Are Macs TOO simple for me?

They say Mac 'just works' and it's simple. I don't really know how much you can customize things..

but you know what, I LIKE the PC problems. I like challenges. A computer in itself is a hobby to me.

Would a mac be TOO simple for someone like me?

 

You've posted quite a bit in the apple forums I see. I don't quite understand the point in your creating this thread. Care to enlighten me, or are you just looking for a flame war?

 

Well if you *like* PC problems, you can go get them lol

Honestly, macs are a bit more foolproof, but they're not 100% either. I've managed to freeze my iMac before. To be honest it was a bit trickier for me to figure out the problem because i wasn't familiar with OSX and the inability to access the BIOS of the machine limited my options. But it certainly was "a challenge" lol

Macs aren't made for customization though. You can mostly only swap out RAM and HDD and those have to be Apple certified apparently I'm told. Apple limits and controls the factors that make up its machines and therefore in return they yield a smoother and more consistent unit. In exchange you lose the freedom of movement you get with the more wild PC manufacturers.

Macs certainly aren't "simple". They're simply different form PCs.

 

I have the same question as talin too, whats your point? If you're really asking the question then you should stick with a windows based machine. You can get under the hood with OS X or you can use it just as it is.

 

Lol you must be insecure if you think I'm trolling.

I'm on the fence about ever buying a mac
I have an ipod and have used apple software (itunes and safari). It seems almost constricted. Safari is too simplistic and lacks the multiple options and features in other browsers. So that kind of thing scares me. I realize they want to make the computer simple to use for mainstream people.. but I'm a hacker at heart (just someone who doesn't actually hack anything).

 

I guess another way of looking at it is I like to have access to every little piece of the windows environment, like the register, all the system files. How does an Apple compare?

 

Well you can always use Firefox instead of Safari >.> Software isn't much of an issue on Macs/OSX as long as it's compatible. You can still use lots of freeware rather than "Apple software"

What you'll have harder time finicking with is the underlying mechanics of OSX. I've found Apple has made it quite simple and solid that users aren't to mess around with those things, hence why BIOS(or whatever the Mac equivalent is now) can't be accessed(or you'd have a hell of a hard time doing it) by the user. I think access to certain areas of the registry is also cut off. I think most of the system files are cut off as well.

I haven't extensively tried to dissect the iMac I have at home, but I can experiment.

 

another example using ipods is that you have to use itunes to load music onto it. Now that's just an example but are there other things in the mac environment that are limiting or constricting?

My impression as it is now is that windows is like some huge open 10000 square mile field that anyone can go play on and do whatever on.... but an apple is like disneyland.. you have to stay within the lines and follow their guidelines while having really well made choices of entertainment

 

Well you're not incorrect in saying that Windows/PC is like a huge open field.

Basically anyone can do anything there >.> Microsoft chose to allow their OS to be placed on machines which can range from any corner and as such, they've had to open their OS so that it accommodates all those possible combinations.

Apple has chosen to restrict their OS and their hardware. This leads to less issues, but a tighter playing field. They don't really need to allow their OS to be open since there isn't much need for it to be open. It's stable, it works and it's good.

From what i hear, sounds as if you'd like to mass mod your machine inside and out(i.e. both software and hardware) so I'm not sure a Mac would be the best choice for that.

 

No not really. It's just subtle things I'm curious about.
Like when I used Safari i was kinda like wow I can't believe there's no option for that (totally forgot what it was though).
I have a feeling I'll get a macbook someday and put windows on it lol

 

Well you certainly can. 50% of the time I boot my iMac, it's on bootcamp XP >.>

The machine has actually recognized my boot behavior and now I actually have to tell it to run OSX since it'll automatically switch to Windows when I turn it on lol

To tell the truth that way you'd get to use both worlds and compare what works for you in each.

 

I don't think there's any lack of things to do. Branded Apple products tend to be easy to use, but there's no lack of options. In terms of music software - I use iTunes to manage the compressed files I use on my iPod, as well as to rent the occasional movie. I also use Cog to manage my lossless audio files.

If Safari doesn't do it for you, then just use Firefox. Or Opera. Or Camino. Or OmniWeb. Or . . . well, you get the picture.

I'm not very good with terminal commands, but I would imagine there are lots of possibilities to 'get under the hood' of Mac OS by using Unix/terminal commands.

 

Just one question because my ignorance did not all allow me to do so at best buy today.. but you CAN maximize windows right?

 

What do you mean maximize Windows?

 

That's probably because the last time you booted out of XP you just clicked reboot or shutdown, instead of the bootcamp taskbar icon -> boot to OS X. So the hard drive is set to boot from the XP partition.

 

Yes, sort of. The buttons are at the top-left of windows, rather than top-right.

Red kills the window, but (usually) doesn't shut down the app. Yellow minimizes to dock. Green expands the window. How windows are maximized depends on the software. Some apps will maximize to fill the screen. Most Mac software will expand to some optimal size that doesn't use the entire screen. Most folks prefer the latter, as screen resolutions these days provide enough real estate for more than one open window at a time.

If you want to manually expand a window using the touchpad/mouse, use the bottom-right corner of the window.

 

:/

You know how in windows if you click the middle button the upper right corner of a window it makes the whole window the size of the screen. In other words the window fills up the whole screen.

 

That'd probably explain it lol Although one time I *did* disconnect the powerplug accidentally and it still chose the Windows partition rather than the OSX one >.>

@lott: but Winedows is an OS >_> Why would you want to "maximize" it? When running bootcamp it's kind of like dual booting more or less, but passing through another system. It's nota Window when I go into "Windows" ironically lol

 

The real question you should be asking is do you want to get work done or just fix problems?
Then your answer will be clear.
a

 

Err I mean the actual programs within the OS.
Like internet explorer is a window. So if I was running internet explorer I can maximize it so it fills the whole screen. I get very frustrated with nonmaximized windows

 

I like to spend a week tweaking, being frustrated, customizing, fixing and completely setting up a computer and then end just using the internet on it lol.

 

Oh yeah you can do that in OSX no problem lol

 

OSX has a button called Zoom. Some applications use it like a standard maximize in Windows, but most use it as intended. Instead of taking up the whole screen, it makes it the smallest size it can that actually holds everything in it (as much as possible). so like in safari, if you are on a page you have to scroll left and right some and up and down, hitting zoom will size it just right so the scroll bars are gone, but not necessarily taking up the whole screen. I love it myself, Maximize in Windows went out with me when i started using resolutions higher than 800x600.

Other than that, there is tons of stuff you can fiddle around with and do on OSX... some stuff is hidden, but nothing is off limits.

 

An operating system shouldn't be a complex, buggy thing which needs constant maintenance and hand holding like Windows does.

Get a mac and it will take care of itself, leaving you to be productive. If your time is worth money, macs win.

 

A lot of things are hidden or harder to find if you don't know what your looking for, but nothing is totally blocked. well.. except the Registry as you point out, its hidden and blocked off so well that it simply doesn't exist... Registries is a Windows thing....

oh and the BIOS thing is called EFI, and it is actually easy to access if you know how, but its also very easy to trash your computer by not knowing what you are doing. and by trash I mean so trashed you have to replace your motherboard.... its good that its not easy to get in there, as there is really no need to.

 

So in other words one week of problem shooting is more important than approx. 2 years of work
Maybe stick with a PC at least it will be cheaper.

 

I don't use safari. The one thing that really frustrates me about it is not being able to maximize it.

 

I don't understand why anyone would want to maximize it....

 

Because I can't stand looking at a webpage that can't fit into the tiny safari window. Death to sideways scrolling!

 

uhhh.. zoom button cuts out all sideways scrolling unless the page is too wide for your monitor/resolution.... which would fail with Maximize as well.... or could just grab the corner yourself and widen it. I just hate anything maximized and taking up my whole screen.

 

Being a former Windows user I can understand wanting to maximize everything. It felt weird in OS X at first but now I quite enjoy not maximizing things. If you really feel the need you can click and drag the window open.

 

As a current Windows user I don't think I have ever maximized a window in my life.

 

Wow..
I maximize everything..

 

Really!? Not even a movie or while viewing pictures?

 

To the OP:

From your original post and subsequent ones - I would recommend you stick with Windows or perhaps a Linux distro.

On the surface, OS X is a breeze and there's not a ton of customization to be done. I know what you're talking about; you like to tinker around and feel like you are the master of your operating system. OS X is really catering to a different set of needs in that regard. Apple wants the user to feel at home ASAP and not have to dig around to get things to work.

With that said, however; underneath OS X is Unix, which can fufill your exploration craving to an extent. But keep in mind, it's going to be a different kind of tinkering than the one you're use to with Windows.

Gut feeling - stick with Windows. Good luck!

 

I'd have to say stick with Windows too. You sound like you constantly need to "fiddle" with things and potentially break them to create some new challenging project and keep yourself amused.

 

You don't have to use iTunes to manage your music. Before my iPod died I used Media Monkey to manage my iPod. I only had iTunes installed for iPod OS updates and to purchase music from the iTunes store.

I have to agree with the general consensus, stick with Windows. If you have money to burn, try it out and sell it if you are not satisfied. I would lean you more towards a Linux/Unix PC build to satisfy your tinkering wants.


^_^_^

 

If you like trouble shooting problems and constantly fixing and tweaking things then you'd be very disappointed in macs.

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/21j3y52.jpg

I'm pretty sure there are a few apps that will allow you to treat your iPod as if it were a flash drive. However the general model in OSX is that you access/organize data through applications (audio->iTunes, images->iPhoto etc) rather then manually through Finder. This can make life much easier or possibly harder if you do not like the way these apps organize your data.

Anyway if you want a computer just to fiddle around with it, I would recommend playing around with Linux.

 

Macs have there problems too, that are fun to solve (particulary because they hardly EVER happen) They are extremly customizable (software wise). Unless your a hardcore gamer, I dont see why you or anyone should use Windows Computer.

 

Correct. There are many applications for the iPod that allow it to act as a Flash Drive or a HD. And if you have the Touch or iPhone, you can use it as a wireless HD/file-sharing. There are many ways to customize OS X to your likings, just gotta play around with it.

 

I'll be honest, I too do not like the fact that Macs are too simple. I don't feel accomplished when I figure something hard out. With windows when I managed to do something which most people give up doing I experience a sense of pride. With a Mac I feel as if every other person who owned one did the same exact thing as me.

But I still love it.

 

You'll get used to it.

 

I was going to post the same thing. I've used my friend's MBP for a few weeks and I could never get used to it. I can't quite put my finger on it and it was actually unsettling for me.

I like to tweak all the aspects of my OS, even going in the Registry. In OSX, if there's a problem, usually there's only way of approaching a problem and fixing it. In Windows, you can fiddle around, test different things and actually learn from the experience.

Of course, that doesn't make any less productive. In fact, I feel more productive when using Windows (be it XP, Vista, or 7) than when using OSX. That's just me and the habits I've acquired. I've used Windows since I could start walking and talking (back in the Windows 3.1 days) and even though Windows has changed with each new revision, it still feels familiar to me after all these years. Sure, eventually I could get used to OSX but it would take me a really long time to be comfortable when using itand actually make me unproductive overall until I'm familiar with all the ins and outs of the OS.

 

Hmmm, So something that is simple will make you less productive. That makes sense. So spending hours fiddling around trying to fix a problem makes you more productive. Yes I get it now!

Really, How long have you uses OS X for?

But Yeah I guess you do learn from tweaking and going into the registry to fix problems, and that's a great thing that you get to learn that, Because you will need to do it again a couple weeks down the road.

 

Amen to that!!

 

I started on computers before Windows. I started windows on 3.1, and didn't use any other OSes until XP came out. I started Macs on OSX 10.2. I hack into things and go beyond "power user." I don't think it took me six months to feel really comfortable using OSX heavily and as good as I knew Windows. Once you understand the concepts it's easy to figure out the method.

 

Neither is more nor less productive, they're simply different. I'm sorry but if you know what you're doing with each there shouldn't be as many problems to yield any productivity differences. Productivity is based on the user, software and working methods more than the OS.

 

You know, I tried to write a non-biased post from my personal experiences on what works for ME and why that is. So there was no need for your smarta** comments but if that's how you want it, the fact remains and I'll say it how it is... OSX is simple-minded, dumbed down, NO it's not the most advanced OS ever made as Apple continuously falsely claims and nothing will ever change that.

You're clearly nitpicking certain lines I've used, drawing your own conclusions from them that are irrelevant and failed to look at the big picture I was trying to convey. I'm more productive in Windows because I know my way around it, I know all the little things because I've used it for years. But you know, I'm not going to waste my time explaining because I've had this conversation countless times before with others and it's like talking to a brick wall so whatever floats your boat. The fact is that I was one step away from buying a MBP but then came to my senses and walked away. If you believe that wasting time at Starbucks, writing the "next big novel" or being "creative" is productive, fine by me, who am I to judge, right?

That was exactly the point I was trying to convey and explain why I'm being more productive on Windows than on OSX but clearly, others have failed to see that.

 

Its all in how you look at it. Yes, knowing your way around is more productive but It only took me a few days to learn my way around in OS X. It was no worse than the UI change from XP to Vista. I find myself more productive in OS X because I spend my time doing what I want instead of trying to fix my system. You may call it dumbed down but I call it well thought out. I call Windows underdeveloped while you think it is more advanced.

I used to feel the same way you do, go figure.