Mac or Microsoft?

[Metiao]

I noticed a couple of Mac computers today while working, and I started thinking to myself how much I don't like them just because I don't understand them. (Seeing I've only spent MAYBE 15 minutes on a mac it would be a good reason)
I've always used Microsoft computers.

I was just wondering how many of you use Macs vs Microsoft.
List your likes and dislikes.

(and forgive me if they arn't called "Microsoft" computers. I don't know the name.)

[Enosekel]

Both suck, man, I only use Linux on a machine I built myself from SCRATCH!! Juuuust kidding. My old computer -was- put together by myself and a friend, and my friend installed Linux on it...but I prefer my new Mac.

I use a Mac at home (with Jaguar version of OSX) and I prefer it to Windows machines I use at work. That being said, I grew up using an Amiga computer, and the Mac interface started out as pretty much a copy, so I'm used to it and that could be why.

I think both have pros and cons, but in the end both will likely be sufficient for whatever you're doing, unless it's desktop publishing, graphics work, web design...I think Macs are better for that type of work. But if you just want them for video games, word processing, threshing...either works just fine.

I think Macs are easier to learn to use but (for me) when something goes wrong, Windows is easier to troubleshoot. Then again, that is probably just because I've had more experience troubleshooting Windows. My Macs don't really have problems all the time

As for software I like the MS Office Suite better than any other, especially for Access, but I believe they make a Mac version of the Suite, so no worries should I ever decide to get it at home.

[Alban]

I love Macs and use them almost exclusively at home and at work. I Thresh on a Mac (with Rapscallion at home and unfortunately, Better Telnet at work).

I very often spend 12+ hours a day doing nothing but multimedia stuff such as video editing, audio production and mixing, web design, graphic design, animation, interactive CD-ROMs, DVDs, MIDI, etc. I don't know how I could do it with Windows. In fact, some of the applications I use are only available for Mac.

I just find Macs to be much easier to use, much more intuitive. I've never understood people who told me they're hard to use. I suspect they've never really tried them.

The only time I use Windows is to test web pages, discs, scripts, etc. and in the rare cases that I need to use an application that's not available for Mac. Here at work they gave me a Dell just for such times.

It is true that Macs freeze up or crash a lot. However it's very easy to fix them when something goes wrong. You rebuild the desktop, throw away a preferences file, or something similar. When something goes wrong with a Windows machine, I get very frustrated because I can't fix it immediately.

Alban, Mac dude.

[Nemene]

In my opinion this sort of sums up the three different OS's.

Mac - Very user friendly, although is unreliable. Good for media stuff. Is generally pretty expensive at first.
Windows - User friendly, reasonably reliable if you choose XP. Can get expensive to upgrade stuff if you want to do some more complicated stuff with your computer. Has the added bonus of running almost anything. Good for a general computer games, less geeky person
Linux - Very reliable. User friendliness depends on the distribution, but you can get some nice ones for normal home use. Can do more complex computy stuff with it. Is completely free (with alot of distributions)!

Just choose depending on what you're going to use it for, and how much you want to spend.

[Yatar]

Now mind you, I'm not a computer guy at all, but...

I've used Macs mostly for graphics design and other multimedia stuff, and I find them much easier. The extra keyboard function button, shortcuts, and other factors really make design seem natural on a Mac, especially once you know what you're doing. Trying to do the same designing on a Windows PC just seems much more awkward.

But I've had more trouble with other stuff on Macs. Minor things like switching between applications, deleting files, navigating file folders...I get frustrated when those things don't seem as user-friendly. I don't want to have to drag the CD icon to the trash bin to eject a CD. I want to open five Internet windows and switch between them without trouble. That kind of thing.

But again, it's probably more because I don't know shortcut keys or how things work. That's probably the reason it can seem un-user-friendly to me.