What's this business about "not looking good"? The US is a free and capitalist society. Perhaps less people CHOOSE not to use broadband? Perhaps the US is, oh what, 200x as large as the Korean Peninsula, thus requiring a much more tangled infrastructure? I live in the U.K. and I can some lowly bandwitdth because "I live in the country". This whole country could be wired easier than most large States in the US, yet they can't provide decent broadband to my "in the country" house (8 miles from Leeds, population >500,000).
This has to be one of the most lame attempts to knock the US down a few rungs I've seen in a while.
Spoken like a true Video Card/3dGame sucker...good luck with the perpetual chasing of the next greatest video card technology. For the amount of money one would spend buying the latest greatest video card, one could buy a new Mac every year with a perfectly adequate video card for 99% of all applications. With that said, I didn't buy a MacBook with the intent of playing 3d games, but I did buy an Intel iMac, with an upgraded video card, with the intent of installing XP and playing the latest 3d games. And it works great with such a "weak" video card (an iMac *is* "affordable", after all).
I used to be on the bubble about switching; iTunes pushed me away from Apple instead of encouraging me to make the leap.
That is a shame, because the Mac version is nearly flawless. iTunes on a PC is handicapped by the clunky underbelly of the OS. Part of the attraction for "switchers" is seeing how well a program CAN work with tightly integrated hardware. Sure, Apple is partially to blame, since they write the software, but the are obviously hampered by the Windows environment. The proof being how well iTunes works on a Mac.
Ok, never mind on the screen shots. I followed the parent links and found plenty of examples. I'm with a post from another blog...I can't believe this is even considered to be subjective. ClearType is clearly crap. Destroying the shape of letters and words does NOT improve readability. Like someone else already said, people only prefer it because it is what they are used to. This is actually kind of sad, considering the Mac typography follows 100 years of typographical rules and concepts from the print industry, and we've only been reading stuff in online form for what, 15 years now? It isn't like I read so much more stuff on a screen than I do in print that I forgot what typography is supposed to look like.
p.s., sorry to respond to my own post, but I'm just preempting all the "follow the links, stupid" responses.
I too am interested in this, since I've NEVER seen a WinXP machine that doesn't display text equally as bad as the average 1985 Tandy machine. You can practically count the pixels in WinXP, and frankly, I don't see how that makes it more legible.
I would be VERY interested in "clear type", since I don't know if it is turned off by default on XP machines, or it just is truly awful looking text rendering. I would be very interested in a a side-by-side screen shot (a jpg image of text, instead of the text under the native rendering system). Somebody please tell me how to activate clear type. I'm tired of my 1980s computing experience at work.
If Apple is offering a toy, and you need a tool, why in the world did you just spend 3 minutes typing your response? Here's a tip: don't buy it if it doesn't fit your needs.
Most of us "lemmings" appreciate the fact that Jobs doesn't open up everything to the masses of horrible Johnny-come-lately wannabe developers, and instead, delivers a refined, elegant product (at the expense of choice).
People who won't entertain the thought of switching to a Mac in the first place won't like Safari anyways. Your point is? Apple's point is they are making Safari work on Windows, so as to open up the possibility of thousands of developers making stuff for the iPhone.
That's nice you are no fanboy, but I think you'll notice that I never called you a fanboy, because I don't call anyone a fanboy. To do so would be hypocritical of me, as related to my previous post.
Since you hate all the above mentioned OSes, I guess you are destined for Solaris or something else Sun related...
That's how two perfectly reasonable people can reach vastly different conclusions about the same product whether it be a computer, a car, a house or whatever.
Actually, that's because there is usually one side that is woefully misinformed, or has incredibly deplorable judgment and taste. Care to explain the popularity of Wal-Mart, Windows or American cars, for example? That's the great part of the US, though; it isn't illegal to have, or even demonstrate, bad taste. American consumers are sheep. People buy Windows, because they see other people buying Windows. They don't want to stand out at all, because they are insecure consumers. Only after 95% of the people buy Windows (safety in numbers) and realize their product really is crap, they start feeling stupid about it and kick in their defense mechanisms, and start to justify their latest stupid purchase with such nonsense as "more software available", or "costs less than Macs".
I prefer the "press down with your middle finger" method of right-clicking, not using two hands or two fingers or doing a traditional bavarian dance or any other method.
So quit proving this guy's point and quit perpetuating myths about Mac. Your middle finger will activate right-clicking on a Mac the same as a PC, regardless if you are using a mouse or the track pad. Why won't you people let this 10 year-old myth go?
Windows alt+tab can't touch OS X's Expose. F9 (or in my case, middle mouse button), brings all active windows into view on one screen and you simply click the one you want to come to the front. If you have 27 windows open, you might have to alt+tab 26 times to get to the one you want...or you can go for expose with one mouse button and then one additional click.
The problem with people who throw "fanboy" around is that they instantly lose all credibility with their argument. All "fanboy" says is that the person writing "fanboy" is a "fanboy" of an alternative product.
For example..."You Mac fanbois are gay and know nothing about Windows" = "I'm a Windows fanboi, and achieve great intellectual fulfillment by calling you a Mac Fanboi, because my arguments lack any credibility, otherwise."
Ok, I agree. I thought you were saying Safari sucks, because it doesn't have right click functionality. You are right. It is a good thing that it supports it but doesn't require it (the Mac OS X mantra in a nutshell, in my opinion).
I'll just have to pass. I'd rather use a computer I can pretty much figure out on my own (Mac OSX + random internet site for help), than rely on the morons I work with. Everyone knows "that guy" who you ask for help, and he tries to hook you up with 15 Terrabytes of tv shows and porn, even though you don't want it.
I'm an Educational Technologist. Teachers are the LAST people you ever want to use for ANYTHING computer related EVER....Fullstop...Period. If there were a bigger group of normally intelligent people who turn into blubbering infants when forced to use a computer than teachers, I'd like to know who they are!
In one recent research project, teachers (n=93) where asked what operating system they used at home on one question, with only five choices (Mac OS -any version), Microsoft Windows -any version, Linux -any version, Other, or Don't Know). Nearly 1/3rd of the responses where of the Other and Don't Know kind. Ten people chose "other", with around 20 chosing "don't know". Come on now, if you spend $500-$3000 on a computer, don't you think you should know what OS it runs?
I see this argument all the time..."the reason Macs and Linux don't get viruses is because there is no market..." Bah...hogwash...BS! If that were the case there would certainly be at least ONE legitimate, widespread, widely reported Mac/Linux virus on the prowl, wouldn't there? So where is it then? (disclaimer: maybe there is one for Linux, but I'm not up to speed there).
Well stated. I'd like to see a list of "cons", if you have one as well. I'd take a few things off your Windows list, such as more help available. Much like opinions and assholes, everyone has Windows...doesn't mean they have the slightest clue about what is causing my WinXP crash-du-jour. Linux help would be pretty good, I imagine, if you knew other Linux users. They seem to be a lot like the Mac community, in that they are eager to spread the word and help others. I only have one friend who uses Linux, but unfortunately, for the Linux cause, he is a shoe-talker (you know the guy... looks at his shoes when he talks to you).
Slashdot Mirror
People need electricity. People don't need broadband (specially if they don't even own a computer).
This has to be one of the most lame attempts to knock the US down a few rungs I've seen in a while.
Spoken like a true Video Card/3dGame sucker...good luck with the perpetual chasing of the next greatest video card technology. For the amount of money one would spend buying the latest greatest video card, one could buy a new Mac every year with a perfectly adequate video card for 99% of all applications. With that said, I didn't buy a MacBook with the intent of playing 3d games, but I did buy an Intel iMac, with an upgraded video card, with the intent of installing XP and playing the latest 3d games. And it works great with such a "weak" video card (an iMac *is* "affordable", after all).
I retract my Tandy comment. In didn't mean to infer that WinXP type was anywhere near as pleasant as Tandy type. My apologies to Tandy.
oops... (end blockquote..)
p.s., sorry to respond to my own post, but I'm just preempting all the "follow the links, stupid" responses.
I would be VERY interested in "clear type", since I don't know if it is turned off by default on XP machines, or it just is truly awful looking text rendering. I would be very interested in a a side-by-side screen shot (a jpg image of text, instead of the text under the native rendering system). Somebody please tell me how to activate clear type. I'm tired of my 1980s computing experience at work.
If Apple is offering a toy, and you need a tool, why in the world did you just spend 3 minutes typing your response? Here's a tip: don't buy it if it doesn't fit your needs.
"frustrating" to one is "exciting" to others. I love the quarterly surprises (or lack thereof).
Most of us "lemmings" appreciate the fact that Jobs doesn't open up everything to the masses of horrible Johnny-come-lately wannabe developers, and instead, delivers a refined, elegant product (at the expense of choice).
"ownage" or whatever it is the kids say these days...
People who won't entertain the thought of switching to a Mac in the first place won't like Safari anyways. Your point is? Apple's point is they are making Safari work on Windows, so as to open up the possibility of thousands of developers making stuff for the iPhone.
Since you hate all the above mentioned OSes, I guess you are destined for Solaris or something else Sun related...
What he said. $1099 is the price of the entry Macbook. Any more, and you are getting ripped off.
Windows alt+tab can't touch OS X's Expose. F9 (or in my case, middle mouse button), brings all active windows into view on one screen and you simply click the one you want to come to the front. If you have 27 windows open, you might have to alt+tab 26 times to get to the one you want...or you can go for expose with one mouse button and then one additional click.
I can't think of a faster way of killing your credibility: "since OS X and Ultimate would be similar."
For example..."You Mac fanbois are gay and know nothing about Windows" = "I'm a Windows fanboi, and achieve great intellectual fulfillment by calling you a Mac Fanboi, because my arguments lack any credibility, otherwise."
Ok, I agree. I thought you were saying Safari sucks, because it doesn't have right click functionality. You are right. It is a good thing that it supports it but doesn't require it (the Mac OS X mantra in a nutshell, in my opinion).
I'll just have to pass. I'd rather use a computer I can pretty much figure out on my own (Mac OSX + random internet site for help), than rely on the morons I work with. Everyone knows "that guy" who you ask for help, and he tries to hook you up with 15 Terrabytes of tv shows and porn, even though you don't want it.
In one recent research project, teachers (n=93) where asked what operating system they used at home on one question, with only five choices (Mac OS -any version), Microsoft Windows -any version, Linux -any version, Other, or Don't Know). Nearly 1/3rd of the responses where of the Other and Don't Know kind. Ten people chose "other", with around 20 chosing "don't know". Come on now, if you spend $500-$3000 on a computer, don't you think you should know what OS it runs?
I see this argument all the time..."the reason Macs and Linux don't get viruses is because there is no market..." Bah...hogwash...BS! If that were the case there would certainly be at least ONE legitimate, widespread, widely reported Mac/Linux virus on the prowl, wouldn't there? So where is it then? (disclaimer: maybe there is one for Linux, but I'm not up to speed there).
Well stated. I'd like to see a list of "cons", if you have one as well. I'd take a few things off your Windows list, such as more help available. Much like opinions and assholes, everyone has Windows...doesn't mean they have the slightest clue about what is causing my WinXP crash-du-jour. Linux help would be pretty good, I imagine, if you knew other Linux users. They seem to be a lot like the Mac community, in that they are eager to spread the word and help others. I only have one friend who uses Linux, but unfortunately, for the Linux cause, he is a shoe-talker (you know the guy... looks at his shoes when he talks to you).