To Mac or to PC?

December 9, 2006

The great debate regarding the new MacBooks, which run on the Intel Core 2 Duo and allow users to run select Windows programs, continues, although most users are generally pleased with the innovation. What are your thoughts about running Windows on a Mac? Furthermore, what are your thoughts on Justin Long?

49 Comments

nyxmoxie 3 years 2 days

The conventional wisdom, that Mac's OS X is superior to Windows Vista, is flat-out wrong. In fact, despite much belief to the contrary, Vista is a superior operating system. Here are five reasons why. Reason #1: Vista runs more software Mac OS X is a very pretty operating system, but beauty runs only skin deep. An operating system by itself is a poor thing -- it's the applications that run on top of it that matter. And here's where Mac OS X falls short. It can't run much common software, including enterprise applications and games. Virtualization software like Parallels Desktop for Mac won't solve the problem. Parallels can't run even the most basic Vista games such as FreeCell, Hearts, Pinball, Solitaire and Minesweeper, because it doesn't support DirectX 9. And virtualization software creates big problems for enterprises with regard to volume licensing, technical support, creating standard enterprisewide images and so on. So it's no good for running enterprise applications either. Vista beats OS X here, hands down. Reason #2: Vista is safer As I've written before, Vista is a more secure operating system than Mac OS X. Mac OS X was easier to crack in a recent hacking contest. And security researcher Dino Dai Zovi had this to say about Vista versus Mac OS X when it comes to security: I have found the code quality, at least in terms of security, to be much better overall in Vista than Mac OS X 10.4. It is obvious from observing affected components in security patches that Microsoft's Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) has resulted in fewer vulnerabilities in newly-written code. Reason #3: It's the money, stupid If you're got a lot of extra spare cash laying around that you don't care about, then by all means, buy a Mac. But if, like most of the world, you've got to work for a living, then you'll find that a Vista machine is far less expensive than a Mac. Reason #4: The Mac is closed; Vista is open Any person or company who wants to build a PC with Vista on it, and either sell it, or use it themselves, is perfectly free to do so, as long as they buy the operating system. Try to do that with a Mac, and you'll be spending some face time with Apple's attack dog lawyers. Reason #5: Two words -- Steve Jobs There's no doubt that Steve Jobs is a master marketer. And he also knows good design. But he's also vindictive, sends his lawyers after people who report leaked information about Apple products, and has hypnotized Apple users into drinking the true-believer Kool Aid. Don't reward him by making him richer. By the way, if you're interested in a head-to-head death match about whether Vista, XP, Mac OS X, or Linux is the superior operating system, check out OS Smackdown: Linux vs. Mac OS X vs. Windows Vista vs. Windows XP. As you might imagine, I argue for Vista. http://blogs.computerworld.com/five_reasons_why_vista_beats_mac_os_x

nyxmoxie 3 years 2 days

Sorry I'm just really frustrated with the snobbishness from mac users. Just because some people use Windows, doesn't mean they're stupid. We're just as fashionable, trendy, intelligent, tech savvy, creative and artistically talented as any Mac user. I find Windows easier to use too. I can do anything on windows. Graphic Design, Games, Word Processing, Surfing, Email, the list goes on and on. Oh and don't think you're better than me just because you use a Mac. If its looks you're after you can upgrade your PC, there are all in one PCs, you can get nice expensive LCD monitors, nice cases. I use Windows and I rarely get viruses, most of my viruses have happened because of my own foolishness. Not because of anything that Microsoft did, not because of anything that Dell did either. You should protect your computer whether you have a Mac or a PC. Viruses do happen to Macs. And what's wrong with liking Windows? Maybe I want my computer to be more than just fashionable and trendy. I like the stability of my Windows computer. I try to take care of it. I try to upgrade it. I don't download files and programs that I don't know anything about. I recently upgraded my memory, would I have been able to do that with a Mac? Nope. Also ever since MS came out with Windows 7, its all just better. Its so much easier on the eyes. Windows has always been easy to use. I don't know how anyone can think that Windows is hard to use. If I ever get a laptop it'll be PC based and not Apple based. Oh and Justin Long is a dork, he's a nerd. He's not cute, and he just makes mac users look like dorks. Not trendy. He looks like a science nerd.

nyxmoxie 3 years 2 days

My bf is a programmer, he says that Mac computers use the same hardware that PCs do. People think they're different but they're really not. At least with Windows you have more options for games. I also think that Apple tries to project this "artsy" image to people in the arts industry like graphic artists, "Oh I'm a mac user, I'm artsy, I'm special and so much better than Windows." I just hate that kind of snobishness. Why can't people just be nice? Just because people own Macs doesn't make them better. I've used Macs in college, they're slow, clunky, and applications can also crash. They're not immune to viruses. I have Windows 7 and I personally LOVE IT. GUESS WHAT PEOPLE. Photoshop makes Design programs for Windows too! Windows are easier to use as well. Just because you own a mac doesn't make you a better artist. I don't understand why people say "ohh no macs are better for design." In the beginning yea maybe programs were made for Macs, but now any PC user has access to them as well. Heaven forbid that someone should like Windows for graphic design LIKE I DO. Oh no I'm a heretic to the graphic design industry because I PREFER WINDOWS. Well now I must be stoned and taken on a witch hunt. God I can't stand mac users.

3 years 4 weeks

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blossommac 3 years 32 weeks

used to have a pc, now i have a year with a MAC i will never change back i love every little details of my mac i play game: SIMS, WOW is all i need

psychotic_virus 5 years 26 weeks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_kGL3M5Cg i just found it and its funny!!

psychotic_virus 5 years 26 weeks

I love my mac but I have to switch to windows because it is so much more aforable right now for me. And I need a new computer. Ah but as soon as I get some cash flowing in I will go back to mac with my arms wide open in slow motion hugging it ;-) hehe. I have no problem with windows tho. It is just that I am more comfprtable with mac since I have been using it for very long time.

millarci 5 years 45 weeks

I definetly agree that a can of worms have opened. When I first used a computer it was a pc. At school they had macs and I hated it. However, later, I went on to study graphic design, and I was forced to use a macintosh. After a while, I fell in love with the macintosh and never went back. Don't get me wrong. I think both a PC and a Mac have their pros and cons.

jmb1025 5 years 46 weeks

I love my MacBook. It is definitely the best money I have spent in a long time.

glam sugar 6 years 5 weeks

I've had a Dell as well as several Macs so I know how to run both but Macs are my computer of choice!

littletrackbabe 6 years 5 weeks

i love my mac. i am using it right now. we have always had macs at our house right now we have an ibook, mac book pro, power book G4 and i mac

MissRobinson 6 years 21 weeks

I dont even know what a mac is!

Bonne 6 years 21 weeks

I have Suse on my PC and Windows on my laptop. Once that laptop goes down, I prolly will do Unix or Linux instead.

kevindineen 6 years 23 weeks

PC's stink. They look horrible. Feel terrible. & did I mention that they stink? Mac all the way baby...yeah! Jobs for President.

backfat 6 years 23 weeks

i currently use parallels to run certain windows applications in mac os x. i like to play with ms paint a lot, like it's my art form. if i was going to completely enjoy my mac i needed to be able to use certain programs fromwindows. i have a windows partition on my mac mini but sometimes you just cant be bothered to boot into windows for one thing. i hate rebooting, so lazy lol

OMGSeriously 6 years 23 weeks

I like PC's.....whenever I use a mac it frustrates me.

esk4 6 years 23 weeks

Idk, I'm at an engineering/ tech school, I haven't had any problems with my PC. My boyfriend is a computer science major and a programming junkie, and he seems to have a very strong disliking for macs. I think they are useful for artsie things applications alot of archies seem to like them, but most of the other engineering majors I know don't have many good things to say when it comes to mac.

Cranberry 6 years 23 weeks

We have PCs but we want to get a Mac when the laptop dies because PCs are so LOUD!

luckyEmmie 6 years 23 weeks

After 22 years as a PC user, I made the switch to a MacBook this summer after my PC of 4 years died a very sudden death-- it just shut off one day, and wouldn't turn back on. I had been eyeing Macs for a while, and had gotten the hang of using my boyfriend's PowerBook. Now that I have my Mac, I don't think I could ever go back. Yes, even the cheapest Mac is more expensive than most PCs, but it's worth every penny. Its plug-and-play technology far surpasses that of Windows XP, it's faster, and file management is so intuitive: the drag-and-drop principle is sooo consistent throughout the programs on my Mac. A HUGE plus is not having to worry about viruses or spyware; my old computer was positively riddled, and no matter how many scans you run, you can never get rid of them all. Unfortunately, I don't think this advantage will be around much longer, as the Macs get more of the market share and viruses are engineered to target them. If you're worried that you won't be able to figure out a OS X after years of running Windows, don't be; you'll pick it right up. It's all just logical, you don't NEED to right click (though I hear that Macs will soon be capable of that), and you get used to OS X very fast. And let's face it, my Mac is so pretty!

thejenster14 6 years 23 weeks

Moni B- I know the PC has internal modem cards, but I don't know. My mac just makes me happy. So I wouldn't go back to a PC if I can help it. It's nice to know people also love the macs, especially iBooks. They just rock! ~Jenny

POPSUGAR Food 6 years 23 weeks

I love Macs. I switched over in college and will never go back!

And Justin Long seems like a sweetie, but (and this is going to sound so dorky) John Hodgman (the Mac) is one of the funniest guys out there. He's on the Daily Show a lot as their "resident expert." He gets that fantastic title because of this book he wrote called "The Areas of My Expertise. It reads like an almanac of facts, but is particularly awesome because he made it all up.

JessNess 6 years 23 weeks

I love how the Pac man chip is 99 cents but the shipping is 7.50 :ROTFL: I like to go to overseas places- like Canada! -Britney Spears

jennifer76 6 years 23 weeks

:rotfl: I so want to add that to my watch list. :oy: That is too funny.

LaylaCams 6 years 23 weeks

Off subject, but this guy is trying to sell a potato chip that is shaped like Pac Man on eBay. Just type in "xbox chip" :rotfl:

JessNess 6 years 23 weeks

I have a PC and have never had a problem with freezing. Although when this laptop goes which will probably be awhile because this PC is only two years old I might get a Mac I like to go to overseas places- like Canada! -Britney Spears

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