MAC or PC ?

[tekonus]

well let me bring myself into this and im a linux user btw..

• OS X is built on UNIX. UNIX was a multi user system with a security architecture built into it at the beginning. WINDOWS came from a single user architecture with security and multi user capability as an after thought.
• UNIX had networking built into it from the beginning, again in Windows this was bolted in at a later date.
• Windows built Internet Explorer into the O/S at a very deep level, and allowed code execution within the browser. In OS X the browser is a completely separate application, its not a integral part of the OS. IMHO, this is the fundamental screw-up Microsoft made, as they created so many hooks into which someone can attack the OS.
• In earlier Windows everything ran as the system user, so the capability to compromise an entire system was easier. (see reason 1)
• Microsoft’s backward compatibility mantra doesn’t do them any favours as to run old software they need so many old APIs, all of which can have holes in them.
• OS X has no registry. IMHO, second fundamental flaw Microsoft made.
• OS X asks for your password before allowing you to run new software or install something. Not fool proof, but at least fool resistant.
• Where do viruses usually hang out in Windows:
  1. At the root.
  2. In the user’s local settings temp folder.
  3. In these folders: \windows, \system, \system32 — the most common places where I find viruses.
  4. As registry entries.
• None of those areas are exposed to the environment in OS X. You can’t see those folders. Virus writers can’t access them. Thus, viruses can’t exploit those areas. Vista’s UAC is MS’s attempt to prevent changes to those totally exposed folders without your being aware of the changes.

I completely agree. Windows has many... many flaws. I'm not a Windows fanboy at all. In fact, for everything short of gaming, I'm a Linux user. I dual boot Ubuntu 9.04 64bit and Vista Ultimate 64bit (only games installed on Vista). My gripe with Macs is the fact that they way overcharge for their hardware. You cannot buy a Mac on the market today that is as fast as my PC. I built my PC for under $900. Go ahead, try and buy a base level Mac for that much. If they offered Mac OS for PC platforms I would buy it in a heartbeat.

In fact, I think that is Apples biggest flaw. They are hardware pimps. They want to sell as much hardware as they can. Look at how they deal with their iPods and iPhones. You can't tell me that isn't obvious there if you know anything about that business model. If they took their heads out of their butts and said "Hey, there is absolutely no reason we can't make this software available on PCs with a little work." and did it they might even put a large dent in their competition. The attention Macs have been getting lately might get hardware manufacturers to re-think their Windows-only mindsets and contracts.

I know this all might sound like I am arguing with myself after that last post, all I was trying to point out is that the Mac OS is not perfect or invulnerable as the commercials lead you to believe. It is indead stronger than windows in a few important ways... but there is more to a computer than its operating system.

 

[l3lhsl3]

I completely agree. Windows has many... many flaws. I'm not a Windows fanboy at all. In fact, for everything short of gaming, I'm a Linux user. I dual boot Ubuntu 9.04 64bit and Vista Ultimate 64bit (only games installed on Vista). My gripe with Macs is the fact that they way overcharge for their hardware. You cannot buy a Mac on the market today that is as fast as my PC. I built my PC for under $900. Go ahead, try and buy a base level Mac for that much. If they offered Mac OS for PC platforms I would buy it in a heartbeat.

In fact, I think that is Apples biggest flaw. They are hardware pimps. They want to sell as much hardware as they can. Look at how they deal with their iPods and iPhones. You can't tell me that isn't obvious there if you know anything about that business model. If they took their heads out of their butts and said "Hey, there is absolutely no reason we can't make this software available on PCs with a little work." and did it they might even put a large dent in their competition. The attention Macs have been getting lately might get hardware manufacturers to re-think their Windows-only mindsets and contracts.

I know this all might sound like I am arguing with myself after that last post, all I was trying to point out is that the Mac OS is not perfect or invulnerable as the commercials lead you to believe. It is indead stronger than windows in a few important ways... but there is more to a computer than its operating system.

very well put


i like my linux box and being able to control what happens in it not just click and forget about it like Win

 

[gotglock]

PC, because every Mac user acts like such a tool

 

[l3lhsl3]

PC, because every Mac user acts like such a tool

hahahahha

 

[mmm_unit]

4) price - over time my mac is cheaper and still runs reliably (you can do the math below to see what i spent less money on)
$1300 powerbook (i think thats what i paid for it) used since 2002 - no problems no need to upgrade.
$500 dell lasted 2 years before parts fried
$700 hp lasted 3 years (screen broke)
$300 home built is on 3 years....

you don't see any problems with what you wrote?
Spend $1300 on a PC and you'll have the same experience

If you want a tough build quality, don't buy a cheap HP, go buy a rugged lenovo, if you want fast computing, don't get a dell, get an alienware

mac fans who say they are willing to spend a little more for some piece of mind are people who don't know how the computer market really is and go for the mainstream marketing mind control.

PCs have versatility. You can go from cheap daewoo, to wtfbbq lambo in power. You can go from a falling apart GM to a rugged BMW. You can have any color, style, and even to an extent shape notebook, not just a refrigerator color and build.

There are more out there than what is offered at your local best buy's.

And that's just in terms of the hardware, software wise, I find the OSX to be lacking in many features and to actually be not user friendly compared to the newer window OS's. Macs have their good points, but most people don't buy it for those points but for many common misconceptions.

And btw, i own both PC and mac, and actually started out using a PowerPC back in the day.

 

[coach_z]

if i need to buy a 1300 PC/laptop in order to get good quality then why do people complain about macs being expensive????

 

[coach_z]

I suppose ignorance is bliss... Btw, they make anti-virus programs for the mac os for a reason. I'd imagine since you were under the vail of "mac os is invincible" you've never looked into it. The more popular it gets the more it will be a target.

hah yes there is an amazingly funny reason that anti-virus is created for os x. A mac can have a file with a virus attached to it on its hard drive. the user can launch the file and the virus cannot run. so os x can have a virus on the system but it will not be infected with the virus. now if you need to email this file to your friend who has a PC you just gave them a virus.

OS X has virus protection in order to protect windows PCs from viruses. not to protect themselves.

I run anti-virus on my mac to prevent the computers on my family network from getting viruses from our shared drive (my mac).

 

[tekonus]

if i need to buy a 1300 PC/laptop in order to get good quality then why do people complain about macs being expensive????

Well someone who knows wtf they are doing and properly maintains their pc can get a cheap pc and have it run beautifully for years. Yet, as many of shown... they can't. So... PC's give you the option-up if you feel as if you need it. Every PC I've had long-term (as in I didn't get rid of it just because I wanted an upgrade for the latest games) has lasted me at least 4 years. On top of that... the only reason I can say 4 years is because at that point I just upgraded to something newer anyway... there was nothing wrong with the PC. I have a graveyard full of old computers in the basement that still work to this day despite being ~12 years old.

 

[coach_z]

Well someone who knows wtf they are doing and properly maintains their pc can get a cheap pc and have it run beautifully for years. Yet, as many of shown... they can't. So... PC's give you the option-up if you feel as if you need it. Every PC I've had long-term (as in I didn't get rid of it just because I wanted an upgrade for the latest games) has lasted me at least 4 years. On top of that... the only reason I can say 4 years is because at that point I just upgraded to something newer anyway... there was nothing wrong with the PC. I have a graveyard full of old computers in the basement that still work to this day despite being ~12 years old.

so in order to have a blissful computing experience a person must spend 1/2 of my time playing on their computer and the other 1/2 of my time maintaining their PC by defraging, cleaning out my registry, searching for misc. temp files that get placed all over the place.running spyware/malware/virus programs, updating os, fixing settings etc.??

i have yet to do any of the above on my powerbook but seem to have to do it daily on my PC, work PC, and family/friends PCs

 

[tekonus]

so in order to have a blissful computing experience a person must spend 1/2 of my time playing on their computer and the other 1/2 of my time maintaining their PC by defraging, cleaning out my registry, searching for misc. temp files that get placed all over the place.running spyware/malware/virus programs, updating os, fixing settings etc.??

i have yet to do any of the above on my powerbook but seem to have to do it daily on my PC, work PC, and family/friends PCs

Half of your time? Would you really sit there and stare at the screen while you run a virus scan? Once a month I run a virus scan... it takes a half hour. I go get some lunch while it runs. A defrag takes an hour... I let that run once a month while I watch some TV or do a water change and feed the fish. Your argument is like saying "Why would I drive a car when I have to do an oil change every 3000 miles? That takes actual effort. I can just get on my 10-speed and go..."

Again, to clarify. I'm not a windows fan-boy by far. I know its not perfect and yes, you DO have to do some clean-up here and there. I am simply trying to convey that it is NOT as difficult or impossible as most people make it seem to keep a PC running smoothly for a long, long time. My gripe with Macs isn't the operating system at all. Its the fact they way overcharge you for sub-par hardware.