“As I look at a newly arrived MacBook Air laptop, it occurs to me there has never been a better time to switch to a Mac,” Dean Takahashi writes for The Mercury News.
“That’s not something I say lightly. With the exception of a couple of years working at a magazine, I have never been a Mac user. After all, I’m a game player and games on the Mac are always light years behind games on Windows. I’ve not been smitten by Steve Jobs’ famous ‘reality distortion field,’ and have decades behind me as a Microsoft user,” Takahashi writes.
MacDailyNews Take: Somehow, often unfortunately, some weird sense of greater authority is sometimes conferred by Windows sufferers upon those who wasted decades by making the wrong choice, stubbornly sticking with it, and then finally waking up. Now, there’s a “reality distortion field.”
Takahashi continues, “Apple’s success with the iPod and the iPhone have turned the world’s attention to the fact that Apple’s products have superior design and more cachet than anything in the PC world.”
MacDailyNews Take: Tens of millions of Mac users knew the facts long before iPod and iPhone were even conceived. Those late to the party like to use halo effects as excuses for their own long-term ignorance and/or stubbornness. Still, welcome, anyway. What took you so long?
Takahashi continues, “If you bought a Mac in the past, you couldn’t run thousands of applications on Windows. If I used a Mac, I would have to wait a long time to play a game after it was out on Windows. But the Parallels desktop software and other ‘virtualization’ technologies now allow you to run both the Mac OS and Windows on the same machine. You can press a button and switch. Parallels slows the machine somewhat, but some games are still playable on a Parallels-equipped machine.”
MacDailyNews Take: We really have to question how much Takahashi knows about the Mac (see: wasted decades with Windows) as anyone trying to play a Windows game (or any Windows software) on a Mac knows that to achieve the best performance, you use Apple’s Boot Camp (built into Leopard) to run Windows natively, not slower virtualization. Apple’s MacBook Pro is the world’s fastest Windows notebook on the planet. Apple even ran national TV ads touting that fact, Dean. Boot Camp for performance, virtualization for convenience.
Takahashi continues, “You won’t find as many problems with spyware or viruses on the Mac OS. Based on Unix, it is more secure from the get go. Microsoft has been fixing its platform, starting with the recently released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista. But there is still no guarantee that if you buy something for the PC, it’s going to work without any hassles.”
“Microsoft took more than five years to get Vista out the door, and now it is working on a project code-named Windows 7. But the rate of innovation at Apple is more impressive,” Takahashi writes.
“Mac sales are growing more than 40 percent a quarter, faster than the PC industry as a whole. Apple reports that 50 percent of the customers buying computers in its stores are new to the Mac platform. And Gartner expects that Apple will grow its share of the computer market from 6 percent in 2007 to 12 percent by 2011. I can remember not long ago that it had fallen to 2 percent. That’s a huge predicted swing in the market. Business users will still tilt the numbers toward Windows. But before you go off and buy that Vista machine, you should really think about moving to the Mac,” Takahashi writes.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: These “it’s time to switch to Mac” articles are always welcome, of course, but the authors certainly shouldn’t be granted any extra authority for switching at this late date. They should get quite a bit less, in fact. And Windows sufferers who are relying on them should be wary of their criticisms, as these Johnny-Come-Lately Switchers often bring quite a bit of baggage and have a lot to learn about Macintosh. Instead of just figuring it out yesterday, those who’ve been telling people to just get a Mac for all these years were right all along.
Related articles:
Chris Pirillo: 50 Reasons to switch from Microsoft Windows to Apple’s Mac OS X
– February 18, 2008
InfoWorld: Time to dump Microsoft’s Windows and ‘Get a Mac?’ – February 18, 2008
PC Mag: Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5.2 Leopard is strongest case yet for Windows PC users to switch to Mac – February 15, 2008
Microsoft’s Windows Vista one year later: ‘the chrome has worn off the turd’ – January 30, 2008
Laptop Magazine offers online Windows to Mac Switcher’s Guide – January 30, 2008
Microsoft’s Windows Vista: Your Frustration. Our Fault. – January 30, 2008
ExtremeTech: Microsoft’s Windows Vista simply can’t compete with Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard – November 12, 2007
Computerworld: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard spanks Microsoft’s Windows Vista – November 07, 2007
Salon: It’s time to buy an Apple Mac; Macs cost less to own than PCs – November 06, 2007
Chicago Tribune reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: Further proof that computing needn’t be stressful – November 03, 2007
Fast Company: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard handily outshines all other computing interfaces – November 02, 2007
Houston Chronicle reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: A winner for Mac users and Windows switchers – November 01, 2007
MSNBC reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘An even better experience with an already excellent OS’ – November 01, 2007
PC Magazine reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘By far the best operating system ever written…’ – October 30, 2007
Apple sells two million copies of Mac OS X Leopard in first weekend – October 30, 2007
CNET’s Reisinger: Apple’s Leopard will open the Mac OS X floodgates and embarrass Microsoft – October 29, 2007
ZDNet’s Kingsley-Hughes: Mac OS X Leopard’s Time Machine ‘brilliant, fantastic, an absolute winner’ – October 29, 2007
Ars Technica reviews Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: ‘Absolutely packed with improvements’ – October 29, 2007
BBC: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard’s Time Machine and Quick Look alone worth upgrading – October 29, 2007
CNET’s Reisinger: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard’s Time Machine interface is perfect – October 27, 2007
IT Business: US$129 for Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is money well spent – October 27, 2007
Guardian Unlimited reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘a very solid platform for the future’ – October 26, 2007
CNET reviews Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: ‘Excellent’ – October 26, 2007
Dallas Morning News: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is a leap forward – October 26, 2007
Apple pulls wireless backup from initial Mac OS X Leopard release – October 26, 2007
Wired: Mac OS X Leopard may be Apple’s most revolutionary product release of 2007 – October 25, 2007
Technology Review: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is ‘visually stunning, fast and stable’ – October 25, 2007
USA Today: With Leopard, Apple’s already superior Mac OS X widens lead over Microsoft’s Windows – October 25, 2007
New York Times’ Pogue reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘Powerful and polished’ – October 25, 2007
Mossberg reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘better and faster than Windows Vista’ – October 25, 2007
Mac OS X Leopard’s new Time Machine – October 12, 2007
Microsoft must abandon the Windows Vista albatross – September 26, 2007
Forbes: Microsoft’s Windows Vista and Office ‘Blunder 2007’ will drive a lot of users to Apple – September 17, 2007
NPD: Windows Vista retail sales down down 60-percent vs. XP – September 11, 2007
Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard shames Microsoft’s Windows Vista – August 31, 2007
Pioneer Press reviews Apple iMac: ‘An ideal family computer; Mac OS X puts Vista to shame’ – August 17, 2007
2008 Olympic Games dump unstable, unreliable Windows Vista – August 16, 2007
Vista Nightmare: The ‘Oww!’ Starts Now – July 28, 2007
Ballmer: ‘Vista doesn’t get done by three people in a garage in three days’ – July 27, 2007
Acer chief slams Microsoft: ‘The entire industry is disappointed by Windows Vista’ – July 23, 2007
Mercury News: Mac OS X already beats Windows Vista, Leopard will widen the gap – June 12, 2007
Apple ought to send Microsoft flowers and nice ‘Thank You’ note for Windows Vista – May 21, 2007
U.S. News & World Report: Apple Macs are attractive, stable, secure, and more fun than Windows – May 16, 2007
The full horror of Windows Vista – May 14, 2007
Apple need not rush Mac OS X Leopard to market; Tiger already superior to Windows Vista – May 03, 2007
IDC: Apple Mac shows market share gains despite launch of Windows Vista – April 30, 2007
Windows Vista: Emperor Microsoft’s new clothes – April 29, 2007
Forget VIsta: Beleaguered Dell brings back Windows XP, people also asking for Mac OS X – April 19, 2007
Windows user spends 30 Days with Windows Vista: ‘It’s a lemon, an unstable operating system’ – April 04, 2007
Network World: Need a new PC for Vista? Switching to Mac may cost less and give you more – March 16, 2007
Analyst: Microsoft’s Windows Vista is very good for Apple Mac – March 13, 2007
The Register reviews Microsoft’s Windows Vista: ‘Don’t buy it’ – February 20, 2007
Forbes: ‘Windows Vista utterly unimaginative, internally discordant and woefully out of tune’ – February 09, 2007
Windows sufferer spends six hours trying to ‘upgrade’ to Vista, says: ‘I should’ve bought a Mac’ – February 07, 2007
Windows Vista woes push BBC News editor to regret never having ‘defected’ to Apple Mac – February 06, 2007
Microsoft’s Windows Vista: Five years for a chrome-plated turd – January 30, 2007
Digit: ‘Microsoft’s Windows Vista may be the best reason yet to buy an Apple Mac’ – January 29, 2007
Pioneer Press: Windows Vista shows ‘Apple is an innovation engine; Microsoft, not so much’ – January 29, 2007
Windows Vista disappoints, so get a Mac – January 29, 2007
Analyst: Microsoft’s Windows Vista could be an opportunity for Apple – January 26, 2007
CNET Reviews Windows Vista: Is that all? Clunky and not very intuitive vs. Mac OS X; warmed-over XP – January 24, 2007
InformationWeek Review: Apple’s Mac OS X shines in comparison with Microsoft’s Windows Vista – January 06, 2007
Computerworld: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Time Machine’ is truly remarkable – October 05, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista: If you can’t innovate… try to impersonate Apple’s Mac OS X – August 10, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
eWeek: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard with 3-D Time Machine is amazing – August 08, 2006
Computerworld: Microsoft Windows Vista a distant second-best to Apple Mac OS X – June 02, 2006
Moving train wreck that is Windows Vista to leave the station in late 2006/early 2007 – June 01, 2006
How to delete a shortcut in Windows Vista in just 7 steps – June 01, 2006
Pirillo critiques Windows Vista with long lists of mistakes – May 30, 2006
Video of Microsoft’s Windows Vista beta 2 release in action – May 23, 2006
Report: Microsoft Windows Vista could drive users even more nuts than usual – May 16, 2006
Yankee Group: Windows Vista to alienate business with disruptive security features – May 09, 2006
Windows Vista to be Microsoft’s last operating system? – April 21, 2006
Thurrott: Microsoft collapsing under its own weight, Gates has driven Windows Vista into the ground – April 20, 2006
Microsoft employees call for heads to roll over continual Vista slips – March 27, 2006
Microsoft’s Windows Albatross, er Vista could slip even more – March 27, 2006
Microsoft Vista fumble could lead to score for Apple Mac; Mac OS X Leopard may beat Vista to market – March 23, 2006
What’s the difference between Mac OS X and Vista? Microsoft employees are excited about Mac OS X – March 22, 2006
Microsoft delays Windows Vista again – this time until January 2007 – March 21, 2006
Thurrott: Microsoft going to get eaten alive over Windows Vista’s resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – March 09, 2006
Episode 2 of Microsoft Windows Vista, Bill Gates CES keynote video spoof now online – January 07, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista, Bill Gates keynote video spoof debuts online – January 06, 2006
NY Times’ Pogue on Gates’ CES demo: Most of Vista features unadulterated ripoffs from Apple Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Analyst: Windows Vista may still impress many consumers because they have not seen Apple’s Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista compared to Apple Mac OS X – December 05, 2005
Gartner: Ignore Microsoft Windows Vista until 2008 (why not just get Apple Mac OS X Tiger today?) – November 12, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Vista strives to deliver what Apple’s Mac OS X already offers – October 10, 2005
Thurrott: Microsoft’s Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger – August 29, 2005
Apple to unleash Leopard on Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn; Mac OS X 10.5 due late 2006 – early 2007 – June 07, 2005
Thurrott: many of Windows Vista’s upcoming features appeared first in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 26, 2005
Microsoft’s Ballmer: It’s true, some of Windows Vista’s features are ‘kissing cousins’ to Mac OS X – September 19, 2005
Microsoft suffers from malaise, key defections, Windows Vista struggles, lack of towels – September 16, 2005
PC World: Microsoft innovation – an oxymoron – September 15, 2005
Microsoft debuts Dashboard Widgets, er, ‘Microsoft Gadgets’ – September 13, 2005
Apple to unleash Leopard on Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn; Mac OS X 10.5 due late 2006 – early 2007 – June 07, 2005
Windows tech writer Thurrott: ‘In many ways, Mac OS X Tiger is simply better than Windows’ – May 07, 2005
Thurrott: ‘Longhorn is in complete disarray and in danger of collapsing under its own weight’ – April 27, 2005
Thurrott: Longhorn ‘has the makings of a train wreck’ – April 26, 2005
Thurrott: Longhorn demos ‘unimpressive, fall short of graphical excellence found today in Mac OS X’ – April 26, 2005
Microsoft employees leaving due to (and blogging about) malaise smothering company – April 25, 2005
eWEEK Editor Coursey: Longhorn so far ‘looks shockingly like a Macintosh’ – April 25, 2005
Due in late 2006, many of Windows Longhorn’s features have been in Mac OS X since 2001 – April 25, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn will bear more than just a passing resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – April 15, 2005
The Age: ‘Apple’s Mac OS X at least a generation ahead of Windows XP, iMac G5 clearly the best’ – December 15, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Mac OS X Tiger ‘is going to drive the copycats crazy – June 28, 2004
Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs previews Mac OS X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ to ship in the first half of 2005 – June 28, 2004
Apple takes dead aim at Microsoft, ‘Longhorn’ with WWDC Mac OS X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ ads – June 28, 2004
PC Magazine: Microsoft ‘Longhorn’ preview shows ‘an Apple look’ – May 06, 2004
Windows ‘Longhorn’ to add translucent windows that ripple and shrink by 2005 – May 19, 2003
Apple leads; Wintel follows as usual – November 11, 2002
I made the switch! I am now the proud owner of a MacBook Air.
**First
Duh….I use a PC cause I play games. Now is a ggod time to switch????? Get the impression he didn’t PAY for this laptop out of his own pocket???
Why did you not have a take on “You won’t find as many problems with spyware or viruses on the Mac OS.”???
As many is the same as saying = NONE vs thousands?!
Seems like the doomsdays articles intended to tank the AAPL stock are over
I’ve never switched. Always had a Mac since IIci.
what? the first poster owns an Air? but all the regulars have said nobody will buy that!
…..they can never be wrong.
man, i hope my wife gets me one for my birthday….
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Another poor soul falls for the mac propaganda. Macs are just overpriced pretty toys that aren’t even good toys because there are hardly any games for it. Good thing Blizzard takes pity on you delusional fools, or you wouldn’t have any games at all. What a joke.
The sign shop I work at is all Windows, even the graphics department. Why? Because that’s what people use to get REAL work done. There’s one guy here that has a mac at home and complains about Windows every friggin’ day. I wish he’d quit, even though he’s one of our best employees. Why doesn’t he understand that he does great work because he’s using Windows?
haven’t switched either. Been using Apples since the Apple II days.
Sounds like great work in spite of using ‘doze
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I am Master Takahashi. Does this look like the face of an ‘Arnold’?
😀
<sarcastic rhetorical question>How can Apple keep it up against Microsoft’s technological triumphs? </sarcastic rhetorical question>
First, there was the Windows Home Server that destroyed files.
Second, those marvelous game machines that cost them a billion dollars to fix.
Third, the activation server failure that effectively accused thousands of customers of theft and held their data and software hostage for two or three days.
Fourth, their inspired backing of a winning technology: HD-DVD.
Fifth, Vista SP1 which has 550 bug fixes to Leopard’s 130. Clearly that puts Vista ahead by 420 bugs!
And now a pre-SP1 update to Vista that sends computers into an endless series of reboots.
I keep wondering, Is Microsoft a software company or a comedy routine?
I have a Dell, but I’m terrified to turn it on. Microsoft doesn’t need any competition, they are quite capable of defeating themselves.
MDN, the thing about how people who have been windows users for ages feeling somehow superior, I don’t think it’s that, I think it’s more about to show how as a long time windows user, the fact that they now like Macs demonstrates how good Macs are to change their view.
“Takahashi continues, “You won’t find as many problems with spyware or viruses on the Mac OS. “
I guess since he’s been a Windows Diehard, and writes for a Mercury news outlet, he hasn’t had the ability to surf Earth’s internet for one minute to find that instead of fewer problems with viruses than Windows, the Mac has NO viruses.
I found the whole article lacking.
I don’t care if he writes on Mercury, Venus, or Jupiter, he should do a little bit of research.
Oh, I forgot the Zune. How could I forget a technological triumph like that? After all, I’ve seen two of them. (Both sported by dowdy middle-aged men)
How condescending! I too am a recent mac convert, however the macdailynews response to another user seeing the light is rather arrogant. I like macs, but they are not that much better than a Windows PC running XP. If you want to see the
mac’s marketshare increase, I suggest you rejoice and forget about your grudges that they didn’t switch sooner.
Above video says it all.
“Microsoft has been fixing its platform, starting with the recently released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista.”
Mafia$oft released Fista SP 1 to the general public already?!?!?
@ Windows Lover
OMG ROTFL
There IS life on Pluto!
Oh wait, it’s not a planet any more.
Using Windows in the graphic/print world SUCKS.
I know because i work in both worlds… fortunately most industry people are smart and use Mac. 90% of the frustrating problems
i get to fix (as a consultant) are with windows world interface. Shouldn’t complain though– good money!
A switcher is the best seller of the Macintosh platform. Diehards like us sometimes annoy PC users who aren’t even hardcore Windoze users with our zealotry. I know I do.
@Hummer
You make up 0.1% of computer owners who “swap out” video cards and hard drives. The iMac is for the other 99.9% of consumers.
I’m kinda geeky; I’ve owned about 10 computers and I’ve only done ONE hard drive swap, b/c the other one went kaput.
@PorradaVFR,
The only publications I have seen that correctly state zero viruses for OS X (and, remember, trojans aren’t viruses) are the Mac sites.
Everyone should try this logic with your Winblows using friends:
1.) Ask if they have ever found spyware on their PC.
2.) Then, ask them why they installed it on their computer.
3.) When they ultimately tell you that it somehow downloaded and installed itself without their consent or knowledge, I say, “Doesn’t that piss you off? You paid HOW much for this computer and a website can install software on it without your consent or knowledge?!?!?”
Then, look for the lightbulb to turn on.
He said ‘starting with the recently released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista’
It hasn’t been released has it?
@nekogami13,
That video is HILARIOUS! A must watch for everyone here. Trust me.
@ Hummer
Ah, yes, the glorious windows user Who Doesn’t Get It™. Nobody is pretending that Macs are all things to all people. Nobody is making the claim that if you want to swap out parts and build your very own FrankinBox that an iMac is for you.
But don’t dis mah Mini! I put a cap in yo azz if you do dat.
Seriously, though. Go on and pass up the Mac. We don’t need you and, frankly, we don’t want you either. I think you’ll be really, really pleased with your $399 Acer.
(and your k-mart clothes)
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Research has shown that there is a satisfaction rating of over 90% of people who switch from a PC to a MAC. I switched 6 years ago after my Gateway top of the line crashed when I installed a Windows update. While one has to acknowledge it is hard to develop an OS that encompasses so many different programs and hardware one also has to wonder how MS could spend $5 billion and come up with an OS as lame as Vista ? My neighbor works at the local Apple store and they have never been busier with Windows people switching to Mac’s.
Oh by the way it seems that sales of the MBA are dissappointing and Apple is now discounting the MBA with a rebate (Amazon.com $100 rebate). I asked my neigbor about this and he confirmed that they sold a “couple” but they expected to sell a lot more.