“Over the past year, I have advised readers who are fed up with the plague of viruses and spyware on Windows PCs that one way out of the mess is to switch to Apple Computer’s Macintosh. There has yet to be a report of a successful, real-world virus for the Mac’s current operating system, and there is little or no known spyware for the Mac,” Walter S. Mossberg writes for The Wall Street Journal.
“I stand by that advice, and also by my positive reviews of recent Mac models, especially the impressive iMac G5. But, as I have noted in the past, switching to the Mac has downsides, and it isn’t the best course for some groups of Windows users. So here’s a brief guide to which types of users might find switching inadvisable,” Mossberg writes. “In general, the best candidates for a switch to the Mac are those who use their computers overwhelmingly for common, mainstream consumer tasks. These include e-mail, instant messaging and Web browsing; word processing, spreadsheets and presentations; working with photos, home videos and digital music; and playing and creating CDs and DVDs. The Mac is as good as Windows at these core tasks, and in many cases better.”
MacDailyNews Note: Walt describes approximately 99% of the world’s computing population above.
So, according to Walt, who shouldn’t switch from Windows to Mac? People who are happy enough with Windows (ignorance being blissful, as it were). People who are resistant to learning new ways of doing things (even if it’s more intuitive, more thougtfully-designed, and will make you more productive). If you can’t afford it. If you run specialized, custom Windows programs. If you love Microsoft Outlook (again, ignorance-bliss). If you use your PC mainly for games. If you rely heavily on financial software. If you don’t own an iPod or love Napster and Rhapsody.
“Of course, you can overcome most of these obstacles if you buy a Mac as a companion to, rather than a replacement for, a Windows machine. But then you’d still be battling Windows viruses and spyware, and having to spend money and time to maintain dual platforms. The bottom line is that the Mac is a great alternative for mainstream consumers doing mainstream tasks who are sick and tired of the Windows security crisis. But it isn’t for everybody,” Mossberg writes.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Mossberg’s article shows that switching to the Mac is for just about everybody who isn’t ignorant, set in their ways, cash poor, mostly use their computer to play games, or “love” Outlook, Napster or Rhapsody. Switching from Windows to Mac isn’t the best choice for everybody, just most people. We agree wholeheartedly.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Mossberg: Windows PCs plagued with problems, Apple’s Mac is ‘rock solid, elegant and affordable’ – December 09, 2004
Walt Mossberg’s Fall PC Buyer’s Guide: ‘Apple’s new iMac G5 is an excellent choice’ – September 30, 2004
Mossberg: Apple iMac G5 ‘powerful, affordable, virus-free with better, more modern OS than Windows XP – September 23, 2004
Mossberg: Dump your Windows machine and get an Apple Macintosh to free yourself of spyware – August 25, 2004
Wall Street Journal’s Mossberg on making the switch from Windows to Mac – September 18, 2003
Let me add my voice in support of NoMacForYou.
I’m in NMFY’s court, as well. It’s amazing to me that someone can comment so objectively and just get railed by all the immature Mac fanboys. This should be a forum for intelligent discourse, not a venue for bashing those with who haven’t completely drunk the Apple Kool-Aid.
“From: donnie – cash poor is cash poor… can someone lend me $3 grand so I can buy a new G5 system? I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday, for a supercomputer today.”
What do you need with a supercomputer if you are cash poor? If you are cash poor and want a computer, you look toward the low end. If you are cash poor and want a mac, you can spend very little for a used or refurb (dealmac.com for example).
It’s just that simple.
Well, now that we know NoMacForYou, ben, lisa and ron are all the same troll, let’s all give them a collective…buh bye. It’s fine to have an opposing viewpoint on this forum, but the chronic incendiary tone and complete lack of respect articulated time and time again by NoMacForYou makes his/her contributions IMHO unwelcomed. Why this guy/gal hates Macs is beyond me. All I can figure is he/she is a closet Macaholic just waiting to come out. Regardless, if the tone doesn’t change, his/her contibutions are worthless. I saw on another thread he/she apologized for the bad behavior. If this is genuine, I’ll give the guy/gal another chance. Go ahead and give opposing viewpoints, just do it with some respect.
Enough said about that. As far as the topic at hand, I still feel the one-button mouse and lack of intuitive locating of applications in OSX are going to be frustrations for Windows users. Mac has got to get on board and cater to the Windows people even more.
Walt’s article is straight up honest, and it’s accurate. MDN’s take is also right on. Look guys, neither platform is perfect, so let’s quit pretending. I’ve been working in enterprise corporate America for only 7 months, and it makes me want to kill myself to be on this Dull. I freaking hate it. But truth be told … there are a couple of things I couldn’t do in my job without Windows. Mind you, I use my powerbook as much as I can, and I use remote desktop into my Dull for those task specific things, but I still have to. What I don’t have to deal with is all the shit that Windows people keep giving Microsoft a pass on. the virus alerts, email reboots, remost patch pushing, jesus christ, I’d kill myself if I had to work in that portion of OPS.
When companies take a major fall due directly to Windows, maybe things will change. The cost of change in corporate America is huge, and MS knows that… they have no incentive to get better.
We want to move our B2B people off the Dull laptops to PowerBooks. If it weren’t for Outlook, and the Edge cards, we’d have already done it.
The point of Walt’s article, is in the first two paragraphs. If you are part of the 90%+ of people, switching to a Mac for your next computer is probably your best bet. We all know that. It’s not for corporate America yet, but soon maybe it will be. 90% is still 90% …. keep the focus where it belongs.
BTW – I have not ONCE used my Dull laptop to go do field service. I explicitely refuse… as my PowerBook is a FAR better portable tool than any Winbox. My Dull keeps my desk warm, where it belongs.
– Bill
iMaki – anybody can write anybody´s handle/name here and become them. I just became iMaki and I love NoMacForYou and ben and lisa and anyone that dislikes Apple.
And I think I may be bisexual and bicomputational and buy a mac today.
iMaki, uMaki, weallMaki.
If you don´t like it, don´t read it.
NMFY ocassionally has some good thoughts and insights, but lately is very consistent with alot of trash talking. Ben Ron and Lisa are pretty much the same. Then there is Triumph who is always keeding about something for him to POOP ON.
when Joe M, and other seemingly non mac posters come, at least they do some research, and try to be on topic. They are mostly a good read and spark some good debate. NMFY, R, B, L, and T……. They are starting to make it a real pain to visit the site.
Sorry for the seemingly personal attacks, just mho and .02
I wonder if Walt is getting sick of saying this to people… The Mac mini really does change things for Apple, though.. it’s not a tough sell anymore..
I’d like to write something intelligent but, as you can tell I seem to be fresh out. I am such a loser that I hang out at places that I’m not very interested in…I usually start the day by beating the bishop & them have a good cry. I usually punch the munch-kin on a regular basis while lisa & Ron pound salt up may ass. I have no friends & live in my mommy’s basement. After my shift at White Castle I hang out here. I have a girlfriend but she lives in Czechoslovakia…no really I do. I do real work on my eMachine & as I mentioned earlier obsessively feed the fish (which I think should be an Olympic Sport…only I would be in the Special Olympics). I think we should have a NoMacForYou lovefest. something you tree huggers can get behind. Everyone that has an opinion should post as NoMacForYou , or whatever other name I choose whenever I show up on this forum. Then I would be benign. That would make me so happy that I would just have to jerk the gherkin like nobody’s business. I’m a simple creature with simple needs. Thank you one & all.
If you choose a Mac and you prefer the OS and Hardware
to what you’ve been using…GREAT.
Is there any hope for competing platforms?
Let’s just say it’s achromatic…until someone chooses
shine thier light on the world.
There’s no room for anything other than user defined
input to Apple’s equipment…once people look, they’ll
find it hard to believe.
CT
If you can’t SEE the pain…
BE the pain.
Apple’s marketing, pricing and products do create a
certain snob appeal, for some. That’s thier problem.
For others, there’s no two ways about it…some things
are just worth more. No snobbery, just plain business.
If there’s a Mac Micro Mini in Steve Jobs’ mind…I
hope it stays there, but that’s just my point of view.
CT
I don’t believe you ALWAYS get what you pay for, but
Apple has come through in more ways than one…I think
with the Mac Mini, Apple may have played the slot
machine. I don’t think they’ll hit the jackpot…but
know they’re not getting 3 cherries!
(Theoretically Speaking)
MMMmmmmmm…BAH HA HA HA
CT
P.S. Thanks again board (bored?). <@)|<@> Oh, never
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
bored on a Mac.
PS2 can play all the games a PC can?
To quote the gamer kids “‘sif!”.
Maybe I buy a supercool gaming rig to play all my PC games in the same way other people buy a supercool G5 to run whatever applications they want to.
There, we’re all happy. Mmm choice.
i am so impressed with everyones creative nicknames used when posting on this site
on the pc forums ppl use very boring nicks like ‘Ben’ for example
Best post script I’ve ever seen for an article like this: Joy of Tech‘s version Mossberg’s opinion of his own article.
Walt’s a good egg. Give him a break when he’s got a point that’s valid for some people.
So many people whining about Macs or PCs.
God Bless America for allowing us a choice!!
I don’t recall anyone holding a computer consumer
at gun-point for their decision to buy either.
I have 6 working Macs at my house, a 1 PC for
my daughter (who was brainwashed by her school!)
One day on the internet infected her PC. AND we had
the latest virus software. Go figure. My Macs still
crash ocassionally, but never with a data loss. I can’t
get a lot of the emailed pictures that my friends send,
but my kids are cuter than theirs anyhow! haha
I have to translate my documents with DataViz to email
them out, but that only takes about 5 seconds.
So do I still stay with my Macs? Yes, and it was my choice to
start out that way. I admire some of the things that can be done
on a PC, but am willing to sacrifice for my comfort level. The same
way that I’m willing to sacrifice driving 8 miles to grocery store so
that I can live in a quiet neighborhood. And no one has called me
stupid or cultish or fanatical for doing that.
Diversity is good, but good manners are better. And rare.
Dedicated Apple user since 1978.
Walt always calls it as he sees it, and takes great pains to be informed and fair. Fair as in telling the truth. Not fair as in “equal time, equal praise”. In the early to mid-90 (pre-Steve Jobs) Walt was critical of Apple very often. But wasn’t there good reason to be?
I correspond with Walt from time to time, and he is a hard-nosed, hard-assed, journalist at The Wall Street Journal, one of the world’s most prestigious news sources with a circulation HIGHER than the New York Times. And people who read the Journal aren’t poor. I pay about $80 a year for the online Journal. Walt is the biggest name in tech journalism, and his opinions carry enormous weight. As Apple has improved to the wonderful point that it is now, so have Walt’s reviews of Apple products. I recall only one lukewarm review in the past year or so, and it was for Airport Express. He thought it should have a remote, or another way to control it.
Otherwise he has turned in glowing reviews for Apples products. But NOT because he is an Apple fan. Or ANYONE’S fan. Walt Mossberg is a fan of QUALITY, VALUE, ELEGANCE, and USABILITY.
The moment Apple brings out a weak or even a so-so product he will slam it hard. But even if he does, please don’t flame him. Comment, yes, FLAME no. He has served us well by TELLING THE TRUTH, not by being a blind fan for Apple, or in doing controversial articles to get clicks. This article about those who SHOULDN’T switch, and the reasons why, has truth in all of it. Once again Walt is telling the truth as he sees it. Heck, I have told people not to switch for most of these reasons myself, and I’ve helped switch about 10 people this year.
The current prestige, sales, and success of Macs and Apple’s other offerings (iPod, software), are owed in no small part to having Walt crank his weight behind these products. His opinions create DECISIONS for many people and businesses.
We are SO LUCKY that someone as important as Walt (a well informed, truth telling “king maker”), is a straight shooter. If an Apple product ever gets a bad review from Walt (and someday one certainly will), it almost certainly deserves it.
’nuff said,
David Vesey
By the way…
NoMacForYou and the other Trolls are Bill Gates hanging around these forums and slamming the Mac.
Or a shill for Microsoft. Microsoft was once caught paying people to write in emails in support of Microsoft to various forums (or it may have been to Microsoft itself).
I (and a couple of other people here) brought it up about a year or so ago, and the Trolls fled, for a while.
How many OTHER people in the world hang out at the other platforms forums being vulgar, spouting nonsense, and being just plain ANNOYING. Real, honest, and true debates would be fun, and useful. These people are NUTS. Or maybe teenagers being paid by Microsoft to do it. But I doubt it.
Would any of us Mac users hang out at Windows sights all day long doing what they do? I certainly hope not.
I just can’t imagine it.
Go away Bill. You’ve been OUTED.
david vesey
Well, Walt essentially say that if you are an idiot (for multiple reasons), stupid, ignorant, with you head up your ass that the only thing you can see is the dark side of your colon THEN you could/should not switch.
Wholeheartedly agree with that.
It is a kick in the ass while sounding apologetic with Windows. Goes along with what Microsoft preaches all along to justify its security problem: “it is not Windows, it is those idiots of our users”.
Absolutely.
Windows: the new litmus test to tell idiots from the others as in the “Intel Inside, Idiot Outside”
Too bad he brings in the silly issue on the one-button mouse. STICK in the multi-button, wheeled mouse you already have and put the one-button one in a drawer.
Enough with this stupidity!