A diehard Mac user switches to PC

Business Insider ^ | 07/11/2018 | Steve Kovach and Clancy Morgan

[SeekAndFind]

The Mac used to have numerous advantages over the PC, but with Windows 10 the PC has now closed the gap.

These days buying a PC gives you many more options compared to the Mac, which continues to stagnate. Business Insider's senior tech correspondent, Steve Kovach, switched his Mac for a PC to see what Windows 10 really has to offer.

Following is a transcript of the video.

Steve Kovach: I've been a Mac user for over 15 years. I hated PCs. They came loaded with a bunch of software that slowed down my machine, and they caught viruses way too easily.

Ad: Last year there were 114 thousand known viruses for PCs.

PCs, but not Macs.

Steve: Then I discovered the Mac. And it had everything the PC didn't. But lately, I've grown frustrated with the Mac lineup. And while Apple has let its Mac lineup stagnate, Windows 10 computers have gotten really good. So I decided to make the switch back for a few days and tested Huawei's new MateBook X Pro. Which runs Windows 10 and starts at about $1200. Some have called it the best laptop you can buy. And guess what, Windows is actually really great. And I may even like it better than my Mac.

Windows 8 tried to be two operating systems in one. One for desktop and one for mobile. And it failed at both. It even got rid of Windows' iconic Start menu. But Windows 10 reversed a lot of those mistakes. The Start menu's back and it works great on the desktop. Windows 10 comes with Cortana. The Microsoft Digital Assistant. It can dig through files on your computer and even search the web. It's almost as good as Google Search.

Windows 10 also has a lot more hardware options.

[PJBankard]

While I use both macOS and Windows. I still prefer Windows.

I personally dislike the virus argument that is put forth when comparing the two OSs. It’s complete trash. How many servers do you see running macOS?

[Okeydoker]

Yes. Business Insider is a propaganda rag.

[outofsalt]

"Unless you simply like a good slurping...."

Really?! Who doesn't, at least occasionally, like a good slurping?

[Jeff Chandler]

A friend of mine runs Linux. He spends more time tweaking the computer than he does using it.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I will probably never swith back from Apple to PC. I hate Microsoft as much as I hate liberals. Bill Gates is devil spawn.

[cuban leaf]

I did Ubuntu and decided it made my computer more than just a commodity I use. If I could just load up the new Linux and continue using all my existing windows compatible programs as if nothing changed, I’d consider it.

I use the Avast web browser for security reasons and because it allows me to, with a click of a button, create high resolution copies of youtube videos or mp3 copies of just the sound. I also play command and conquer generals zero hour.

If that stuff stopped working, I’d be pissed.

[Jeff Chandler]

I personally dislike the virus argument that is put forth when comparing the two OSs.

I run Windows. I haven't had a virus in 15 years, and that was my own fault (accidentally shared the wrong folder).

[Jeff Chandler]

I have used Avast for years and it’s been great.

[cuban leaf]

A friend of mine runs Linux. He spends more time tweaking the computer than he does using it.

---

That used to be me.

I feel like an ex-hot rodder that now drives a camry with my wife as a daily driver and all my old friends are telling me to put a turbo in it.

But I like my Camry just fine. If I want to have fun, well, that’s what the Yamaha and the Corvette are for.

[cuban leaf]

Yeah. I forgot about the homosexual part. :)

Heck, everybody has three or four homosexual friends. They are also my coolest and funniest friends. Makes me envy them terribly. :)

[cuban leaf]

Now that you mention it, I’ve been in IT since 1983 and worked for 18 companies. All the large companies used PC’s with the occasional mac user. The only place I ever saw Macs in any number was in the small startups, and even all of them had plenty of PC’s around. Most people with macs had a mac AND a pc. All of them did at the larger companies.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You may see it as Ford vs Chevy, but I have yet to need to wipe my system clean and restore my OS System on my Mac. I was getting killed with viruses on my PC despite using virus and malware security software. I am a computer numbskull so I have no clue what I was doing to get malware. Itry not to open suspicious emails and no better than to click on suspicious links. I shop on line a lot. Could that do it? Iamalso a news junkie.

All I know is that malware has not crashed or locked up my Apple Mac yet. I still shop at all the same places and visit all the samenewssites Idid when I used a PC. Just now virus free.

[cuban leaf]

I’ve never had to do that to a PC except for a lightning strike. And even then, I reloaded the OS and the darned thing worked just fine, and I still had everything on my hard drive.

Oddly, I don’t get viruses either.

[Bob434]

I haven’t touched my computer as regards tweaking for several years- just installed linux- did a few customizations I like- and have not had to touch it since- Seriously- Even updates go very well- much faster than windows-

Like i mentioned- i only use it to browse Internet, do email- play card games- import photos from camera- that’s it- I don’t muck with anything really- but i can see it beign a pain IF someone tries to run tons of programs, set complex settings, etc- Then linux could be a pain I suppose- but for casual Internet browsing- nope- set it and forget it- at least that has been my experience for years now-

[InterceptPoint]

Operating System (OS) which is what Windows is, matters very little in my use of computers. So long as I can write my own programs to manage my personal data bases using a 2004 era data base software, I am happy.
++++++++++++++
2004 software.

I’m curious what that might be. Right now I use Microsoft Access and am quite happy with it. Previously it was Microsoft Foxpro and PHP. Before that it was dBase III. Before that possibly just Good Old dBase.

[Bob434]

Yeah, you’d need to dual boot or run virtual machine or run wine- I chose dual boot- it’s a little complicated, but not real bad- once set up- it’s good to go- I do sim racing on windows- and do it only at night- durign day I do the internet so it’s linux all day-

One thought- You could run a steam application on linux which has tons of windows games (that were converted to work on linux) that will supposedly run under linux- I Haven’t done this so can’t reply on how well it works- several people on Fr said it does work well- and there are many popular windows games that can be played-

There are also several youtube vid rippers available for firefox that can download vids-

[Bob434]

[[I was getting killed with viruses on my PC despite using virus and malware security software.]]

Me too- just doing simple searches for say ‘cantaloupes’ or ‘ford cars’ or whatever- you’d go to what looked like a legit link and bam- was getting redirected to sites infected with viruses that automatically downloaded before you coudl get out of the site- It got so bad at one point- I decided to make the switch to linux- got sick of dealing with the constant defensive tactics needed to prevent viruses on windows- Talk about having to maintain a system constantly- That was a royal pain- I’ve had linux now for a couple of years- and havent’ had to worry abotu viruses-

[[I shop on line a lot. Could that do it?]]

Depends on where you shop- I try to only shop at known major sites like Amazon, Walmart, Cabellas, Sears, etc- all reputable major companies that you know have adequate security for their sites- (almost always anyways) If you shop at obscure, unknown small sites- then yeah- they can be dangerous

another tip- if you need something off a smaller unknown website store- spend a little extra money and get a gift card for around the same amount, and use it instead of your regular credit card- The less you use your regular card, the safer your info will be- especially when it comes to unknown sites-

[Rurudyne]

Sadly, the people who do this sort of slurping all seem to look like Bill Gates or Hillary Clinton.

[Bob434]

[[A friend of mine runs Linux. He spends more time tweaking the computer than he does using it.]]

Also it depends on how geeky the person is- there are some very tough linux distributions that the real geeks like to use- and yes, they take a lot of tweaking and maintenance- I tried a couple and gave up- More trouble to me than it was worth- linux mint on the other hand is very easy if all you want is a browsing email photo import etc machine- It’s updates are just one click no brainer operations, it’s settings are easy- etc- Sure, you could get into the nuts and bolts of the OS- and be constantly tweaking- but it isn’t necessary- like i said- i set mine and forget it- it just works simply and fine, just like windows, but without the constant defense against viruses like i had with windows- Infact- it’s so easy- you could just leave everything at default, install firefox and thunderbird- set them up=- and be good to go without knowing anything about the nuts and bolts of linux- It just depends on how involved you want to get with it- Me? I like simple- Don’t like mucking with things, and if it aint broke- I don’t mess with it- I don’t have the time or patience any longer to muck with operating system tweaking by and large- Some love to tweak- not me- and i haven’t needed to with linux-

[Jeff Chandler]

I thought he might be better off with a PC or MAC, but he’s 77 years old and I think working with his computer keeps his mind sharp.