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Wall Street Journal: Mac vs. PC
cpk0 writes "Walt Mossberg is taking a few days to discuss the differences between Mac and PCs, and which is suitable for whom. He begins by saying the tides have definitely turned in regards to Apple's state as a computer which he will recommend. This is the first in a miniature series of articles by Mossberg touching base on the Apple vs. PC situation (but don't worry, it's not at all about bashing one side)."
From Mr. Mossberg's WSJ article:
:)
It's easier today than ever to use a Mac in a Windows world and to share information. This is true partly because the Internet and e-mail don't distinguish between computing platforms.
Oh boy, does Microsoft hate statements like this
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
As a member of the entertainment industry, I have to throw my weight into the Mac camp. Music apps like Cubase that just aren't available for Intel PCs are essential to the cutting-edge musician.
The new Macintosh Operating System, affectionately referred to as "X," also does a superior job of coupling media programs with the OS itself. I believe this is an effect of the Open Source nature of the OS, as software developers appear to be crafting their wares with greater insight into what happens "beneath the hood."
Sadly, Windows' paltry competition in this area has encouraged stagnation in the Macintosh audio market. Hopefully, Linux will cause things to pick up a bit, or music fans may be forced to listen to the same crap that has been flooding the airwaves for the last decade or so.
Cheers.
"I'm a rocket man / Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone." - Sir Elton John
Yep!
I have serveral clients with too much money on their hands that have wanted a fileserver for home - Usually I take an older ATX box of theirs, put it in a decent case with a good and quite powersupply (Antec/PC Power And Cooling) and replace the processor fan. Plop in FreeBSD, Samba and hide it in the closet.
Last week, we used an IMac for filserving and as a novelty - the machine sits in the den, where the kids can play DVDs and listen to MP3, and the Samba filserver keeps on ticking. It's the first time that I've felt confortable having little kids play games with on a computer that, at the same time, is serving files. So far, there have been no lockups or crashes.
There are several benefits that I like with this situation - the customer gets a fun toy to play with, the "fileserver" is quiet and can nativly RSync it's precious files back to my servers for an offsite backup, and best of all - I get a reliable computer thats good for my reputation.
Really, the fullfilment of dream for an easy to use Unix has snuck up on us in the form of a Luxo Jr. lamp.
Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.
I am not trying to flame you, but did you bother to read the article before you posted? All of those points are covered by the author in more or less detail and it really doesn't seem like you've bothered to read the article before you posted. I am truly sorry if I am wrong in that judgment. I use and support both macs and PC's everyday at work and I found the article to be spot on. Of your objections, the only one that is really valid is the one about gaming. Many of the best selling games *do* come out for PC's first. Some are released for both platforms at the same time but the balance are indeed released for PC's first. Cost is on par, except in the low-low end. Office for OS X is on par with Office XP an as for development environments go, what are you asking for? Windows APIs? Other than that you've got just as powerful tools for software development on the Mac as you do on a PC.
In this case, I firmly believe that the scales are pretty evenly balanced overall and each platform has its pluses and minuses. Now, that is exactly what the author of the article expressed in his piece. If you disagree, you should be pointing out what, in his article, is factually wrong rather than making a blanket statement about "the only rational choice..." That's more rhetoric and rather trollish of you (something you claimed to be avoiding at the outset of your post.)
just my thoughts, -inco
I'm not sure if this is an appropriate forum for this, but I figure the Slashdot Apple community might be able to help me alleviate one concern that is stopping me from buying an iBook:
How easy is it to remap keys in Mac OS X? I know OpenStep 4.2 had a simple keyboard configurator app that allowed me to switch between various keymaps, but in my quick in-store demo of an iBook, it didn't seem that the keyboard control panel had the same functionality. I'm not looking for any huge modifications, but I will not buy a laptop if I cannot have the caps lock button act as control...
The other issues I have I'll have to take up with Apple personally (I don't want to buy an iBook if a new OS is going to come out in a couple months unless I'll get a free upgrade, and I don't want to pay $249 simply for a 3 year hardware warranty).
I had a friend recently who switched from Apple to PC. This guy was always a gung-ho apple user. Always telling me how much better his G4 was than my PC. I was quite surprised to see him make the switch. I suppose if a true believer like him can be converted Apple is really screwing up.
The Generation
I'd say something witty here, but I'm not that bright.
It should alo be pointed out that with Mac OS X you get the development tools for free, which is a terrific thing for the younger, more cash-strapped generation of developers just coming into the market.
I could very easily have been the LAN admin in Apple's brilliant marketing campaign. I'm still considering writing in, if nothing else to thank them.
:G:
I just love plugging in a piece of hardware and having it work the first time. Bring home some new hardware, connect it all up, pop in software, and everything works the first time. I have equal horror stories from the PC support that I did for many years of having to wrestle with hardware and drivers that just didn't work or weren't compatible with other pieces of hardware. Oh, The Pain, The Pain!!
Apple has embraced unix which, last time I checked, leaves M$ Windows as the only non-unix home computer OS. To me, that makes me even more skittish of learning anything Windows related. I can't help but think that it would be a skill that won't transfer nicely to other computer platforms. In fact, I'm even starting for forget some PC-specific skills.
The old M$/Mac war has never been an issue for me. I won't argue with people for more than 5 minutes. I just grin and say "I'm an IT person. I have several computers at home and at work. I prefer Mac over Windows." They're usual the ones who press the issue. At which point I just smile and ask them why they're being so defensive?
Why do I never get a fortune in my fortune cookies?
As I mentioned on MacSlash.
While the WSJ author made a point of criticizing Mac interaction with corporate VPNs, he failed to mention that Macs are quite often easier to integrate into Windows networks than PCs running Windows are.
If for network interface card configuration issues alone, the Mac shines in this area, and it deserves praise for this.
I need something that will let me run a quality office suite, a standard development environment and all the latest games but not cost me an arm and a leg. The only rational choice for any of those things is a PC running Windows XP.
Don't you mean something providing an office suite with arguably good quality and a proprietary development environment but does cost you an arm and a leg?
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
I've always liked Mossberg's even keel when it came
to Mac/'doze comparisons. If it works, he'll say so,
if it doesn't he's not gonna sugarcoat it. Back before
the return of Jobs, he faily accurately sized up the
trouble with Apple and called them on it. He's shown
the same attitude toward Microsoft.
No ass kissing, just what he thinks works. A refreshing
change from yesterday's Dvorak drivel.
Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine...
Not this old hokum again. Computers are a tool, people. They exist to solve problems and help us with our jobs. Comparing Macs to PCs is pointless and trollish. What you need to do is ask what task you need solved.
For "old hokum" it seems that the article is making EXACTLY the same point as you are.
For instance, my mom needed a computer that she could use to check her email and maybe do a little web browsing. The iMac is perfect for her.
Sounds just like one of the conclusions of the author.
I need something that will let me run a quality office suite, a standard development environment and all the latest games but not cost me an arm and a leg. The only rational choice for any of those things is a PC running Windows XP.
Hmm, The ONLY rational choice for ANY of these things? Microsoft Office isn't the quality office suite you are looking for? ProjectBuilder & Interface Builder that come with the package aren't exactly standard I guess, you could always get CodeWarrior. And the BSD environment, GCC 3, Java 2 etc. etc. etc. seem pretty standard.
As for "an arm and a leg" I'll grant that Macs tend to sell at a premium but when you are considering the actual specs in detail they are not that much higher, and in some cases are actually lower than comperable PeeCee's.
There are many games available but for the hardcore gamer a PeeCee is still the way to go.
A computer is a tool and this particular tool may not meet your particular needs but of the four needs you mentioned you seem to be mistaken about the Macs ability to meet three of them. It is common misconceptions like yours which prompted the author to write this "old hokum".
It doesn't make sense for businesses to "switch to Mac" as long as there is a hardware monopoly....
The same thing could be said of any non-PC computer vendor. And yet, lots and lots of businesses use Suns and IBMs, to name two. Who makes an AS/400 besides IBM? As far as I know, no one. Does this stop businesses from buying and using them? Of course not.
Businesses have no problem whatsoever signing up for proprietary systems or solutions, as long as those solutions make good financial sense. If it's cheaper to run Macs on the desktop, they'll run Macs. Hardware "monopoly" be damned.
As an aside, I'm getting pretty tired of the widespread misuse of the word "monopoly" by the Slashdot community. It's not really a monopoly, in the strictest sense of the word, when only Apple can make Apple computers. Only Volkswagen can make the Beetle; that's not really a monopoly. You guys may wish that every product or service could be decentralized, but that's just now how the world works.
My point? An Apple user buying a PC is not necesarily an abrogation of the Mac. It just means that today he needed something that only PCs provide.
Dozens of hardware platforms? Oh, you mean Pentium, Pentium MMX, Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium III Coppermine, Pentium III Xeon, Pentium IV, etc.
Office XP is extremely proprietary; name one component of it that isn't developed and controlled by Microsoft. Conversely, OpenOffice.org is not proprietary; it is released under the GPL and isn't even controlled by Sun.
In the PC world, if it is good, it ends up on the machines, if it is bad, it leaves.
Correction: In the PC world, if Microsoft deems it good, Microsoft buys it, if Microsoft deems it bad, Microsoft crushes it. At best, Microsoft will opt not to buy something but will lead it on until it is good enough to buy and/or then crush.
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
Besides, email attachments are not a practical way to share any but the most trivial documents. Not to mention the virus risks!
Why on earth does Slashdot keep trumpeting Mossberg's pronouncements as if they meant jack? His sole qualification to have any sort of technical opinion is (according to him) technical illiteracy!
Macs come with USB. What's not standard about that?
Mac towers come with Gigabit ethernet standard. I don't see any PCs coming with that standard.
Just about all Macs come with CD-RWs standard. Don't need floppies, usually, if you have one of those. Half the PCs I've seen don't come with CD-RWs standard -- just CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs.
Macs come with Firewire standard. That's a pretty standard port as nearly every digital camcorder uses them.
PCs have more "legacy" hardware, that's true, but the Macs have at least as many of the newer standard ports as stadard equipment than most PCs.
Macs ditched all need for floppies with their new systems. If you've got a bootable partion on just about any media Open Firmware can boot it. Floppies are so 1980s man, get with the go.
I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.
Many, many people get their computers via mail order and never have a chance to try them in person until they've already paid. Macs in particular can be VERY difficult to return for a refund once you've opened the box. Because of this, many people won't have the opportunity to use OS X prior to purchase.
OS X, even on the G4 iMac, still lags. People should know prior to making a purchase decision.
Maybe not in the strictest sense, but it's pretty darn close. If your anology was completely apt, we would be living in a world where switching from a VW Beetle to a Ford Focus would require a new garage, different gasoline, and a new kind of steering wheel. But we don't. If you get a different car, everything else works pretty much the same. But if I switch between a Windows PC and a Macintosh, I have to also spend about as much on new software.
....So you have to make sure you switch computers when it's time to upgrade software....
There's no question that Apple is the sole provider of Macintosh computers, and that only Macs run Mac software. But let's stop using the word "monopoly" to describe that situation. Call it a single-vendor product, or something. There's a huge difference, in the qualitative sense, between only having one vendor for Macintoshes and living in a neighborhood where AT&T is your only choice for cable television. One of those is a monopoly, and one really isn't.
If your anology was completely apt, we would be living in a world where switching from a VW Beetle to a Ford Focus would require a new garage, different gasoline, and a new kind of steering wheel
New Garage? I have my G3 and PC sitting on the same desk ...
Different Gas? I plug my G3 and my PC into the same power strip ...
New Steering Wheel? Well, the PC does have a two button mouse ...
If you get a different car, everything else works pretty much the same.
Until you need replacement parts ...
Steve M
It's not that I really disagree with you, it's just that you're choosing examples that don't support your argument well.
If you want a computer, you can choose between several hardware platforms (Wintel, Macintosh, Sparcs...). But if you decide that you want a Macintosh then you are stuck with Apple as your provider. Does that make them a monopoly? They are the sole provider of a good or service, so in that respect they are. But how does that relate to your example?
If you want to watch TV you have several choices (Cable, Satilite, Radio Waves...[?]). But if you decide that you want Cable then you're stuck with AT&T (or whomever you're stuck with). Does that make them a monopoly? I think we both agree that it does --sort of.
I whole-heartedly agree with you on this one. Although difficult, it is possible to remap keys under OS X. The keyboard files are in /System/Library/Keyboards. By the way, all apple computers come w/ 3 free sub-major version OS upgrades, and all minor version upgrades are free via Software Update.
So... other than x86, please list at least 23 other platforms that Microsoft Windows XP runs on. BSD, the heart of Mac OS X runs on at least: PPC, 68K, x86, Alpha, Sparc, MIPS, ARM, ia64 The software wrutten for Mac OSX could be written to take advantage of any GUI while still maintaining standard interfaces to the rest of the OS. In fact, only two options need to be accoutned for... Quartz, and X. If your program had all it's GUI stuff in one set of files you could easily port it fr om one platform to the other (Mac Quartz, to and BSD Xwindows system) Darwin is the open source BSD operating system at the core of Mac OS X. All of the BSD kernel and libraries are available for anyone to look at and modify. How many lines of code in Microsoft Windows XP are open source or even avalable to look at by outside developers? So much for you proprietary arguement. In the PC world, good things are included, bad elimindated.... Which is why instead of adopting FireWire, Intel, Compaq and others developed USB2. Which is why Wintels still have parallel ports and floppy drives. Which is why most standard Wintel systems still have CDRW or DRD-R drives as options. Which is why multiple monitor support didn't appear until Microsoft Windows 98, and still only supports two monitors? Which is why no major PC manufacturer installs 1000 bast T networking standard. All of these things are good. All of these things and have no, little, or poor support on Wintel platforms from the manufacturers. The one example you site ifor the Mac is moot. You don't use the pin-hole to eject a CD. You use the eject command in the GUI, or the eject button on the keyboard. The pinhole is only there for emergencies, just like on Wintel.
Article X: The powers not delegated... by the Constitution...are reserved...to the people
But you're getting too specific. If you want a soda, you can buy any number of brands. But if you want a Diet Coke with Lemon, you've got only one choice.
The thing is, you're drawing a distinction between "computer" and "Macintosh." While that distinction makes a lot of sense at the technical level, it's meaningless in economic terms. A Mac and a PC are different, but they can be considered to be equivalent from a certain point of view. At that level, a Mac is just a particular variety of personal computer, of which there are several varieties from several different vendors. So the term "monopoly" doesn't apply there.
Where does it end? Maybe I shouldn't have bought a Mac because it doesn't accept oiled punched paper tape as input and I can't attach my 300 baud acoustic coupler to it for networking. Yeesh.
There is a thin line between genius and insanity. I have erased that line. -- Oscar Levant
No, it does make a difference in economic terms. If you want to buy a Macintosh, you have to buy it from apple. There is no competition for a Macintosh. If you do not draw a distinction between PCs and Macs then there is no economic difference.
I get the feeling we're not getting through to each other.
I was actually compating Macs to Wintel machines If you use an AMD (or whatever compatible) chip to run a Microsoft OS, then I think the term Wintel still applies. Obviously if you run something else on your AMD (or Intel for that matter) chip then the term does not apply.
Dang, I didn't read your post carefully enough. I did say hardware platforms, and probably should have said computer systems or some such. Ignore me.
"PeeCee"? Odd spelling
It's not that uncommon among mac users. I suppose it is to distinguish Mac's from Wintel machines (both of which are "PC's" - Personal Computers)
Anyway, once you compare specs, Macs cost a lot more. Especially when you consider such things as standard ports and floppy drives which come on almost all PC's,
I'm not sure what is non-standard about 10/100/1000 ethernet, firewire & USB. I'll grant the lack of legacy ports & it is a nuisance. Ironically the only loss I really regretted was the decidedly NON-standard ADB port because not having it meant I had to get a new Wacom tablet.
As for the "missing" floppy drive - I can honestly say I have never missed having a floppy drive. On my last mac that had one I think I used maybe twice a year (& even then I had other options). Do you even have ANYTHING small enough to fit on a floppy that you can't just email to the recipient? Or are you backing up your system on 10,000 floppies?
It's not yet easy to manually remap keys in OSX, (many do with XDarwin) but you can do it by text-editing the appropriate xmodmap file you're using (Warning: the DMCA may seriously repercussions if you live in the US and try to do this... check out the scary disclaimer on this how-to for remapping keys with XDarwin!!) This really should be something user-changeable in the System Prefs itself, under "Keyboard" and hopefully will be in Jaguar or not too long after.
/System/Library/Keyboards/ directory (pick yours, though I think there are even more now with 10.1.5):
/System/Library/Keyboards
/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE_102.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Apple.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleAdjJIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleExt.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleII.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISO.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISOExt.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleJIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Belge.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-CSA.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-ISO.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadien.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Dansk.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Deutsch.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Espanol.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Francais.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_ITF_JAPANESE.keyboa rd
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_JIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/HP_MiniDIN_JIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Italiano.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Japanese.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/LatinoAmericano.keymapp ing
/System/Library/Keyboards/MSN.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Netherlands.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/NeXT.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Norsk.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_A01.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_AX.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_J3100.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Portugues.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Schweizer.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Suisse.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Svenska.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact_JAPANESE. keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact_UNIX.keyb oard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_JAPANESE.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_PC.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_TUV_EUROPEAN.keyb oard
/System/Library/Keyboards/UK.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/USA.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE_102.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Apple.keybo ard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleAdjJIS . eyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleExt.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleII.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISO.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISOExt . eyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleJIS.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Belge.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-CS A.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-IS O.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadien.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Dansk.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Deutsch.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Espanol.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Francais.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_ITF_JAP ANESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_JIS.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HP_MiniDIN_ JIS.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Italiano.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Japanese.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/LatinoAmeri cano.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/MSN.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Netherlands . eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/NeXT.keyboa rd
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Norsk.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_A01.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_AX.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_J3100. keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Portugues.k eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Schweizer.k eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Suisse.keym apping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Svenska.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5.keybo ard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct_JAPANESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct_UNIX.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_JAPAN ESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_PC.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_TUV_E UROPEAN.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/UK.keymappi ng
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/USA.keymapp ing
In OSX, you could manually re-map the modmap file for the appropriate keymap you want to change out of the list of keymaps in the
But of course, there's will soon be an easier way if you don't want to muck about. Michael Baltak's GPL'd DoubleCommand Deluxe, under development and hopefully to be released soon should offer a good amount of flexibility in custom keymapping for free. Or, to kill the bug with a sledgehammer you could get a macro utility like Quickeys from CE Software and map the Caps Lock key to trigger a one-key "shortcut" of your choosing (ie: map it to another key)
I wouldn't worry too much about paying to upgrade the OS to Jaguar, Apple so far has been fairly good about this sort of stuff. You could also wait a few months until Jaguar comes out and you might not need a keymapping utility at all, if you can bear to wait.
That's still ONE platform... x86. If you are using that reasoning, then Windows is a platform. How many companies make Windows? One.
How many compnaies make SGI or Sun computers?
All the people who think they have more choices because they build their own PC is missing one big point. You can only build one kind of computer, an "IBM clone" based on x86. Big selection of platforms.
-- if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic - Lewis Carrol
You said:
"Furthermore, MS hired the Mach MicroKernel developers to create WinNT way back in the day. These guys are excellent and experienced OS developers and they still work at Microsoft."
To which, I say Ha!
Sorry, I've worked for MS and in fact, worked on Cairo (Back when Cairo was going to be a next gen OS to replace NT, it has since been used to describe all kinds of things that weren't really Cairo, after Cairo was cancelled.)
Let me just say, without violating NDAs, that NT will never effectively compete with OS X for certain, and will probably have a tough time going against Linux.
I've had my hands on the code in question. It doesn't matter how many bright people MS hires (nevermind the fact that there will always be more brighter people who don't work for them, who are more likely to work on Linux) but the process and priorities MS uses in developing its code.
Quality isn't even in the top 5 priorities. They say otherwise, but everyone who works there knows its just talk, and how the process is broken.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
I read this the other day, and read comments on MacCentral and elsewhere. Unless I want to be really nitpicky and anal, I don't have any real complaints about the article. I agree that EverQuest addicts and Megahertz junkies aren't going to be happy on a Mac(and we Mac users don't want them anyway), so they should stick with whatever version of Windows they're using. Same goes for those who like to pirate all their software; there's fewer people to steal software from in the Mac world. Plus, most hardcore Mac gamers are anti-piracy, because we know the Mac gaming programmers and publishers by name; we'd know exactly who we're stealing from.
"Common Sense Ain't" -Unknown
ahh, bullshit..
you msft-x86 lackey bastard..
msft gave 150 million to protect it's fledgling CE market.. they were scared by NewtonOS and the purchase of NeXT.. and if either were able to be embedded.. and SJ took the cash, and used it to get the iMacs out..
in fact, Newton Inc. had a deal inked to supply every child in grades 1-6 in Texas with an eMate.. and every teacher with a 2000/2100.. and wire the classrooms for Newton.. worth 400mil+.. but Newton, Inc. was overextended.. and just prior to the msft 150mil (in non-controlling stock), SJ pulled in Newton, Inc.. and shortly after the msft deal was done, he disbanded Newton, Inc.. he could have used the Texas deal to pump new cash into Apple.. irregardless of Newton being John Scully's baby..
eh, and Gil Amelio had design plans for the iMacs years prior to SJ's releasing them.. Gil Amelio did't think that business would embrace "candy colored" computers.. but, they did..
and, no apple wasn't about to shut the doors before msft coughed the cash..
Herr Jobs, isn't much better than Gates.. he's just a lesser-bastard..
so, smell that shit, little buddy..
i hate microsoft.
Apple's position is supported by the market. Enough people want to buy Apple's computers, as they stand now, to keep Apple in business.
Monopoly implies an attempt to control the market, to manipulate the common market to do something only in the interest of the monopolist.
So company Y might make a great system with unique features. But that doesn't stop you from buying any computer and doing any math routine you want. So Company Y doesn't have a monopoly on computers. Those unique features of company Y's products are merely the differentiation that makes them appealing. That's a perfectly acceptable economic idea.
Its why all food of a certain type doesn't cost the same. If company Z grows tomatoes with a special fertilizer, packages them in a lined can and calls them "Tasty" tomatoes, they can charge more than raw tomatoes, but it doesn't stop you from growing and selling tomatoes. If company Z threatens and attacks others who start growing tomatoes and compels them to stop, to keep their pricing power up. Then a monopoly exists.
Monopoly is an Economic term, misusing or over using it distorts your message.
--
blinko - "the nail that sticks up gets hammered down"
Everyone's position is supported by the market. That's how they got in that position.
You're right; we're not understanding each other. "If you want to buy a Coke, you have to buy it from Coca-Cola. There is no competition for a Coke."
Lots of people make personal computers. They're all different in various ways, but they're all personal computers. They can all be used for the same functions, albeit people inevitably prefer one type of computer over another.
There is no monopoly in personal computers. Period.
Saying there's a monopoly on Macintoshes is just incorrect. If you think that's a correct statement, I'd suggest you clarify your understanding of what "monopoly" means.
I trust that we're getting through to each other now.
really??
back it up with fact, cretin..
i don't see dell offering a DV desktop package, ready to go like Apple does..
nor IBM, nor HP/Compaq, nor Gateway..
just who's peecees and DV packages are you talking about??
i hate microsoft.
hahaha, you really ARE a stupid bastard, aren't you??
i was using CP/M way before you knew what DOS was..
ahhh, weez talkin ta MassaDOSfOO, 'yo dope DoS SkIlLz4367, eh..
and i'm sure your still using EDLIN, or Debug, right??
typical shit-for-brains win-cretin.. take your 6.22/win3.x smack somewhere else, little buddy..
and as for being a Mac Commie..
I'm Big Daddy Stalin to you, dipshit..
Better Red than a win-cretin..
i hate microsoft.
I agree. Mossberg is always good. His observations are useful. Other reporters just parrot the industry buzz. Mossberg tells you whether he things the stuff works.
Mossberg is what Jerry Pournelle SHOULD have been....
And, I agree, he seems to be the only person in the industry who can compare Macs and PCs dispassionately and accurately.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
You might think the iMac G4 is overkill for just checking email and browsing the web. You can get a new CRT iMac for only $799 though, and it's not a bad machine. I don't think a flat screen is overkill though. I just got my TiBook, and I can't stand to use my iMac's screen any more. I don't think I'll buy a CRT ever again.
IBM. Well, no, technically they're not making CHRP boxes any more. But it would take all of a couple of hours to make Mac OS X run on it, and since those parts of the OS are open source, you could do it, too.
How many companies' computers can you (as a consumer) port Windows to?
120 character sigs suck. Make it 250.
please list at least 23 other platforms that Microsoft Windows XP runs on"
Do you want me to list scores of companies selling PC's?
All of those companies are selling ONE platform. Apparently you don't understand the word "platform" as it refers to computers. Please bone up on the lingo then start your argument again.
Article X: The powers not delegated... by the Constitution...are reserved...to the people
Show me a $4k Mac that can't be upgraded.
"Oh no, 3 horny women and only 2 condoms...Thank god I read slashdot"