on anything Mac-related, and from what I can see, this thread is definitely related to a subject concerning Macs...

I don't understand why you are even on these forums. You don't appear to even own an apple product, so your opinions are coming out of your ass. Care to explain, beyond freedom of the press?

 

[iPhysicist]

A lot of silly talk in here... let me join in.

The only Reason not to buy a mac is not wanting to buy a mac. And for individualities sake, YES buy what YOU want. I WANT a mac. You who do not want to buy a mac or a chocolate bar, then buy that damn lollipop or whatever car you like more. Maybe an airplane or do you prefer japanese throwing stars over the chinese sabers?! You like IKEA furniture over macs, maybe? Buy some, but don't buy a mac if you don't want a mac.

REASON is more personal preference, some call it choice.

If you say apple does not offer "choice" - I say your choice is to buy something else. Apple is not your personal gadget supplier it is MY personal gadget supplier.

 

[MacHamster68]

oki have to join in and give my 2p too

i used windows since windows 3.0 ,as before i was only using BASIC and PASCAL (remember those?)
went though hell with windows 95 ,then windows 98,then went over or back however you see it to windows nt ,then windows 2000 ,then joind the fiasco with windows Me , glad then come windows XP and i thought everythings fine
then got a shock for life with windows vista and have seen myself like in a time machine back in the days of windows 95 and even that was more advanced then windows vista in terms of usability ,i had to find something else as windows had announced that they would stop windows XP support
(did never happen so far but back then XP's future was very uncertain )

so first i tried all Linux distro's from A-Z ,even tried Open BSD ,then one day i was looking through ebay

and found something called a Apple eMac 1.42ghz ..didn't even know what a airport express card is for ..i thought it would maybe some kind of flight simulator ...
never mind i thought its cheap its a computer ...i buy it just because i really loved that design ,its just beautiful , ok it had half the ghz of my dells but was surprisingly faster
and it had a Operating software called OSX Tiger ..i was hooked never came across something more simple to use it just worked "click" and it did what you wanted it to do
...and that was a big flaw, it caused a addiction ,
now a bit over a year later i have three of these eMac's , 2 iMac G3 ,a mini G4 ,a powermac G5 dual , a iMac g5 , a Powermac 5500/275,a TAM ,

i tried leopard and i did not like that it slowed down my older G4 Mac's ,

tried snow leopard on my HackBook, but find its just to flashy and overcrowded with features,

so a new intel Mac is as much out of question as a windows7 pc,

because on a brandnew iMac i cant run OSX Tiger natively and
i just love OSX tiger and its simplicity ,in my opinion the best operating system that came from Apple since OS9 ,and i have them all from OS8 to snow leopard
i just think if i want a feature i install a app for it ,the operating system has to be as lean as possible

 

[Gakboi]

The real reasons not to buy a mac (now with bullet points)

• You can't afford one
• You don't need one
• You already have one

There you go. Fixed.

 

[Ray Manorak]

DON'T BUY A MAC!

Also, don't date my girlfriend, don't come round and sleep on my sofa, don't change the channel when i'm watching my tv, don't eat my last custard cream etc etc...

There's only one persons mac user experience i care about and that's mine.

I'd rather be a happy minority, secure in what i can achieve with my computer (which is a tool like a biro or a paintbrush). End of.

 

[iCole]

The only reasons to not buy a mac are :

- if you want to upgrade and tinker
- if you are a gamer
- if you don't have the money for it

I like windows 7, it's solid, but i use my iMac in my living room for all my computer work. And an iPad because i don't want to be behind my computer all the evening

 

[johnpc]

OP wants attention

 

[Eddyisgreat]

- if you want to upgrade and tinker

hmmm...must not have been around for very long. People do wild and silly things to their machines all the time. Check any of the mac hardware subforums.

 

[MonkeyET]

Those who say not to buy a Mac because you can't do this or you can't do that need to determine why this may be the case. This is not something Apple sought to do. They are not in charge of making people design stuff for their hardware or to work with their software. They might be picky about how to go about doing so, but would you want to encourage software that could reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of your OS? I thought the point of owning a Mac is that is just works. At least is has in my experience...

I am not a avid gamer, especially when it comes to computer games ( I own a PS3). My question for those gamers is what exactly can you not get with a Mac that you can with a PC? Doesn't having the option to install Windows on the computer, giving you the best of both worlds, seem appealing enough? I can't bring myself to install Windows on my machine, but as my Win7 ultimate disc collects dust on the shelf, I wonder, why would someone complain about 's machines when the options are given from day 1?

 

[Eddyisgreat]

I am not a avid gamer, especially when it comes to computer games ( I own a PS3). My question for those gamers is what exactly can you not get with a Mac that you can with a PC? Doesn't having the option to install Windows on the computer, giving you the best of both worlds, seem appealing enough? I can't bring myself to install Windows on my machine, but as my Win7 ultimate disc collects dust on the shelf, I wonder, why would someone complain about 's machines when the options are given from day 1?

The ones that complain that macs can't do gaming assume that *everyone* likes to have a overclocked water cooled full tower system with a 1300W PSU running quad fermi gfx doing crysis benchmarks all day long.

 

[r0k]

The ones that complain that macs can't do gaming assume that *everyone* likes to have a overclocked water cooled full tower system with a 1300W PSU running quad fermi gfx doing crysis benchmarks all day long.

And they sic their botnet on you so your character is frozen when they are shooting at you!

Oh, and did I mention that you don't have to worry about your Mac becoming part of their botnet?