Mac or PC?

[Tinijocaro]

Microsoft Windows far outsells Apple OSX. It is expected that there will be proportionally more problems. Folks just looking at "more problems with PCs than with Macs" are missing an important aspect of the situation.

All I can go on is personal experience. I can't tlel you how often I have heard my pc using friends tell me their motherboard is fried, or the hard drive crashed, and their pc is in the shop, or a computer guy had to come over to fix it.

In my family alone, they all laughed when we got our first mac 9 years ago-way too expensive, not practical in the real world. All three of my sisters, my brother and my dad each went through TWO computers in the time we went through ONE, and ours is still running.

There were many interesting family discussions about mac vs pc, family members who "knew" that pcs were best. Two sisters have switched to mac, two nieces, and my dad is considering it. They all got tired of the hassles that come with owning a pc.

Like I said, my personal experience is much different than yours. I like a machine that doesn't need constant repairs. Maybe that's just me.

 

[crcormier]

One reason Macs tend to have fewer hardware issues is that Apple has very high quality standards on components (it's also one reason for the higher cost) and is one of the reasons you have a huge difference in hardware issues between Apple and the $300 PCs at Best Buy.

 

[Laura]

Exactly what can a pc do that a mac can't?

Games. I like being able to go into a store, buy any game and know it runs on my computer. Macs are perfectly nice, I'm sure, but they're more expensive for the same stuff you get in a PC, and the software available for them is more limited than I like.

All I can go on is personal experience. I can't tlel you how often I have heard my pc using friends tell me their motherboard is fried, or the hard drive crashed, and their pc is in the shop, or a computer guy had to come over to fix it.
...
Like I said, my personal experience is much different than yours. I like a machine that doesn't need constant repairs. Maybe that's just me.

My PCs have all worked just fine. I don't have issues like you describe, nor has any of my family (all PCs except my SIL also owns a Macbook). My first one, bought in 1994, still works, I just wanted an upgrade. And PC desktops are so easy and cheap to build.

 

[bicker]

Exactly what can a pc do that a mac can't?

There is a vast array of business software that is written for Microsoft Windows only.

All I can go on is personal experience.

And again, you should experience people talking about problems with Microsoft Windows about an order of magnitude more than with Macintosh, because people use Microsoft Windows about an order of magnitude more than with Macintosh.

 

[bicker]

One reason Macs tend to have fewer hardware issues is that Apple has very high quality standards on components (it's also one reason for the higher cost) and is one of the reasons you have a huge difference in hardware issues between Apple and the $300 PCs at Best Buy.

And that really focuses the issue. If you compare a Mac that sells for $300 new (are there any?) to a $300 PC you'll probably have just as many problems.

 

[pr surfer]

One reason Macs tend to have fewer hardware issues is that Apple has very high quality standards on components (it's also one reason for the higher cost) and is one of the reasons you have a huge difference in hardware issues between Apple and the $300 PCs at Best Buy.

ummm... my Mac Pro has the same components as my PC that cost half the price.

Maybe it's the nice aluminum case it came in that cost the extra $1500ish

 

[OneDisney]

There is a vast array of business software that is written for Microsoft Windows only.And again, you should experience people talking about problems with Microsoft Windows about an order of magnitude more than with Macintosh, because people use Microsoft Windows about an order of magnitude more than with Macintosh.

You know you can get the best of both worlds? You can run Windows on a Mac. For almost all the Microsoft software, there's almost always a Mac alternative that works with the Microsoft software. Microsoft has even developed Microsoft Office for Mac.

 

[ZuZugal]

Mac all the way.



My mac hasn't been all wonderful but the problems have been minor (and not Mac's fault) compared to the Dell. Besides, things have been fixed nearly effortlessly and with someone on the phone who speaks English

I would like to know what phone number some of the posters are calling to get an "english speaking" customer service rep. My DD's wireless mouse was having glitches, so after 4 phone calls they are finally sending us a replacement. The calls were made on different days at varying times and all of the reps were male and none of them spoke English in a way that it was easy for me to understand.

 

[bicker]

You know you can get the best of both worlds? You can run Windows on a Mac.

It is much slower.

For almost all the Microsoft software, there's almost always a Mac alternative that works with the Microsoft software. Microsoft has even developed Microsoft Office for Mac.

That is only true of standard office applications. Most advanced office and production control applications (including the three that my company sells), and most custom applications, are almost always developed to run on Microsoft Windows, if only one operating system family.

 

[suzimar57]

PC - Vaio

 

[OneDisney]

It is much slower.

That is only true of standard office applications. Most advanced office and production control applications (including the three that my company sells), and most custom applications, are almost always developed to run on Microsoft Windows, if only one operating system family.

Really, it's slower? According to pcworld.com, the MacBook Pro was the fastest Windows Vista computer they tested.

List some of the applications you're talking about.

 

[crcormier]

It is much slower.

Really, it's slower? According to pcworld.com, the MacBook Pro was the fastest Windows Vista computer they tested.

List some of the applications you're talking about.

Agreed, it's not slower at all since you can run Windows on a Mac natively. Even running in a virtualized mode with both OS at the same time my Windows runs at 80% speed of native.

 

[bicker]

Really, it's slower? According to pcworld.com, the MacBook Pro was the fastest Windows Vista computer they tested.

Not in emulation mode. The Macintosh runs Windows applications slower than a similarly-priced Microsoft Windows machine.

List some of the applications you're talking about.

As a rule I do not reveal my employer online. Nor will I post info about my competitors' software either.

Here are three random applications I and folks I know use regularly, none of which are available on OSX:

- SalesLogix CRM
- Oracle Database Server
- Nero

 

[bicker]

Even running in a virtualized mode with both OS at the same time my Windows runs at 80% speed of native.

In other words, slower.

OSX is a boutique operating system, satisfying a niche interest. It isn't a serious contender to supplant Microsoft Windows anytime soon.

 

[OneDisney]

Not in emulation mode. The Macintosh runs Windows applications slower than a similarly-priced Microsoft Windows machine.

As a rule I do not reveal my employer online. Nor will I post info about my competitors' software either.

Here are three random applications I and folks I know use regularly, none of which are available on OSX:

- SalesLogix CRM
- Oracle Database Server
- Nero

What do you mean by "emulation mode"? If you use Boot Camp with Mac OS X, it runs Windows Vista better than any other native Windows computer.

I have no clue what SalesLogix CRM is, if you could explain it to me, I'm sure I could find a Mac alternative.

I'm pretty sure Oracle has a version for Mac OS X Server, so yeah, it'll run on a Mac.

Nero. Well, there's Toast, iMovie, iDVD, etc.(I could go on and on about these.)

 

[OneDisney]

In other words, slower.

OSX is a boutique operating system, satisfying a niche interest. It isn't a serious contender to supplant Microsoft Windows anytime soon.

Sorry for the double post, but many companies are already using OSX, it is a HUGE contender to Microsoft and is growing very rapidly.

 

[crcormier]

In other words, slower.

OSX is a boutique operating system, satisfying a niche interest. It isn't a serious contender to supplant Microsoft Windows anytime soon.

In emulation mode, yes, you are correct.

However you can run Windows natively on a Mac if you need that extra speed. Most people don't, emulation mode is more than fast enough.

 

[OneDisney]

In emulation mode, yes, you are correct.

However you can run Windows natively on a Mac if you need that extra speed. Most people don't, emulation mode is more than fast enough.

But ya know, that 1-2 seconds can make a HUGE difference if you work at the Pentagon.

 

[dcentity2000]

Using Boot Camp, Windows operates at full speed on a Mac. It operates natively.

Using Parallels or VMWare, Windows is slower on a Mac because it operates alongside the Mac. However, for most that is fast enough.



Rich::

 

[Green Tea]

I would like to know what phone number some of the posters are calling to get an "english speaking" customer service rep. My DD's wireless mouse was having glitches, so after 4 phone calls they are finally sending us a replacement. The calls were made on different days at varying times and all of the reps were male and none of them spoke English in a way that it was easy for me to understand.

from the Apple.com website, support area, you can just request a new one, under warranty, and it arrives the next day! Crazy.