Simplify your laptop buying
Mac OS X: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly?
Why such flame bait? More hits to charge advertisers?
by AWolfe_II - 10/14/05 8:30 AM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceThis author seems to visit OSX regularly the same way I visit my dentist regularly -- every six months. Are these poorly-informed criticisms of OS X in this article for real? Or are they intended to provoke a lot of flaming?
What a waste of space. The only ones who benefit from this are advertisers.
It is a moot point...but will continue to be argued forever!
by dand3 - 10/14/05 9:26 AM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceIt is all about what system you are used to using. If you really know both systems...and I mean really know BOTH systems...macintosh wins hands down. There really is no real comparison. Even Paul Thurrott, the editor of windows IT Pro magazine...who makes his living writing about windows says as much...if you will actually read all he has to say. James Allchin...microsoft's architect of the XP systems...and the new Vista (formerly called longhorn) systems...characterizes them as a mess! It is too little and too late, and is never going to live up to the promises made. Read what the windows experts are saying, if you do not believe me. Microsoft is losing its' grip...which explains the major restructuring there. Macintosh has done it...and it is here now. Windows is once again playing catch up to the macintosh...it is that simple. Read what your learned windows colleagues have to say. It is very enlightening. Then actually get you hands on and use both systems, before you make such a fool of yourself...as you did. You may be technically deep into windows, but you are in absolutely no position to tell anyone which system is the best.
Mac vs. Wintel machines
by TechnicalGuy - 10/14/05 10:17 AM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceAll the world wants simple answers to complex questions. E=MC^2 was an attempt to find such a simple solution, but by iteself it answers nothing. What energy units are involved, what mass units. The fact is that mose simple answers are not very useful.
When it comes to the issue of Mav vs Wintel, it depends on the user and what the user wants to do with a computer. We all have our preferences and preferred ways of doing things. Those will no doubt influence our choices of the tools we use. A computer is a tool. Certainly some people sometimes fall in love with their tools. And sometimes that happens because of how the tools work or because of how they look.
A person who has never used a cmoputer before, is it possible that such a person exists, might be the best person to answer which is best, Mac or Wintel, or for that matter, Linux. But before this person could decide which is better he would have to learn how to use each platform.
I think that most of us are affected more by our prejueices than by reason when we decide which tool we prefer. If I am accustomed to a Mac I might find Windows harder to use, and vice versa. My preferences migh also be strongly influenced by the kind of things I do on my computer. Graphics artists got hooked on Macs because they had a GUI os earler and becuae Windows first attempts at a GUI were problematic at best. But I have heard graphics artists say that there are Windows programs that do equally well. Adobe software is available for both platforms, so I don't think that Macs are any better now than Wintel machines.
MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE
In terms of user friendlness of the OS itself, I rate OS X first, and XP second. Linux in my opinion is a distant third.
But Mac computers cost more to buy and cost more to provide software. To be fair, I don't have much new software for my Mac Mini because it is so expensive and I already have programs for Windows that will do what I want to do. Also in fairness I admit that I do not challange my computer very much. I haven't created image files since I retired, U used Corel Draw. I don't do videos much, etc.
I have tried Linux many times and I usually give up in frustration. Configuring OS X is as simple as you can imagine. Click the blue Apple and click System Preferences. Linux requrs all mannar of mechination to change things, and even those differ by distro.
So if anything I have said is helpful to anyone who is trying to decide which OS to use, I have done what I intended. The is no perfect OS, 'perfection' depends on the user more than the OS.
Jim
What are you buying
by mrmacfixit
- 10/14/05 10:51 AM
In reply to: Mac vs. Wintel machines by TechnicalGuy
that is "so expensive"
What price do you pay for the same software for your XP box?
Office 2004 for OS X is the same price as Office 2003 for Windows and, according to MS, runs better
P
OS-X or XP
by scarletcom - 10/14/05 12:39 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceI use both and went to school for both.I would have to vote for XP for ease of use.Especially for newcomers.There are alot of things you can do with OS-X but its a completly differnt navagation.First time I saw a message that said please mount cd-rom I started laughing and asked the wife to sit on the computer.Once you get to know the OS, OS-X is a nice stable platform.
History may tell you: Usability is in the eyes of the users!
by bertmg - 10/14/05 6:14 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceI have worked with both platforms since Win 3.X and Mac 7.7. I am a software tester and this has been my life experience in very "cutting all details" list:
1. First Apple had the GUI, but no apps and Windows have the Apps and no GUI(relatively speaking). The public needed apps and Windows have them. as simple as that. (yes, I am generalizing, you nerds out there know that there have been other OSs since)
2. By the time Apple had a few apps, it was too late in the game. By this time It was not about quality but marketing and market share. Windows have the market share and didn't mind creating mediocre products because they really didn't have any true competition, even in home computers. Even with all the apps that Apple came to have it didn't cut it. Besides with market share comes lower prices.
2. Fast forwarding. Apple wised up change to base its OS in UNIX a not only more stable OS, but also an OS that already has some market (knowledge) share, and additional apps. Still here Windows have the market share, but now the competition started to become clear. The contenders are Windows versus UNIX grup (Solaris, OS X and Linux). OS X and Linux being in an early market share stage at this point. Now users started asking not only for for more features but also usability. Windows started realizing the needed to start thinking about usability more than ever, the contenders "as a group" are not laughin matter.
3. With the comming of Windos XP and OS X and Solais 9 and Linux, we are starting to see the results of the destruction of years of the Windows monopoly. Now it is a common knowledge that there are "other" choices. Here is where the real battle begins. Since now most apps support all OSs one way or another the new OSs have a true competition based mostly on: security, usability and price(long and short term i.e Linux. Yes even free comes at a price!).
4. All OSs are making a true effort to make themselves user friendly, and of curse secure. It is not that UNIX is more or less secure that windows, is that the market share that Windows have held make it worth for hackers to attack it. It is not that the new Windows is easier to manipulate, is that, again because of the market share, "general" people is most likely to understand it. It is not that Apple is more user friendly anymore, is that Apple has been known for creating products that "look" good and they add a price tag to it.
5. Windows market share is still great, but decreasing in gigantic steps. I doubt it will sink, but I bet it will even out or get closer with the other OSs. Apple seems to start catching up in their high "price" issues and that "pretty" for alot of people is just not good enough. I can see a true Usability, security and price competition in all OSs in a year or two.
Finally. in teh mean time, I am Apple fan and I love OS X. Still I have recomended some friends to get Windows instead. I recognize both OSs short commings. and I also recognize that Windows are for some people and OS X for others. And so is Linux. Usability is in the eyes of the users!!!
(NT) There never was a Mac OS 7.7 Mr Software Tester
by squirri - 11/4/05 8:03 AM In reply to: History may tell you: Usability is in the eyes of the users! by bertmgsorry... good catch
by bertmg - 10/4/06 1:43 PM In reply to: (NT) There never was a Mac OS 7.7 Mr Software Tester by squirriI have been trough so many versions of so many OS that I sometimes loose track. I apologize for my mistake.
Still I stand behind the main ideo of what I was trying to say.
Here's my take on this one
by jeniesis1 - 10/15/05 2:27 AM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceI'm a graphic artist for 7 years now and have been using Mac for about two years. Our company is PC based and just a couple of years ago bought a Mac because my boss' friend recommended that it was the best for graphic works. I was fortunate enough to be the assigned with the Mac. I have a fairly fast learning curve and learned everything i could about my mac. after two years of using both mac and pc for my job here what i came up with:
Mac is superior to PCs when it comes to colors. (my work involves color critical jobs so i'm highly dependent on my mac for professional color outputs)
Windows on the other hand is more user-friendly (GUI wise compared with OSX that is.) and it highly customizable -- hardware and software.
(I don't consider my self a mac expert, nor do i know everything about PCs and windows but i try my best to comprehend both system. maybe after a year or two i'll be a little wiser.)
mac ox X vs window xp
by darioazul - 10/16/05 11:03 AM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceDear Sir:
Interesting review. It is a difficult questions to answer without any hidden agendas. I did not own a pc until last year because fortunately every school and job has been filled with wintel and some Apple products.
In time I became proficient in the Wintel machines to avoid all of the problems that plague the system, e.g., frequent crashes, multiple programs to keep intruders out, buggy office programs, etc.
When the time came to finally purchase a machine for home use, I decided on an Apple. Simply because I did not want to keep 'opening hood' every couple of hours. I was looking for a system to do my work, email, read internet news, listen to music, in other words no demanding computing activities.
In time, I have learn to use and customize the appearance of OS X to my licking and it is intersting to 'discover' new ways to make minor cosmetic changes.
Also, the little bit of internet banking and business transactions that I do are just easy to do as a Wintel machine, with perhaps a little more security for now.
I would recommend those contemplating Apple vs Wintel to consider their needs and potential needs three years ahead before choosing. In the end, the popular choices are limited, not unlike the current two party system of government, giant multinational coorperations ready to take your hard earned cash any time. So do your homework and choose wisely. Pledge alliance to no coorporation but independent thinking and wise usage of your capital power.
Both in parallel - no comparison...Mac OSX
by bc0001 - 10/16/05 6:08 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceAs a business traveler, I find I can use my Mac Powerbook hands down with more ease than the Windows XP Sony Z series. I don't have to wait to install drivers every time I plug in something. I don't have a hassle everytime I connect to wi-fi or hotel Hi Speed. Even MSFT business aps run fine (although they are what crashes most frequently - what woud you expect...)
I would NEVER go back. Once you learn the interface and system - you'll wonder how MSFT even got traction.
No comparison....
bc
Why?
by Nihtekra - 10/26/05 9:54 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceWhy make the comparison? I know that this is just my opinion, but whatever system you use is completely a personal preference. I don't know if this was said earlier or not because this thread is huge (like every other PC vs. Mac thread, which is what this is) and I didn't read it all (nothing new to read), but it will be different for every user. Why argue over the inevitable?
I do use a PC, and I like it a lot. I don't get viruses, spyware, or even spam (don't know how I avoid that), but I also have spent quite a lot of time learning and getting to know the OS. As far as usability, I get my work done quickly and easily. If I need a program to do something, I can search the internet for a free one or go buy one. XP is 100% better than the previous versions, and despite its horrid security problems, it's a very stable and extensive OS; you can actually do a lot to improve the security by adding a couple simple (and free) programs.
So here I start bashing Macs right? I guess I could, but I didn't even really feel compelled to talk about my PC. I've used Macs before, and I just don't like them. I find them non-intuitive and hard to use, especially migrating from PC. The PC has so many features that I just can't find on the Mac. They're probably there, but it would probably take the amount of time I've spent using a PC to become as used to the Mac as I am to the PC. Mac isn't bad, just not for me. There are a bunch of things I don't like about Macs that drive me away from them, namely the proprietary hardware and the focus on ''pretty'', but they are a computer and perform the same tasks that any other computer is capable of. Mac does have its strength, and I think if I were a Mac user, switching to Windows and viruses and spyware would scare me more than anything.
I can see how people want to defend their platform of choice, but long posts about the perceived pros and cons of an OS are just a great way to vent frustration, and words (most likely) aren't going to convert anybody. The original post IS completely biased. But so is every post that follows, considering at least the ones I read, accounting for a little over half. I also can't help but notice as I look at the screen that I can see the top of the original post ''Here are my feelings on both operating systems.... what has been your experience?''. Sure, he might not have compared the two OSes like YOU would have, but so many people jumped on this poor poster without even considering that he actually knew what he was talking about - his opinion. I'll admit, the farther you get through his post, the more it sounds like he's bashing Macs, and he might even be doing that at the end, but it's still just his opinion, and in that spirit, he asked for other people's experiences, not their criticism.
If you just love your Mac, great, I'd love to hear about it. Same with the PC. His comparison was based on his experience with both, and so it's completely valid, as were most of the respondent's responses. Trying to prove that one is 'better' than the other accomplishes nothing though. By the way, here's a list of OSes that I've used (not completely proficient, but generally installed myself and used for at least 3 months) - DOS, Windows, Linux, free Unices, OS/2, Solaris, and MacOS. I could list all of the flavors and versions of each, but that's not necessary because it comes down to the same thing. They're there because they ARE useful, or people wouldn't use them. Lack of preference doesn't automatically discredit something. I regularly use Windows, Linux, and OpenBSD out of that list, because I like them and they do what I need/want them to do, and they do it the way I like it. I honestly don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I need a computer with more power than a PC...
by nitroxpro - 10/27/05 8:12 AM In reply to: Why? by NihtekraIt doesn't matter what you use if you can get your work done. I do heavy electronic prepress... you know... the ''little market nitch'' PC people relagate to the Mac. Did you know that the publishing industry DWARFS the computer industry in dollars a year it spawns world wide? So... the Mac is the ''King of the Hill'' in a market LARGER than the computer market. Kind of gives you pause, doesn't it.
I couldn't do my video editing at the technical level and compatibility level that I do here if I were saddled with clunky PC software and slow PC hardware. Since the new Apple machines are beyond PCs by a large margin, you might like to know what's inside:
Two dual-core 2.5GHz PowerPC G5 processors (quad processing)
1.25GHz frontside bus per processor (two buses)
1MB L2 cache per core
16 GB of 533MHz DDR2 ECC SDRAM (8 X 2GB)
up to 1 TB of internal storage
16x SuperDrive (double-layer)
Three open PCI-Express expansion slots
Quadro Effects 4500 512 MB GDDR SDRAM
graphics board
GB networking
FireWire 800
Blue Tooth
802.11g
Apple Cinema HD 30'' flat panel display (two can be driven at the same time)
Fibre Channel PCI Express card with SFP - SFP cable
Just have a check for $23,469 to pay for it... plus tax.
Bruce nitroxpro@gmail.com
Unix
by hhiser - 10/3/06 11:02 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceWell for one thing your review ignores the most important aspect of Mac OS X. That it runs on a Unix based kernel. On top of which you have the Macs more user friendly interface. But the power of the Unix(ish) kernel is what I want to address. Using this kernel the Mac is superbly customizable. Albeit the Unix kernel of a Mac is not as flexible as the Unix of Suns or SGIs but it is far superior to anything a PC has to offer. The new Macs give the user a choice, whether to be a stupid computer user or an intelligent computer user. This is not a choice the PC allows its users. PC with every succeeding OS forces its users to become more and more ignorant of the workings of their machines.
User friendly doesn't matter if its not stable
by NorrisGoff - 12/17/06 9:15 PM In reply to: Mac OS-X or Windows XP - Which one is most user friendly? by dj_white_riceI recently switched from a WIndows XP to Mac OS X Tiger, and there is no competition. The mac is fast, and extremely stable, in the time that is takes to turn on my pc, my mac was up and I was checking my e-mail and listening to iTunes. If you have to spend more than twenty minutes troubleshooting with a computer, it is not user friendly.Yes, being a Windows user for my entire life, this first week has been hard, but every single person that has a windows computer knows the feeling of wanting to smash you pc against a wall, throw it out the window, dip it in acid, and set it on fire, and I was tired of that. So, while yes, the XP desktop ennvironment may be slightly more user friendly to people who are not used tothe mac environment, and troubleshooting is not as easy for people who aren't somputer literate(not that I am, being a sheer genius I deleted my itunes library), I personally do not think that it matters. Seeing as now my computer does not crash, need to be re-started, need to be scanned for viruses, or spyware, I am extremely happy with it. People can learn to manipulate the Mac OS X environment extremely well in the time it would take to do the standard troubleshooting on a PC. It actually makes a lot more sense to use than a windows computer. There are only two things that I miss from my windows computer, 1) Microsoft Word- the appleworks word program leaves a little to be desired, but mabe I am just not used to it yet, and 2) is I miss knowing that I will have a good excuse for hidng from my family for four hours just to check my email, now that I wont have to worry about my wireless going out (which has nothing to do with the os), needing to restart it because is froze, finally getting my email open and then "This program is no longer responding", my computer freezing, a forced restart, and then booting up in safe mode, no longer having any personal files, another forced restart, and then having files, but the computer running slow, the wireless again going out, so you go to use itunes or look at pictures, and nothing works and everything freezing because the wind is blowing, and that makes it want to shut down inside, OH WAIT!!!!! it already did hahahahahahahahah.......really I'm not laughing at the situation, I am just laughing at everyone that knows exactly what I am talking about, and has been through this very process while net surfing today, so yes people - I AM LAUGHING AT YOU!!!! oh, and btw.... thanks for listening, well technically reading my rant, that makes me feel important, now that my computer is no longer focusing all it energy on trying to make me angry it feels good to know that someone else out there cares. 
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