“In a previous column, I shared my thoughts about what it was like to suddenly become a Mac user after using Linux and Windows for most of my computing life. It was a bit of a shock, and adjusting to the new OS took me a little while before I could start to appreciate what it had to offer,” Jim Lynch writes for ExtremeTech. “Fortunately, I had the guidance and tolerance of many of ExtremeTech’s Mac-savvy readers to help me work through the bumps I encountered. My thanks to all who posted feedback and suggestions in the forum or who quietly emailed me after reading my column. I was somewhat overwhelmed at the response to the column, the emails just kept pouring in for weeks after it was published.”
Lynch writes, “This time I’m going to talk about what it’s been like for me after the initial adjustment period and how my experimentation with a Power Mac led to my purchase of a Power Book and the installation of the latest version of Mac OS X (Tiger) on both of my Macs.”
Lynch looks at Mac OS X Tiger in some depth and concludes, “Windows users beware! If you’re thinking about getting a Mac with Tiger on it, don’t do it! You’ll never view Windows the same again… Watch out Windows users, if you get a taste of OS X Tiger you might not want to go back.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Former Windows Sufferers who give Apple’s Mac OS X a decent try usually end up making the best Mac advocates.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
PC World names Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘Best Operating System’ – June 01, 2005
Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘is the most advanced operating system on the planet’ – May 31, 2005
TrustedReviews: After using Mac OS X Tiger ‘going back to Windows XP is something of a joke at best’ – May 18, 2005
The Butler Group: ‘Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger the best desktop operating system in the world to date’ – May 13, 2005
BBC News: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘the most stable and reliable OS, well ahead of Windows XP’ – May 10, 2005
Windows users show strong curiosity about Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger – May 09, 2005
Windows tech writer Thurrott: ‘In many ways, Mac OS X Tiger is simply better than Windows’ – May 07, 2005
EarthWeb: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger is a ‘serious enterprise operating system, a pivotal release’ – May 06, 2005
BusinessWeek: ‘Tiger bolsters Mac OS X’s edge as the best personal-computer operating system’ – May 06, 2005
The Guardian: Mac OS X Tiger a powerful solution while Microsoft’s Longhorn remains on drawing board – May 06, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times: Mac OS X Tiger shows ‘there’s never been a more compelling time to switch to Mac’ – May 05, 2005
Dan Gillmor: ‘With Mac OS X Tiger, Apple is plainly in the lead today’ – May 05, 2005
Jupiter Research VP: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘runs rings around Microsoft Windows’ – May 04, 2005
The Independent: Apple’s ‘faster, smarter, simpler’ Mac OS X Tiger ‘a must-have’ – May 04, 2005
Mac OS X Tiger review for a Windows PC audience finds Tiger’s ‘far, far better than Windows XP’ – May 03, 2005
Boston Herald: Mac OS X Tiger should compel Windows PC users to think about switching to Apple Mac – May 02, 2005
Mac OS X Tiger will likely improve performance of your Macintosh – April 30, 2005
PC World review gives Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger 4.5 stars out of 5 – April 30, 2005
Ars Technica: Mac OS X Tiger ‘at least twice as significant as any single past update’ – April 28, 2005
BusinessWeek: ‘Tiger bolsters Mac OS X’s edge as the best personal-computer operating system around’ – April 28, 2005
Associated Press: Mac OS X Tiger ‘provides another excellent incentive to switch from Windows’ – April 28, 2005
Mossberg: Apple’s Tiger ‘the best, most advanced personal computer operating system on the market’ – April 28, 2005
InformationWeek columnist: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘a compelling upgrade’ – April 28, 2005
NY Times: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger is the most secure, stable and satisfying OS on earth – April 28, 2005
Wired News: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘full of welcome surprises’ – April 27, 2005
Apple posts QuickTime movies of Mac OS X Tiger features in action – April 13, 2005
Watch out mugging victims… Once you get a taste of not being ambushed in a dark alley and having your wallet stolen, you may never want to be mugged again.
Everyone, welcome to the brave new world of Macintel!!!
Want to look at the future specs of MacIntel hardware?
http://www.dell.com
WOOT!
Copernicus: “Want to look at the future specs of MacIntel hardware?
http://www.dell.com
WOOT!”
No. Apple (as well as the x86 industry) will be beyond that. Intel intends to launch Yonah in early 2006. This is a dual core processor made for portables.
Just one thing to look forward to as part of Apple’s move to Intel.
now all we need is a demo version of Mac OS targeted at Windows users set up to dual boot and cease to function after a month
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I am a former Windows user and current (for the last 7 years) Windows Systems Administrator. And I can tell you first hand the Mac is the ONLY way to go. It is like a taking a deep breath of fresh air after living in smog. Unfortunately I spend my days working among the smog, supporting Windows, poor hapless Windows users, and the corporate illiterate who don’t know any better. But when I go home it is all Mac all the time (save for my year old Alienware, which is still a joy as they make great computers despite the fact they run Windows).
And while I probably sold more Dells in my lifetime then the “Dell Dude” I am now a HUGE Mac advocate who brings as many users to the light as possible. And trust me through my work and the trust my occupation instills in people (deserved or not) I am able to beat down many of the myths of Mac computing and bring some tech joy into people’s lives.
Mac zealots aren’t always the best salesman, not a knock just speaking the truth, but a guy who has (and continues) to live on both sides of the track makes the most objective Mac pusher. And I am more than happy to do my part.
Forget MacIntel. Forget Mactel. Say hello to Ma-ntel
Mantel Rules!
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This is my point exactly on why the switch to Intel is a good thing. If Jobs would just show a little intestinal fortitude and release OS X for any Intel machine to use, ol’ Billy boy would see his market share drop like a stunned pigeon.
“No. Apple (as well as the x86 industry) will be beyond that. Intel intends to launch Yonah in early 2006. This is a dual core processor made for portables.”
That’s my point. You don’t think Dell will have that technology too?
Dell buys a lot more Intel chips than Apple. You will read about and buy “Yonah” portables on the Dell product site.
Nothing special, as every Pee Cee they have on QVC or Home Shopping Channel will now have the same internals as Apple Pee Cees.
As a result of the Intel move, HARDWARE wise, Apple will never be ahead of Dell/Gateway/Lenovo again. To me, that’s sad.
Yeah, but Dell will still have Windows!
Copernicus,
I look at it the other way… It’s rare the Mac has been ahead. I look forward to — at the very least — parity. For example, having access to top of the line video cards and processors. Plus, Apple will add some of its own magic to differentiate it from the masses.
Copernicus
What makes you think that Apple, who has had a long history of being “proprietary” even with standard components, will use the same internals as a Dell or HP?
It’s one thing if Apple said they’ll buy motherboards from Intel, which they certainly are not. Tehy’re just buying chips. Despite what anyone has said, native compatibility with Windows or any other x86-based OS and components are not guaranteed.
MDN Magic Word: really, as in “Really ridiculous, all of you.”
I look forward to it aswell, However, I dont think having Intel inside is going to help FPS. And I think apple still needs to prioritize its OpenGL performance, thats been holding the mac back from a performance standpoint…In Games that is…
My new Powerbook is awesome – yesterday’s announcement didn’t change that one bit – As Jack Welch likes to say, “a leader faces reality” and the reality is that future PowerPC products are for video games and they can’t make a low power, low heat mobile chip with G5.
The other reality is that OS X is more stable and has more features that Windows is promising in the future, only you can get it right now. I am a switcher – 30 days now – and I tell everyone I know that they should use a Mac at home – if not in business, because most of my business contacts are working on systems architectures and Apple just isn’t in that space yet.
I work in the Enterprise software space and have to deal with Windows at work – it’s nice to know you can use a computer and get things done instead of constantly trying to work within limits that are imposed UPON you by the limits of the OS.
Once I get people to check out OS X, they don’t have an interest in Windows.
it’s also possible that intel to seal the deal will allow apple access to chips say 3 months before other manufacterers?
I guess we’ll see what the future holds. Personally, such wins as the Virginia Tech G5 cluster validated the platform. I doubt the P4 Powermacs Apple is selling to the developers are capable of the same. Regardless, I wouldn’t spend a nickel on them until the benchmarks prove they outperform the 64bit dual 2.7 G5 Powermacs. Jobs carefully avoided such performance comparisons which makes me wonder.
We’ll see the benchmarks rolling in on those machines in a few weeks. I only hope it doesn’t prove an embarrassment when compared to the currently shipping G5’s.
Well, don’t get your hopes up. G5 Powermac, according to the “old” Apple:
Nearly Two Times Faster Than Pentium 4
“To demonstrate the superiority of the Power Mac G5, Apple conducted tests using Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0, the most widely used application among creative professionals.
The dual 2.7GHz, dual 2.3GHz and dual 2.0GHz Power Mac G5 systems ran the 45 filters 98%, 78% and 59% faster, respectively, than the 3.6GHz Pentium 4-based system, and 72%, 56% and 38% faster than the dual 3.6GHz Xeon-based system.(1)(2)”
LOL I know, Iknow, we’re supposed to gulp down the kool-aid and forget about all of that…
“If Jobs would just show a little intestinal fortitude and release OS X for any Intel machine to use, ol’ Billy boy would see his market share drop like a stunned pigeon.”
inaminit,
This is rubbish. Repeat after me: “Apple is a hardware company.” Releasing OS X to commodity x86 would not magically put Microsoft on the ropes. You’re completely discounting the size of the Windows ecosystem, the sheer inertia of current PC users, and the considerable threat still posed by Microsoft. The short term effect of such a move would be to put a bullet in Mac sales, and there is no guarantee that they would be able to recover from such a decision. It is certainly possible at some future date that Apple may be in a strong enough position to make the transition to a software company, but that time is not now, nor will it be until sometime after Apple makes the transition in 2006-7, if ever.
No matter how inexpensive Macs get, commodity gear from PC mills will always be cheaper, and most people advocating opening OS X can’t seem to grasp that Macs Just Work™ because Apple carefully limits the hardware pool that they need to qualify for use. If someone’s home-built shitbox with an Acme graphics card, RAM from a box of Froot Loops, and a motherboard he bought off the back of a truck in Pakistan has horrible problems with OS X, who do you think he’s going to blame? That’s right: Apple, even though they can’t be held responsible for crappy hardware or drivers. Attempting to make sure OS X works well with the floods of new component hitting the market every year would be a Sisyphean task, and not one any sane company would attempt. The closed pool of hardware works in Apple’s favor; changing that dynamic would have terrible consequences for the Mac’s reputation.
“inaminit,
This is rubbish. Repeat after me: “Apple is a hardware company.” “
Viridian:
That’s the kind of narrow mentality that has kept Apple in the miniscule market share region. I like my iMac, I like it a lot, it’s my primary machine of choice. But the truth is, the AMD based machine I built last year is superior HARDWARE wise in every way. From the 2.2 ghz cpu to the Audigy Z sound card to the ATI 9650 video card. The reason I like the iMac better has nothing to do with the hardware, get it?
Did you read the guy’s article up there, or just start posting? When Windows user’s try OS X they don’t want to go back. OS X, not the hardware.
Obviously Copernicus has never used a modern Powerbook.
Comparing a Mac laptop to a Dell is kind of like comparing a Mercedes to a Ford Taurus in terms of style, look and feel and of course, performance. (OSX)
Besisdes, I’m not talking about transitioning to a software company, all I’m saying is make the OS available, simply state that if it’s not run on apple cetified hardware, let the buyer beware. After all I can go out now and buy just a copy of OS X, without any hardware. All I’m saying is, come on Jobs, let me do that with a copy of OS X for Intel platforms to.
inaminit: Did you read Viridian’s extremely logical explanation of why it would DESTROY Apple if they allowed OS X to run on x86? Do you realize how many pirated copies of Windows are running out there on cheesy little AMD 2.2 ghz machines like yours (superior? I laugh in your general direction
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Apple cannot afford to have its OS pirated in the way that Microsoft can and this is what would immediatly happen if Apple released an x86 version of its OS. MS has other lines of revenue. Apple’s revenue is in its hardware, not the OS.
The same goes for the “why can’t Apple allow downloaded AAC files run on my crappy Rio player?” people. The answer is the same. Because Apple makes NO MORE MONEY off of the sale of Rio players than it does off the sale of HP and Dell boxes! iTunes exists to sell iPods, OS X exists to sell PBs, PMs, iBooks, iMacs, and Minis.
Repeat after me:
Apple makes its money off of hardware sales.
Apple needs to control the hardware to make the OS experience as flawless as possible.
OS X runs so much better than Windows because Apple controls the hardware experience.
Apple is the most successful non-Windows running computer company of all time using the above methodology.
Apple has 16% of the installed computer market.
Apple wants to survive.
All these reasons and more are why it would never be so foolish as to allow its OS to run on someone elses hardware.
-B
Only the other 4 of the top 5 PC makers will be able to release machines with the same clock speeds simultaneously.
There is no way Apple would have to wait, but look at what happens every-time Toshiba release a new drive.
It turns out somebody (Apple) already has a big order in the pipeline and you can be sure they are getting a better price on it than anyone else.
So all the backyard pc manufacturers from Toshiba down will get their Intel chips later at a higher price.
Take out the cost to those builders of purchasing a Windows licence too as Apple will be able to afford to take a hit on that one and the fact that Apple were nearly destroyed last time they went for profit before market share.
This means that it will be possible for Macs to be cheaper, just like iPods already are.
Viridian, Beeblebrox:
I’m not saying you don’t make good points. You do. But whether you like it or not, Apple hardware is not the best thing about owning a Mac. The OS is. The hardware lag is the very reason Jobs is going to Intel based machines. Your prejudice against the platform is unfounded and unsuported. Next year I’ll be building another AMD based system. I’m sorry I can’t get a copy of OS X to run on it, (perhaps I’ll snag a copy of Slackware for this one now that the kids have their game system). And I’ll probably also get another Mac system, maybe a Power Mac.
You can say “grappy little” this and that all you want, it won’t make my home built systems inferior to Macs. Only Windows does that.
Beeblebrox:
Apple makes its money off of hardware sales.
Apple needs to control the hardware to make the OS experience as flawless as possible.
OS X runs so much better than Windows because Apple controls the hardware experience.
Apple is the most successful non-Windows running computer company of all time using the above methodology.
Apple has 16% of the installed computer market.
Apple wants to survive.
Well put (MDN Magic Word).