Why use macintosh?

[Joseph F]

I was just wondering why you (mac users) chose a macintosh computer over a "PC". Am I in the right forum?

 

[JSt0rm]

I like both

 

[TuxDave]

I wish I had a Mac. All my friends who tried it really love OSX and the software you can get on it.

 

[Anneka]

Why not to use Mac? You have to love Windows errors to hate the Mac.

 

[f4phantom2500]

Why not to use Mac? You have to love Windows errors to hate the Mac.

i think he means why pay the premium.

 

[Kaido]

I was just wondering why you (mac users) chose a macintosh computer over a "PC". Am I in the right forum?

1. I like the hardware (nice industrial design)
2. I like the smoothness & stability of the operating system
3. I like the interface & design of the software
4. I like the low maintenance requirements (not having to worry about Windows Updates, Spyware, and Viruses)

Things like Expose, Time Machine, etc. make the system really nice to use. I like Windows better for gaming and CAD work, but I use my Mac for everything else. It can be a bit more of a hassle sometimes. You have to find Mac equivalents of Windows software, which isn't always available. They're doing better now about Microsoft Office for Mac, AutoCAD for Mac, and so on. For example, my brother just bought a Logitech G700 mouse and then found out it didn't have support for Mac. We were able to get it working with a workaround (Steermouse), but it was still a hassle.

I kind of think of it like cars - vintage cars and new cars. Vintage cars (Windows) require more maintenance, whereas newer cars (Macs) are more like appliances. You don't really work on the guts of a Mac too much, but it's more set-and-forget so you can focus on actually doing stuff with the system. Windows is perfectly usable; it just requires more maintenance. Pros and cons to each. I run both

 

[speg]

Why not?

 

[sourceninja]

I like the hardware design.
I love the trackpad (both on the macbook pro and the magic pad)
I love *nix!
I needed a real terminal.
I needed X-windows
I love the tools for web development osx brings to the table.
I no longer have to fix my families computers. I don't understand them winder's problems.

 

[alevasseur14]

Here's the one thing I tell people when they ask why I bought a Macbook Pro: if you're ever trying something new on your computer and in your mind come up with how you think it should work, with an Apple it usually does work that way. That's it. Yeah, I like the design of Apple computers and all that. When it boils down to it though, it just seems like I work better in OS X.

Now, I do use both Windows and OS X. My server is Windows. My HTPC is Windows. Hell, I even spend about half of my time on my MBP in Windows. I've even installed Ubuntu in a VM to try and get into that platform. It's just the smoothness of OS X that I appreciate the most.

I realize my post is pretty vague but I think that's alright. It's hard to say why I like my MBP and OS X so much. Then again, I'm not here to 'convert' anyone either.

 

[Kmax82]

I personally always wonder why people choose to use a "PC", other than the "it's cheaper" reasoning?

It seems most people just associate Macs with expensive, but they aren't that terribly priced depending on what you're wanting to do with your computer. If you upgrade every 6 months then you typically won't be getting a good deal on your system, but if you like to just buy a system every 4 years and just use it.. then Macs are perfect, and I guarantee (unless you're throwing the system on the ground every day) that the Mac will be in better shape after 4 years than the el-cheapo PC alternative.

My main reason for using a Mac:

- Beautiful software. Mac developers put care and effort into their apps, and it's worth it to me to support that, as it's a joy to use.

 

[mmntech]

-Apple has some of the best professional laptops on the market. Extremely well built with a great trackpad.
-OSX's interface just seems more intuitive to Windows 7
-Final Cut is one of the best video editing programs around, and the express version is powerful and affordable. Premiere Pro is very expensive and Vegas sucks.
-OSX makes networking easy and without the BS. Sometimes getting Windows just to see my servers is a PITA.

I do use both. Windows 7 is clearly superior for gaming. The PC handles my high power tasks. I've also got a Linux testing rig in the basement.

 

[HaukSwe]

There are no better laptops and I only use laptops.

Apple makes the best software.

"Apple tax" or premiums are only significant if you compare technical specs. If you take all things into account and lifespan of product apple offers value.

 

[airdata]

Why not to use Mac? You have to love Windows errors to hate the Mac.

I'd actually be hard pressed to remember the last windows error I've gotten on my home computer.

But yeah... Mac's are cooler than pc's in most cases. Most people hating on mac's just don't have enough money to buy one, or don't have parents to buy them one.

 

[postaled]

I'd be more willing to consider a mac if it they had trackpoint/touchstick on their laptops. I absolutely despise touchpads. And yes I have had mac book pro recently and even with the gestures etc I still cannot stand them.

bah, just had to get that out there.

 

[Ka0t1x]

I like the hardware design.
I love the trackpad (both on the macbook pro and the magic pad)
I love *nix!
I needed a real terminal.
I love the tools for web development osx brings to the table.

Removed a few things not relevant to me, and bolded the best.

Most langs are pre-installed, old versions now, but OOB its really nice to have.

 

[alfa147x]

Build quality
Available applications
I enjoy using terminal over command prompt
Workflow is more fluid, efficient on a mac
The cost is about the same to a comparable windows machine and I can run windows if I choose.
Less maintenance time.


Tackpad. I don't care if you hate mac but you will have to admit that Apple makes and implements on of the best trackpads out.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Most of the time people hate Macs because they hate Steve Jobs and his attitude.

 

[Joseph F]

Yeah, I can't stand Jobs at his speeches. I may consider trying Mac OSX if I ever stop playing games. However I already use Linux (occasionally) and I think Mac OSX would be redundant when I'm happy with my Winux system.

 

[endlessmike133]

Are people seriously saying the Mac is actually a great value?

For the same price of a 27" iMac, which is $2000; you could build an insanely powerful PC that blows away the iMac easily.

To top it all off, if you love OS X so much you can just install it on your PC.

Apple grossly overcharges for their Macbooks and iMacs and even iPhones/iPads to a lesser extent; it's part of the reason why they make such a huge profit on every item they sell.

 

[Anteaus]

Obviously there are core fans on both sides, but the reason the average user tends to use a PC over a Mac is primarily about software. One could argue that it's about exposure, but that comes back to software. PC users have more software options, which include a variety of software types from entertainment to productivity.

Mac has good software, but it lacks large variety and the average Mac lacks the hardware flexibility of the average PC. In addition, Apple does little to eliminate that weakness. In fact, they readily admit they are a hardware company and not a software developer, even though OSX is the heart and soul of Apples. Apples are also good for people who tend to do only a few things with their machines and thus want stability over versitility.

If your willing to pay the premium, Apple makes great stuff and should definitely be looked at. Just remember that there are heavily biased people on these boards, so if they write diatribes trashing either side, I would consider their motives suspect.

 

[LegendKiller]

Are people seriously saying the Mac is actually a great value?

For the same price of a 27" iMac, which is $2000; you could build an insanely powerful PC that blows away the iMac easily.

To top it all off, if you love OS X so much you can just install it on your PC.

Apple grossly overcharges for their Macbooks and iMacs and even iPhones/iPads to a lesser extent; it's part of the reason why they make such a huge profit on every item they sell.

I am likely going to be getting a 15" Macbook pro this evening. My reason wouldn't be the same with a desktop but here's why...

#1 reason - Hardware - Notebook hardware in PC's is generally shit these days. In the last 6 years I've had 2 Dell notebooks and an HP notebook for work, 2 dells, 2 HPs, and 2 gateways for personal use between my wife and I. Every single one of those computers had problems 2 years out. My GW 6860fx just shit the bed.

I took the fucker apart only to find out that it's far more complex to disassemble than anything I've worked on before. It's a ridiculous design that required 2 hours to take apart and another 3 to put it together. The GPU heatsink was completely inaccessable on the back, requiring the fully disassembly. There's probably 40 screws, 4 levels of stuff you have to get around to fully disassemble and about 10 cables that run THROUGH those various levels.

I am fucking tired of shitty designs, period. Every PC notebook I've had is too complex, too cheap, too stupid. I am getting tired of sinking thousands into stuff that doesn't last long.

The MBP's unibody construction simplifies it massively. No plastic parts, no gazillion screws, no plastic anchors to break, no clamshell design with 4 levels of shell. Everything is simply laid out internally.

To me having something that is elegantly simple is ingeneous and well worth the money.

I'll likely stick W7 on the MBP, I still prefer windows.

 

[QueBert]

Are people seriously saying the Mac is actually a great value?

For the same price of a 27" iMac, which is $2000; you could build an insanely powerful PC that blows away the iMac easily.

To top it all off, if you love OS X so much you can just install it on your PC.

Apple grossly overcharges for their Macbooks and iMacs and even iPhones/iPads to a lesser extent; it's part of the reason why they make such a huge profit on every item they sell.

Build a 27" AIO PC for cheaper than the iMac, well it's not even possible to build your own AIO computer so what you said's invalid. As for good deal, they kind of are. I know people who sold their 4 year old Macbook for 75% of what they bought it for. PC people with a 4 year old laptop? Good luck getting 30% of what it cost new.

I don't own a mac, but for the resale value alone I'd buy one if I could afford it.

 

[alfa147x]

I am likely going to be getting a 15" Macbook pro this evening. My reason wouldn't be the same with a desktop but here's why...

#1 reason - Hardware - Notebook hardware in PC's is generally shit these days. In the last 6 years I've had 2 Dell notebooks and an HP notebook for work, 2 dells, 2 HPs, and 2 gateways for personal use between my wife and I. Every single one of those computers had problems 2 years out. My GW 6860fx just shit the bed.

I took the fucker apart only to find out that it's far more complex to disassemble than anything I've worked on before. It's a ridiculous design that required 2 hours to take apart and another 3 to put it together. The GPU heatsink was completely inaccessable on the back, requiring the fully disassembly. There's probably 40 screws, 4 levels of stuff you have to get around to fully disassemble and about 10 cables that run THROUGH those various levels.

I am fucking tired of shitty designs, period. Every PC notebook I've had is too complex, too cheap, too stupid. I am getting tired of sinking thousands into stuff that doesn't last long.

The MBP's unibody construction simplifies it massively. No plastic parts, no gazillion screws, no plastic anchors to break, no clamshell design with 4 levels of shell. Everything is simply laid out internally.

To me having something that is elegantly simple is ingeneous and well worth the money.

I'll likely stick W7 on the MBP, I still prefer windows.

I almost had an orgasm when I took a unibody MBP apart. It was very easy.

I hate when people compare a $1100 MBP to a $800 dell laptop because apparently no one takes into account build quality, portability, battery life...

 

[endlessmike133]

Build a 27" AIO PC for cheaper than the iMac, well it's not even possible so what you said's invalid. As for good deal, they kind of are. I know people who sold their 4 year old Macbook for 75% of what they bought it for. PC people with a 4 year old laptop? Good luck getting 30% of what it cost new.

I don't own a mac, but for the resale value alone I'd buy one if I could afford it.

How is All In One something to brag about lol?

Anyways you can easily get a 27" IPS screen + a computer tons better than the highest end iMac.

 

[endlessmike133]

I almost had an orgasm when I took a unibody MBP apart. It was very easy.

I hate when people compare a $1100 MBP to a $800 dell laptop because apparently no one takes into account build quality, portability, battery life...

Power, low price, build quality and portability; all staples of Lenovo.