Macs better than PCs at Vista
updated 03:35 pm EDT, Thu April 17, 2008
Macs better at Vista
Popular Mechanics says that Macs run Windows Vista better than PCs designed to run the operating system. The magazine published an analysis based on user feedback and performance benchmarks for similarly equipped machines, using a number of 'real world' tests to evaluate the machines. Testers were asked to set up the computers right out of the box and "explore the machines through everyday tasks such as Web surfing, document creation, uploading photos, downloading Adobe Acrobat files and playing music and movies through Media Center and Front Row." The magazine said that in both the laptop and desktop showdowns, Apple's computers were the winners. Results found that both Apple computers ran Vista faster than the PCs did.
"Simply put, Vista proved to be a more sluggish operating system than Leopard. Our PCs installed some software faster, but in general they were slower in our time trials. Plus, both PCs showed weaker performance on third-party benchmarks than the Macs. Our biggest surprise, however, was that PCs were not the relative bargains we expected them to be. The Asus M51sr costs the same as a MacBook, while the Gateway One actually costs $300 more than an iMac," said the report.
[via The Inquirer]
Macs are cheaper- duh
04/17, 04:00pm reply
If you need the power Mac models offer, the components and line-item software value (not talking about quality at this point) end up being cheaper. The delta grows even more when you add in required anti-malware software and services.
This isn't news to most mac users, but it's good to see a widely-read non-biased publication putting some real numbers out there.
danviento
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Joined: Dec 2005
indeed
04/17, 04:03pm reply
the secret is out. eg, while the mini is useless regarding speed running OSX, XP and Vista snap....although MacPro runs OSX more acceptably, the MacPro runs XP/Vista super snappy.....Apple makes good Windows machines that are undoubtedly better than the ready mades from Dell, HP bogged by crapware and generic hardware etc....though for similar costs and in less than an hour, I assemble Windows machines that run circles around Dell/HP/MacPro
makesense
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Joined: Feb 2007
the bloatware
04/17, 04:38pm reply
yes, you really have to do a re-install of the OS first thing, then turn off features that aren't used.
Eventually Vista runs snappy, and XP...well it can really run efficiently.
But...you have to do that, for most users, their machines, no matter how fast, are strangled to near unusability by the pre-installs.
My Dell Vostro supposedly had fewer than normal pre-installs, but wow did it run bad.
It slowed to an usable halt on my favorite language learning website, allowing me to type about 1 letter per second (completely unusable)...I upgraded Flash, that didn't work, and the only way to get the dell branded internet explorer to re-install was by upgrading to IE8.
I know for a fact I don't need IE8 for this website:)) but the upgrade at least allowed me to blow away the dell config easily.
After taking a day to de-crappify the Vostro, it runs fine.
Jonathan-Tanya
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Joined: Oct 2004
I imagine it's also
04/17, 06:30pm reply
because of nearly all PCs these days ship with legacy hardware which likely blogs down the system where as Mac's do not ship with any legacy hardware.
Feynman
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Joined: Aug 2006
Ha Ha!
04/17, 08:09pm reply
I think I just heard Paul Thurrott's head explode! :)
chas_m
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Joined: Aug 2001
Too easy...
04/17, 08:46pm reply
I'd rather post about Ballmer's, "Vista is a work in progress." comment. I think what he meant was, Vista is a piece of work.
Monde
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Joined: Jan 2004
testudo ... come out and
04/17, 10:59pm reply
plaaayyyy....
MacnnChester
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Joined: Jun 2007
Better than PC POS?
04/18, 01:38am reply
Where is Testudo? Oh where, oh where can he be?
thebiggfrogg
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Joined: Jul 2007
PC, Mac, Vista, & Dorkvrk
04/18, 05:56am reply
Where is John Dvorak when you need him? Wonder how the dumb*** can spin this one to get hits on his lame website. Twenty years from now when he is old and senile in a nursing home (what a minute-maybe I should use present tense) he can reflect on what his career has contributed to humanity. Umm, chirp, chirp. Pathetic.
thebiggfrogg
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Joined: Jul 2007
well
04/18, 08:05am reply
I run Vista on my MBP for work. Maybe that's why I've always found vista to not be the slow, cumbersome OS that everyone here claims it is (though most people here probably have never even used it).
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001