PC users who dislike MAC users

[Juil]

What I hear most from PC users is that Mac's are for people who don't understand how PC's work. Le's get real here. Why do people use computers in the first place? To get things done and for entertainment. And most people just use the essentials, like internet, word processing, chat, movies etc.

Now to give an illustration, let's say i need to get my clothes washed, and there comes along two different vendors.
Vendor A offering a washing machine that requires me to read a 200 page manual to learn how his machine works and different troubleshooting techniques, because the machine has lots of glitches as he claims.
And Vendor B who gives me a machine that will do pretty much the same thing as the vendor A’s machine (very few glitches) with an instruction page that tells me exactly what i need to do. I think any person in the right mind will choose vendor B’s machine. He gets his clothes washed and he goes on with his life. (Maybe not the best illustration, but you get my point)

I would say PC users who think Mac users are dumb are like people from a country who were only introduced to Vendor A's machine. They obviously know everything there is to know to make their glitchy machine to work. And they think their machines are what ‘real’ washing machines should be like. So when one day, they find out about Vendor B’s machine, they think “That’s not a real washing machine. A baby can use it!”
Really? Why make clothes washing complicating when it doesn’t need to be?

One journalist from guardian.co.uk said “Macs are glorified Fisher-Price activity centres for adults”. Give me a break. This statement implies few, if not several things. First it says that “I’m full of myself, because I’m smart enough to use a REAL computer,’ which leads to the second implication that says Mac’s are not what real computers should be like, because it’s too simple. I tend to disagree. Simplicity is the best way. By analogy, in both software and electronics, the implication is that simplicity increases robustness and that the right way to build reliable systems is to put all your eggs in one basket, after making sure that you've built a really *good* basket. As Albert Einstein said “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

Any thoughts?

[Twey]

And generally Macs (I presume you mean ones running Mac OS) are 'simpler'. Excess simplicity leads to both a lack of control over the system and also complacency and thereby insecurity. Homogenuity in hardware, too, is far from desirable, since it means that Apple have an effective monopoly on Mac hardware.

This essay (http://steve-parker.org/articles/others/stephenson/) has some interesting points on 'simplicity' vs. power.

[Snookerman]

I think the problem is mac users thinking all pc users are fat and dorky, mostly because of those mac ads. I've always wanted a mac (only because of the design), but they are just too expensive.

For me, your example would be like this: A offers the same type of machine that does the same job in the same amount of time and is just as easy to use as the one B offers (I've never had to read any 200 page manual). The difference is that B's machine has rounded corners and less controls so therefore it costs twice as much as A's machine.

Now even though I'd love those rounded corners, I don't think they're worth that much money. Does that make me fat and dorky?

Now, all I'm saying is that macs are cool but too expensive compared to the pc equivalents.

[Twey]

Oh yes: the hardware itself, of course, can be had (well, functional equivalents can be had) for much lower prices from other vendors than Apple. The only reason to stick with Apple's absurdly-priced hardware is if you're obsessed with the aesthetics of it, in which case you have a lot more money than I. :) I suspect the people who dislike Mac users are usually complaining about the somewhat fanboyish attitude and the fact that they generally are, or would like to pretend to be, art fags*.

* 'art fag' is a technical term, and has nothing to do with either homosexuality or cigarettes, although I must say that I rather depict a stereotypical female of the species smoking a cigarette with the aid of a long, slender, '60s-style cigarette holder.

[Schmoopy]

This is a great topic, as my brother has recently purchased a Mac for close to £1200, the iMac I think (the one with the computer inside the monitor). I was astounded to find out that although his computer was going to be more than double the price of mine and 1 1/2 years newer, the hardware was close in comparison to mine, with the processor only being slightly faster than mine. When I asked him why he didn't just buy a PC for 1/2 the price he said, "Macs just work, you don't understand". Trying to make out that there is something indescribable about Macs that you have to use them to realise their power or something.

It all seems a bit weird to me, I'm happy that I can stick with the PC that I've got, and then upgrade when I need to as time goes on, whereas Mac users are stuck with the same Mac they bought, they're very hard to upgrade, at least the one my brother has, all he can change as far as I know is the RAM, I really don't get it.

Sure Vista wasn't the greatest OS ever, but it doesn't mean you have to be overcharged for a Mac because they seem to be the only alternative, apart from Linux but I doubt many people will want to go there.

[BLiZZaRD]

Of course Apple did invent the mouse. Leave it to IBM (PC) to invent the right button though. LOL

These topics never go anywhere. There isn't one better, no user hates another user because of his computer. I see your posts, I don't know what you are running. You don't know what I have and its all about personal preference. I happen to run only PCs ( many with Linux installed instead of Windows) because I like to upgrade my hardware. Although, the computer is about running applications, and they all do that the same. I can open a PDF just like you can, I can run a money program just like you can, I can draw a picture, just like you can.

From what I understand, if you want business type applications, wider variety of games, more inexpensive cost and ease of upgrading components, you get a PC, if you want to be artistic, do more than just GIMP/PhotoShop type stuff, then you get a Mac. (not a MAC, as that is something else all together).

And if you want it all... You go Linux. :D (and yes Fedora is still better than Ubuntu! Always will be.)

[allahverdi]

Ha, i'm a Mac and PC user, it means i need to dislike myself?

There is another topic like this one: Mac vs PC (http://www.dynamicdrive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16212)

Mac has it's own advantages and disadvantages and PC has it's own advantages and disadvantages, so we can't say it's better or that's better.

P.S. I don't dislike myself :P

[BLiZZaRD]

P.S. I don't dislike myself :P

You should. Most definitely should. :p

[Juil]

I'd have to agree that Mac's AD's kind of label PC users as fat and dorky. I have mixed feelings about this. Although I wish Apple don't use such a marketing tactics I can understand why they used it.

If you know anything about marketing, one of the best, and probably the best marketing tactics is to appeal to people's emotions. Most of us probably know this. Although logic and sensibility plays a part, most people are emotional buyers to a large extent. Not many consumers will buy into an ad that gives you a logical explanation of why Mac is more stable and simple than PC's. They want people to associate Mac's with being sophisticated, creative, fun, cool. And who doesn't want to feel that way? Most people in general don't care enough about acquiring technical skills. They just want their computer to do what they want.

Might I also add Apple's image has totally appealed to women? More women than men are not as technically inclined. They'd prefer something easier. Most if not all women want to feel chic. Mac's have met these two important factors. On top of these factors add the fact that Mac's do actually work very well.

In the end, it's just marketing. When comes down to real life, Mac's are stable systems that are easy to use. Period.

[songchai]

I loved MAc designed but rther use PC to work more easily:)

[Exp33]

Mac users I know tend to think they are better then PC guys - thing is, Mac is not that compatible as they make out to be!

[JasonDFR]

I saw this a while back and this thread reminded me of it. If you haven't seen it, it is pretty funny.

One thing PC users can do that Mac users can't:

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

As far as using the word simplicity, are you referring to the OS? A box, power supply, motherboard, processer, 2 sticks of ram, and a hard drive go together like legos today.
Could someone even build a "mac" if they wanted to?

[Snookerman]

That page is great!!! So necessary! My favorite part (hard to pick one but yeah) is the guy at the end of the video: "I can't turn things on, I can't find the button" hahah!

[thesource]

No right button.

How can you make a mouse or touchpad with no right button???!!!

[thesource]

And another Mac downfall...

No maximise window button. You've got to mess around dragging and resizing windows. Slow and unproductive.

[Nile]

There is a right button on the newer mouses. If your on an old mouse use Apple + Click ( I think ). And there is a maximize button.
@Blizz, I totally disagree. If you are into designing images get a PC. No need to buy a mac just because of its high-tech video card. Mac OS is extremely hard to control the mouse because it is not shaped for your hand. I don't like designing images on a OSX, it macs it difficult. (in opinion)

[djr33]

Back to this again? It's the user, not the system, software, etc.
Macs are frequently more stable than windows, and I'd say so more than many versions of linux unless you're particularly good at it (or using one that happens to be better, if one exists--I don't really know if it's "better").
Macs are generally used for graphics and such, because they work well for that. I can use a PC too, if I want, but I'd rather use a mac. For using the internet, programming, and gaming? PC. Price? Well, Macs are more and frequently very solid machines-- pay more, get more, but PCs are cheaper, and probably on the whole cheaper, though that is not to say that on the whole they are always reliable, whereas Macs should be. (I've never had problems until my current laptop, and there are big problems, though it's not so much worse than might happen with a windows machine, probably--- but whether Apple is falling is a different discussion anyway).

I really don't know of anyone who regrets getting a Mac, though at the same time I know people who would never buy one-- so to each his own, but either way, looks like we're all getting plenty done and discussing this from various systems on here-- at least one version of linux, some macs and some pcs.

They're all tools, so pick which tool works best and you want to use most, and go be productive.

However, on the subject of PC users who hate macs, that's just dumb-- they don't know what they're talking about, and need to know more before they rant about it. I use both every day, and unless that's the case with those who hate macs, then they're speaking out of ignorance. If someone does use both and both well, then I'll listen to an argument for why they hate the systems-- they should benefit from each other, no?

Like the mice, it's ridiculous that apple did not implement more than one button earlier, then they came out with the idiotic idea of the one button that bends differently. Point PC. But on the other hand, the trackpad input on the macbook series is better than anything I've seen for a PC, with so much control for a single input (in this case, no button is really needed, except for dragging).


Anyway, to see a slightly different example-- look at iPods. Why are they so popular? Well, they must be pretty good... enough people like they to buy them. And there are other cheaper brands, but the iPod is more popular. More expensive, but "better"? There's certainly enough appeal to not write off iPods as worthless, like anyone who ignorantly does so with macs does.

Apples and oranges-- both fruit and both are healthy for you, but it's good to vary them once in a while so you get the benefits of both. But you can't say apples are better than oranges, can you?

And what windows user can claim that they never worry about spyware or viruses? I have never worried about either on this computer and don't expect I will. It pays to be in the minority (with linux, too).

[Nile]

(I've never had problems until my current laptop, and there are big problems, though it's not so much worse than might happen with a windows machine, probably--- but whether Apple is falling is a different discussion anyway).

There are many things that make windows suck. But I still think Macs are worse. Since your brought the subject about fails - I think I'll continue it. I've had a few problems with my PC and I'm not gonna get into it - but one of the problems with my PC is that it never connects to the internet - of course probably b/c I'm in a bad place for the router to pick me up. The only crack I got out of that was to see Microsoft's message like this:

Why can't you connect to the internet?
Blah blah blah blah...

To find more info go to http://micrsoft bla bla.com

Of course - are you sure.. I can't get on the internet with no internet. :p

[Twey]

However, on the subject of PC users who hate macs, that's just dumb-- they don't know what they're talking about, and need to know more before they rant about it. I use both every day, and unless that's the case with those who hate macs, then they're speaking out of ignorance.There's a difference between knowing about a system and using a system. I don't use a Mac, but I do know a lot about them, both from research and from doing tech support for friends who have them.
Anyway, to see a slightly different example-- look at iPods. Why are they so popular? Well, they must be pretty good... enough people like they to buy them. And there are other cheaper brands, but the iPod is more popular. More expensive, but "better"? There's certainly enough appeal to not write off iPods as worthless, like anyone who ignorantly does so with macs does.My sister has an iPod, and I can honestly say that it's not at all worth the 'upgrade' from a simpler device :-\ It does have all sorts of features (more like bloat, IMO — it's a music player: if I want an organiser, a video player, and a handheld games device, I'll get a smartphone), but unfortunately to use most of them requires iTunes, which is unstable and a nightmare to use, likes to take over one's computer, and isn't cross-platform.