Want to go cheap and working without troubles, virus, adwares… ?

No Apple : big money, as usual
No Windows : less money, but more troubles

Just buy a cheap Linux box or an empty box and you just use a Linux live CD

You go cheap, got all the softs you want for free directly from the web and all the support from a big community

Ubuntu or Suze, Mandriva (Free)…

Nothing to uninstall, you try the Live CD before installing anything to know witch ditribution you like

No Mac, no Windows

If your hard drive fails, don’t blame Windows. Yank out the drive in your Mac. You’ll see its the same brand name used in many PCs. There are many quality PCs out there too. And now, Macs use the same processor (Intel). If they were all junk, the whole world would be on Macs by now. Personally I have PCs that have lasted 10 years. But it doesnt mean that ALL PCs will last that long.

Did you notice .Mac includes backup software? Why back up data if the hardware never fails? The truth is that your hard drive will eventually fail regardless of what OS you use.

You also have to consider how long the computer lasts too. Macs can easily survive 6 years of very hard use. My Compaq only survived 2 years and that was before they had such low qulaity components. And most important is your data. If your data isn’t worth more than the cost of the computer than that computer isn’t worth it and vice versa. If you value your data you will run something other than Windows. There are a number of great choics you can get preinstalled – Mac OS X, Linux (in this category alone you have many big names to choose from), Solaris, etc.

When I switched from Windows tech support to Mac tech support and beyond (back around ‘92), I realized that the main reason for the popularity of Windows among IT personnel is largely due to the fact that it creates the need for more IT personnel. See the Apple ‘Tech Support’ ad at http://www.differentdistrict.com/movies/play.php?id=215_0_28_0_C.

Adware on cheap PCs

Keep in mind that “Add space” and “Adware” are two different things.

Shortcuts on your PC desktop is not adware and I’m pretty sure PC manufacturers don’t preinstall adware. End users are the ones who unknowingly download and install them.

For a Mac, you must also consider Safari compatibility when using online banking or using certain web sites such as JohnLScott.com. Sooner or later you’ll end up installing multiple browsers on your Mac.

Funny thing about chalk outlines. Aren’t they to represent where things died?

Camera issues on Dell?

Lets be fair. Often, the PC users who are having issues are still using Win95 or Win ME or NT or outdated PC hardware or outdated camera. They might have installed Linux for all we know. Pull out an old mac on OS8 and try to connect a camera.

A friend with a “Dell” computer doesnt say much about what hardware / software is actually being used. If problems were this bad, nobody would be buying PCs.

No drivers to load on a Mac? Usually true. Install some pro audio or video peripherals cards on a PowerMac and watch what happens.

New apps require password to load? Not sure what you’re talking about. You do need admin privaledges to install apps of course (on both Mac and PC).

So, the Mac delivers what Microsoft promises.

I like it.

The problem with non-Mac users is the cannot believe what we are saying because it’s so far from their experience:

No drivers to load,
No popup windows (or anti-popups to install)
No virii, spyware, etc (nor 3-6 pieces of software required to delete it)
No complicated manuevers to uninstall apps

All new apps require password to load

Etc, etc …

They just don’t believe us because the MS ads promise you a beautiful chalk outline world – it must be their fault it’s not working correctly.

Not to mention that when Apple likes a program enough, they just simply include it. Comic Life comes on most Intel Macs, I believe. When Apple bundles, they usually don’t do cheap trials and crappy adware (not that there is adware for the Mac in the first place.)

Since iTunes has 80% market share, I bet most PC users have protected AAC files in their PCs rather than protected WMA files. These Protected AAC files will play fine on a mac. In fact FairPlay DRM currently allows 5 machines (pc and/or macs) to play the songs you have purchased.

Switching from one platform to another always costs extra. It is upto each user to figure out if they will come out ahead in the long term. What I do see is a lot of people that use their PC just for email, browsing, pictures, music, etc. and they are miserable. I personally know at least two friends that use their Dell PCs and have a hard time connecting cameras, camcorders, etc. I told them about my Mac and how easy it is to manage my digital Life. They still have reservations because of the Mac’s upfront cost. The funny thing is one of my friends is a doctor and can easily afford a mac, but he is frugal as heck!

The Dirty Little Secrets of using a Mac….

Suppose you need certain PC applications (not available on Mac)? You buy a Mac (intel), upgrade hard drive for much need space for 2 operating systems, buy another copy of WinXP, use beta version of boot camp, install XP and applications. Isn’t this an extra expense in time and money too?

Suppose you have a G4/G5? Then you spend additional money on Virtual PC.

Are you switching to a Mac? Well then great. But what about the software you already have? Buy Office, Photoshop, etc. again. Then, when the universal version comes out, shell out more cash because you know they arent giving that out for free.

What about all those WMA songs you purchased online? Will they play on your mac and sync with your iPod? Oh nooooo! You must buy them again. More expense.

The moral of this story: it’s not a free ride on the Mac either. But the earlier you switch to the Mac (Intel), the better off you’ll be.

I know the feeling. That’s why I eventually got a Mac.

I assembled my own PC myself so there’s nothing on the desktop. I only buy quality components, but still, it can be a challenge to match everything up, organize cables, fine tune it, etc. It used to be worth the trouble because at least you had generic replacable parts (unlike expensive OEM parts). But now, since prices have dropped AND PC manufacturers are using standard parts, it’s better to just buy an assembled (and tested) system.

On the other hand, my Sony Vaio was filled with all kinds of stuff. I just uninstalled each item that I didn’t want. But you’re right, not everything gets uninstalled. And while uninstalling, often you get that message saying that a particular file is shared and if you remove it, other apps might not work anymore. So most of the time you just leave the stuff there because who knows what .dll is used for. And of course there’s the registry. Who invented this thing? I was lucky and never had a problem with it. Also note the stickers that are plastered over everything (Intel Inside, ATI Video, computer specs, etc). I peeled them all off. As for the desktop, the Sony wallpaper actually looks good. But that’s not always the case with other manufacturers. OEM machines also have OEM customizations including wallpapers dont don’t fully go away (For HP, need to delete registry setting). HP keyboards have OEM driver for the extra keyboard buttons (email, browser, chat, news, help, etc).

Many OEMs put the extra software on a separate CD. So a clean install is possible.

You’ll be surprised to find so many compaining about the cluttered PC desktop when you could (and I seen people have) do the same on a Mac. After all, a Mac can do everything a PC can do right? They blame Microsoft and PC manufactuerers, but often, over time, it’s the user that’s saving files on the desktop.

Pop ups DO occur on a Mac!!! When iLife 06 came out, the iLife 05 users started to get messages indicating a new version was available. It only happens when launching an iLife 05 app. Of course, if you’re already on iLife 06, you’ll never get the message. I recall quicktime does a similar thing (to upgrade to QT pro).