April 20, 2009 10:49 PM

Ah good. My first challenge, and it's exactly what I expected from a 'Mac guy.' You agree and then disagree, then try to change the argument into why you think OS X is a 'better OS.' That's not the battle I'm fighting here. I want to stick with Apple's ridiculous statement about a PC not doing something that a Mac can.

But since you've put up your dukes, I'll be the first to parry:

It's not *what* a Mac does... but what it does *better.*  Saying "except for run OS X" takes away the only reason anyone would buy a Mac... the hardware is pretty much the same now that they're on Intel.

This isn't about hardware. A PC can't run OS X (due to Apple's control of the OS), while Macs can run both Windows and OS X. I accept that as one thing a Mac can do that a PC can't. 

A more logical challenge would be, "tell me something OS X does that Windows XP and Vista can't, or doesn't do very well." 

Perhaps, but that's not what Apple said. 

Run lots of awesome Mac only software (like RapidWeaver, The Hit List, Boxer, Espresso, etc.  Arguably, yes, you can get PC programs that perform the same functions, but PC's cannot run these programs... so it's something they can't do.

I could name 10,000 PC only programs that OS X can't run. It doesn't matter. If you need to type a document, both can do it. Same for editing photos, creating videos, reading e-mail, and surfing the web. Name one thing you can't do on a PC that you can do on a Mac. That's the whole argument. Apple implied there's something, and I want to know what it is.

Easily run both OS X and duplicate the functionality of Windows (I'm sure you could Hackintosh a PC and dual boot Windows somehow, but that's far beyond what an average user would ever want to do. Buying a Mac is also buying a Windows PC all in one, if you buy a copy of Windows.)

If a Mac can do everything a PC can, why would a Mac user want to install Windows?

The rest of your points really don't have anything to do with my question. They're all, here's why I think Macs are better, not things you can do with a Mac that a PC can't. Examples:

• Drag and drop installing of programs

So you can install programs. So can a PC.

• At this point in time, no real need to run anti-virus software (that will change someday)

How is that something a Mac can do that a PC can't?

• Expose to manage multiple windows (Looking Glass sucks... sorry)

You can switch from one program to another. So can a PC.

• Spaces to manage multiple desktops (yes, there's MSVDM but it crashed constantly for me and wasn't very smoothly integrated, in my opinion)

I can run multiple desktops on a PC with add on software.

• Much better Dashboard than Vista

Not relevant. This is opinion.

• No requirement to constantly reboot after loading drivers or programs

Not relevant, but give me a break. I've seen you have to restart your Mac for various reasons, many times because it froze or choked.

I like Macs better simply because I feel that OS X is more capable, elegant, and enjoyable to not only use but to look at as well... not because it does something Windows can't.  Some people are willing to pay a premium for something they believe is better. 

All fine and dandy, but that doesn't defend Apple's statement. 

Both Taster's Choice and the finest Italian espresso contain caffeine and will wake you up... but one tastes a whole lot better and costs about twice as much.  Grey Goose and Wolfschmidt will both get you tipsy, but which one doesn't taste like motor oil?  Sometimes, it's not about the destination, but rather, the journey.

You dissin' Taster's Choice? C'mon! 

These analogies are fun, but never insightful. Mac guys always rank Windows as the lowest possible choice of whatever the comparison; McDonalds vs. fine Italian Dining, Ford vs. Ferrari, etc. How about a realistic comparison? Bombay Sapphire vs. Tanq? Applebee's vs. Fridays?

So, I repose the question... Name one thing a Mac can do that a PC can't. Not which does something better than the other, but an acutal use case that requires a Mac because performing that task on a PC is not possible.

Go.

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.

April 21, 2009 11:56 AM

Peter Redmer said: How about this... I immediately concede defeat to your "challenge." I can't think of a usecase where a PC could not complete the same task as a Mac, experience notwithstanding. You win without a fight. My points were all clearly not things Mac could do that a PC couldn't. To be fair, I did start a separate topic to make things more interesting. And also, I never contested your original point :) But, in order for this thread to continue without mindless flaming and baseless arguments, I had to state the clear fact that you are correct in stating that PC's are equally functional. Equally functional in the same way that Martin Logans are equally functional to M&K are equally functional to Klipsch are equally functional to B&W in that they create waves of sound that may eventually impact upon our ears, right? (All high end speakers) The same way that BMW, Mercedes, Acura, and Jaguar are equally functional in that they all drive on the road? (All luxury automobiles) Anyway, I find it interesting that you haven't really expounded on why you like Windows better, just that it gets the job done. Kinda like the box of Taster's Choice in my cabinet. I digress, though... It's really easy to argue functionality in a simple black and white kind of way, as in "do or do not," and forget all the variables impacting on the experience. How about a real challenge. Tell us why you like Windows better, why you enjoy using it more, and why the OS is superior to Mac OS X. No technical stuff... why do you think the *experience* is better? We know it can do the same stuff, we know you can get a better graphics card for less money, and we know Apple's argument was crap, so don't go hanging on to that :) And yes, enjoyment is a factor. I love car analogies, because they're so similar to computers. They're both machines, they're both necessary for daily life, for work, for everything, and they both perform the same functions regardless of which model you get... so yes, here's another one for everybody :) Whenever you talk to someone who drives a minivan or boring economy car, and ask them how it is, what do they say? "It gets me there." Ask someone who owns a Corvette, M3, or WRX the same question, and you'll get "dude, it kicks ***." Mac people typically say their computers kick ***. PC users typically say they got a great deal. But both of them can type an Excel document :)

I should make it clear I'm not trying to incite a 'which is better' argument. My only intent here was to call Apple out on what I think is a BS statement, and really find out if there really is something a Mac can do that a PC can't. That's the challenge here. We can save the other discussion for a future blog entry; let's try to keep this discussion on track. ;-)

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.