Apple fanatics and their religous devotion

[blackbeltninja]

^My office computer is an elderly P4 pc bought around the same time. It's had more ram stuck in it, but that's it. Started with XP SP1, since upgraded to SP2 and now SP3. Never had a reinstall of the OS, either.

I'm saying 10-15 years on Mac and never a virus. You can take it or leave it..

For my sins, I function as my unit's computer guy as well as being one of the PhD candidates and research associates. About 6 months back the University's IT department changed its tune from "there are no viruses for Mac so no antivirus is necessary" to purchasing a network licence for a decent Antivirus solution for the Mac, on the advice of Apple.

It may not have been an issue previously, but it seems it is fast becoming one.

Still, I know I'll give into Apple eventually. Let's face it: They have a superior product.

Do they?

I'm not a fan of Apple, but I am willing to learn. Every time I ask an Apple user why they switched, the response is "it's soooooo much better!" When I ask "but how? What's different?" they always say "it just is" and further pressing gets me no clear answer. Which doesn't help me at all.

So I went to the new Apple megastore at my local megamall. The guy flogging the things was using "you can now even run Windows as an app!" as his major selling point. When I said "but I'm here to get away from Windows" he looked at me like I'd just crawled out of a piece of cheese and farted on him. He also looked annoyed when I pointed out the original, authentic copies of Windows they were selling were 20% more than any other retailer's cost.

So how exactly is the Apple superior? Seriously, can someone articulate this for me? Let me preface it by saying that if my Windows system crashes once a month, it's a lot - stability of Windows is not an issue for me at the moment. Individual applications - Firefox and Thunderbird and Office all work on both OS types, so that isn't a selling point. As has been pointed out, you can't switch the hardware so if someone suddenly produces a better graphics adapter and/or screen with better colour reproduction, existing Apple users get to lose out. So honestly, what is in it for me to make the switch?

-d-

 

[hungrybrownbear]

What is this stupid myth by PC fanboys that macs are for incompetent and beginner users? That's a full load of BS if I've ever heard any! Most of my PC using friends don't know shit about their dell or acer whatsoever and they are always replacing them with a new computer every 2/3 years and they are always complaining about viruses killing their machine.

The majority of computer owners in this world are beginner to average, not programmers or nerds who want to tinker with and build and troubleshoot all day on their machine, please get this fact in your head PC fanboys! The PC market is still at around 90% of the entire consuming world so the majority of that 90% are beginners and average users so don't give me that BS about mac s are for beginners and average users.

As for the viruses thing who the F cares about why macs are less attacked by viruses. The fact it they are less attacked by viruses. Until macs outsell PC and the table turns on the virus thing then you can make your case but for now macs are safer against viruses than PC machines.

Yes macs are more pricey because they freakin last longer!!!!!!
You get what you pay for!

1) I'm not a PC fanboy

2) General consensus in the computer world is that Macs are generally for the incompetent. Now calm down, no one is saying that PC users are not incompetent. And no, the higher levels we're talking about are not programmers or nerds, we're talking about intermediate users, using computers for MORE than just checking email or itunes, making cute little template slideshow videos. This IS a fact.

3) Mac is always more expensive for shittier stats: ram, harddrive, cpu etc. Let me reiterate, their hardware is often lower quality since they outsource their production and don't allow any other computer companies to make their product (because they're greedy as fuck). Comparing quality to PCs is like comparing apples to all various types of fruit, since there are a ridiculous amount of computers being made that run Windows. Yes, Dell sucks, but IBM doesn't, higher end Toshiba models don't, some sony... etc, you get the point. But get this, they're still cheaper than Apple, and arguably better, and last just as long, if not longer. If you're talking about how much better Mac is compared to a crapfest computer like an Emachine, well of course Apple is going to win. This logic of argumentation is inane. Apples are not by default "more reliable" or "better", and you definitely are not paying more for higher quality. You're paying more because Apple wants more money for products that should cost way less (convenience, and outward appearance I guess). That's the myth. Note that no where am I saying that OMG APPLES SUCK SO MUCH PC'S ARE GREAT.

4) Bringing up virus infection debate was to debunk the common myth of Mac's not being able to acquire viruses. My point was: You have to be pretty incompetent to get a virus (perhaps even bolstering incompetence debate), Mac's are not by default safer against viruses, than PC. Generally, if you're stupid, you'll still get a virus. Apple just does a good job hiding the antivirus that runs in the background....

5) Again, it boils down to whatever suits you better. Now calm down.

 

[silverbelt]

@blackbeltninja

I grew up using Windows exclusively at home, but my school was filled with Macs - and I hated them with a passion. I thought the whole OS looked like rubbish. The final years of school though were back on Windows, which made me happy.

Shortly into my first year of university, I realised I was bored with Windows and wanted a challenge. Several friends were spouting about how awesome Apple was, and that Macs and iPods rule. I decided my challenge would be to try using a Mac, see what the fuss was about. I needed a laptop, so I got a white Intel Macbook.

It was a bit awkward at first, but slowly I began to enjoy using it. It wasn't long before I felt I was at the same degree of expertise as on Windows. I should note that I stuck to Mac equivalent software (iWork instead of Office, for example).

3 years later, and I'm still using my Mac as my primary computer, and I develop software for Mac platforms exclusively. My beast of a Windows PC only gets love when I need to game

I'm not sure how I can explain why I've since stuck with my Mac. There's the hardware, which is reliable and effective. The battery life for my Mac laptops astounded me when I got them, being 4+hrs of moderate use. Love the backlit keyboard. The software is a bigger factor though. When you buy a Mac, you don't have a tonne of trial and time-based software installed, which is nice. Built-in support for up to 16 desktops was a great help too. There's also the fact that buying a Mac OS gives you the full OS; there's no Home Basic, Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions to wade through. Just plain ol' Mac OS X.

Now, let me move onto the whole Windows vs Mac debate. I don't feel like I've deserted Windows, as such. The world needs Windows, Mac and Linux. No one is better or worse than the other. I love Windows for its colourful UI, Windows Explorer, and being able to cut files. I love Macs for their hardware, their reliability and consistency, and yes, the community that surrounds them (coincidentally, since switching to Mac, I've noticed a lot of Mac people saying how much they love their Macs, but a lot of Windows people saying how much they hate Macs, not love their PCs...). And Linux is there to be that OS that excites me, because one day I'd like to be proficient at working day-to-day with Linux.

A long post, sure, but hopefully I've provided a different perspective on the PC-to-Mac switch.

TL;DR - I hated Macs, but switched to a Mac to see the hype, and now I see that the world is better with Windows, Mac and Linux around.

 

[MidnightPrism]

I'm not saying Macs are better but I've never had a virus, blue-screen-of-death, or crashed program on my macbook.

 

[bankside]

I think it is sad that so much is made of religion when a brain scan can show it operates on the brain much like any other consumer product.

 

[silverbelt]

@bankside
Agreed. Always interesting to see the science behind people's perception of the two.

Also, just another Mac tidbit. It was a year and a half after I got my first Mac. I had no issues whatsoever until one day, the Mac locked up. Everything was running slow, apps weren't opening properly... it was scary. I had no idea what it could be, so I decided to leave it as is and see what happened. I left the house for a few hours, came back, and everything was fine again. Haven't had that issue again.

I like to believe it knew it was being naughty and fixed itself

 

[Corny]

I've noticed a lot of Mac people saying how much they love their Macs, but a lot of Windows people saying how much they hate Macs, not love their PCs...).

That's because for most other PC users their machine is just a tool. Mac users tend to anthropomorphise their machine and "love" it. Something that annoys the rest of the users.
You know .. it's like no matter what car you have. If for you a car is just a car - you are annoyed by the people who worship their golden "different" calf of a BMW because it gives them a feeling of superiority about your "regular" car.

And that's all what the apple brand is about today - at least in the minds of their fanboys. Reality might look a bit "different".

 

[nondescript]

I could never be friends with, date, be seen with in public, or even fuck a Windows/ PC user. In contrast Apple users are usually pretty sexy.

 

[Corny]

^ you're a cute troll

 

[hotatlboi]

I'm not actually wrong about anything.

Yes you were, I told you what you were wrong about. Your statement that it was easy to get malware for Macs. It is not. It is rather hard since there isn't much of it out there in comparison to Win.

If I intentionally tried to infect my Mac with malware right now, I wouldn't know how to do it or where to go.

On a PC, I could have a virus downloaded and executed within about 5 min.

You're just subscribing to myths

It's not a myth, it's fact.

 

[freefall]

This whole boiling conversation isn't really going anywhere.

So it happens PC users are more diverse than Mac users, hence more viruses targets them. So what. So it happens Mac are more user friendly than PC and (based on unproven opinions) is more suitable for design works. So what. So it happens Mac are more expensive and some people think the price doesn't worth it. So what.

Both Mac and PC are the same: they're just machines, only with different prototypes. They have their weaknesses, their own advantages. Choosing between them are like choosing men during cruising. You like it, you pick it. You don't like it, you don't pick it. It's all based on which one you're more suitable with.

I myself use PC with its own problems (due to XP version which I refused to upgrade), and even though Macs are nice and I'm slightly bending toward them, I don't really find myself overidolizing one and constantly ridiculing the other.

 

[blackbeltninja]

@blackbeltninja

I'm not sure how I can explain why I've since stuck with my Mac. There's the hardware, which is reliable and effective.

A long post, sure, but hopefully I've provided a different perspective on the PC-to-Mac switch.

TL;DR - I hated Macs, but switched to a Mac to see the hype, and now I see that the world is better with Windows, Mac and Linux around.

Hey, thanks for the effort in replying. You've done more than any other Apple user has ever even attempted when asked, and I am grateful for that.

As with the others I've asked, the take-home message is that you also can't really explain why you prefer one over the other. An old mate of mine, a programmer by trade, pretty much says neither is better and each system has its purpose and its strengths and weaknesses - probably the best way to sum up the whole thing, really.

But thanks anyway - I appreciate it.

-d-