Worst Windows Experience that forced YOU to switch?

[TheSailerMan]

Ah, the days of a Windows PC...
I loved Windows XP for a while, then I took an Advertising Design class in 9th grade, where we worked exclusively on PowerMac G4s.
After that, I began to notice all the things that made Windows annoying, such as:

1) The "Unused Desktop Icons" folder, which just took up space on the desktop!

2) I couldn't delete the "My eBooks" folder in "My Documents," or rather, I would delete it, but it would be back next time I opened "My Documents."

3) I was denied access to some of my Photoshop Elements files with an error stating that I didn't have the proper permissions or whatever Windows says. Yet I had an Administrator account!

4) My little brother kept (and still does) blaming me for putting viruses on his laptop, yet I didn't have any on mine (he's since bought an iBook G4).

5) Though I uninstall a program using "Add/Remove Programs," it's still there!

Since, I really wanted a Mac, but they were too expensive for my tastes, at least until the release of the Mac mini, which I got one year and 5 days ago!

Though I sometimes miss playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, my mini has been much more productive for me than my Windows PC ever was.

 

[inmotion]

when i realised i could reinstall windows (which means having to reformat the whole HD, thank you. MS) in my sleep i realise i had a problem....

currently running osx86 awaiting macbook.... well i guess that still counts as switching ?

PS: Haven't booted XP since february 16th 06 and dont plan to anytime soon

 

[wonga1127]

Having problems with IE6 that, as it is so deeply buried in the OS, would cause the whole computer to hang. Sometimes the only indication would be that the clock had stopped updating. No errors, logs, no solution. To make matters worse, after replacing IE6 with the awful IE7 Beta 2 (it was a last resort) the Fingerprint Reader on Microsofts own keyboard was no longer compatible. Uninstalls and reinstalls of IE6 followed.

Hey, I tried that, but the uninstall always froze on "Updating Registry..." WHat do you do when Windows locks up? CUt the power (BAD IDEA). I had no choice, the damn power button was unreponsive, and the start button was unreponsive, so i hit the on/off switch on my surge protector. Booted up to squiggly lines for a desktop, half my icons missing, and nasty crap. (Apparently, the display driver "stopped" working, the rest was from the botched registry update). The answer? Clean install of Xpee. What a great waste of a weekend.

 

[truz]

crashing, blue screens, random restarts, viruses, spyware, random file corruption, os reload every 2-6 weeks. need I say more?

 

[svalbard]

Funny, it's not been any of the obvious reasons for me. For whatever reason the Mac environment seems much more in tune with the way I work (and to a lesser extent, play). It seems to get in my face less. It's kind of the same difference as say buying a Cowon iAudio X5 MP3 player versus an iPod... the iPod just works the way I want it to do, and that makes all the difference in the world. The same goes for the Mac vs PC argument.


I have/had properly maintained Windows systems and suffer none of the viruses, spam, crashes, etc that the Apple faithful goes on about. My main desktops have been as reliable as a computer can generally be expected to be. It's just that compared to the Mac working environment, the Windows environment gets in my way more. I'm now very happy having made part of 'the switch'.


My work hurdles regarding Windows reliance has been totally overcome. Ironically it's my home set-up, and the fact that I'm a bit of an audio nut, which is making the Mac transition difficult for entertainment purposes. I'm busily scratching my head trying to sort them out. Once I do, it's going to be Apple all the way... or at least, until they drop the ball once again

 

[princealfie]

2 photo hard drive got corrupted by using a windows xp machine. Had to pay like 300 total for repairs... very much never again!

 

[Timepass]

No way, that is simply *NOT* true, I have spoken to senior people at MS about it (I wanted to sell my copy of XP Upgrade on eBay, and included SP2 for convenience, that breaks a licence agreement so I had to sell without in the end, anyway they said you *ARE* allowed to sell *any* copy of Windows (even OEM) as long as you sell everything (including the manuals and COA etc. etc.))

Call MS (for free if possible) to activate and ask why you cannot use the OEM, eventually if you waste some time on the phone they'll let you do it.

Basically they have to let you activate it.

true but the diffence bettween OEM and the others is you can sell an OEM copy of Windows XP as long as it not been installed on a computer. An OEM licensen CAN NOT be tranfered to another computer plan and simple. If you dont believe me go read tne ELUA on OEM verson of XP.

 

[grapes911]

true but the diffence bettween OEM and the others is you can sell an OEM copy of Windows XP as long as it not been installed on a computer. An OEM licensen CAN NOT be tranfered to another computer plan and simple. If you dont believe me go read tne ELUA on OEM verson of XP.

In case you wanted someone/something to back you up:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx

 

[Eraserhead]

In case you wanted someone/something to back you up:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx

Shows the wonders of Microsoft technical support, i'm sure they said you could transfer it (Which i was suprised by) but that page is clearly correct (unless they aren't allowed to stop you transferring it in the UK, which is also possible...)

 

[Dillenger]

The first day it booted up, just kidding. I had it with VIRUSES, even though I was running AVG Anti-Virus, and Sygate Personal Firewall.

 

[iEugene]

Honestly I would say that it's just Windows in general. I am a sucker for things that look good, I shall admit that, and Mac's are just SO SIMPLE, I couldn't believe it.

 

[Attonine]

It`s nice to see that I am not the only one who is forever having to do clean installs of XP. I have never been able to keep it running for more than 6 months without having to do a clean install, for a variety of reasons.

Currently, on 2 machines running XP pro, firefox will not open, I have to re-boot in order to get it to open, which it does once or twice and then refuses until the next re-boot. Can`t find a fix that works on the mozilla site.

On one of these machines, I can`t install Visual Studio, I can do all the pre-requisites, but then the installer gives me some command line error which I can`t find a reference to on the microsoft website.

Then, of course, there is the forever on-going problems with automatic updates once SP2 has been installed.

One PC is a laptop, I am using Windows Defender on it, which will update when the laptop is connected to my office LAN, but not from a dial-up connection in my appartment.

About 9 months ago I lost everything on the laptop C: drive (fortunately I also have an external drive which has everything stored on) because of an issue with Norton GoBack. Somehow something got corrupted and the PC wouldn`t boot, I couldn`t switch GoBAck off and the C: drive became PHYSICALLY damaged, yes PHYSICALLY. I had to replace the drive....and reinstall of course!

Oh, and the laptop takes forever to boot, no idea why, I have switched off everything I can.

However, I have never had any Spyware or Virus problems, but I have always used an antivirus and antispyware software.

Oh, I have to use windows on my office machine and almost impossible to buy mac here in Saudi, before you ask. I also have a 855mhz (I think) powerbook which will be upgraded as soon as everything I need is UB.

 

[sam10685]

i switched because i had to get another PC almost every 2 years exactly. plus, i kept getting viruses and spyware - the whole world probably knows what i was typing at this time 4 years ago. also, the pop-up ads were unbelievable. i also wanted to see if Mac OSX was really so easy. it is. now, i've had the same Powerbook G4 for almost 3 years now. no problems except for an over-heated hard drive. because it was really hot out. and i forgot to turn on the A/C. been fine ever since.

 

[strydr]

*preface*
my parents got divorced when I was 1. My dad has always done the opposite of my mom.

Well, my mom bought me a Mac Plus in 1986. Loved it.
To counter her actions, my dad (and I) built a PC. Windows 3.11 (for workgroups) was my first Windows OS.
I used the PC for games (Wolfenstien), and the Mac for productivity (school work). I convinced my mom to replace the Plus with a IICI, then, later, a Power Computing clone. Later, she bought a G4 PM. Last month, I replaced her G4 with my old Mini( so I could buy a Intel Mini).
The lowly PC was discarded many years ago, but I still have some PC's. I used to work for a PC manufacturer (white boxes), so I have a TON of PC hardware.. Was too cheap to give up, so I have several PC's still. Besides that, I need them to access some customers, and to try out new software, before rolling it out company-wide..
I bought my first mac (with my own $$) 3+ years ago (my PB), and will never go back. Now, with Boot Camp, I am considering selling the remander of my PC's.

Back on topic. I cringe every time I have to use windows. Too many years spent fixing stuff/reloading the OS/data loss. I have a Dell laptop (for work)- 3/4 of the time I try to sleep it, it dosen't work. I have to shut it down with force. My PB??, well, it's never been off, unless I let the battery run down completely. Just close the lid, and put it away. I agree that a well maintained PC will work without incident, but who want's to maintain their PC?? I much rather come home knowing my iMac will have the lights on for me, and know when I'm home (bluetooth is great). It just works. End of story.

 

[zorg]

Also macs are easier to work with.

 

[mikes63737]

Windows XP was very unreliable and way too many security holes. I remember once I was showing my parents something I made and I got a Messenger service message and there was a letter drawing of a naked woman. Obviously, since my parents are computer illiterate I got "banned" from my computer (which I bought with my own money) for i think a month.

I was also working on a HUGE project for school and I burned it onto a CD when it was almost done. The Windows CD thing crashed (and didn't tell me, so I thought it just finished) so I thought I had it backed up. The next day, Windows crashed (AOHell related) and I lost the damn project. Luckily I still had a few days to finish, and I worked my ass off and I got a B-. Better than nothing, at least.

 

[alep85]

Bought a custom HP zv5000 notebook for freshmen year of college. Loved it, even though XP sucks balls. Then, one day, my login screen (winlogon.exe) got corrupted when I turned it on, and the computer would REFUSE to log me in. I was so pissed I didn't even think to back up my music and files via a Bootable Linux CD or Windows Rescue, I just sold the damn thing and pre-ordered one of the first gen iMac G5's. Haven't looked back since.

 

[steelfist]

i switched after i lost all 60 gb of data on my computer, because the HD died, so i learned to use a mac, and backup everyday. warrenties and insurance do help.

 

[dpaanlka]

i switched after i lost all 60 gb of data on my computer, because the HD died, so i learned to use a mac, and backup everyday. warrenties and insurance do help.

that can happen on any computer, you know. macs too

always back up important data now and then

 

[Dr_Maybe]

I needed unix for development. And Linux is just too "beta", ugly and geeky.

It just works. The hardware, the drivers, the OS, the GUI.

Windows drivers for PC hardware usually come with a program that runs all the time and have a little icon in the taskbar (the mini taskbar, I forgot what it's called). Takes up resources. The interfaces are confusing and doesn't always work. The OS X interface is more streamlined. You aren't met with a completely different type of interface, just because you are dealing with wireless or sound.

The interface in Windows is just unfriendly. Simple things like error messages. It doesn't feel as well designed. A legacy system that's too brittle. The security in Windows is appauling.

 

[jimN]

Not so much a windows problem as a sony one. My vaio dvd drive stopped playing dvd's and then wouldn't burn cds within 1 year of buying the machine. I sent it back to sony for a repair under warranty and was then told that the repair bill would run close to 400 pounds - apparantly the dc in was broken and this had to be due to accidental damage and therefore wouldn't be covered and would require replacement of the old mainboard. After numerous calls to their servicing department I established that I couldn't get the machine upgraded in any way and that the machine was in good working order but at any point it could fail completely and would likely be exacerbated by plugging it in and unplugging it.

I resolved to buy a new machine and my girlfriend said let's get an apple, they look nice. So after a little research on the apple site we went to PC world and, before I had even started my new job, they gave me a new computer entirely on credit. I went for the powerbook largely because i preferred the look (although it was quicker and had better options for expansion). Now my girlfriend is waiting to see if she'll be buying her own mac this weekend (assuming that we see something exciting tomorrow).

 

[janey]

Switch? Huh? I just add..
I still use Windows regularly and have no complaints about it. I like my Linux too, no matter how ""beta", ugly and geeky" it may be.

 

[nukiduz]

i know it's not a windows issue but once my cd drive literally ate my baldur's gate CD 1. i put it in to play and it didn't work; then i took it out and it was broken in two parts and lots of small pieces around them, as they were crumbs.

 

[MacSA]

By 11.45 am this morning, my Win ME PC has crashed 3 times.

 

[janey]

By 11.45 am this morning, my Win ME PC has crashed 3 times.

That's also noted as being one of the worst OS versions in existence.

Try 2k, XP or Server 2003 Much better, more reliable. Millennium feels like a halfassed try to get something out there to go between (better) releases.