How do you think about Apple in comparison with Microsoft?

I believe Apple is superior in its focus on consistency and quality, and Microsoft is superior in… In… Well, they got the jump on the market and made themselves the standard in the minds of everyone.

You’re right about the ui though, in windows you never know what the menus will have in them, whereas on macs stuff is reliably in the same place. ie Preferences… On a pc it could be in the File menu, or Edit, or Options, or Tools… On mac, it’s in the same place every time.

Apple understands why people use computers. Microsoft understands why people buy computers. This is the fundamental difference.

I only know the Apple world for 2 years but I can notice that the tendency is inverting, just like update of update and other quick releases bugged versions, or Apple focusing too much on the iPhone thing, to the detriment of Mac.

Apple—extremely nice interface,stable OS, innovative (somewhat) , over*priced*, arrogant, snobs, lack of respect for old users, polished products, “think different”, “change the world by buying a $ 1200 computer”, cult fan-base

Microsoft—- “just works”, cheap, “computing for the masses”, buggy, brought computer to the masses, the computer for the average person, abundance of applications, developers, comes off as more user-friendly to everyday people, evil corporation, copy-cats, IE6 sucks,lack of marketing skills

the only objection i have to apple is there lack of customisation and upgrading potential. In a PC you can easily upgrade whenever something new comes out but mac its not so easy. Although I’m still a firm believer in mac superiority

I couldn’t agree more with cwilbur’s answer, adding that Apple’s interfaces seem (for as far as I know them) to be a “take as served”, i.e. hardly room for customization. Not that Windows is that customizable, but it’s not like Apple does it better to me (though one might argue that Apple is better at preserving usability).

@joeysefika: If you are referring to hardware, you can upgrade a Mac just as well as you can upgrade a PC. The cases aren’t hard to open (not referring to iMacs and laptops). The hardware options are not limited – almost anything goes.

The un-upgradability is a myth…

@mirza, when did Microsoft’s Windows become cheap? Also, how does it “just work” if its buggy.

@ipodrulz :I meant that windows computers are generally cheaper. Lets say you are a college student with limited income (like me). You can get a decent Dell (or HP) laptop for about $600. A Macbook would cost you a bare minimum of $ 849 (even if you get the refurbished version) . Now you can go on argue that Linux is free and whatever. But Linux lacks a lot of applications and its a lot more complicated.

And yes most Microsoft products are not perfect. But the fact is, I can live with that because there is an abundance of applications out there for Windows that can replace most of Microsoft’s buggy programs. And it just works perfectly for everyday people with minimal tech skills.

@mirza: Make sure you’re looking at comparable machines, with comparable specs; my experience is that the Windows machines are within 10% of the price of the Mac, once they have comparable specs.

Then add the cost of virus protection (or data recovery when a virus hits), and the difference doesn’t seem so great.

@cwilbur: i agree that a 13 inch laptop might be in a similar price range. But what I am saying is that Apple has no low-end laptops. As for the virus protection thing, i thing it just has to do with how you sue your computer. I work for Apple as a “genius”, but I have been using my around 2 and half year Dell laptop with no virus protection at all , and it still runs without a problem. Windows isn’t really as buggy as most people think it is. A few tweaks and it can be just as stable as Tiger .

@mirza: Well, please let me know what ‘few tweaks’ will make Windows as ‘stable as Tiger’. I’ve been using Ubuntu Linux on my laptop for months,
and no real probs. It’s got support for some Windows programs, and there’s open alternatives for nearly every program. And you can put both Ubuntu and Windows on your machine easy as pie. I am a geek, but you seem to be one too.

There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s easier in the end to use than Windows or Mac.

@Truefire: the first thing I would do is turn off all un-necessary start-up programs to amke windows start faster. Turn of the MS Error console. Replace most basic windows apps with freeware like replacing Windows Disk Defragmenter with Auslogics Disk DeFrag and so on.

I think Ubuntu is great. Its probably the most easy-to-use linux OS out there. But i think it has a long way to go. I know alot of people love it , but personally since I have no command line skills whatsoever, I refuse to use LInux

@mirza – you tried Ubuntu and needed command line skills? What happened? Some hardware problems?

@mirza Hey… you run ziked.com don’t you? I’m one of your followers (name should be familiar.)

Apple will always be on the forefront, Microsoft will continue to emulate and or buy what it cannot make in house!

@ipodrulz: yes ziked is my tumblelog

@Vincent: I tried ubuntu on my dell. At first I couldn’t get the wifi to work. Then when I finally got a matching driver, the wifi would turn off automatically after like an hour or so. I never figured out why this was happening. And the thing that I couldn’t stand about ubuntu was the lack of games. I am not a hardcore gamer or anything, but i do like to play this game called XIII once a while .

I’m sure it’ll change as time goes by but for now I love not having the virus and spyware problems on my Mac that I do on my PC. Why run an operating system that requires a lot of “support software” running in the background eating up my processor time when it shouldn’t be required.

I love Apple. They really focus on every single detail. I remember reading Steve Jobs was outraged when the iTunes music stores font was a little too big than what he wanted. Apple are really artists. They have amazing taste unlike most other companies. Look really does matter! It gives you a sense of how it will work and really just makes you feel good. I love Apple because they make computers because they have a passion for it. Not to make an extra buck.

I really don’t care about games. Thats another reason. I’ll play games on the XBox around 2 or so times a month. Not a hardcore gamer.