Top 10 Reasons Why I’m a Mac
Last week, no, the last few weeks, I've been giving Macs and Apple a bit of a serve. You'd be forgiven for thinking I'm about to jump ship. Today though I'll list a few reasons why I stay Mac.
Last week I showed that for the same price as a Mac, you could get get a better specced PC, especially regards disk capacity, RAM size, CPU speed. But it's not all about price. If it was, we'd all be driving Daihatsus.
That said, the price can be a hinderance to switching. If I wasn't already a Mac, now would not be a good time for me to switch. My window of opportunity (a delightfully ironic pun) came six years ago.
I can tell you why I'm staying Mac, but if you're a potential switcher you probably want to know why you should pay more to get less hardware.
1. OS X
A lot of this list is about OS X, so I'll list it at number one because it is what makes a Mac a Mac. Aside from the things below, OS X is a more user-friendly operating system than either Windows or Linux, and visually, it doesn't assault you like Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 tend to.
2. Security
This is a feature of OS X that can equally be said of Linux. Both systems are more secure than Windows (although Windows has improved in recent years). Also, in regards to security, we should mention viruses, or in OS X's case (and Linux's), the lack thereof. Coupled with its better system security, OS X has an excellent chance to remain virus free.
Some like to argue it's security by obscurity, but they said that when OS X had 2% market share. It was said that once Mac's market got to 5% the virus writers would go nuts on its ass.
It's now got four to five times that earlier 2% when those predictions were made, and yet still no major security threats. (There has been a trojan this year, but those rely on user stupidty to activate and no security on any system can totally prevent infection by user stupidity.)
The thought of having to run a computer always wondering whether my best is enough to keep it free from attack is rather off-putting, to say the least.
3. Maintenance
Because OS X tries to keep things simple, maintenance is much less of a requirement, and when it is required, tends to be much easier.
However, maintenance does come in many forms and you will sometimes encounter tribulations getting some third-party devices to work; applications do crash and sometimes repeatedly. But, on a Windows PC, it doesn't take long to realise there's more effort required to keep it running as you'd like.
And when you do have to do something on Windows, it so often seems much more involved and complicated than the same on a Mac. If you've tried configuring a new wireless card on both systems, you'll know exactly what I mean!
4. Applications
This might seem a strange one if you're a potential switcher because you know there's squillions more apps for Windows. However, it's much more unusual to find a badly done Mac application. For the most, Mac apps are better designed than those on PCs, both functionally and visually.
And visually, having to look at some PC apps all day could cause eyestrain. Mac apps in general, seem to get spared the ugly stick.
Of course, there's always the whole familiarity thing. They say familiarity breeds contempt, which is true, but I think it also breeds content. The idea of having to find and learn new applications if switching to Windows or Linux is daunting.
5. Design
Visually, there's not many, PCs that can match Macs for industrial design. The effect that has is subtle, but significant. We like to surround our work areas with beautiful things to inspire and invigorate. Some put up posters, others maybe a potted plant, and for some it's extreme-tidiness. Macs, by their design, have the same effect.
6. Shopping is easier
The Mac, with a sum total of just five product lines to choose from - Mac mini, iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro - is always going to present a much easier process of choosing your computer. Dell, alone, has nine different laptop ranges to choose from.
Then, within each Mac line there are limited configuration options. Consequently, when shopping for a Mac, it's much easier to answer the question "Which machine do I need for my use?" (Granted, this limitation can play against you if you are on a restricted budget.)
7. Boot from external hard drive
Search the internet for "How do I boot Windows from an external hard drive" and you'll find a plethora of people asking the same question or others providing tutes on how to go about it. On Macs, you plug in an external hard drive with OS X installed on it into the FireWire port and boot it up.
This is invaluable as it means you can make and use a bootable backup of your system drive (which you can make using apps like SuperDuper!). I backup my system drive daily using SuperDuper!.
A bootable system backup means if you have a hard disk disaster, you can be up and running again in the time it takes to reboot. Not even TimeMachine can give you that.
(You can also boot Macs from a USB drive, but this runs a lot slower than over FireWire.)
8. Data committment
No matter which way you're switching, this is the biggie. You've got all those files saved in specific formats. Certainly, this is nowhere near as big an issue as it used to be, but take just one of your main applications (for example, Things, iCal, iPhoto, 1Password, Pastor), that has a proprietary data format or storage, and you'll be greatly deterred from switching.
9. Like kissing a cane toad
If you've been a dedicated Mac user for any period of time, switching to Windows is as irksome as kissing a cane toad. You might call this one ego, too...
10. Because hackintoshing is too hard
If you wanted a really great piece of hardware to run OS X on, you'd get a PC. However, hackintoshing is best left to the geeks - and bear in mind that it is unethical, if not unlawful.
The sum of all these is why I continue to buy and use Macs. They may not make "bottom-line" sense, but Macs always have been more than about price.
And if I had to prioritize them, the top three would be #8, #4 and #9.
What are your reasons for why you are a Mac?
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I’m a Mac because the OS stays out of my way and lets me get on with doing my work. Windows XP systems used to crash up to three times a day and Vista keeps annoying me with pop-ups letting me know how efficient and safe it’s being, right when I’m in the middle of typing. So I guess I’m a Mac for OS X.
Tiger, not Leopard
i think its because of usage since i have been a little child, i have used macs my whole life, even back than when they were beige, the beige they had was different form the pc computers, even in the olden days of OS 8 and 9 i still liked it.
Now that its OS X there is no question of the system halting and cute errors with bombs.
The choice of applications on the OS X system is overwhelmingly different than Windows, will explain, when i go to apple.com/downloads i find categories that satisfy absolutely all my needs. And developing on the Mac is a pleasure because of the recourses available especially in the GUI section.
I am writing this on my Mac book pro, on while surrounded with two custom made machines one with Debian the other with Windows XP, I am no stranger to other machines and Operating systems.
I do wish that they were bit cheaper, but when comparing machines they are not out of this world expensive.
I use Macs, but I’m not a Mac!
It’s the idiots at Microsoft who saw Apple’s Mac & PC commercials, and just didn’t get it. They don’t comprehend that Justin Long is acting as an anthropomorphic Mac, and John Hodgeman is an anthropomorphic PC. They literally represent a Mac and a PC. They DO NOT represent Mac and PC users!
This is what makes the ads so funny. At no time are Mac users or PC users called “Mac” or “PC”.
Yet, in Microsoft’s commercials they have PC users debase themselves and declare “I’m a PC” as if they are not human beings, but actually machines (which explains a lot about PC users
So, I’m not a Mac. That job is taken by Justin Long in Apple’s commercials. I’m a human Mac user, and happy to be one
I use Macs, but I’m not a Mac!
sir i completely agree with you, a computer is a tool, we are not the tool, we are the user, i do not compare myself or declare myself as a Washing machine, even considering I do respect and love my washing machine, so why the hell would anyone declare oneself a PC
I’m going to have to remain skeptical of the security argument because we have documented evidence of Apple’s up to now cavalier attitude to patching security flaws (compare how long it takes them to patch open-source components vs the original maintainers. Some items go a year without patching. Also Java.) And did someone actually argue that Macs would be susceptible at five percent share? That seems naively low. It took Firefox at 10% share to get attack, and attacking Firefox requires far less investment in equiptment or education. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took a Marketshare of 20-30% given that malware authors would have to buy a Mac (or buy a clone or build a hackintosh), and learn to program using the Mac languages and tools (I think people misunderstand the marketshare argument. Windows high marketshare over two decades means there is a huge support infrastructure available to the hacker. I probably don’t even need to know how to program to make a Win-bot. I can just pick up a malware kit. In other words, I can probably make a Mac malware program in a year if I put my mind to it and study. Likewise, I can probably make a Windows malware program in a year if I put my mind to it and study. Or for the latter, I can take an existing program and alter it and be done in a few days. That’s why its foolish to think “Well, Macs have 5% of the market. Why don’t they have 5% of the malware?")
Anyway, I think from Windows Vista onward, Windows is pretty secure, which is why people will now focus on third-party programs, like Adobe Reader, Quicktime and Java for exploiting computers. The issue now is that those targets are multi-platform, plus people apply security updates to those items less than they do for the core OS.
My 512k fat Mac still works running system 4.0 but it sits in my closet because I can’t figure out how to get the data off the external 20 mg Apple HD. Every Mac I have owned, except for a Performa 6300CD, still works. I have two 2001 iMacs which work just fine running system 10.2.8 and my G5 iMac and my son’s Macbook are used daily running Leopard.
I am not a Mac, but I am a Mac Fanatic. My work Dell laptop, running XP, does an adequate job but it’s just not the same as my gumdrop iMacs. XP is like a bad copy of 10.2 with a garish interface. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I use a Mac for Final Cut Studio and...well that’s about it, although I do agree with Chris on #6.
It’s funny, vachi, coz I think the phrases “I’m a Mac” and “I’m a PC” have entered the venacular as shorthand for saying “I’m a Mac user” and “I’m a PC user”.
I know they’re not grammatically correct, but it’s just like how Americans shorthand “math” for the mathematics (do they say “stat” as shorthand for statistics?) and the rather odd sounding instruction “Write me”, which is shorthand for “Write to me” or “Write me a letter”.
So, as you can see, these strange shorthands are just a natural part of the evolution of language. They might not sound right at first, but before long they’re broadly accepted.
“do they say “stat” as shorthand for statistics?) and the rather odd sounding instruction “Write me”, which is shorthand for “Write to me” or “Write me a letter”.
Yes, we do say “stat.” And another good example is “Beer me.”
I think to most Americans “stat” means right now, as in that’s how they use it in hospitals (and medical shows)!
The short form for statistics is stats (with an ‘S’ at the end.)
Sterling, nice angle on the security issue.
yeah i guess you are right, but than the whole PC notion is incorrect, and i always hate the naming, in out house since we have computer users of 2 generations there are always different names used,
for example my father says, IBM for all computers not of the Apple brand, and running windows, this is what he is used to from back home.
my brothers calls all computer that are running windows, try to guess, wintel
the word PC, personal computer, just does not satisfy me anymore. with the advent of macs, and other computers running multiple operating systems, (such as the netbooks)
simply saying I am a PC, and i am a Mac, it just does not satisfy me