“There’s no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help,’ the Wall Street Journal’s Walter Mossberg writes.
One recent question:
Q: For months you’ve been praising the Apple Macintosh and suggesting that Windows users consider switching. But, last week, you wrote a long column listing a bunch of reasons not to switch. Have you changed your mind? Has Microsoft gotten to you?
A: No, and no. I stand by my view that the Mac is an excellent computer, and that switching to the Mac is a very good way for mainstream consumers to avoid the viruses and spyware that are now plaguing Windows users. Most consumers who use Windows at home and in very small businesses are good candidates for switching. But every product, no matter how good, has some drawbacks and disadvantages. And, for some groups of Windows users, the Mac’s drawbacks may outweigh its pluses.
For instance, if you are a heavy PC game player, the Windows platform is far superior because the hottest games appear late on the Mac, if at all. If you use specialized software, including many financial programs, that are available only for Windows, you shouldn’t switch. And, if you depend on a corporate IT department to support or maintain your home PC, you may be locked into Windows, because many IT staffs are ignorant about Apple’s machines and refuse to support them.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Check out the related “Joy of Tech” article below.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
The Joy of Tech: Walter Mossberg on reasons not to switch to the Mac – February 18, 2005
Mossberg: switching to Mac from Windows isn’t for everybody, just most people – February 17, 2005
Man, somebody is slipping Mossberg the Cupertino Koo Aid intravenously. I like that he’s done pretty much an about face on Apple, but this is unbelievable.
Warcraft III is a notable exception. Both Mac and Windows versions appear together on Blizzard Game CDs.
…tis true.
And what about mac-professors? I think we are in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
Good explanation of the middle ground. Being perceived as “fanatics” can be detrimental and I agree that not everyone should switch.
Windows users aren’t switching because Apple computer ads are non-existent. Apple has relegated it’s computer to a distant backseat to the iPod. All this talk about the iPod halo effect on computer sales is getting tired. Apple clearly has defined a new direction, and it is NOT computers and software. It’s music and iPods. Hopefully time will prove me wrong. Where are the freaking ads for Apple computers these days??? I want to know!!!