mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
Many many moons ago, you guys duked it out over which was better, Mac or PC. Today, I’d like to revist the old debate by taking a look at David Pogue’s HILARIOUS! review over at the New York Times of the new PC operating system, Vista.
So go check it out here and then report back to us. May the best OS win!
I love my Mac at home and use a PC all day at work. And wow, if my company upgrades to Vista, it’ll be like having the same OS in both places!
posted by Beth on 12-14-2006 at 9:53 am
Wah wah… Vista copied OS X… and OS X is basically the Unix/Linux X Window system in a Mac box. Go Tux!
posted by Jason! on 12-14-2006 at 10:03 am
wow it looks like a mac but can play video games and leverage a majority of the software on the market. Leave it to Apple to make it look good and leave it to Microsoft to make it work.
posted by tim on 12-14-2006 at 11:21 am
The video was a great piece of sarcasm. It has been more than 15 years since an original idea has come out of Redmond. It also never ceases to amaze me that the majority of those who favor the Mac OS also use Windows while the vast majority who berate the Mac have never even used one for any length of time. Software numbers are no reason to choose one over the other. How much of all that Windows software produced will the average home end user actually need? Probably less than 1%. All the software written for Mac OS X is even much more than the average user will ever need.
After 20 years of using both MS & Apple, I’ll take the Mac hands down. Give me a brand new Windows machine and before you can say Bill Gates I’ll have it up on ebay. The money would go towards a new Mac. If you haven’t tried it, give it a real chance. Once you go Mac, you’ll never go back!
posted by Steve S on 12-14-2006 at 12:39 pm
i’ve recently purchased my first iMac and am pretty happy with it. i’m on a STEEP learning curve as i’ve never before used an apple computer before. my iPod helped convince me to purchase an iMac. i’m very happy with the userfriendlyness of the iMac and i’m still in the “i wonder how to get my mac to do such-and-such” phase. i am, however, a little disappointed that one or two pieces of software that i used a lot on a PC is not made for my mac … e.g. nokia syncing software. but alas i can’t have everything!
i’d say they both have their assets and their drawbacks but for general ease of use for the average home user, the iMac wins hands down.
posted by basil on 12-14-2006 at 1:45 pm
I have used both Mac and PC, and have always chose PC, whether for home computing or MP3 player. I happen to think Vista is ridiculous… and will happily stick with XP until forced to give it up.
posted by Sara on 12-15-2006 at 12:41 pm
I’m one of those switchers having used a PC for many years before getting a Mac. When I first got my Mac I was sceptical about software availability and hardly used it for the first 6 months. But after I got used to it I only ever booted the PC twice more to burn some moving discs with workfiles.
On the downside… I used to make a part time living fixing peoples PCs since I was so used to tinkering with the system. Now I don’t have that knowledge or income.
On the plus side… I don’t have to fix peoples stoopid PCs anymore. And I get other things done instead of just fixing system errors. Five years now without a virus no matter how many suspect things I download. I am happy.
posted by Storm on 12-16-2006 at 1:57 pm