Thread: Dell or Imac

Yes - well done Kelvin! I know the Captain is pumped up for you! If you need any help - let either of us know.

The Mac OS may have changed in the last 25 years, but it seems that Mac owners haven't changed at all.

I joined this discussion because it seemed that everyone was trying to persuade the OP that he had to have a Mac.

I said:

Originally Posted by vnx205

It depends a lot on what you want to do with it.

For a lot of people, it would be a much better idea to buy a much cheaper PC ... ... ....

The question is not which is the best computer or the best OS. The question is what is the best computer for the job you need to do at a price you can afford or are prepared to pay.

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Just because the Mac may (or may not) be a better computer does not mean that it is the one you should buy.

So I began by pointing out that the issue at stake is not which computer or OS is best.

Then because someone mention "intuitive", I pointed out even the most intuitive interface does not mean that everyone will instantly be able to do what they want to do.

I said:

Originally Posted by vnx205

I know that a lot of people, especially Mac users say a lot about intuitive interfaces, but my few attempts to use a Mac have all been a complete disaster.
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I accept that there are people who are better off with a Mac. I just think that automatically recommending a Mac to every potential computer buyer makes about as much sense as recommending a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce or an Aston Martin to everyone looking to buy a car.

Then because someone asked about how long I spent trying to work out how to use the Mac, I explained:

Originally Posted by vnx205

It was about a quarter of a century ago, so I don't remember exactly how long I persisted before I gave up. All I can remember is that I wasn't able to get the job done on the two or three occasions when I had to attempt something with a Mac.
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Like a lot of things they seem intuitive the SECOND time you use them. That is my feeling about the way Office 2007 programs now look.
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However, it would appear that I had not made my point clearly because I was accused of making a judgement about the current version of OSX.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I'm sorry, but I went from our Apple IIe straight to a PC. I didn't try the macs of the time. None the less, I really think it's farcical for you to base your opinion of the current version of OS X on your experiences 25 years ago. That there is crazy stuff.
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I don't actually have an opinion about the current version of OS X. I do however have an opinion about the claims that are often made by devotees of particular brands or philosophies.


It seems there was a second point that I didn't make clear enough.

Originally Posted by Scallops

I think its funny that a bloke who used one a quarter of a century ago and "found it hard to use" might still feel that way. .. .... ..

Unless someone has been editing my posts, I didn't claim that when I had a couple of Jobs to do on the Mac that I "found it hard to use". What I said was that the experience was a disaster and that I wasn't able to get the job done. I thought I had made it clear that the reason the experience was a disaster was that because I had been taken in by the hype about Macs, I thought that I would be able instantly complete the simple tasks I had to do. I didn't expect to have to spend a couple of minutes working it out. At the time I didn't have a couple of minute to spare and I could have easily done the job on a Microbee in that time.

At no time did I criticise Macs or their OS. I did, however strongly criticise the widespread notion that Macs are perfectly intuitive and completely user friendly. My experiences with the Mac were a disaster because I believed the inflated claims made about the Macs. That is not the same thing as saying there is something wrong with the Macs themselves (or even that there was 25 years ago). I was criticising the claims, not the Mac.

I did think it was a touch ironic that at a time when one thread appeared to be about how easy Macs were to use, there was another thread where a recent Mac purchaser was asking for help to do some quite basic operations.

I suppose the following post must be tongue in cheek as we all know how easy Macs are to use:

Originally Posted by Scallops

Yes - well done Kelvin! I know the Captain is pumped up for you! If you need any help - let either of us know.

So to summarise:
Macs are probably good machines. Mind you they would need to be at the price.
The claims about how intuitive a lot of things, including Macs are, need to be taken with a grain of salt.
My experience with Macs was probably soured because I took some of the claims made then and now too literally.
Not everyone needs whatever extra capabilities a Mac may have.

However none of this actually matters at all.

All you Mac owners are probably happy with your expensive machines. I am perfectly happy with my free, obsolete, cast-off computer running a free OS and free, open source programs.

So really we are all satisfied with the way things are and all of this has really been nothing more than an enjoyable chat about something that doesn't really matter anyway. In fact most of it probably belonged in the General Chat forum as most of it was really just the sort of friendly conversation that might have occurred around a campfire after a beer or a glass of red.

Originally Posted by vnx205

The Mac OS may have changed in the last 25 years, but it seems that Mac owners haven't changed at all.

That's quite a post, vnx! No bad stuff intended from me - in any way. The thing with communicating by only a keyboard is that intention can be lost - that's going both ways. And I've changed a great deal in the past 25 years! Back then, I would have just ignored all of this and gone outside and done something useful!

Originally Posted by Scallops

That's quite a post, vnx! No bad stuff intended from me - in any way. The thing with communicating by only a keyboard is that intention can be lost - that's going both ways. And I've changed a great deal in the past 25 years! Back then, I would have just ignored all of this and gone outside and done something useful!

I suspect I would have done the same. I think I've got too much time on my hands these days. However I will now do the right thing and go outside and do something useful.

In fact I should have been there some time ago. It is one of those glorious winter days we often get down here. There isn't a cloud in the sky and there is just a breath of wind, so I can choose to be in a T shirt and shorts in the sun or in jeans and a light sweater in the shade and either way I will be comfortable.

Get a PC - dont waste the bucks on 'computer bling'.

You'll get something that does EXACTLY the same thing for half the price.

Even the low end HP Laptops at the moment are real value for money - plenty of driver support and components last well.

Just don't get vista... I've kept the 35 odd sites that I look after all on XP, and will not be changing over a single computer to a new OS till Windows 7 is in full sale.

Originally Posted by Mutley

Get a PC - dont waste the bucks on 'computer bling'.

You'll get something that does EXACTLY the same thing for half the price.

You'll get this too...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/computers/...on-issues.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/computers/...er-dramas.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/computers/...dio-probs.html

These were just a taste from the current page of this area. Bling maybe - but it works.

Originally Posted by Mutley

Get a PC - dont waste the bucks on 'computer bling'.

You'll get something that does EXACTLY the same thing for half the price.

Have you used a mac recently? if so for how long. If not, how can you make that call?

Originally Posted by Mutley

Even the low end HP Laptops at the moment are real value for money - plenty of driver support and components last well.

Just don't get vista... I've kept the 35 odd sites that I look after all on XP, and will not be changing over a single computer to a new OS till Windows 7 is in full sale.

So, buy and new computer now, find or buy an outdated OS from somewhere and wipe your new machine and install that. Hope that there are drivers for your new hardware. Then, in 2 months time pay $200+ to get an OS that you hope your new machine has the grunt to run.

Yeah... that's good thinking

IT people often forget how hard this stuff is for "normal" people.

Originally Posted by vnx205

So really we are all satisfied with the way things are and all of this has really been nothing more than an enjoyable chat about something that doesn't really matter anyway. In fact most of it probably belonged in the General Chat forum as most of it was really just the sort of friendly conversation that might have occurred around a campfire after a beer or a glass of red.

So, what you object to is that I strongly recommend them?

Ok, how does this sound.

Hi, I've worked in IT for over 20 years now in a number of fields. During that time I've undergone substantial academic and commercial training. I have used both the Microsoft and Apple OS's extensively. I find that the Apple OS is substantially easier to use, faster, has more features, does not require re-building for the life of the hardware, and is very secure.

Is that better?