It also means MUCH higher prices, little support for software that is Windows only, SSSSLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW machines and OS, and creates file sharing issues. Believe me, I wanted to like the Mac and OSX and seriously (and I really mean very seriously) considered getting a TiBook and running VPC to run my Windows only apps (which I have several of). That machine is a borderline JOKE!
By all standards, that machine was slower than any Windows machine I've used in the past 2 years. The OS has issues that I could probably get used to, but would have productivity problems in the first place. Finally, the price of a TiBook configured similarly to the ThinkPad I bought was darn near a thousand dollars more. Add lousy Apple service (you can't get home repair like I did with IBM) that nobody other than Mac trolls think is any good, and you have a very inferior experience.
The IDEA behind the Mac/OSX is sound. The application is very poor. Apple could rule the world if 1)they would lower their hardward prices; 2)They would quit making false and misleading claims (file compatability); 3)They would accept that after a dozen years of Windows, there are millions of folks that like the way it works and don't appreciate Mac Nazis lying and saying it is technically inferior; and 4)start marketing the product as a serious business machine and not just a pop culture icon. People like me get turned off by the later.
If you need support for software that is Windows only, then by all means feel free to buy a Windows machine. My iBook has (purchased) copies of Microsoft Office, Canvas, and Carrara which all run native OSX and work just fine, thanks. Most of the Windows-only software that I can think of for which there is no Mac version or comparable software are games and and custom corporate software written using using Visual Basic. In the case of the latter, if performance is not a major concern, there is always Virtual PC that lets you run Windows XP in a window. And if I want a game machine, I'll buy that Playstation 2 that I've had my eye on.
SSSSLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW machines and OS,
I haven't noticed. When was the last time you used a Mac? If you are talking about the TiBook running Virtual PC, well a program running under Windows running under emulation under Mac OSX clearly isn't going to be as fast as the same software on a Windows machine.
and creates file sharing issues.
I've only noticed one file sharing issue between Microsoft Office for the Mac and Windows and it is so obscure that I doubt most normal users would ever run into it and the problem was easily corrected on the Windows end. AppleWorks has a passable ability to read from and write to Word format. But if you really want to be Office compatible, using Office for the Mac is the way to go, of course.
Believe me, I wanted to like the Mac and OSX and seriously (and I really mean very seriously) considered getting a TiBook and running VPC to run my Windows only apps (which I have several of). That machine is a borderline JOKE!
I wouldn't buy a TiBook, personally. But that's hardly the only computer Apple produces. They iBooks are incredibly good values and Apple has upgraded the processor to a G4 and put in 32mb graphics cards. The rest of the PowerBook line has been revamped and has been greatly improved. As for Mac OSX, 10.0 was not ready for prime time. The Finder had all sorts of performance issues. 10.1 was barely ready for prime time. 10.2 and 10.3 are highly usable and greatly improve the operation speed of the computer.
By all standards, that machine was slower than any Windows machine I've used in the past 2 years. The OS has issues that I could probably get used to, but would have productivity problems in the first place.
That machine was not the best Apple had to offer. They no longer make it. Look at the current models. But if you want a Windows machine and are concerned about the performance of Windows software, then buy a Windows machine.
Finally, the price of a TiBook configured similarly to the ThinkPad I bought was darn near a thousand dollars more.
Take a look at the price of the current 12" iBook. Or the 14" iBook or 12" or 15" PowerBook, for that matter. I've been looking for a PC laptop on and off for about a year and I've yet to see anything from Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Fujitsu, or IBM that is as good of a quality and value proposition as an iBook.
Add lousy Apple service (you can't get home repair like I did with IBM) that nobody other than Mac trolls think is any good, and you have a very inferior experience.
If you want to recommend and IBM, then recommend and IBM. How much did you pay for that home repair service?
The IDEA behind the Mac/OSX is sound. The application is very poor.
You are judging the application from, I would guess, OSX 10.0. Should I judge the quality of Windows based on Windows 98 or ME?
Apple could rule the world if 1)they would lower their hardward prices;
They have. You can get an eMac from MacMall (a special) for under $800 with 17" flat panel displays, a huge selection of I/O ports, and a DVD-CDRW drive. You can get one for under $700 if you just want a CDR and don't mind a slower processor. iBooks start at under $1,100 and really can get 4-6 hours out of their battery on one charge, also with a DVD-CDRW drive. Price compare with an IBM or Dell with the same features and tell me how much they cost.
2)They would quit making false and misleading claims (file compatability);
What claims are those? Yes, the AppleWorks translators are usable but not perfect for complex documents. Of course I've historically seen similar horror stories with Microsoft Works so I hardly find that surprising. Microsoft Office v.X for the Mac, on the other hand, is essentially a perfect workalike and every other application that I've seen that has a Mac and PC version has no trouble transferring files between the two. What, specifically, was you file compatibility problem?
3)They would accept that after a dozen years of Windows, there are millions of folks that like the way it works and don't appreciate Mac Nazis lying and saying it is technically inferior; and
If you are going to judge Apple for all eternity based on a laptop that is no longer being made and a first version of a new OS that was admittedly not ready for prime time, why can't we keep bashing Windows for the flaws of Windows 95, 98, and ME?
Of course the real reason why "Mac Nazis" come out of the woodwork is because we get sick of hearing Windows victims complaining about how awful their experience is. If you love Windows and have no problems, then great! Use it. Kiss a picture of Bill Gates before you go to sleep every night if that's what floats your boat. But if you are finding your Windows experience to be a nightmare as every one of these threads seems to indicate that some people do, perhaps they should try something else.
If you want Windows, get a Windows machine. End of story. If you are unhappy with Windows, why shouldn't you try something else, especially when so many Mac users don't seem to be unhappy with their experience?
4)start marketing the product as a serious business machine and not just a pop culture icon.
Apparently you've missed Xserve and the Xserve RAID array. They are essentially FreeBSD servers plus.
People like me get turned off by the later.
It is silly to buy a machine only because of marketing. It is also silly to not buy a machine only because of marketing. At least pick a good reason not to buy a Mac -- like Al Gore's presence on the Board of Directors.