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Mac vs. PC: The Ultimate Lab Test for New Desktops & Laptops
Popular Mechanics ^ | May 2008 | By Glenn Derene

Posted on 04/16/2008 2:50:20 AM PDT by Swordmaker

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To: doodad

Mac users don’t know how to handle the sorts of crises that Windows users find routine. Hmmmm.... Now what does THAT say?


21 posted on 04/16/2008 5:18:57 AM PDT by dangus
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To: texas booster

>> Will she even need an Office type program? <<

Oddly, I used Macs last year for the first time in quite a while. I was shocked to find that MS Office ran better on Macs than on Windows. All I can figure is that MS knows it has to compete if it wants to sell Office to Mac users.

Unless you have use for Access (a program which is underused in homes and small businesses), OpenOffice is comparable to MS Office... but it’s available for free! (openoffice.com)


22 posted on 04/16/2008 5:24:24 AM PDT by dangus
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To: dangerdoc; Swordmaker
Have you posted anything not Apple related???

Not since Apple got a patent on the electric universe and bought the Shroud of Turin.

= )

23 posted on 04/16/2008 5:28:55 AM PDT by Hoplite
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To: dangus
Mac users don’t know how to handle the sorts of crises that Windows users find routine. Hmmmm.... Now what does THAT say?

It isn't that so much as it is a lack of effort. When I help a Mac user, "I don't know" is the operative phrase. Both types of machines can have issues, but I find that PC users will at least try before picking up the phone. When I ask a Mac user to verify something for me, since I don't use a Mac on a regular basis, the response is "where is that?" In their defense, I would say that Apple hides many things from the user that would be of help; I guess to protect them from themselves. Just an observation from a weary support guy.

24 posted on 04/16/2008 5:30:37 AM PDT by doodad
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To: Vinnie

I run NOD 32 on my Laptop and home server—I actually forget it’s even there. I switched to it from McAfee which used to bring my laptop to a crawl.


25 posted on 04/16/2008 5:40:47 AM PDT by SirFishalot
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To: KoRn

I use the free AVG. I used to use McAfee and Norton before that and would occasionally get a virus they missed or coldnt’ handle. I have had AVG for much longer than I had both of the others together and have not had any virus problem with it at all.


26 posted on 04/16/2008 5:56:03 AM PDT by arthurus
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To: KoRn

I am still using W2k and do not plan to “upgrade” even to XP.


27 posted on 04/16/2008 5:58:46 AM PDT by arthurus
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To: texas booster
Will she even need an Office type program?

I don't have MS Office on my computers.I miss Word about 10 percent of the time I use TextEdit. OpenOffice-- open source freeware-- works pretty well on my Intel machine, although MS Office is still a little bit better.

Is MS Office worth the price? For me, no. For some probably, yes..

28 posted on 04/16/2008 6:25:11 AM PDT by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Swordmaker

It took me about 3 minutes in front of an iMac for me to
ditch Windows forever. I think if most people would use
one for a few minutes, they would follow suit.


29 posted on 04/16/2008 6:25:50 AM PDT by Verbosus
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To: dangus; doodad

It says that PC users are more experienced in solving problems because their computers FU a lot more.


30 posted on 04/16/2008 6:28:20 AM PDT by Locomotive Breath
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To: texas booster

AutoCAD isn’t available for OS X. You’d have to go virtual or Boot Camp, or forget buying a Mac.

Photoshop was born on the Mac.

You can get MS Office, Apple’s own iWork suite or install the free Neo Office (Mac version of OpenOffice).

The F@H SMP client works.


31 posted on 04/16/2008 6:35:40 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: VanDeKoik
Am I the only one who sees a close similarity between vocal Mac users and Obama supporters?

On the outside maybe, but underneath it's entirely different. Most Mac users I know are former Windows users who switched and are so happy they want to let others know there's a better way. I still use Windows more than Mac, and it constantly reinforces how much better the Mac is. It's a practical, logical thing.

Obama supporters are just blinded by the charisma or the ideology.

32 posted on 04/16/2008 7:07:18 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Damifino
I think of someone that uses their machine (I suppose Mac users don't call their personal interface device a machine) as an entertainment outlet, more like a TV. It's probably a stereotype, but it is my perception.

There are a few large deviations, most notably the creative professional using the design apps, the pro video editor, the college kid and the old-time UNIX guys who switched because now there's finally a usable UNIX.

Of course Windows has been marketed as the entertainment outlet for years and even has a special version for it, Windows Media Center.

33 posted on 04/16/2008 7:11:31 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Locomotive Breath
It says that PC users are more experienced in solving problems because their computers FU a lot more.

Nah, it is something else. The execs with their crackberries are the same. They don't bother to learn; it is all blackbox to them. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing about Macs and have a G5 at home for my daughter's art work. It is just an observation about the users. And Macs do have their own issues from time to time.

34 posted on 04/16/2008 7:13:01 AM PDT by doodad
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To: dangus
I was shocked to find that MS Office ran better on Macs than on Windows. All I can figure is that MS knows it has to compete if it wants to sell Office to Mac users

The Mac Office developers have pride in their work and have a standing challenge to always do better than the Windows Office developers. They'are a tiny enclave in the huge Microsoft, so they have something to prove.

35 posted on 04/16/2008 7:16:01 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: doodad
I would say that Apple hides many things from the user that would be of help; I guess to protect them from themselves.

I was a bit annoyed at this at first. For example you have to drop into terminal (UNIX command line) to fine-tune the power saver settings. OTOH, I understand it's the user interface concept of progressive disclosure, not hitting the user with a wall of options and capabilities all at once. Exactly where the line is drawn will appear to some people as too simplistic, and possibly others as still to complex.

36 posted on 04/16/2008 7:21:05 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: doodad
I would say that Apple hides many things from the user that would be of help

I'm still trying to find where that darned 'any key' is.

37 posted on 04/16/2008 7:22:41 AM PDT by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: dfwgator

39 posted on 04/16/2008 7:27:23 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: texas booster
Right now, according to the Autocad web site, there's nothing for the Mac except a program called Sketchbook Pro. The original Autocad is available for 2000/XP/Vista, but the architectural, MEP and Mechanical versions support W2K or XP only.

Whether she needs Office or not depends on her. You can get the educational version of Office for Mac or PC for about $150, and it includes multiple installations.

The price on Autocad is pretty impressive. Four grand for the full version or $160 for a student version that expires in fourteen months.

40 posted on 04/16/2008 7:30:45 AM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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