“In the struggle between Apple and Microsoft for the minds and hearts of computer users, clearly Microsoft has come out ahead. Despite its second-place finish in the operating-system race, however, Apple continues to fight and win key popularity battles on the secondary hardware and music fronts,” Walaika K. Haskins writes for Sci-Tech Today. “To its credit, Apple continues to defy certain ‘expert’ predictions that it will fail, particularly with the company setting the industry standard for music downloads and portable music players. In addition, with analysts estimating that as many as 500,000 Windows users have switched to Mac under what observers call the ‘iPod halo effect,’ the reports of Apple’s demise clearly have been overstated.”
“What lessons can we all learn from the company’s success? According to technology experts, the differences between Apple and other manufacturers can be summed up in one phrase: Keep it simple and innovate,” Haskins writes. “One major difference between Apple and Microsoft might be the type of person that each company perceives its users to be. ‘It’s almost like Microsoft is designing for geeks and Apple is designing for real people,’ said Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research. Wilcox said that, in terms of functionality, Microsoft’s approach produces interfaces that are too complicated. You have to plug in something that launches a wizard, he explained. Then you have to go through several steps to get a device to complete a first-time configuration. ‘Whereas Apple’s common-man approach is ‘you plug it in and it works,” said Wilcox.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Macintosh. It just works. The vast majority of personal computer users would be far better off, happier, and more productive with their personal computing experience if they dumped their Windows PCs today and got themselves Apple Macs instead. As we’ve written before: “Apple teaches computers about people. Microsoft teaches people about computers. Apple’s way is better for people.”
Advertisements:
• Get the new iMac with Intel Core Duo for as low as $31 A MONTH with Free shipping!
• Get the MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo for as low as $47 A MONTH with Free Shipping!
• Apple’s new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• Apple’s brand new iPod Hi-Fi speaker system. Home stereo. Reinvented. Available now for $349 with free shipping.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
MS has the minds, yes. But I doubt they have many hearts.
Oh boy, here we go
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”zipper” style=”border:0;” />
“It Just Works” Oh, were it only so.
If it just works, why do I have to pay so much to ensure somebody at Apple will talk to me about all the times it doesn’t work and why do I keep getting all these notices from Apple about the things I have to do to keep it working.
It does work better than the systems used by 96% of the population who own and/or operate personal computers. But, it does break and it does so with regularity and predictibility – especially Apple’s own software products, like parts of iLife, that Apple refuses to support in spite of thousands of voices asking for help. Don’t believe me, check out the discussions boards on Apple’s own web site. How can they keep ignoring all these people who have paid good money for products that do not perform as promised? Freeking amazing.
“It Just Works” is a lie.
if you want to know how a computer works, buy a PC. If you don’t give a shit, then buy a Mac.
Apple is not only setting the standard for music downloads but also the operating system. M$ waits to see what Apple does and then slaps themselves in the forehead and wishes they thought of it. Then they begin to come up with ways to copy it, but first they have to bugger up the idea in some insane way to make it more of a geeky, non-intuitive, ugly thing. The last step is marketing. How do we make this look like we created the whole concept? In this, the relatively minor market share of Apple and the ignorance of the masses become useful.
The above copying process takes about 6 years.
“Apple’s Mac vs. Microsoft’s Windows”
If you’re going to compare Apples to rotting Onions, then it shoud be OS X Tiger vs. Windows XP.
Johnny,
Nothing is perfect. As you say in your post, Apple’s Mac is as close to “It Just Works” as the world has today – by a long shot, too.
Contrasting my experiences with Windows vs. Macs, I think “It Just Works” for the Mac vs. the nightmare of Windows sums up the whole 10+ years that I’ve been working with both quite nicely.
MDN brilliance:
“Apple teaches computers about people. Microsoft teaches people about computers. Apple’s way is better for people.”
You HAVE to know how a computer works in order to use a pc. With a mac, you don’t have to know how it works, you just get stuff done and take it for granted most of the time.
MS should have used “Geek Ready” instead. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
‘It’s almost like Microsoft is designing for geeks…’
Are you f’ing serious? Come on, I resent that. I’m a geek. Linux is designed for geeks, not Windows. I don’t really know who Windows is designed for, because its design is crap.
I am far less productive using Windows at my current job than I am at home on my Mac or at my previous job where I was a Linux administrator and ran Linux on my desktop.
Johnny–
“If it just works, why do I have to pay so much to ensure somebody at Apple will talk to me about all the times it doesn’t work and why do I keep getting all these notices from Apple about the things I have to do to keep it working.”
Why does mine work unassisted and you have troubles? Some maroons even have a hard time driving.
Johnny,
Wow. I’m amazed at your story. I work at a company where we have used Macs exclusively since 1987. We have been through literally hundreds of machines. Care to guess how many times we’ve had to call Apple for tech support or send a machine back? Zero, zilch, nada, empty set. Not a bad track record. If we’ve been through hundreds of machines over the course of 20 years, and you are having these problems with your Macs, Apple must have it out for you personally.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> BTW, we are still using some beige Macs and they are still going strong.
What am I doing wrong? I’ve been a Mac user since 2001, and I’ve never had a virus, rarely had a system crash, had only two kernel panics on my Intel iMac (both when I left it on sleep overnight), never had to call Apple tech support…why am I such a loser?
I set up my own Airport network in 15 minutes…and it would’ve been 10 if I’d realized I needed to reset my cable modem instead of swearing for 5 minutes.
Yes, Apple does “just work”…
MW=instead; I’d rather get stuff done on my computer instead of worrying about viruses and settings…
If you need help driving, or keeping your Mac running and on the road, then you should never have been given a driving license in the first place…!!!
Apple’s Mac v. Microsoft’s Woindow:
Macintosh refers to hardware and Microsoft does not make comparable hardware, so there is no comaprison.
A better comparison would be:
Apple Macintosh running OS X 10.4.6 v. Alienware running Microsoft XP (SP3)
Not a bad article, but even Wilcox suffers from a perception problem. He writes: “Apple’s common-man approach is ‘you plug it in and it works.”
Why is the “common-man” approach (vs the geeky approach?). Shouldn’t this just be the common-sense approach?
Dear MDN,
Microsoft has always enjoyed a great relationship with Apple, as competitors and allies. We have enjoyed contributing to the development of Mac experience with our suite of Office products for the Mac, MSN Messenger for Mac, and Virtual PC. No doubt, our relationship will continue be beneficial for both companies now and for the future.
That being said, we feel your characterizations of Microsoft have been unfair to say the least, but hey, it’s business. And I don’t think I look anything like Uncle Fester.
Enjoy reading your articles,
Steve Ballmer
John L. “Johnny” Pierson,
If you’re going to make a statement like that, please back it up with “specific” examples of what you’re talking about. As a Mac user of 17+ years, I can say that Macs have been pure joy, especially after OS X was released. Yes, it has its shortcomings, but they are few and far between in comparison to the headaches of Windows PCs.
Windows is not designed for geeks. It’s designed for people who do not value their time and who pride themselves on their ability to suffer. I’m serious — have you ever noticed how PC zealots will brag and brag about their ability to know the arcane depths of Windows and figure out how to make things work that shouldn’t have been broken in the first place? If you add it all up, all that brainpower spent storing this unnecessary information, and all the time spent figuring it out add up to one big productivity decline for a business, and for a nation. While Windows fanboys count their scars and brag about how many DLLs dance on the head of a pin, the rest of the world gets things done.
Why couldn’t this guy write this article for some bigger magazine than “Sci-Tech Today”? More people need to read this article.
POSTER:
You got it 0 correct man. In addition, lots of them actually enjoy tinkering with it. It’ like a sense of purpose thing. Like if all machines ran great, then they could not justify the “geekage”.
Macs are for people that care about getting therir stuff done, not fiddling with hardware and software glitches, Linux is for Geeks, Windows is for idiots that refuse to listen to reason. Windows is for retards (apologies to the retarded public that this does not apply to).
“It just works” for me!
MW = himself
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
as in, “It just works” with FUDsucker Proxy as himself
or is it playing with himself?
My 12 inch PB G4 is still going strong after nearly three years. Dropped it twice too!!!! I post from it now. Muahahahahahaha!!!!!
MDN: “Apple teaches computers about people. Microsoft teaches people about computers. Apple’s way is better for people.”
Those words were stupid the first time and still are.
BTW, Microsoft does not make computers.
Whew – you guys are soooooooo confused.
There are two types of computer geeks.
1. Pre Windows
2. Post Windows
Pre-Windows geeks use Windows + some variant of UNIX (or previous MacOS).
Post-Windows geeks ONLY use Windows.
Post-Windows geeks never had computers before Windows. Therefore anything other than Windows is completely foreign to them.
Pre-Windows geeks used Apple, Atari, Commodore, etc., etc., making them completely comfortable with any OS. Preferring of course the one that makes them more productive. They are not religiously tied to MacOS. They simply no longer have any choice other than Linux.
MS is designing for people who have no choice but Windows. They don’t care.
Generally you will find the Macintosh user more computer literate with computing in general. You will find Windows users only literate with Windows. They are not true computer geeks. They are frat boys with cool games. Late to the party but totally dominating it with mis-information and prejudice.
Computer geeks now use UNIX. Average people use Windows. Professionals use Macs.
http://www.xvsxp.com
it’s all the rage – join the fight!
I am no knuckle head, but it took me over 1/2 hour to instal a Dell printer on a Dell machine yesterday. Would have been 30 seconds on my Mac.
Brendan “I am no knuckle head, but it took me over 1/2 hour to instal a Dell printer on a Dell machine yesterday.”
No, you are an idiot. I just hooked a Dell printer up to a Dell computer – it took about 2 seconds.
Did you ever find where to plug in the power cord?
ron: “Why does mine work unassisted and you have troubles? Some maroons even have a hard time driving.”
ron, I could say that about all the Mac heads here whining about PCs.
Real geeks don’t even tocuh a Windows box…
Johnny always uses a Windows PC to post on this site.
That says to me he is just a troll. Don’t listen to the young lad.
Real geeks use UNIX. Smart people use OSX (they are really using UNIX too). Idiots and slaves Windows.
I think the headline line should have read
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Windows is designed by a geek, Apple was designed by a common man- even if he is slightly eccentric
Most Windows users are people conditioned to accept the flaws and inadequacies of Windows as what defines normal daily computing experience, and the concept of OS X is beyond their comprehension. For most PC users, the limitations or frustration of Windows has to exceed some individualized threshold to cause them to re-consider their accepted vision of reality. The typical PC user is not stupid as much as they are ignorant of alternative choices or stoically resigned to maintain the course.
Brendan, be serious man. Yes, it takes no time to plug in a printer to a mac. However, you do have to configure the print heads and that does take longer than thirty seconds. My point is that macs are way easier to use and are much more stable than windows machines, but for crying out loud if you’re going to make a point then please be accurate.
I can think about numerous windows failings but when we talk about printer manufacturers we have a long way to go before we can believe in the term plug and play. Having made this point with windows it’s more accurate to use the term plug and pray.
Johnny,
How about a modified claim: “It almost always works!”
And, what does MS try to keep newbies from know beforehand?
“It works less than it does. And if it quits be prepared to spend too much time finding out why.”
Read this:
Apple, influnze the rich
Microsoft, inspire by Apple
“Are you f’ing serious? Come on, I resent that. I’m a geek”
Being a “geek” is chic now AND a bunch of BULLSHIT. It’s like a fashion statement, or fad. “Hey look at ME, I’m a GEEK – I’m sooooo cool and tech-savy”. I’m trying to put this in a non-elitist way, but there IS no other way: 26 years ago when I was hacking 8-bit assembly, I was considered a loner or a nerd. Meanwhile, everyone else was worried about how tight their fucking Jordache jeans were or the color of their Izod. Nerds were NOT cool then – we were looked at as persona non grata. Now everybody and their mother is walking around saying they’re a geek. I despise self proclaimed geeks for precisely that reason – again, it’s like some kind of fashion statement. Fuck geeks.
Yes, I am serious and I could care less if you resent it. ANYONE who SELF proclaims that they are a geek is a trendy fuck.
I’m a trendy fucking geek.
A tiny bit of intelligence would enable you to use a PC and Windows properly.
And a bit more intelligence would allow you to steer clear of Windows entirely.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
biekrsrule: “However, you do have to configure the print heads…”
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
Amazing how ignorant you all are of Windows.
>Professionals use Macs
By professionals, do you mean prostitutes?
I like the bit in the article where it mentions the difference in ease required to make your MacBook run reliably, Disassemble the MacBook, replace the heatsink paste, yep. Any grandmother feels happy doing that, much easier than just pulling the computer out of the box and it working…
Using Windows is like going to the bathroom. It is something you do because you HAVE to, not because you want to.
Using a Mac is like having Sex. It is something you do because you want to, not because you have to.
Even though the Mac is like sex, it is not perfect. I have used every version of iMovie and iDVD since version 1.0 (way back on OS9), and every version has major bugs. Most of the crashing and lost data bugs have been fixed, but quite often I still get garbled sound in iDVD and have to start the DVD project over. Never waste your time on an Apple version x.0 release. Wait for the x.0.1 update.
I know some are thinking “iLife is free/cheep. What do you expect?”. I expect better from Apple regardless of the price. If I didn’t have high expectations, I would settle for Windoze crap. Some free software is bug-free, while extremely expensive “professional” software is horrible quality.
Why do I have to use Windows? There are Engineering software packages I have to run to do my job that have nothing remotely close to equivalents on the Mac. One of these packages costs over $10K/seat and it has more bugs than I can count.
Discrepancy
'It's almost like Microsoft is designing for geeks and Apple is designing for real people,' said Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research.So you would expect the user public for MS to be only composed of geeks and for Apple, of only real people.
But almost the converse is true.
Ordinary people stick to MS out of fear for change. And the bulk of Mac users is probably more aware of what happens inside their computer.
Strange.
(It is true that there are still many geeks who enjoy to work around the arcane MS idiosyncrasies such as registry trickery etc. The more capable of them have moved on to open source development, which also benefits the OSX platform).
(Even though Macs are designed to keep simple things simple, this mere fact seems to attract sophisticated users, because time is saved by not having to deal with advanced and interdependent configuration parameters — still, all that is available in MacOSX’s Unix underpinnings when absolutely needed).
>not Johnny
You have a point.
For most people in this forum, using a Mac is like having sex with themselves. Over and Over. Endlessly.
Windows users use Windows because that’s all they know.
Mac users use Macs because they know Windows.
Linux users are so far out in geekdom they don’t even know what day it is, and say dumbass stuff like this:
The Intel chip… For months, it’s been trapped inside a Mac, inside a pretty little box, dutifully performing pretty little tasks when it could have been doing so much more. Starting today, the Intel chip will be set free, and get to live life in a Mac… running Linux. Imagine the possibilities.
Here’s the geek responsible (if you just ate, wait 30 minutes):
http://sekhon.berkeley.edu/