Terpfen: “Exactly what games do you want to play?”
Case in point: I heard Fallout 3 was recently released (no Mac version). I have the OS X versions of Fallout 1 and 2 and wanted to run them for old time’s sake. Oh, too bad, because OS 10.5.5 no longer supports 256 color mode for those particular games, at least not on my Intel-based built in video. Fallout Tactics? Never released for Mac.
I’m also a big fan of Neverwinter Nights. Mac version of NWN2? Released long, long after the Windows XP one. NWN2 for Mac is $40. NWN2 for Windows available for $10. The Mac versions of NWN1 and NWN2 do not include the tool set necessary to build modules—standard with the Windows version.
EV Nova from Ambrosia, a long-time Mac developer. Ah, doesn’t work on my intel-based, GMA 950 Mac because the 256 color support is disabled or just doesn’t work. EV Nova for Windows XP? Runs fine.
Starcraft/Diablo2? Both broken and Blizzard had to rush out a fix to the Apple Corp induced problem. Warcraft I and II not supported for Mac since System 9.
Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate 2, Tales of the Sword Coast? The OS X versions are all broken.
BTW, some of these games worked fine in 10.5.2. Apple broke them with 10.5.3 when they removed 256 color support.
As for whether or not I’m a Mac fan, let’s just say I’ve been using Apple products pretty much exclusively since the Apple II+ days. I just don’t think I need to be using them much more since I spend most of my time in Boot Camp. Sorry, but it’s true. Believe me. I’d love to keep buying Macs, but why?
Surfing the Net: Firefox
iTunes: Mac and Windows versions available
Games: Windows by far!
Quicktime: Windows version available.
Windows Media Files: Not supported on Mac (Flip4Mac can be manipulated to work)
Microsoft Office: Windows version better supported.
If games are a high or growing priority, then sure, you hold a point. There’s nothing stopping you from switching to Windows if you truly want to, and it sounds like you do.
But the Mac has clearly succeeded without gaming, and it’s going to take a pretty big shift to bring gaming back to the Mac due to factors beyond Steve Jobs’ control.