Why do you use Macs?

[shinyoctopus]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
3. How long have you been using Macs?
4. Why do you use Macs?
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

 

[needfx]

1. What made you start using Macs?
work back in 1997 - power pc or something, then a g5

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
pc

3. How long have you been using Macs?
2013-1997+1

4. Why do you use Macs?
I use both pc & mac

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
versatility is key

 

[DesertEagle]

1. Form-factor, build-quality and battery life (MacBook).
2. Linux and Windows (and still using).
3. 4 years.
4. Macs are stable and reliable. MacBooks have great battery life.
5. They're OK. Windows is good for gaming and Linux is good for servers.

 

[smoledman]

Mac Mini for the living room due to the fact that there was no Windows PC in that form factor and super quiet. There still isn't.

 

[IndoX]

1. Did graphic design in school and all they used were Macs.
2. Window PCs
3. 2006-present
4. Needed for needed (graphic design and photography).
5. I like Windows for gaming but prefer OS X for work and surfing the web - the experience it much nicer imo.

 

[Apple fanboy]

1. To tie in with all my iOS devices, fed up with ugly unreliable virus attacked PC boxes.
2.Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, Windows 7. Mostly Dell hardware.
3. Since December 2012 (waited on the new iMac a long time)
4. Look good, reliable, easy to use, no viruses and no blue window of death.
5. Too many updates and issues on Windows.

 

[talmy]

1. What made you start using Macs?

I bought one for my wife in 2004. Liked it and bought one for myself when then went to Intel in 2006 as I also need to run a few Windows applications.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

PCs since DOS 2.1 and Windows/386, also IBM OS/2, Linux, Sun workstations, various UNIX systems, CP/M, TRS-80, several various minicomputers, IBM 360 mainframe.

3. How long have you been using Macs?

I tried one out prior to release in 1984, then had one for a week in early 1984 and found it useless -- just a toy. Used one in the office for MacPlan in the mid 1990s.

4. Why do you use Macs?

I find them easier to use than my other systems. I also use Windows and Ubuntu Linux on a daily basis.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

Whatever gets the job done.

 

[mrnoglue]

RE: Questions

1. What made you start using Macs?

I started using an apple computer in 2006. I choose the macintosh because I had really enjoyed my iPod, I liked using iTunes, and I thought Macs were well built and cool looking. I took the macbook (white) to college with me, and it was sometimes a real PITA to use. Mostly because a lot of the programs I had to use for college were Windows only -- forcing me to use bootcamp -- and vista.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

Just school computers. Mostly Windows 95 and XP.

3. How long have you been using Macs?

Since 2006.

4. Why do you use Macs?

After my macbook (2006) died (I spilled a whiskey on it while writing a seminar paper on an airplane), I splurged on a 13in Mid-2010 Macbook Pro. Still using this computer -- I upgraded the ram, hard drive, and operating system, so this thing flies! I use Mac now b/c I'm comfortable with the operating system, and I had a lot of money laying around in 2010. It was -- and probably is -- the best computer you can buy for over 1k.

The only knock I have against this computer is the small screen. I wish I had a big monitor to plug it into... my eyes get strained after staring at the screen for a while.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

Pretty ambivalent. I'm more comfortable with Mac, but as long as the computer can run iTunes, the internet, and Word, I really don't need much else. The rapid pace of computer development, industry wide, has been awesome to watch the past couple of years. I think it's hard to go wrong with a computer at this point, as long as your willing to spend a bit of money on the hardware.

 

[needfx]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
3. How long have you been using Macs?
4. Why do you use Macs?
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

after all these responses, you should tell us what the paper is about, unless you are an undercover anal yst

 

[thehustleman]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
3. How long have you been using Macs?
4. Why do you use Macs?
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

1. I loved the designs, stability, OSX in general, the gestures, and the fact that I can run my windows stuff in it as well. Apple pc's are the REAL pc's

2. Several windows boxes, some store bought, some homemade

3. Since March

4. Stability. There is a learning curve, not as easy to use as Windows but overall I'll give that up for stability. Also mac is the only type of pc that doesn't have a virus problem.

5. Windows is unstable, but it's easy to use. Too many viruses due to popularity. Overly expensive for the os though

Ubuntu is nice, free so the price is right, stable, but finding software for it is a struggle

 

[FreakinEurekan]

1. What made you start using Macs?

I bought a Mac Mini in 2007, thinking I might try my hand at iPhone app development (but I never did). I ended up using it for a HTPC.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

Windows

3. How long have you been using Macs?

I got my first one 6 years ago, but it was only used as a HTPC. I bought a new Mac Mini in December 2012 and since then Mac has been my primary OS.

4. Why do you use Macs?

I love the stability of the OS. I love the form factor of the Mac Mini and how quiet it is. Some things are so simple on Mac (unified mail inbox, carddav and caldav support in Contacts/Calendars) and doing the same things in Windows is a huge hassle.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

I don't miss Windows at all. Windows does have the benefit of a greater selection of applications in some business uses, particularly with regard to database software. OS X of course has as good or better options in creative areas like audio, video, and photography.

 

[Nermal]

1. Price, believe it or not. At the time (2003), an iBook was the cheapest laptop with a decent video chip.

2. DOS, then Windows. A little bit of OS/2 at school.

3. I first used one at school in 1994 but didn't buy one until 2003.

4. I have so much Mac software now that changing to anything else would probably be expensive. Unfortunately I'm not completely happy with the way that Apple is going, but I still find OS X to be the best of the bunch.

5. I periodically try Linux and think that it's awful. It seems that basic functionality isn't tested (such as the default CD ripper not actually being installed despite being set as default) and the hardware support is also lacking. Windows 7 is "OK", but I find 8 so jarring that I can't even begin to try to learn it.

 

[malman89]

1. What made you start using Macs?

I was buying a laptop in March '07, my senior year of high school, for college. Dell screwed up processing my transaction, so I looked at a Mac. Simple as that.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

We did for light word processing work in probably 2nd-4th grade, I believe. That was my first and last experience with Macs until I bought my own.

3. How long have you been using Macs?

Going to skip the grade school bit - since March 2007, or just over 6 years.

4. Why do you use Macs?

It's still running. Barely though. Apple dumped support for 10.5.8 and so did others (Chrome, Firefox, Flash) for the most part, so even watching a simple YouTube video I have problems with. It does speak to the lasting support MS has for its products (Win XP a great example) that Apple does not have. It's funny that things work better in Win XP than OS X, but oh well. I plan to buy a Windows based computer once Haswell computers are released - so around June this year.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

OS X has some pros/cons against Windows XP/7/8. No OS is as advanced, stable, or natural to use as Win 7 is to me, in my opinion. I use it at work and love it compared to OS X. There's just some things - like saving things as a PDF then combining and editing multiple PDFs that I just love the ease in OS X, but that's about it.

 

[boss.king]

1. What made you start using Macs?
We had one at home growing up, I used it when the PC was occupied.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
I used both since we had both for as long as I can remember. After leaving home I used HP laptops, recently got a MacBook Pro from work.

3. How long have you been using Macs?
As long as I can remember.

4. Why do you use Macs?
Work demands it

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
Windows is my preference, but they mostly do the same stuff.

 

[shinyoctopus]

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[Rossatron]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?
i was a windows user all my life, and wanted a change. since i needed a notebook too, i went for a macbook
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
windows, mainly. used linux fedora once but didn't like it
3. How long have you been using Macs?
couple of weeks
4. Why do you use Macs?
see answer 1
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
i think that windows 7 is very good (no experience with 8). linux is nice if you need a computer just for work (gaming is a bit of a problem)

my answers in bold

 

[velocityg4]

1. What made you start using Macs?
Friend had Apple IIgs with GS/OS with a ton of games. I was going to play them on my Mac. That's when I found out there are Apple's and there are Mac's. That they are incompatible. However, System 7 was much better than DOS 6 and Windows 3.1 so I stuck with it.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
Apple IIe and DOS

3. How long have you been using Macs?
20 years

4. Why do you use Macs?
The OS is more reliable than Windows and more compatible than Linux. So it makes a steadier diagnostic platform at job sites.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
I've reached the point were I know enough that it doesn't really matter what platform I am using. For a personal desktop I prefer Windows simply because of the plethora of cheap and powerful hardware and great gaming. For business I prefer Mac OS for simplicity and reliability.

 

[Dane D.]

1. What made you start using Macs?
In advertising and needed a computer that was easy to use and had the software available to create needed stuff.
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
Nothing, because there was nothing that worked prior to the Macintosh.
3. How long have you been using Macs?
Since 1992 and never thought about owning anything from Microsoft because their stuff is crap.
4. Why do you use Macs?
Because it works and is easy to learn.
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
Microsoft offerings are primitive. Linux is for geeks.

 

[n8mac]

1. What made you start using Macs?
Was introduced to them in high school graphic arts class is 1996.
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
DOS 3.1 (parents machine)
3. How long have you been using Macs?
Used in school since 1996, purchased first one in 1999.
4. Why do you use Macs?
They use an OS that doesn't annoy me to death, software and hardware integration from the same company.
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?
Have only used Windows and I hate it, been Windows free since 1999 except helping setup my dads comps.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

1. I was tired of the Windows UI, and Linux didn't have hardware support.
2. Windows 3.1 -> Vista
3. 5 years
4. I don't.
5. They're generally better than OS X in their respective areas.

 

[chrono1081]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?

Windows Vista. It had a pre-service pack 1 bug that made transferring large amounts of data from one drive to another impossible. I was mad that a little $300 eeePC running an obscure version of linux could do it but my $1500 Windows laptop couldn't. I sold my laptop for $500 and went online and ordered a Mac. I haven't looked back.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

Windows and occasionally linux.

3. How long have you been using Macs?

About 5 years.

4. Why do you use Macs?

They're much more stable than Windows (I support Windows, Mac, and Linux environments for a huge number of users for a living so before anyone counters this, I promise I know what I'm talking about.)

Mac handles large data sets much better than Windows.

Mac has a lot of nice features for heavy multiaskers built in (quicklook, mission control, far more thumbnails with icons matching the file contents).


5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

All have their strengths and weaknesses and it depends what you want in an OS.

Windows has far more compatibility with hardware, but you sacrifice stability. Windows also is pretty much the only viable option for gaming and creating game graphics (unless you are creating them in Unity or another Mac friendly engine).

Mac OS is great for stability and has a large selection of high end software compatible for it (Maya, Houdini, Final Cut, Adobe CS, Logic, etc). You do pay more up front so cost can be a factor. IMO Mac OS is great for heavy multitaskers.

Linux also has a lot of high end 3D software available for it (Windows does too so don't think I am excluding it in that regards). Linux can also be insanely fast but it can be tedious sometimes to use and is also the least compatible (no Photoshop and gimp is not a viable alternative for some things.)

Really it all boils down to two things:

1. What software do you use and what OS is it available for.
2. Personal preference.

I prefer Mac OS but I can get pretty much everything I need done on any OS. I use all three major OS's daily.

 

[Drew017]

Hi, I am writing a paper and answers to these questions will be very helpful for it.

1. What made you start using Macs?
2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?
3. How long have you been using Macs?
4. Why do you use Macs?
5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

1. I went to an Apple store and tried out some of the Macs there and really liked it… and after doing some research I realized a Mac would be a good fit for me.

2. I used PC's though I did have an old PowerBook that I used that someone gave me at one point with Mac OS 9 I believe (that was my first experience with Apple)

3. I've been using Macs for about 4 or 5 years or so

4. I use Macs because I like them better than PC's and they are very easy to use, efficient, and since I do music and photos I need a Mac

5. I think that all operating systems have their pros and cons. I just think that OS X is an overall better operating system than the alternatives (windows, linux etc)

 

[satcomer]

1. When my training in Vax main frame during college went south (superseded) i switched to Macs I remember from Junior High. PowerMac 6500.

2. Vax main frames then some Unix Sparks.

3. Since 1997.

4. Terminal & lets me gets use to command line tricks again. Plus it is really easy to use and most Mac developers make some cool programs.

5. Windows 8 is the next Vista! With todays economy and state of reliable technology being stagnant in today's climate things are going to be a little stale for the next few years. Plus Windows 8 launched right in the middle of this Depression and Microsoft seemed to have forgotten their core market, businesses.

 

[Kebabselector]

1. What made you start using Macs?

I was (IT) contracting at the time and thought it would be nice to try a Mac just incase future contracts had a requirement

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

Home use was Windows XP, but I've used a number of different OS's over the years (mainly different versions of Unix/Aix/Xenix)

3. How long have you been using Macs?

6 Years

4. Why do you use Macs?

I found I preferred the OS to Windows

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

I have no issues with other OS's, I use a few different ones in my work life - they all have good and bad points.

 

[roadbloc]

1. What made you start using Macs?

Rather terrible experience with the XP boxes at school, so when it came down to buying my own first laptop, I went for a Mac.

2. What did you use before you used Macs (if anything)?

The Family PC was a Win98 box which did well enough.

3. How long have you been using Macs?

Since 2004.

4. Why do you use Macs?

Don't really use them that much anymore. The fast support cycle quickly rendered my Macs near useless and since I didn't have the money to buy a new one (nor could justify it either since I have been unimpressed with the state of Apple's software as of late), I got a PC.

5. What is your opinion on other operating systems?

I use Windows 8 on my PC and it runs perfectly. Windows 7 also ran on it perfectly. Anything before that didn't really work out for me except 98.
Some Linux distors are nice, but some are garbage. None are for me at the mo.