Why do you choose mac OS X?

macintosh_next

I have to choose a topic this semester for English 122, and I choose what is the best OS. The exact issue is still being worked out, but if you have a good issue that I could find articles on, within the context of OS, then please be my guest.



Anyway, back on topic. Why do you choose OS X, and are there any articles you know of that back up your claims? Same if you are a Windows/Linux user -- or use to be -- are there any articles that you know of that back up what you use to believe? Any help and comments on this will be very helpful, so please reply. :-D

turnwrite

http://xvsxp.com/

bacillus

There are so many reasons…they all boil down to one thing: It’s a very rich OS.



I smile when I use it, it does so many things that just make sense. I remember when I first put a flash drive in it and it appeared on the desktop as a drive. Or, when I hooked up a card reader and only the slots with media cards in them were reported.



Then there is Expose’ – using my track ball, I can sort through massive numbers of open windows, something that would have taken 3X as long on XP.



In short, its just a pleasurable experience. I feel the OS is working with me, and not indifferent to me like XP came off as.



Its not perfect, would like a full maximize option. But all in all, its just a more pleasurable experience for me.

ipeon

I choose the Mac mostly for one reason, the Graphic User Interface design. I get more work done on the Mac and feel no aggravation from the UI. The Windows GUI has always felt unfinished to me, mostly because MS doesn't really understand the purpose of a GUI, the purpose being to "hide" the code from the user so as to get more work done as well as reducing the number steps needed to do the work.



It's evident that MS wanted to duplicate the Mac when they created Windows, however MS lacks the conceptual understanding of why the GUI is there in the first place hence the flaw with all Windows OS's.

kcmac

The only way to know this is to try both.



Most Mac users use both, most often because we are forced to use Windows at work. You will get a lot of explanations here, but you won't really understand until you give both a work out.



If you already do this and are here asking anyway, then you are a rare breed.....

ireland

I chose Mac OS X because I had an itchy elbow.

ricksbrain

I have chosen OS X because it's been far more useful to me. Today only confirmed what I've known for over 7 years. I nearly lost my dissertation (thank you for backups) today because Word and Windows can't seem to handle each other very well, even though they're from from the same b*tch. Long story, but in a month, Windows is gone for good.

macintosh_next

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmac


The only way to know this is to try both.



Most Mac users use both, most often because we are forced to use Windows at work. You will get a lot of explanations here, but you won't really understand until you give both a work out.



If you already do this and are here asking anyway, then you are a rare breed.....

I am a switcher. I know many reasons, but for my papers I gatta write I need more then my opinion -- I need articles -- and I am just wondering what is the general reason why people use OS X over Linux/XP.



:-D

wirc

I use OS X because it has an excellent feature set, really stable multitasking abilities, and the metaphor for using the desktop makes perfect sense. I especially like the menubar and the idea that multiple windows run inside the same application, rather than pretending like they are separate programs. The nesting taskbar in XP drives me nuts, too. Also, I work with images a lot and the drag-and drop function is phenomenal.



I built a computer a few years back that runs Kubuntu now, which is dandy, and works well, but it's not exactly hassle-free. All I have it for is so that I can say that I built a computer. Really, building my own computer was an underwhelming experience, since the case was pre-made, and all I had to do was snap parts in - oh also spend hours and hours looking for drivers. I take more pride in my PowerBook than my own handiwork. I was like building a fragile, dull Lego. But it's heinously underpowered yet still runs smoothly.

lfe2211

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macintosh_Next


I am a switcher. I know many reasons, but for my papers I gatta write I need more then my opinion -- I need articles -- and I am just wondering what is the general reason why people use OS X over Linux/XP.



:-D

Let me come at this from a different angle. Paul Thurrott runs one of the most widely known and well respected Microsoft windows sites on the web called "Paul Thurrott's Super Site for Windows". He has written extensively on Vista, was a prime beta tester and comments without prejudice IMO on the pluses and minuses of both Windows OS and Mac OSX. I have heard him many times on podcasts and I think he is genuinely open and honest in his assessment of both MS and Apple. I frequent the site regularly to get his perspective on all things MS and also for his perceptive, mostly positive comments on Mac OSX.



Here is a link to one of his articles entitled "Windows Vista Review: Part 7 Where Vista Fails".



http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_07.asp



Note that this is the 7th and final part of a multipart review. One of the major points he makes in this part of his Vista review is how many bizarre inconsistencies exist throughout this latest and greatest version of the MS OS. In contrast, IMO, one of the great features of the Mac OS is the seamless consistency of its UI, architecture and usabilty. This is not to say that OSX is perfect or that improvements aren't needed. As a dual platform user everyday, I constantly see these inconsistencies in the Windows UI and architecture. As Thurrot says at the end of Part 7, "Microsoft has never really nailed the consistency thing, and they've never been particularly good with fit and finish. Hopefully, this will improve in the future. In the meantime, Windows Vista is more consistent and elegant than any Windows version before it. But let's be honest. That's not saying much."



Hope this helps.

imacfp

I like OS X because it's powerful and yet easy to use and doesn't get in your way like XP and Vista can. As Apple likes to say--It just works. OS X is not perfect by any means but the interface it just so much cleaner and more refined. As Paul Thurrott mentioned Windows has no "fit or finish".

lundy

Why not an essay about Apple and Microsoft - their histories have been written many times, but this would be a much richer reading experience than platform wars.

skatman

Wow... I'm surprised at the answers to this one.

I didn't know so many people here are so misinformed about operating systems!

lfe2211

Quote:

Originally Posted by skatman


Wow... I'm surprised at the answers to this one.

I didn't know so many people here are so misinformed about operating systems!

Could you please elaborate on your comment?



Thanks

lfe2211

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macintosh_Next


I have to choose a topic this semester for English 122, and I choose what is the best OS. The exact issue is still being worked out, but if you have a good issue that I could find articles on, within the context of OS, then please be my guest.



Anyway, back on topic. Why do you choose OS X, and are there any articles you know of that back up your claims? Same if you are a Windows/Linux user -- or use to be -- are there any articles that you know of that back up what you use to believe? Any help and comments on this will be very helpful, so please reply. :-D

Macintosh_Next, you posted a very legitimate question. The responses have mostly been based more on emotion and non-quantifiable statements rather than fact. Since this is an Apple forum, pro "feelings" for the Mac run strongly. This is pretty typical of Apple "evangelist" sites like this one. (If this were an MS evangelst site like Neowin.com, I'd say the same thing).



An interesting experiment was done on the Computerworld site. A longtime Windows (and Linux) expert Scot Finnie was given 3 months to evaluate a Mac, using it as his primary machine for work and home.



Finnie's credentials are described on his own website-- "I've been a journalist for over 20 years. I've worked on staff at several computer magazines or online publications, including PC/Computing, FamilyPC, ZDNet, and Windows Magazine. I've also written articles for CNET, PC Magazine, PC World, MacWeek, Byte, ComputerWorld, PC Today, Personal Computing, Computer Life, Popular Science, and Popular Mechanics."



He wrote a 3 part article which begins here:



http://www.computerworld.com/action/...3&pageNumber=1



I think the 3 articles are instructive and on point with regard to what you are after. However,Caveat Emptor, since there may have been financial or other unknown incentives for his positive vote for the Mac.



For the record, I am an avid devotee of OSX, do not hate MS and work daily on both XP and OSX. On the other hand, I am a strong opponent of MS embedding DRM in the Vista kernel. I agree with Peter Gurmann and refer you to his now famous and controversial paper "A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection" here:



http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut00...ista_cost.html



Good reading,

macintosh_next

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfe2211


Let me come at this from a different angle. Paul Thurrott runs one of the most widely known and well respected Microsoft windows sites on the web called "Paul Thurrott's Super Site for Windows". He has written extensively on Vista, was a prime beta tester and comments without prejudice IMO on the pluses and minuses of both Windows OS and Mac OSX. I have heard him many times on podcasts and I think he is genuinely open and honest in his assessment of both MS and Apple. I frequent the site regularly to get his perspective on all things MS and also for his perceptive, mostly positive comments on Mac OSX.



Here is a link to one of his articles entitled "Windows Vista Review: Part 7 Where Vista Fails".



http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_07.asp



Note that this is the 7th and final part of a multipart review. One of the major points he makes in this part of his Vista review is how many bizarre inconsistencies exist throughout this latest and greatest version of the MS OS. In contrast, IMO, one of the great features of the Mac OS is the seamless consistency of its UI, architecture and usabilty. This is not to say that OSX is perfect or that improvements aren't needed. As a dual platform user everyday, I constantly see these inconsistencies in the Windows UI and architecture. As Thurrot says at the end of Part 7, "Microsoft has never really nailed the consistency thing, and they've never been particularly good with fit and finish. Hopefully, this will improve in the future. In the meantime, Windows Vista is more consistent and elegant than any Windows version before it. But let's be honest. That's not saying much."



Hope this helps.

Thank you. :-D At the very least, you gave me a couple good articles to write about. Thanks.

vox barbara

I think that particular multi part Ars article About the Finder... is a must have read.

The article is a bit dated right now, and surely the Mac Os X Finder is pretty much

improved since 2003, but there are some very good points made to discuss about.

I really like the part "The spatial Finder", that articule alone is worth the read.

Btw, that article gave me the theoretical explanation why i prefered the MacOs

over Windows for so long (about 18 years?)



Btw, Ars is a nice read regarding Apple and the Mac Os. They've got a

search field too.

macintosh_next

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfe2211


Macintosh_Next, you posted a very legitimate question. The responses have mostly been based more on emotion and non-quantifiable statements rather than fact. Since this is an Apple forum, pro "feelings" for the Mac run strongly. This is pretty typical of Apple "evangelist" sites like this one. (If this were an MS evangelst site like Neowin.com, I'd say the same thing).



An interesting experiment was done on the Computerworld site. A longtime Windows (and Linux) expert Scot Finnie was given 3 months to evaluate a Mac, using it as his primary machine for work and home.



Finnie's credentials are described on his own website-- "I've been a journalist for over 20 years. I've worked on staff at several computer magazines or online publications, including PC/Computing, FamilyPC, ZDNet, and Windows Magazine. I've also written articles for CNET, PC Magazine, PC World, MacWeek, Byte, ComputerWorld, PC Today, Personal Computing, Computer Life, Popular Science, and Popular Mechanics."



He wrote a 3 part article which begins here:



http://www.computerworld.com/action/...3&pageNumber=1



I think the 3 articles are instructive and on point with regard to what you are after. However,Caveat Emptor, since there may have been financial or other unknown incentives for his positive vote for the Mac.



For the record, I am an avid devotee of OSX, do not hate MS and work daily on both XP and OSX. On the other hand, I am a strong opponent of MS embedding DRM in the Vista kernel. I agree with Peter Gurmann and refer you to his now famous and controversial paper "A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection" here:



http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut00...ista_cost.html



Good reading,

Thank you very much (and I have asked this same question at Ubuntu Forums, which is a interesting read if you have time -- Link Here). I need all the sources I can get for my research :-D.





Thanks again!



(I am ReviewSpin if anyone goes there and wonders...)