Why You Should Ditch Your PC and Switch to Mac
January 18th, 2005 | Published in Essays, Technology | 34 Comments
You know you’ve been thinking about it. Everyone is doing it. Who wouldn’t when they look at their ugly black Dell compared to one of the new Mac minis? Of course Macs look good. But as someone who is smarter than “those stupid Mac zealots” I’m sure you want reasons other than “they’re the finest looking computers out yonder.”
Let me first give my testimony. I used x86s (“PCs”) for 13 years. I used to make fun of Mac people. Then when Apple came out with OS X, I was a little intrigued, although that didn’t stop my jeering. After watching it develop for three years, I caved in and purchased an iBook. Now I wouldn’t switch back for money or fame.
I sometimes forget the horror people go through with their computers—although I am jolted back into reality when a friend calls with problems, and is fixed after running Ad-Aware or some other utility. Defragers, disk doctors and utilities, registry repairers, virus protection, spy/adware removers, and more all need to be bought and run frequently. It isn’t worth time, money, or stress.
- Stability. Mac OS X is built on UNIX, which is synonymous with stability. Windows, on the other hand is synonymous with the blue screen of death. Tired of your OS (Operating System) hanging and applications crashing? I was too. Say goodbye to applications crashing your OS.
- Things Just Work. This doesn’t really need explanation. Hook up your Microsoft mouse. Put in a USB key. Connect your video camera. It just works. Really.
- No Viruses. Which means all those emails can’t affect you, you don’t need to buy anti-virus software (although in the future you may), and no yearly anti-virus subscriptions.
- No Adware. No more popups constantly! No more programs being installed without your approval! Free yourself from your bondage!
- No Spyware.
- Boosts Your Productivity. Because of all the above reasons, you have more time to work (or play) and not have to worry about your computer. Ever said “Why can’t this just work so I can get my work done?” Well, it can! In fact, you will most likely notice getting more things done because OS X is just fun and easy to use. On top of that, the entire Mac interface lends itself to productivity and polish.
- Better Desktop Management. A friend saw me use Exposé, and said “Wow, you are living in the next century.” I use Exposé constantly and it has revolutionized the way I work with open programs. But there is even more to come in Apple’s OSX Tiger to be released this year. What will my friend say when I get Spotlight, Dashboard, and Automator?
- Security. Tired of Microsoft waiting months upon months (after the months it takes for them to acknowledge it) to fix a security issue? Mac OS X is already configured to be secure right out of the box—even a preconfigured firewall to keep you safe from hackers. You get the benefit of UNIX security combined with the beauty and polish of Apple.
- Encryption. Need to keep others out? When turned on, FileVault automatically encrypts all of your files. You are 007.
- Application Ease. Installing applications on PCs are a big deal, and watch out if you move any of the program files! With Mac, you drop the application into your applications folder and it just works. If you want, you can move it into a subfolder and nothing breaks. Just try that on a PC and see what happens! Well, on second thought, don’t try it.
- Disk Maintenance? Defrag, Scandisk, CHKDSK, Norton Utilities… kiss those wonderful pains goodbye. Don’t know what those are? That’s probably why your PC is so messed up (that and all the spy/adware/viruses). Switch to Mac. Your hard drive defrags automatically as files are moved, so you don’t have to worry about all that disk maintenance stuff.
- MS Office Compatibility. If you purchase Office for Mac you get full MS Office compatibility. Don’t want to do that? Apple now has an inexpensive option for you with Pages and Keynote that are included in iWork, which are 100% MS Office compatible. In fact, iWork may be better fitted for you (and cheaper) if you are not a hardcore MS Office user.
- Incredible Pre-Bundled Applications. You get the full set of iLifc applications, World Book encyclopedia, and a full version of Quicken. iLife is not simply individual applications—they all work together seamlessly like you (should) expect. Make a video in iMovie with background music from iTunes. Make a slideshow of images in iPhoto, send it to a friend in Mail and then put it on the Internet. Then put both on a DVD with iDVD. Have a tune in your head? Record it in Garageband—any instrument imaginable is there and a breeze to play. Want to video chat with a friend in Japan about the song you just recorded? Start up iChat. In a phrase, the Mac has everything you need to organize and edit your digital photography, make movies from your camcorder, listen to all your music, create and record music, video chat with friends, and author your own DVDs. Did I mention that it all comes free and pre-installed? The software itself is worth over $500 in my opinion.
- Any Document Can Be PDF. Every application (that can print) can save files as PDF. Now that is handy, and sure beats shelling out all that cash for the full version Adobe Acrobat!
- Network with PCs. Stuck in a network full of PCs? Don’t worry—it’ll work. Just plug it in. Internet, file sharing, printer sharing and more with ease.
- Stops the Tweaking Itch. If you are a nerd like me, you like to push your computer to the edge. Registry settings, overclocking, TweakXP… nothing is good enough by default. Leave it behind for a computer that works well without constant tweaking. Sure, you could still do it if you want to (there’s a full BSD subsystem!), but frankly, there are better things to do in life unless you write code for a living. Read a classic. Hang out with your family. Lose weight.
- Better Third-Party Applications. With free programs like Quicksilver, NetNewsWire Lite, TextWrangler, VLC, and other incredible applications like Photoshop, Transmit, Final Cut Express/Pro, and others. And of course your favorite browser, Firefox, also works like a charm if you don’t want to use Apple’s Safari.
- Control. No more will you be awash in ignorance along with the brainwashed proles. You will make an educated decision to purchase something that you can control and won’t control you. You are not going to Walmart blindly picking a PC. You have considered the alternative, weighed the options, and chose accordingly. You are a Mac user.
To those who want to make the right decision (and those who have already made it), I applaud your intelligence and good taste. May this help banish your burdens and be a boon for years to come.
January 18th, 2005 at 2:23 pm (#)
mish mosh,
nice article…but can we afford it. j/k i am going to hit you up with some html ?’s pretty soon.
peace
January 18th, 2005 at 2:39 pm (#)
mish,
its me again. what about using linux. still built on unix so stability and majority of everything you say still applies while you still can have access to programs that run on pc’s. i can’t see anything wrong with linux except maybe driver installation. what say ye.
January 18th, 2005 at 3:23 pm (#)
Bobbo-
Linux could be a viable alternative if you want to tweak a lot. It takes a lot of work and knowledge, especially when things break. I tried to use Linux about once a year for many years, and could just not switch bad as I wanted to. Too much trouble just to get simple things working, if you can get them working at all. I think Linux is good, free, server software but it is just not good enough for desktop use, as much as I hate to say it. Lindows is the closest to working well out-of-the-box, but they still have a way to go.
Go with Apple. You won’t be sorry.
January 19th, 2005 at 10:42 am (#)
Desire and reason for an Apple is not lacking. Funds to support such a purchase is….unfortunately….
January 19th, 2005 at 12:52 pm (#)
I use an ancient Mac at home and I do support work for a cable company that sells high speed internet. So I can vouch for much of what you say. We have less support issues with Macs, mostly because they can’t use a USB connection to the modem. On the other hand, there’s less that we can do to fix the issues. If a powercycle doesn’t work, you can try a release/renew of the ip and that’s about it. And there are still OS 9 users out there, by the way.
As for the firewall, XP also comes with a built-in, prefigured one. Macs don’t have the virus or spyware issues–yet–but will as soon as they become more widely used. Better third party app, but fewer free ones. You have Apple’s incredibly stupid compatibility issues for the OS. I upgraded to 10.2, because there were apps that wouldn’t run on less than that. Now I find some that require 10.2.5 or 10.2.8, or just 10.3. I can run apps from win95 on xp still. Given the cost of many applications, this isn’t a trivial issue.
I find it curious that Apple dumped an OS designed for ease of use and went with one that is notoriusly cryptic. They’ve done a nice job of it, but I see fewer Mac users now and more Unix geeks out there. I’ll stay with Macs for now, but it really doesn’t look like it’s any easier for the computer illiterate user to use than XP is.
January 19th, 2005 at 2:37 pm (#)
Outtakes01.19.05
The Gospel of Mac — Maybe its because I’m more Calvinist than Catholic, but I’ve never been swayed by the Mac evangelists. But if the 18 reasons that Joshua Sowin gives for “Why You Should Ditch Your PC and Switch…
January 19th, 2005 at 3:33 pm (#)
The comments for the “Better Third-Party Applications” are a little misleading. Photoshop is mentioned, yet there is a PC version of Photoshop. Firefox is mentioned, yet there is a PC version of Firefox.
Final Cut Pro/Express is an Apple program…not developed by a third party.
January 19th, 2005 at 3:37 pm (#)
Desire and reason for an Apple is not lacking. Funds to support such a purchase is….unfortunately….
Unless you don’t work, the time you will save makes that cost back in no time.
January 19th, 2005 at 3:47 pm (#)
“Thought”–Good thought! Photoshop feels faster on a G5 than a PC in my opinion, but you got me on having Final Cut on the third-party point.
“Teri”–You make some good points as well. However, when I installed Windows XP on my mother’s computer it was instantly attacked by viruses and was brought down so quick I could hardly get the firewall up. A person not experienced with XP could have never gotten the firewall up before the computer restarted. There were more than 5 virus programs installed just through the unfirewalled internet connection!
January 19th, 2005 at 6:25 pm (#)
I’m in the “finances permitting I would have switched years ago” category. I *so* want a mac! Grrr. Your article only makes me want one more than ever. Darn you! Cool site btw – first time surfer, first time commenter.
January 19th, 2005 at 6:51 pm (#)
The OS Wars Rage Anew
Well, it’s been a few years since the OS wars were a big issue. Microsoft thought they had crushed all the competition. But now, the peasants are revolting. Firefox is rising from the ashes of Netscape, Linux is on the rise, and Macs are on the off…
January 19th, 2005 at 11:16 pm (#)
But it seems like Apple is much more control-crazy than PC makers…. You can’t separate the machine from its software, and that is a major minus.
Also, if you travel a lot around the world, you’ll have lots of compatibilty problems with other users (as Mac is almost non-existent in many areas), and dread if anything ever should break!
January 19th, 2005 at 11:43 pm (#)
1. Then why not use Linux? As stable, much cheaper.
2. Nothing ever “just works”. There’s a reason, and I suspect Jobs doesn’t know it.
3. Not true.
4&5: Use Firefox. Cost a hell of a lot less than switching to Jobs’ masturbatory fantasy toy.
6. I play games and surf the web on my PC. I ain’t lookin’ for “productivity”. Can I play Doom 3 at high quality, 1024×768, anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering on? Yeah, that’s what I thought…
7. I organize crap MY way, not Gatesy Boys’ or Jobsy-Wobsy’s way. Push.
8. Security is mostly a matter of personal vigilance and intelligence. I’m loaded with both–and still have money left over to eat!!!
9. Uh, hello? XP has encryption…
10. If you have trouble “installing” apps, you shouldn’t be allowed near any box that plugs into the wall…that means a computer, doof.
11. With today’s hardware, not that necessary anymore. Defragging’s overrated.
12. I thought you well extolling the praises of Apple, not MS Office. Stay on task–I mean, that’s what an Apple is supposed to help you do, right? Stay on task?
13. For the additional cost, they should come bundled with a Jaguar.
14. Use PDF995 (a PDF print-driver). Free. Works. Doesn’t make Jobs richer.
15. In case you can’t figure out how to just plug in a couple wires? I’m still not buying…either a Mac, or your arguments.
16. Ah, your true colors show now. You’re a nerd. But obviously NOT a geek.
17. Let’s see: don’t use it, don’t use it, don’t use it, don’t use it, don’t use it, don’t use it, don’t use it. Ah, Firefox–use it, on my PC (did I mention I built my own? Can you do THAT with a Mac?).
18. Sorry, us “brainwashed” proles choose to breathe free, saving our religious fervor for, well, RELIGION.
January 20th, 2005 at 11:17 am (#)
If I thought myself gracious enough to respond to that, I still wouldn’t waste my time.
January 20th, 2005 at 5:58 pm (#)
Nice list of reasons. One typo I noticed: in #13, it says iLifc instead of iLife. Also, it might be nice to link the apps in #17. :-)
January 20th, 2005 at 6:37 pm (#)
Jolly Digest 1-20-05
Are you sure you really wouldn’t rather have a Mac?
January 21st, 2005 at 3:20 am (#)
I agree, I have a PC at home right now but when Tiger arrives I will probably buy a Mac Mini.
January 21st, 2005 at 9:44 am (#)
I hear Dreamweaver/Flash/Fireworks work faster on a Mac?
January 21st, 2005 at 12:00 pm (#)
I’m not sure if it works faster, but with Dreamweaver it is the same exact program as the Windows version (instead of a real mac port) so it has all the exact same bugs.
January 21st, 2005 at 1:20 pm (#)
once you switch, you’ll never go back. oh, and for those who take perverse enjoyment of having to constantly do battle with their PCs to get them to work, or to configure peripherals, etc. Maybe you’re the type who likes to carry your water in buckets from the nearest stream and cook over an open fire in your back yard too? ;-)
January 21st, 2005 at 1:32 pm (#)
1) OS/X WILL crash, like any other OS. XP properly updated is as solid and offers program isolation as well. The BSOD hasn’t been a significant problem for most users since NT. If you want comparisons, let’s apply Apple’s OS of 5 years ago…
2) Only if you buy “stuff” particularly certified for the OS, ie more Apple products. Everyone makes XP drivers.
3,4,5) They’re there, just not as prevalent. The same with OS exploits. It’s just the popularity of the platform that leads to greater occurences. You can defeat them all by using Firefox and letting your box auto update.
6) Completely subjective, as is most pro-Apple dogma
7) Give the freeware community a month and you’ll see a better version for XP, for free. Remember that one of a kind taskbar?
8) XP SP2
9) XP. If encrypted files/folders aren’t good enough for you, there’s any number of integrated freewares to do the job.
10) Big deal? You mean clicking Setup? And exactly what do you do on OS/X when you want to remove a program?
11) No idea what you’re talking about. There’s no defrag on the fly in OS/X.
12) Um, buying Office for XP is a bit more compatible.
13) Try this. Go to any major freeware site and compare Mac OS/X to XP. Go to any software or discount store and what’s on the rack?
14) Anyone who buys Acrobat to output PDF deserves a Mac.
15) So do PCs. Faster and better.
16) Do you get it at all? Try this. Compare performance between, say, a Windows Photoshop and an OS/X version.
17) I can’t believe you actually said this.
18) “I buy Apple because it makes me feel elite”
That said,
- Macs cost more for equivalent hardware
- Macs are near impossible to upgrade
- Macs have fewer choices for application software
- PCs get all the applications, drivers and devices first
- Macs support corporate standards inferiorly
- Game performance is poor
- No user level development program
- Poor internal scripting language
Why am I even bothering to argue with a zealot.
- If you want the most supported, most maintained, most popular, de facto machine, buy a PC with XP.
- If you want the most stable, least exensive, most customizable machine around, buy a PC and install Linux.
- If you want to feel elite and have all your hardware color coordinated and don’t mind paying 40% more per item and have no qualms about throwing it all away in a couple of years when the newest OS becomes incompatible with old hardware and/or fashion changes, get iSold.
January 21st, 2005 at 1:37 pm (#)
Bob:
Your post sounds almost exactly like what I would have said a year and a half ago. I understand. Really, I do!
P.S.> If I bought Macs to feel “elite,” I surely wouldn’t be trying to get more people to use them, eh?
January 28th, 2005 at 2:51 pm (#)
First i have to say, that i love my powerbook. But because everybody said that mac is the best, we did some comparison between a pc-laptop from dell and my powerbook (photoshop, office, filetransfer, startup). Except for network stuff the 2 year old dell laptop was much faster than my 1 year old powerbook. And … the dell can work more than 6 hours with its rechargeable batteries.
my conclusion: with a pc you can do your work cheaper and faster. But if i had to decide again i would buy a mac because its a beautiful thing.
March 5th, 2005 at 11:48 pm (#)
“If I bought Macs to feel “elite,” I surely wouldn’t be trying to get more people to use them, eh?”
Josh, by that reasoning, Democrat Party officials wouldn’t try to get more illegal aliens, felons and deceased voters to make it to the polls, now would they, eh?
March 8th, 2005 at 4:42 pm (#)
That doesn’t make any sense.
March 21st, 2005 at 4:24 pm (#)
Sure you could build your own PC from scratch… but why when you can buy a well built and very stylish Mac? I just don’t see why people make a big deal out of being able to build their own PC.
As far as free third-party software. Have a look at VersionTracker.com and you’ll find TONS of awesome free apps to use with OS X.
Jeff H said “For the additional cost, they should come bundled with a Jaguar.” What? $500 gets you a Mac Mini which already has all of those apps included! You know you’re going to spend far more than that when you build your own PC and try to get it to do everything the Mac will do right out of the box!
I’m happy that Josh has decided to test the Mac waters and has seen the light. I use a PC at work everyday and, well, it just SUCKS! Even an IT department in a large company can’t keep PCs working as flawlessly as a Mac running OS X.
Thanks for the post Josh!
March 21st, 2005 at 8:10 pm (#)
The grass always looks greener when you first step on it.
Truth is, you’re all right. I have a G5 and a Dell PC sitting here and every praise and every criticism of both operating system has merit. Yes, there are less security hassles with OS X but I’ll take Outlook over any Mac email client anyday, especially Mail which I really can’t stand. There are things that work better on OS X and there are things that work better on XP. Just depends on what you want to do. And Dreamweaver does *not* run better on OS X, that I can promise you.
Stability is a draw. If you know what you’re doing and you follow good preventive maintenance both platforms are stable 95% of the time. I’ve had one kernel panic on my Mac, I’ve had one BSOD on my Dell. I’ve never had a problem with spyware or viruses because I use Firefox and I’m careful and I use antivirus and antispyware utilities that protect my machine.
March 24th, 2005 at 12:56 pm (#)
Josh… I had to post something!
One opposing view point
This one relates more to my industry
On most of your points, I do agree with you though. I’ve been tempted to do the Mac Mini thing as well. I gotta tell you though, I just built up a P4 HT 3.2GB and I’m FLOORED with how fast that machine is.
(and for those that don’t know me, I used to be the biggest mac evangelist I know.)
May 4th, 2005 at 8:47 pm (#)
Ditch Your PC and Switch to Mac
Josh Sowin has a nice post about why you should ditch your PC and switch to Mac. I have tons of reasons myself why someone should switch to a Mac, but Josh actually posted a list which is pretty simple…
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:07 am (#)
I want more information about MAC and why mac is good; just because of it’s high power proccessor or it cant catch a VIRUS. The only thing is that on which you believe not the one on which they believe. You understan what i’m saying you can never be satisfied of what you have within your self but satisfied by the one which is better than you and it’s true that what god has given to us is much less tahn what we need.
(In this world, there is every thing to fill up your needs, but not for your greedyness.) Now also the MAC is best than the PC.
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:33 am (#)
Thank you sooo very much, I am gonna get a laptop for Christmas this year but I wasn’t sure which one but now I am sure I want a MacBook! I think that by the information you gave, which i believe completely, my Macintosh that I will get will last a really long time, longer than 15 years, cuz I have a Windows 98 in my upstairs desk and it is 9 years old now, but you said that a Mac will last alot longer because it won’t get any bugs or viruses! I am getting a Mac for sure now.
Thanx,
Zach D.
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:35 am (#)
Hey King,
R U a Christian? I know I am! Well, whether U R a Christian or not, U need to believe the Christian God and have absolutely NO other gods but Him.
July 11th, 2007 at 9:46 pm (#)
Hey Zkmetroid? To hell with your God. Who are you to tell me I cannot have any other Gods but the one you choose? God does not exist, never did. Neither did Jesus. The bible is fiction, not fact.
May 17th, 2009 at 12:25 pm (#)
Josh,
Okay. I’m interested in learning more about macs. I have NEVER used one, but I am always up for trying something new.
My questions…
I have 300GB of info on a portable drive that I normally use between work and home (MS Office files – all types, pictures, old scanned documents, etc, etc). If I get a mac, can I plug this portable hard drive into it, will it work, and will I be able to access and use all these files I have?
I have 120GB of pictures…can I view them on mac without converting them?
I’m a software junkie…will any of my old Windows software operate on a mac?
Things like my Nikon DSLRs…can I plug them into a mac and will they be recognized, without software?
Where is a good reference source for all these types of “I am converting from windows to mac” kinds of questions?
THanks!
Bart