why is mac the best OS right now?

TiGeR KiNgS

I'm thinking about getting a mac book pro. Having only ever used a pc, can anyone tell me why the mac is widely considered the best OS at the moment.
I mean what makes it better than a pc?
Also does it really merit the price tag?

cheers

DadaKopf

It's a personal thing really. Personally, I'm dead pleased to be off Windows. But if I ever require it, I can just boot it up. Play around with someone's Mac and see if you like it.

As for price, you're paying a premium for style, and you're limited to Mac programs when using OSX (more or less). But for what I do with my laptop, it's never been a problem.

Kid Nothing

I switched over about a month ago and even though i've XP dual booted i've only ever used it once. It's quite hard to explain why it might be considered a "better" operating system, it's one of those things were you just have to use it and then you think "this is really easy to use". I was getting really annoyed with my Vista machine crashing under the minium of what I would expect from it (iTunes, Firefox and a game running simultaneously!) and that's what pushed me to get a Mac and I couldn't be happier. I haven't had a single problem with it while my brother''s new Vista machine has been so much hassle for him.

The best things about it for me are there are no real virus's and there are tons of really handy 3rd party apps out there which realy mke using a Mac so much more enjoyable.

As regards price, I would say that although you are paying a premium for the name in the long run you are getting what you pay for, the average life of a Mac is 4-5 years, that can't be said about most Windows based PC's.

Breezer

A very quick response off the top of my head:

No viruses
Way less restarting
Things rarely break for no reason
Ease of use (there is a learning curve, of course, because it's different to the PC you're used to. Once that's overcome you'll find yourself doing things faster.)
Great community-based support (limited number of hardware configurations make this much much easier).
Less apps available, but they're usually better quality
Personal preference

Ham'nd'egger

While the machines seem pricier, they do tend to price there or thereabouts with equally specced and equipped Dells etc; Intel seem to be getting the faster and better bussed chipsets into Apples as a given ahead of other brands.

Add in less conflicting programmes in Apples as much of what you get out of the box is in built and gets on with each other so it does run smoother and happier in the long run

keefg

I've just ordered myself a Macbook Pro (my first venture into Mac territory) so I hope I can tell you how good it is in a couple of weeks

Like yourself OP...I have always been a PC/Windows user so I was worried about spending a big chunk of my hard earned on a Mac just in case I don't like it or OSX.

But in the end I am so pee'd off with my Windows laptop that I thought "A mac can't be any worse" so I took the plunge and ordered a 15 inch MBP with 2.5ghz Intel chip and 4gig ram.

I did plenty of digging on this (Big thanks to all Boardsies who answered my questions )and other forums and apart from spending a bit extra on Final Cut for my video editing it seems the MBP comes pretty much equipped with everything I need right out of the box.

Fingers crossed.................

whiterebel

I've always thought the Software company making software for their own hardware was the way to go. There doesn't seem to be a definitive "standard" for want of a better word, with PCs. Macs work perfectly with their software.....apart from 7.5.1.....er 7.5.3.....um 7.5.5......uh7.5.6......with a Performa. Still they got it right with OS 8........

Leadership

I switched to a MAC 6 months ago, best thing I have ever done. I gave up on windows as I sick of the amount of re-builds of the system I had to do for one reason or another. Also setting up my music studio on a laptop ment it took me 25 minutes to get everything to talk to each other (Midi,usb etc).

When using the MAC now I plug everything in hot and "it just works" as they say. I am so much more productive than I ever was on a PC or Linux system and time is money.

I only use a MAC book with 4gb of ram and run a lot of heavy music processing. It works very well and I am interested why everyone wants a mac book pro?

Simon201

quote
"I mean what makes it better than a pc?"


Well amongst alot of things did you ever hear of a 'Windows' users club?.... :D

Passenger

People who use Mac OS almost never return to Windows and the only way you can understand that is not by contrasting subjective opinions but by actually sitting yourself in front of a Mac and simply using. You'll soon recognise the depth of disparity between both OS.

Drapper

well said passenger!

nialler

All that has been said above is true, you'll find yourself using windows less and less and then you'll ask yourself how did you ever live without your mac and its OS.

Now if you have any legacy software from windows that you desperately need to run there's a few solutions. There's a range of virtualisation software namely parallels, vmware fusion (both you have to pay for) and sun has recently released one that will run on mac os and it's been receiving sum great reviews even though it's in beta.

http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/index.jsp

Give it a go, we guarantee you will not look back.


N

projectmayhem

I switched to a Mac from PC in February. I remember it well. I turned on my mac, and it knew who I was. The first thing it did was ask if I wanted to hook up to my network, and if I was at home/work/etc.

Then it showed me a cool intro movie and loaded the desktop. It didn't need to show me much else, because it's so easy to use.

Sure, it took some getting used to.... but that was always going to be the case. But in the end it's rendered my PC a massively expensive games console, running an OS that feels slow and redundant next to my MBP...

My main fear in getting into Mac was software compatability... but there's always a Mac alternative. Funnily enough even Microsoft's OSX software runs better on my MBP then it does on my Vista box.

Dont be at yourself

Because Vista and Linux are so, so terrible.

karlr42

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

Because Vista and Linux are so, so terrible.

Evidence to back that up?
Choice of OS is down to the individual, see what you like and use that! Holy wars are pointless

projectmayhem

karlr42 wrote: »

Evidence to back that up?
Choice of OS is down to the individual, see what you like and use that! Holy wars are pointless

From my own perspective, Vista has horrendous problems. I'm running it on a monster rig and it still takes issue with everything I do. It runs smooth... it just doesn't want to.

As for Linux... great idea, but absolutely no support for it.

JimiMac

You will really notice the difference when you have to go back to Windows after using mac for a while. Just a minute ago I was trying to transfer a file to a Vista PC using a USB stick. It took ages before the usb stick would show up.

silvine

I switched to a mac back in June. I've used Windows for years and played around with Vista. That OS seems to get in your way a lot. It is constantly prompting you with dialogue boxes or annoying you if you plug something in or out. The Windows text explaining what you are doing is a very wordy and technical too. I've spent a lot of time installing various programmes designed to speed up or tune Windows. As an OS it needs a lot of attention.

Leopard stays out of your way and is actually easier to use, once you get over the initial learning curve. It looks cleaner and features lots of handy features such as Spaces and Expose. Even its backup programme, Time Machine, is a lot more intuitive that Vista's. Leopard has less annoying prompts and it's not as wordy as Windows. I've played around with Leopard to see if anything needs to be fixed, only to find everything is in working order.

The only reason I would consider installing Vista on my machine now is to play RTS games (I have an Xbox). Apart from games, my Mac does everything I need.

The best comment I read about switching was by someone on this forum. They said they are so happy with their mac that they actually hate working on their Windows PC in work.

TiGeR KiNgS

ok guys thanks for all the input.
Having read all the posts so far I have come to the conclusion that its all about the little things with the mac, basically where the pc fails the mac excels.
I haven't heard anyone counter argue for Vista/Xp which on a open topical forum really says something.
The price tag of the mac hasn't been criticised in depth, you are in fact getting what you pay for, is general consensus .

The mac just seems to be overall 'better'.

Is this a fair post........ ?

wayne040576

I got my MacBook 2 weeks ago. It's a nice os and easy enough to use . I've been using Linux for 5 years now and mac is very similar but for me it is incredibly frustrating. It's like Linux with shackles on. It seems to offer very little customisation options. I can make my Linux desktop look and behave like anything but the mac is restricted to what apple tell me what I should be doing. Having said that, I wouldn't recomend Linux to anyone who isn't prepared to put the time in for learning. And I like the way the mac works with the iPhone compared to windows.

Creamy Goodness

the main reason i love mac are as follows.

* it knows that from a fresh install people will want to use PDF files. now this is a small thing but it's the small things that matter to me.

* the whole angle that hardware and software are tied so close together, everything comes in one package and works.

* for a normal consumer 90% of the software they use will be pre-installed.

* terminal > cmd

* consistant shortcuts, this ties into the one manufacturer/one software company ethos. cmd+w will always close a window.

the whole experience of using a computer is streamlined, things make sense, things are clearer which doesn't mean much to myself as i'd be considered a power user as most here but for people starting up with computers etc. it would be a godsend.

Slice

It just works

deevey

I only use a MAC book with 4gb of ram and run a lot of heavy music processing. It works very well and I am interested why everyone wants a mac book pro?

Well ... after having been the proud owner of a MBP for a just a few months before financial situation had me sell it, it is ...... simply an experience.

Its not that its any faster than a Macbook for most things .. (ok for graphics intensive applications perhaps, audio wont make any difference).. but the screen size feels MASSIVE in comparison despite there being physically much difference in size, the build quality is the comparison between a Fiat and BMW .... theres that substancial feeling about them soon as you take them out of a bag that makes you go all glassy eyed and proud to have one..

I'm Back on the 'ol white macbook now, and while I love it and all that, running Traktor or Ableton on that beast of a screen of a MBP was heaven, especially at night with the backlit keyboard, (every laptop should have one) and when I have the cash again...well I'll be picking one up soon as I have the funds.

Buying off the refurbished shop works out only few hundred more, than a standard macbook, has a full warranty, with bigger screen, bigger Hard drive, faster graphics, DVD-RW backlit keyboard etc... Mine set me back the same as a similar spec "Blackbook".

silvine

I haven't heard anyone counter argue for Vista/Xp which on a open topical forum really says something.

Well this is a Mac forum.

Anyone here with a Macbook Air?

Phototoxin

the thing with price is that if you bought a similar widows vista based
system it would run slower, have less useful stuff (unless you like lots of 30 day trails- the macbook only has 1 trail..) and so forth.

The macbook is more expensive BUT it is top of the line, the OS is quite fast especially as both it and the hardware and designed to fit snugly as *insert naughty euphemistic example here*

In addition they are a pleasure to use and not as tedious as a windows box.

Also I wont touch vista, my pooter programmer friend has told me that on start up it eats lots of ram while doing nothing and that aside from DX10.0 there is really no need for it... so if you really want to play halo 3 then get an x box !!

Red Alert

I used to dual-boot between Windows and Linux on both my desktop and Dell laptop. In the end I got rid of the two of them after I got my Macbook pro... Dual booting was a real pain, I either was on Linux (where the programming tools are good and web dev stuff is easy) or on Windows (where I could use MS office and play a couple of games). The Mac lets me do all that from one computer, and I'm not always having to tinker to make it just work. What really does it for me is the tight integration between the iPhone, iTunes, iPhoto, Apple TV and Front Row. You just don't get that on any other solution. Yet, in just two clicks I'm at a hardcore command prompt with almost everything UNIX I want there.

Dont be at yourself

Evidence to back that up?
Choice of OS is down to the individual, see what you like and use that! Holy wars are pointless

I don't need evidence to back up an opinion.

Anyway, Windows, particularly Vista, but also XP, is crippled because it treats the user as an imbecile. It's constantly notifying you of what it's doing, and it has a dozen safety nets and dialog boxes on the off-chance that you don't actually want to perform the action you just initiated. It has 'helpful' pop-ups everywhere, which never do anything other than irritate.

Linux goes the other end of the spectrum. Linux treats you like a computer scientist. Despite claims, Ubuntu is not comparable to Windows or Mac OS X in terms of ease-of-use. It requires too much knowledge that is spread across a network of thousands of websites and forums. It's not intuitive, it's not pretty and it lacks both in hardware and software support - both in bleeding edge and legacy support.

Mac OS X treats you like a normal human being with normal motor skills. If you click on a button, it realises you probably meant to. If you plug in a USB stick, it realises you probably want to open up the volume and browse files. You rarely need to search for drivers disks, it's almost never popping up helpful reminders, and it stays out of your way as much as it can. It's also lovely and shiny and pretty, and supports bleeding-edge hardware and software.

wayne040576

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

I don't need evidence to back up an opinion.

Anyway, Windows, particularly Vista, but also XP, is crippled because it treats the user as an imbecile. It's constantly notifying you of what it's doing, and it has a dozen safety nets and dialog boxes on the off-chance that you don't actually want to perform the action you just initiated. It has 'helpful' pop-ups everywhere, which never do anything other than irritate.

Linux goes the other end of the spectrum. Linux treats you like a computer scientist. Despite claims, Ubuntu is not comparable to Windows or Mac OS X in terms of ease-of-use. It requires too much knowledge that is spread across a network of thousands of websites and forums. It's not intuitive, it's not pretty and it lacks both in hardware and software support - both in bleeding edge and legacy support.

Mac OS X treats you like a normal human being with normal motor skills. If you click on a button, it realises you probably meant to. If you plug in a USB stick, it realises you probably want to open up the volume and browse files. You rarely need to search for drivers disks, it's almost never popping up helpful reminders, and it stays out of your way as much as it can. It's also lovely and shiny and pretty, and supports bleeding-edge hardware and software.

Unless you don't like the interface that Apple is telling you that you have to use. I want a button on all of my windows to expand them to full screen if I want. I know that the Mac philosophy is for multitasking but I don't care, I should have that option if I want. In linux, I can add it , remove it, put the window buttons on the top right top left or middle, I can alter the action that double clicking on a titlebar performs (expand, minimise, roll up). I can choose for the single click or double click effect on all icons. I can make my desktop look like mac os or windows or any of hundred variations. It looked like this a year ago but now looks quite a bit different:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1237/747292534_5db3cd9eaa_o.jpg

When I got my macbook the first thing I tried to do was arrange the desktop to make it work for me, but I was shocked at the lack of options I was offered. I can't even change the colour of the windows out of the box. As I said before it's like Linux with shackles on. I'm currently looking for some good third party software that will give me more options than I currently have.

TiGeR KiNgS

silvine wrote: »

I haven't heard anyone counter argue for Vista/Xp which on a open topical forum really says something.

Well this is a Mac forum.

Anyone here with a Macbook Air?

I knew some ignorant person would say that. Why didn't you just respond and say what is the point of your original question on a Mac forum?

I mean obviously there is going to be an element of bias here.

ZENER

wayne040576 wrote: »

Unless you don't like the interface that Apple is telling you that you have to use. I want a button on all of my windows to expand them to full screen if I want. I know that the Mac philosophy is for multitasking but I don't care, I should have that option if I want. In linux, I can add it , remove it, put the window buttons on the top right top left or middle, I can alter the action that double clicking on a titlebar performs (expand, minimise, roll up). I can choose for the single click or double click effect on all icons. I can make my desktop look like mac os or windows or any of hundred variations. . . .

If it's tweaking and customizing you want to do the without doubt Linux is your only man - me, I'd rather be editing my photos or editing some video or creating some jingles or liners or updating a website or reading boards . . . than fiddling with how the Finder looks.

Time and time again people moan about how Mac OS isn't as good as this or that or the other . . . if that's how you feel then why are you forcing yourself to use it ? Just so you can berate it ?!

Someone said earlier that Linux is far from the finished product and required a level of geekiness to operate. I completely agree. From RedHat to Mandrake to Fedora and Mandriva - and Ubuntu which I detested. I've tried most of them at some stage and while they are excellent in design and configurability (is that a word ??) they lack seriously in support if you just want to get something done without having to edit half the files in /etc first. If the designers of every flavor of Linux sat down and just created one unified standard where the rules applied across the board then it would work
beautifully. Instead you have about 8 major flavors and some spinoffs none of which share a common installer, configuration tool or hardware support or window manager and understanding how one works in no way guarantees you'll understand the others. It was for me a very frustrating experience. Yes it's terrific for the geek who wants to fiddle with everything but just confusing for everyone else.

When I got my macbook the first thing I tried to do was arrange the desktop to make it work for me, but I was shocked at the lack of options I was offered. I can't even change the colour of the windows out of the box. As I said before it's like Linux with shackles on. I'm currently looking for some good third party software that will give me more options than I currently have.

I'm sorry to say it but it sounds like you made the wrong choice. I'm not being smart but Mac OS doesn't suit everyone as you've found out. You obviously like a lot of control of your environment - something you became used to with Linux. The whole point of the Mac is that every app uses a common layout or gadget kit - well except for MS Office but there's another days work . . . to give the user a sense of familiarity with the location of menus etc. Out of the box Windows doesn't offer that level of customization either but there are a lot more Windows users so someone was bound to come up with a way to do it and now there's any number of kits available.

ZEN

wayne040576

ZENER wrote: »

Time and time again people moan about how Mac OS isn't as good as this or that or the other . . . if that's how you feel then why are you forcing yourself to use it ? Just so you can berate it ?!


ZEN

No I got it for the iphone. I was sick of dual booting the desktop just to refresh my playlists. And as I said before, it works really well with the iphone much better than on vista. It's other stuff that is getting to me.
I think there are some third party apps coming out in october that will give me more control over the interface.

I don't like to spend ages tweaking the look and feel of my desktop, just once and then Im done.

ethernet

ZENER wrote: »

If it's tweaking and customizing you want to do the without doubt Linux is your only man - me, I'd rather be editing my photos or editing some video or creating some jingles or liners or updating a website or reading boards . . . than fiddling with how the Finder looks.

Time and time again people moan about how Mac OS isn't as good as this or that or the other . . . if that's how you feel then why are you forcing yourself to use it ? Just so you can berate it ?!

Someone said earlier that Linux is far from the finished product and required a level of geekiness to operate. I completely agree. From RedHat to Mandrake to Fedora and Mandriva - and Ubuntu which I detested. I've tried most of them at some stage and while they are excellent in design and configurability (is that a word ??) they lack seriously in support if you just want to get something done without having to edit half the files in /etc first. If the designers of every flavor of Linux sat down and just created one unified standard where the rules applied across the board then it would work
beautifully. Instead you have about 8 major flavors and some spinoffs none of which share a common installer, configuration tool or hardware support or window manager and understanding how one works in no way guarantees you'll understand the others. It was for me a very frustrating experience. Yes it's terrific for the geek who wants to fiddle with everything but just confusing for everyone else ....

What you describe sounds an awful like FreeBSD and its fellow BSD siblings.

ZENER

ethernet wrote: »

What you describe sounds an awful like FreeBSD and its fellow BSD siblings.

I don't want to stray too much off topic here but I've tried FreeBSD and in fact use it in it's guise as FreeNAS to serve iTunes, AFP, PS3, SMB etc.

If there was never a MacOS I'd be a Linux user now without doubt, everything I know about networking - including Windows networking - was learned through time spent setting up Linux/MySQL/BIND/Apache/SAMBA etc. I'd recommend everyone with an interest in the technicalities of IT to try a Linux distro and configure it from the ground up. But as a serious OS to do actual work or play it has a way to go imo.

I never liked Windows, my first Computer/OS was as Amiga 500 with OS 1.3 back in the 80's - How I miss it now It was this that introduced me to proper multitasking and the idea of using a computer as a tool (ProTracker - Octamed - ImageFX - DPaint - Directory OPUS - Scala and I've yet to find an app as useful and simple to use as SnoopDOS ! rather than something that needed constant maintenance as Windows, (2.0 > 3.1 ! - showing my age now ) in those days, did.

I first used MacOS (8.2) in an emulator called ShapeShifter on the Amiga 4000/040 which let me use apps like Photoshop, Netscape and a wysiwyg HTML editor whos name escapes me just now. It used the same PPC processor the Mac was using at the time so ran at an equivalent speed - brilliant !

Sorry for wandering there . . . old age I guess / wipes tear from eye / sniff !

ZEN

nialler

ZENER wrote: »

I first used MacOS (8.2) in an emulator called ShapeShifter on the Amiga 4000/040 which let me use apps like Photoshop, Netscape and a wysiwyg HTML editor whos name escapes me just now. It used the same PPC processor the Mac was using at the time so ran at an equivalent speed - brilliant !

Sorry for wandering there . . . old age I guess / wipes tear from eye / sniff !

ZEN

PageSpinner perchance? Think it was the only wysiwyg html 1.0 editor out there, radical idea that adopted by them all. Still had to get your hands dirty in html though.

I am at the stage now where it's time to sell on my G5 dual & 20" cinema to a client, have to give it a good clean up. Might get a macbook and a 20" dell screen or something along those lines.

Soundman

Phototoxin wrote: »

Also I wont touch vista, my pooter programmer friend has told me that on start up it eats lots of ram while doing nothing

You might want to tell your "pooter programmer friend" to look up SuperFetch as he hasn't got a clue what he is talking about.

Windows SuperFetch enables programs and files to load much faster than they would on Windows XP–based PCs.

When you're not actively using your computer, background tasks—including automatic backup programs and antivirus scans—run when they will least disturb you. These background tasks can take up system memory space that your programs had been using. On Windows XP–based PCs, this can slow progress to a crawl when you attempt to resume work.

SuperFetch monitors which applications you use the most and preloads these into your system memory so they'll be ready when you need them. Windows Vista also runs background programs, like disk defragmenting and Windows Defender, at low priority so that they can do their job but your work always comes first.