Mac vs. PC: The stereotypes may be true

[torbjoern]

What about those of us who use OS X (Mac) and Linux (PC) about 50-50? I mean - in the sense that we can't get the work done without either one.

For certain tasks, Windows is... good enough - but I avoid using it if I can. However, I'm not a vegetarian - and I do prefer Harley over Vespa.

 

[Watabou]

No, you made his point because you went all defensive and fearful over Android.

It's not any "harder" to use or figure than iOS. Heck, the iPhone has a 274 page user manual... So much for "intuitive".

Huh?! I didn't think I got defensive over Android. I don't know how just stating Android was difficult to use translates to "I am defensive and fearful over Android".

I just stated Android was difficult to use. That's similar to saying I like eating icecream out of the box rather than taking my time putting it in a bowl or a cone and then eating it. See what I'm saying? Now, some people may like the latter way but I much prefer iPhone's navigation, iPhone browser, perfect integration with iTunes, iCal, Mail and others, and the App Store to Android. That said, I do like a lot of the Android features, especially the notification bar that just amazed me.

I use iPhone because I found it much intuitive to use. If you take my iPhone away and force me to use Android, will I enjoy it? No of course not but I won't be fearful of using it...geez.

P.S. Android has over 300 pages of user manual. But that's beside the point right?

 

[KnightWRX]

Huh?! I didn't think I got defensive over Android. I don't know how just stating Android was difficult to use translates to "I am defensive and fearful over Android".

I just stated Android was difficult to use. That's similar to saying I like eating icecream out of the box rather than taking my time putting it in a bowl or a cone and then eating it. See what I'm saying? Now, some people may like the latter way but I much prefer iPhone's navigation, iPhone browser, and the App Store to Android. That said, I do like a lot of the Android features, especially the notification bar that just amazed me.

You're doing it again, being all "fearful and defensive". Stop proving the guy's point more.

 

[Watabou]

*sigh* Okay I give up.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

According to an unscientific process commonly referred to as "having an opinion", millions of pages worth of platform-war screed have clogged the internet for decades now with unnecessarily vehement brand loyalty. Where does all this bile come from? Particularly these days when the differences between computer brands are fewer than ever before, and cross-platform compatibility is higher than ever.

 

[rasmasyean]

Sadly, these "findings" really only say (or rather confirms the status quo) one thing to me.
Mac users are...PRETENTIOUS!

Lets see:
computer loyalty...zealot
Having degrees...rich
All other snob crap...flamboyantly rich and or wannabe rich

My favorite is:
computer-savvy and "early adopters"...LOL, clueless overbearing confidence based on ignorance.

Not only is the "genius bar" full of retards who help more retarded retards, but omg...if "computer savvy" means knowing how to use web applications that don't require install of real programs, then I'll grant "mac-users" that one.
Considering that nearly all "Pro IT" overwhelmingly used Windows not to mention that "gamers" are one of the most comptuer-savvy consumers, where the heck do computer-savvy Mac users come from? Those who can use FB, Twitter, Tumblr and other "early adopter software" vs. the old school, MS Office, ultra graphics games, Product Lifecyle Management Systems, and other real software? Yeah, I guess "young 20-somethings" will find out how using your Facebook / Web 2.0 computer skills in the real world will get your fired!

 

[KnightWRX]

web applications that don't require install of real programs, then I'll grant "mac-users" that one.

How is a web application not a real program ? It's written in a programming language, it executes instructions based on how the code is compiled/interpreted, and it displays results by processing some user input.

Sounds like a real program to me.

Anyway, "installing" a computer program or application is savvy ? Then what does it mean when you compile your applications straight from the source code ? Better yet, write them yourself ?

Considering that nearly all "Pro IT" overwhelmingly used Windows

Please, all the guys who are any good at IT are Unix users. "Windows" sysadmins suck. It's a dirty secret and don't tell my boss : I probably know more about Windows than they do. I just don't want to work with it.

not to mention that "gamers" are one of the most comptuer-savvy consumers

Laughable. Gamers are good at one thing : Buying parts and jamming them together. It's not like they even come close to understanding what is meant by sub-pixel tessellation and what that means on their screens (or even what a sub-pixel is).

 

[*LTD*]

Considering that nearly all "Pro IT" overwhelmingly used Windows

Their entire careers depend on maintaining an OS that needs constant maintenance. Windows is inherently broken, and an entire industry grew up to take full advantage of exactly that. Too funny.

 

[rasmasyean]

Their entire careers depend on maintaining an OS that needs constant maintenance. Windows is inherently broken, and an entire industry grew up to take full advantage of exactly that. Too funny.

Anyone who knows anything about IT knows that "Windows" is not "broken". It's just extremely "breakable". The fact that a million ppl try to write viruses to steal money from the million banks that use it and have a billion customers that use it doesn't help either. But that's where professional security IT comes in. Not even a Mac is "immune" to this, so pro Mac IT should use security too.

The reason why carreers are made on "maintaining Windows" is because it's POWERFUL. Why would a group of engineers, developers, and MBA's constanty buy an OS that is > 3x more costly than a Mac OS...just up front? And require numerous certifications beyond a "CS degree" to upkeep? And this is just the "desktop" version, never mind the server version which is the leader in the server industry. No...it's NOT u/linix sorry...because "web page servers" are not the only computers in data centers!

The only "entire industry who grew up to uptake Windows" is the average person who tried to copy what they used for work...and in some cases, the software packages from "IT friends". They may be stuck with something they can't handle if they aren't careful about downloading porn, but it still doesn't change the fact that Windows is much more powerful and hence requires much more "computer-savviness" to use on average.

 

[KnightWRX]

No...it's NOT u/linix sorry...because "web page servers" are not the only computers in data centers!

Hum, you do understand all those big financial institutions and banks don't actually use Windows server for their big enterprise level CRMs and other important packages right ?

Unix and Linux are used for way more than just "web server". Maybe you should try working 1 day in IT before you talk about IT.

Of course, you probably don't want to hear the truth and wouldn't accept it anyhow, keep believing in Windows' importance because that's what you see on the desktop, I'll keep working on real OSes in my cushy IT job far away from anything made by Redmond.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Anyone who knows anything about IT knows that "Windows" is not "broken". It's just extremely "breakable". The fact that a million ppl try to write viruses to steal money from the million banks that use it and have a billion customers that use it doesn't help either. But that's where professional security IT comes in. Not even a Mac is "immune" to this, so pro Mac IT should use security too.

The reason why carreers are made on "maintaining Windows" is because it's POWERFUL. Why would a group of engineers, developers, and MBA's constanty buy an OS that is > 3x more costly than a Mac OS...just up front? And require numerous certifications beyond a "CS degree" to upkeep? And this is just the "desktop" version, never mind the server version which is the leader in the server industry. No...it's NOT u/linix sorry...because "web page servers" are not the only computers in data centers!

The only "entire industry who grew up to uptake Windows" is the average person who tried to copy what they used for work...and in some cases, the software packages from "IT friends". They may be stuck with something they can't handle if they aren't careful about downloading porn, but it still doesn't change the fact that Windows is much more powerful and hence requires much more "computer-savviness" to use on average.

You are agruing with LTD. If LTD does not understand IT. Does not understand windows and just is repeated crap from his church and his god (Apple and SJ).

People who really understand know that IT guys spend reality little of their time fixing problem but more doing work that no matter the OS they would have to do any way. That be install software, Roll out update, networking (which is a beast in itself) ect. Repair work is reality small.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Or not too bright.

 

[rasmasyean]

Hum, you do understand all those big financial institutions and banks don't actually use Windows server for their big enterprise level CRMs and other important packages right ?

Unix and Linux are used for way more than just "web server". Maybe you should try working 1 day in IT before you talk about IT.

Of course, you probably don't want to hear the truth and wouldn't accept it anyhow, keep believing in Windows' importance because that's what you see on the desktop, I'll keep working on real OSes in my cushy IT job far away from anything made by Redmond.

O'RLY?

IDC: Windows dominates Linux in servers, not just the desktop
Windows beats Linux when it comes to servers by well over a three-to-one margin, as it has for at least a year.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/15675/idc_windows_dominates_linux_in_servers_not_just_the_desktop


IDC: Windows Server dominates server revenue for Q4 2010
IDC reports Windows Server has increased its market share by revenue to 42.1%, , far ahead of its nearest rival, Unix, at 25.6% and Linux at 17%.
IDC notes that Microsoft Windows server demand was positively impacted by the x86 server market refresh as hardware revenue increased 16.8% year over year.
Windows servers generated Quarterly revenue of $6.3 billion for represented 42.1% of overall quarterly factory revenue from the shipment of 1.5 million servers, the highest quarterly total ever reported for Windows servers.
http://microsoft-news.com/idc-windows-server-dominates-server-revenue-for-q4-2010/


Don't presume just because you have an "IT job in unix or whatever", that everyone else who doesn't work at your company is a computer idiot. Not that this has any impact on "IDC research" but I've actually worked with languages from PL/1 (that is...Programming Language One!) up to .NET. And I can tell you that most of these "Windows bashing / Linux conquest rhetorics" are only taken up by actual computer idiots who just follow one side of hype...or college kids (who at least don't know any better...yet). Go to a REAL computer forum like Ars Technica and see what they think of "enterprise Macs" there.

 

[KnightWRX]

O'RLY?

Somehow, I knew you would reply like you did. Again, I have a job in an actual data center as a systems administrator. Let me tell you, I know the real story. And it's not just my company. Go take a look around and see how many shops use Windows to run their SAP environnements. Their peoplesoft stuff. Heck, just their lowly Oracle installations.

And who said I was talking about Enterprise Macs ? My Unix boxes cost well over 100k$ a piece.

 

[Huntn]

1. Real men ride Harleys.

And Mac users consider themselves as computer savy, LOL! They prefer a simple OS that a monkey could use. Now that's savy.

If a person is looking for the best overall experience, even if they lack technical skills, if not luck, it could be a very savvy decision.

*sigh* Okay I give up.

I don't think you are fearful and defensive.

 

[rasmasyean]

Somehow, I knew you would reply like you did. Again, I have a job in an actual data center as a systems administrator. Let me tell you, I know the real story. And it's not just my company. Go take a look around and see how many shops use Windows to run their SAP environnements. Their peoplesoft stuff. Heck, just their lowly Oracle installations.

And who said I was talking about Enterprise Macs ? My Unix boxes cost well over 100k$ a piece.

Phht...what a cop out dude. Now you're gonna booey unix based on specific software, designed for unix, among specific personal networks of colleagues. You can tell your "real story" to IDC and hope they change their market research methods!

 

[KnightWRX]

Phht...what a cop out dude. Now you're gonna booey unix based on specific software, designed for unix, among specific personal networks of colleagues. You can tell your "real story" to IDC and hope they change their market research methods!

IDC talks about revenues and number of boxes. I'm talking about actual environnements.

One day, when you work in IT, you'll understand what the real workhorse of the industry is.

 

[rasmasyean]

IDC talks about revenues and number of boxes. I'm talking about actual environnements.

One day, when you work in IT, you'll understand what the real workhorse of the industry is.

Hey...get with the times man, "unix god complex" has been out of style for over a decade!

 

[steve2112]

Somehow, I knew you would reply like you did. Again, I have a job in an actual data center as a systems administrator. Let me tell you, I know the real story. And it's not just my company. Go take a look around and see how many shops use Windows to run their SAP environnements. Their peoplesoft stuff. Heck, just their lowly Oracle installations.

And who said I was talking about Enterprise Macs ? My Unix boxes cost well over 100k$ a piece.

It depends on where you work. I have worked for agencies within the US government that were almost 100% Windows. Granted, we weren't running anything like SAP or Peoplesoft, but the servers virtually all Windows based. We had a few Solaris boxes scattered about, but that was about it. I guess Microsoft had better lobbyists or something.

My current employer (different agency) is much better. Oddly, one of the components I work with is heavily...AIX. I guess IBM isn't totally dead yet.

Edit: Bah, forgot to do multiquote

Anyway, regarding the earlier discussion on Android vs. iOS: I don't see how Android is that hard to use. I never even looked at my user manual. It's all touch based with pretty icons. How is that difficult?

 

[rasmasyean]

Android vs. iOS vs. WP7 vs. WebOS...

It's so sad how the "OS Wars" has stooped to this level. I mean, what the heck, your DVD player and TiVo has an "OS" too! These are PHONES! Although they run "Apps", they don't run "Applications" where you do some real work with. No one sits as a desk to balance the daily sales on an iPhone or hash out some history assignment on a Droid. Just because they have a "CPU" in them, it doesn't make them a "computer" in the Mac/PC sense.


And for those who think..."Well. not now, but because of miniturization, blah blah, they are getting there and soon everyone will be working out of their pockets..." BALONEY! Do you think that the computer industry (and the rest of the industries that use computers) will settle for "a pocket computer reminiscent of the last decade for every employee"? When your iPhone can run the equivalent of MS Office 2010, the "computer" will run MS Office 2020! When you can do Adobe Photoshop on your Android, Adobe Holoshop will be what's required to stay in business!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

It's so sad how the "OS Wars" has stooped to this level.

You mean this?

Mac users are...PRETENTIOUS!

All other snob crap...flamboyantly rich and or wannabe rich

clueless overbearing confidence based on ignorance.

Not only is the "genius bar" full of retards who help more retarded retards

Who gets this angry about computer platforms?

 

[rhett7660]

You mean this?

Who gets this angry about computer platforms?

Priceless.....

As long as the machine of choice does what I want it to do, then I am happy. Whether Mac, Win, Linix, or what ever the OS is. I just happen to prefere one over the others.

 

[macaddict3]

wow this survey proves nothing, def we could just ignore it just wasted like 10 mins of time go through over it and all the comments as well. firstly its unscientific survey so people could lie and so on so its stupid someone could just spam it and make up answers

 

[roadbloc]

Anyone who chooses the simplest operating system (like OS X and iOS, obviously) to accomplish the same tasks *is* savvy.

Whereas I agree that some everyday tasks are "easier" (and by easier I mean accessible via fewer clicks) in OS X; some tasks in OS X, such as networking, is insanely hard than the simplicity of the Network and Sharing Centre provided in Windows.

Both OS's I find have their +'s and -'s in the terms of 'ease of use'. Neither are superior over one another for this. (Although I do think Aero Peek kick's Expose's ass at the moment.)

 

[mack pro]

Well, savvy enough to avoid Windows whenever possible.

They're so savvy that they run to the Apple store for every minor issue.