We received an email this morning from a Windows XP user, Michael P., that we feel sheds some light on how some Windows PC users feel about Apple. Here is the email in its entirety:
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t understand why anybody would buy an Apple computer. It is non-standard (everybody uses Windows) and proprietary. Also, it seems to me that Apple is very desperate to sell computers, so much so that they will withhold products that many would want by making them “Apple-only,” in a bid to force people to buy an Apple in order to use these products.”
“I am a music fan. Yes, I wanted an iPod when it first came out, but it was Apple-only, of course. So, I bought a Nomad Jukebox for use with my Windows system. But, still, it was obvious that the iPod was better, and I kept my eye on them over time, so when Apple finally gave up and made a Windows version, I got my new iPod only to find out that I was stuck with MusicMatch software and not iTunes.”
“At this point, I would like to make it clear that I want a Windows XP version of iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, iChat, iDVD, Sherlock – yes, I’ve been all over Apple’s site – these applications look great, but I can’t find versions of them that run on Windows! Why would Apple bother to create all of these applications and not make versions that will run on 99% of the world’s computers?!”
“Instead, Apple would force me to buy an Apple computer to run these programs. Why is Apple so insecure? Why do they need to try to force sales of Apples? Obviously, nobody is buying them or they wouldn’t have to try to make Apple-only reasons to try to force sales of computers.”
“Which comes down to the reason I am writing: The iTunes Music Store. Why can’t I buy songs on my Dell running Windows XP? What kind of a company would open a store that only 1% can shop? It’s worse than opening a store catering only to left-handers – there’s many times more left-handers in the world than there are Apple computer users! This is ridiculous!!!”
“I would love to use my iPod with iTunes and the Music Store, but I cannot. All because Apple can’t seem to sell computers and they are trying to force people to buy Apples. Why limit all of these applications and services to a tiny, insignificant speck of the market? Why not offer them to the majority standard platform and create Windows versions, so the rest of the world can use them, too?”
“In closing, here I sit wanting to spend money at the Apple iTunes Music Store, wanting to run iTunes, iMovie and the rest (I’d even PAY for them), but I cannot. Apple needs to provide a solution for millions and millions of computer users like me! You can print this if you want and I’m sending this to Apple as well. Thank you.”
– Michael P.
Editor’s note: click for the followup “Windows user Michael P. responds to ‘Mad at Apple; wants his iTunes’ feedback, 5/28“
After all these years (MacUser since 1984)….I’m speechless. I’m laughing so hard at what MichaelP had to say, that I don’t know whether to be sympathetic, or just apathetic, to his plight. I think I’ll choose the latter.
It sucks to be them… lol.
This is either a case of “he just doesn’t get that he doesn’t get it” or a wonderfully subtle dig at wintel sheep. I am smiling, regardless.
“In closing, here I sit wanting to spend money at the Apple iTunes Music Store, wanting to run iTunes, iMovie and the rest (I’d even PAY for them)”
The solution is simple Michael P. BUY A MAC! He acts like as a Windows user it’s his God given right to get Apple’s software too.
dear Michael,
Why don’t you buy a Mac? Really, not only the frustration of an inferior operating system like XP dissappears, you might also enjoy the wonderful digital world of Apple. Trust me, you will have no regret…
Like Steve Jobs already indicated, there are innovators who get the pearls first, which is in this case Mac users. If anything is left they might think about porting it to other platform. In this way they try to increase their profits, in order to invest again in research. It’s called ‘marketing’ I believe. Be grateful, because if we are depending of the innovative power of Billyboy we would still have to press shift-F7 to print a document and looking to a monochrome monitor with a blinking cursor, wondering what kind of obscure command we have to type.
Mike, my man, you really need to actually use a Mac b4 you start complaining. Once you do that you will realize why Apple makes the apps for their computer first then for the crap PC you use. Youre system is difficult to develop for, unstable, and, best of all, insecure! Now why would you complain about Apple being proprietary when you have such a plethora of benefits with WinDoze? You need to take the time and play around with a Mac before you type something like this, really!
Is this letter a joke?
actually I agree with him. Apple has an opportunity to sell stuff to the other 95%… why aren’t they picking up on this? As much as I love my macs, there are millions of other pc users who will NEVER SWITCH to the mac. Apple has this opportunity to subterfuge the entire pc market by selling their applications or services on the pc… why aren’t they doing this?
At this point in the game, Apple is never going to be the dominent operating system, but they could win by offering software and services and win that way.
I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.
Wow.
Wow.
Jesus. There is a lot of sadness in the world. I feel for this guy…he’s sooo close to seeing the forest. Just all those damned tree blocking his view.
Someone should find out where this guy is and walk him into an Apple store.
-K
first of all this michael p character is a nothing but a blabbering idiot. just buy an apple you freaking loser and once you do you will understand what mac users have been talking about all this time. i’d like to beat this guy down with a coffeemug and kick him on his ribs
If Apple ported the products that Michael P wants and sold them at a fair price, I’m sure the huddled masses of PC users would still complain about the unfair treatment at the hands of Apple insofar as Mac users would be getting the iApps for free while the poor PC users would have to PAY.
Grow up Michael. Get a Mac and stop whining.
For the same reason that Microsoft is so insecure that you have to buy Microsoft Windows to run Microsoft Access.
Why doesn’t he just buy a Mac.He’d be less frustrated.And he’d have all these great things that he wants.But on the other hand Apple could help their bottom line if they made these things for Windows too.they are missing out on a bigger share of the pie unfortunately.
I have a PlayStation, but that cool game is only for XBox! That’s not fair! I want that game! Dear Michael, you don’t have any rights to that software. When a company makes some sotware they do it on some purpose. All the iSomething software is to show that Mac IS a better choice. If you want to take advantage of it, don’t spend your money on Dell but you need to support the company that makes the software in question. Just because you are in majority doesn’t mean a thing. Might is not right.
Bwaah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Buy a Mac.
M.
if you take the red pill you will find out just how inferior windows really is and if you take the blue pill youll be using the crappy dell + windows for the rest of your life wondering how long it will be until you get safari
the choice is yours michael i can only show you the door, your THE ONE who has to walk through it.
HA Ha Ha Ha ,
What a loser. What you have a DELL !!!!!! Oh man get rid of it .I work at Dell and man your trouble only beginning. See you down at the Apple store in about Xmas time.
Don’t be a shame, come in to the light and have some fun
iLife for Red Hat, just to put the boot in
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There is a cure for this disease, GET A MAC. If everything I wanted to run on a computer was for a PeeCee I’d get one. Don’t whine open up your wallet, you will be happy you did.
Somebody has been giving this kid to much of Bill Gate’s red koolaid!
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t understand why anybody would buy an Apple computer. It is non-standard (everybody uses Windows) and proprietary.”
NO, not everybody uses Windows, or Apple, Sun, Amiga, SGI and anything that runs Linux wouldn’t be selling on the market. Contrary to popular belief, these companies are still in business and doing great. Furthermore, Windows is more proprietary than any other operating system out there, and when it comes to hardware, Macs are upgradable and always have been!
“Why would Apple bother to create all of these applications and not make versions that will run on 99% of the world’s computers?!”
WRONG AGAIN! Windows is only on about 90% of the desktops out there with Mac and Linux making up the majority of the rest. Never confuse marketshare for installed userbase percentages, it doesn’t work that way!
“Which comes down to the reason I am writing: The iTunes Music Store. Why can’t I buy songs on my Dell running Windows XP? What kind of a company would open a store that only 1% can shop?”
Of course you have fudged the numbers again, I think you meant more like 10% can shop, and by adding the Amiga/MorphOS/PPC Linux users (running MOL) that just makes it even better
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“I would love to use my iPod with iTunes and the Music Store, but I cannot. All because Apple can’t seem to sell computers and they are trying to force people to buy Apples.”
Apple never forced me to buy a Mac, that was my choice with Microsoft’s help (Windows just sucks, PERIOD)!
“Why limit all of these applications and services to a tiny, insignificant speck of the market? Why not offer them to the majority standard platform and create Windows versions, so the rest of the world can use them, too?”
Why make great applications available for cheap/commodity/unreliable PC hardware that will only give Apple a bad name later?! I personally don’t care if Apple offers any of its software applications to Windows users, that Apple’s own business, not mine!
In the end, most Windows users are just plain clueless and only follow the lemmings of society because they have no thought process of their own. I deal with these types of folks everyday. It’s pretty sad if you ask me!
(No pun intended to the Windows users that do have some common sense)
Apple proprietary? We’re going to hear that song when Macs use 95% standard PC components these days. I can’t run Windows on my Mac so is Windows any less proprietary? Did I forget to ask where you can buy a different version of Windows than from Microsoft?
Even today, PnP works better on Macs than on wintel boxes. And yes,we can admit that the wintel world has improved, it’s still catch-up in this department.
What you’re griping about Mike is the success of the Mac in the areas where the PC is deficinet. The Mac is the player in the pro audio world. If you’re that into music, maybe it is you who should get in step with the rest of the world and consider a Mac.
Besides, I’d bet you’ve never even used one, either.
1%? Non-standard? This guy is living in la la land!
Michael P.
Lesson #1: Apple makes computers called Macintoshes or Macs for short.
Lesson #2: The solution for what ails you is probably within driving distance: http://www.apple.com/retail/
Wow, is the shoe on the other foot or what? Poor widdle baby Mikey. So put upon! Cry me a river, Mikey baby! I love it!
Why put good software on a shitty machine? Makes no sense. Pick your lazy ass up, go to an Apple store and change your pathetic life. Or shut the hell up and eat some more Wintel crap and continue to stare out of your sad little bubble at all the Mac people enjoying thier computers.
Computers are supposed to enhance your life. Not throw road blocks in your way every five seconds. You’re so close, yet so far away. Go and take a look at the Longhorn demos coming from your savior, which you’ll get to play with in 2005. OR…..go to the Mac store and play with something far more advanced NOW!
But we did enjoy hearing you whine. Sweet music. Hey, I think I’ll pop over to the Apple Music Store and download some tunes, that is, after I finish editing my little film in iMovie where I’m bringing in photos from iPhoto and music from iTunes. I just checked my iCal and it’s time Mikey went to the Apple Store and grew up.
Michael,
Please tell us what you mean by proprietary. The only thing proprietary on a Mac is the GUI and motherboard, everything else is an open standard give or take.
Could you please give us an idea of the non-proprietary technologies used by Microsoft and Dell.
If you haven’t looked at Apple lately, look again.