Mac vx. PC: The Stereotypes May Be True - Page 6

Prestidigitweeze · 03-21-2012, 12:47 AM

The annoying thing about journalists' arbitrary subsets of Mac, PC and Linux users is that they render a lot of people invisible. The lost Mac user is one whom both camps now seem to disregard: The professional who bought a Mac solely to be compatible with others in their industry.

Many professionals are now caught between Snow Leopard and Lion; between Mac Pros and whatever consumer-specific tablepal Apple sees as the desktop's inevitable replacement.

Thirty years ago, Apple knew they couldn't surpass Windows in the business market and focused on the arts. They won that round. But now that they've got consumers as their sole focus, both their operating system and their hardware are abandoning the user base who once gave them credibility. Apple seems to be ditching the professional artistic market they helped to create.

Former Mac professionals could find themselves and their businesses migrating to Windows if enough crucial options are streamlined out of whatever OSX/iOS hybrid their current towers and laptops get stuck with. Film and music pros are notoriously conservative about updating software ("no point in fixing what isn't broken"), so people could get another four to six years out of whatever setup they now own without ever upgrading to Lion. But then they might be stuck.

I doubt they'll move to any version of Linux (due to existing incompatibilities, and potential glitches which engineers and production people will do anything to avoid) unless it becomes the last platform that allows for minutiae, variables and user control. That's why I see everything moving to Windows unless Apple decides to re-prioritize.

wannabee · 03-21-2012, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovieBird

But for those of us that are OCD enough to want control of everything, Apple products don't fit the bill.

That's so true with some PC people I've know. They spend a lot of time on house cleaning maintenance of the files and extensions etc. The only house cleaning I do is stuffing the files my wife saved on the desktop into her folder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

OCD lol

then again I must be a lazy bum that wants a genie in a bottle that thinks for me

You're not alone there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidari

Personally, I have had too many Mac users over the years coming across as overzealous in their love of Mac and condemning of all non-mac machines. I just find it ironic that most of these people use Microsoft Word....

Which, as one of the first "What you see is what you get" word processore, like MacWrite, made available for the Mac in '84 while most other processors were 80 column green screens. Nearly everyone with a Mac bought it because it was so good. I guess the trend just stuck around. PC owners had to wait for windows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

I can't get over the weird single-button mouse design on the Mac laptops. I mean, why not have two buttons? Der.

True. It is a shame that Apple doesn't make the control click pull down menu more obvious. I've seen it frustrate quite a few 1st time Mac users.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

and mice for Macs have been as many buttons as you want for years... and all fully programmable without needing any extra drivers... no difference in using PCs to Macs these days from that point...

Except until very recently, were always packed with a one button mouse.
--------------------------------------------------------

Since Windows 7 came out I find it similar to Leopard which I've used for ages. I like them both. I think the new OSX Lion is trying to be siimilar to iOS. Which, for someone without a touch pad is a little frustrating.

That example of PC vs Mac pricing earlier in the thread mentioned an Entertainment PC with a touch screen. I think the finger marks on a screen for entertainment (TV etc.) would dive me nuts. My iPad is pretty bad after a few hours use.

Because I spend a lot of the day using Adobe software. Whether it's a Windows PC or an Apple PC, I find the differences marginal.

I would rather be using a nice iMac on my desk rather than this bulky PC box in front of me but if I.T. had bought a MacPro I'd be in the same boat. But that was never gonna' happen. You should have seen the I.T. guy's face when I brought my MacMini into work so I could upload to Apple.

He just rolled his eyes when I told him you couldn't use a PC to upload to Apple.

But that's a story for another thread.

Xanthe · 03-21-2012, 01:41 AM

Jeez, who knew that my acceptance of a used PC from a deceased family member as my first computer (other than my old Commodore 64) was going to pigeon-hole me for life?

HappyMartin · 03-21-2012, 03:41 AM

The other thing with macs of course is the last virus for Mac that I am aware of was around 10 years ago. Never used anti virus software on a Mac. I have never had a virus. Also never had to do that defrag thingy or go looking under the my computer thingy and try to remember all the letters for what drives when mounting an external drive.

I just have no real interest in computers I suppose and admit to being pretty ignorant about them.

Lemurion · 03-21-2012, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Unicomp makes a better keyboard: http://pckeyboard.com/

/hijack

Not for me.

I can see the benefits of the buckling spring, but it's not ergonomic, so it's not better for my needs. If they put that technology in an ergonomic split with a reverse slope setting, then they would have something.

mrscoach · 03-21-2012, 07:57 AM

I used to be an Apple person, until a bad iMac and bad support ticked me off so much I said "never again". I wouldn't even consider buying ipods for my kids, they used other brands.

Apple treated me as though I was an idiot and one even suggested I get my husband to work on the computer instead of trying it myself. I was happy to inform him that he was sexist and that my husband knew nothing of Apple products. I worked with them at work all the time.

They eventually told the repairman (when they finally agreed to let me take it in) that there was nothing wrong with the computer and I had never contacted them about any problems. He read off pages of notes on ALL the times I had called in, complete with names, dates and times. He also told them he was looking at the computer, and there were major problems, I wasn't an idiot.

So when people talk about the ease of use of Apple products and how great the support is, I laugh.

dadioflex · 03-21-2012, 09:07 AM

Self-selecting survey is self-selecting.

I found this ironic.

"Mac users also are more likely to describe themselves as computer-savvy "

MovieBird · 03-21-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

Funny, never saw a mouse on a Mac laptop... only trackpad...

and mice for Macs have been as many buttons as you want for years... and all fully programmable without needing any extra drivers... no difference in using PCs to Macs these days from that point...

Where is this mouse that has extra buttons in the Mac store? When I attempt to configure a Mac (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC560LL/A) I get 3 options, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Apple Mouse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple Mouse

And with touch-sensitive technology concealed under the seamless top shell, you can choose either the versatility of a four-button mouse or the simplicity of a single-button beauty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

The other thing with macs of course is the last virus for Mac that I am aware of was around 10 years ago. Never used anti virus software on a Mac. I have never had a virus.

Not a virus, but still a security hole that was breached this year:

Flashback Trojan

Notice that this is simply a new iteration of an older Mac exploit. You're not safe just because you run a Mac.

wizwor · 03-21-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

The other thing with macs of course is the last virus for Mac that I am aware of was around 10 years ago. Never used anti virus software on a Mac. I have never had a virus. Also never had to do that defrag thingy or go looking under the my computer thingy and try to remember all the letters for what drives when mounting an external drive.

I just have no real interest in computers I suppose and admit to being pretty ignorant about them.

Lack of awareness is not the same as lack of existence. Google is your friend...

http://macviruscom.wordpress.com/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...passwords.html
http://www.nmbgeek.com/blog/mac-viru...g-back-up.html
http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/...us-mac-viruses

Also, a LOT of Macs run older versions of Windows.

No matter what connected computer you use, make sure you are aware of and protected against risks.

Phogg · 03-21-2012, 09:21 AM

The best protection against viruses is to have the market heavily fragmented and use an operating system with a smaller user base.

elcreative · 03-21-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovieBird

Where is this mouse that has extra buttons in the Mac store? When I attempt to configure a Mac (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC560LL/A) I get 3 options, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Apple Mouse.

Gosh... the Mac store...

I do believe that the world does encompass a few other manufacturers and retail outlets that support Macs and

have devices as well as software for these machines...

Prestidigitweeze · 03-21-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

The best protection against viruses is to have the market heavily fragmented and use an operating system with a smaller user base.

Now that's a quotable dig. Someone needs to silk-screen a few T-shirts.

wizwor · 03-21-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

The best protection against viruses is to have the market heavily fragmented and use an operating system with a smaller user base.

Sure as long as you avoid PDFs, JAVA, JPGs, email, the internet, and any kind of active content.

I've had an Atari 800 for three decades and never had a virus. I use it a lot, but I'm not using it now.

obsessed2 · 03-21-2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

Sure as long as you avoid PDFs, JAVA, JPGs, email, the internet, and any kind of active content.

I've had an Atari 800 for three decades and never had a virus. I use it a lot, but I'm not using it now.

My TRS-80 Level I never got a virus either. Man I wish I would have kept that machine. Makes you long for the good old days.

DiapDealer · 03-21-2012, 04:17 PM

A Trash-80?! You guys and your Radio "Shackles."

Spoiler:

03-21-2012, 12:47 AM	#76
Prestidigitweeze Fledgling Demagogue Posts: 2,384 Karma: 31132263 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: White Plains Device: Clara HD; Oasis 2; Aura HD; iPad Air; PRS-350; Galaxy S7.	The annoying thing about journalists' arbitrary subsets of Mac, PC and Linux users is that they render a lot of people invisible. The lost Mac user is one whom both camps now seem to disregard: The professional who bought a Mac solely to be compatible with others in their industry. Many professionals are now caught between Snow Leopard and Lion; between Mac Pros and whatever consumer-specific tablepal Apple sees as the desktop's inevitable replacement. Thirty years ago, Apple knew they couldn't surpass Windows in the business market and focused on the arts. They won that round. But now that they've got consumers as their sole focus, both their operating system and their hardware are abandoning the user base who once gave them credibility. Apple seems to be ditching the professional artistic market they helped to create. Former Mac professionals could find themselves and their businesses migrating to Windows if enough crucial options are streamlined out of whatever OSX/iOS hybrid their current towers and laptops get stuck with. Film and music pros are notoriously conservative about updating software ("no point in fixing what isn't broken"), so people could get another four to six years out of whatever setup they now own without ever upgrading to Lion. But then they might be stuck. I doubt they'll move to any version of Linux (due to existing incompatibilities, and potential glitches which engineers and production people will do anything to avoid) unless it becomes the last platform that allows for minutiae, variables and user control. That's why I see everything moving to Windows unless Apple decides to re-prioritize. Last edited by Prestidigitweeze; 03-21-2012 at 01:27 PM.

03-21-2012, 04:17 PM	#90
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,883 Karma: 207000000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	A Trash-80?! You guys and your Radio "Shackles." Spoiler: That was a joke, BTW. Although I *was* more of Sinclair ZX80 person.

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03-21-2012, 01:41 AM	#78
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Jeez, who knew that my acceptance of a used PC from a deceased family member as my first computer (other than my old Commodore 64) was going to pigeon-hole me for life?

03-21-2012, 03:41 AM	#79
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	The other thing with macs of course is the last virus for Mac that I am aware of was around 10 years ago. Never used anti virus software on a Mac. I have never had a virus. Also never had to do that defrag thingy or go looking under the my computer thingy and try to remember all the letters for what drives when mounting an external drive. I just have no real interest in computers I suppose and admit to being pretty ignorant about them.

03-21-2012, 07:57 AM	#81
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I used to be an Apple person, until a bad iMac and bad support ticked me off so much I said "never again". I wouldn't even consider buying ipods for my kids, they used other brands. Apple treated me as though I was an idiot and one even suggested I get my husband to work on the computer instead of trying it myself. I was happy to inform him that he was sexist and that my husband knew nothing of Apple products. I worked with them at work all the time. They eventually told the repairman (when they finally agreed to let me take it in) that there was nothing wrong with the computer and I had never contacted them about any problems. He read off pages of notes on ALL the times I had called in, complete with names, dates and times. He also told them he was looking at the computer, and there were major problems, I wasn't an idiot. So when people talk about the ease of use of Apple products and how great the support is, I laugh.

03-21-2012, 09:07 AM	#82
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	Self-selecting survey is self-selecting. I found this ironic. "Mac users also are more likely to describe themselves as computer-savvy "

03-21-2012, 09:21 AM	#85
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	The best protection against viruses is to have the market heavily fragmented and use an operating system with a smaller user base.