A Real Geek’s Primer on Computing, Part Deux
I run Windows 7 on my 2 computers, a main desktop and secondary laptop. I dual-boot Ubuntu Linux on my main computer with Windows 7. I’m considering an Apple laptop to replace my secondary laptop (a 17″ HP dv8300 CTO with Windows 7 on it) for a few reasons that really pertain just to how I use computers (specifically, there are a few Apple-specific pieces of software I’d like to try using, and my secondary computer is only used for basic tasks that are almost entirely done in a browser – thus, my OS choice doesn’t matter much).
Most people use Windows because that is what is installed on everything, and you find almost every piece of software at least has some Windows version. Apple people like to be smug because they think they bought a better computer (depending on what they use it for, then it can be true or false that they indeed did buy a “better computer”). Linux users like to be even more smug sometimes (at least it seems that way), but luckily almost no one uses Linux so you rarely see it. Moreover, Linux users at least earn the right to be a little smug because they generally know what the fuck they are talking about.
Ironically, all the reasons for these users’ smugness are the ones that show they have no idea in what areas their OS excels at computing over Windows.
The truth is, the different computers and operating systems out there all have their strengths and weaknesses. Saying one brand sucks over another, or dismissing all products from one company because of who they are is simply stupid. I always love hearing Apple fanboys and fangirls talk about how they look down on Windows users. I’m going to present a few strengths, and then my own observations and things that you should stop saying:
Windows/PCs Strengths:
* Best at gaming – hardware for gaming is designed for PCs running Windows, and any real computer game (as in one you install and play, not something browser-based) almost certainly uses DirectX, which is software made by Microsoft to make it easier for game developers to build games. Microsoft built DirectX specifically to get game developers to make Windows their #1 choice and it worked.
* Most customizable hardware – You can build and rebuild a computer over and over if you really wanted to, although at some point upgrades are just a waste of money and you might as well buy/build a new system.
* Most software – I use A LOT of software. In fact, I used a program to track what I used, and between web applications and real pieces of software, I have used over 300 different tools at some point in the past 4 months or so. Some are one-time use, where I need it for one specific task and then I forget about it. Others I download in groups – recently I was trying to find a program to check my e-mail within specific parameters, and I wound up trying about 6 different applications to see which one worked best. Nonetheless, the point is that Windows gives me the most options here without trying to use all sorts of workarounds to get something running.
* Most familiar – Having such a gigantic market advantage is a benefit. If you sit down at a computer, chances are it runs Windows, and chances are you know how to use it already.
Mac Strengths:
* Best at multimedia – While Microsoft focused on gaming, Apple went after designers. Graphic design software, audio software, etc. is where Apple reigns. There is a ton of industry standard software that is made just for Macs, and even the ones that are cross-platform usually work a bit better on Mac (Photoshop for example). Not only is Apple software made to perform better here, but their hardware is tweaked as well (they can do that since they build both the software and hardware).
* Best at being simple – If you just need to check email and go on the web, an Apple is your best bet. To be quite honest, Apple is made for people who don’t know about computers (which is the irony of hearing Mac users talk about Macs as if they knew much about computers). This isn’t to say that the computers suck or are watered down. On the contrary, if you know about computers, then you can do just as much to a Mac as you can to a PC. But plainly speaking, Macs make it easier to get up and get going with minimal effort to do anything, and another advantage to controlling so much of their own software as well is that they can make it play nicely with all the other parts of a computer. With a PC, this is a bit harder since you have so many 3rd party developers and less quality control.
* Best hardware design – Let’s face it, all Macs are pretty sexy. PCs can be too – there are a bunch of cool light-up cases, modded cases that look like R2-D2 or a toaster oven, and even some of the designs out of Dell and HP don’t look all that bad, but Mac is sleek, sexy, and cool. They win here.
Linux Strengths:
* Open source and runs on anything – You can load some version of Linux onto anything that has a circuit board it seems. You don’t need to buy overpriced hardware, in fact Linux likes to remain simple and therefore usually runs best on the crappiest/oldest hardware.
* FREE – Not only are most Linux distributions free, most software is too, and the software is as simple as clicking and downloading it. Unfortunately, you usually getting something akin to the ‘generic’ brand in grocery stores. For example, Linux has “GIMP” instead of Photoshop. While it does most of what Photoshop can and looks/feels much like Photoshop, it is a free and inferior product. This isn’t a slant on it, but you cannot expect this program to compare to one that is sold for $1000 and is used by every real graphic artist in the world. The same goes for OpenOffice compared to Microsoft Office – OpenOffice can do all the basic things and then some, but eventually you do come across the file that is formatted specifically for a certain version of MS Office, and OpenOffice can’t read the file. That is how it goes for most Linux software.
* Great OS for left-brained people – Seriously though. People who are analytical, especially programmers, who don’t care about beauty and aesthetics like Linux because it presents information plainly to them.
Now for a few of my own thoughts:
1. No OS is better at avoiding being hacked. Each has it’s own insecurities. The reason why Windows is more vulnerable to virii is because of the sheer market size it has. There are virii for Macs, and they are quite hackable. You just never hear about it because most effort is focused on what the world uses. It isn’t that Macs are necessarily more secure, it is just that hackers and people who come up with virii don’t give a shit. If 9 out of 10 people coming across a virii use PCs, then why would you write a virus for Macs? Wouldn’t you want to affect 9 people instead of 1?
2. No OS is clearly better at basic computing tasks. I have used all 3. They all have their ups and downs when it comes to what you use them for. Windows might be better at one thing, Mac at another, and Linux at yet another. On a personal level, I prefer Windows 7 that has been modified to have all my programs be easily launchable from a dock along the top of my screen (I like dual taskbars, one at the top and one at the bottom of the screen, much like Linux but with all the benefits of Windows). I don’t like how Macs work where there is a constant menu bar along the top that changes depending on which program you have highlighted – this has annoyed me in the past.
3. No computer “just works.” I know I am hating on Mac stereotypes, but that is because these are all the reasons people bring up when telling me how great Macs are. I have had to do support for Macs before. I have friends with Macs who find getting help even harder because less people use Macs, and therefore information on tiny problems is not magnified by the number of users like it is for Windows. If you use an obscure program on Windows, chances are people have had the same problems you have, even if it is just a handful of 20 people or so. This isn’t the same for a Mac. The truth is, all computers have problems from time to time, whether something stops working or it fails to start in the first place. The very fact that Apple has a “Genius bar” in all their stores and a tech support number just go to show that it will not always “just work.”
4. The internet, browsers, and “the cloud” are leaving operating systems behind. It doesn’t really matter if I use Windows 7, OS X, or Ubuntu to get my mail if I use GMail in Firefox, which is available for all 3.
5. For every good selling point that any brand or OS has, an equal counterpoint arises.
6. Many of the good selling points don’t even make sense. It is hard to take someone seriously when they talk about how much better their brand is (not just Mac, but PC brands too). This is because those brands all put in parts from the same companies. Apple uses nVidia graphics processors just like Dell does.
Preface: I run Windows 7 (the newest operating system that was just released 2 weeks ago) on my 2 computers, a main desktop and secondary laptop. I dual-boot Ubuntu Linux on my main computer with Windows 7. I’m considering an Apple laptop to replace my secondary laptop (a 17″ HP dv8300 CTO) for a few reasons that really pertain just to how I use computers. Specifically, there are a few Apple-only pieces of software I’d like to try using, and my secondary computer is only used for basic tasks that are almost entirely done in a browser – thus, my OS choice doesn’t matter much. I should also note that I use and adore my iPhone, as it really is a mini-computer. So I am dipping into Windows/Mac/Linux products across the board.
#2 – Operating Systems Do Not Define Who You Are
Most people use Windows because that is what is installed on everything, and you find almost every piece of software at least has some Windows version. Some Apple people like to be smug because they think they bought a better computer (depending on what they use it for, then it can be true or false that they indeed did buy a “better computer”). Some Linux users like to be even more smug sometimes (at least it seems that way), but luckily almost no one uses Linux so you rarely see it. Moreover, Linux users at least earn the right to be a little smug because they generally know what the fuck they are talking about. I’m about to be a smug Windows user, but only in an effort to undo all the smugness about operating systems because it really is just ridiculous.
Ironically, many of the reasons presented are the ones that show they have no idea in what areas their OS excels at computing over Windows. Hopefully, this will set the record straight about what Operating Systems do things better than others without all the bias.
The truth is, the different computers and operating systems out there all have their strengths and weaknesses. Saying one brand sucks over another, or dismissing all products from one company because of who they are is simply stupid and limits choices that might make sense for you. I’m going to present a few strengths, and then my own observations and things that you should stop saying:
Windows/PCs Strengths:
- Best at gaming – hardware for gaming is designed for PCs running Windows, and any real computer game (as in one you install and play, not something browser-based) almost certainly uses DirectX, which is software made by Microsoft to make it easier for game developers to build games. Microsoft built DirectX specifically to get game developers to make Windows their #1 choice and it worked. The Xbox being designed and made by Microsoft is also helping bridge gaps between PC gaming and console gaming.
- Most customizable hardware – You can build and rebuild a computer over and over if you really wanted to, although at some point upgrades are just a waste of money and you might as well buy/build a new system. Still, buying a $100 video card that gives you the final bit of power you need to run that new game is a lot easier than buying a new computer. As a side note, it might cost as much as a new computer if you ask Geek Squad or some other horrible service to install it for you – it’s easy to do yourself! All you need is a screwdriver and enough time to slide the side of the computer’s case off, unscrew 1 screw, slide the card in, and screw the screw back in place to hold the card in the slot. It’s a 5 minute operation.
- Most software – I use A LOT of software. In fact, I used a program to track what I used, and between web applications and real pieces of software, I have used over 300 different tools at some point in the past 4 months or so. Some are one-time use, where I need it for one specific task and then I forget about it. Others I download in groups – recently I was trying to find a program to check my e-mail within specific parameters, and I wound up trying about 6 different applications to see which one worked best. Nonetheless, the point is that Windows gives me the most options here without trying to use all sorts of workarounds to get something running.
- Most familiar – Having such a gigantic market advantage is a benefit. If you sit down at a computer, chances are it runs Windows, and chances are you know how to use it already.
Mac Strengths:
- Best at multimedia – While Microsoft focused on gaming, Apple went after designers. Graphic design software, audio software, etc. is where Apple reigns. There is a ton of industry standard software that is made just for Macs, and even the ones that are cross-platform usually work a bit better on Mac (Photoshop for example). Not only is Apple software made to perform better here, but their hardware is tweaked as well (they can do that since they build both the software and hardware).
- Best at being simple – If you just need to check email and go on the web, an Apple is your best bet. To be quite honest, Apple is/was made for people who don’t know about computers (which is the irony of hearing some Mac users talk about Macs as if they knew much about computers). I’m not trying to bash Mac users or call them dumb, and this isn’t to say that the computers suck or are watered down. On the contrary, if you know about computers, then you can do just as much (or more in some cases) to a Mac as you can to a PC, and if you are ready to spend $4000+ you can get some absolute behemoths when it comes to building a Mac that is faster than lightning. But plainly speaking, Macs make it easier to get up and get going with minimal effort to do anything, and another advantage to controlling so much of their own software as well is that they can make it play nicely with all the other parts of a computer. With a PC, this is a bit harder since you have so many 3rd party developers and less quality control.
- Best hardware design – Let’s face it, all Macs are pretty sexy. PCs can be too – there are a bunch of cool light-up cases, modded cases that look like R2-D2 or a toaster oven, and even some of the designs out of Dell and HP don’t look all that bad, but Mac is sleek, sexy, and cool. They win here.
Linux Strengths:
- Open source and runs on anything – You can load some version of Linux onto anything that has a circuit board it seems. You don’t need to buy overpriced hardware, in fact Linux likes to remain simple and therefore usually runs best on the crappiest/oldest hardware.
- FREE – Not only are most Linux distributions free, most software is too, and the software is as simple as clicking and downloading it. Unfortunately, you usually getting something akin to the ‘generic’ brand in grocery stores. For example, Linux has “GIMP” instead of Photoshop. While it does most of what Photoshop can and looks/feels much like Photoshop, it is a free and inferior product. This isn’t a slant on it, but you cannot expect this program to compare to one that is sold for $1000 and is used by every real graphic artist in the world. The same goes for OpenOffice compared to Microsoft Office – OpenOffice can do all the basic things and then some, but eventually you do come across the file that is formatted specifically for a certain version of MS Office, and OpenOffice can’t read the file. That is how it goes for most Linux software.
- Great OS for left-brained people – Seriously though. People who are analytical, especially programmers, who don’t care about beauty and aesthetics like Linux because it presents information plainly to them.
Now for a few of my own thoughts:
- No OS is better at avoiding being hacked. Each has it’s own insecurities. The reason why Windows is more vulnerable to virii is because of the sheer market size it has. There are virii for Macs, and they are quite hackable. You just never hear about it because most effort is focused on what the world uses. It isn’t that Macs are necessarily more secure, it is just that hackers and people who come up with virii don’t give a shit. If 9 out of 10 people coming across a virii use PCs, then why would you write a virus for Macs? Wouldn’t you want to affect 9 people instead of 1?
- No OS is clearly better at basic computing tasks. I have used all 3. They all have their ups and downs when it comes to what you use them for. Windows might be better at one thing, Mac at another, and Linux at yet another. On a personal level, I prefer Windows 7 that has been modified to have all my programs be easily launchable from a dock along the top of my screen (I like dual taskbars, one at the top and one at the bottom of the screen, much like Linux but with all the benefits of Windows). I don’t like how Macs work where there is a constant menu bar along the top that changes depending on which program you have highlighted – this has annoyed me in the past. However, I do like the Mac Dock a lot and it is something I kind of emulated on my PC.
- No computer “just works.” I know I am hating on Mac stereotypes, but these are facts that should be known before you go buy something that costs thousands of dollars. I have had to do tech support for Macs before. I have friends with Macs who find getting help even harder because less people use Macs, and therefore information on tiny problems is not magnified by the number of users like it is for Windows. If you use an obscure program on Windows, chances are people have had the same problems you have, even if it is just a handful of 20 people or so. This isn’t the same for a Mac. The truth is, all computers have problems from time to time, whether something stops working or it fails to start in the first place. The very fact that Apple has a “Genius bar” in all their stores and a tech support number just go to show that it will not always “just work.” Don’t let this be a deterrent though! Macs do have much less problems overall than Windows systems – I’m just saying don’t expect it to never fail!
- The internet, browsers, and “the cloud” are leaving operating systems behind. It doesn’t really matter if I use Windows 7, OS X, or Ubuntu to get my mail if I use GMail in Firefox, which is available for all 3.
- For every good selling point that any brand or OS has, an equal counterpoint arises.
- Many of the good selling points don’t even make sense. It is hard to take someone seriously when they talk about how much better their brand is (not just Mac, but PC brands too). This is because those brands all put in parts from the same companies. Apple uses nVidia graphics processors just like Dell does.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t enjoy your computer and it’s operating system if it makes computing fun to you, or suggest products or services to friends that you find useful. I’m just giving short, quick tips that everyone should know about when buying or discussing computers. If you know these things, then you should have no problem making the right choice when it comes to what you (and possibly others who will be using the same computer) need when it comes to buying a new machine.
