{"contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"helenaspopkin"}

Macs continue to gain in home, business share

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:08 AM EDT

Article Source: msnbc.com

technology, computers, mac, pc, iphone, tech, home-computer, laptop, desktop

Seeded by HelenA.S.Popkin

More home users, and a growing number in the small business sphere, are opting to move to Apple's computers, their interest driven by positive experiences with Apple's other products, as well as disenchantment with the Windows world.

Analysts say the appeal of Macs is in part due to a "halo effect," created mainly by Apple's iPod, which has 71 percent of the digital music player market in the United States, as well as from the iPhone.

Msnbc.com wants to know what you think. Is it the iPod that's making Macs more popular -- or is the Mac superior to the PC? Which do you own and/or which do you prefer and why?

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{"commentId":2588557,"authorDomain":"russfell"}

Gilbert-451207

MACs are for kids...PCs are for adults. We see it every day in the corporate world - kids coming out of college trained on MACs and then have to re-learn the PC in a real job.

{"commentId":2588557,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"russfell"}

#1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:26 AM EDT

{"commentId":2589046,"authorDomain":"cybersomething"}

Icculus

Is the Mac superior to the PC?!?!? Are you nuts?

First, the Mac is an extremely closed system. You must use their hardware if you are to use their software and vice versa. Strike one. Second, they are extremely un-customizable. Don't expect to pick and choose hardware components. You get what Jobs want you to have. Strike two. Third, they are way overpriced. For the price of a Mac you could have a PC at twice the performance. Strike three and the Mac is out.

Those are the main reason but have no fear there is more. I don't know if you have ever met a Mac fanboi but they are the most pompous people to ever live. Their arrogance alone turns me off of Apple. Next, Macs don't do gaming. Simple. Ever Mac person I know needs another machine for games.

There is more (like Apples constant failures at making a mouse) but I got tired of typing. Now in the interest of full is disclosure yes I have used a Mac extensively. There was a point when they made a decent machine but those days are long gone. I am now PC and if any fanboi would like to race feel free to come over, you will have your heat sinks blown off. You can keep your pink slip, I don't want it.

Peace.

{"commentId":2589046,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"cybersomething"}

1 vote

#2 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":2589328,"authorDomain":"s-phlp"}

Virgil-451317

Wow how little you know. They maybe a closed system but that explains why they don't have half the problems PC does. As far as gaming I have been gaming on a MAC for a while and it blows my PC away as far as performance. May want to get facts a little bit more straight.

{"commentId":2589328,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"s-phlp"}

#2.1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":2590746,"authorDomain":"Fantastic"}

Eddie-451598

Excuse me, but the MACs are cuztimizable. They give you the option of configuring it out checkout the Apple Retail Website. You can add up to 4 GB and a New Processor....So I would think twice about iMACS.

{"commentId":2590746,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"Fantastic"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592482,"authorDomain":"bob-27"}

Kowalski-451998

First, the Mac Pro is not closed. Putting together your own hardware is also a reality. The motherboard is Apple, but the hard drives, ram, video cards, and peripherals can come from anywhere. My NEC monitors, EPSON printer, aftermarket RAM and hard drives work great here. Strike one for your argument.

Second, the Mac is cost-competitive. I respectfully submit that you are quoting an out-of-date argument. Macs are currently cost-effective with Dell when configured the same. Go to the Dell and Apple web sites and try it.

Third, Macs can run Windows, plus the polished, friendly Mac OS. With Windows, you can run ALL of your standard productivity apps, and with Mac software (particularly the outstanding iLife suite) you can do even more.

Apple did not fail to make a mouse. That's just silly. And you can plug your MS mouse (or any other USB device) in, and it just works as well.

Blow my heat sinks off? What does that mean? A Mac that can run Windows as fast or faster than any Windows machine, while at the same time allowing customizable components, AND supporting a state-of-the art hands-down-better-than-Vista operating system is, by definition, superior to whatever hot-rod you have cobbled together in your garage.

Macs embrace all of Windows, and then provide what is lacking in that world: intelligent software that makes tasks easy and produces professional results.

{"commentId":2592482,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"bob-27"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592508,"authorDomain":"claytongossett"}

Coconut Phil

Geez, you have never had a Mac have you? Macs crush PCs in all applications and performance 100%. How much time do you spend de-bugging your PC? Macs need no anti-virus, anti spyware apps at all. I can do so much more with my Mac. Yes you will pay more, but you will get what you pay for. You just do not understand, its way over your head man.

{"commentId":2592508,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"claytongossett"}

#2.4 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":2596582,"authorDomain":"frederick-c-lee"}

Frederick C. Lee

Apple is an OPEN system.
The ENTIRE kernel is OPEN-SOURCE, based on BSD Unix.
Apple's applications are based on OPEN STANDARDS.

Even Apple's Cocoa/ObjC frameworks is based on Open-Source (GNU) products.

As for the hardware...
... modern Macs use the common ports found across desktop platforms.

I can plug & play with any of the popular peripherals that Win/Linux users use.

I'm a software developer with over 25 years of professional experience.
I use my Mac to develop code for cross-platform use; and now for the iPhone.

As for Windoz?

Can't use Internet Explorer beyond Windoz.
Can't use .NET beyond Windoz (realistically).

Yet the Mac desktop itself can run Windoz apps via Virtualization.
Something that Windoz can't do with Mac Apps.

{"commentId":2596582,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"frederick-c-lee"}

1 vote

#2.5 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":2604246,"authorDomain":"looker128"}

Keen eye

I use both for home and in business. I've been strictly PC for years because of the expense of Macs but since 2006 I've run both. I can't stand Apple's Mac commercials they're a real turn off, but the products are solid, not flawless, but solid.

This year I plan to buy more Macs than PCs for my business mainly because of the Mac Pros having 8 cores - I have an animation studio and the more cores we have, the faster works get done. I'm buying Macs but will run Windows Vista Ultimate 64 on them - not a big fan of Vista but my animation software is.

I will be purchasing PCs this year too, but mostly for gaming - PCs still provide the best gaming experience.

I'm not a PC vs. Mac guy, I actually use computers to make myself money as opposed to working for someone else and in that world whatever gets me to render and retire faster is what I go with.

{"commentId":2604246,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"looker128"}

#2.6 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2609171,"authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

kristoffe

read this person from above....
-----
Virgil-451317

A complete idiot, and I mean it seriously. Not because they use an Apple, but because the idea that running a newer Apple (its not called Mac by the way) versus a much older, two or three generation video chip PC. Firstly, older things like Nintendo or PS2 don't look like the PS3. In this world, though, nVidia makes every chip and then 20x as many for PC as the Apple. Luckily, if you were stupid enough to buy an Apple, you can still run XP or Vista and choose any card made for PC, because Apple won't let you do it with their closed source operating system (closed in a sense).

There are no problems on a PC that aren't user created, and it must hurt some people's egos to have to admit that. The mirror of your performance of computer use comes out directly with unprotected, bloatware PCS that are infected. They didn't come to you that way, its your own fault your PC runs like crap.

Use these simple programs to clean up your PC
1. hijackthis, checkmark anything that looks weird, and if you screw up, learn and install again
2. ccleaner, remove all extra crap off of your pc
3. avast antivirus or AVG free, best AV proggies and yes, they're free

and if all else fails, go LINUX! use:

-ubuntu
-knoppix

those two are about 650-700mb in size, and automatically run from CD and the ENTIRE operating system can run from your memory, no hard drive used at all. Its a great way to try out linux before using, say, -ubuntu and installing it with the auto installer. Os X is a stolen version of Linux that has been capped by Apple so you can't modify it mostly, sort of like a restricted user in a PC office world.

An Apple is like rentable cooper mini, it just works, but for very limited purposes, so if you desire web browsing, media, audio, porn, email, and news ONLY, get an Apple, its basically a $1100-$3000 iPhone and its really, really big. You can gain muscle strength while carrying it around in a backpack and a battery from a car to keep it running, that or a solar kit that you can wear as a big hat or umbrella.

Seriously, don't install stupid things, showing your lack of knowledge in the computer world. just because you can drive off a cliff, or into a river, doesn't mean you should. But, at least if you have to, you can jump in a lake. :)

{"commentId":2609171,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

#2.7 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":2609795,"authorDomain":"progon"}

Don Flowers

When NT desktop came out in 1998, I believe it was, the Windows world moved from single user machines to fully functional server machines. That meant that they had to run on more powerful machines. When XP first came out, XP is NT with a Windows front end, everyone thought it was way too big because the average machine that Windows users of that era used were just barely capable of running XP which required a large amount of power to do its true multitasking work.

Apple computers has not now and never has been able to crack the full multitasking bullet and until they moved to FreeBSD they could not do modern computing tasks that are quite simple and routine in the XP/NT server world. The reason that Microsoft won the desktop in such huge numbers, 1.2 billion world wide users with licences and another 5-600 million users without licenses is because they handle the server world incredibly well. NT core was designed to go head to head with server operating systems from Sun and IBM and it clearly was superior and cheaper than their competitors so most of the corporate world moved to NT core and XP and never looked back.

Last week Vista hit the 180 million user mark. Sixty million of those users are early adopters and power users like me but that means that the other 120 million users got Vista on new hardware. That new hardware is server grade and Vista runs on it at great speed. The XP users stuck in the single core and older hardware world are going to be forced into dual or quad cores this next couple of years as their hardware goes belly up from age and will be out there buying dual cores at roughly 450 bucks each and quad cores at five to twelve hundred bucks for full quad core systems at HP or Dell.

If you price higher quality quad cores from Dell or HP you find that a fully decked out quad core from HP with high quality components is under the price of the obsolete dual core Macs by $300. But Mac users seem to believe that the worst of the old school computer practices by Apple are some how applicable to all users. The majority of modern computer users are quite sophisticated and have no problems with power tools. The dual boot world is ancient to Windows users and more and more power users are moving to Linux for entertainment but the average, modern, computer user needs the power tools and this leaves the Apple world in the dirt. Why buy a Mac when you can have both Vista and Linux on a quad core at half the price? It makes no sense to buy old technology practices from Apple when you get far more bang for the buck. Mac users are not, generally, very sophisticated and it is no surprise that the majority of them are in the arts instead of the sciences. The notion that some how you should fix your Mac problems by going with dual boot is a hoot. That means that a system that costs way too much has to be supplemented with other operating systems software and this means that the purchase of a Mac at much higher prices and the addition of other operating systems costs is some how justified is a total hoot and most corporations are simply ignoring Apple like they should and buying more and more Windows tools, including Vista.

Vista is XP, which is NT core on steroids and appeared just in time to take advantage of faster and faster pentium class processors but Vsta is right on the curve for moving to much, much more powerful hardware and takes full advantage of that hardware. Linux is also riding the huge imrovements in hardware curve but FreeBSD is not Linux and is not taking advanatage of the newer processing power out there that Linux is riding along with Vista. Is there a place for the single user mentality? Of course there is and that is the group that buys iPods, Yuppies and the children of Yuppies. But when Apple reaches its old heyday numbers it will still be under seven percent of the global market but Apple is not about global market share in the computer world. Appl;e is about nickle and dimeign their user base. Their user base has been increased by the iPod but think about it- if the Mac is so much value for the dollar, why are there still more than ten to one iPods sold over Macs? Why can't Apple force its iPod users to the Macs? Why aren't they moving there in droves instead of the tiny trickle they have going right now?

The Macs suck is why. Most of the iPod users are too smart to fall for the bait and switch tactics that Apple is trying on them. The average increase in IQ, in the US of six points higher is caused by forcing more and more students to do well in school and the Mac user experience cannot over come the fundamental problem of offering way too little for way too much. When Apple hits 160 million users let us know. Until then it is still a joke.

Linux, this past year, was mandated for schools in Brazil, Red China and India so there are now roughly 160 million new Linux users around the world, today. Are the Macs even nationalized or are they juat available in the global Yuppie coutries and their languages? Linux and Vista both have localization built in at the core. Both take full advantage of the threading in modern dual and quad cores, too. Both can be used as a high end server at will, too. When my wife opens up the plug in drive I use for backup and storage on my machine it makes no difference to her when she has to move movies or pictures to the hard disk because on the Vista side it is a remote resource. On the Linux side Samba makes it a Windows remote resource that she can save stuff to and it makes no difference in a networked world where the resources are just that you can access them. Does the Mac have this power? Sort of, they can get Samba up and running with a @!$%# pot of work just like a Linux box but can you plug in the newer back up hard drives? Probably but the really cool part is that all that power comes from the FreeBSD side and not from Apple at all. Linux is far superior to FreeBSD because Linux is much more modern and runs on most of the modern hardware out there and certainly does a better job of hardware detection and usage than FreeBSD does. FreeBSD is a Unix clone and not Linux so it takes forever for modern stuff to percolate through the BSD software development tree.

Most Mac users get all glassy eyed when real computer users talk tecnically to them. The thing you need to know is that the Mac is probably the only single user system tied to a multi user system out there. This means that the Mac is a poor, poor cousin to Linux and Linux at least is competitive with Vista but the move to a Vista killer in the Linux world is just starting. XP has been duplicated and surpassed in the Linux world but Microsoft has set a very high bar with Vista and it will take another year or two for Linux to catch up but how long will it take Apple just to equal Vista or Linux in power? Probably never.

{"commentId":2609795,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"progon"}

#2.8 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":2589654,"authorDomain":"delius1967"}

Dan-451372

The home market has always been a stronghold for Apple. Cute, tiny girls tumbling or skating is hugely popular at the Olympics, because there are always people who prefer style over substance, and no one can deny that Macs have style. For me, though, you can keep the candy colors and the shiny, sealed boxes. My computer sits under the desk and is... beige, I think, but honestly, I could care less.

At at work, the computers sit in racks in labs. It would be interesting to see how Apple would try to infiltrate that market. I can hear the laughter now.

{"commentId":2589654,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"delius1967"}

1 vote

#3 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":2589656,"authorDomain":"03miata"}

Bob-336953

To Icculus: No, you are the nutty one. You claim that 'arrogance' turns you off. Arrogance is only your perception. Would you not buy from Tiffiny's, Saks Fifth Ave, etc. as well because they are 'arrogant'? No, they are not arrogant, just better, especially when it comes to listening to the customer. As far as gaming? My Mac runs my PC games faster from boot camp than they did on the PC!
To others: I came back to the Mac last year after 6 very frustrating years on a PC. It was a very easy switch because with the Intel duo-core processor, I did not have to abandon my software. Mac is the only company that controls both the hardware and software, therefore design and development is tight and most efficient. I am and always be a Mac fan, especially after waiting all the years for disappointing Vista!

{"commentId":2589656,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"03miata"}

#4 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":2589665,"authorDomain":"03miata"}

Bob-336953

To Icculus: No, you are the nutty one. You claim that 'arrogance' turns you off. Arrogance is only your perception. Would you not buy from Tiffiny's, Saks Fifth Ave, etc. as well because they are 'arrogant'? No, they are not arrogant, just better, especially when it comes to listening to the customer. As far as gaming? My Mac runs my PC games faster from boot camp than they did on the PC! To others: I came back to the Mac last year after 6 very frustrating years on a PC. It was a very easy switch because with the Intel duo-core processor, I did not have to abandon my software. Mac is the only company that controls both the hardware and software, therefore design and development is tight and most efficient. I am and always be a Mac fan, especially after waiting all the years for disappointing Vista!

Peace???

{"commentId":2589665,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"03miata"}

1 vote

#5 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":2590638,"authorDomain":"cybersomething"}

Icculus

No, I would not buy from them either, simply because they are arrogant. You are clearly an Apple person, you can't tell me that the fanbois are not COMPLETE snobs. They are. It is true. In fact I hear a little snobery in your comments. "No, they are not arrogant, just better". That is funny. Thanks for proving my point. You can't be arrogant when you are just better than everyone else right? ("We are the borg") Blind faith in Jobs is half the problem with fanbois. The grand wizard of marketing has you all convinced that anything Apple is better just because.....Don't you see a problem with that?

Ok ok, I am going off on a tangent here. Like I said I have used a Mac and use to like them very much. However ever since Wozniak left the company they have gone downhill, at least their computers.

LONG LIVE WOZNIAK!!!

{"commentId":2590638,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"cybersomething"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":2608412,"authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

kristoffe

You're a complete moron. You're guiding people's opinions and blabbering at this point. What people don't know is that when you run a game you played on your 'PC' windows based system, is that it was old. You bought a newer computer at least 1 or 2 generations past your old 'PC' one, and it ran the games faster in 'boot camp'. Ok, boot camp in English is Microsoft Windows with drivers from Apple. It is a 100% 'PC' computer. Also, newer systems have faster graphics processors, from 4x to 64x faster depending on the chip from nVidia or ATI in the 'PC' world.

So you just stupidly said, hey, I got a newer generation computer that runs faster than an older generation one. I'm going to use this information and bend your reader's opinions by lying and making it seem like they are both of equal release dates, and the apple 'shines'. Typical uneducated, malformed Apple user fodder. Go to school and get fed some real information before typing with your chubby consumer fingers on your chiclet pad, OK?

{"commentId":2608412,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

#5.2 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2589707,"authorDomain":"ebute-dennis"}

Dennis. I

From my understanding i think there's a whole lot of confusion about the supposedly market share by apple. The MAC is a computer system - hardware + software. If there should be any talk of market share i should think it should be between Apple And other system manufacturers like Dell, Hp, IBM etc. Windows should come into this. However, if you are going to compare windows to something in apples stable it should be against ox s ie apples operating system. Mind you many of Those Macs runs windows too. So the Macs market Share does not necessarily mean a loss of market share by windows on the contrary as the Macs gain market windows also increases its market through the instrumentality of the Macs.

{"commentId":2589707,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"ebute-dennis"}

1 vote

#6 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:51 AM EDT

{"commentId":2590092,"authorDomain":"prinems"}

MOFODOJO

There are a multitude of reasons to own a Mac rather than a PC, but the most compelling one, to me, is this: do you really want to have to be a security expert? I own a 3 1/2 yr old Mac Mini, plugged straight into the router. OS firewall turned on, updates installed regularly--that's it! Have never had Viruses, Spyware, Trojans, or the rest. Have NEVER installed any security software/hardware. Try THAT w/ a PC, you'll be infected within minutes of going online.

{"commentId":2590092,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"prinems"}

2 votes

#7 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:20 AM EDT

{"commentId":2593306,"authorDomain":"ronin916"}

Ronin916

Let me see if I understand this. You've never installed and security hardware or software, right? No firewalls, no anti-virus. So how in the hell can you say your system doesn't contain some kind of Trojan, virus or malware? You have no idea what's on your own system, and there have been viruses that target the Mac OS for years. This whole idea that "I own a Mac, I don't need AV" is idiotic.

Remember, if you think your box is secure, it ain't your box. I don't care what system it is. 'Nuff said.

{"commentId":2593306,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"ronin916"}

2 votes

#7.1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":2594411,"authorDomain":"mike-67"}

Mike S-452377

No, there are no viruses for OS X. There was a lot of publicity about some social-engineering trojans, and a couple of proof-of-concept trojans, but no viruses.

The original poster says he's running the OS firewall, by the way.

If you knew anything about security, you'd know that Macs are harder to infect because there are no extraneous ports left open by default, and because the user doesn't run with root privileges, so any virus would have to ask for your password.

{"commentId":2594411,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"mike-67"}

1 vote

#7.2 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":2594664,"authorDomain":"runrun"}

Run Run Shaw

There are no viruses, repeat, no viruses for OS X. 'Nuff said.

{"commentId":2594664,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"runrun"}

1 vote

#7.3 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":2605370,"authorDomain":"quadrain"}

Quadrain

Actually there are trojans and viruses for OS X, otherwise there wouldn't be any virus scans or firewalls for OS X. It's rare but there's a few. As the number of mac users increase, there will be more viruses. I mean Mac users only account for less than 10% of the OS market, so why waste making a virus for a porn site when only about a fraction people of mac users go to it.

{"commentId":2605370,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"quadrain"}

#7.4 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:29 AM EDT

{"commentId":2590220,"authorDomain":"carl48-morris"}

CM48

Having been a Mac user for the graphic arts, I now prefer PC's. The Mac's seemed to crash more and my PC's, if properly taken care of outperform any Mac.

{"commentId":2590220,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"carl48-morris"}

1 vote

#8 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":2602275,"authorDomain":"bpicke"}

BP-454130

I was a PC user once, I now prefer Macs. The PCs can't compete with Macs. People like to blame Vista, but the truth is, 'X'P was only a lame imitation of OS 'X' Panther (two versions out of date) and it really pales in comparison to OS X Leopard OR Tiger. Seriously, you think MS called their graphics layer 'Luna' for a reason other than to flaunt the rip-off? The Wintards thought it was funny, it upset the Mac geeks, and nobody else cared.

Karma is here, they want MSFT to step outside. Just for a minute...

And, finally, for all the micro-tards that think Apple is only about iPod, was 'saved' by iPod, wake up. MSFT killed all other companies in the business. They couldn't kill Apple though, they are too good, and it's where MSFT have ripped off literally all their ideas over the years. (Except that lame idea of the multi button mouse, as if we didn't already have too many buttons on the keyboard as it is.) It was a good gig while it lasted, just sitting back, leveraging the monopoly, picking the low hanging fruit, 'inventing' things all over again (10 years after they debuted on Mac) but that party is coming to an end.

Ballmer and Gates are waking up, and the room is still spinning. (It really couldn't happen to two more deserving weasels.) What is really funny is that 90% of the people don't get it yet, but the smart PC users (oxymoron, I know... but keep in mind some people don't have a choice...) know what is about to come. It's the wintards that are getting so frustrated, they are going on boards like this, pumping the same old, tired, disproven FUD they always spin. It's getting ridiculous.

Mac is a tsunami, headed straight for Redmond, the only question is when it will finally hit.

{"commentId":2602275,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"bpicke"}

1 vote

#8.1 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":2605428,"authorDomain":"quadrain"}

Quadrain

@BP-454130

Microsoft can't kill off apple because 1) Bill Gates use to work for Apple 2) Anti-Trust and Anti-Monopolization laws exist in the US. That goes the same for Apple, Apple can't kill off Microsoft.

Bill Gates has already retired from Microsoft BTW.

{"commentId":2605428,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"quadrain"}

#8.2 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":2608566,"authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

kristoffe

Typical Apple user whining. Imagine a world without people calling other people idiots because they don't like products the aggressor enjoys. That or this person has an amazing ability to proliferate really stupid quotes they've read from other people.

Apple is a company that has taken linux from free programmers and profited from their work unfairly. Microsoft has done the same, but not from direct free software, as it never existed when the company began until much more recently.

Apple computers at best are overly priced and fixed hardware solutions, and even the most modern Apple motherboard still is limited because of the inherent nature of one company making it. In the end, if the Apple runs XP, Vista, Linux, and OSX, then it no longer is an Apple, it is simply a vanilla PC that has been overpriced to put money in the coffers of Apple stockholders.

America has blundered again with the cheesy over the top nonsense support for a cabbage patch doll, but its an Apple now. Anyone touting any superiority of Apple is merely compensating for something in their lives, and everyone should be well noted on it.

The bottom line is this, buy what you can afford, and what makes the computer do what you want. Do not pay triple or more for some stupid logo because you want to look cool, that would be a growing up thing you need to do.

{"commentId":2608566,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

#8.3 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2590316,"authorDomain":"wine52203"}

wine-451501

so... who drives a diesel? and who uses gasoline? ... and hydrogen ... it's about the same percentage... hmmm

The whole Macintosh, Windows, Linux debate is mute. They all do their job for the people that use them. Mainframes still exist, so do trains. iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, same debate!

Nothing new there!

There are still weeds in your garden, ... think about that!

enjoy!

{"commentId":2590316,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"wine52203"}

#9 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":2602341,"authorDomain":"bpicke"}

BP-454130

Moot, not Mute. PC doesn't do it's job if it's infected with spyware, viruses, adware, case is falling apart, microsoft is blaming dell/hp/wall-mart while your generic hardware vendor (who has no clue regarding software and is only plugging boards together like a common gamer freak) is blaming Microsoft.

Good luck with your PC dude, you obviously have not tried a Mac.

{"commentId":2602341,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"bpicke"}

1 vote

#9.1 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":2605491,"authorDomain":"quadrain"}

Quadrain

@BP-454130

Windows can do it's job and people get viruses because people do stupid things. It's like driving a car, you don't get in it and drive. You have to take care of it by changing the oil, keep it clean, etc. Same goes for computers, keep incremental backups, check for viruses, trojans, spyware, keep the firewall up, etc. After using Windows, OS X, and Linux, Windows Vista Business is a good OS to use. One can't be biased about one thing, otherwise they won't see the benefits of the others.

Stop going to all those porn sites and you'll be fine.

{"commentId":2605491,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"quadrain"}

#9.2 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":2642764,"authorDomain":"bpicke"}

BP-454130

@Quadrain

Blame the users then. If you could get a car where you didn't have to change the oil or the tires never wore out, and it cost about the same and looked way better, and was way faster to boot, I guess you wouldn't be interested?

Biased? There are many many facts on the Mac side, it's not all about opinions. And if you want to go to ANY site, I'd suggest using a Mac. If you want to stay on 'safe' sites all the time, you only go to part of the 'net because your system has no security, then that is OK for some...

{"commentId":2642764,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"bpicke"}

#9.3 - Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2590327,"authorDomain":"rwolfert"}

Rich-451504

Well, one thing missed here was mention of the spate of recent articles on how despite the lack of a 'formal' effort, Macs seem to be making their way into the enterprise very well. And this is not just a single computer here and there. Many use Macs at home and these people are insisting on the same high quality, easy to use and consistently reliable experience at work. And they're getting it. IT managers have come to realize that Macs can do everything that a PC can, that they create a much more efficient work force (workflow), and can run any system that is needed. They require much less tech support and their total cost of ownership is less. Not only have many recent articles verified this, but securities analysts are predicting an accelerated adoption rate for Macs. This is easily verifiable by checking numerous financial sites.

The one thing that is certain is that there will be increasingly more Macs in homes, small businesses and in the enterprise. You can thank Microsoft for that.

{"commentId":2590327,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"rwolfert"}

3 votes

#10 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":2590444,"authorDomain":"gclapsaddle"}

Glynn-451533

Wow...to see all these Pro PC people, I'm a little surprised. I recently had to replace my Mac, and considered changing back to PC because of the price difference. And, you know what? I just ordered my new Mac Pro. I did those price vs. performance comparisons. Spent three months doing the research, and found only about a 10% premium to stay in the Mac world. My wife convinced me to stay, pointing out a rather interesting fact. When I bought my G5, three years ago, my father also spent a chunk of money on a PC. In that 3 years, I put NO money into my Mac. He spent $400 in upgrades. I had only one system crash (trying to run Virtual PC, believe it or not.) and my dad had at least one shut down a week. Forget even getting to price. You just cannot get that kind of dependability in the PC world, it does not exist. And, the reason I am replacing my Mac? Because I am giving my old computer to my kids. I used to be a PC guy, did installs and assemblies. But, I converted and will never go back.

{"commentId":2590444,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"gclapsaddle"}

1 vote

#11 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":2605592,"authorDomain":"quadrain"}

Quadrain

You can get the dependability out of any computer, it just depends how you maintain it. I have a MacbookPro myself and since I'm in school, I see the benefits of both Windows and Mac. I also like to do some FPS's. It depends on what you do with your computer to get which one. If you drop down money for something that's much more powerful than you need, you won't need another computer for a while. You may need that power, but a secretary may only need a computer with a celeron processor in the computer.

I have my HP desktop at home for nearly 5 years now, and I haven't had any problems with it. I think it's reliable and dependable.

it's good your dad is opening the computer and upgrading parts. Don't go crying when your computer accumulates dust and catches on fire.

{"commentId":2605592,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"quadrain"}

#11.1 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:44 AM EDT

{"commentId":2608706,"authorDomain":"kristoffebrodeur"}

kristoffe

You failed to mention that your G5 was $3000 when it came out, and your father's PC was about $1200-1500 if even that. A PC that can rock out with more than any user who does normal things in media can be purchased with an OS for under $450 at TigerDirect, and a full PC with 17" lcd and a wallop of software that isn't trialware can be purchased for $499 at WAL-MART.

It seems that yet again another Apple user is trying to validate their consumerist purchasing patterns. Just admit it, you bought it because you have a compensation issue, or you wanted something over the top in price, for surely nothign inside of OS.....LINUX rotates pixels, polys, or sound bytes any different than any Micro$$$oft product.

Kids, if you want to run software on any platform, you can use Linux, even for school with OpenOffice. It is 100% free, and there are almost no virii on it. Free. On a $200 computer from god fobid 2006, which will leave you the following $ to spend:

$350 for a 24" lcd rotating monitor from V7 at officemax
$100 for a 500gb external drive from newegg
$300 for a color laser printer from Staples.com, varying brands

$750 + $200 is under $1000
most Apples start at $1100 to $3000, look for the all in one iMac 20" $1100

see the difference? and the operating system is 100% free and you can do anything your home, school, or office wants you to. And you can still look at porn, I mean information.

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#11.2 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":2621340,"authorDomain":"bpicke"}

BP-454130

$3000 for a G5? Triple price for a Mac? Do you think you can just make up prices and people will believe you, or what?

Mac mini was $500 years ago. iMac G5 (long discontinued) was about $1100. PCs are lame, and worth virtually nothing when used. Macs bring 2-3 TIMES the resale value. Of course, no one buys to sell computers, they depreciate very fast compared to most things, but the depreciation on a PC is far worse, and the maintenance costs are far higher. In the end, many studies have proven a Mac is a cheaper machine to own.

{"commentId":2621340,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"bpicke"}

1 vote

#11.3 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2590691,"authorDomain":"Fantastic"}

Eddie-451598

I would have to say that I prefer Apple Computers(namely iMACs) b/c I have heard alot of good things about them. I have been a Windows user for years and I still love Windows. But it has only been 3 years since I bought my computer and I am already starting to have problems with it. I haven't even been able to renew my internet security with Norton. And I already payed the renewal fee....But I can't activate it or anything so I am hoping to switch to an iMAC.I am also hoping to get a MacBook Air....

{"commentId":2590691,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"Fantastic"}

1 vote

#12 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":2591042,"authorDomain":"blanchpe"}

Paul Blanchard-451673

For people who are use to "building" there own pc, a Mac won't work, but for ease of use a Mac is more stable, faster and can run 97% of the pc software out there… now if you want to play games, get a console or a pc… But if you want to create websites, create images, etc. use a mac.

Also if you configure a pc from on of the big companies to match a Mac, a Mac will be $200.00 to $300.00 cheaper.

{"commentId":2591042,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"blanchpe"}

1 vote

#13 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":2591195,"authorDomain":"michaelbabiuk"}

Mike B-451714

Hello everyone. I'm a 55 year old, retired engineer and have used just about every home PC platform manufactured since the late 70's. (Personally, I enjoyed the Commodore Amiga platform while it was still relevant.) IMHO, the Apple software and hardware combination, as it exists today, is the current technological leader in creative and/or productivity applications and my current operational computing system. With the advent of virtual software systems, my considerable legacy PC applications are still available when needed on my home Apple computers. Of course, I have tried Windows Vista. To say that I am still using Windows XP to run my PC based software applications should be comment enough. I might further comment that I have enjoyed "buying into" the Apple experience with their related products such as Apple TV, iPods and their wireless base stations. Being a "closed" system does have its advantages in so much as Apple's ability to network together their products without fear of "unforeseen" failures. Happiness does come at a price ... to be sure ... but currently, I'm "one happy camper" using Apple products.

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3 votes

#14 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2600864,"authorDomain":"yokokingdommusic"}

Sean Frisbey

Mike -
I think you have really made a great point. I don't like working on Macs, and I never have. I've been immersed in both worlds my entire life. However, you do pay the extra money in the Apple world to make sure that everything works.

{"commentId":2600864,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"yokokingdommusic"}

#14.1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":2591567,"authorDomain":"AbstractArt"}

Daddio on the Paddio

I am a retired global Telecoms consultant, and I use ONLY Apple computers. In 2006 I gave my relatively new Sony Vaio tower to my daughter and bought my first iMac. WOW! It was easy to gen up, and the graphics were superb. Since then I have purchased 2 MacBooks for me and another daughter and recently, my new iMac. I kept my old iMac for video work. There is no comparing Apple and Microsoft. Apple is a hardware manufacturer and Microsoft is a software developer. I am also a professional photographer and have to have spot-on color; something no Microsoft product can give me. Why? Apple controls the manufacturing process and color controls between their processor and their video display! SYNERGY.

Don't let the Microsoft geeks fool you - they too would love to have an iMac - except they would be out of a job!

{"commentId":2591567,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"AbstractArt"}

1 vote

#15 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":2591714,"authorDomain":"mnaugher1001"}

Wolf51

I fell in love with computers on the original MacIntosh. Unfortunately, because of the corporate scene, I had to go with IBM-compatible type machines for many years. I learned to fix them, to upgrade them. Three years ago, I went back to Mac. They're even better now. Closed system? Gateway use to have a closed system. Someone said, "If properly taken care of my PC outperforms the Mac". My Mac out performs a properly taken care of PC and I don't have to do anything to the Mac. When I purchase a new MacIntosh, it arrives with the customization that I ordered. I can run it straight from the box. No special setup other than personalizing a little more. No 'NameBrandSoftware LE' that will bug me to buy it in 6 weeks. Microsoft has too many deals with other software companies. They should concentrate on their own products. And they have great products. Well, mostly. Vista left a lot to be desired.

Bottom line, its a personal choice. I like the idea of coming home and NOT having to fix the computer before I can get to work...so I use MacIntosh.

{"commentId":2591714,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"mnaugher1001"}

1 vote

#16 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":2591972,"authorDomain":"jbelkin800-1"}

jbelkin800

"Mac is an extremely closed system/overpriced." That's why Many Mac users view PC users with disdain as they continue to think it's 1998. Macs - Intel chips, USB, internet, email, IM, etc, etc ... any of these sound vaguely 'closed' to you? Yes, Apple hardware & the OS is sold together but that is now the INDUSTRY BENCHMARK - to not have separate pieces of the puzzle scattered across two main vendors who insist any problem is "the other guy.' Apple offers you nearly 200 stores you can walk into to answer questions for ANY PROBLEM FOR FREE without them saying it's the OS or it's the hardware - go elsewhere. How much is that worth to you? And speaking of price. Unlike Pc users of 1998, computer users of 2008 will discover (& dozens of 3rd party price comparisons can attest) that Macs consistently are priced LOWER than comparable PC (spec wise though without iLife, OSX & the Apple store service) or at worst priced about $10USD higher than a comparable PC. Can you buy a lower priced PC than a Mac, of course but that's like saying a Ford is cheaper than a BMW - so you always just buy the cheaper thing? Of course not.

Yes, if online game playing is important to you, a PC will offer you more games but why spend $3k for a gaming Pc when I can buy a $1,500 Mac and spend $400 for an Xbox or PS3 and save $1k?

Let's not bring up viruses, spyware, malware or trojans. Yes, it's hard to believe for PC users but non-lab Mac infections over the past 7 years (when OSx was launched). ZERO. As in zero. So, in 7 years, you will have saved $700 in buying Norton, MacAffee nevermind spending nearly zero time cleaning your machine.

Macs can also run Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linus and OSX either separately or SIMULTANEOUSLY ...

Are Mac fans/fanboys/users "arrogant" or smug ... maybe but when you have a nearly bulletproof OS that costs EXACTLY the same as Windows PC's, wouldn't you be? Isn't that like saying Porsche owners, people who live on a Greek island and those dating Adrianna Lima are pretty content (ie: smug?) What else are you also against? sunny days in spring? a perfect steak? A coke from an ice bucket?

Windows is a perfectly fine OS for two types of people. People who are unable or unwilling to spend more than $499 for a computer. They don't care it's a Celeron processor with a small hard drive or any other hardware compromises - to them, it's like paying for the garbage bill - they just hate doing it and to them a PC is another homeowner requirement - nothing more. A Windows Pc will serve that minimal purpose. The only other person is someone who likes to tinker - the same person who likes to build a kit car, A PC is fine - it's always breaking and requires tweaking so they have to constant maintain a vigil - they like having a lot of details and minor issues/problems to solve - NOTHING wrong with that but that is NOT the best solution for 85% of computer users.

So, if you want a computer that just works, is standard in every way and can run up to four operating systems, costs less, the same or slightly more but saves you money in the long run (free ilife software, walk-in customer service for LIFE, no virus package required) and no having to deal with wonky DLL or registry issues, the Mac is ready & waiting.

Pc's are fine for corporation who have a support staff and can write off that piece of hardware.

That is all it comes down to - if you consider nothing else except price, you will always find a cheaper no-name PC at Walgreen's but if you can afford more and are interested in saving money & time in the long run, then the Mac is the best answer for a personal computer.

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1 vote

#17 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592033,"authorDomain":"d-rileylein"}

d'Marie

Hmmmmm ... I like both. I use a Mac at work and a PC at home. Adapting to the different systems is no problem I do wish all the key commands, however, were in the same place.

{"commentId":2592033,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"d-rileylein"}

#18 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592167,"authorDomain":"randy-9"}

rpc

I bought my first computer in 1978, a TRS-80 model 1. I have been a software engineer for over 20 years. I have written software that runs on everything from Windows 2.0 and OS/2 to Solaris and Linux.

Currently in my home we (my wife and 2 boys) have 5 computers. My wife's iMac, a custom built pc running Vista for the boys (doesn't connect to the internet and never will if I can help it), another custom built water cooled PC running Gentoo for me and my work, a solaris sparc server, and a MacBook Pro for my work. I have been building my own machines for over 10 years now, and I just don't install windows anymore if I can help it.

Mac's and OSX rule. My macbook pro is my preferred system (of course its portable so that has a lot to do with it)

They just work.

Windows is just too dang bloated and difficult to maintain (and that from someone who maintains a gentoo box!)

{"commentId":2592167,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"randy-9"}

1 vote

#19 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592209,"authorDomain":"AbstractArt"}

Daddio on the Paddio

I like the Apple commercials better then the Microsoft commercials. (What does this signify? Only that I like Apple's sense of humor, nothing more!)

{"commentId":2592209,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"AbstractArt"}

1 vote

#20 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592279,"authorDomain":"indigohalo"}

Indigo Halo

I am currently using my LAST Windows notebook. Despite the fact that the new notebook has four times the RAM, twice the hard drive space, and four times the processing power, this machine actually runs SLOWER than the notebook it replaced. If I would have known that Vista was so bogged down that even agressively fast hardware can't make it run well, I would have stayed with my old notebook.

{"commentId":2592279,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"indigohalo"}

1 vote

#21 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592399,"authorDomain":"cybersomething"}

Icculus

Ok this will be my last post because I am sure people are starting to get annoyed with me.

Well I just surfed on over to the Apple store.....configured a Mac Pro with similar components to my Alienware. Yup, $1000 more than my system and my rig is 3 years old! Additionally, they did not give me a choice (or offer a similar component) for several of my components which would have drove the price up even more.

Also, $280+ per gig of memory?!?!? Are they kidding!!! Quick surf on over to Crucial tells me I can buy 30 gigs for less than $700 yet Apple has a 30 gig upgrade labeled as adding $9,100!!!! What a joke. (Oh did I mention that their memory upgrade was half the speed as well)

Ok, I am gone. Peace
Long Live Wozniak!!!

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#22 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":2592888,"authorDomain":"buildmypc"}

Travis Yarbrough

Macs are a pain in the you know what for the very reason that they are too slow and exclusive. The reason they have the CUTE and false ads is because the world runs on Windows. Apple is known for their great packaging and presentation of their products. The iPod is a slam dunk but no reason for an overpriced and limited Mac computer. They keep switching processors to keep up with pcs and that is crap all in itself. 2500 every 2 years for a mac, or faster pc that is upgradable for 1200 hmmmm. If you are the hippie then get the Prius ( marked up 8000 more than sticker ) and stick your little Apple sticker on the window so those of us who paid 18,000 and put the other 20,000 into a whole other car laugh at you big time. Moral is : Don't over pay if you can get what you need for half the price because your buddy has one. Pixar had to use pc's until the G5 and the intel chip was out. Guess who owns Pixar ??? Sad that they trash windows vista that does everything OSX does and everything more. Mac is getting close but no high prices here. They are looking into changing chips again for pete's sake so expect slower performance and more crap on the commercials.

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#23 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":2594905,"authorDomain":"shanehughes"}

Shane in FL

I don't like the commercials either, but you obviously have not used a Mac recently, nor for an extended period of time. The argument that Macs are expensive or slow was over about five years ago. Everything's comparable now. The Unix-based OS X is one of the few operating systems you can install on an older machine without taking a performance hit. You can't say that about Vista. By the time you add all the extras to have a fully functioning PC, you could have bought a Mac with everything built in.

Scientists and programmers have used Unix for decades, and they jumped on the Mac bandwagon with the announcement of OS X. That's why the number of software titles for Mac has exploded since the release of OS X.

The go-with-the-crowd philosophy doesn't apply anymore. There are too many critics today who disagree with you.

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1 vote

#23.1 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":2593369,"authorDomain":"dmishem"}

Dave Mishem-452191

I don't buy Mac because Apple is one of the most controlling, litigious corporations on the face of the planet. They sue anyone who threatens their business model (Psystar anyone?), and tightly control the "experience". Selling shiny crap to dolts does not make you a technological visionary.

{"commentId":2593369,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"dmishem"}

1 vote

#24 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":2593787,"authorDomain":"mdstaben"}

Matt Staben

What it all comes down to, in the end, is did you feed and clothe your kids today? The PC industry is a system where Microsoft leads a gaggle of companies who wait for the next 'upgrade' frenzy so they can release a slew of products which in turn feeds the economy, and your kids. If it wasn't for Microsoft's scheming, there would be fewer maintenance technicians, fewer computer stores such as MicroCenter, I think you're getting the picture. Microsoft is a dealer of obsolesence; it is the engine that runs the technology sector in the world as we know it. It's that simple. It's the economy, stupid. Whatever puts the food on the table, and the roof under which it sits is all that matters. Everything else is irrelevant.

{"commentId":2593787,"threadId":"340214","contentId":"1787374","authorDomain":"mdstaben"}

#25 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:53 PM EDT

Jump to discussion page: 1 2 3 4

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