“When you compare Macs with comparably equipped Windows PCs, sometimes Macs beat Windows PCs in the price/performance comparison. Sometimes Windows PCs beat Macs. Overall, there’s relative parity,” Scot Finnie writes for Computerworld.
“If you’re not that familiar with Macs, you have to open your mind, take a look at the different Mac models and closely compare the specs,” Finnie writes.
“It’s not [as] easy to draw reasonable comparisons about software on a level-playing field. I believe each person has to make his own assessment on the software front,” Finnie writes.
Here’s are some software aspects I think you should consider when analyzing Mac vs. PC costs:
1. There is plenty of software available for the Mac: Surprisingly, there are more products in some product categories than there are for Windows… I don’t think Windows users realize just how many Windows software product categories Microsoft has come to own, eliminating all or most of the viable competition. Though it’s true that in some categories there are only two or three Mac offerings, all in all there is a very solid, rich spread of software makers creating Mac applications.
2. The $80 Parallels Desktop for Mac virtualization application: Lets you run Windows and Linux seamlessly on your Intel Mac… This extremely powerful tool literally gives you access to all your Windows applications on your Mac. It adds a huge chunk of software value to any Mac purchase.
3. You don’t need security software: Mac users don’t need any of the security products that Windows users absolutely require — antivirus, anti-malware/spyware, identity-theft protection, antibot and so on… There’s definitely a cost savings because of this [but] to me, the far more important cost is the system overhead, user distraction, system instability and the need for user troubleshooting that Windows security software entails.
4. Software is cheap: Just two hours of my time spent working on a Windows PC problem is worth far more than the average cost of most software programs… OK, so you may have to back your Mac purchase with an investment in software [or just use Parallels or VMWare to run your Windows stuff, but] you can amortize the cost of the software against the time you’ll save not wrestling with stupid PC problems.
Finnie writes, “Mac users who have Windows in their past tend to agree on a simple point: The Macintosh operating system and its custom-tailored hardware make for a far more reliable, less trouble-prone environment than Windows… There’s a hidden value to having far fewer problems than average. And a big segment of the computer-using marketplace doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge that.”
“That’s why the single most frustrating thing about being a Mac user is the disdain with which some Windows users view Macs. Apparently, you’re not a real man unless you’re suffering with everyone else,” Finnie writes. (Bold emphasis added by MacDailyNews)
MacDailyNews Take: The vast majority of Mac users have Windows experience (via school, work, friends, and family). The vast majority of Windows users have no Mac experience. Think about it. Informed users overwhelmingly choose Macintosh over Windows PCs. Uninformed Windows PC users just keep obtusely buying Windows PCs while spouting myths and out-dated ignorance about Macs. It seems to be some sort of nasty defense mechanism against facing up to the fact that they made the wrong money- and time-wasting “choice.” Most IT guys have severe cases of it. We guarantee you’ll see it on full display in response to Finnie’s article, if not here, then over at Computerwolrd. Mac users usually just laugh when some Windows-only users spouts the typical nonsense because we know they’re touting and defending Ripple while we sip champagne. Sometimes we don’t just laugh, though, because the continuous (but lately-subsiding) absurdity grows tiresome, which tends to shorten our tempers.
Finnie continues, “The unexpected advantage I gained [with my switch from Windows to Mac] is that using my computer is more enjoyable. My concentration isn’t broken periodically by problems, updates, security pop-ups and the like. I’m not thinking that I’m using a Mac. I’m thinking about what I’m using the computer to do — what I’m reading, writing, figuring, buying, watching and so on… You’re not conscious of your TV while you’re watching it. That’s the way it is with a Mac. I found that much harder to achieve on Windows PCs, which are constantly drawing attention to themselves.”
Finnie concludes, “You’re not going to believe it until you try it yourself. I didn’t.”
We have brutally condensed this lengthy article and highly recommend reading the full article which contains much more here.
Right, but it looks like the only thing being ‘dumped’ today is Apple stock.
I’ve never used a fag MAC, but I know what I know and 99% of the people can’t be wrong.
Windows is a real PC and MAC is a toy that can’t even play games!
All the software in Best Buy is for Windows and none for MAC – see?
MAC is incompatible with WIndows PCs – weird files come in emails from the one fool I know who uses a MAC (he’s a tech illerite).
In short, go fuck yourselves MAC fags. This site sucks major ass.
Marcos on stock price: Yeah, another retreat, but it is summer and for whatever cosmic reason AAPL seems to tank when it is hot. I know that isn’t very “technical” but it is true. AAPL will still be >$160 at the end of the year.
Joe the rude WIndows guy: Sad. Just sad.
I am about to take a dump on, er, dump my Windows machine for a new Mac.
Usually MDN attracts a higher-class sort of troll. More people than ever Googling for “Mac” is leading them here, I guess.
(MW – growing)
@Joe
Windows is a real PC and MAC is a toy that can’t even play games!
Nuff said Joe. You wanna play games all day… You are correct, the Mac is not for you.
Issues, Joe?
(MW=language. Go figure.)
Oh, pfft!
I’ll switch to Apple when Mr Jobs buys me all-new software.
Until then, I will use Windows Vista – and happily, to. Vista runs rings around Apple’s non-standard Mac OS.
Apple’s don’t even have IE!
The only thing Winblows is good for is…gaming. For everything else…Darwin kicks the living daylights of NT’s ass. OS X is so much superior.
Troll Alert (Joe):
Don’t feed the Troll.
I’ve never used a fag MAC, but I know what I know and 99% of the people can’t be wrong.
Wow, I didn’t know inanimate objects could be homosexual. What 99% of the people are you talking about, because Apple has AT LEAST a 6% share of the market (including PCs purchased in volume for business). Some have estimated that number to be much higher among individuals who actually have a choice. Just because something is the best-selling doesn’t make it the best.
Windows is a real PC and MAC is a toy that can’t even play games!
Okay, so the Mac is a toy, but Windows machines can play games… Right…
All the software in Best Buy is for Windows and none for MAC – see?
So if the all-powerful, all-knowing Best Buy doesn’t carry something, it just isn’t important. Where does Best Buy keep their milk and eggs, by the way?
MAC is incompatible with WIndows PCs – weird files come in emails from the one fool I know who uses a MAC (he’s a tech illerite).
Would you elaborate? What “weird files” are you talking about? Macs have been able to read and save Windows files for years.
In short, go fuck yourselves MAC fags. This site sucks major ass.
Well, I’m just not that flexible.
This post could only come from a Windows fan; full of misplaced anger, misspelled words, and poor grammar.
Apple’s don’t even have IE!
Thank God!
By the way, it should be “Apples” not “Apple’s.
that “Joe” guy reminds me of that kid goes ’round the playground lookin’ for a fight… no one knows why and neither does he (usually it’s some misguided cry for attention) but he keeps it up until someone gives him what he wants then he goes home bruised, dirty and crying only to do it again tomorrow.
pathetic, really.
Joe is absolutely correct.
…
…
In his own special little world, that is.
MDN MW: “Why, as in why must we put up with such obvious trolls?”
Quote Wendel
“Vista – and happily, to. Vista runs rings around Apple’s non-standard Mac OS.”
Yeah, the same reason why Vista sells Macs. Fool.
“Apple’s don’t even have IE!”
Why the hell would Apple use a volatile subpar shitty arse browser that doesn’t even pass the Acid 2 test? The best browsers (Camino/Firefox/Safari) are avaliable for the Mac..nuff said.
Great article, that old user base is starting to shift. It’s absolutely great to see. The sheer maintenance – and as he mentioned – the user-intervention required to keep up and maintain a Windows PC is staggering. It’s like plugging one hole in a boat full of holes. It never ends…..
And Joe, Mr. “I know what I know”, obviously doesn’t know blow……
So the answer to the question “Hey Joe what do you know?, if he had to answer it, would be freaking nothing.
Joe, please, please, please continue to suffer in your Windows universe. It really suits you. Really. And so does Best Buy, (who see the writing on the wall btw – they know where the market is headed and it isn’t towards Windows – more and more people are running from Vista screaming.)
And as for your friend who has the Mac – he’s a pretty smart guy… And I bet he can spell illiterate, unlike your bad self.
And I know I’m feeding the trolls but I’m not in the mood for this today…..
Have a good one!
Oooh. Way to go Joe. You got all of us. You’re probably a Mac user trying to ruffle some feathers. On second thought, a Mac user would not all-caps “MAC.”
Also, it’s quite funny that you completely misspelled “illiterate.” I hope that you were doing it for some sort of comic irony.
Way to keep it intelligent witty by telling us all to go f#*k ourselves.
Hope that gives you a surge of confidence and justification about sticking with your PC.
Go back to playing Warcraft like that idiot who faced off with the kids from South Park.
@PM
You warn people not to feed the troll and then… feed a troll?
*sigh*
Joe,
It’s past your bedtime and you forgot your Ritalin again.
And yes we ALL know that the only real PC are PCs that can play games. Now pick up your toys or you are grounded!
> …but I know what I know and 99% of the people can’t be wrong…. [Joe]
Ah, that explains it. You got it bass-ackward. All you have to do is to think about a few people: Galileo, Darwin, Einstein, Hawkins…etc. They are part of the 1%. The majority, in fact, are more often than not wrong.
MW: right? [I shit you not!]
The trolls are getting more desparate, and by extension, more entertaining. Seriously, how can anyone defend Windows with a straight face?
I think Joe must be Popeye.
“I know what I know….” -Joe
I am what I am…” …-Popeye
Coincidence?
Hey! You refer to Ripple as if it’s a bad wine.
Ripple?!?!?!? I prefer MD 20-20 myself.
marcos: Take a look at the DJIA. The entire market is tanking today. More credit worries.
@Stephen
“Seriously, how can anyone defend Windows with a straight face?”
ZuneTang holds that distinction , at least he is sometimes funny, and not verbally abusive.
o great article!