Comments on: Why Switch to the Mac? Five Top Reasons http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/ Rebooting the workforce Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:59:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Alan S http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-302819 Alan S Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:54:35 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-302819 I think your forgetting that Microsoft is primarily a software company and the Windows is an Operating System.. The point I'm trying to make is that microsoft cannot control all the hardware manufacturers that build machines that run their OS or the peripherals that are made for their OS... this is good and bad for users because A) they get more choices but B) there is a higher risk for compatibility and quality issues. Apple, on the other hand, is a hardware/software company and have tight restrictions and controls set for their OS and it's peripherals... good luck buying a sub $1000 computer from Apple and good luck trying to find a bevy of upgrade and peripheral options for your computer... you are tied to Apple.. This whole post is misleading I think your forgetting that Microsoft is primarily a software company and the Windows is an Operating System.. The point I’m trying to make is that microsoft cannot control all the hardware manufacturers that build machines that run their OS or the peripherals that are made for their OS… this is good and bad for users because A) they get more choices but B) there is a higher risk for compatibility and quality issues. Apple, on the other hand, is a hardware/software company and have tight restrictions and controls set for their OS and it’s peripherals… good luck buying a sub $1000 computer from Apple and good luck trying to find a bevy of upgrade and peripheral options for your computer… you are tied to Apple..

This whole post is misleading

]]> By: Partners in Grime http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301768 Partners in Grime Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:36:42 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301768 One machine. Two operating systems. Best of both worlds. One machine. Two operating systems. Best of both worlds.

]]> By: Steve Johnson http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301757 Steve Johnson Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:09:05 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301757 <i>An actual file system. Microsoft has been promising a fast, full-featured file system in Windows for years without ever delivering one. WinFS, which was supposed to be a Mac-like, robust file system was planned for Windows Vista, but then shelved. The speed with which I can retrieve anything on my computer with the Mac is a huge advantage.</i> This is poorly researched fantasy. While Vista's new promised FS hasn't materialized, it's not like NTFS isn't better in many respects than Apple's HFS+ anyway, as NTFS allows for larger files and filesystem level encryption. HFS+ does have some metadata advangates. <i>Much better video and graphics. The Mac OS and Mac machines have been recognized for years as trouncing Windows PCs in these areas, but I don’t see this as just a hardware or operating system issue anymore. That’s especially true now that Apple uses Intel processors. It’s the applications I can use on the Mac that have become more robust than their Windows counterparts. Even iMovie is more robust than Windows video editing applications that cost hundreds of dollars.</i> You are selectively picking and choosing amongst applications to make your point. Regardless, you are trying to make an application issue a system issue, and ur has nothing to do with it. I think it much more important to note that only the highest margin of Apple's product line offers great video hardware puts it at an objective dissadvantage. <i>True plug-and-play. Mac users, when was the last time you tried to plug any peripheral in and ran into problems? Even after years of Microsoft’s plug-and-play initiatives, I still run into nasty driver issues and incompatibilities. I think the key here is that Apple keeps compatibility simpler for developers and hardware manufacturers.</i> This being a problem with windows is VASTLY overstated. It's mostly limited to low-end poorly supported devices and peripherals and is not the fault of Windows. Try this? pick some random peripheral off the shelf at your local computer store and plug it into your mac. A lot of the time it's just not going to work because of the absense of drivers. <i>More reliability. Macs are more reliable than PCs for several reasons. The operating system is far less prone to crashing. Support is head-and-shoulders above what you get with a PC. And because the user base is smaller than Windows’, Macs and Mac applications are less of a target for hackers.</i> The Operating system is not far less prone to crashing. Both are solid provided they don't have a crappy driver messing up Kernel space. While you'll see this more often on Windows given the vast amount of devices available, this makes it a platform issue that can be avoided, not an inherent operating system issue. Support depends on who you buy from. Security by obscurity really isn't security. An actual file system. Microsoft has been promising a fast, full-featured file system in Windows for years without ever delivering one. WinFS, which was supposed to be a Mac-like, robust file system was planned for Windows Vista, but then shelved. The speed with which I can retrieve anything on my computer with the Mac is a huge advantage.

This is poorly researched fantasy. While Vista’s new promised FS hasn’t materialized, it’s not like NTFS isn’t better in many respects than Apple’s HFS+ anyway, as NTFS allows for larger files and filesystem level encryption. HFS+ does have some metadata advangates.

Much better video and graphics. The Mac OS and Mac machines have been recognized for years as trouncing Windows PCs in these areas, but I don’t see this as just a hardware or operating system issue anymore. That’s especially true now that Apple uses Intel processors. It’s the applications I can use on the Mac that have become more robust than their Windows counterparts. Even iMovie is more robust than Windows video editing applications that cost hundreds of dollars.

You are selectively picking and choosing amongst applications to make your point. Regardless, you are trying to make an application issue a system issue, and ur has nothing to do with it. I think it much more important to note that only the highest margin of Apple’s product line offers great video hardware puts it at an objective dissadvantage.

True plug-and-play. Mac users, when was the last time you tried to plug any peripheral in and ran into problems? Even after years of Microsoft’s plug-and-play initiatives, I still run into nasty driver issues and incompatibilities. I think the key here is that Apple keeps compatibility simpler for developers and hardware manufacturers.

This being a problem with windows is VASTLY overstated. It’s mostly limited to low-end poorly supported devices and peripherals and is not the fault of Windows. Try this? pick some random peripheral off the shelf at your local computer store and plug it into your mac. A lot of the time it’s just not going to work because of the absense of drivers.

More reliability. Macs are more reliable than PCs for several reasons. The operating system is far less prone to crashing. Support is head-and-shoulders above what you get with a PC. And because the user base is smaller than Windows’, Macs and Mac applications are less of a target for hackers.

The Operating system is not far less prone to crashing. Both are solid provided they don’t have a crappy driver messing up Kernel space. While you’ll see this more often on Windows given the vast amount of devices available, this makes it a platform issue that can be avoided, not an inherent operating system issue.

Support depends on who you buy from.

Security by obscurity really isn’t security.

]]> By: jshultz http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301749 jshultz Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:39:20 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301749 @Richard Why do mac users constantly feel the need to justify themselves and their choice of computer? What's with the Apple smugness that makes them look down on other PC users? It reminds me of Linux users back in the 90s. Who wants to be associated with that? I don't. I could give a rat's but less what computer you use. If it works for you then great. But don't feel the need to justify your choices to me or the majority of us out here. I like both Mac and Windows. I just don't care much for Mac users. @Richard Why do mac users constantly feel the need to justify themselves and their choice of computer? What’s with the Apple smugness that makes them look down on other PC users? It reminds me of Linux users back in the 90s. Who wants to be associated with that? I don’t. I could give a rat’s but less what computer you use. If it works for you then great. But don’t feel the need to justify your choices to me or the majority of us out here. I like both Mac and Windows. I just don’t care much for Mac users.

]]> By: shinmai http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301692 shinmai Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:09:29 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301692 Ben Byrne: Everything on your list, I get for way less with Linux. I'm not even going to go into some religious advocation rant here, if you actually get more work done on a Mac, more power to you. The dumbed down candy-UI has always merely slowed me down, when I frequently have to work on Apple-hardware. YMWV. It these "come to our side"-lists are geared more and more toward UI-fluff, and features present in pretty much any non-windows OS, and less at features actually unique to Macs/Apple. Apples merits have, and always will, lie in UI/casing-design, beginner-friendly UI and - for those who have money - the all-in-one principle of hardware and software acquisition. For someone like me, with a very tight budget, enough computer skills to not be intimidated when I don't have the OS hold my hand every step of the way, and the ability to pretty quickly adapt even exotic UI-designs Apples are just a waste of money. I aplogoize for the somewhat loaded sentences I use. As I said, I whis this whole OS-evangelism would just stop, but I think we can all agree that this whole thing, and the OS-war in general, are pretty much fueled by Apple users, and some of the more religious *nix users... Ben Byrne:
Everything on your list, I get for way less with Linux. I’m not even going to go into some religious advocation rant here, if you actually get more work done on a Mac, more power to you. The dumbed down candy-UI has always merely slowed me down, when I frequently have to work on Apple-hardware. YMWV.

It these “come to our side”-lists are geared more and more toward UI-fluff, and features present in pretty much any non-windows OS, and less at features actually unique to Macs/Apple.

Apples merits have, and always will, lie in UI/casing-design, beginner-friendly UI and – for those who have money – the all-in-one principle of hardware and software acquisition. For someone like me, with a very tight budget, enough computer skills to not be intimidated when I don’t have the OS hold my hand every step of the way, and the ability to pretty quickly adapt even exotic UI-designs Apples are just a waste of money.

I aplogoize for the somewhat loaded sentences I use. As I said, I whis this whole OS-evangelism would just stop, but I think we can all agree that this whole thing, and the OS-war in general, are pretty much fueled by Apple users, and some of the more religious *nix users…

]]> By: Roberto http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301594 Roberto Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:27:33 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301594 Bah, everyone knows that the AmigaOS is the best OS ever made in the history of the Universe. Bah, everyone knows that the AmigaOS is the best OS ever made in the history of the Universe.

]]> By: Pete http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301581 Pete Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:52:21 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301581 You are all obviously wrong, and possibly evil. BSD is the best operating system. It is faster and better than both Windows and OS X in every possible way. It promotes a healthy coat and teeth, whereas other operating systems clearly cause the deaths of thousands of poor, hungry orphans. You are all obviously wrong, and possibly evil.

BSD is the best operating system. It is faster and better than both Windows and OS X in every possible way. It promotes a healthy coat and teeth, whereas other operating systems clearly cause the deaths of thousands of poor, hungry orphans.

]]> By: Brett http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301558 Brett Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:27:50 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301558 I use Windows for work. But that's because my work is based on the MS platform. I won't dev inside a vm on a Mac, it's just not worth it. I need windows, it works, clients pay, the world moves on. I go home and relax on the Mac. It's beautiful to look at, delivers lightning response in all my AV programs, and stays clean. Windows pays for my Mac... interesting. I use Windows for work. But that’s because my work is based on the MS platform. I won’t dev inside a vm on a Mac, it’s just not worth it. I need windows, it works, clients pay, the world moves on.
I go home and relax on the Mac. It’s beautiful to look at, delivers lightning response in all my AV programs, and stays clean.
Windows pays for my Mac… interesting.

]]> By: Elena http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301525 Elena Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:47:40 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301525 There are ridiculous trolls on here who pretend to know the Mac but who don't have a clue. For example, MUCH easier than a [so-called missing] right click is a two-fingered-tap on the MacBook trackpad. There are ridiculous trolls on here who pretend to know the Mac but who don’t have a clue.

For example, MUCH easier than a [so-called missing] right click is a two-fingered-tap on the MacBook trackpad.

]]> By: michael http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301503 michael Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:16:54 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301503 @Richard- I would tend to believe that Mac users are much more threatened, since they feel the need to constantly post such tripe as this article. The OSs are basically identical -- ANY argument of one over the other is ridiculous and sad. @Richard-
I would tend to believe that Mac users are much more threatened, since they feel the need to constantly post such tripe as this article.

The OSs are basically identical — ANY argument of one over the other is ridiculous and sad.

]]> By: michael http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301501 michael Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:14:45 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301501 As someone who uses both (and linux) every day -- and really has no preference, just as I have no preference of using my Craftsman hammer or my Black&Decker -- I'll say this: *There is no pro-Mac argument that cannot be intelligently shredded, and most of them rely entirely on opinion (it's prettier!) The rest tend to indicate that the author hasn't used Windows in 10 years or so. *This article says, "Much better video and graphics." But since the hardware is identical (and easier to upgrade on Windows), it relies on a lame "better software" argument, ignoring that the best graphic/movie software is available for both platforms. And I'd hate to ignore the classic: "The Mac OS and Mac machines have been recognized for years as trouncing Windows PCs in these areas" -- which years? '94 and '95? *I would expect a website geared towards professionals to NOT resort to click-trolling. I've removed you from my bookmarks. As someone who uses both (and linux) every day — and really has no preference, just as I have no preference of using my Craftsman hammer or my Black&Decker — I’ll say this:

*There is no pro-Mac argument that cannot be intelligently shredded, and most of them rely entirely on opinion (it’s prettier!) The rest tend to indicate that the author hasn’t used Windows in 10 years or so.

*This article says, “Much better video and graphics.” But since the hardware is identical (and easier to upgrade on Windows), it relies on a lame “better software” argument, ignoring that the best graphic/movie software is available for both platforms. And I’d hate to ignore the classic: “The Mac OS and Mac machines have been recognized for years as trouncing Windows PCs in these areas” — which years? ‘94 and ‘95?

*I would expect a website geared towards professionals to NOT resort to click-trolling. I’ve removed you from my bookmarks.

]]> By: Richard http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301500 Richard Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:03:25 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301500 Why is it all of the PC people feel so threatened by Macs. It's just a computer! I've used them since 1988 and they work well, but they're just a computer. If Macs didn't exist, I would use Windows, which is also just a computer. Use what you want, but drop the defensiveness. There are more important things in the world, you know? Why is it all of the PC people feel so threatened by Macs. It’s just a computer! I’ve used them since 1988 and they work well, but they’re just a computer. If Macs didn’t exist, I would use Windows, which is also just a computer.

Use what you want, but drop the defensiveness. There are more important things in the world, you know?

]]> By: T http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301496 T Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:30:08 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301496 Smart people buy PCs, “cool” people buy Macs. Smart people buy PCs, “cool” people buy Macs.

]]> By: tom B http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301475 tom B Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:58:46 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301475 To "not-quite" "1. HFS+ is not that great. Don’t believe me? Ask Linus Torvalds" HFS+ isn't "done". Future versions may be more like Sun's ZFS. Moreover, HFS+ AS IT STANDS is superior to Windows' FS, IMHO. How it stands in relation to LINUX? Don't know. And are yyou looking from the Developer side or the USER side? "4. Plug and Play? Great, if you can find a Mac peripheral. And you still have to install drivers." Plenty of peripherals. And I usually DON'T install drivers. "5. Reliability? I find XP very good with reliability, and Vista has been outstanding." XP doesn't fully crash often when a browser hangs, but in my experience, it takes a LONG time to get back to a state where it lets me do anything again. To Ben Byrne: Agree 100%. Two machines, for slightly more than the cost of one (install Windows via VMWare or Bootcamp on your Mac). This SHOULD be very compelling for a web worker. And the UNIX-level security and stability simply don't exist in Windows. And it looks like they won't in Win 7. Maybe in Windows "Midori", if that ever gets past the vaporware stage. I think it won't. To “not-quite”

“1. HFS+ is not that great. Don’t believe me? Ask Linus Torvalds”

HFS+ isn’t “done”. Future versions may be more like Sun’s ZFS. Moreover, HFS+ AS IT STANDS is superior to Windows’ FS, IMHO. How it stands in relation to LINUX? Don’t know. And are yyou looking from the Developer side or the USER side?

“4. Plug and Play? Great, if you can find a Mac peripheral. And you still have to install drivers.”

Plenty of peripherals. And I usually DON’T install drivers.

“5. Reliability? I find XP very good with reliability, and Vista has been outstanding.”

XP doesn’t fully crash often when a browser hangs, but in my experience, it takes a LONG time to get back to a state where it lets me do anything again.

To Ben Byrne:

Agree 100%. Two machines, for slightly more than the cost of one (install Windows via VMWare or Bootcamp on your Mac). This SHOULD be very compelling for a web worker. And the UNIX-level security and stability simply don’t exist in Windows. And it looks like they won’t in Win 7. Maybe in Windows “Midori”, if that ever gets past the vaporware stage. I think it won’t.

]]> By: Tim H. http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301474 Tim H. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:48:21 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301474 "When was the last time you tried to plug any peripheral in and ran into problems?" Ummm, I have a BIG problem syncing my MacBook Pro with my Blackberry 8830. THE primary reason I got the 8830 was because I could tether it to my laptop and use it as a wireless modem anywhere I went. Now, with the Mac, I do not have that luxury, nor have I found the solution. Anyone have any suggestions? “When was the last time you tried to plug any peripheral in and ran into problems?”

Ummm, I have a BIG problem syncing my MacBook Pro with my Blackberry 8830. THE primary reason I got the 8830 was because I could tether it to my laptop and use it as a wireless modem anywhere I went. Now, with the Mac, I do not have that luxury, nor have I found the solution.

Anyone have any suggestions?

]]> By: d-a-n-i-e-L http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/08/05/why-switch-to-the-mac-five-top-reasons/#comment-301471 d-a-n-i-e-L Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:07:54 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=3175#comment-301471 I have to take issue with point 5, More Reliability. I have several XP machines and a Macbook Air. I have had TONS of problems with the Air hanging on boot, and crashing after waking back up. Meanwhile I haven't had a BSOD on XP since SP2 came out. I think Vista and pre XP SP2 machines had tons of problems, but XP just works. I have to take issue with point 5, More Reliability. I have several XP machines and a Macbook Air. I have had TONS of problems with the Air hanging on boot, and crashing after waking back up. Meanwhile I haven’t had a BSOD on XP since SP2 came out.

I think Vista and pre XP SP2 machines had tons of problems, but XP just works.

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