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Differences between Windows and Macs |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Can someone please tell me the differences between using Microsoft Windows and an Apple Mac or Apple pc whatever they are called? I have no idea. I have never used a Mac and want to know are they easier to use and better? Are most phones and other things compatible with them and is it true they are less prone to internet viruses? Are they more reliable? Is the operating system good? Cant think of anymore questions but i am asking because after recently sending back a rubbish HP laptop T Mobile contract i am looking at alternatives. I find i dont like Windows Vista. |
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
phew!
well... most of your questions are akin to whats the difference between  and Nokia... its fairly subjective
I've often been intrigued with the possibility of Mac, and moreso since getting an iPhone
recently I did get a macbook and while I can begin to see and understand the comments others make, and Mac does have some nice well though tout features, I have definitly not been converted. For me, the mac is a means to an end since the iPhone SDK is only available on mac
if you don't like Vista, and there are lots that don't but you don't actually give reasons so its hard to respond on that topic, then there is always the old favourite of XP, and coming very soon is windows 7 which has received a very good response in general comparison to Vista
btw... I saw your topic about getting this "free" pc and wonder... was your reason for sending this back really a rubbish pc, or just that you realised the total cost of what you were getting into?
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arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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Not everything is 100% compatible, either straight-out-the-box or at all. An example being my N78; it doesn't work with iSync without patching the iSync software first with an official Nokia modification.
They are less prone, yes, but by no means immune, as some less well informed will tell you.
My iMac rarely ever puts a foot out of line, and when it does, there's an easy fix 99% of the time. Bought it new January last year, it's had 1 format/fresh install, and right now, it's still more or less like new.
OS X is by far the best OS I've ever used, no question, but how it stacks up to Windows 7, I couldn't say just yet.
All system utilities are easy to access and completely unintimidating, unlike XP and Vista, and overall, it's far more user friendly and intuitive than Windows OSs.
Just ask if you've any other questions 
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streetgang
Joined: Aug 02, 2005
Posts: 160
From: England
PM, WWW
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the words "can" and "worms" come to mind 
seriously tho this is a big subject that will probs be debated till the end of time itself. Both systems have their pro`s and cons and their lovers and haters in equal measure, the best method is to try things for yourself! I picked up an old Ibook G4 today, its my second one in 2 years, why? because they are really nice things to use for everyday computing and the price was too good to pass up 
Mac is less prone to the usuall "hassles" that dog the windows system, that used to be down to the fact that Apple had such tight control over both the hardware and software systems, this was something MS could not achieve as they had no say on the hardware that their os was going on, they had more bases to cover. Mac is based on Unix (like linux) and is inherintly more stable and secure.
No doubt there will be others posting opinions (hopefully no flame!!), if you can get to a HMV store that has some macs running or a pcworld then go along and get some hands on, its a big change from windows but thats no bad thing
http://pbrstreetgangsrandomstuff.blogspot.com/
streetgang (+24, -0) |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Masseur my reasons for sending back the laptop was it was very slow and quite a poor laptop in many respects. Plus the T Mobile internet was slow and its in a good area with HSDPA. T Mobile should be Terrible Mobile. Anyway i also was thinking that putting up with that for 24 months would probably send me insane. Actually not heard good things about HP laptops. Windows Vista i found to be a little bit less user friendly than XP which i guess its cos i was used to it maybe i never gave it a chance. I had Vista Home Basic. I would love to try something new like a Mac although i said before i never liked Apple products and i slagged the iphone i could be converted. On a Mac can you use normal mp3 players and transfer music normally like on a Windows based pc? Does it have to be itunes? I hope not. I am still awaiting a huge inheritance from my uncle in Ireland it should be here soon and i wanted to get something good that will last. I walked past an Apple Mac laptop in PC World last week and it said on screen about the Safari browser which i know is on the iphone and sounds good. Also all the menu icons looked nicer than Windows though i know thats not a reason just to buy something. They looked more fancy and graphical.
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[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-08-22 21:34 ] |
arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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Just a reply to your iTunes question; there are various players available, but iTunes is by far the best software out there, even better when running in its native OS X. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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people keep quoting that iTunes is better when native on OSX but does that mean its running in an emulator on windows?
I don't think so... As far as I can see the windows version is a native windows executable and so far no one has answered why being native under OSX is anything different to running native under windows... or does apple implement a better solution for OSX than windows in some way that I have not yet seen?
certainly under windows I have had no issue with any feature I have used, and I have used most of what iTunes offers
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arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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As far as I am aware, the software is initially coded for Mac and then altered for Windows. It's much lighter on memory usage in OS X than in Windows, which is something I've noticed. The general experience is better, this coming from experience with iTunes on XP, Vista and OS X. It feels fully integrated into OS X; this I cannot say for Windows.
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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fair enough, but as someone who has recently got into mac and who regularly does unit, system, integration, regression, and release testing for major systems, and who is trying hard to see what mac offers over and above everything I have known before... I really fail to see any difference when running iTunes on leopard compared with Vista.
After a recent comment from fatreg I felt I should at least try, and I transferred all my music and videos to the macbook, but I am really feeling and seeing nothing different in my experience
so I ask again... what am I missing in the iTunes experience on my macbook compared with windows? I'm still a beginner on mac and want to make an educated comparison
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Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Mmmm all sounds interesting and confusing lol.
Phone?? What phone?? |
arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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It's hard to explain why, but all the small things, like compatibility with FrontRow, integration into many Dashboard applications come together to make the experience better.
Could just be placebo, if you get where I'm coming from, but I do prefer iTunes on Mac over PC.
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badassmam
Joined: Nov 07, 2007
Posts: > 500
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Service charge to fix a Mac Book is just under £300, I didn't even ask the price of replacement parts! I know that it is more hardware related but its something you should consider. Fixing a Mac is expensive since Apple do it themselves. OSX and Windows now have become similar, programs-wise as well so you would not lose out on functionality if you go for Mac for your normal everyday stuff like music, internet, word processing etc.
With Windows, it is easier to do dodgy stuff i.e. torrents and 'free' software etc. I prefer Windows because I can play around more, many more customisations and for me its more powerful. I'm a scientist by profession so Windows is great for bioinformatics, genetics, protein simulation and modelling since there is so much support. My brother is an engineer so he can't live without Windows to run his stuff.
Its true that Vista sucks because it is slow but Windows 7 is a big improvement. It would be better to compare that to OSX since it will be out soon. I'm Windows all the way and will be going for Windows Mobile as well because they complement each other so well. No doubt that Apple stuff is cooler but it really depends on what you use your computer for, if you are a power user than go for Windows. |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Cheers for that. Very good insight to what i would expect with a Mac. I am unsure what i may do for now. When is Windows 7 coming out? Will it have less bugs than Vista did when it was launched? |
arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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If you buy your Mac brand new, you can get AppleCare, 3 years collection/delivery warranty. About £200 for laptops, £120 for desktops (cannot recall actual pricing). All parts and labour included.
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Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Thats sounds good. Think all manufacturers should be like that  But as in an Apple pc operating system does any of it operate in a similar way to Windows or is it completely different? |
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Posted: 2009-08-22 21:51
