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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Microsoft enters "PC vs. Mac" debate

By | August 10, 2010, 10:18am PDT

Summary: While Apple has drawn a line underneath its “Mac vs. PC” ad campaign, but it seems that Microsoft is just getting started. Up on Microsoft’s Windows 7 website is a new “PC vs. Mac” page.

While Apple has drawn a line underneath its “Mac vs. PC” ad campaign, but it seems that Microsoft is just getting started. Up on Microsoft’s Windows 7 website is a new “PC vs. Mac” page.

This is interesting for a number of reasons. First, the title of the page:

PC vs Mac: The PC has Blu-ray capability, more software choices, and more!

Playing the Blu-ray card is a weak move right off the bat. First off, I can literally count the number of people I know who use a PC as a Blu-ray player on one hand. Secondly, Windows 7 doesn’t natively support Blu-ray, which means that you have to install a third-party player to get things working.

LAME.

Microsoft goes on to compare PC vs. Mac in six areas:

  • Having fun - Macs might spoil your fun
  • Simplicity - Macs can take time to learn
  • Working hard - Macs don’t work as well at work or school
  • Sharing - Macs don’t like to share
  • Compatibility - Macs might not like your PC stuff
  • Choice - Macs don’t let you choose

The points raised are an interesting mix of facts, FUD, and crazy lame stuff. Here’s what I think is one of the lamest arguments:

Available in your favorite color.
Macs only come in white or silver. PCs are available in a full spectrum of colors across a range of price points.

Really? Color? Seriously? How much of a Windows 7 selling point is this?

Then, right above the whole color debate, you get this point:

Loaded with features.
You can’t get a Mac with a Blu-ray player, TV tuner, Memory Stick reader, or built-in 3G wireless. PCs running Windows 7 often come with features that aren’t available on even the highest end Macs, including Blu-ray, eSATA, multi-format card readers, Touch, and mobile broadband. 

So you can happily switch from talking about eSATA and multi-format card readers to the color of the color of the system on the same page? Yikes, that’s a reach downshift.

Then there’s some weird FUD points. Take this for example:

More digital media.
With PCs running Windows 7, you can play the videos and music stored on your home PC while you’re on the go, for free. Apple charges $99/year for its online service.

Microsoft is trying to make some point here related to Apple’s MobileMe service, but it falls flat because MobileMe isn’t really a media sharing service.

There’s an air of desperation in the information that Microsoft has presented. And, oddly enough, it’s has little relevance to Windows 7. It’s also confused, jumbled and simplistic, like someone just jotted down some PC vs. Mac points and was then allowed to post them up without really giving them much thought. Just chucking up a load of bullet point arguments relating generically to PCs isn’t helpful. If anything, it highlights the reason why Macs are increasing in popularity - people don’t want to worry about picking the right PC out of a sea of makes and models. Yammering on about Blu-ray, HDTV, eSATA and so on only make matters worse.

Thoughts?

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Topics

Apple Macintosh, Blu-ray Disc, PC, Microsoft Corp., Desktops, Blu-Ray, Microsoft Windows 7, Hardware, Personal Technology, DVD, Home Entertainment, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Microsoft enters
laklaklak 12th Sep 2010
yo Fanboy!YEs you I-will-bend-over-for-Jobs .
Why do you like Apple?
Is it because it is better than the available products in the market?No because Google will have Apple for breakfast any ******* day and even Microsoft can clean up the remaining bit.
but Apple is "cool".So how do you define "cool" fanboy?
Uncle Jobs has brainwashed you so much that you think buying a gadget which is neither a PC nor a phone i cool.Having black boxes appear in most websites(yes fanboys iam talking about Flash here) is cool.
So Uncle Jobs has a problem with Flash.No sweat
Instead of taking it outside what does he do?He makes you gullible pawns in the game.
Sure flash is buggy and all that .No one's denying that.
But the point is most websites have flash content.However Mr. Jobs will tell you to shun those sites.Too bad if it contains some really important stuff like your job or intern application.
Its important to be cool.
Ohhh wait here i got it completely wrong.Maybe you do not need the job.See Uncle jobs is a smart guy you are upper middle class and who needs the job thingy anyway when daddy has a boat in Maine?
View in thread
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RE: Microsoft enters
dfl274 10th Aug 2010
Everytime Microsoft comes out with one of these consumer level ad campaigns they wind up looking foolish. They should just stick to what they are good at, selling to businesses. There's plenty of room for Apple in the house and Windows at the office. Microsoft has nothing to worry about.
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There is no way
mdemuth 10th Aug 2010
MS will or should give up 'in the house'. That is just an insane idea.
MS, however, isn't used to explaining technical things to non-technical people. It is going to take a little adjusting.
And 'an air of desperation' because they are pointing out technologies you can easily do with Windows but not the Mac? Are you kidding me?
No one cared that XP had 3rd party DVD drivers, and no one will care that about Blu-Ray.
Are you kidding me?
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Nobody cares about Blu-Ray on the PC ...
RationalGuy 10th Aug 2010
@mdemuth

Blu-Ray is a non-factor. It's hardly a factor in home entertainment as a video medium, let alone as data storage. There was more movement around ZIP disks back in the day than around Blu-Ray on computers now.

I agree that MS shouldn't give up competing in the consumer space. In fact, their moves with Windows Phone 7 sort of show that they "get it". The consumer market is a beachhead into their corporate market. They have to defend both.

Products like their stupid back-of-the-screen keyboard that Mary Jo profiled, and the fact that their "slate" PCs still have a "Start" button in the bottom left of the screen, prove that they are utterly clueless as to how to win in the consumer space.

MS will lose in consumer, but they should keep trying.
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RE: Microsoft enters
HypnoToad72 10th Aug 2010
@dfl274 - I agree. The Mac ads are bad, but the Microsoft ads just reek of "I can put out a badly devised ad, too!"
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They reek of something completely different.
RationalGuy 10th Aug 2010
@HypnoToad72

They reek of utter cluelessness. Someone at Microsoft honestly believes that people are drawn to Macs because of "marketing". Not because Apple makes a great product that is simple to use.

Windows 7, which is probably the best and most user-friendly version of Windows to date, is still ridiculously and unnecessarily convoluted and complicated for most people. Instead of making things easy, Microsoft simply bolts new functionality on top of existing functionality. Then, they throw in verbose management screens and cryptic system messages to make sure that everyone is thoroughly confused.
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Zealotry
People 10th Aug 2010
Looks like MS cannot let the zealotry die.
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RE: Microsoft enters
pebbleit 10th Aug 2010
Pretty much came to the same conclusion - full thoughts on our blog: http://blog.pebbleit.com/post/931643829/pc-vs-mac-microsofts-perspective
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Adrian, it's all they have
Richard Flude Updated - 10th Aug 2010
We see the backlog developing in the pc supply chain. No one wants them.

Meanwhile Apple can't keep up production!

The pc is desending into a farce much quicker than even I expected. Fun times, poor mcse's;-)
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Wow
samalie 10th Aug 2010
Microsoft is dying in the consumer space...and THIS is what they come up with to battle Apple?

Wow, just...wow.
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RE: Microsoft enters
CobraA1 12th Aug 2010
@samalie I wouldn't say they're really dying. They've got a lot of competition from Apple now, sure, but I don't think they're really in danger of failing.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Loverock Davidson 10th Aug 2010
Uh oh! Microsoft made an argument against Mac and AKH has a hissy fit! LOL!! It just wouldn't be right for Microsoft to point out some facts about their own software would it? You must defend! LOL! Funny how a Microsoft turned Apple guy whines so much.
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Two points
davebarnes 10th Aug 2010
1. This page on the Microsoft website takes some work to find. This is not a TV advert people.
2. The target is the current Windows user who might, just might, god forbid, be thinking of switching to that Mac thing. This page does a good job at targeting that person.

This page will prevent some defections.
But, many people will still switch to the Mac. Apple is cool and Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, etc are not.
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RE: Microsoft enters
omdguy 10th Aug 2010
@davebarnes

No, Apple is NOT cool at all! Apple has a self absorbed, arrogant, disengenious CEO who blatantly lies to customers and the marketplace in general. The company steals others ideas (by their own admission) and is being sued for patent ingringement by every major smartphone manufacturer.

Apple is ANYTHING but cool!
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Protest too much?
RationalGuy 10th Aug 2010
@omdguy

Sounds like you might be in love and don't want to admit it...
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RE: Microsoft enters
Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
@omdguy Biased much? Mac have their places as do Windows based PCs... And does being sued by someone automatically make a company bad? Really? Then Microsoft must really suck as well by your logic...
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disengenious Jobs
caburlingame 11th Aug 2010
@omdguy That misspelling in that context is just hilarious.
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You miss the mark ...
RationalGuy 10th Aug 2010
@davebarnes

Apple is cool and Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, etc are not.

Macs are easy for people to use and PCs are not.
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RE: Microsoft enters
notme403@... 10th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy ... Uhm, that's kind of not at all true. PCs are easy for PC users, and MACs are easy for MAC users, actually. Those users are usually people... usually.
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Actually ...
RationalGuy Updated - 10th Aug 2010
@notme403 PCs are easy for PC users, and MACs are easy for MAC users, actually.

PCs are senselessly difficult and complicated for PC users, actually. I know, because I'm the guy people call when they stop working.

They require a lot of maintenance and attention. Macs are simple to use. They don't require a lot of maintenance.

Let's say you have to configure something in the Windows OS. The interface to manage that something might be in Control Panel. It might be in Computer Management. In might be in right-click-on-My-Computer-and-click-Properties.

On a Mac, that something is in System Preferences.

I'm running OSX and Windows 7 dual boot. If I'm not in Windows for a few weeks, there might be 10 or more updates (sometimes upwards of 30 updates) to apply. That will normally require one (if not more) reboots. Windows does not get out of your way!

I don't think there are 30 patches to OSX in a year.
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RE: Microsoft enters
bobiroc 10th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy

BS.. they both are very easy to use. The core fundamentals of using a computer are in both and many of the programs operate in the same way. Some slight differences in the GUI but that is about it. The big differences are under the hood which most everyday users do not get into.
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RE: Microsoft enters
RationalGuy Updated - 10th Aug 2010
@bobiroc

.. they both are very easy to use.
That's the real BS.

The core fundamentals of using a computer are in both and many of the programs operate in the same way.
This is a long-winded way of saying, "They are both computers." This isn't in dispute.

Some slight differences in the GUI but that is about it.
There are huge differences in the two GUIs. OS X has thousands of subtle (and not so subtle) things that are superior to counterpart functionality in Windows 7. It's a vastly different experience.

The big differences are under the hood which most everyday users do not get into.
The big differences are in the everyday tasks that happen more easily on a Mac than in Windows.

The difference in the fact that it took about thirty seconds to point my Mac at my network printer and get it to print. Whereas for Windows 7, I had to hunt and search until for a driver to no avail until on a whim I tried using a Vista driver meant for a directly-connected printer and was finally able, using none of the methods marked by the operating system as "Recommended", to get something resembling my page (instead of 42 pages of ASCII symbols) to spit out of the printer.

The difference is in the that fact that more times than not, after fixing a friend of family member's Windows machine, and explaining to them what I had to do to fix it, they always ask me, "How could they expect me to do that?" And the difference is in after they switch to Mac on my recommendation and they tell me how amazingly easy it is and how they don't have all those troubles anymore and how it's soooo worth the little bit of extra money up front.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Gis Bun 10th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy : See you aren't rational. If you are use to a Mac you'll find it easy to use. same for a Windows user who'll find it easier to use Windows. Having someone switch ain't easy [for them].
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RE: Microsoft enters
Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy That was true at one time but Microsoft has really closed the gap between Windows and OSX as far as usability.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy IF Windows is so hard to use as you claim then why do you bother to dual boot windows and OSX? If you dislike it so much then get rid of it.
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RE: Microsoft enters
RationalGuy 11th Aug 2010
@athynz

@RationalGuy That was true at one time but Microsoft has really closed the gap between Windows and OSX as far as usability.

As I said previously, Windows 7 is probably the most usable Windows to date. That being said, it is still very far behind OS X. Your statement implies that the two OSes are virtually indistinguishable from a usability perspective. That's just false.

IF Windows is so hard to use as you claim then why do you bother to dual boot windows and OSX? If you dislike it so much then get rid of it.

Fair question, I suppose.

I've been an IT professional for over a decade and so I have to keep up on the what's out there in the world. In addition to OS X and Windows 7 through Boot Camp, I also have CentOS Linux, Chrome OS and Ubuntu in virtual machines through Parallels. Not knowing the latest version of Windows is professionally a very stupid thing for me.

On a sort-of-related note, as I said, I'm called upon as tech support for friends and family often. It's a role that I do kind of begrudgingly. It really is a pain. However, it makes people I care about happy, and solves their problems without them having to fork over tons of cash to Geek Squad or whatever. And usually they buy me nice gifts or make me dinner. To help them, I have to keep up with what's new.

Finally, there are certain games that are available for Windows that aren't available for Mac. With Valve's release of Steam for Mac, we're sure to see more game companies following them. I expect that soon I won't need Windows for gaming anymore. At that point, I'll simply move my Windows 7 install to a VM, and reclaim my Windows partition for use in OS X.
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RE: Microsoft enters
RationalGuy Updated - 11th Aug 2010
@Gis Bun

If you are use to a Mac you'll find it easy to use. same for a Windows user who'll find it easier to use Windows. Having someone switch ain't easy [for them].

Early automobiles used a tiller to steer instead of a steering wheel. I'm sure some of those who got adept at the tiller thought it was unnecessary to relearn steering with a wheel.
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RE: Microsoft enters
bobiroc 11th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy

". they both are very easy to use.
That's the real BS.

The core fundamentals of using a computer are in both and many of the programs operate in the same way.
This is a long-winded way of saying, "They are both computers." This isn't in dispute.

Some slight differences in the GUI but that is about it.
There are huge differences in the two GUIs. OS X has thousands of subtle (and not so subtle) things that are superior to counterpart functionality in Windows 7. It's a vastly different experience.

The big differences are under the hood which most everyday users do not get into.
The big differences are in the everyday tasks that happen more easily on a Mac than in Windows.

The difference in the fact that it took about thirty seconds to point my Mac at my network printer and get it to print. Whereas for Windows 7, I had to hunt and search until for a driver to no avail until on a whim I tried using a Vista driver meant for a directly-connected printer and was finally able, using none of the methods marked by the operating system as "Recommended", to get something resembling my page (instead of 42 pages of ASCII symbols) to spit out of the printer.

The difference is in the that fact that more times than not, after fixing a friend of family member's Windows machine, and explaining to them what I had to do to fix it, they always ask me, "How could they expect me to do that?" And the difference is in after they switch to Mac on my recommendation and they tell me how amazingly easy it is and how they don't have all those troubles anymore and how it's soooo worth the little bit of extra money up front."

If you had to hunt for a printer driver then you are not a very good IT guy then are you. I agree that XP could be a bit cumbersome for some tasks and but that is not the case anymore. It is very simple to network and share amongst computers in the household and the world with Windows today. Using an OS designed 10+ years ago not so much. I use both almost every day and in college used Macs exclusively in school as I was originally going to college for graphic design. The area where Macs have it good is that if it is "made for a mac" then there is a good chance the driver is built in but I guess you can do that when you only support a fraction of the hardware out there and you do not have people screaming anti-trust and anti-competitive at you every time you want to add a native feature or built in support. But overall they are both EASY to use. They both have icons to click to open folders and programs and files, the both have menus to select functionality within programs and if the program is made for both platforms those menus are nearly identical. I am not saying that transitioning from one to another cannot be a learning curve but I find people generally memorize the steps and do not understand the fundamentals of using a GUI based OS. Because using Windows, MacOS, and various forms of Linux GUI's the all are very similar when it comes to the surface functionality. I have upgraded most of my family to Windows 7 or they did it themselves and they all say it is easier to use. It is more intuitive and straight forward to the beginner and even to the advanced user. I find that most that claim differently are those that memorize the steps and do not understand what they are actually doing. And I have been in IT professionally for about 13 years and been using computers and operating systems of all types for 20+. If you are supporting people that find PCs senselessly difficult then do what I do. Show them the built in help in Windows and within their programs which also has come a long way on the Windows side of things. But the fact that Windows supports a plethora of hardware, software and configurations it is only logical to assume that there will be a greater range of people asking questions on more things than you can do or run on a Mac.
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RE: Microsoft enters
RationalGuy Updated - 11th Aug 2010
@bobiroc

If you had to hunt for a printer driver then you are not a very good IT guy then are you.
That's a stupid conclusion on your part. If you were connecting a printer and your OS didn't have a driver for it, and couldn't automatically download a driver, and it had no idea what printer it even is, what would you do, genius? Look for the print driver?

That's a hassle, and a complete waste of my time.

I've had to manually download one driver for OS X, for a 10-year-old Wacom tablet. Everything else, I've just plugged in and it works.

I agree that XP could be a bit cumbersome for some tasks and but that is not the case anymore.
Not talking about XP. I'm talking about Windows 7.

It is very simple to network and share amongst computers in the household and the world with Windows today. Using an OS designed 10+ years ago not so much.
A friend of mine, who has an advanced degree in physics and about forty years of computer experience couldn't get file sharing set up properly. He has a small business, and HomeGroup sharing was not adequate to his needs. I straightened him out in about 10 minutes, but I had to apply 1990's Windows for Workgroups concepts. And that's not XP, that's Windows 7.

The area where Macs have it good is that if it is "made for a mac" then there is a good chance the driver is built in but I guess you can do that when you only support a fraction of the hardware out there
There is no such thing as "made for a mac". And I suppose that 99/100 is a fraction, but I don't understand your point.

and you do not have people screaming anti-trust and anti-competitive at you every time you want to add a native feature or built in support.
So that's why Windows 7 couldn't print? That's so weak.

I have upgraded most of my family to Windows 7 or they did it themselves and they all say it is easier to use. It is more intuitive and straight forward to the beginner and even to the advanced user.
I said that Windows 7 is the best Windows so far. It's still difficult and confusing for people to use.

I find that most that claim differently are those that memorize the steps and do not understand what they are actually doing. And I have been in IT professionally for about 13 years and been using computers and operating systems of all types for 20+. If you are supporting people that find PCs senselessly difficult then do what I do. Show them the built in help in Windows and within their programs which also has come a long way on the Windows side of things.
This demonstrates clearly that you don't understand the point. The solution is not to train everyone to become computer experts. The solution is to design a computer that is simple to understand, intuitive to use, and easy to maintain. People just want to do their work or be entertained, or whatever they are using their computer to do.

A second spent pulled out of what people are doing with the computer to spend on doing something to the computer is a second wasted. Add up the many thousands of wasted seconds and it becomes clear why Windows 7 is still lacking.

Windows 7, though better than previous versions of Windows, is a pain in the ass. OS X is not.
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Perhaps...
Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
@RationalGuy As I said previously, Windows 7 is probably the most usable Windows to date. I must have missed that part... my apologies. That being said, it is still very far behind OS X. Your statement implies that the two OSes are virtually indistinguishable from a usability perspective. That's just false. maybe it's because I've worked with Windows for so long now and have previous experience with the older Mac OS (System 7 through 9) and lack long-term hands on experience with OSX but as far as I can tell based on playign with OSX in a retail store and my experience working with Windows 7 on my PCs at home and work there is not a huge difference between the two - at least not as much of a difference as there once was. Sure the underpinnings are different but as far as user experience IMHO there are not too many major differences.
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I see nothing wrong with the web site ...
P. Douglas 10th Aug 2010
... Is MS not allowed to advertise the PC over the Mac? This is much ado about nothing.
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Here we go again
KBot 10th Aug 2010
Each OS has its ups and downs. I use a Windows box for one reason, games. I won;t buy a mac for pricing. They should allow their OS on PC hardware. Let MS and Apple fight each other, I'll just sit back in Linux Land and Smile
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RE: Microsoft enters
Droid101 10th Aug 2010
Stupid article. MS makes decent points.

Mostly the Blu Ray thing is the move I'm focusing on. Apple is stupid to not have blu ray players/readers, because despite what Jobs wants you to think, optical backups are still very much used. They are cheaper than hard drive backups.
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It's not that
Cylon Centurion 10th Aug 2010
@Droid101

Jobs' is worried about. He wants you to buy HD movies from iTunes, rather than play them on a disc.
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Skimmed through that page
bobiroc 10th Aug 2010
from Microsoft and I have to say that whoever wrote that is stretching pretty hard to make an argument. I use both platforms pretty regularly but I prefer Windows. It runs all my applications, works with all my hardware, and offers the features I want in a computer. That being said I still think MacOS is easy to use and offers similar features and will work well for many consumers.

Like others have said I think Apple should allow their OS to be licensed off of Apple branded hardware and let the games begin. I partially think they do not want that because they feel they cannot sell their OS without their shiny and magical hardware to go with it. There are some that would probably like to run MacOS on their PC and to be honest I would love to be able to run it in a virtual machine so I could more effectively support both platforms. I have asked Apple about this and they said I need to get a Mac so I have a MacBook that work bought for me to support such things. I guess I could put Windows on the Macbook too but I like my PC better and work would not Pop for the Macbook Pro so I got the lower end one which was still $1400 at the time
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PeeSee vs M A C
notme403@... 10th Aug 2010
Wow! MS shamefully mentioned color and eSATA in nearly the same breath. It is bad to have choices. Flash is evil. Reception is an option and you are an idiot if you don't know how to hold your phone. You are too stupid to change your batteries. You don't really want USB after all. Shiny good. MAC shiny. Pay now!
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RE: Microsoft enters
use_what_works_4_U 11th Aug 2010
@notme403@...
Colors - Anything not a Mac was basically beige until the iMac popularized choice. Apple has changed their aesthetic, big deal.
eSATA - leaving aside the fact that I've never met anyone but a techie who wanted it, you can add eSATA to a macbook pro for less than $40 and to a Mac Pro for less than $50, some options less than $30. Those being the preferred Macs for the techie crowd, what's your point? http://eshop.macsales.com/search/esata
Flash is a bug ridden security risk that I would rather live without. Alas, I don't have that option.
Reception an option? - OK, that one I give you, Apple really botched that one.
Too stupid to change your own batteries? - Too stupid to understand that internal batteries can be designed to last much longer and that is what Apple was going for?
Don't want USB?Written on an Asus running Win7, though I also own a Mac Pro, MacBook, and a Dell dual-booted with Win7 and Ubuntu.
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"Air of desperation" sums it up pretty well.
Userama 10th Aug 2010
But you'd better get your flak jacket on, Adrian. There's gonna be lots of incomings.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Matt98765 10th Aug 2010
Sounds like the guy who wrote the article favours mac. I own a mac book pro, iphone, ipod and can say the best thing about them is build quality. The operating system is no better then windows 7. Furthermore, the release of the iphone 4 show apple like Microsoft has last a bit of there edge with all the design flaws in short no one company is perfect. I would buy a p.c. today my mac book pro has had to be formatted numerous time like my previous pc's for getting slow & freezing.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Gis Bun 10th Aug 2010
Funny how Microsoft didn't mention the "Apple Tax".
They also didn't mention that you can install whatever operating system you want [except probably one! guess?] on a PC bought in a store.
They also didn't mention [according to a recent report] that OS X is now the buggiest OS]. Windows was.
They also didn't mention Microsoft supports an OS for 10 years.
And they also didn't mention that just about every piece of hardware made is supported by Windows.

Seems to me that Mr. Kingsley-Hughes should be writing his blog in the Apple OS area.
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RE: Microsoft enters
Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
This was rather lame of Microsoft... really they could let Windows 7 stand on it's own - it is an excellent OS. But I'll take it point by point...

* Having fun - Macs might spoil your fun

This would be true if a person was a major gamer... from what I've been seeing lately developers are making games for OSX a lot faster now - in some cases releasing them at the same time as their PC compatible counterparts.

* Simplicity - Macs can take time to learn

I used to use a mac and honestly that was the most user intuitive OS I had come across and at that time (Think Mac System 7 and Windows 95/98) Windows was hard to master in comparison. Now Windows is a lot more user intuitive than it used to be and sure if one is going from Windows to OSX there is a slight learning curve but not as much as implied here.

* Working hard - Macs don?t work as well at work or school

What? There is a school system in VA that used Macs for all of their students - the only reason the High Schools went with PCs within the last few years was cost...

* Sharing - Macs don?t like to share

I rather doubt that since as I stated above there are school systems that used/ have used macs and from what I have read they had no issues with sharing.

* Compatibility - Macs might not like your PC stuff

True

* Choice - Macs don?t let you choose


Chose what exactly? This one seems ambiguous at best.
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RE: Microsoft enters
bobiroc 11th Aug 2010
@athynz

I agree with your points for the most part but if I may add my own take on it.

* Having fun - Macs might spoil your fun

This would be true if a person was a major gamer... from what I've been seeing lately developers are making games for OSX a lot faster now - in some cases releasing them at the same time as their PC compatible counterparts.

I think development for games is easier now because of them using x86/X64 processors as a standard just like PCs. Along with that many of the "fun" things to do with a computer like simple video editing, web browsing, pictures, online chatting, social networking, etc.. is there and very similar if you ask me.

* Simplicity - Macs can take time to learn

I used to use a mac and honestly that was the most user intuitive OS I had come across and at that time (Think Mac System 7 and Windows 95/98) Windows was hard to master in comparison. Now Windows is a lot more user intuitive than it used to be and sure if one is going from Windows to OSX there is a slight learning curve but not as much as implied here.

I agree with this 100% and like I tried to explain to RationalGuy above. Even with XP compared to OS9 and OSX there was a bit of a curve but now that curve is much less. Back in the 90's it was horrible to switch between. Both OSes are very intuitive and like I mentioned above if one has trouble beyond a learning curve it is usually because they remembered the steps instead of knowing what they actually want to do.

* Working hard - Macs dont work as well at work or school

What? There is a school system in VA that used Macs for all of their students - the only reason the High Schools went with PCs within the last few years was cost...

Working in IT in a high school I have to say it is more than cost even though that does play a factor when you can get a powerful desktop for $600 with a 5 year warranty to similarly powered iMac for $1000 with a 1 year warranty that makes a difference. Also there is the advantages on how easy it is to set up in a controlled and managed environment and the variety of software and tools that you can use to manage your systems on a daily basis. Software support for programs the school needs to run on the backend and frontend is much better on the Windows side of things even though that is beginning to change with cloud and web services.

* Sharing - Macs dont like to share

I rather doubt that since as I stated above there are school systems that used/ have used macs and from what I have read they had no issues with sharing.

I think that should read Macs do not like to share with Windows or other OSes very much. But the same can be said about Windows or those other OSes sharing with a MacOS. Even though I always found it easier to share Windows resources with MacOS than vice versa.

* Compatibility - Macs might not like your PC stuff

True

For this I blaming the pissing match between the OSes. This has changed immensely but still has room for improvement. With a little research though one can usually find a way to make it work. I little internet searching goes a long way.

* Choice - Macs dont let you choose


Chose what exactly? This one seems ambiguous at best.

It is no secret that if you want MacOS (legally) you have to purchase from the limited selection and configuration options from Apple. Where if you want a Windows or Linux PC you can choose from a variety of brands with many different choices of design and features. You can even go the route of building it yourself and get it exactly the way you want and install the Operating System you choose. Well except for MacOS of course. You want that you have to buy a Apple Branded computer.
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Pete "athynz" Athens 11th Aug 2010
@bobiroc Agreed on all points... The only other thing I'll add is concerning the VA school system (Henrico Co for those who are interested) that used the mac laptops, the other reason they switched the HS from Mac to Dell laptops (from what I gather from sources that are in the county) is political - the superintendent that started ther macbook program was not well liked by people in the county... the idea of giving the students laptops was sound the issues arose when it was announced that the laptops in question would be Mac based and not Windows based.
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RE: Microsoft enters
bobiroc 11th Aug 2010
@athynz

Well that is the problem when decisions are made for political or biased reasons. I do my best day in and day out to choose the right technology for the task at hand or to achieve the goal that is set. This whole my OS, My computer, My phone is better than yours crap is just childish IMO.
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RE: Microsoft enters
CobraA1 12th Aug 2010
@athynz

"This would be true if a person was a major gamer... from what I've been seeing lately developers are making games for OSX a lot faster now - in some cases releasing them at the same time as their PC compatible counterparts."

Some yes - some no. It's still not consistent across the board yet. There's still a lot of new games out there that aren't for the Mac.
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RE: Microsoft enters
jacky.alcine 11th Aug 2010
Microsoft needs to stick to just making closed-sourced OS and software that has no purpose besides munching up on RAM.

I'm a new but steadfast and firm supporter of Ubuntu, even though I've been using Windows since 2000. The census isn't a bad idea, it's just that it's kind of unnecessary to me. If they just require that you make an UbuntuOne account, then life would be simpler.
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RE: Microsoft enters
bobiroc 11th Aug 2010
@jacky.alcine

Most people do not care if a program is open or closed as long as it does what they need it to do. In most cases OpenSource and Linux is not the choice of most in the desktop arena because it does not work for the tasks or goals at hand and that is why it will remain a niche OS on the desktop. For some, maybe people like you, it will work fine but if it worked for the majority then it would be used more. People will go through steps to try and pirate Windows and other software because it will run their software, work with their hardware, and offer them the features they want despite free alternatives being available. If they can take the time to find and use a pirated piece of software then you cannot tell me they cannot use or do not know about the various forms of linux and opensource software alternatives.

As far as your munching up ram comment that is just words of a troll.
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RE: Microsoft enters
The Rifleman 12th Aug 2010
Not surprising from a company that has put themselves into a jam by ending support for XP, Vista and 7 all at once!
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RE: Microsoft enters
step69 12th Aug 2010
Apple does the same thing and people love it, but MS responds with valid points & it's somehow weak or desperate? I have no OS bias but the blogger obviously does.
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I skipped Vista and Win7
HollywoodDog 12th Aug 2010
Microsoft might have a chance of wowing me with Win8.
Till then, XP at work and latest and greatest OSX at home.
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RE: Microsoft enters
justmeol 12th Aug 2010
I have both, but I find it odd the MAC forces you to buy a new OS to do a browser upgrade. I have OSX10.3 on a old mac powerbook G3 (yeah I know very old). Its not worth the upgrade given that its cpu/mem are lame. But why should I have to buy a new OS just to upgrade from FF2 to FF3xx? I can run Win2000 on some old AMD processor/mb and install all the latest browsers no prob. WTF mate?
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RE: Microsoft enters
laklaklak 12th Sep 2010
yo Fanboy!YEs you I-will-bend-over-for-Jobs .
Why do you like Apple?
Is it because it is better than the available products in the market?No because Google will have Apple for breakfast any ******* day and even Microsoft can clean up the remaining bit.
but Apple is "cool".So how do you define "cool" fanboy?
Uncle Jobs has brainwashed you so much that you think buying a gadget which is neither a PC nor a phone i cool.Having black boxes appear in most websites(yes fanboys iam talking about Flash here) is cool.
So Uncle Jobs has a problem with Flash.No sweat
Instead of taking it outside what does he do?He makes you gullible pawns in the game.
Sure flash is buggy and all that .No one's denying that.
But the point is most websites have flash content.However Mr. Jobs will tell you to shun those sites.Too bad if it contains some really important stuff like your job or intern application.
Its important to be cool.
Ohhh wait here i got it completely wrong.Maybe you do not need the job.See Uncle jobs is a smart guy you are upper middle class and who needs the job thingy anyway when daddy has a boat in Maine?

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