Why Am I Considering A Mac?

Okay well I don't have any proof, and I don't care if Apple makes a dollar of any of the ads. The initial discussion is why the ads appear to be rude towards Windows. I still say Apple is no different. I hope you haven't forgotten about Napster's rude tactics? They used Apple's name, pics of Apple's iPod and the iTunes name. The ads states, "To fill up your iPod Apple makes you spend $10k". Napster will give you unlimited songs for $15.00/month.

That's the biggest misstated ad ever! Why? Napster forgot to mention that your iPod doesn't require you to "buy" songs from iTunes or that you can rip songs legally from your own CD's. Nor do Napster tell you that if you stop paying the monthly fee you will lose all your songs because you are required to plug in your MP3 player each month to update it, (or in other words pay the monthly fee).
See that's really misleading advertising.

 

Once again, I love this forum, your guys are fun to rebuttal against but the OP would like to talk about why they are considering a Mac. Take care.

 

You're right, I haven't. If that is so, that is rather unprofessional of Microsoft too, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Like how windows is so insecure, PC's are full of viruses, while MAC have no security flaws? The truth is that there is little reason to make a virus that targets a mac as most people don't own one. For the same reason, Firefox picks up less spyware then IE, not necessarily because it is so secure but because it isn't targeted.

speaking of internet browsers, isn't safari windows supposed to be 2x as fast as IE? Well, that doesn't seem to be the case. It is slower and rather unstable but it is still just a beta though.

Also what about all these new games that are supposed to be coming out in the next few months that supposedly run native on OS X? here is an interesting read.

 

Um... I'm not familiar with the Napster ad, but I don't see what's wrong with it the way you described it. You can buy $10k worth of music from Apple or $10k worth of CDs; it doesn't make much difference. They did say $15 per month, right? Do the cable company ads say that if you stop paying the monthly fee, your channels go away? Does the Hilton say that if you stop paying the nightly fee that you can't use the room anymore? I could be wrong, but I assume that nearly all Napster customers understand that it's rental.

 

Actually, what really irks me about the Mac ads is that they say "PCs" have this or that problem, and while a few of the problems apply to PCs in general, most of them really just apply to Windows. I'd rather they bash Windows specifically, that would be more fair IMO and some of their criticisms are warranted. The Apple ads kind of pretend that PC = Windows and while they don't specifically say so, they act like there are no alternatives to OS X and Windows.

 

Well, to the target audience of those ads, there probably aren't.
If you're basing your choice of computers from a TV ad, then you probably aren't using Linux; you probably haven't even heard of it!

Sorry if that came off a bit arrogant, but it's probably the truth.

 

You are one of the reasons why new computer users stay so misinformed. The only time Windows is not insecure is 1) When they are not connected to the web. 2) When they are not installing software from another friend's homemade software disc 3) When they are not opening up email attachments from anywhere. Windows machines by default ship with Anti-virus subscription as soon as you turn it on for the first time. Macs don't ship with that stuff.

Please get over it about the small amount of Mac users on this earth is for the reason of no viruses. The Mac OS system is UNIX based which is highly secure. Apple post security patches a lot but it's generally for Quicktime, Safari or the iChat software which is not protected by the UNIX core. They have posted updates for the OS as well however to date there are no known viruses or Spyware on the Mac and if you are proud of the fact that the Windows system you use is more prone to attacks because more people use it then I for one am proud to use a system that the attackers could care less about writing viruses for. Who loses here?

I never once brought up any games coming out or Safari's browser. You sound like a Mac basher and I will no longer respond to your posts after this.

 

lol, I'm a mac basher? The reason I'm posting here and reading up on apple threads is *gasp* there is a good chance I will buy a MBP. I'm just trying to be objective.

 

Yeah, I certainly see your point... there is a pre-existing PC = Windows perception among a lot of non-techies; I just wish that Apple's ads wouldn't reinforce that misperception. I mean, I don't expect Apple to go around promoting Linux or anything, but I just wish they would attack Windows directly instead of "PCs" and pretend there aren't any alternatives. But I do realize that to the business and marketing people involved in these ads, Linux probably just doesn't matter much and PC = Windows is probably close enough for them. If you don't like Windows, you may as well replace the hardware too, right?

 

It doesn't matter; the majority of Windows vistuses aren't spread by exploits related to the kernel; they're related to security holes in other parts of the system such as IE, WMP, or something like that. Actually, quite a lot of them are just spread by tricking people into running programs, so these don't take advantage of any technical deficiency in the OS except for XP's default of running with Admin privileges by default, which is fixed in Vista.

I do believe that OS X is generally more secure than Windows, but I also think that if OS X had 90%+ market share, there would be a lot more viruses and other malware for it.

I agree that there are advantages to being on a less common platform, just as there are advantages to being on a more common platform.

LOL.

 

This thread is turning into a flame war...cool down people.

I have to put in my comments into this...I wanted to stay out of it .

While it is true that why there is (although disputed) not a single virus targeting the Mac has to do with its much lower market share vs. Windows, it is also true that Mac OS X has a UNIX core and also that Apple has more precautions such as Parental Controls and needing a password to install anything. I don't doubt that Mac OS X would have more viruses if it had 90% market share, but I think that the amount of viruses would be much less than currently attacking Windows. Microsoft has flaws in its OS, much more than in Mac OS X, and that's why new viruses are found so often for Windows.

And I want to use Apple's recently released Safari Beta for Windows as reason of Apple's quick response for flaws and exploits in its software. Less than a week after Safari 3's release, Apple released Safari 3.0.1, which patched many problems in the beta browser that was discovered by security experts. That's quick response.

 

Well there is no doubt about it - there is emotion attached to the whole decision of OS X or Windows. I experienced the emotion myself the first time I used OS X on my brother's IMac. I thought - Whoa - this is not what I thought. I like this OS - I enjoy working in it. It wasn't ads or really anything else except actually moving around in OS X that convinced me I wanted a macbook or macbook pro. I do like the fact that there aren't too many viruses.

The thing I've been thinking about as I've been reading all these different posts is how I felt about the Mac before I ever actually used it for myself. I always thought "Why in the world would anyone ever use a Mac?" I was a diehard PC user with lots of Windows software. And really, I didn't know what I was talking about because I had never even tried using a Mac. I'm just amazed how quickly I've changed my tune - just spending one day with a Mac.

Next week one of my coworkers is going to let me use his macbook for a couple of days. I'm excited. That should tell me a lot more. I just need to decide what I'm going to get - macbook or macbook pro. If I decide macbook, I might want to wait for Leopard because maybe they'll update the macbook.

 

Cath your posting is the one that aspiring switchers and die hard Windows users should read. This is exactly what I was mentioning much closer to the beginning of this thread. Macs gets bashed because people build prejudices without even trying one. What I like is that you gave it chance and realized your prejudices and dismissed them. Now, the Mac doesn't have to become your computer of choice but that usually happens after people try it. The reason I am so passionate about the Mac is because I owned and used Windows for 3 years. I had prejudices. Once I dismissed them and gave the Mac a try I realized there are choices in the computer world and my life doesn't have to be chained to Windows.

 

You realize that a lot of the stubbornness of die-hard Windows users and their prejudices are a reaction to the fanaticism of a small but rather vocal part of the Mac community (although I know you prefer to call yourself "passionate" instead of "fanatical").

People are more inclined to listen to reason if they don't feel cornered and pressured. This is exactly the point that Chris was making. Always in any negative ad criticizing Windows is the implication of smug superiority of the Mac "genius" vs the bloated fat PC guy...and the implication of why anyone would want to use such an obviously inferior product. This isn't just reflected in ads, but in a lot of people's attitudes as well. This not only belittles potential customers, but it also turns them away.

When this sort of implication is there, even if a customer was open to new ideas, they automatically fall into defensive-mode and start being stubborn trying to justify why their Windows PC is better, etc. etc. The "prejudices" you speak of usually are a reaction to this sort of negative image of Apple and its community, who in turn lash out back against the PC users, and back and forth and around and around it goes.


Meanwhile, in the effort to be humorous and to emphasize the large contrast between Apple and PCs, none of these ads do much to show at all some the major selling points of a Mac at all - such as the great style of the chassis, etc.

This is why I agree with many of the posters above that these ads are not reaching their potential. You can be an aggressive advertiser and even pinpoint the strong points of your product over the competition without doing it in a way that completely alienates your target audience.

No matter how technically better a product is, if you can't market it in a way that appeals to your target consumer, you're still not going to sell - and it's the consumer who loses at the end. Although not a perfectly relevant analogy, just look at Betamax and VHS.

 

You are right Taelrak. As a Mac user I am smug, I feel superior and look down at anyone that hits the Start/All Programs/Control Panel buttons. At this point you are making it personal renaming my passion for what I like as being a fanatic. I never once took this discussion as personal but you have and I don't appreciate your rude and childish attitude. I was replying to the OP's recent post. Unnecessary for you to take it this far.

P.S. I don't need to be told why Windows users hate Mac users. It's not my duty to keep them happy. It's just a computer. Grow up if you can't keep this discussion on a techie level.

 

Guys, IMHO, your differences of opinion have gotten out of hand and too personal. Frankly, not sure how a common interest in laptops, be they PC's or Macs, has led to the animosity in your posts. Am a bit surprised that the mods have allowed this to escalate.

Just a suggestion: lighten up a bit.

 

I began this thread to hear from Mac users about why I am so drawn to the Mac after having only used it for a day. I basically wanted to hear why you love using a Mac and what is it that draws me to the OS, whether you're a diehard Mac person or a switcher, like I'm just about to become. Actually, for me, the heatedness of the conversation at times on this thread is good for me to read because it helps me understand some of the issues of Mac and PC. I for one love to use computers in general - I think it's amazing that we can have such technology in our hands that allow us to do things that you never could have done a hundred years ago. Like typeset a book. Or design a book cover. It puts us on a level playing field in a sense with what only huge companies had the resources to do in the past.

I spent some time last night looking at the features of Leopard and now I'm really hooked. The question is not if I'm going to get a Mac, but when and which one. I can't wait. I've been thinking about waiting until Leopard and then getting a MacBook. But maybe I'm not going to be able to wait. And maybe I'll get the MacBook Pro.

 

Read what I wrote more carefully. I referred to the new series of Apple computer ads and a very small minority of the Apple community as implicitly smug and superior - citing that as a reason why they alienate potential customers. I neither know nor care whether you choose to classify yourself as part of this group and hence take offense or not.

I called you a fanatic because your conclusions don't follow logically from the premises you start with. When you so passionately support a point but are unable to back it up with reason, what else would I call it but fanaticism? Logic?

That's just the issue here. It would be fine if your arguments were supported by both numbers on a "techie level". No one here would dispute with you that Apple is an amazing company that is still rising. Most would even agree that OSX is an amazing OS and in fact, probably much better than Windows. However, what is at question here is Apple's advertising strategy, and you have yet to provide any evidence that these negative ads are doing more good than harm on a "techie level". This is why I call you a fanatic - you leap from premise to conclusion without actually justifying it.

As for it's not your duty to keep Window users happy, you're right it's not. This discussion was never about you however. It was about Apple's advertising strategy - and THEIR job is to gain more customers, and that means converting Windows users to OSX. How well do you think they can do that if their philosophy is "it's not my job to keep Windows users happy?" and alienate their potential customers?

 

oh com'on already.. i know it's kinda impolite for a forum newbie to be saying this but, i feel also that this os x vs windows thing is getting out of hand. it's like comparing apples and oranges, where the only common thing between the 2 is that they are fruits. in this case, both are OSes. it's all personal preference. you like windows? fine. you like mac? so be it. there's really not much to argue here.

anyway, regarding the topic. i've been using windows ever since my very first computer. it has its problems, yes, but it is still a nice piece of work, nonetheless. however, i have to admit that i am sort of a mac prejudice too. i was introduced to my first imac during high school days and i was totally turned off by the "unorthodox" look and works of it. it is quite true that there has always been this "macs s***" fallacy going around.

but it was only until recently when i visited one of the apple stores in my country. appearance wise, the macbooks, MBPs, imacs totally blew me off. i really like how apple manage to squeeze power and performance into such elegant machines. OS wise, it was just as beautiful as how the hardware looks. call that love in first sight

all that added to things i've heard about the stability and user-friendliness of mac made me kind of swayed. in fact, i was so fed-up with windows that i changed the interface to look as close to Tiger as possible via blinds and docks. yes it slowed my system down, but at least i'm happy working and looking at my computer.

sorry for being longwinded, lol. as u can see, it's actually the appearance that attracted me, rather than the functionality. but hey, i'm more of the looks type, and i won't be happy working on a super-duper machine which looks like cr*p. i look forward to owning a mac! again, i apologise if i sound rude to any of you veterans

 

in a certain ad they say that os x has never had a virus, this is quite untrue indeed, isn't it?

im not against mac at all though, i quite likely might be getting a mbp, its a superb piece of hardware that so far puts others to shame, although with a decent price premium. these ads and opinions of dead-set mac lovers (have you ever visited http://www.macrumors.com/, have a look around that site and tell me that doesnt put you off a mac) these personally have put me off mac though, although for the mbp the hardware speaks for itself.

 

Actually Sheldon, OS X has been found with flaws before, that's why there are security patches, but as of now, none of the "flaws" have ever been classified as a virus. Its been disputed, as some say that a while back the very first Mac virus was discovered, but others don't count that "problem" as a virus. So in a sense, yeah, that Mac ad was correct.

I believe that's the "Viruses" ad. In fact, in that ad Mac states that the viruses that affect PCs don't affect the Mac. He's telling the truth...they don't. Even if there was a virus for the Mac, viruses usually are not cross-platform. So a virus written for a PC won't work on a Mac, 99% (or even 100%) of the time.

 

Agreed many people complain about this ad but there is actually no lies told in the ad. You have to listen to every word from the PC guy and the Mac guy.

The PC guy states "Last year there were 114,000 "known" viruses for PC's". The Mac guy states," PC's but not Macs". Although there haven't been viruses or spyware on Macs the keyword is "Known". There have never been nor are there any known viruses on Macs and PC viruses cannot affect the Mac OS.

 

my point is that it gives a sense that there are no security flaws or anything for OS X, wasn't there recently a post about a virus for OS X? i guess with all aggresive marketing there is always the backlash, i dunno how well these ads are doing, im just stating that in my case they have be deterrents for me rather than incentives.

 

Well, the way I see it is that the Get a Mac ads haven't been helping Mac sales, but helping fuel interest in Apple's products. They've become so iconic these days its so evident in the parodies and the music its played. It makes people go "Hmm...I thought the iMac at the end of the commercial was pretty cool. I want to see it more." and they go to Apple's website. They go "Is iLife really that cool?" and they read about it on Apple's website. Interest grows.

 

I hope I don't get too flamed for this but Sam you are one of the few here that really get what the commercials are trying to do. Apple has become so iconic that anything you see in regards to them whether their ads or even seeing Macs in television shows, it just keeps their name in your face. That's the idea of advertisement. Sure it would be great if the ads produced more Mac sales but it's all about keeping their name in your face. Too many times I see senseless automobile ads on TV and wonder how will they ever get sales from these ads? It's all about remembering the company name and not necessarily the product. The product will get sold.
I certainly see a lot of switchers on this forum regardless of the Get A Mac ads or not.

 

Don't worry hldan, I don't get "offended" by constructive criticism .

But I don't really understand your point... My take is that the point of the ads is to garner interest in potential switchers. People that aren't liking their PC that much anymore. And then they get a 30-second ad showcasing a feature Mac has that PC doesn't, or doesn't do as well. They get interested, and read more on Apple's website. They get addicted .

 

Oh no Sam, I think you misunderstood. I was actually agreeing with you. A few people on this thread hate the ads but they don't really see what the end result will be for Apple. You seem to get it while others don't so I was actually agreeing with you. I didn't want to get flamed by others because people get to emotional over the ads when they are just comical and entertaining.

 

but i would believe that how well it does something is subjective, someone thats confident on a windows machine could do a better job with windows software than on a mac.