The Endless Debate: Microsoft or Mac
Written by: Tom Sawyer
It was really hard for me to do any writing this past weekend due to fighting with a computer. For Christmas, my wife will be getting a new laptop and it hasn’t been easy to get it to do what I want it to – what my wife will need it to do. First it was the wireless, then the VPN (virtual private network so she can connect to her job) client that wouldn’t work correctly. Boy am I glad I don’t have this problem with my laptop.
I don’t have the same problems with my laptop because I have a MacBook. Yes, regardless of what you may be thinking, Apple computers are less of a headache than a PC running Windows. I’m not saying a Mac is the answer to easy computing, but it does have advantages. Now you know I’m going to break it down – all the way down – so here we go.
Flavors
Microsoft has had many different operating systems over the years: Windows 3.0, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. While each seem to offer more functionality than the previous edition, they are often bloated (the code takes up more space and more hard drive space is necessary) and half-baked – can you say service patch? Vista is so bad that many people have “downgraded” to XP; I have had relative success with Vista.
I’m not an operating system historian when it comes to Mac computers, but I do know each new edition builds on the previous to the point where some of them are only different under the hood at first glance. If the user experience is good, why fiddle too much with it? An example of this is what both companies plan to offer in the future. Microsoft is coming out with Windows 7 which uses a platform similar to Vista. We know they want to ditch anything to do with the name Vista. Apple is coming out with Snow Leopard – Leopard is the current operating system. The main goal with Snow Leopard is simple: trim down the code and make it run faster. Wouldn’t we be in a dream land if Windows 7 took up less space and ran faster?
When it comes to operating systems, the two companies have different philosophies. Microsoft is mainstream so it can afford to (seemingly) re-invent the wheel every time. Apple, on the other hand, relies upon customer loyalty and the best way to get this is to provide a consistently good user experience. Apple’s user experience is also helped by the fact that Apple controls all the hardware too – Microsoft is all about software with a few exceptions like the Xbox 360.
User Experience
My recent frustrations come from the fact that Vista has so many hardware/software possibilities that it is easy for something not to work. The VPN client I was trying to install was for 32-bit operating systems only and of course my wife’s new computer is running a 64-bit operating system.
I was also having problems with the wireless network card dropping the connection often. This is a problem I didn’t have with two Apple computers, one computer running XP and another one running Vista. But wait, the other computer running Vista isn’t 64-bit and doesn’t have the same network card so there was no easy solution or way for me to figure it out.
To be fair, my wife was having the hardest time fixing a word document on my MacBook. The version of Microsoft Office – yes, there is Office for the Mac – is different than she is used to. Hey, nothing is perfect.
The main drawbacks concerning Apple computers are price and the fact that the person to the right and left of you probably isn’t using one. Familiarity makes people comfortable and Microsoft has a clear advantage in this department. Also, where price is concerned Apple isn’t as over-priced as it seems. There are many people out there using Macs that have been running fine for 5+ years. Good luck doing that with a PC. Another thing about Macs is resale value. If you want to upgrade, you can actually sell your Mac and get a large portion of your money back. Again, good luck trying that with a PC.
Both have their advantages. Things just wouldn’t be as interesting if something was perfect now would it?
December 9th, 2008 at 8:01 am
My biggest issue with Macs is software. Find one app for a Mac and I will find you 5 equivalent programs for a PC and 3 of those programs will be free. My business runs on software. I guess I could get a Mac with Parallels and then use the Windows side 75% of the time, but then that would defeat the purpose.
Stephan Millers last blog post..Forget BANS Sites and Learn to Love Data
December 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Tom,
I have to side with pc. I’ll give mac all the credit in the world for their marketing which is leaps and bounds better than that of pc/microsoft. In all honesty Vista isn’t that bad when you stop and reminisce of the nightmare that was Windows ME. MAC’s marketing department has played a major role in destroying Vista’s credibility and has won the current battle. The bottom line is that MAC’s are some great, easy to use products and once they get the prices down further, PC look out. As far as me, I will always own PC’s but wouldn’t be against having a MAC as well, I’m just not willing to fork out 65% more for it.
We have a rivalry on our site about this very topic: http://www.jealousbrother.com/rivalries/?rivalryID=180
Ryan Kazinecs last blog post..12 iPhone Apps That Would Dominate (pt. 2)
December 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
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December 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
@Stephan Miller:
I don’t know if you use Macs personally, but back when I was a major PC person, I used to feel the same way you did. It makes sense, logically; with PC’s accounting for the vast majority of all computers out there, of course software designers are going to code for the largest market. But what I found when I finally made the switch is that there was absolutely no shortage of software, especially free software. And while it may be true that there may be more PC alternatives to each Mac application, more often than not I find the Mac application far superior to all the PC alternatives. I come across this very often because I do run Vista on my MacBook Pro via both Bootcamp and VMWare Fusion, and I’m a bit of a software pack rat, so I’m constantly looking for new software for each system. So my point is that for every PC program you find, I’ll find you a Mac one that serves the same function, does it better, and is probably free.
December 10th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Apple is much more than marketing. In fact, I think Microsoft has one of, if not the best, marketing departments in the world. Think about the products they put out and the success they have.
Do you know what server OS most websites run on? UNIX which is similar to Apple’s OS. A Microsoft alternative exists, but host companies still go with something else.
Honda and Toyota are viewed by some as overpriced, but few can doubt their functionality and value over a long period of time. Apple is similar. While the initial price is higher, the operating system and value mean longer usable life. Resale value for a Mac is similar to that of a Dell XPS laptop – a XPS will cost more initially too.
I wonder how many people wouldn’t seriously consider buying a Mac computer, but currently use the Safari browser, an iPod and/or an iPhone. The same quality in those products can be found in Apple computers too.
I say all of that and I purposely came into our office to type this on my Vista desktop. There is plenty of use for both systems.
Tom Sawyers last blog post..The Big 3 Are Bailing Themselves Out
December 30th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
where can i sell my laptop…
This is a very good and informative post. I look forward to see more….
June 24th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
funny story and give me some excellent ideas. thanks man
August 27th, 2010 at 7:54 am
if you are not aware of a proxy server that you need to use, then you have bugs. Malware and viruses set up their own proxys, and if you disable it, and run malware scans, you shoudl be alright.