Give my Dad reasons NOT to get a Mac!

[x434343]

My dad lost about 8 hours worth of college essay work on one in the 80's. Now he despises Macs.

Lost? He was typing the essay, saving often. Then it froze. He rebooted. The Mac deleted the file. He tossed it out the same day.

Plus I don't like the arrogance of Mac users. They act like Macs are perfect. Seriously, bring up compys and that's all they talk about.

Acceptable users: Film, art, theatre, music, graphic design industries
Can the stuff be done on a PC: Not really, yes, yes, sound design aspect can, and a bit of it can.



So, yeah.

 

[Berserker119]

Tell if he buys one, he'll be more awesome. No one wants to be awesome.

 

[TheLiham]

Ever seen the matrix?

Yeah that.

 

[k-ossuburb]

If he's doing graphic design on it then it's pretty much built for that kind of work. Macs are industry computers for the most part, the main reason for them being expensive is because of the image they're trying to push onto asshole businessmen who don't really have a clue about anything.

I use a Mac for doodlings and it's never failed me once, but then again, I know enough about it to make the changes in Terminal to get it working properly.

I'll list some pros and cons I've found with this machine (MacBook Pro 13 inch, aluminum):

Pro: It runs programs like Photoshop, Microsoft Office and other work-related applications smoothly and intuitively.

Con: Not all programs run on it and some digging is required if you want to run something on it that isn't an industry standard.

Pro: The OS is user-friendly and has some great features that allow you to quickly and easily manage projects in tandem with each other, also with the added benefit of Time Machine, you will never lose a file and (especially great for what I do) you can even go back to earlier saves if you're unhappy with how an image is coming out and you want to re-edit it.

Con: Anyone who isn't used to the OS is going to have to re-learn everything they know, Mac and Windows are like chalk and cheese, it can be difficult for some people to make the transition.

Pro: Apple has worked hard to create a fantastic image for themselves, the elitist douchebaggery inherent from most users means that if you take it out for presentations or in front of a client, you will impress them a hell of a lot more than if you whipped out, say, a cheap looking Dell, or something. I'm not going to lie about it; it really is all about the image, that's largely the point, they're business computers used mostly by the creative industry, that added "wow-factor" helps with clients.

Con: Because of this elitist image and instant brand-recognition, Apple can overcharge for their machines simply because you're paying for the label, not the product, much similar to how someone will be more likely to buy Kelloggs Corn Flakes instead of some generic unbranded corn flakes.

Pro: Very unlikely to get viruses.

Con: Very likely to overheat and die if not kept properly ventilated. As I'm writing this my CPU A is running at 60˚C and I've got a CoolPad with added fans I put in.

Pro: The latest version of the OS has the ability to preview images and documents of all kinds without having to boot up the application it runs on, great for when you want to present a project to someone but don't want to wait for the program to load.

Con: Some file types are excluded from this feature and will only display the icon of the file type instead of the contents.

Hope that helps. I tried to be fair and I'm not saying it's better than any other computer (personally, I wish I could afford an AlienWare machine) but, for me, it does its job and that's really all I ask of it. For a work computer it's pretty functional, but I'll agree that for the price you could do a lot better.

 

[Numbers'85]

Right, I had to register to post here so I'll get my piece nice and clear. I can tell you a few good reasons to, and not to, buy a mac. My experience is with a Macbook Pro, so I'll restrict it to laptops.

For;
Portability. Macbooks have excellent battery life-- even the base models have 10 hours now. They're also sleek-bodied with few catches, and with a keyboard skin susprisingly spill/accidental immersion proof (I've killed a couple HP Pros, my second preference, this way.) I could not find another laptop that satisfied my "10 hours battery life, full power CPU" requirement, whatsoever. None. Have a look yourself and see what you think.

OS usability; They're probably the easiest to jump into; they don't ask you to make any decisions that have the ominous "I might kill this" feeling that a lot of newbies face. The OS has built in spellchecking absolutely everywhere (right now it's checking for me here, for instance), and a lot of the applications integrate with ease.

Quality: People can say this is subjective if they like, but I've had two HPs, Dells, IBMs, a couple Toshibas and an NEC from Japan, and the nicest machine I've had to use is this Macbook. The screen has a layer of glass over it so you can actually clean it, and the touchpad is huge, expressive and coated in glass for minimal drag. The keyboard's well spaced, and backlit, for goodness sakes, and the laptop doesn't have extraneous panels or catches or lugs, or even non-flush screwmounts. Oh, and see if you break the power cable on a Macbook. Or drag it onto the floor accidentally. Betcha won't!

The end-user experience; You get all the fruit with a basic Macbook (even a graphics card with dedicated memory, despite what someone else posted), and they'll pretty much do anything they're asked. They're looked after well by Apple, too; Warranty issues are little drama. Also you don't really need anything but Office to start using it right away-- you get all the basics from recording software to photo organisation to a calendar that's worth a damn, and don't need to download a thing.

Against;
Unfamiliarity. If your dad's "computer literate", but not a proper user, moving over to a Mac is going to be an awfully confusing experience. The tutorials ease the pain a little bit but trying to figure out some of the basics of things like installing software can be a pain if you're not used to it.

Cost. Agreed, power for power, a Mac isn't fantastic value. I wouldn't ever buy a Mac desktop, and the only reason I have my Macbook is the sheer fact I couldn't find a PC that matched my required specs, and wasn't a custom order (I hate ordering custom machines; Compromise makes me unhappy). You do get outstanding features and outstanding battery life, but at outstanding cost; Your choice.

Integration issues. Try and share a printer in Windows 7, then allow your Mac to use it. There's forums full of posts like "On hold; Authentication error", and Apple has remarkable levels of oversight when it comes to allowing their precious machines to integrate into a network.

Software, software, software! Try finding a NISSAN FAST reader, or any other specialist tool, for Mac! They're just not there, and if you have to run VirtualBox all day or boot into another OS, you're missing out on some of the benefits of a Mac in the first place. They do miss out on an awful lot of specialist tools. It's that simple.


At the end of the day, there's no reason to be afraid of a Mac. It's beautifully made, expensive x86 hardware, that runs proprietary operating systems. That's all there is to it. You can even run them pure Windows if you like-- a good friend of mine wanted one he could do output specs on dynos with, all day, without recharging, and his Macbook (Unibody, non pro) doesn't have OSX accessible anymore. It powers on straight to windows. No, I don't know how.

But really. Mac's really quite nice, whether you're running 7 or OSX, but you really, really, really do pay for it. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Now you're armed with more info at least, not just bullshit "MACS ARE FOR GAY MEN WITH HERPES" crap.

PS; Also, the right click stuff? Bullshit. I have right click via tapping or clicking the bottom right corner, things I never found on a windows laptop. Just a note to the person up there who never seems to have touched a Mac recently. This is the first touchpad that has made me not want to bother carrying an external mouse; The external mouse can't do as much as the touchpad!

-- Numbers

(PS; Sorry for the edit, forgot a bit)

 

[Layzor]

The close program button is on the left. The left!

 

[James13v]

The only advantage macs have over PCs is higher accessibility. They are targeted at people who are computer illiterate.

 

[RamirezDoEverything]

Because macs are overpriced pieces of garbage bought simply for the logo.

Pc is much more efficient, cheaper, and more user friendly.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Macs can not be customised and they do break; they're not invulnerable.

 

[Numbers'85]

... does everyone seriously think that a PC, made from PC parts, can't be customised? that was the first thing I did, ditch the 250gb in favour of a 500gb I had laying around. Macs are just PCs under the skin. Change the ram, replace the hard disc, no problem.

 

[Jfswift]

To the best of my knowledge, they're overpriced, with less available software and I don't agree with Steve Jobs business ideals. Don't get wrong, I respect him as a businessman but I don't like his views on alot of things.

 

[Numbers'85]

God, the wandering turtleneck. Jobs scares me.

 

[J3llo]

I presume you dad is old, stupid and not so good with computers, so i can't see no reason not to get a mac.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Because you can get a comparable PC or laptop for half the cost of a Mac and it can do 2 twice as much.

Also, Macs are crap for gaming.

 

[Beastialman]

Mac make ya look like a queer. /sarcasm

Although according to a study done a while back a large percent of it's user base are homosexual. Also here's an awesome image as to why you don't want to buy one.

Spoiler

 

[LitleWaffle]

Okay... It sort of depends on his work.

Question 1: Does he need to send stuff to window users? If yes, it gets irritating if he doesn't know what he is doing since Windows is a ***** to Macs, and it's still a pain even if you do know what your doing.

Question 2: Has he ever used a mac before? Window users normally have a slow start figuring out how Macs are set up and how you can perform your basic needs. It is actually pretty easy, but can get frustrating if all you have ever used is Windows.

Question 3: How old is his previous laptop/desktop? If it's new, I don't think he needs to buy something so expensive just yet.

If all of these questions are against him, I would say that it isn't worth getting a new Mac.

Questions 1 and 3 weigh a little more importance than Question 2, since you could get the hang of a Mac fairly quickly if you put your mind to it, but it is still a good thing to point out.

If he can do his work effectively with his previous laptop or whatever, then I would say hold off for a while, maybe try a friend's Mac out or just watch a friend using it and ask questions.

I don't know your Dad, so that's my most generic answer possible.

 

[Fearzone]

If he doesn't want to play games, the one thing truthful I would say to dissuade him is that Windows 7 works better than the latest Mac OS. After decades of badly copying the Mac OS, Microsoft finally overtook Apple.

Other than that, Macs are great computers. Most of the advantages of the PC other than cost, mainly expandability and customizability, have faded in recent years and perhaps have even become a burden on game development.

Funny that, PCs with better operating systems but less game-friendly.

Oh... I forgot. mice really need more than one button.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Spoiler

Dang, I never knew it was that bad. That deserves to be posted in full size despite it not being very readable, at least it stands out:

I've been looking at MacBook's too and it's not that much better there. They call the intergrated NVIDIA 320M 'new' and 'next generation' and talk about it's super-duper game performance. Doubling the HDD size from 250 to 500 adds 150 bucks, adding 2 GB's of RAM adds 100 to the total price.

And for a meager 300 bucks more you get a MacBook Pro with *drumroll* a 200 Ghz faster CPU and 70GB extra storage space than the cheaper model! Ain't it amazing? And sure, lets double the RAM from 4GB to 8GB, lets pay 400 bucks extra, because why not right? Oh Apple, you so funny.

No doubt that MacBooks and iMac's are nice to use and offer some nice features, but for that price... I doubt the increase in useability, if that can even be measured properly, is so huge that it justifies hundres of extra dollars/euros over Windows notebooks which often have better technical specs to boot.

Other than that, Macs are great computers. Most of the advantages of the PC other than cost, mainly expandability and customizability, have faded in recent years and perhaps have even become a burden on game development.

How has that happend? I'm still seeing an incredibly wide range of computer hardware to choose from in both laptops and desktops, how has the customizability faded in recent years? Apple on the other hand offers a small selection of relatively outdated hardware (though you can get an Intel i5 or i7 on a Macbook Pro) for ridiculous prices, how are they now on par with PC's on expandability and customizability?

And how is it a burden on game development? Metro 2033 managed to offer an amazing game for a wide range of system specs, and that's an indie game to boot. You'd think it'd be less of an issue for developers backed by big publishers.

 

[Shirokurou]

Dude, I don't give flying fuck. If it works, it works.

But if you're asking tell him that having a Mac?
Tell him it's not his style.

 

[Numbers'85]

How has that happend? I'm still seeing an incredibly wide range of computer hardware to choose from in both laptops and desktops, how has the customizability faded in recent years? Apple on the other hand offers a small selection of relatively outdated hardware for ridiculous prices, how are they now on par with PC's on expandability and customizability?

I think he's more talking about laptops or integrated desktops, where a Mac is about as customisable as anything else. (Not much, admittedly; Laptops are modular but good luck buying the modules seperately)