Converts

"Over 1 million Windows to Mac converts so far in 2005?"


http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1360


Discuss.



I think Microsoft better get their act together.

Even if half that number, thats a considerable amount.

 

Costs are pretty high still. The unfortunate thing with the Intel move is its nlikely we will see any real price differences, and the OS protection scheme will keep regular PC users from using OS X.

Even crackers are going to be hard pressed, as there are plans to have each Mac application be required to tap into the protection code in the OS, meaning even if you cracked the OS, apps wouldn't work.

 

I'm pretty comfortable with both MAC and Windows, but I dont see many benefits of a Mac system.

MAC's are prettier, and the OS has more flare right out of the box, thought a few simple windows programs can match OSX's artsy side IMO-- ObjectDock and WindowBlinds, paried with an Expose for Windows (pick one of many knock off's)

other than that, for the price, they are slower and less efficient, even in graphics and video now. Perfect example-- A graphic design friend of mine used G5 powermac's all through his schooling, and now at his Job. He likes them and they work, but he gets frustrated because they dont work as quickly, and programs (Adobe Illustrator for one) crash on him repeatedly on the MAC, but never on his Windows PC at home. (AMD64 3200+)

I'll agree that for many standard 'web computer users' who only do light browsing and word processing/email, MAC can be more clean and appealing, but I dont think MS needs to worry all that much, they're still steadily on top IMO.

 

My .02, it's the Firefox/IE Sydrome with an OS slant; 100 million people have downloaded Firefox (skewered number, I'll bet it's not 100 million users, probably 33 million users downloading 3 new versions ), but how much of a real dent is that to IE? Nine percent? I wouldn't mind having 91% percent of a market

 

not to mention what happened once those numbers were out... *bam* new exploits and viruses that are targeted toward firefox..., partially ruining the reason many of those users switched in the first place

 

I guess...I don't see any advantage to Windows that Mac can't cover (minus games), and any concerns you have with performance...well, they are going x86 in 2006.

As for your friend, I'd bet he wouldnt be waiting long on a Quad powered PowerMac.


Dual G5 2.7ghz, both dual core.

The idea behind Macs however (IMO), isn't the hardware, its the OS.

Download as many knockoffs as you like for Windows, to make it look like a Mac, but its not. OS X Tiger has most the features Windows Vista advertises to have, and its not even due out for quite some time. By that time, Apple will have a new OS out.

As well, I can run not only OSX software, but OS9 software, and there are many, many, Linux and Unix ports.

 

When Macs have to worry about viruses and spyware, guess what? So will Linux and Unix.

 

I don't consider myself a standard 'web computer user'. Do you?

Sorry. I feel that comment was a little harsh.

 

Back to the discussion. Whether its 200,00, 500,000, or 1,000,000, the reason people are turning away from Microsoft have nothing to do with hardware, or third party apps crashing. For reference, my Windows machine has apps that crash all the time, while my Mac does not. Thats really irrelevant. Windows in its current incarnation is very stable, and so is OS X 10.4.3. The real issues are viruses, spyware, and security. Can MS fix the problem in Vista? Maybe, but its something they should have done all along. Everything else is pure preference. I prefer Macs, but that doesn't make me any less of a power user than say, a Windows user. We use what we prefer.

However, MS has a real dilemna on their hands with the security issues. Sure, Firefox started seeing some problems once it became popular, but they don't even equal anything near IE's issues. Maybe if it wasn't updated for a year or so, but even then, I doubt it

 

I agree Mac's direction seems to be better charted, but security vulnerabilities don't play favorites. Nowhere near the numbers of MS problems, but not infallible.

http://secunia.com/search/?search=mac+os+x+vulnerabilities

Granted, my knowledge of Mac is extremely limited, but my desire to learn has picked up a bit; perhaps over the holidays when time is a bit friendlier to me.

 

Oh, agreed, nothing is 100% perfect. However, there is no excuse for Microsoft's problems, and it is costing them customers, as it should. Maybe this will be a wake up call for them to get off their butts and get some real security in their OSes.

 

I think MS's problems are twofold; faults in the OS, and no one likes a conglomerate so they are a popular target. Me thinks MS was spared much more embarassment of their OS's by folks that write programs to close a lot of the holes.

I think FF will have more problems as the popularity continues to increase, but since it won't be as widely used as IE, the level of problems won't be as great.

And as long as Active X is left on the side of the road, the "kiss-of-death" will be avoided.

I can't see MS's customer share ever going below, say 85% if you include all the OS's available. Yes, it's a dent, but it's in Kevlar.