For a tech-savvy guy like me, how can Mac actually be better than Windows?
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
I’ve seen Apple’s commercials, and they perplex me. A Mac is better than a PC (though Macs are PCs, an overlooked fact) for creative users. Now, I’ve worked with Mac before. It’s easy enough to use, a lot like Windows. And I do agree, a lot of Mac’s software is good for media, especially GarageBand and iMovie. But I do not find Mac as an operating system preferable to Windows in any way.
IMO, the OS of a PC (go anagrams) doesn’t really affect your usage of the software you have installed. For either Mac or Windows, you’d have to install the appropriate software to do “creative stuff.” Beyond that, the OS has minimal effects on your experience. Does Mac allow a better experience for installing “creative stuff” software? No. Therefore, is Mac better for “creative stuff?” No.
Despite Apple’s ad campaign, Windows is not a stuffy old guy who likes filing tax returns. Windows is a best friend who will do anything with you. Mac is much the same. And I’m giving you first-hand information.
May 27th, 2010 at 3:33 am
It’s a simple preference. Dock vs. Start menu. The rest is pretty much the same.
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 4:29 am
If you were really tech savvy, you wouldn’t have to ask that question. Trust me.
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 6:34 am
One reason it might be better for many people is that it has a very mature unix core underneath the hood.
As a guy who spent today doing nothing but fixing a huge virus outbreak at his company (even though it’s not my job), I would love to live in the almost virus-free Mac world.
It seems that the people behind user interface development for Mac software are more attuned to the usability of it. That’s a reason that you might consider.
I’ve been “tech-savvy” for 28 years, 20 professionally. I’ve used ‘em all. The Mac does have a case for improved usability. Despite that, I don’t have one. But I wouldn’t mind.
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 9:35 am
James has a point, yet I’ve used both and prefer the functionality and expandability of PC, then again if I was editing video non-stop and needed a stable, high performance system with no (or at least close to no) chance of a virus, I’d choose a Mac in a heartbeat.
But to more directly answer your question, it’s about style, not performance, who (after the commercials) wants to go around boasting about their PC, when they’re friend has this brand new Mac that looks like it came from a spaceship?
And for the creative stuff, with the iPod at the top of the market, and every computer company making all of their stuff clear and white, PC is having a hard time.
But the bottom line is, PC has the the top hand, just no one will admit it.
I’m a Professional video, picture and music editor, built my own PC. (You can’t do that with Mac)
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
As everyone has said, it’s a question of preference. Do you want to buy cheap software? > PC. Do you want to download countless .exes from the web? > PC. Do you want to forever download virus protection updates? > PC.
The crux of your question is install – in my experience working on both platforms, Mac tends to have the creative software already installed such as Garage Band etc. The gap between the two platforms is forever drawing closer; having had an iMac G5 running Tiger for well over a year and having had no crashes (just the occasional ‘force quit’ when I’m trying to multitask on too many apps), the Mac platform is far more stable than Windows ME.
Personally, Macs have encouraged me to explore a whole new rafts of skills with my computer such as web-authoring, image editing, sound manipulation and the like. I don’t think the bland feel of a PC would have encouraged or inspired me to the same extent. I have nothing against PCs but you have to admit that Apple’s recent image looks inviting, inventive and different. And we *all* want to be different…
Good luck with whatever you’re doing,
Peter
I’m a Professional video, picture and music editor, built my own PC. (You can’t do that with Mac)
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
If you really used a mac, you shouldn’t think like that. I first used Win 95, then 98 and XP. When I bought my first Mac with OS X Jaguar, it totally changed my life. Now I am using Panther since 3 years. It didn’t crashed yet! With my Windows installed computers, I took them to the service at least once a year… So this is only a little story about why you shouldn’t use Windows…
I’m a Professional video, picture and music editor, built my own PC. (You can’t do that with Mac)
Report this comment
May 27th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I am a network architect, and at times, I do have to work on windows servers, yet most of my work is configuring routers, switches and drawing up large network diagrams. Then, after work, I go and play Call of Duty 2 in high res, or I play Warcraft. I love google earth, I use Microsoft office, never do any video editing other than converting xvids that I downloaded over to DVD’s which I then burn using a simple burning program made by Roxio.. I use Quicken to take care of my finances, ad I have a nice e-mail program…. What OS do I use? Take a guess, no, it isn’t Windows.
I don’t think that the argument that Macs are just good for video editing is valid anymore, they use to be, and still are due to the stability of the OS, however, now they can accomplish anything a Windows machine can do. The hardware is even the same.
So, your point that Mac is much the same is very true now, my parents went from windows to mac, and they are your average user, not your video editing geek.
Does Mac provide a better experience for installing software? I would say yes, and not limited to just creative software. I download a program, drag it over to applications and installed, I don’t want it anymore, I drag it to the trash. A few, very few programs have an actual installer. Yet, no need to go dig through a registry to get rid of some program.
So, really, the two OS’s can perform the same tasks, and Mac does use “creativity” as a big marketing promotion. Really, it all depends on the user now, hard-core Windows users will stay windows users, just because it is fun, the same reason that Linux geeks will always be on Linux no matter how much of a pain it can be to work with, and Mac users will be Mac users.
Those left in that grey area will just have to choose accordingly, and Mac might have the upper hand for the average user that wants to print photos, download stuff from there camera, surf the web and do regular stuff without dealing with any annoyances.
I’m a Professional video, picture and music editor, built my own PC. (You can’t do that with Mac)
Report this comment