“My oldest daughter started high school about 5 months ago. Anticipating a heavy workload of writing and research, my wife and I did what countless other people do every day, we got her a PC,” Greg Bussmann writes for Stabley Times. “The purchase decision was made primarily on price, and in this particular laptop we found a good mix of features and value, or so we thought.”
MacDailyNews Take: Oops! Cue the impending doom soundtrack…
“Last night, after the latest round of hours spent cleaning, pruning, and otherwise tuning up the laptop for my daughter, a regular chore necessary to simply keep the machine in working order, I was ready to throw the computer out the window. And that was before I even got mad about the situation,” Bussmann writes. “The problem with my machine, like all other PCs, is crapware. Crapware is the gateway drug to Malware,” Bussmann writes. “It is those little pieces of software you neither need nor want that are installed on your PC… Why would PC makers engage in such an anti-customer practice? Because they make millions of dollars a year from it.”
Bussmann writes, “Mac users don’t face this issue. Apple does not load any crapware on new Macs, nor do they permit software developers to bundle it with their programs when you download them. You pay more upfront for this freedom; and that is certainly not the only reason Macs cost more, but I now firmly believe that if you take the price of a bargain PC, add in the hours you will spend keeping it in working order, you will actually come out way ahead by buying a Mac. And that says nothing of the user experience, which is superior in every way. I’m a convert to Apple that will never go back to a PC. If you are tired of all the crap, you should think about doing the same. You’ll save money ; and time ; in the long run.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, Greg, on choosing the red pill and Welcome Home!
Related articles:
Longtime PC user dumps Windows, switches to Apple’s Mac – March 12, 2012
How the editor of Windows Magazine became an ‘Apple fanboy’ – July 25, 2011
Windows user tries ‘A Month of Mac’ – the inevitable happens – August 3, 2010
Longtime Windows sufferer tries Mac, dumps Windows, switches business to Mac, sees productivity soar – April 22, 2009
Longtime Windows sufferer finally tries Mac: ‘Mac OS X beats Windows’ – April 16, 2009
Recent Windows to Mac switcher: ‘I’ll bet my blood pressure dropped 10 points’ – April 10, 2009
A recent switcher’s top 10 free Mac utilities – February 20, 2009
Windows 95 lead architect is a Mac switcher, launches first iPhone app – July 21, 2008
Are growing legions of Windows PC to Mac switchers diluting Mac community’s IQ? – January 25, 2008
Windows to Mac switcher dispels myths – May 16, 2008
Indispensable tips for Windows to Mac switchers – May 08, 2007
Top 30 mistakes made by new Windows to Mac switchers – April 30, 2007
‘It’s About Time’ to learn the Switch to Mac tool smoothes transition for Windows to Mac switchers – April 28, 2007
Windows to Mac switcher finds comfort in ability to run Windows, then leaves Windows behind – April 16, 2007
Longtime Windows sufferer switches to Apple Mac: ‘I’ll never buy another PC’ – April 09, 2007
Smart business owners migrate to Apple’s OS-unlimited Macs – April 09, 2007
IT manager for Fortune 500 company seriously considering OS-unlimited Apple Macs – April 06, 2007
WSJ: Apple makes inroads with Macs that can run Mac OS X, Linux, Windows – March 20, 2007
Network World: Need a new PC for Vista? Switching to Mac may cost less and give you more – March 16, 2007
Windows expert dumps Windows, switches to Apple’s Mac OS X, finds software plentiful – March 12, 2007
InfoWorld: 9,000 people switch to Apple Mac every day (plus testing ‘Embrace and Extinguish’) – February 28, 2007
Netscape founder Marc Andreessen switches to Apple Mac – February 28, 2007
Computerworld: Windows expert dumps Windows, switches to Apple’s Mac OS X – February 08, 2007
Microsoft’s Windows Vista: Five years for a chrome-plated turd – January 30, 2007
Those unfamiliar with Apple’s Mac OS X may be impressed with Windows Vista – January 29, 2007
A Windows expert opts for a Mac life, finds the experience ‘superb’ – December 07, 2006
15-year Windows vet tries Apple Mac: ‘My God! This is amazing!’ – December 04, 2006
A Windows expert opts for a Mac life – November 06, 2006
Apple Macs can run more software than Windows PCs – October 30, 2006
Top Windows developer dumps Microsoft’s ‘pile of crap’ for Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Embrace and Extinguish in action: TechIQ’s ‘The VAR Guy’ dumps Windows, switches to Mac OS X – September 25, 2006
Apple Macintosh simply does more and costs less than Windows PCs – February 14, 2006
Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple – June 10, 2005
I switches from PC to Mac some years ago, and I changes all IT in my own company (30 people) the same way. No more PC, only Mac.
But but but … today I wanted to convince an intelligent person to do the same switch like I did. She wanted to buy a new 17-inch-notebook. She saw my one and was impressed by the quality and the display.
I was completely lost in that situation as Apple no longer makes them. No matter about the price, if you don’t offer a screen size some people really want you cannot convince them.
Sometimes Apple makes it way too easy for the competition.
The dumb f***s at Apple will probably bring the 17″ MBP back to life again when they can figure out how to make a retina display for it….probably…but who knows what goes through the minds of their product development team.
Except the screen likely has half the pixels of the 15″ MBP
Low rez “big screen” laptop behemoths are for children (gamers).
For anyone interested in actually getting work done the resolution is what really matters.
She could go my route – a 13″ MBP, plugged to a big screen when I need it. Best of both worlds.
She just wanted a 17 inch laptop. Not a smaller one, not a separate big screen. Just a 17 inch like she preferred since ages for some good reasons. And not everybody needs retina. I love my 15 inch retina, but people are different. So she will buy a new windows machine even she hates windows. Well done, Apple.
Macofalltrades.com has them.
Nonsense,
Apple has never been afraid to edit products and or features. That is part of their magic. The lapzilla (as Th.e 17″ was coined shortly after it came out) was really too big, besides the 15″ has a higher resolution screen (a fact you keep dodging curiously around)
The point is that for >90% of users a 15″ with better resolution than the 17″ is a better product.
There were a minority of users (rather vocal though) who decried apple’s cutting of optical drives (I understand that was a similar flap over the loss of the floppy disk)
Point is, your “friend” (;-))needs to either embrace the future or attempt to cling to the past and go buy some huge lo res screened windows (crap) laptop.
The choice is as they say, hers.
Clearly, size matters to this woman.
Talking of upgrading to something better … when is MDN going to upgrade its CrApp to iOS6 and optimise it for iPhone 5 and get rid of the bugs? Just like the good guys have, inc AppleInsider and TidBITS. And are we now done with the Samsung ads on your site?
Double ditto on that one from this non-Rush Limbaugh fan.
Actually, I don’t mind the Samsung ads one bit. In a way, I’m happy about them. Think about it: Samsung is paying, MDN is getting Samsung’s money, for ads on a web site where there is virtually NO chance anyone is ever going to buy a Samsung device. In other words, MDN is getting free money from Samsung, Samsung is throwing away their cash on advertising to MDN readers. Perfect situation, if you ask me!
I understand your point, but those ads will still generate at least a few clicks from the trolls that come here looking for trouble (even if they spend no money), and also from people who poke the wrong spot on their touchscreen by mistake (easy to do, as I’ve done that myself on iPad).
All or Nothing is a very bad approach, Then you get nothing.
More goes to MDN then what Samsung takes, and that says allot.
Parent routinely subject their kids to this, just to save a couple of bucks. Eventually they learn the the cost of doing that is much higher, in frustration, headaches, and wasted time keeping Windoze to a somewhat functional level. Same thing happened to a relative of mine, who asked for a computer recommendation for a college bound daughter. Well, I told hime to not waste his time with Windoze and just get her a Mac. The bum went and bought a cheap Windoze laptop for her, obviously to save a couple of bucks. Poor Girl…oh well, you can lead a horse to water…..
… and if you get them to float on their back, you really have something.
at home we have a MBP, 2 Lenovo’s, 2 iphones, ipad 2, a blackberry and a cheap droid phone
my oldest son likes to use only the MBP and the iphone/ipad
Using a PC is… kind of… … a bummer.
– Ellen Feiss
I’m worried about the ChromeBook. Yea its nothing right now, but its gaining. See it in stores now, no virues yet, etc. Only $250 and runs fast and easy on battery. Has good selling points for an internet only user and could hurt Windows and OS X at some point.
i was a beta tester
its a paper weight without internet
And is pretty much useless if your internet connection dies.
“Only $250….” so cheap is good and cheaper must be better.
I say get a plastic PC laptop…… and just throw it away when it acts up. PS, keep all your data on an external hard drive.
PPs, Have you ever wondered WHY its so cheap??? I am sure that Google is giving them away for free or so… No strings attached. 🙂
Just a thought.
en
“I’m worried about the ChromeBook.”
In god’s name, why? Everybody hates internet appliances, even people who think they like them because a time will inevitably come when they want to do more with it than browse the internet, and they won’t be able to. And much pulling of hair will be done. It’s just yet another copy of WebTV made by some company too dumb to learn from history.
Excellent article- Lays out the contrast between Windows and Apple experience quickly and concisely.
I love Ellen Feiss
The problem with my machine, like all other PCs, is crapware. This statement implies that he knew that was the problem all along. He knew all other PCs have crapware as well as the one he bought. He is old enough to have a 14 year-old daughter so he ought to be old enough to have enough experience with PCs and their crapware that he shouldn’t have even given a second thought to what laptop he should have bought. Ignorance can be fixed but stupid is forever.
Reading the article, you almost get the feeling that he had this blog idea in the back of his mind when doing the purchase.
Also, shouldn’t the daughter learn about the kind of stuff he was doing to ready the machine? Was he trying to insulate her from harsh technical reality? I wonder if he helps with her homework.
Just to be clear:
I did not have this post in mind when I bought the laptop, at least not consciously.
My daughter has been right with me every step of the way.
I don’t believe in insulating her from harsh technical reality
And I am not smart enough to help her with her homework, that is what the computer was for.
Thanks for reading.
You are a gentleman for responding, and I apologize for misjudging you.
Classy.
I also thank you for reading and responding in a more than civil manner. Manners are appreciated.
However, as I noted above, you must’ve known before you bought the PC purchase that there would be crapware on the machine, unless you’ve been living a sheltered life. That you decided to go “cheap” over “quality” and deal with the known quantity of crapware on your new box, you know, …like all other PCs… You really must’ve known this.
I also have to wonder that you didn’t anticipate this based on this statement: …latest round of hours spent cleaning, pruning, and otherwise tuning up the laptop for my daughter, a regular chore necessary to simply keep the machine in working order… If I had to spend endless hours cleaning, pruning, and tuning a new computer, I’d take it back immediately for a refund. A consumer should never have to do this after a major purchase. If I buy a new car and find when I get it home that the brakes were soft, that the engine sounded like it needed a tune-up, that someone left their leftover lunch under the hood and someone else left a shopping bag of clothes meant for Goodwill in the trunk, and that under the seat I found a dead cat, you can bet I’d take it back. In fact if I know that others had had similar experiences with a particular model, I’d certainly not even think about that model to begin with.
Jeff,
I am old enough to know better. I don’t know what to tell you, I screwed up. I can tell you it won’t happen again.
gbussmann! What a nice man!!! 🙂
I again thank you for your humble reply. It takes a special person to do that. I didn’t see this response before I posted my indented reply above.
With the best of friendly intentions, I hope you have a pleasant weekend and chalk this up to experience. I’ll sign off by saying that Macs aren’t perfect either so something similar might have happened to you that night. OTOH your daughter might decide that she never wants to be a PC repair technician based on that experience. 🙂