Mac vs Windows

[Ztrl]

There are over a dozen people working at our fair Gizmodo, but as a Windows user, I'm in a definite minority. I still rock XP, and I'm pretty happy with that. Why haven't I switched to Macs? Plenty of reasons, not least of which being that I'm just too smart to switch to a Mac. That's right, I'm too smart for Macs. As Bill Gates's retirement rapidly approaches I figured now is a good time to lay out why I'm loyal to his OS.

I grew up with Windows. Although my first computer was a Mac Classic (I was like 3 at the time, and I only used it to play that helicopter game where you have to drop the little man into the horse-drawn hay carriage), I've been using Windows PCs for nearly my entire life, learning how to fiddle with the command prompt in DOS and dealing with the rudimentary pile of crap that was Windows 3.1. I survived Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME for a short, painful time, Windows 2000 and now, finally, Windows XP. It hasn't always been pretty (see: Windows ME), but through it all I've figured out every little trick there is to know about running Windows. I'm a monster on Windows.

And yeah, while some of those earlier versions were essentially garbage, running Mac as your OS wasn't all that great a choice either, especially before OS X came out. Yes, fanboys, I know you love your Macs and everything, but come on: The OS never really came into its own as a real competitor to Windows until 2001. By then, it was too late for me.

And while I used to be pretty into PC gaming, the whole no-good-games-on-Macs thing doesn't bother me so much anymore. It's just that to me, when it comes down to it, the PC just feels more logical. Windows is an OS that feels structured and it makes sense just because I'm used to them. Macs feel more nebulous and more dumbed down, like the corners have been softened to not intimidate your mom when she uses your computer. Well, I like having the corners exposed. I like tinkering in the registry to improve performance, I like being able to really tweak the system at the base level. Windows has its engine exposed, and while it might not always be pretty, if you know what you're doing you really have access to the whole thing. And hardware choices are choices I cherish as are access to plenty of apps. Apple takes pride in hiding everything under the rug and keeping it out of your hands to not let you mess it up. I don't need kid gloves.

Furthermore, beyond the OS itself, I hate the cult of personality that surrounds Steve Jobs. I like the soon-to-be-retired Bill Gates way more than Steve Jobs, because the guy cares about more than just making enough money to build a castle for himself out of stacks of $100 bills (not that Bill can't do that). Bill Gates is going to be remembered for seriously impacting the global health climate for the better. After all, the Nobel Prize is named after the dude who invented TNT, but his name is invoked a lot more often for encouraging advancements in science, literature and peace. And chances are, if the Gates Foundation keeps chugging along, Gates may even win a Nobel. Steve Jobs, on the other hand, just makes pretty plastic objects, and when it comes down to it, he seems like kind of a greedy dick. I'm more than happy to not give him any more money.

And you know what? Macs are too hip. Oh, look at me! I do graphic design! I wear women's jeans and hang out in coffee shops! I'm a DJ! Well good for you. My computer is not a fashion statement. It's a computer.

[viruszero]

Hmm. Gotta agree with pretty much all of what you said.

And personally, I think the imacs are all ugly. Too much white and/or bright colors. The screens on some of the larger macs are pretty ugly as well, with the large hanging parts underneath the screen and the thicker than normal lcd screens (Because they house the entire computer in the monitor. Which again I think can be a bad idea... because if either the computer or the monitor go then you have to replace/repair the whole thing at once... And I'm not sure if they can have a new monitor hooked up and use it instead of the one thats build onto the tower... )

The os itself, I've used a few times and my general reaction was that it was slower and clunkier than windows XP. Especially when loading a high demand program... like oh say Photoshop. Even word took a long time loading on the mac.
Now, I'm not too worried bout playing games on the pc, but there are times when I do want to play some pc based games, and I know that with a mac I couldn't do it nearly as easily. (That is if I could do it at all.)

Though as far as having the corners exposed... I think windows actually lies middle of the road for this one, as it has the corners peaking out, but not so much that you need to worry bout it.
The mac has no corners... no sharp edges whatsoever for anyone to cut themselves on, and as such anything beyond the mere "here are the options I give you" is out of the question. But the one with the corners most visible would have to be <some version> of linux. (Where at the touch of a few keys or so you can have the whole guts hanging out in your hand and you can modify EVERYTHING in it. )

[J.Y.]

You? Windows XP? I thought everybody over there is using Windows Vista already. Is it true that no genuine copy, no vista?

I had to say that I'm also an 'adult' and a 'survivor' on Windows, but I'm not going to talk on one side only.

If there are any other people around the world using Macs and growing up with Macs could possibly think exactly the same way like ztrl is thinking, but it's on the Mac side instead of Windows. They may also feel that their best OS is none other than Mac itself. It all depends on which OS you began with. And when you start with one, it'll be hard to convert into another type of OS.

But we all know that Windows has become a major OS, or I should say, a seemingly standard OS throughout the world. And viruszero, i won't say at the middle of the road. Based on how Windows happens to be, it's more on the HIGHWAY. (For that, Bill Gates seriously had done a great deed for everyone in the world.) Look around you, ask and round up the amount of people using Mac and Windows. Take a look around and see the amount of Games for Windows and Games for Mac. Due to the strong effectiveness of Windows, the people kind of like repel the other OS already. They are all one-sided towards Windows and against other OS, such as Mac (or Linux for some of you).

I think in the end, all the OS may go extinct and Windows will grow as the godlike OS in the world. But, maybe after Bill Gates retires or in despicable words of mine, DIES, and if there are betrayals in his company, they'll steal plenty of ideas, create another OS and overpower Windows. Who knows? It's a sight to see indeed.

And judging the way we are commenting and speaking now, it's as if we're replying to the controversial thread <__<

[viruszero]

I can't say that Windows will overpower all other OSes because people like having choices. And so I'm pretty sure that try as Microsoft will, they will not be able to get rid of Linux. And even still there will be diehard mac fans who will attempt to keep the mac alive. (No guarantees on sucess of this, but you never know. Microsoft could really muck things up and suddenly loads of people could start jumping ship left right and centre.) Even now with the impending vista transition I've been experimenting with a few versions of Linux (KDE based), and I figure that if I have to make the jump to vista I'd rather go to linux instead. (I'll partition the hard drive and make my machine a primary Linux with vista secondary. Just in case I'm ever forced to need windows for some obscure reason.)

And I'm sure I'm not alone in my experimentations with Linux, I'd be willing to say that more people have tried Linux now because of the impending vista switch than ever before.

[Ztrl]

This article isn't about me

@virus Linux is decent, but there isn't one big thing, there's over 1000 version all with different capability. And there is a large problem with OpenSource software that a lot of people have overlooked. All the code is free to see to everyone and anyone. Thus the capability for them to exploid flaws in the OS are much easier.

[viruszero]

Be that as it may, but people still hack microsoft products open and see it's code to exploit it's security flaws so I see no difference there... Other than in one instance needing to use a special program and in the other being able to open it with your text editor.

As for the thousand different versions, yeah they're all different, but they're like that to provide the user with exactly what they need.
Be it a live cd/jumpdrive to demonstrate the product, small and highly portable linux, more feature rich versions like Ubuntu and it's variants. (Using different desktop environments... such as the KDE, or Ubuntu's standard Gnome environment.) to a simple alternate OS for recovery of files like Knoppix.
Sure there are alot of versions but quite a few have live cd capabilities to test them before you can decide whether or not you want to install... And virtually all Linux OSes are free. So it's not like you're out anything if you don't want to install it.

Do you really want just one OS point blank that covers everything? Beware if you say yes. That even windows XP has had several different versions... (Home, Proffessional and Media centre. ) They may all be the same, but Linux too is essentially the same, it's all built off the same core kernels... Just different people have taken them and modified them to their needs and released the results.

[Ztrl]

I don't care how many versions there are of one release for Windows. Linux has 100 different versions of everything and 80% of the time IT DOESN'T WORK. And that's more the problem with Linux, large compainies don't support it and you have to rely on web forums to get basic hardware drivers and software that doesn't have a version number of ".03". Linux is a good idea in general, but until some major standards are passed no one can do much of anything with it on a wide scale.

[viruszero]

80% of the time it doesn't work, eh? Can I have your source for this number?

But I do have to ask, have you ever even used linux?

And again, I'd sometimes just as soon get the support from the forums because these are the guys/girls who are lovingly crafting linux and dedicated to using it. They aren't trying to sell you something or only see you as some kind of dollar figure.

And I wouldn't exactly say large companies don't support it because you gotta wonder, just how many companies use Linux or Unix as their base for their servers? Last I had heard was that majority of the servers on the net are Unix or Linux based.
And if it didn't work 80% of the time, then these companies wouldn't be using it for their server related needs...

Just because they don't all produce programs and whatnot for it doesn't mean they don't support it. Case in point... Dell sells computers with linux or maybe... IBM, Intel, HP make a group supporting Linux

And as for your standards.... Maybe this group might have something to say about it?
Linux Foundation (Please look specifically in the top of the page, look for the link aptly named "Linux Standard Base")

[Ztrl]

....Yes I've used Linux...I've used Red Hat, SUSE by Novel, Ubuntu, Lindows (back before they changed the name), and several other distros.

Linux may work great for servers, but for everyday use it absolutley sucks. I know this because I used Linux for a while, trying to get the music to work, and drivers for my graphics card, and my sound, and my wireless adapter was an absolute pain in the ass.

Large companies may SELL Linux, but they do not SUPPORT it. So when you can't get something to work, you can't call them for help.

[Paranoid]

I run a PC, not a sever, so I'll stick to windows.

I have to say though, I don't like the way Microsoft is going with windows. Vista is much worse than XP but it's too late to go back. I hate this Aero interface. I want a fast OS that doesn't crash, not a pretty window I can see through. there are too many extra feature that no one uses. I know they can't go back to something simple though because they can't offer all these features in one OS and then remove them for the next.

I'll be building a new computer soon because an old one of my families died (it was crap anyway), and I think I'll stick with XP. It's by far the best OS.

I don't see how anyone fond of technology could like a mac. they use laptop hardware in a desktop. why would you use expensive parts that are designed to be slow and let your battery run longer what your PC is always plugged into an outlet and doesn't even have a battery.

And also, while on the subject of windows, I have a small rant. Many people dislike the security problems on windows. People really only get viruses because they don't know what they are doing. I don't see how anyone could fill their computer with spyware and malware and what not. Do people even look at the files they're opening and the stuff they download? This kind of stuff is really easy to spot. I'll admit that occasionally I have gotten an unwanted intruder with a torrent of downloaded, but the handy system restore tool is all it takes to remove it. once you get the virus, remove it. it's that simple. I recently read a study that claims most windows users don't even pay attention to security and avoid the important things that protect them. Many don't get the OS patches, and even keep their firewall turned off. The only time I've ever gotten a virus that stayed on my computer for more than a few minutes was when I was about 10 years old. Serious, it's not a problem.

[viruszero]

Ztrl, what version of Linux gave you all the problems? did they all give you the same issues? And how long ago did you use it?

Because I've used Linux as well, and I found it extremely easy to use. (I used Knoppix and Kubuntu 7.04, Though I'm gonna give DSL a try.) Virtually all music was quickly and easily set up merely by downloading what they call the "restricted" packs.

As for wireless networks, results do vary a bit... But I've had no problems from the get go on mine... Though using vpn on the university network is being a pain to fix.

As for drivers, not much you can do about that, and it's not just Linux that has driver issues...

As for not supporting it, I believe that second and even third link shows quite clearly that large companies to indeed support Linux. Maybe not in terms of make software for it, but they do back Linux.
Though again for the updates and whatnot, you get the updates from the guy who made them, so if they don't work right you can more easily tell him directly and get the problem resolved. It's like having 30 tech support guys at your finger tips instead of having one over the phone who really doesn't care what you think. As typically the coders and people helping you with Linux like the OS and are there to help others fix any issues and enjoy the OS.

And ParanoidMage, sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid getting a virus. From a virus so new they don't have patches to cover how it gets in, to you getting hacked and having it forced onto your pc.
It doesn't mean you can't protect yourself, it just means that there are times when even as hard as you try your gonna get a virus. Though if your prepared you can deal with it easily enough. And you are right, alot of people simply aren't prepared to deal with it, they tend to ignore the issues until it bites them.

[Ztrl]

Microsoft gets more crap than any other company in tech. That's partly because it's given us garbage like Clippy, Microsoft BOB and Windows Vista. And it's partly because it's arguably the most important company in personal computing. Sure, Apple gets all the fawning press for designing pretty, easy-to-use gadgets. But Microsoft is rarely credited for being why mainstream tech has come this far—a computer on every desk, the explosion of the internet, even the idea of a common UI across applications. Even smarmy Mac and Linux snobs have a lot to thank Microsoft for, even if they don't want to.

1. Windows is on the vast majority of the world's computers, creating a virtually ubiquitous platform that anyone can develop for. That actually breeds innovation and development. Yes, Microsoft fosters innovation. While it's much easier for griefers to be mean if everyone's on the same platform, that ubiquity gives us a common ground to drive forward on.

Stan Seiler, senior docent at the Computer History Museum, credits Microsoft for creating the common UI concept—"a common look and feel across multiple applications,” something that "couldn’t be pioneered until somebody had a whole suite of applications,” which Microsoft was among the first to do. They dragged third-party developers into following it as well, and voila, now most stuff works and looks the same across an OS.

2. Microsoft is basically responsible for the two-button mouse. Will Smith from Maximum PC (but not quite Hanguy thingy) gives the Gates machine props for really bringing the mouse to business computing with "the one-two punch of Windows 3.0 and Office." More than that, it created a simple standard for two-button mousing: left-click equals action, right-click equals choices. Love your scroll wheel? (I do.) Microsoft, baby. Apple's mouse philosophy is just silly.

3. Microsoft popularized the concept that software has value and is worth paying for it. Seiler says "it might sound obvious... but it was an important change in the mindset of people.” No one had done it on the scale Microsoft did. Today this leads to some weirdness: There's a different price for each version of Windows. But this theoretically based on how much value Microsoft think is packed into each version of Windows (you can debate this, of course). But unless you're a freetard, you probably don't think the idea itself of paying for software is insane.

4. Microsoft's intimidation leads to innovation. The flipside of Microsoft's scale and success is that everyone hates them. (Duh.) While this sometimes results in unproductive pissing and moaning, it often drives companies to try to outdo the behemoth, after which Microsoft strives to catch up before getting leapfrogged again. This process benefits everyone.

The most famous example is the Browser Wars. Netscape Navigator pushed Internet Exploder forward (not only feature-wise, but leading Microsoft to bundle it with the OS, a big step in and of itself) before IE killed it and achieved a virtual browser monopoly. Years later, Firefox rose from Navigator's ashes to strike back at IE, which resulted in Browser War II and drove us to the point of internet awesomeness (and Web standardization) we're at today. (Not to mention, as Smith points out, mainstreaming TCP/IP in Windows 95 made it much easer and cheaper to get on the internet in the first place.)

So, while Microsoft is now a super-bureaucratic organization that may well be in need of soul, innovation and originality, the truth is, its very unsexiness is why tech and computing are as exciting as they are today. Microsoft's early years provided the foundation and tools, and today it provides technology's version of The Man to outsmart and outdo, which will make tomorrow as good as it's gonna be.

[Fusion]

My first computers in school were macs, though I was not concerned with the OS itself, but rather, things like games and such. When I got my hands on my first actual home computer that soon had Windows 3.1 on it, I had no choice but to live with Windows. Not that it was a bad thing: I had plenty of things I could do on my computer.

Quite a few years later, I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium x64, and I've got a large collection of software from Windows through the ages. I haven't experienced many compatibility issues, and the games usually run well regardless (with the exclusion of Episode I Racer, graphics error.). Sometimes I have to do a manual install, but that's no problem for me.

I ask any Mac user: For someone like me, what would I gain from switching to a Mac? What would I truly gain by switching from an OS for which I had lots of software, tools and games for to an OS I had no software, tools OR games for?

[Captain SpExtacular]

Aww man, this should have been a poll.

I don't like Macs, I like PCs. PCs are more easily customized and make piracy much easier.

O yeah, I'm still pimpin' XP as well.

[Reaver]

I tried Mandrake Linux once, didn't have any problems with it. =/
Also, Linux may have like 80gazillion versions, but not all of them are failures made by the same people (unlike Windows...)

Never tried a Mac..

And Windows... well, I like Vista. It's ok after you disable UAC, Windows Defender and Windows Firewall and get some good replacements... <.<
Tho the only reason I have it is because they force feed it to people with new computers... which is total bullcrap.
Oh and I loooove how the Aero theme uses like 50% of your RAM. Cause who needs performance when you look this good. =D
And it's funny when programs like 3DS Max have to disable the Aero theme to even work.
It's also awesome how you can change the default Vista themes color scheme!

Yeah.. Vista is one well polished diamond...