1) Do you have any Microsoft programs on your mac? 2) If the whole point of buying a mac is because Microsoft makes such shoddy products, then doesn't putting Office or Age of Mythology on your mac kinda defeat this purpose? Maybe it's only Windows that sucks? Help me out here. I'm still trying to decipher the complicated mind of a mac user... ok, so that's three questions...
OK, I'll bite I think that your initial premise is wrong. I don't use a Mac as some sort of anti-Microsoft protest. I use a Mac because it is a better fit with the way that I work. Also OS X has some serious advantages for someone like me who has to work in a Linux/Solaris environment at work. I do have Office on my Mac, mainly to enable me to work on documents that have been produced on a PC. No games at all I'm afraid. That's what my PS2 is for. I'm not keen on Windows, and a monopoly in any environment isn't a great idea. So a Mac suits my purposes fine. Believe me, my mind is not complicated! Oh, and happy birthday...
OK, I guess from the "Hmmm" you think what I said was a little contradictory. I have no aversion to MS, or their software. If it suits my purposes, then I'll use it. If not, I won't. I'm not someone who thinks that they are an evil corporation, and that Bill Gates wants to run the world. However, I do feel that a monopoly stifles competition, which in turn hinders innovation and development. If I found two OS's, for example, that fitted my requirements, I would probably be tempted to support the non-monopoly. Obviously, product lifespan and support come into the equation too. I'm not keen on Windows. The way it works seems counter-intuitive to me. Clearly, that's an entirely subjective area. I'm not taking that position on principle though, it's a pragmatic view.
The whole point of using a Mac is that is a better machine for computing on, not as a protest to Microsoft. It's not like Apple users are protesting Starbucks by drinking Sanka out of a microwave. It's a better product -- I use both at work; it's not that PC's suck too bad to use, they are just silly compared to Mac. I'm on a PC right now. As for Microsoft software, I use it because it is better than AppleWorks or whatever else is out there. For now. I tell you this: Microsoft Office is past its prime, and I'll bet something, probably free, will surpass it soon. (Open office, for instance). Most notably, Microsoft Word is barely, barely acceptable. Unwanted "help" in formatting, awkward screen views, horrific "layout" features...simple stuff like Text Edit or Wordpad is usually better for me. Adobe knows how to make software. So does Apple. But Microsoft better make some enormous adjustments or they are going to take a huge hit soon. Apple is already taking them on with Keynote (powerpoint substitute that can swallow and spit out powerpoiint files, but is a far superior program...). When someone develops a better Word Processing program and -- this is the key -- a better Excel, things will be different. I'll toss my microsoft programs not out of protest or disgust, but because they will be obsolete. If Microsoft makes a better product, I'll use it. The thing is, if you are a company, and there is free Office software out there for Unix-friendly machines, you have to consider switching. The financial incentive to do so will be huge. It would mark a huge shift -- Microsoft is predicated on the world being a software-driven industry, not a hardware driven one. Apple is trying to scramble that, and if Microsoft can't make a better bread-and-butter software application bundle, they're asking for it. They're asking for it right now. Forget the stuff like ITunes and IPhoto -- which rule -- and forget graphics and sound apps (far more usable on the Apple). Forget processor speed, user interface, and the fact that Yao does ads for them. Apple is making a run at regular business use, and their strategy is looking pretty smart considering how inflexible and generic -- and buggy -- Microsoft software is. It's not like people use Microsoft Office because its so so good. It's user-friendliness and flexibility is like a B-minus, and B-minus is what PC users are used to. They consider B-minus to be just fine -- they've callibrated it to an A-minus. Apple shoots for A-plus. Ususally, they hit A (OS X) or A-minus (ICal/IPhoto), sometimes A-plus (Ipod / Itunes). It's a better machine. Live with it, suckmonkeys. CBFC I consider anyone who dogs apple to be anti-Yao, anti-Rockets, and a candidate for banning from game time chat.
One thing to consider.... A main reason for instability in computer systems is hardware incompatability. Since you generally buy the Mac OS on MAC hardware, Apple can ensure that everything plays nice together. Since Microsoft has to deal with an infinite number of PC/hardware combiniations I'm actually amazed that windows works as well as it does. As for Office having things that you do or don't like... all that stuff is configurable.
I have MS Office 98 on my original iMac. I rarely use it. I usually use AppleWorks. Office 98 was a near-complete waste of money for me because the only time that I NEEDED it was to do a PowerPoint presentation for a class in college. (FWIW, AppleWorks now has an Apple program that does the same thing as PowerPoint.) I have Windows Media Player for the rare things I run across that aren't offered in Quicktime, but that is VERY rare. I do use Internet Explorer, but I'll be running Apple's browser "Safari" once I get a new Power Mac and/or Safari is no longer a beta. I do think that, comparatively speaking, MS generally makes crap. I do think that Windows in general is a bloated OS that gets in the way more than anything else. But those are not exclusively the reasons I avoid MS. I use Apple computers running Apple software because I honestly believe that Apple makes a far superior product than MS and the various PC clones of the world. I have my Mac at home, and I honestly breathe a sigh of relief when I use my original iMac from 1998 vs. the brand-spanking-new IBM ThinkPad running Windows NT that I use at work all day long. Keep in mind that I'm not saying all this as someone who doesn't know Windows. While I personally have always owned a Mac in some incarnation for my home and personal use, most of my friends have/had a Windows-based PC, and every job I've ever had required me to use Windows, with the one exception being when I was doing graphic design for about 6 months. Concerning software availability: The only software market that Windows truly dominates is in games, and about 99.99% of the more popular games are available for both platforms. And I have a PS2, soooo.......you get the idea. All that said, Windows sucks.
Just to let you know...Safari, while still beta, really kicks ass. It is a seamless transition (Safari takes your settings from your current browser) and actually makes browsing faster on both dialup and dsl. It is what I have used for the last month or so...I will be interested to see how they improve it when the real thing comes out.
I really can't wait to try it out, but it is OS X only, and I'm still using 9.2. My old iMac isn't quite up to handling OS X. Its plenty fast for everything else, which is the main reason I love Macs so much: the lifespan. But I just got a raise, so I'm closer than I was to getting a new Mac!
OK, lemme give you a little background first. I WAS a windows guy, then worked for UT which is almost exclusively Mac. My first day my boss said "that's your computer." It was a 7200 running OS 7.6. I was like "that's a mac. I need a real computer not a baby's toy". Old Mac users may remember 7.6. Apple workers had T-Shirts that said: "OS 7.6... It sucks a lot less than 7.5.3" After upgrades and getting used to it I got pretty good at using them. and later fixing sfw issues. Then Apple was hiring in Austin and I got a call froma lady who asked me three troubleshooting questions ans then called me back for an interview. I worked for Apple for over two years. I rose from Frontline rep to Product Specialist, the highest level of Apple phone support. I taught classes on how troubleshoot software and completely disassemble and reassemble ANY Mac. I have taken aparts iMacs at least 150 times. I love Macs and will never buy another PC. Ever. Now for you questions: 1) Do you have any Microsoft programs on your mac? Yep. Office and IE 5.1 2) If the whole point of buying a mac is because Microsoft makes such shoddy products, then doesn't putting Office or Age of Mythology on your mac kinda defeat this purpose? Maybe it's only Windows that sucks? Help me out here. I'm still trying to decipher the complicated mind of a mac user... OK, I don't think that MS sucks. On the contrary, alot of their programs work well and do self repair when the get jacked up. I think MS as a company is shady as hell. Don't forget that both Apple and MS essentially ripped a windows OS and the mouse as the entry tool off from Xerox, who basically had no use for it. Oh ya, Windows does suck A LOT! I honestly don't understand why people would use them other than that they have to. Business is so entrenched in Windows that getting over to a new system would be impossible for most businesses. I am a realist, I understand that. However, ANY home user can switch to a Mac and get programs that will do the exact same thing with less pain than you might think. Plus Macs are SO much easier to use than Windows. Another thing that everybody needs to understand is that Mac users are EXTREMELLY LOYAL TO APPLE PRODUCTS. Mac users are often Mac users for LIFE. Most of my calls used to start out with "I've been using Macs since Steve Jobs was building them in a garage." A lot of Mac users are fanatical about their machines. (BTW I will not join a Mac Users Group because I don't want the hassle of people bugging me constantly, but not with problems, with stuff like "what have you heard about this, how can I change this, etc.) I don't know because I don't care about Windows any more, but how many MS rumors websites are out there? There are literally HUNDREDS of Apple rumor sites. There are so well visited that there are websites that are parodies of other Apple rumors sites: see Crazy Apple Rumors People are on the edge of their seats when Steve is going to announce something new, and he does it 4 times a year! It can get ridiculous. apple employees have been paid to leak rumors, but the biggest leaks come from those who are not paid, just want the bit of satisfaction to hear everybody say how cool what they are talking about is. Anyway, sorry I got off on a rant. Oh and don't miss construe (sic) what I wrote above; if you have a Mac question, post it and I will help.
BTW, (no edit) I use Safari as well. Try not to use IE except for banking as Safari si not yet supported as it is a beta.
Since "Safari" was brought up in this topic I have a quick question about it. I am thinking about downloading it onto my machine to test drive it, but I heard that it automatically sets itself as the "default" browser. I currently use IE 5.1. Is this the case? I want to test drive Safari but I don't want it to be the "default" browser. I don't want to click on links in Mail and then have the Safari browser open up but rather my current I.E. browser. Can anyone confirm the "default" thing for me? Couple of other questions since we are on the subject...... For those that use I.E. how much better is Safari? What are the advantages as you see them? Are bookmarks from I.E. able to be imported into Safari?
It does, but that can easily be switched back to IE by going to System Preferences / choosing internet and then the Web tab and then switching it in the pull odwn menu back to IE. Couple of other questions since we are on the subject...... Safari is SO much faster than IE. Doesn't use as much CPU "juice" either. Bookmarks are automaticall imported into the bookmarks folder under "imported IE bookmarks" and then you can drag them and drop em where ever. Damn, Macs kick ass!
I'm with CBFC on this one. I buy Mac's because I like the envirnoment and the machines. Sure, I use Word, IE, Outlook, etc. You would be nuts not to recognize the value of those software packages. I also use Virtual PC to occassionally aid in the use of some Win stuff. In fact, I'm about to pick up the latest version because it turns out that a piece of software we are using with our web firm requires Win and IE and the only way I can use them is through Virtual PC. For me, it just boils down to a machine that is easy to use, almost never crashes and has some really extremely cool conveniences like iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, Quicktime, etc. It has nothing to do with my dislike of Microsoft or the PC. It is more about my preference of this OS and this type of machine.
Mulder, thanks for the info. Because of that info I will give Safari a try this week. Look forward to it!
Don't forget that there are some cool little apps that are Mac-only too. Like Launch Bar. Are you still using that Jeff?
A-Train- I don't know if you're looking for a new computer, but just in case you are, I thought I'd tell you that if so, you ought to at least consider a Mac. Seriously, if you're not too computer-biased, go to the Apple store at the Galleria and check them out. You might be pleasantly surprised. And don't listen to the tools at the other computer stores about Macs unless you're talking to an actual Apple rep at CompUSA, MicroCenter, etc. All the other reps will tell you is something to the tune of, "Don't buy a Mac. There isn't any software for it, they're slow, not compatible, Apple's about to go out of business etc, etc, _______<-----insert Apple myth here."
What 'bout upgrading such as adding new 5.25" devices and nVidia graphics cards, or tweaking/customizing with cases/cooling/fans, etc. Seems with Apple you're stuck with what you've got until you upgrade the entire machine. Course, I just realized I haven't talked to a girl in months so now I'll put down my comic books and go outside...
