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Mac or Windows? what's better? and Why?
- Thread starter clar24
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Neither is 'best' or 'better'
They're different ways of doing things. Some like one. Some like the other. I like both.
Anyone who tries to argue that one is categorically better than the other is lying.
They're different ways of doing things. Some like one. Some like the other. I like both.
Anyone who tries to argue that one is categorically better than the other is lying.
Though I definitely agree that neither is better in all aspects.
I would say that most people are not lying when they say one is always better than the other. Rather they are ignorant of the abilities of both. Since they have either exclusively or almost exclusively used one or the other. Then are parroting their opinions from those they consider knowledgeable about computers.
Both have advantages and disadvantages.
In my case i use Mac laptops but windows based desktops. I find OSX better for mobile type environments and windows better for my powerful computer.
Although if i could get a cheap powerful mac desktop (xMac) i might change my mind. (BTW i've tried hackintosh... prefer just to run windows on a non-Mac PC)
In my case i use Mac laptops but windows based desktops. I find OSX better for mobile type environments and windows better for my powerful computer.
Although if i could get a cheap powerful mac desktop (xMac) i might change my mind. (BTW i've tried hackintosh... prefer just to run windows on a non-Mac PC)
To me, each system har it's different uses. For servers, I prefer using Linux (Debian is my new favorite). For working computers, such as programming, designing and such, I prefer Macs. For playing games, I prefer Windows.
They all fulfill their duties just fine.
They all fulfill their duties just fine.
Exactly the same here. I rather like Mac laptops and I'd never buy a Windows-based one, but now I'd never buy a Mac desktop because. Well. I could build myself a real beast of a machine for a fraction of the cost of a Mac - with the same quality components too.
As for OSX and XP. I like OSX for media organisation and playback, email, browsing. Whereas I use XP for work and games. I couldn't pick my fave just as I couldn't live without either now.
I was going to say one isn't any better then the other like the other posters but after producing this list below, I can't stand by that statement anymore. Clearly OSX had advantages in its design, look and usage that superior to windows.
Here's my unsorted and incomplete list of items that I believe are better in OSX then windows.
Here's my unsorted and incomplete list of items that I believe are better in OSX then windows.
- Great integration with apple hardware
- Great integration with apple products like mobile me, iLife, iWork, Aperture, etc.
- OS UI is more intuituve and responsive (as compared to vista)
- Lack of Viruses
- Ability to access more then 3gig (getting the 64bit version of windows can cause massive headaches because of driver issues)
- Driver issues are virtually non-existant
- no registry to corrupt
- Less security issues, no need to send patches daily/weekly/monthly to plug the holes in the os
- More stable environment, less crashes
- Less reboots, I've installed (and uninstalled) texted editors in windows which require a reboot - Why???
Or, they are simply expressing their own opinion based on their own criteria. The point is probably less about accurate, objective studies and more about surveying people's current thinking on a particular topic (e.g., who would make a better President...). If the OP truly wanted accuracy, s/he would have not left out the critical use cases.
It is generally true that either are "fine"; they can equally get most jobs done. Personally, I like Mac OS X, especially for my home machines, which I don't want to spend a lot of time maintaining and investing in necessary 3rd party bits of software to keep the nasties out. Finally, Mac OS X does go hand-in-hand with beautifully designed machines, which is another reason we run it at home. We have our computers out in the open; and, the wife even considers it "furniture".
The integration with hardware is moot when OSX runs superbly on a £300 Dell Mini.
iLife integration is good - but other packages offer similar experiences on other platforms.
I find some parts of the OSX interface VERY counter intuitive, and some parts of it brilliant.
Small footprint, free AV software eliminates this problem.
x64 drivers are NOT a massive headache. I run an XP64 workstation and have NEVER had a driver issue.
See above.
Never had a registry problem. I have had permissions problems on my Mac though.
OSX gets patched like XP/Vista. Just less often.
Safari crashes on my MB many many times a day. Firefox doesn't on my XP 64 workstation.
You've tried text editors that ASKED for a reboot. Did you try them without? Rarely is a reboot actually required.
See - this is what annoys me. People on one side of the fence exhibiting chronic bias against the other side of the fence. It's like you can't explain why you use OSX without explaining why you DON'T use XP. And when you try and explain it - much of the stuff you say is wrong or irrelevant.
Unless one has had horrific, incessant, consistent, rotten, atrocious problems with Windows versions of nearly every variety and platform.
The fact is, Windows sucks. Whether you happen to like Windows or not doesn't change that fact, and whether it's always worked splendidly for you doesn't change the fact.
Windows Sucks.™ Both in it's user experience (although they're improving that) and in stability and security. That's official. You can call me bitter, but I've had a fair amount of experience with both and Macintosh machines are much better. I probably wouldn't be quite as bitter about Windows if Microsoft actually tried to be helpful when I called them (on several occasions). Brushed off many times, and while it proved to be a software problem in the end, they insisted it was my fault. Then when it was the hardware, Dell told me it was a problem with Windows. Yeah those are knowledgeable, trained employees with good quality products for you...
I've used Macintosh computers off and on for years and exclusively since 2007 (several models and OS versions to boot) and can honestly say I haven't had one problem with software or hardware that's due to faulty manufacture or design.
okay that's my rant for week..
I think Windows is better, just because 99% of the time I can do what I want with it, when I want, where I want. With OS X, if I want to have that same freedom, I am forced to buy an Apple, or mess with drivers, which is more of a pain then on Windows...
I give it to Windows, because it's usable. After all, what good is "the world's most advanced operating system", if I can't install it?
I give it to Windows, because it's usable. After all, what good is "the world's most advanced operating system", if I can't install it?
Copied just the things I have issue with in this statement, the interface is completely your own opinion but I dunno about the responsiveness. Maybe when dealing with a more powerful Mac this is true(I have the 08' alu 13") but I can't even begin to compare my 2Ghz/2Gb ram laptop to my 4Ghz Quad-core/6Gb triple channel ram@1800Mhz. There is just no comparison, EVERYTHING is smoother and faster, hardware more than accounts for that.
Drivers/Reboots/Registry: These are not the fault of MS really, they do not write the drivers, they do not dictate what software requires a reboot(blame the devs of the software) and they are not the ones corrupting the registry. If you do that that is YOUR fault, you can't say "oh well they put it there, bad on them", if I start deleting important system files on my Mac or overwriting them with crap it isn't Apple's problem, it's mine for being an idiot.
@Melrose: that is kind of my situation, but in reverse, my Mac behaves like a dog(why does the OS need to lock up to open a new tab in Safari?). I haven't even had windows crash on me in the last month(barring my latest crash which is a result of bad memory).
Yeah, I realize that people are going to have differing opinions; I try to never insinuate that Macs are perfect and Windows is always bad. I'll grant that for some people or for certain tasks, Windows may be just the thing. I base my opinion on what I know and personally experience, which is more than many can say.
In my experience Macs have been very good, and conversely Windows has been unreliable. But, again, that's just my experience.
I find everything is mroe logically laid out in OS X. Windows has too many ways to accomplish one task and it results in bloat. Oh yeah, I love Spotlight.
I like how it works with every one of my peripherals by just plugging it in. I never have to go around the internet for drivers. I like how it works seemlessly with my iPhone, with MobileMe, and just integrates perfectly into my life. I like how stable the OS is (excep my damn mail.app hangs sometimes for no raeson).
That's it.
I like how it works with every one of my peripherals by just plugging it in. I never have to go around the internet for drivers. I like how it works seemlessly with my iPhone, with MobileMe, and just integrates perfectly into my life. I like how stable the OS is (excep my damn mail.app hangs sometimes for no raeson).
That's it.
This pretty much sums up my position on the issue. I really enjoy using OS X, but the hardware it can be installed on (stably, with no maintenance) is very limiting. It's a big deal for me.
And then there's the fact that there's pretty much nothing wrong with Windows (XP, anyway. Not sure about the rest) if you just have a little common sense. It's just easier.
I use both. I do nearly everything on my Mac except for gaming. I enjoy not worrying about virus's, i enjoy how fast i can do thing on my Mac, and not having to reinstall my OS every 3-6 months.
I do not enjoy that i cant upgrade my Mac, i dont enjoy that i have to wait for my master Apple to tell me when i can do something (blu-ray?) or not. Between the two brands i am getting everything i need done, so if you ask what is better the answer is will depend on each individual.
I do not enjoy that i cant upgrade my Mac, i dont enjoy that i have to wait for my master Apple to tell me when i can do something (blu-ray?) or not. Between the two brands i am getting everything i need done, so if you ask what is better the answer is will depend on each individual.
Color me a liar then.
For gaming, Windows is clearly superior based on the fact that it has more games. Nearly every game available for the Mac is also available for Windows. The opposite cannot be said. Also, the same game usually runs fasters on Windows.
For general computing, OS X is clearly superior based on fewer frustrations of having to deal with mal-ware. Having a unified user interface doesn't hurt either. Cmd-Q, Cmd-V, Cmd-X, Cmd-C all works exactly the same in every Mac program that supports short cuts. Can't say the same for Windows.
Eh? It is the same in Windows. I run lots of applications in XP and I copy/paste graphics, music, text, video across them all easily. Have you got an example of why OSX does this better than XP?Color me a liar then.
For gaming, Windows is clearly superior based on the fact that it has more games. Nearly every game available for the Mac is also available for Windows. The opposite cannot be said. Also, the same game usually runs fasters on Windows.
For general computing, OS X is clearly superior based on fewer frustrations of having to deal with mal-ware. Having a unified user interface doesn't hurt either. Cmd-Q, Cmd-V, Cmd-X, Cmd-C all works exactly the same in every Mac program that supports short cuts. Can't say the same for Windows.
In the 3 years I've owned my iMac I have reinstalled OSX and XP twice, and I'm not exactly an IT pro. I think you're doing something wrong if you have to reinstall it every 3-6 months.
As much as my opinion is the opposite I will pay you 1 internet for citing your source
I started with computers in 91*, we had PCs at school, haven't felt the need to change, if I was heavily into audio/video at any point then Apple was viewed as the way to go and I may have changed. Regardless, even though I have a few computers and all, they really are just tools, they do what I want, and I don't need to change over and learn the mac side even though I have used them and occasionally support them.
* does the Commodore 64 count? thats going back into the earlier 80s
What the...
How come all these threads always get so many posts...there must be over 5,000 o them on MacRumors now. We're all Mac people, therefore we like OS X for reasons that most of us already know of.
How come all these threads always get so many posts...there must be over 5,000 o them on MacRumors now. We're all Mac people, therefore we like OS X for reasons that most of us already know of.
I find it moderately amusing that the very people that say "one is the same as the other, they are categorically identical" are the same people who won't drive a Ford, or prefer Toyota, or whatever.
Just sayin'. They're two entirely different products - it stands to reason that one would be superior in some way(s) over the other. The odds of the two being the same and having been created by different people with different visions and ambitions is almost impossible. And even if they are the same, I'd pick the one with better customer service
Just sayin'. They're two entirely different products - it stands to reason that one would be superior in some way(s) over the other. The odds of the two being the same and having been created by different people with different visions and ambitions is almost impossible. And even if they are the same, I'd pick the one with better customer service