The age old battle between the Operating Systems. Which do you prefer? For me, I'm a Windows guy. Here's a few reasons why: - Windows may be more prone to viruses than a Mac computer, but it comes down to what you do with your computer. If you go to unsafe porn sites or illegally download material from a torrent site, you're inviting viruses into your computer regardless, so it's not the OS's fault. -Due to demographics and more consumers owning Windows computers, there's a lot of programs that simply don't support the Mac OSX operating system, whereas almost every program at least supports Windows. Being an avid gamer, this makes Apple computers a no-go for me. - Windows is easier to operate. This is a personal bias for me, since I grew up using Microsoft products and using their interface. But it still makes using Apple computers a pain in the ass. - Apple has closed down OS's, which means you can't tweak it as much or play around with it as much as you can on Windows. Apple products do function a little better because of this, but user freedom is often curtailed in the process. - Windows computers are cheaper. You simply can't refute this fact. Who wants to pay $1199 for a Macbook that is more difficult to operate as well as decreased compatibility with many popular software products? The laptop I'm typing this on only cost $500, and it's nearly two years old. Plus I can run many recent games on medium to ultra settings. Paying over double that amount for a trendy laptop seems pointless. - Most Apple users that I've met tend to have a superiority complex. That is, most of them tend to be hipsters that believe they're so progressive and hip because they dropped $2,000 on a computer with a trendy Apple logo. They also tend to be ignorant of how computers work in general, probably because of the closed down interface and their obsession with appearing cool.
This may be true of iOS and of the old "classic" Mac OS versions prior to X, but OS X is pretty darned open. Its foundation is UNIX, which of course is also very much an open standard. Far more so than MS Windows, in fact, which is actually proprietary. My own bias is towards open platforms, which actually causes some conflict in hardware vs software when it comes to Mac vs PC, since PC hardware is more open than Apple's, but Apple's software is more open and less restricted by licensing hassles than that of Microsoft. The most open you can get in a computing platform would have to be PC hardware + open source OS and appliation software, but then that's far from ideal from a usability standpoint. Open source operating systems remain relatively difficult to use, buggy and under-supported by commercial vendors. I do appreciate the Mac platform for its stability, however, and that is true of even just the hardware alone. I have a Windows 7 installation that boots up and runs quite nicely on my Mac Pro, and thanks to Apple's engineering I have a quality 'PC' to run it on that isn't likely to have a vital component go out on me. I have Windows installed for the purpose of gaming specifically, and I also have Wine-based software and VirtualBox installed under Mac OS X for mostly the same reason. Of course, there are also plenty of native Mac titles, but that said, backward compatibility suffers more on Mac than on Windows, I've found. I can actually run the Windows versions of older games such as Neverwinter Nights and Unreal Tournament (original) better under OS X than I can the native Mac versions. At this point, it would actually be impossible for me to run the Mac ports of either of those games under OS X Lion, since it dropped PowerPC emulation support. In the end, though, I do like the Mac OS interface more than any other I've used. I find it to be a great overall platform for work and play. It's certainly rock solid, and I'm just accustomed to it besides. I also manage to get around the Macintax by buying used hardware..
Windows PCs are more customizable, plus software availability really just blows macs out of the water. They are slowly making a come back, though, but I wouldn't say that's because of any efforts that Apple is making, but because the demand of UNIX users, which has been a growing population for years. That being said - my pc is a game machine... and what's a game machine without games?
Linux, bro. Download all the porn and illegal torrents you want on Linux-no viruses. Wine. I know World of Warcraft isn't all that state of the art, but I run the windows version of it on my Ubuntu system (through wine) just fine. This is where microshaft gets everybody. Familiarity. They are so ubiqitous that everyone knows how they work. People don't want to take the effort to learn anything else. Linux is open source. Linux is free. Linux runs on the same hardware as windows, but faster. Because Windows has so much clutter, trying to be all things to all people, it is dragged down by its own weight. Hopefully CTRL stops by this thread. He can give you the real advertisement for Linux. PS -For those who can't bear to get rid of Windows, you can duel boot with Linux and have both.
Everything you said is true... I think my biggest gripe with Windows is the fact that they use a registration system, which wreaks havoc on pretty much everything. My next gripe is forced limitations on ram. I should be able to install as much memory as humanly possible, should I deem it necessary, but some versions of their more current operating systems limit it to 16gb or less for more basic version. These limitations are completely arbitrary. However, even with these issues, I'd rather spend more time playing video games, than trying to get them to work with wine. Been there, done that... not worth the time (unless they've changed things dramatically since the last time I used it, which was years ago).
I regularly use Mac OS X and Linux and avoid Windows except when my wife's ToughBook needs attention. Mac is far ahead aesthetically, imho, but I think it's largely a matter of what you do with it and what you're used to. I have no interest in games, and do a fair amount of graphic design, a field that Apple dominated at a time Windows was dominant in just about everything else.
It all depends on what your uses are. Its like asking if you like a dump truck better than a Volvo. Well if youre doing stuff like moving dirt for a living youll like the dump truck. Apple = for people who think they are programmers but in reality only use a pc for internet, movies and music. PC = If you work in business and move data around for a living, you will be on PC because it has tools you need and is what everyone else is using that needs to process your data. Linux = Kinda neat to mess with but not really helpful in the business world. This is for tinkerers that don't have to normalize data across 5 different companies around the world. Started out like a good idea but appears to have waned.
I first tried Linux three years ago when I installed Ubuntu 9.04 on an old Win XP laptop that was infected with viruses. I was able to turn it from an infected piece of useless junk into a decent internet machine. It could even handle Youtube pretty well without any problems. Couldn't play HD, though. One problem was the drivers, though. Even simple functions like playing DVD's wouldn't work unless I went on a witch hunt for the right drivers, which took hours, btw. Then I found out that all of those drivers are illegal, and that you have to purchase the DVD codecs, which I thought was stupid. Other than driver issues like that, it was a damn good operating system for a newbie like me.
True, and I think Ubuntu has further improved on those issues now. Another distro that does pretty well on usability is OpenSUSE. I know that OpenSUSE has a 1-click way to get proprietary software such as DVD codecs installed. In fact, there's a lot that's available via that 1-click feature, including proprietary video card drivers to get 3D acceleration working properly. Ubuntu has a utility to show you missing drivers and allow you to download them if they're available.
I alternate between Windows and Mac. Not so much because I love Mac OS its just that every other Windows OS seems to end up sucking so badly. Windows Millenium was horrible but Windows XP was awesome followed by Vista which was a failure followed by another success Windows 7 which is also amazing. And true to form Windows 8 sucks my salty balls.
Hmm, I'm using Ubuntu Studio 13.04, and one of the things I was surprised about was just how easily things went in that respect. No driver issues at all. Things just ran, unlike every time I've tried to load windows on a computer. Maybe I was just lucky.
I have been a windows user and tech (occasionally) for 20+ years......and can say with absolute certainty that windows8 is the worst thing they have ever done.
Microsoft is trying too hard to go the smartphone route with the Metro UI. I have nothing against tablets and the smartphone market, but they're not desktops or laptops for a reason. Companies need to quit trying to dumb down computers to the mobile standard.
I prefer windows over Mac, simply because I basically grew up with it, so I find it easier to use. I have tried using Mac but their format is a little to complicated for me.
I'm thinking about messing with Linux again, even though I still prefer Windows due to it being the standard.
Apple "engineering" is a myth. It used to be that Apple made their own CPUs and other components but that hasn't been true for several years now. They use Intel CPUs, Kingston RAM, Seagate HDs...these are all the exact same components that PCs use and they aren't even the best brands. Yet go to the Apple website and see how much they charge for each part compared to Newegg or even a similar built PC from another site. They charge rdiculous amounts of money for last gen technology. We have rows of Macs at my university alongside (*)(*)(*)(*)ty Windows PCs and the fancy looking Macs are down just as much if not more than the PCs. Probably more since they are way more PCs over all but the absolute number of "not working" and "out of order seems to be about the same between them. One thing I have noticed is that people compare Macs to crap computer makers like DELL. DELL uses the absolute (*)(*)(*)(*)tiest components they can find while Apple use better components albeit not the best. You can go to pretty much any computer store and they will build it for you for a couple hundred dollars if you buy the parts off Newegg or Tigerdirect and you will still save hundreds of dollars over buying form a brand. This is assuming that you don't want to build it yourself which is actually very educational and can save you time and money down the road. I still can't believe people will pay $40 at Best Buy to have someone change their graphics card. It is literally a 30 second job. *facepalm* The virus thing was disproven when someone was actually bored enough to bother to make an iOS virus for a change and Apple users were completely exposed because they never run AV. It took a lot longer for Apple to respond than Microsoft does to breaches because they are out of practice. The only reason they are safe is because most hackers don't bother with the iOS since very few people use it. Regarding the OS themselves I HATE Windows 8 with a passion but I love Windows 7. Microsoft does in fact go through a series of BETA releases where they release a (*)(*)(*)(*)ty OS and once they figure out what they did wrong the next OS seems to be amazing. Windows Millenium sucked balls and was unfortunately my first Windows OS outside of using my friends Windows 95 a few times as a kid. Once I swapped out for Windows XP the same machine that was chugging on games all of a sudden ran silky smooth as butter. I will definitely wait for Windows 9. Also, from what my fellow Mac heads have told me good luck walking into an Apple store to get something fixed.....there is a waiting line and you need an appointment. I like like the look and style of the iOS more though. I don't know who their design team is but they deserve awards and accolades up the butt.......not literally though as that would really hurt. A bit OT but one thing I (*)(*)(*)(*)ing hate is Microsoft buying off TV shows and constantly inserting Windows 8 into the show. Why do I have to constantly see 3 seconds of someone using Windows 8 to bring up a pic on the crime board. It is just getting obnoxious now. In sum I love Apple consumer products like the Ipod and such but thier computers are overpriced, mid technology snob machines. Macheads really do epitomize hipsters and (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)bags who know absolutely nothing about computers.
I too adore Windows 7. I have no interest in Windows 8 or 10 (where did 9 go?). I build my PCs. You save so much money, and get a much higher quality computer. I also have a Retina Macbook Pro. It's convenient. Apple is about usability for everyday things - in that sense it succeeds. No reason we can't have both.
