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The official I hate PCs discussion
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For instance, there are rumors that OS X is being primed for Multi-Touch interfacing — as evidenced by the iPhone's UI (which uses OS X), the nature of the setup of the GUI, and Apple's recent purchase of FingerWorks.
So, by locking down the hardware they can sell a multi-touch UI that works seamlessly with OS X. A UI like that might be more challenging for Microsoft to pull off, effectively, with so much 3rd party play.
What you must understand is that the undefinable quality underlying the complete Mac experience is that Apple do their damn-dest to ensure everything works as it should.
The Mac is as close as we have ever gotten to an appliance computer. This argument is continuing because people here are not the norm, they don't use a computer as an appliance. Who the hell builds their own toaster? Who complains because they can't buy a toaster without the knob because they want to install their own knob? 4 million configurations not enough? And all of them guaranteed to make your use of this appliance a quality experience.
When people say "the Mac hardware is not for me but I'd love to run OSX on my PC" they're dreaming. The operating system without the hardware would be just another piece of junk like Windows on a PC with all the associated problems and glitches. Who the hell wants that? If you use Windows/Vista on a PC you have already got it.
If you want to build your own hardware and spend time dealing with problems instead of actually using it, enjoying it, creating with it... go for it, but don't use it as an argument against Macintosh because you can't play with the hardware (because 4 million possible configurations is not enough). It's a minority position and not a valid argument.
The real test of any product is how well it works in a standard configuration out in the real world with real users doing real work. I see Macs doing this every day. I walk into a room and see a creative team going about their business with their Macs sitting on their desks and they just work as their phone does, as their fax machine does and yes, even as their photocopier and coffee machine.
Then I go next door to the accounts department where their computers (always PCs for some reason) are the focus of their attention. Cables all over the place, peripherals cluttering up their desks, sides taken off the boxes because they run hot and the inevitable blue screen, right on cue.
I can't do a better job of defining the 'Mac Experience' because it's something you have to... experience, and not for a day or hark back to the OS 9 you used in school. You need to actually use it, as an appliance as it is intended, operating system, applications, utilities and hardware. It's an undefinable quality and completeness.
If quality is not important to you, fine. One day it will be. Then you will understand.
Posted: Friday, 9 February 2007 at 8:16AM (AEDT)
But, by locking down the hardware, you can really design some great products (for instance, see my mention above about multi-touch).
I really think they have a plan for OS X down the road that involves more specific hardware requirements.
What demands does iTunes put on a junky PC? It's just a simple app, not an OS, not a peripheral. You can't blame iTunes when Windows crashes or when the hardware overheats or when your mum trips over one of the cables!
Posted: Friday, 9 February 2007 at 8:41AM (AEDT)
Do you realise that you are basically calling the computers I've built "junk-yard-put-together"?
Do you realise that I find that offensive?
Do you care?
Are you simply being ignorant or are you deliberately being rude?
Whereas Microsoft do their damn-dest (that even a word?) to ensure nothing works as it should - Apple aren't the only ones who try to make sure everything works. They just have less to ensure it works on, *that* is the only difference.
Believe it or not, people still built their own cars, projectors and hell, even space rockets. Just because most people don't want to do it doesn't mean it's either stupid or not a valid pass time.
Yes, we are dreaming. We want competition, we want things to improve.
So you're saying that Apple can't do any better than Microsoft? Interesting...
I spend a small amount of time building my computers and a vast amount of time having fun playing on them, communicating with people, creating things. Just because you know some people who can't build a computer doesn't mean you should assume that no one can build an inexpensive, fast, reliable, quiet, aesthetically pleasing computer.
What like when Black Americans wanted to be able to go to the same schools as White Americans you mean? They were a minority, so therefore it wasn't a valid argument. Stop spouting bullshit man.
dan, I thank you for your well reasoned arguments
All the PCs I've seen so-called "built by people" are pieces of junk, no exception, (in case you missed it: no exception) they look like junk, cables everywhere, nothing matches. They work like junk, always breaking down. The number of times I've had an appointment to chat with someone over Skype and they are nowhere to be seen because their piece of junk decided to play up.
Why is that offensive to you? It happens, not my fault, I'm just the messenger. If your hardware works, then fine, none of the PC shit I see out there in the real world where people are not as aware or informed as exceptional you works fine at all.
All of the Mac equipment I see out there in the real world works beautifully, regardless of who is using it.
I know many PC owners personally who declare they have a top piece of hardware (all the technical drivel omitted because it don't mean a thing if when put together it sucks) and when I look at the monstrosity on their desk I wonder why such otherwise intelligent people have such bad taste and low standards when it comes to their choice of computer. It's not a top piece of hardware, it's noisy, runs hot, it's unreliable and it runs Windows. What's even more amazing to me is that they expect their computer to be this high-maintenance and they accept it.
Swapping out mother boards, adding extra fans, changing over power supplies, keeping spare keys for the keyboard... and so on, and so on, seems to be par for the course. I've never had to do any of this, they look at me as if to say "you don't have a real computer" I suppose.
Do I care? Of course I care, I hate seeing kids struggling with PC crap whist trying to complete their Certificate 3 in Desktop Publishing. Waiting forever for InDesign to launch then waiting for a re-start when the thing overheats. A bloody sad sight to see them working with two pedestal fans blowing on the power supply keeping it cool and blowing their papers everywhere. Why? Because their parents took the advise of some PC Mental and bought the kid a crappy PC instead of the MacBook they wanted.
I'm not ignorant, seems I've seen much more PC garbage than you ever have. And why am I being deliberately rude? I'm simply relaying what I see every day, if you decide to put yourself in there and take offense it's not my fault. Now that's a really fu#*ing asinine, moronic thing to say, where you got that from any of my statements is beyond me. (Anyway, I thought Macs were the minority?)
Posted: Friday, 9 February 2007 at 11:06AM (AEDT)
Now where'd that ignore user thread go again? =D
Posted: Friday, 9 February 2007 at 2:44PM (AEDT)
Now, who here is also waiting for a MacMini that has dual core, native HDMI and a decent multichannel sound card so they can use it in their front room for watching videos?
who the hell does that?
Quote: Wanderer Now that's a really fu#*ing asinine, moronic thing to say, where you got that from any of my statements is beyond me. (Anyway, I thought Macs were the minority?
ok but you were the one who oridginally said:
Quote: Wanderer It's a minority position and not a valid argument.
Isn't that AppleTV?
You can convince AppleTV to play other formats?! If so, then yes!
And XviD? Do they support that? Again with my DVDs, some of them I've converted to XviD (quicker access for lazy people once their converted as I no longer have to find the box, get the DVD out, put it in the player... also, means I don't have t sit through all the offensive anti piracy crap and trailers at the start) so if that will play through iTunes and therefore AppleTV, I'm getting one
All I can say is that along with: small-minded, moronic, lemming-like and petty I'll add: over-sensitive poofter sissy girls to the list of adjectives surrounding the PC Mentality.
Posted: Saturday, 10 February 2007 at 8:27AM (AEDT)
Well, if you had PC specifically built by Microsoft and only had Microsoft approved programs running on it, I'm sure you'll agree it'd run just as well as a Mac :P Oh, and it'd cost a lot less than a Mac too, bonus bonus.