Anyone try a Mac then switch BACK to Windows and/or Dell ?

Sure, I always used Windows. Then bought a Macbook Air and Macbook (late 2008). I did not like the fonts, they look blurry in my opinion. I'm now back to Windows.

 

PC = Personal Computer

Mac = Impersonal Computer.

 

I noticed that myself. Just couldn't get used to it.

Here's an example I made back in '07:

 

Gah, that's bad.

 

I owned a Macbook and used it exclusively for a few months and then moved back to a Dell. I really don't care for OS X all that much, but the Apple hardware is generally very well made.

 

I looked at the Mac's when first looking at lappys..but stuck with Win, cuz I didn't know if I would be able to *convert* over so easily..

It's good for me, I like what I have...!

Cin

 

I buy Windows cause I can't afford a MBP. Its simple as that.

I do own a refurbed Mac Mini. I remote connect to it but its not anything to really write home about. I think if I was much less technically inclined, I would be happier with a Mac.

 

I decided to buy a MacBook Pro when I needed to get a new notebook. So far I think it is the best computer I have ever used. I like OS X much better than Windows XP (or Vista for that matter).

I do however use Windows for some applications (through Parallels) as no program works as good in OS X. The first is uTorrent as it can give me stable speeds. Transmission can't keep stable speeds due to it's disk cache handling and uTorrent for OS X lacks lots of features, when it gets updated however I'll use it instead of the Windows version.

The other program is Flash Renamer that I use to batch rename my files (only use it a few times a month though). It's a shame there isn't any renaming program as powerful as it for OS X.

I don't see any reason for me to go back to Windows completely now. I'll see how it looks in about 3 years or so when I probably would update again.

 

Wow that makes it really clear. I am amazed that most apple users aren't bothered by it.

Spend $2000 on a laptop with blurry fonts? I'd rather not.

 

Like you, I have a hard time believing this comparison to be real. I do prefer Windows PCs over Macs, but I simply can't believe they are outright defective in the way these comparisons suggest. Last time I looked at a MBP screen, the fonts looked just fine.

 

Jokes aside, there is some truth to that.

To put it more succinctly:

PC=your personal computer, Mac=Steve Jobs' computer.

If I use a PC, I can configure it to my liking (well, at least up to XP I could, Vista is starting to march down the Mac route, I am sorry to say; IE, for example, is not configurable anymore at all...), if you have a Mac, you are going to use it the way Steve Jobs thinks you should be using it, and that's all there is to it.

 

I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I do believe the comparison is real. I've just never seen it represented so clear.

When I got my first Mac, I was very surprised by this phenomenon. I started this thread: Not that impressed with screen on MB Air. normal?
At first I actually believed I got a bad screen.

Here's another picture comparing the fonts (OS X on top, XP beneath):


http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000884.html

 

What's not to believe? Those are actual screen shots (I have no reason to doctor the results).

In fact, I wanted to like the Mac... it just didn't happen.

 

it's not that I hate mac as an operating system, but I hate the ones carry it (apple's products). They are way way over-priced lol

 

I apologize if what I wrote sounded like I doubted your motive; that was not my intention at all. I was just wondering whether what you saw was due to some defect of the particular machine you had used.

However, having read the very informative article that Phil had linked to, I think I now have a better understanding as to what is going on. And yes, that does sound like Steve Jobs: sacrificing practicality and usability on the altar of purity...

 

When I went to college with my Asus and vista I was surrounded by macs and acers. Luckily my roommate was a pc guy and had a dell 1505 and vista as well. It got rather annoying whenever I had to borrow someone else's mac in group work if I forgot my laptop or had to show someone how to do something mostly because it's just...it's too simple. That's the best way I can describe my frustration with the OS. Earlier posters put it well - if you want your hand to be held through everything and want to make a fashion/money statement then go mac.

There are plenty of programs for video editing/picture editing available for windows that do just as good of a job as the mac versions but they take time to learn. Programs like garageband are great for people just trying to throw some music together for fun or maybe for a school project. But I use a program called Reason which is available for both mac and pc. It's incredibly daunting at first but once you get the hang of it you realize just how much power this program has.

Getting a little off-topic here so in summary:

A power user will be much better served through pc/windows.

A power user with very little time on their hands will be best served by going through a major retailer like dell/hp/toshiba/gateway.

A power user who has the time to do lots of shopping and comparing and knows exactly what he/she wants will be best served by one of the more boutique brands like Asus or clevo. Or going the less marketed models of the major manufacturers (XPS line, HDX, FX, toshiba's X300's...lot's of X in these names...)

 

It's not a trick it is true. Apple and MS have very different ideas on how to render fonts and it stems from Apples history in desktop publishing vs MS history as primarily on screen usage. BAsically, Apple holds the printed word higher than what you see on screen therefore their font rendering algorithm is focused on preserving the shape of the word at all costs, even idf that means blurry fonts on screen. MS instead vigorously tries to hammer the shape of the font into a set of defined pixels avoiding blurry edges on screen and sacrificing the typefaces shape if necessary. You can read more about it here.

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/06/12.html

 

I've probably been a Mac owner more than a PC owner (multiple iMacs starting from the G4 lamp, Powerbook G4s up to my current MBP), in amongst all that though I've owned a M1330 which I really liked.

I don't feel any sort of bias towards one particular platform. One things for sure, as soon as the Adamo comes out I'm maxing it out and going from a MBP and Leopard to an Adamo and Windows 7.

Windows 7 has a large part to play in the ease of making the decision to pick up another Dell, been using it on my Mac when I took it into work to test it in a network environment, test some of the software we use on a daily basis etc and it's a good OS. A lot of niceties which I can see me being unable to live without once they're integrated into my workflow.

Combine that with what I think is a stunning piece of hardware design and it's an easy choice.

I hate the term 'switch', it seems so clear cut. I'm just meandering between platforms as I feel like it and they both cater to my needs superbly.

 

I went over to Linux. Mac is still better than Windows though in my opinion. I would prefer Mac if I had to choose.

 

count me as one of the the rarely do I keep a laptop more than a year types (whether I buy it or it's "donated/lent") and I've been happy with the xps 1330 for nearly 2 years... had a macbook pro prior and a latitude before that... have owned three mac laptops and a half dozen dell's...couple of sony's too and an pair of hp's... support with apple is great.. and you'll need it. this dell runs circles around anything I've ever owned.. am looking to go smaller though because 95% of what I do is on-line... 10" is the likely size...eyes need a bit of room to roam and I hear the mini 10 is close at hand... wish they'd offer more power... I could get an Air but I like small and light and I have a dual screen work station that really is overkill if I think that's what I need...loaded windows 7 on the xps and it's super. the mac ever gets the right click and I just might try another... for the performance the dell is at the finish line and cooled down long before the mac (but it does run iTunes better)... whatever works... got an iPhone and apple tv... airport extreme streams music.. all good. Try it. why not?

 

I had a black MacBook a while back and traded it for a Compaq. I was tired of only having Blizzard games to play. However, getting rid of that computer was one of the biggest mistakes I could have made. I loved that MacBook. Never had a single problem with it.

 

Yes, they are definitely more blurry.

Phil, in your opinion what's comparable to a 15" MacBook Pro in a PC? The XPS comes short in form and build quality imo, but what's the 'hot, sleek, well build pc out there right now? I can't think of one. A Latitude or T500? What did you end up buying?