12/06/2007, 4:10pm, EST
Thursday, December 6th
Macs recommended to holiday PC buyers
Apple is gaining a lot of new customers through iPods, the "Get a Mac" ad campaign, and the iPhone, some former Mac users and others who have never used a Mac at all. With Christmas drawing closer, and users looking to treat themselves with a new computer, USA TODAY's Edward C. Baig offers his point of view on why people should make the switch from Windows to Mac OS. He says that while Windows users tend to tolerate their PC's bad behavior while they work, Apple users generally have a pleasant experience, regardless of what task they do.
Baig explains that while Macs aren't completely trouble-free he has experienced occasional software freezes his experience on Mac computers is many times over more reliable than on Windows. He couples this with Apple's notoriously cutting edge industrial design, and lack of malware and viruses that are a constant thorn for Windows users.
He notes that there is a learning curve, but that it mainly revolves around having to learn a new vocabulary Trash versus Recycle Bin, and Application instead of Program, for example. Baig says that users who prefer to learn from a professional can purchase a year's worth of training from the Apple retail stores for $100.
Baig admits that he does prefer some applications for the PC, like Quicken, and that gamers will see less titles than they would for Windows, but he says that the gap between the two platforms is narrowing with platform-agnostic versions of major software, such as Microsoft Office.
Some price-driven consumers that are looking for sub-$400 bargains will be dissuaded, since Apple's least expensive computer is $600 the Mac Mini but he notes that the quality and longevity of the hardware and software, combined with the ability to use Windows as well as Mac OS X, make the price worthwhile.
Baig ends the article on a pleasant note, saying that "Apple owners heap lavish praise on Macs for good reason. These are solid and elegant computers that are well worth your consideration."
Filed under: computers, software, Apple
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"while Windows users tend to tolerate their PC's bad behavior while they work, Apple users generally have a pleasant experience, regardless of what task they do."
that this is why we love our Macs so much? If we seem smug, that's because our our OS is so much better than yours.
For example, consider how many mac-flaming headlines the oh-so-wonderful editors at MacNN put on this feed compared to the agreeable ones? And this is somewhat of a Fanboy site.
Change is slow, in this instance. However, don't forget about the quickly burgeoning computer sales despite a disparity in media attention. It's something akin to media attention to our actually robust overall economy and success in our current war.
Life is absurd.
Actually, its more like "Apple users tolerate their Mac's behavior, but are more pleasant about it because they can always say 'At least its not as bad as windows'."
Sub $400 bargains that last six months are not worth the time. Buyers deserve to get the lowly crud they pay for.
The downside is buying software (although Adobe and Macromedia BOTH offered free platform switching at the time--they were different companies), but I did have to buy new software. Also, there are some limitations on the hardware you can use.
PC Elitists like to show off their skillz. They seem to enjoy having their friends' computers crash so they can come to the rescue. There are still issues with OS X (it is not flawless), but there are significantly less issues.