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Would you use a Mac if there was no BootCamp / Virtualization?
- Thread starter DaveF
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I'll admit for a LONG time apples biggest struggle was the fact alot of apps were windows only.
But now that isn't even something to take into consideration anymore. In fact my biggest annoyance is when a windows user says something like "OS X is useless cause there are not very many apps for it"
Its bothers me cause its not true at all anymore... and the fact is ALL OS X apps are much higher quality then most windows apps thanks to cocoa.
But now that isn't even something to take into consideration anymore. In fact my biggest annoyance is when a windows user says something like "OS X is useless cause there are not very many apps for it"
Its bothers me cause its not true at all anymore... and the fact is ALL OS X apps are much higher quality then most windows apps thanks to cocoa.
OMG, you are the first Mac user I've ever seen say they enjoy using Windows, especially Vista, yuk.
The main thing I use windows in fusion for is accessing my work email - outlook web access through a CAC-only login, and digital paperwork through a windows only form client.
If there was no virtualization or bootcamp, that would just mean I couldn't do any work once I left the office, boohoo.
If there was no virtualization or bootcamp, that would just mean I couldn't do any work once I left the office, boohoo.
Good poll.
I voted #2.
I used a Mac before the Intel processor, and I'll use one after. I take advantage of the opportunities presented to me, but I wouldn't be lost without it.
I will say this though, the Intel processor has done great things in getting more Macs through the door at the enterprise level.
I voted #2.
I used a Mac before the Intel processor, and I'll use one after. I take advantage of the opportunities presented to me, but I wouldn't be lost without it.
I will say this though, the Intel processor has done great things in getting more Macs through the door at the enterprise level.
I'd still have a an Apple machine with no Bootcamp, I already have a couple of machines that run Windows.... BUT I HAVE to have some kind of access to Windows in my house due to my job. My employer's software only runs on Windows. I have XP on my iMac as a back up to my Vista Machines.. It's nice to have in a pinch.
None of the options is completely accurate for my situation, since I do run Windows applications on my Mac, but I use CrossOver Mac for this instead of Boot Camp or virtualization. That said, even if these options didn't exist I would still use a Mac.
I used to use Windows a good bit whenever I switched in December. The more I use my Mac now, the less I use Windows. I just have Vista running on Boot Camp right now and I can't tell you the last time I used it for anything.
I also haven't fired up my old desktop which is also running Vista. Oh, I'm only running Vista because I get it free from my university. I like to try and stay on top of new stuff, even if it is terrible.
I also haven't fired up my old desktop which is also running Vista. Oh, I'm only running Vista because I get it free from my university. I like to try and stay on top of new stuff, even if it is terrible.
Transitioned to the Mac 6 months ago, ported any software license that I could to the Mac platform and whatever I couldn't port over found alternatives for it (not as elegant but it does the job) and so far I do not miss the Windows platform at all.
My answer is sort of a none of the above. Right now, my two PCs are:
- iMac G5 (Tiger) -- so obviously, no good options to run Windows on that.
- Asus Eee (Ubuntu 8.04) -- it could run Windows, and I'd consider it if I had a cheap license available.
My next computer will probably be a new iMac. For the foreseeable future, my notebook is going to remain Linux (probably a different distribution as soon as I feel like sitting down and tinkering with it). Again, I'm very open to running Windows in virtualization, although I have minimal need to do so. The primary barrier is cost -- every time I consider that it'd be nice to have Windows around, I think about spending $90 to put it on my Eee, or $130 to virtualize it on my new Mac, and while I could spend the money, I'd much rather get a new tie or a new pair of shoes.
So my position is not "never" but also not "need it." I don't use it now, but if I had it I probably would use it occasionally.
- iMac G5 (Tiger) -- so obviously, no good options to run Windows on that.
- Asus Eee (Ubuntu 8.04) -- it could run Windows, and I'd consider it if I had a cheap license available.
My next computer will probably be a new iMac. For the foreseeable future, my notebook is going to remain Linux (probably a different distribution as soon as I feel like sitting down and tinkering with it). Again, I'm very open to running Windows in virtualization, although I have minimal need to do so. The primary barrier is cost -- every time I consider that it'd be nice to have Windows around, I think about spending $90 to put it on my Eee, or $130 to virtualize it on my new Mac, and while I could spend the money, I'd much rather get a new tie or a new pair of shoes.
So my position is not "never" but also not "need it." I don't use it now, but if I had it I probably would use it occasionally.
I had a Mac Quadra some time ago to "play around with". I liked the look but it was not ready for prime time. Everything I had back then for real use was Windows or Linux. I got a G4 Mini they day they came out and loved it but I didn't fully switch. Part of the delay was due to the inability to reliably use the machine via vnc. Sometimes it had gone to sleep. Sometimes it I needed to restart VNC. This was inconvenient as the Mini was sitting downstairs. But whenever I was down there I used it and liked it. I began to dread going back to Windows. Finally, this past spring, I dumped almost all our windows boxes for Macs. No virtualization. We simply kept my wife's windows box a while longer. I'm happy to report that the last windows box was switched off one week ago today and good riddance. I do run a few windows apps but under crossover not any kind of virtualization. So I voted #1. Happy to be (mostly) rid of windows apps and (completely) rid of windows OS at home. I have to deal with windows at the office and that's more than enough.
I don't run any other OS on my mac other than OS X. I found all the programs I needed for mac, so there wouldn't be any reason for me to.
I think that I would have eventually switched without Boot Camp. I had been watching the evolution of Mac from afar for a few years, unable to dive in mainly due to budgetary reasons. Once that hurdle was overcome, the one-two combo of Leopard + Boot Camp made the choice clear.
Right now, there is only one major reason I use Boot Camp: Cakewalk SONAR, a Windows-only digital audio workstation app. I have too much money and creative effort invested in Cakewalk to abandon it for Logic. The instant Cakewalk SONAR is ported to the Mac, though, I'll ditch Windows completely. (Perhaps soon...?)
Right now, there is only one major reason I use Boot Camp: Cakewalk SONAR, a Windows-only digital audio workstation app. I have too much money and creative effort invested in Cakewalk to abandon it for Logic. The instant Cakewalk SONAR is ported to the Mac, though, I'll ditch Windows completely. (Perhaps soon...?)
I bought my MBP before there was Boot Camp, but installed windows using Fuzion as soon as I could. The handful of applications I "needed" Windows for have since been replaced and Windows if off my system completely.
My wife still has Windows on her iMac (also Fuzion) because she's afraid of losing info in a transfer to Mac versions of TurboTax and Quicken, plus it's handy for the occasional free internet cheapo games to kill some time. But she prefers using OSX.
Our sever runs XP. It's not hooked up to a monitor but could be if absolutely needed. I'll be adding remote login software here soon so even that won't (normally) be an issue.
My ancient Dell laptop still gets occasional use by my daughter for internet game access. Very infrequent... and usually on Linux Mandrake instead of XP.
The transition to Intel chips got me in the door, and 5 minutes with the OS won me over. The ability to run Windows won my wife over. Once I can convince her that Quicken and TurboTax for Mac won't destroy all our old records, the "need" for Windows pretty much goes away.
Funny side story: we went to go visit my daughter's kindergarten classroom yesterday for the first time. She asked if she could play on one of the computers that were in the corner. Once the screen came up she said, "Ew, I don't like these kind of computers. Is there an Apple I could use?"
My wife still has Windows on her iMac (also Fuzion) because she's afraid of losing info in a transfer to Mac versions of TurboTax and Quicken, plus it's handy for the occasional free internet cheapo games to kill some time. But she prefers using OSX.
Our sever runs XP. It's not hooked up to a monitor but could be if absolutely needed. I'll be adding remote login software here soon so even that won't (normally) be an issue.
My ancient Dell laptop still gets occasional use by my daughter for internet game access. Very infrequent... and usually on Linux Mandrake instead of XP.
The transition to Intel chips got me in the door, and 5 minutes with the OS won me over. The ability to run Windows won my wife over. Once I can convince her that Quicken and TurboTax for Mac won't destroy all our old records, the "need" for Windows pretty much goes away.
Funny side story: we went to go visit my daughter's kindergarten classroom yesterday for the first time. She asked if she could play on one of the computers that were in the corner. Once the screen came up she said, "Ew, I don't like these kind of computers. Is there an Apple I could use?"
Dave, Dave, Dave, it's always you and me in these friendly debates.
Perhaps you're joking, but your words make judgments on what is ("real work") and is not ("shouldn't have that much time on your hands") valid use of one's time and computer. This is an overly egocentric view of personal choices and rarely allows for a productive discussion. Suffice to say that your computer needs and personal choices don't apply to everyone else
And no, I wouldn't have bought a Mac if it couldn't play PC games.
I have a coworker who's considering a Mac, and a issue he's working out is how well it will play games and whether he can have surround sound audio for games in BootCamp.I can only speak to my needs. For my work, Mac isn't an option because of corporate policy and isn't a good solution practically: What with MS Office, Outlook, and niche engineering tools, I'd be running everything in Parallels anyway, so Windows is the way to go for now.
My wife, a graphic designer, had both a Mac and a PC at her former job, and as a freelancer is 100% Mac.
