Apple Made Me Buy a Windows HP Workstation

[MacVidCards]

I agree with you 100%.

But we are watching "Idioicracy" get enacted in real life.

And the Apple and AMD shills will shout down all logic and reason here, blending it into the roar of the masses. Too bad there is nothing we can do but rage against the dying of the light.

 

[Brad9893]

I agree with you 100%.

But we are watching "Idioicracy" get enacted in real life.

And the Apple and AMD shills will shout down all logic and reason here, blending it into the roar of the masses. Too bad there is nothing we can do but rage against the dying of the light.

I'll rage and put up a fight until they put me into the ground.

 

[Beardy man]

Reluctantly I have to agree that Apple are no longer a computer company, just a company that makes products with computer componants. The first Mac I used was a Quadra800 back in 1993. Since then I've used or owned pretty much every generation of "pro" Mac. Not all of them were insanely great, some were very poorly designed, some of the variants of System 8 thru OSX were frustrating to use but I always felt it was because we were on the leading edge of the technology. In the dark days of Apple we were even grateful for the injection of cash from Microsoft because it kept the dream alive. As a graphic designer every new machine enabled me to raise my productivity by a significant amount. So much so that for many years my average time with a computer was under 18 months - it made sense to buy the latest machine as it would pay me back within the year.

I used to be an Apple evangelist, spreading the word about how the upfront cost of an Apple computer might seem a lot but over the lifetime of the machine it would seem cheap. I stopped saying that about 5 years ago. These days I'm on the brink of jumping ship. I agree, the days of the shiny toys should be used to innovate the tools for the content makers of the future otherwise that stockpiled money will go into propping up a declining company. When I started out professionally, no-one would have predicted that IBM would ever decline in the computer world. Pretty much every office was stuffed to the roof with IBM machines (except for the design departments with their "cool" Mac computers. Apple's turn will come. They have the cash and the power to keep going longer than most but only if they look to a long term future rather than "ooh shiny" short termism. /rant over.

 

[MacVidCards]

"We're second rate, and it's great" is the new battle cry. Being competitive is viewed as some weird obsession. A completely new set of Apple fans has moved in, they don't know or care about the company that used to strive to be unique.

 

[kucharsk]

I used to be an Apple evangelist, spreading the word about how the upfront cost of an Apple computer might seem a lot but over the lifetime of the machine it would seem cheap. I stopped saying that about 5 years ago. These days I'm on the brink of jumping ship. I agree, the days of the shiny toys should be used to innovate the tools for the content makers of the future otherwise that stockpiled money will go into propping up a declining company.

Thing is if you "jump ship" you have to deal with Windows, which is still a royal PITA and I'd gladly pay for a new Mac Pro just to avoid.

Linux isn't an answer either if you want to use commercial applications rather than roll your own or use Linux-specific apps.

Even with Windows 8/Windows 10 the pain of infinite driver revisions, forever updating virus definitions and the like just aren't worth the brain damage.

Granted, I know that's just me, but seriously, it's still a pain for those I see using Windows unless you are absolutely firewalled from the Internet, and if you have Adobe CC that's not going to happen.

 

[lowendlinux]

Thing is if you "jump ship" you have to deal with Windows, which is still a royal PITA and I'd gladly pay for a new Mac Pro just to avoid.

Linux isn't an answer either if you want to use commercial applications rather than roll your own or use Linux-specific apps.

Even with Windows 8/Windows 10 the pain of infinite driver revisions, forever updating virus definitions and the like just aren't worth the brain damage.

Granted, I know that's just me, but seriously, it's still a pain for those I see using Windows unless you are absolutely firewalled from the Internet, and if you have Adobe CC that's not going to happen.

Please tell me this is tongue in cheek

 

[Beardy man]

I hear what you're saying. That's why I'm still here after all these years but... I feel I'm still in the same place, Apple has moved away going into a totally different direction. My place is a pro machine that is designed to be upgraded to extend its lifespan, high quality (read: desktop rather than mobile) components that can take being powered up 24/7 and being worked all day, rather than consumer parts that are good for 4 hour bursts. For me the cMP had all this as did a long string of Macs going back to the beginning of the Mac. The nMP is the first to break this mould. I still, forlornly, hold out hope it's a glitch and normal service will be resumed with the next iteration but I'm not holding my breath much longer. I think my next computer will be either a refurb cMP or a HP Workstation. Unless...7.1 brings Mac back towards where it ought to be (IMHO)

 

[kucharsk]

Please tell me this is tongue in cheek

Not at all, completely serious.

Windows is still a PITA to use, and I just won't go there.

Last I checked Adobe CC didn't run on Linux without a VM and… Windows or without violating Apple's licensing for OS X.

 

[ITguy2016]

Not at all, completely serious.

Windows is still a PITA to use, and I just won't go there.

Last I checked Adobe CC didn't run on Linux without a VM and… Windows or without violating Apple's licensing for OS X.

Please detail what makes Windows a PITA to use?

 

[kucharsk]

Please detail what makes Windows a PITA to use?

Let's start with having to install anti-virus applications, other Windows security crud, dealing with myriad driver revisions and the horrific Windows interface.

OS X is (still) much more elegant and has a very good *NIX underneath allowing me to do most anything from the command line.

Especially of late I'm very, very happy I've been able to convert a number of friends and relatives to a Windows-free environment, and they too are happy to leave McAfee and friends behind, among other things.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Let's start with having to install anti-virus applications, other Windows security crud, dealing with myriad driver revisions and the horrific Windows interface.

OS X is (still) much more elegant and has a very good *NIX underneath allowing me to do most anything from the command line.

Especially of late I'm very, very happy I've been able to convert a number of friends and relatives to a Windows-free environment, and they too are happy to leave McAfee and friends behind, among other things.

You may think you're excuses are based on reality, but it is embarassingly obvious that you don't have a clue and you just sound like an anti-Windows soldier.

If you've even used any later versions of Windows, you'd find that you (like all of US) don't spend our days updating virus definitions and drivers and "crud". Not sure what you think needs so much time to do in Windows, either. It pretty much maintains itself. It has a fine command line if that is your liking. The biggest benefit is the choice of hardware options available to you so you can buy the best/fastest/whatever system you want. Not so much choice in Apple World.

Oh, and lets not forget the choice you have in Windows (not so much so in Apple World)...don't like McAfee? Uninstall it. 2 minutes and it's gone. Same for anything else you don't like. Big deal.

It seems you spend more time reading others horror stories than actually trying it yourself. FWIW, there certainly isn't a lack of OSX horror stories on the internet. To each their own, I guess.

 

[ITguy2016]

Let's start with having to install anti-virus applications, other Windows security crud, dealing with myriad driver revisions and the horrific Windows interface.

• Anti-virus: I have no anti-virus software on any of my Windows systems. They are all malware free. In fact I have a theory anti-virus may cause more problems than it solves.
• Drivers I'm not sure what you're referring to. I installed my OS and began to use it. No futzing with drivers at all. If I buy a new piece of hardware I install the driver and I'm good to go. Never really think much about drivers.
  
• Interface: Purely subjective and one which, IME, is the catch all of the anti-Windows crusaders because it cannot be proven or disproven. But I'm willing to hear what your objections to it are that make it "horrific".

OS X is (still) much more elegant and has a very good *NIX underneath allowing me to do most anything from the command line.

Two words: Power Shell. Research it, understand it, learn it. Very powerful.

Especially of late I'm very, very happy I've been able to convert a number of friends and relatives to a Windows-free environment, and they too are happy to leave McAfee and friends behind, among other things.

If they're happy that's all that matters.
[doublepost=1464702395][/doublepost]

You may think you're excuses are based on reality, but it is embarassingly obvious that you don't have a clue and you just sound like an anti-Windows soldier.

If you've even used any later versions of Windows, you'd find that you (like all of US) don't spend our days updating virus definitions and drivers and "crud". Not sure what you think needs so much time to do in Windows, either. It pretty much maintains itself. It has a fine command line if that is your liking. The biggest benefit is the choice of hardware options available to you so you can buy the best/fastest/whatever system you want. Not so much choice in Apple World.

This strength can also be a weakness. Given the vast choices of hardware it's impossible for Microsoft to be able to test even a minuscule fraction of combinations. Frankly I'm surprised it works as well as it does given the vast number of combinations available. However it's been my experience if one buys a system off the shelf it generally performs well without issue as the manufacturer has done all of the testing.

It's also been my experience people who try to "fix" Windows tend to cause more problems than they solve. Thus creating their problems. I agree with you there is no reason one cannot use and forget Windows. It works quite well.

Oh, and lets not forget the choice you have in Windows (not so much so in Apple World)...don't like McAfee? Uninstall it. 2 minutes and it's gone. Same for anything else you don't like. Big deal.

It seems you spend more time reading others horror stories than actually trying it yourself. FWIW, there certainly isn't a lack of OSX horror stories on the internet. To each their own, I guess.

Agree with this.

 

[Marshall73]

Yep, up with Middle-of-the-road-Joe

Not that I condone the way they are going with Macs but as long as they keep making billions nowt is going to change. I would love to see a range of headless Macs with PCIe support, not sure what is holding them back, it's not like they can't make a tidy little box with a custom motherboard which can support standard video cards even asking the card makers to sign up for made for Mac certification and skin more cash from them too. It's gotta be easy to get the standard 40% margin.

 

[ActionableMango]

• Anti-virus: I have no anti-virus software on any of my Windows systems. They are all malware free.

If you aren't running any virus scanning software, how are you certain you are malware free? Most malware these days are designed to hijack your computer in a completely non-noticeable way.

It is possible to do this of course, with the right router logging and/or an application like Wireshark, combined with a high level of vigilance. But that's a lot of repetitive manual labor. I don't know anyone that bothers to do this outside of security experts working on behalf of their employer.

Some people I know think they are fine because they don't click on weird email attachments or go to nefarious sites, but perfectly legitimate websites have been hacked and have delivered malware payloads. So it could happen anywhere, even here on MR.

 

[ITguy2016]

If you aren't running any virus scanning software, how are you certain you are malware free? Most malware these days are designed to hijack your computer in a completely non-noticeable way.

It is possible to do this of course, with the right router logging and/or an application like Wireshark, combined with a high level of vigilance. But that's a lot of repetitive manual labor. I don't know anyone that bothers to do this outside of security experts working on behalf of their employer.

Some people I know think they are fine because they don't click on weird email attachments or go to nefarious sites, but perfectly legitimate websites have been hacked and have delivered malware payloads. So it could happen anywhere, even here on MR.

I used to perform offline scans of the drives (the only true way to perform a malware scan. Running a scan from within an affected OS is too unreliable). After a while I just gave up on it as I kept coming up empty handed. I no longer bother with it.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Thing is if you "jump ship" you have to deal with Windows, which is still a royal PITA and I'd gladly pay for a new Mac Pro just to avoid.

Linux isn't an answer either if you want to use commercial applications rather than roll your own or use Linux-specific apps.

Even with Windows 8/Windows 10 the pain of infinite driver revisions, forever updating virus definitions and the like just aren't worth the brain damage.

Granted, I know that's just me, but seriously, it's still a pain for those I see using Windows unless you are absolutely firewalled from the Internet, and if you have Adobe CC that's not going to happen.

Did you just step out of 1998?

 

[bent christian]

In the year 2016, where quad-cores, 8-16GB of RAM, and SSDs are the norm, worries about performance issues due to anti-virus software are pretty ridiculous. Most of the maintenance that once separated Windows from OSX, virus scans included, is now essentially a background process that I don't even notice.

 

[kucharsk]

Did you just step out of 1998?

Why, because I find Windows 8 and 10 a pain to use and refuse to?

Because I find OS X much easier to use, for the most part trouble free and love the fact it's based on UNIX?

If that's why, I'm happy to be living in "1998."

As far as the "don't like McAfee, uninstall it" I prefer not to worry about it at all.

Look, if Windows is even a remote possibility for you, go forth, you have my blessings and enjoy.

I dislike it for a variety of reasons and every time I've used a Windows box for even a few minutes I come away singularly unimpressed.

 

[zephonic]

I have used every Windows version up to 8 and they all have given me problems. Not to say that OSX doesn't have its occasional hiccup, but IME it really is an order of magnitude worse on the other side.

Ironically, my Macs have always been the most stable and trouble-free Windows machines. I don't know if that was because Apple writes their own hardware driver package, or because I used cracked copies of Windows, or a little bit of both.

 

[ITguy2016]

I have used every Windows version up to 8 and they all have given me problems. Not to say that OSX doesn't have its occasional hiccup, but IME it really is an order of magnitude worse on the other side.

Ironically, my Macs have always been the most stable and trouble-free Windows machines. I don't know if that was because Apple writes their own hardware driver package, or because I used cracked copies of Windows, or a little bit of both.

If you're unwilling to obtain a legal copy of Windows then I don't find your experiences credible.

 

[kucharsk]

If you're unwilling to obtain a legal copy of Windows then I don't find your experiences credible.

Perfectly reasonable, but I agree with his assessment, both in personal experience and in helping others with Windows issues.

I don't want to turn this into the standard OS X vs. Windows argument, I just simply restate that to me the biggest thing that would inhibit a shift away from a Mac would be having to deal with Windows. OS X provides exactly what I want, how I want it and has the features I want, and Windows does not and I suspect never will, at least not for me.

If Windows works for you, enjoy.

 

[zephonic]

If you're unwilling to obtain a legal copy of Windows then I don't find your experiences credible.

Let me clarify that.

I had (and still have) Windows PC's that came with their official copy of whichever flavor Windows was current at the time up to 7. My wife has a legitimate copy of 8 on her Dell XPS 13.


The least troublesome (nearly trouble-free) experiences with Windows were cracked copies bootcamped on my Macs.

Better?

 

[ITguy2016]

Let me clarify that.

I had (and still have) Windows PC's that came with their official copy of whichever flavor Windows was current at the time up to 7. My wife has a legitimate copy of 8 on her Dell XPS 13.


The least troublesome (nearly trouble-free) experiences with Windows were cracked copies bootcamped on my Macs.

Better?

No. You have not given anything but vague "problems" you've experienced with Windows.

 

[Phoenixx]

Of course they are aware, but the Mac Pro doesn't really account for much of Apples income. And according to Tims last keynote the iPad Pro was the future of professionals in his opinion.

The very fact that Apple would put the word "Pro" after the iPad only shows how disconnected from reality the company has become. iPad Pro is an oxymoron at best. An iPad is in NO way a professional device.

 

[ITguy2016]

Perfectly reasonable, but I agree with his assessment, both in personal experience and in helping others with Windows issues.

I don't want to turn this into the standard OS X vs. Windows argument, I just simply restate that to me the biggest thing that would inhibit a shift away from a Mac would be having to deal with Windows. OS X provides exactly what I want, how I want it and has the features I want, and Windows does not and I suspect never will, at least not for me.

If Windows works for you, enjoy.

I am not attempting to turn this into an OS X versus Windows discussion. However this thread is about someone who, due to Apple's neglect of the Mac Pro, switched to a Windows based solution. To which a number of people stated they would never do that due to problems Windows has. Naturally I'm interested in hearing what problems people are experiencing with Windows that makes it so bad. Why? Because they're completely opposite of my, and those of people I know, experiences. I can't help but feel that these problems are merely the same, regurgitated issues Mac users have been using since Windows 3.x.

Does Windows have issues? Certainly? Are they as bad as some Mac users say? Doubtful. If someone really is having a severe issue with Windows then I would hypothesize they've got an issue which needs corrected.