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Bridgette
06-02-2006, 08:32 AM
I guess I was responding to the "my computer knowledge is far superior to yours" attitude....

threlayer
06-02-2006, 10:42 AM
Bridgette, your computer knowledge is, I'm sure, at the level you want it to be. And IMO most people also would find Macs much easier to live with than Windows machines. It's the user experience that counts in the choice, not how much computer knowledge one accumulates. After all, computers are just user tools inthe vast preponderance of situations. I'm using Windows as a learning experience but would rather use a Mac. It's just that some people, like long-time users and those in the support industry, have different motives than do just regular users.

It's like the Trekkies vs those who just enjoy the TV/movie series when they can get to it; you don't need to know how to direct the show or be able to critique the continuity flaws to enjoy it..

kikin
06-02-2006, 10:50 AM
I don't use macs but sometimes I lie and say I use it because there is this stereotype about mac users being smart, civilized independent thinking non-conformists. I like being thought of in that way.

BlindGroping
06-02-2006, 10:54 AM
Only because that's what most people are familiar with. At least in the US. We are almost universally trained on PCs in school.

Microsoft had the brilliant idea of giving PCs to schools in the early years, so most people are simply more familiar with PCs. Get the kids trained on your equipment early and they'll stay with it forever. If Mac had been donating equipment to schools instead of businesses in the earlier years, the story would be MUCH different now.

Another typical argument PC users throw out is that "PCs are easier to work on / fix in case of problems". Well, that's just because they're used to the constant breakdowns PCs are prone to. Macs simply don't have the same problems. I'd rather have something that doesn't break down in the first place, than have to worry about knowing how to fix it when it does ::) If I wanted to be a mechanic I'd get paid for it.

Wow! I didn't think anyone else understood that?
I'm impressed.

Emily
06-02-2006, 11:04 AM
Here's a typical Mac scenario.

I just bought a new digital camera (Canon PowerShot SD450 for anyone that cares)

I took some pictures. I pluged the cable into my computer and the other end into my camera.

I did nothing else.

really....I installed no software. I opened no applications.

The iMac automatically opened my photo software that came with the computer and in a few moments there was a button flashing with the word "IMPORT" and next to it read "11 new photos".

Now I've got a new avatar. What could be easier?

Casual Observer
06-02-2006, 11:10 AM
I guess I was responding to the "my computer knowledge is far superior to yours" attitude....

No one is questioning your considerable abilities, B, and I wasn't tooting my horn--just noting that in the years I've been teaching, selling, servicing, and using computers, the person at the interface dictates how well (or how poorly) any given platform operates, particularly given the relative advances in interfaces in the last twenty years. Apple or M$ can only handicap that so much, you know?

lunchbox
06-02-2006, 11:25 AM
Here's a typical Mac scenario.

I just bought a new digital camera (Canon PowerShot SD450 for anyone that cares)

I took some pictures. I pluged the cable into my computer and the other end into my camera.

I did nothing else.

really....I installed no software. I opened no applications.

The iMac automatically opened my photo software that came with the computer and in a few moments there was a button flashing with the word "IMPORT" and next to it read "11 new photos".

Now I've got a new avatar. What could be easier?
Bluetooth?

These stories are misleading, it implies that you won't get those results with a PC, which is false.

Wwanderer
06-02-2006, 11:35 AM
Hey kids, I have been using computers for 40 years! The first programs I wrote were stored on freaking punched paper tape and read in through a teletype machine. When I sent my first email, there were less than 200 computers on the whole (ARPA) net. I like this seniority game!

JZ, computer OS preferences are more fundamental than morality, aren't they?

And, I agree with CO that the user is a more important factor than the machine or its OS, but this is a poll about user preferences in compters, not about computer preferences in users, neh?

-Ww

Deogol
06-02-2006, 12:51 PM
It's like the Trekkies vs those who just enjoy the TV/movie series when they can get to it; you don't need to know how to direct the show or be able to critique the continuity flaws to enjoy it..

Trekkies? Did I hear trekkies?

We all know Star Wars was far better. ::)

Deogol
06-02-2006, 12:53 PM
Bluetooth?

These stories are misleading, it implies that you won't get those results with a PC, which is false.


Your right - you can with a Winderz PC - after some fiddling and doinking around.}:D

Deogol
06-02-2006, 12:58 PM
JZ, computer OS preferences are more fundamental than morality, aren't they?


<hat name="bullshit" appearance="nice and sparkly with silver and gold" operation="put on">

Well, lets think about this.

We all know that using a computer can help people:

Encounter new knowledge to help with their lives
Expand their ability to be productive (both in paper flipping and CNC type.)
Engage in the trading ideas with other people
Engage in training and the like
Build up social networks of people who can help with your problem
These things all seem to be pretty moral as they involve a better life.

But - one you pay money for and then pay more money to have someone fix and figure out how to use for you.

Morality of that? Hmmmmmm.;)

</hat>

lunchbox
06-02-2006, 01:44 PM
Your right - you can with a Winderz PC - after some fiddling and doinking around.}:D
Like I said in DD, a week or two ago, thats all you can mananage...

threlayer
06-02-2006, 02:04 PM
No one is questioning your considerable abilities, B, and I wasn't tooting my horn--just noting that in the years I've been teaching, selling, servicing, and using computers, the person at the interface dictates how well (or how poorly) any given platform operates, particularly given the relative advances in interfaces in the last twenty years. Apple or M$ can only handicap that so much, you know?

Didnt you just love those WesternUnion teletype monsters -


tiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktikti ktiktiktikthunkTHUDthunk nullnullnull
tiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktikthunkTHU Dthunk nullnullnull
The worst thing was cleaning out those blinkin' dots representing all the binary '1' chars or if the thing scooted around on the floor during carriage returtns. What a way to learn ACSII-7 though.

I actually preferred the punch cards on our IBM 7040 and later the 1300 pre-mini. If you stacked them up right and had print chars turned on, you could get a decent printout/copy from the old Xerox 400 if you waited long enoiugh in line. And you actually had a tangible program and data in your hands when you were done. Editing was a bitvh though.

Wwanderer
06-02-2006, 02:21 PM
Didnt you just love those WesternUnion teletype monsters -


tiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktikti ktiktiktikthunkTHUDthunk nullnullnull
tiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktiktikthunkTHU Dthunk nullnullnull


Sometimes I still hear them in my dreams.

-Ww

Deogol
06-02-2006, 03:03 PM
Like I said in DD, a week or two ago, thats all you can mananage...

At least I can spell LunchBox.

MsHap
06-02-2006, 03:27 PM
I only have PCs but Macs are ok. :)

threlayer
06-03-2006, 12:13 AM
My nightmare is to come into a workplace filled with those tiny bits of yellow, oiled teletype punch dots and my job apparently is to pick them all up. Hell, I still have a few rolls someplace.

Bridgette
06-03-2006, 02:35 PM
Uh, I can fix my computer too, when necessary. I still like Macs for the simple fact that I don't have to fix them, and the whole user experience seems smoother and more streamlined. Always was that way, even before all the recent 'integration'. Windows just always seemed like a cheap imitation.

sol_de_pr2
06-03-2006, 02:36 PM
I always think of changing to Macs, but end up buying a PC. I'm still waiting for that Dell... ;D

threlayer
06-05-2006, 06:49 AM
...the whole user experience seems smoother and more streamlined... Windows just always seemed like a cheap imitation.

That's because it is, except that it isn't cheap.

Windows is sort of a Mac rice crispies, all puffed up but not much inside except a crunchy, breakable skeleton.

It is sort of force-fit into an uncomfortable graphic interface mold by a group that do not reallt get it. Most features appears to be afterthoughts. But they do stuff many more simple utility programs into it than is done for Mac.

But it has been very marketable, oddly enough.

PhaedrusZ
06-05-2006, 05:28 PM
Here is something I personally feel is a good reason to buy a new Intel-based Mac

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1611960.cms

OTOH, it's unfortunate that, to the best of my knowledge, their computers are now manufactured in China, or at least assembled, if not manufactured, there. It might be Taiwan, but didn't we kind of abandon them when China received most favored nation trade status? I really don't remember offhand.

Still, I'll probably wait to purchase a Mac book, to see what a couple friends who are planning the same purchase think. Although one of my cousins absolutely loves her new Intel-based iMac.

Deogol
06-05-2006, 07:02 PM
Here is something I personally feel is a good reason to buy a new Intel-based Mac



OTOH, it's unfortunate that, to the best of my knowledge, their computers are now manufactured in China, or at least assembled, if not manufactured, there. It might be Taiwan, but didn't we kind of abandon them when China received most favored nation trade status? I really don't remember offhand.

Still, I'll probably wait to purchase a Mac book, to see what a couple friends who are planning the same purchase think. Although one of my cousins absolutely loves her new Intel-based iMac.


A lot of blank stares when told they need to use Objective-C.

Abu: No .net?
Steve: No. Objective-C.
Abu: .Net has many many features.
Steve: No. The framework and API have the features.
Abu: Oh yes, we can do this for you. We have many many many Objective-C programmers here...

Got a new contract. Currently in the process of rewriting an application written in India. REWRITING. NOT ENHANCING. NOT MAINTENANCE. REWRITING. And yes, I am charging pound-up-the-ass rates for it too.

proMarket
06-05-2006, 07:15 PM
I own 6 macs and 3 pcs....and I'm the tech for 2 mac environments and 1 pc environment:

At home, the macs never fail me (even the 1989 ones) and the PCS always do. Even the one I use only as a file server has issues...not the macs


at work, the mac network questions are always "how do I...(do something cool)" and the PC users ask "why does it (do something bad)" about a 2/3 ratio in the PC environment is bad

Jay Zeno
06-05-2006, 07:39 PM
Here's a typical Mac scenario.

I just bought a new digital camera (Canon PowerShot SD450 for anyone that cares)

I took some pictures. I pluged the cable into my computer and the other end into my camera.

I did nothing else.

really....I installed no software. I opened no applications.Emily, I don't know how this compares, and I'm not extolling Windows or PC - I really don't have a viable option.

I bought a new digital camera (Nikon D-something). As soon as I took some pictures, I plugged the camera cable into the WinXP laptop. It opened up the camera as a drive, and I could cut, copy, paste, whatever, picture files from the camera card to the laptop, and vice versa. Heck, if I'd wanted to, I could copy data files to the camera card.

I suspect that if the whole world went to Macs that there would be a backlash against them in favor of something else, because then you would have a proprietary monopoly for OS and hardware. People hate that kind of success and monolithic presence. Just look at the anti-Google backlash since Google became a big, viable business with a market share dominance.

Deogol
06-05-2006, 07:59 PM
Emily, I don't know how this compares, and I'm not extolling Windows or PC - I really don't have a viable option.

I bought a new digital camera (Nikon D-something). As soon as I took some pictures, I plugged the camera cable into the WinXP laptop. It opened up the camera as a drive, and I could cut, copy, paste, whatever, picture files from the camera card to the laptop, and vice versa. Heck, if I'd wanted to, I could copy data files to the camera card.

I suspect that if the whole world went to Macs that there would be a backlash against them in favor of something else, because then you would have a proprietary monopoly for OS and hardware. People hate that kind of success and monolithic presence. Just look at the anti-Google backlash since Google became a big, viable business with a market share dominance.

Blasphemer! You shall burn at the stake!

The wood! The wood! I call for the wood!

Guenevere
06-05-2006, 11:18 PM
http://www.apple.com/getamac/

Watch the commercials!!! ROTFL!!

threlayer
06-06-2006, 09:54 PM
I suspect that if the whole world went to Macs that there would be a backlash against them in favor of something else, because then you would have a proprietary monopoly for OS and hardware. People hate that kind of success and monolithic presence...

Microsoft alread has the proprietary OS market sewn up, pretty much. Also Mac hardware, to an extent, has opened up, and most things people want to buy to expand their systems are available for either platform. If Mac bacame more popular once again, crackers would give them attention, because that's what crackers do.

Of course not everyone is going to be happy with anything, evenif overall it is immeasurably better. I remember the trip DOS machines took toward GIU environments and ALL the DOS 'experts' who hated the every idea of making something easier (they called it constrained because they couldnt use their DOS tools on it because thois tools were outmoded). They hated that, but not they are selling their knowledge services to a LOT more people and have completely forgotten their 'reluctance to change.'

babykay26
06-07-2006, 09:49 AM
Oh those new mac commercials are funny, i love them. :bitelip:

gawthzilla
06-07-2006, 10:09 AM
I was a PC user for all of my life but all of my schools used Macs so I grew up with those too. I never really got into the Mac because I spent very little time on them compared to my PC at home. Then when I moved in with my boyfriend he brought his Mac with him and that was my primary computer for a year and a half since my shitty PC died.

To make a long story short, he had to move out and just recently he took his computer and gave me his Dell laptop to use and I've been cursing this thing ever since. I miss the Mac, I miss its processing speed and lack of spyware, I miss the stability and mostly I miss the OS and its ease of use. I am now a Mac girl and I am saving up to get a cube.