The news that the new intel-based Macs can dual-boot Windows erases one of my biggest reservations toward their systems -- software compatibility. In fact, with this, Macs are more compatible than any other system available, being now able to multi-boot OSX, Windows, and any variety of Linux and/or FreeBSD you want.
However, I can do -- and have done -- three out of those four things on my PC already. So the question is: how much is OSX worth? Apple's answers seems to be "about a grand, please". That's the difference between what you'd pay for a PC and a Mac with roughly equal specs. The Mac is un-upgradeable in many ways (want a better video card? new processor? tough luck) and -- as far as I know -- unable to be serviced by anyone but Apple. I've yet to see a Mac-only application that made me lustful, with the exception of iTunes, which was eventually ported to Windows. Maybe if I needed to edit movies, do high-end digital photography, or animation or something, I'd feel differently, but I don't, so I don't.
Apple's security track-record for their operating systems has been stellar, but how much is that worth to me? How much time, money, and data have I lost to hackers, viruses, and spyware on my Windows box? Virtually none.
The "blue screen of death" horse that Mac acolytes love to trot out has been dead for many years. My XP machines can, and often do, run for months on end without ever shutting down due to crashes. And if the hardware fails? I can fix it myself.
There's also the "Micro$oft suxxorz" school of thought, but from any standpoint that matters, Apple is no better. They're both large corporations only interested in profit, the only difference is in scale. If people were really serious about being anti-corporate, they'd uninstall Windows AND OSX and use only Linux, Unix, or FreeBSD, et al. In fact, the DRM changes coming in Windows Vista may drive me entirely to Linux.
But there is the sex factor, I will admit. My PC is about as un-sexy as you can get -- just a plastic hunk of non-descript, generic off-white boxen. The new iMacs are another story, however. Whenever I see one, I feel a strong urge to mate with it. Those clean, white, shining iMacs say "I am from the future, and my owner is cooler than you. Bow, mortal." It's true, I admit it.
I'm just not sure I want to pay a thousand bucks for it.
However, I can do -- and have done -- three out of those four things on my PC already. So the question is: how much is OSX worth? Apple's answers seems to be "about a grand, please". That's the difference between what you'd pay for a PC and a Mac with roughly equal specs. The Mac is un-upgradeable in many ways (want a better video card? new processor? tough luck) and -- as far as I know -- unable to be serviced by anyone but Apple. I've yet to see a Mac-only application that made me lustful, with the exception of iTunes, which was eventually ported to Windows. Maybe if I needed to edit movies, do high-end digital photography, or animation or something, I'd feel differently, but I don't, so I don't.
Apple's security track-record for their operating systems has been stellar, but how much is that worth to me? How much time, money, and data have I lost to hackers, viruses, and spyware on my Windows box? Virtually none.
The "blue screen of death" horse that Mac acolytes love to trot out has been dead for many years. My XP machines can, and often do, run for months on end without ever shutting down due to crashes. And if the hardware fails? I can fix it myself.
There's also the "Micro$oft suxxorz" school of thought, but from any standpoint that matters, Apple is no better. They're both large corporations only interested in profit, the only difference is in scale. If people were really serious about being anti-corporate, they'd uninstall Windows AND OSX and use only Linux, Unix, or FreeBSD, et al. In fact, the DRM changes coming in Windows Vista may drive me entirely to Linux.
But there is the sex factor, I will admit. My PC is about as un-sexy as you can get -- just a plastic hunk of non-descript, generic off-white boxen. The new iMacs are another story, however. Whenever I see one, I feel a strong urge to mate with it. Those clean, white, shining iMacs say "I am from the future, and my owner is cooler than you. Bow, mortal." It's true, I admit it.
I'm just not sure I want to pay a thousand bucks for it.
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
lilyk:
Seriously, the whole if you don't like it, go look look at tits and ass concept is really lost on many here...and it is getting more than old.
rebeccad:
Get on googletalk, fartface!