Mac vs PC

[arthwollipot]

I'd say it's about equal.

Actually, I disagree. It seems to be my limited experience that Mac fanatics (and note that I don't believe that all Mac users can be described as "Mac fanatics") tend to be more critical of what they perceive as the PC's faults. PC fanatics (and ditto) tend to simply complain that Macs are too expensive and not as customisable.

YMMV.

 

[not daSkeptic]

Actually, I disagree. It seems to be my limited experience that Mac fanatics (and note that I don't believe that all Mac users can be described as "Mac fanatics") tend to be more critical of what they perceive as the PC's faults. PC fanatics (and ditto) tend to simply complain that Macs are too expensive and not as customisable.

I think the difference is not so much how critical each side is of one another, but rather lies in what each side is criticizing. The Mac-side tends to attack technical issues (e.g. excessive crashes, proliferation of viruses, hardware/driver hell), whereas the PC-side tends to attack business issues (e.g. cost, OS on Apple hardware only, refusal to produce certain types of products).

 

[arthwollipot]

I think the difference is not so much how critical each side is of one another, but rather lies in what each side is criticizing. The Mac-side tends to attack technical issues (e.g. excessive crashes, proliferation of viruses, hardware/driver hell), whereas the PC-side tends to attack business issues (e.g. cost, OS on Apple hardware only, refusal to produce certain types of products).

That's a fair point.

 

[Reeco]

I think the difference is not so much how critical each side is of one another, but rather lies in what each side is criticizing. The Mac-side tends to attack technical issues (e.g. excessive crashes, proliferation of viruses, hardware/driver hell), whereas the PC-side tends to attack business issues (e.g. cost, OS on Apple hardware only, refusal to produce certain types of products).

Would you say that one side is more accurate in its criticisms than the other? I've always used PCs, but will admit that if were ever fortunate enough to have a dedicated music production studio it would be Mac based, purely because that's the way the majority of the pros do it, and therefore I would (probably) have a richer support community to tap into. I wouldn't really care what the anti-Mac crowd say. But I do wonder if people neck-deep in Mac culture would ever swith to PC, based on the level and breadth of the horror stories they must hear all the time.

 

[GreNME]

Actually, I disagree. It seems to be my limited experience that Mac fanatics (and note that I don't believe that all Mac users can be described as "Mac fanatics") tend to be more critical of what they perceive as the PC's faults. PC fanatics (and ditto) tend to simply complain that Macs are too expensive and not as customisable.

YMMV.

What you're seeing is the distilled effect of brand loyalty in Mac users that's actually more assorted and diverse on the PC side. It's not that the PC side doesn't have its zealots or brand loyalists, it's that there are scores more brands to differentiate or choose from-- there's the Windows/Linux, AMD/Intel, Dell/HP/Sony/etc., nVidia/ATi, and many other "rivalries" in the PC world that simply don't come into play with Macs, because Macs aren't offered in a manner that warrants those component battles. As such, we tend to see a strong brand loyalty comparison of Macs and everything else, while in the PC world there's so many varied configuration comparisons and debates that Macs (when not being dismissed) usually just get that whole "cost too much" canard thrown at them or have the fact that they are a closed market environment segregate them from the larger group arguments in the PC crowds.

This is so because this is something Apple has cultivated in order to set them apart from other computer makers. In some ways it's worked to Apple's advantage-- they have a fairly dedicated and enthusiastic consumer base-- and in some ways it's worked to Apple's disadvantage (again, the 5-7% market share).

 

[Darat]

...snip...

This is so because this is something Apple has cultivated in order to set them apart from other computer makers. In some ways it's worked to Apple's advantage-- they have a fairly dedicated and enthusiastic consumer base-- and in some ways it's worked to Apple's disadvantage (again, the 5-7% market share).

And is why Apple has reacted so strongly to the "I'm a PC" adverts from MS.

 

[Vic Vega]

Here's a good question. I'm looking for a decent, inexpensive, multi-track recording and sound editing application for Windows. Like Garage Band. Does anyone know of such a thing? The research I've done suggests that I'm going to need to pay rather a lot of money for something, which I really don't want to do.

What are you going to be using it for? I play guitar and this is a great and very reasonably priced product:

http://www.cakewalk.com/products/guitartrackspro/

I have the previous version and it's excellent.

 

[GreNME]

And is why Apple has reacted so strongly to the "I'm a PC" adverts from MS.

True, but Apple started that fight. Apple seems to dislike reactions in kind to their own nasty marketing tactics.

 

[Vic Vega]

I should probably share my sad story.

I've decided that I'm going to buy a Mac and dual boot next time I buy a computer.

I vowed to give up PCs earlier this year. My PC installed updates automatically, rebooted... and never came back up.

So I had to reload my OS and recover from a backup, which is about as fun as a raging case of the clap. While fuming during the long process of loading the OS and recovering my data, I decided I'd try a Mac.

I need the PC for a couple of music programs like the one I mentioned above, but other than that, I see no reason not to switch. I'll dual boot with all of our family and personal data on the Mac.

 

[Vic Vega]

True, but Apple started that fight. Apple seems to dislike reactions in kind to their own nasty marketing tactics.

The "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ads do seem to me to be a little mean-spirited, though in most cases they are on the mark.

 

[Yoink]

I think the difference is not so much how critical each side is of one another, but rather lies in what each side is criticizing. The Mac-side tends to attack technical issues (e.g. excessive crashes, proliferation of viruses, hardware/driver hell), whereas the PC-side tends to attack business issues (e.g. cost, OS on Apple hardware only, refusal to produce certain types of products).

But these aren't parallel criticisms. The Mac-fanatics are saying that Macs are simply better machines: more reliable, easier to use etc. etc. The people who complain that Macs cost too much aren't saying that there is anything wrong with Macs, they are just saying that they don't see any inherent superiority that justifies the extra cost. They are saying, in other words: "these are all just computers, and there's really nothing much to pick between them."

Stories about Mac conversion experiences are fairly similar. They usually involve some catastrophic failure on the part of a PC (a "this was the last straw" story), the decision to purchase a Mac (despite the higher price tag than an equivalent PC), and the amazing effortlessness and reliability of the experience ever since. (Stories of catastrophic failures of Mac machines are, of course, handwaved away as we've seen already in this thread: "they aren't supposed to do that").

There simply are no such conversion narratives in the other direction--and even the most fanatical Mac fanatic would surely have to admit that Macs do occasionally crash, and that some PC users have a trouble-free experience of their machines. The reason being that there really are no "PC fanatics" in the way that there are "Mac fanatics"--there are Linux fanatics and there are fanatics for particular programs that happen to run on PCs, and there are DIY fanatics whose only option is the PC world. But there's no strong brand identity for "PC." PCs are entirely commodified. To be a "PC fanatic" would be like being a "gasoline fanatic" as a car driver--it's an empty identity.

 

[uruk]

True, but Apple started that fight. Apple seems to dislike reactions in kind to their own nasty marketing tactics.

That is true. From the very begining a great number of Apple's advertising consists of bashing Microsoft and IBM PCs. Anybody remember the infamous "1984" Mac commerical back in the 80's? This goes on to this day the "I'm a Mac" adds. And these are loaded with quite a bit of half truths and exagerations (for humorous effect, no doubt)

Only recently has Microsoft returned in kind with the "Mac is too expensive" adds.

I think Mac "zelots" are more mean spirited because Apple tends to be more mean spirited.

 

[Yoink]

I don't find Mac zealots "mean spirited" (the ads are another issue). In my experience the zealots (as in this thread) are just people who have found the One True Religion and want to share the Good News. They don't think you're an evil poopy-head for using a PC; they think you're a poor benighted heathen who needs to be enlightened. "Accept Mac as your Personal Computer Savior," they say, "and all your burdens will be lifted from you and you shall enjoy eternal blessedness." It's annoying--like any proselytizing--but it's certainly well meant.

 

[uruk]

I did a quick google with "Mac horror stories" as the search string and found some interesting stuff. Mac OSX installation problems, crashes, mysterious laptop shutdowns and laptop monitor problems.

Do a search of youtube with "Macbook random shutdown" in the search string.

Also try doing a search withf "hacking a Mac".

Some really interesting eye opening stuff concerning stability of the Mac.

To see the instability of a windows PC, just turn one on.

 

[uruk]

I don't find Mac zealots "mean spirited" (the ads are another issue). In my experience the zealots (as in this thread) are just people who have found the One True Religion and want to share the Good News. They don't think you're an evil poopy-head for using a PC; they think you're a poor benighted heathen who needs to be enlightened. "Accept Mac as your Personal Computer Savior," they say, "and all your burdens will be lifted from you and you shall enjoy eternal blessedness." It's annoying--like any proselytizing--but it's certainly well meant.

Sorry should have typed "seem mean spirited".

 

[GreNME]

The "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ads do seem to me to be a little mean-spirited, though in most cases they are on the mark.

See, and that's where I disagree. They're very rarely, if ever, on the mark. The same with the Windows one playing the "too expensive" card. But the point of marketing isn't to be honest to the consumer, and Apple has a long history of making creative use of hyperbole to cater to the "cool" image.

Just so you know: Macs update just as often as (if not more than) Windows PCs do, and you have to reboot just as often.

 

[tyr_13]

True, but Apple started that fight. Apple seems to dislike reactions in kind to their own nasty marketing tactics.

For the most part, I loath Mac ads because they tend to be, a) attack ads, and b) dreadfully misleading if not outright wrong.

My favorite most hated (can that even happen?) Mac ad was when they attacked Microsoft for spending money on advertising, in a freaking advertisement. At any point did the actors go, "wait, what?" reading their lines? How petty, mean, and hypocritical. The standard reply from Mac fans is something along the lines of, "you're defending Micro$oft?"

They most often do these with ads, "Hi, I'm a Mac," and if what they are saying is even half true about one PC maker, they run with it. Drives me nuts. Of course I tend to dislike all attack ads. You can often tell who is the best or at least most popular out there by seeing who everyone else attacks in their ads. With car ads, everyone compares with Toyota for example. Pizza places tend to compare to Pizza Hut. Burger places with McDonalds, although this has begun to change.

I've found that the most zealous and mean spirited fanboys belong to Nintendo and Apple. That says nothing about the product though.

 

[kookbreaker]

True, but Apple started that fight. Apple seems to dislike reactions in kind to their own nasty marketing tactics.

I am more amused by the fact that the PC world had to react to the Mac ads at all. I mean c'mon: "Oh noes! The group with 5-10% of the market share is being mean in their ads! We must COUNTERATTACK!!!!!"

Far better it would have been to try and pretend they didn't exist.

 

[dtugg]

I find the Mac ads be highly annoying. And they're on all the time! I am not going to buy a Mac, probably ever. But if I were on the fence, it would make me a little less likely to buy one.

 

[kookbreaker]

Is it just me or are Mac people more anti-PC than PC people are anti-mac?

In my experience, I noticed that Mac people were more anti-Windows than PC per se.

That being said, I do notice plenty of anti-Mac attitudes way in excess of the company's marketshare. I had a IT guy back when I worked at the museum who loathed Macs with a passion and there were a number of them. He was so useless at Mac help that I had to set up the little network for our group, not him. I haven't encountered his type since then (mid-90s).

I saw lots of advocacy that attacked flaws with Windows, certainly, but I don't know how much of it was 'anti' or just trying to advocate.

On the other hand, many pundits who get published have made some virulent anti-Mac comments:

1) I forgot how many times the phrase 'The inevitable death of Apple' has been used since 1981.

2) When the iMacs first came out, there were massive predictions of it being a failure

3) Oh, it was a failure. Didn't you know that?

4) The iPod was also a sales failure. Didn't you know that?

5) In an earthquake, your iMac will actually try to kill you! (I wish I were making that up)

6) There were a couple of pundits who actually seemed to be drooling for the death of Steve Jobs when he got ill.

7) Speaking of company presidents, does anyone else remember Michael Dell's comment about Apple when Steve Jobs became CEO again?

It probably goes both ways, but from where I am standing there seems to be a streak of 'anti' from the PC advocate crowd. In fairness, they probably target Linux even harder.