“Macs are better for beginners, cost a bit more, break down less frequently, and work and look the same onscreen. Windows-based PCs offer more software choices, are more powerful in the top end and command 94 per cent of the market, offering a better bang for the dollar,” reports Steve Makris for The Edmonton Journal in his article, “How to buy your first home computer.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is how it should have read, if the author wanted to be accurate:
“Windows-based PCs offer more software choices,” but most everything anyone needs in any software category is also available for the Mac and, usually, the best software in each category has a Mac version. Best of class applications for movie editing, DVD creation, photo organization, digital music, web services, and more are available only for the Macintosh. Macs currently have over 17,000 Macintosh applications and software titles which you can browse here.
“Windows-based PCs are…” less powerful in the top end now that Apple has introduced the workstation-class 64-bit CPU personal computer called the Power Mac G5.
“Windows-based PCs… command 94 per cent of the market,” which has absolutely nothing to do with “offering a better bang for the dollar.”
Exactly.
The whole article tried to cover too much. It’s written for people who can’t possibly understand what it’s talking about. Hopefully these people will pick up on the “macs are easier to use”, but unfortunately I think a lot will be turned off by the “macs are better for beginners”, which could be read as an implication that they’re not better for more experienced poeple too.
It’s not deliberately misleading. In fact I think it’s trying to be mac-positive, but it doesn’t quite manage it.
The author has obviously never used a mac more than once or twice, and therefor should not be writing an article like this as though he knows what he’s talking about.
If every so called “COMPUTER EXPERT” was required to use a Mac for two hours or more before writing anything about Apple, there wouldn’t be any Mac related articles in the main stream press!
Ignorance is BLISS for the majority of computer users in the world.
As they struggle with the latest WORM infestation and incessant PATCHES, they long for a better version of Windows, yet none of them realize that what they are accepting as state-of-the-art is nothing more than a “FROM HELL” version of a Mac OS. ;o)
Just toss them some more “FEED” and let them get on with their grazing!
I have given up trying to educate the moronic public on how to identify a superior computing experience. Mediocrity is all they seem to be interested in, so who are we to stand in their way?
two more things:
Chances are new programs will make alot of wintel computers freakout
Those programs are already installed on a mac
Don’t give up R.V. The effort to promote Macs is worthwhile even if it seldom seems to result in success. We just need to be careful not to appear overzealous about our choice of computers – it scares people. It also doesn’t help to list all of the reasons why they made a dumb decision buying a Wintel. Focus on all of the reasons why they should consider a Mac the next time and give them a spin on yours.
he also lists the imac price at 2799.00. pretty hard to configure one at that price. even with the max RAM it’s still only 2400.00
Cringely gets some of this right:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20030814.html
The iMac price reflects the fact that the Edmonton Journal is Canadian, and quotes all prices in Canadian dollars.
“Windows-based PCs offer more software choices…”
Fun programs like Melissa, Klev32, ILoveYou, M$Blaster!
“I have given up trying to educate the moronic public…” (RV)
I can understand why.
After being asked how hard I’ve been hit by this worm by seven people that I know – I’ve told them that I won’t be eaten by this latest worm.
WinDoods: Why MacBuddy?
MacBuddy: Because I’ve got a Mac.
Conversation ends…..
“He also lists the imac price at 2799.00. pretty hard to configure one at that price. even with the max RAM it’s still only 2400.00”
It’s Canadian currency, not US. Check your facts BEFORE you vent.
Hey TheMacMan: AppleGuy’s price confusion issue was interpreted by you as him venting?
“he also lists the imac price at 2799.00. pretty hard to configure one at that price. even with the max RAM it’s still only 2400.00”
Edmonton Journal: Edmonton, Canada. Canadian Dollars. $1 US = $CND1,40.
Yawn, just more bull from the press.
Unfortunately, your spin is divorced from reality.
Windows PCs have more and better software. The Mac version – if it exists – is typically inferior, rather than better. Office and Photoshop are better on PCs.
Apple’s iApps are great and don’t exist on PCs. But – and I know this won’t be well received – better alternatives are available on PCs. Try ACDSee instead of iPhoto. Try Windows Movie Maker 2 instead of iMovie. They work better.
From benchmarks I have seen, G5s will continue to be slower than P4s in typical use such as internet browing. They may be better for photo editing, but will lag behind hardware-accelerated video editing.
Windows PCs do offer a ‘better bang for the dollar’ – and this likely results in a high market share.
Look… Macs are great for some uses. You can’t go wrong with Apple’s iApps.
But lying reduces credibility. It’s the ‘boy who cried wolf’. When you tell the truth about Macs you won’t be believed.
Quote: Ex Mac User:
Windows PCs have more and better software. The Mac version – if it exists – is typically inferior, rather than better. Office and Photoshop are better on PCs.
>> Dude, wake up and smell the coffee, Mac Office has features STILL not found in the the current PeeCee version! Oh wait we don’t have the bloatware called Access…. hmmm ever used Filemaker?
Apple’s iApps are great and don’t exist on PCs. But – and I know this won’t be well received – better alternatives are available on PCs. Try ACDSee instead of iPhoto. Try Windows Movie Maker 2 instead of iMovie. They work better.
>> I hope you don’t actually believe what you’re typing! ACDSee is an acceptable alternative to iPhoto, with 1 major flaw… it runs on a PeeCee!!!! and come on… M$ Movie maker 2, even Tech TV admits it’s a pile of crap!
From benchmarks I have seen, G5s will continue to be slower than P4s in typical use such as internet browing. They may be better for photo editing, but will lag behind hardware-accelerated video editing.
>> Hmmm I’d love to know where you get your benchmarks from???
Windows PCs do offer a ‘better bang for the dollar’ – and this likely results in a high market share.
Okay, I read this as PeeCee’s can be bought at Wal*Mart for about $200.00 and you GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!
Look… Macs are great for some uses. You can’t go wrong with Apple’s iApps.
>> Agreed!
PS Go troll on the PeeCee forums, I’m sure your uninformed comments and opinions will be well recieved
Ex Mac User,
I would really like to know where you got benchmarks for a computer that has not shipped.
PS: ACDSee is not free iPhoto is
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Hey Ex Mac User
you are so full of it
there are no benchmarks other than Apple uising the GCC complier against Linix.
What in the world are you talking about?! lets see some links!!!!
lol!
Maybe he is actually an X Mac User?
Definately a moron, but to each his/her own. Photoshop is better on the PC! That is why ALL our designers use Macs. No sense is using anything that works or even works well- why would we want to do that with deadlines & all?
iTunes is the best damn music app around.
iPod is the best damn portable music player around – in any class and any price.
iPhoto is OK and PRE-INSTALLED!!!
Installing more apps is easy with Mac, try installing Adobe Premier on NT4… didnt work for me and I do not like spending my day figuring out why MS is stupid or Adobe is unable to write their video app to work on an early (beta?) NT kernal?
Of course if you said Premier is better on the PC than the Mac you would be right, but then you are still an idiot because if you havd a Mac and did professional work you would use Fincal Cut Pro and if you were doing personal work you would trade in that crappy copy of Premier for a free ($50?) copy of FCExpress.
After spending a 7 working days installing patches for WindBlows – you, BGates and SBalmer can stuff it.
I suppose the X User just wanted to stir the pot…
If you are an ex-Mac user, why are you spending time on a Mac site? (the usual question……)
Stir elsewhere you fool.
as an ex-mac, ex-pc user and back to mac user, I will agree macs are better for begineers, but why is it that even NASA is doing work with Macs…Hmmm!!!!Maybe because is also used in the professional world? Also have you seen the InfoWorld article on Apple? How about having Microsoft admit that their Mac Version of Office is superior than their own Win version…?
ex mac user:
if you think windoze movie maker 2 is better than imovie you have some serious issues.
Give him a break –he’s from Edmonton!
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Beginners eh? Yeah, I believe that. Sure, they’re better for beginners… Macs are also better for pros… I’d have to say the only reason I’m Mac user is because I’m a pro user.
Joe Canadian :
The 17″ iMac is 2799.00$ (Canadian)
The 15″ is 1999.00$
A custom 17″ with 1GB of RAM Airport Extreme and Bluetooth is 3668$
1. Steve Makris is a 100% Macaholic, writing for a newspaper that is 99% Mac in the newsroom
2. Macs offer no advantages whatsoever to anyone who bothers to do their homework, unlike you people who did not bother to learn anything about the author (who is so far out, he even sings Greek Karaoke with his Mom)
3. Every year, I always buy the latest, top of the line Mac “laptop” (those of you who remember the very first PowerBook know it was actually larger than my briefcase), and, after trying to get it to do real work for about a month, I always end up selling it in the Bargain Finder Press because it always fails to live up to the hype
4. I do the same for ThinkPads
5. I have never found any machine for writing that surpasses the Toshiba T1000 SE, an 8086, floppy-driven notebook