Writer Mike Elgan nails everything that irritates me about the launch: the high pricing (Home Premium is $239, $159 upgrade; Ultimate costs $399, $259 upgrade), XP is not dead yet (though Microsoft wouldn’t mind if you thought it was), upgrading and setting up Vista promises to be a very time-consuming project, Vista is not fully cooked for general use or gaming and you’ll need new hardware for decent performance (that 18-month-old PC just won’t do).
Finally, if you’re looking to buy a new computer anyway, Elgan suggests Vista is a good reason to switch to a Mac. The fact is, OS X already does most of the stuff Vista does, and has for some time now. Unless you’re dependent on a Windows-only piece of hardware or software that there is no Mac equivalent for or you’re a hardcore 3D gamer, it’s worth investigating a switch to OS X. Leopard promises to be pretty outstanding and if Apple follows the pricing it has in the past, it’ll only cost $129 to upgrade when it rolls out.
While I agree that if looking for a new computer, now is a good time to switch to a Mac…But, most of the author’s “checklist” items are wrong:
“Consider switching to a Mac if:
* You’re not into PC gaming.
* You don’t have any Windows-only applications you’d still like to run without emulation.
* You don’t have a major PC hardware investment–such as expensive flat-screen LCD displays–to take advantage of.
* You don’t have non-Mac applications that are required by your employer for working at home.”
The first point is mostly correct, although it might me more appropriate to say “hardcore PC gaming.”
His second point is wrong because neither Boot Camp nor Parallels Desktop are emulators. Boot Camp is simply a boot loader that allows you to boot directly into Windows. At that point, you’re Mac is no different than a Dell or HP. Parallels is actually a Virtual Machine (VM) that is entirely different from an emulator.
His next point talks about major PC hardware investments, and uses expensive flat-screen LCD displays as an example. I don’t know of many (any?) LCD displays that *don’t* work on a Mac. Same goes for external hard drives, most printers and scanners made in the last several years, etc. I made the switch to Mac in April 2006 and had a TON of “PC Hardware” peripherals…all of which work just fine with my Mac.
His last point mentions PC only software required by your employer for working at home. Well, since Macs can run Windows, this isn’t an issue.
The rest of the article is pretty spot-on, though, providing many sound reasons not to upgrate (yet) to Vista.
LCD Display compatibility would not be an issue if you purchase a Mac-mini or MacPro, which require a separate monitor. The author may be comparing to a standard iMac, where the processing/drives are built into the monitor, in which case your current LCD display is redundant (not to say that several people don’t enjoy the multiple monitor setup).
BTW; any guesimate on the release date of Leopard? Do you envision any difficulty in upgrading an iMac to it from a software or hardware standpoint?
To see another view from Elgan’s colleague, read this:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128656-page,1/article.html
And by the way, I’ve been running Vista on a 2-year old Toshiba M200 tablet at home for the past 2 months. Scales up and down nicely.
Vista is sooo 1995
MS is going to see low sales. Talking to the average Joe most have no interest in upgrading.
I upgraded to Windows Vista Business this weekend, and it was a really smooth upgrade and I like it alot. E-mail me if you have any questions, amyers@gmail.com
Aaron
I was on MAC for close to 15 years, but because I always needed a PC to run 3DS Max (where the heck is the mac version)… it became evident that one had to go, as not getting rid of my PC was an option neither was running around with two laptops all the time or emulation/paralleling (I want stuff to render at a decent speed with latest hardware)… I have had to abandon the Mac platform completely. XP isn’t all that bad but until Mac gets more video games, becomes more competitive price wise for the features they offer and port some industrial strength programs like autodesk stuff, I am stuck in the PC world. I have no plans on upgrading to Vista, what is the point, in a few years when I need a new laptop, it will come with it anyhow, they are also supporting XP till 2010 - I fail to see the need for any type of rush.
Jon
I don’t see why anyone would even want a Mac. Sorry the lack of software and the fact you need to wait for months or years before a PC version is finally ported over to a mac.
I guess the mac is a nice hobby computer or if you only need to run email or web browser.
Stick with the PC - it is #1 for a reason!
Where’s the built in PVR & CableCard technology in OSX? Where’s the glass? Where are the applications everybody uses? Where’s the right-click? Where’s the cost effective hardware?
Face it, Microsoft just one upped Apple on this one, and your just not over it yet.
Fifth reason here are “XP is not obsolete”. So you said that you will upgrade to Leopad, does it mean that current OS X is obsolete?
MediaVidea blog lists out all the 13 main problems with Vista:
http://mediavidea.blogspot.com/2007/01/case-against-vista.html
@Jim M
I don’t need my computer to be a PVR and besides XP MCE 2005 already did that stuff, I don’t need Vista for it. And CableCards have yet to take off and it’s fading fast. The Aero stuff is great looking, but it mimics the same look of OS X’s GUI, Dashboard and Expose. Only people who’ve never used an Apple still cling to “where’s the right click?” comments. Unless you’re using an Apple-made mouse prior to the Mighty Mouse, you have a right click. Prior to using a Mighty Mouse I had a Logitech, and guess what? It has TWO buttons. Besides, all you have to do is hold down the Command button and click the single-button mice to bring up “right-click” menus.
Current Apple computers are competitively priced when you factor in what you’re getting. You are correct only in that Mac users don’t have options outside of what Apple offers. However, this has nothing to do with Vista. I can build or buy a Linux box that would be WAY more cost effective than a Windows Vista PC.
@TanNg
Because Leopard is not a 5-years-in-the-making overhaul of OS X. It’s not an entirely new OS. It’s just an upgrade. New features, better performance and likely priced at $129. So no, Tiger is not an obsolete OS, it’s just not the most current version. And when Apple switches to OS 11, I doubt OS X 10.9 will be an obsolete OS.
why should i jump into the arms of a closed (hardware) source monopolist?
to pay monopolist prices?
on the pc platform i can chose which os i want to use and can run them all at ones in a multiboot enviroment.
if vista didn’t have the drm stuff it would be interesting especially the advanced memory managment, i really don’t care for aero and other schikimicki features.
and from what i read vista is a big step forward when it comes to tablet pc’s, i tried linux but there is not or better i haven’t found any handwriting applications.
fritz.k, Apple is not a monopolist, they own maybe 5 or 6 percent of the market. Microsoft is a lot closer, owning 90% of the OS market. OS X is partially open source, the core OS is also available for download. Also, on the macintosh, with now intel processors you have exactly the same choice as on a pc. PLUS you can use OS X. You can put whatever OS you want on a mac as long as it works on Intel. OS X also has had advanced memory management for years.
If you compare Apple hardware to HP or Dell (and you must do that, they all build ready-to-go machines), you’ll see LOWER prices for better specs.
I think Vista is not all bad, but it’s nowhere near as a professional OS as OS X is.
So let’s see: You can either spend 400 bucks on a totally new Windows, and receive free service pack upgrades in future, or you can spend 130 bucks every time Apple brings out a new OS upgrade. Considering they are up to 10.5, they’ve just made $650 if you started out with the original OSX. Sounds to me like they’ve got it all worked out nicely in terms of making sweet sweet profits. :)
I agree, Apple do update each time with some nifty whiz bang features, but if it costs that much to upgrade each time then it certainly comes at a price, unlike Windows updates.
Always the same comments from Windows people who have never used a Mac.
Matt….. You need to redo your math. 10.0 and 10.1 were free! 10.2 was the first paid version. Just as with PCs, if you buy a new computer, the Mac operating system is free. And we get many free incremental updates to boot.
Jim M…. I’ve been using right click on Macs since the 90’s. Yes we have had two button mice, trackballs, etc. available for quite a while. (Can’t that Macs don’t have right click myth finally die?)
As to popular applications…. MS Office was on Macs before Windows ever saw the light of day. I still use it every day. I also use the Adobe Creative Suite. FileMaker Pro is all the database my clients and I ever need. Although I have been running Windows XP on my Macs for awhile (just in case), it’s been over a year since I last needed to run a Windows program.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. I’m not an Apple fanboy. I believe in using the right tools to get a job done (different jobs demand different tools). Get your facts right if you want to be taken seriously. I really don’t hold your ignorance against you…. just tired of the rehashing of old Mac myths that are either outdated or simply ignore reality. Why don’t you stop into a computer store and at least check your supposed Mac facts?
“Everyone’s ignorant just in different things.”….. Mark Twain
OK, I have been using PC’s for over 12 years since windows 95.
I just bought a Mac Mini to check out the mac OS and I must say
that it is light years ahead of the game not to mention you can run XP
without using the out dated Bios!! People who have never tried OSX tiger
should realy get a mac mini, you have nothing to loose because you can run them both. I use 3d Studio Max and Stienberg Wave lab that only run on
Xp but with boot camp it’s a no brainer. OSX is way way better then windows. Not to mention you pay for one OS that is ready to go. You don’t have to mess around tweaking.
people who have an expensive flat panel LCD or other equipment for their PC can usually buy and adapter that will make it compatible with a mac. I run three LCD displays, one made for mac and two made for PC which are hooked up to my mac with an adapter. this is not an issue.
It boggles my mind that everyone seems to think that there are only 2 choices for a computer OS. Why is everybody so afraid of Linux? It is free, and a hell of a lot more stable and secure than any operating system m$ has released, not to mention faster. Sure, you can spend money buying windows, then pay more money for protection, and then (in the case of vista) build a whole new computer to support a sickening resource hog, but I’d rather not do that, why would anybody?
Mac had a hardware rendered desktop before windows, but guess what, so did Linux. If eye candy is what you want, check out beryl, you can run it on a pentium III, and aside from specialty windows apps (most of which run under wine), you can do everything in Linux that you can in windows, without paying for it, and without spyware / malware / adware / having to ask billy every time you do something.
I use Linux, but would much rather use Mac (or any other unix based os) than windows, the only problem is the $$$, which isn’t doable for a poor college student.
I suggest everyone explore some open source alternatives.
Before you waste $500 on VISTA ask yourself this do i download music, movies or pictures for FREE? if you answered yes than i recommend that you dont get sucked into vista. it is exactly the same as XP accept it looks cooler AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO BLOCK MUSIC AND MOVIE DOWNLOADING. think about it hundreds, thousands of bands trying to make money and everybody downloads thier songs off limewire or morpheus or where ever they can. and what about multimillionare movies, most people like you and i just download them. VISTA has come to gether with an idea, to block all websites that offer FREE DOWNLOADING, to block all P2P software. the other day i decided to upgrade my morpheus and to my surprise anything that i wanted to download would be blocked, i typed in a song, tried to download it and it says, THIS IS A COPY RIGHTED VERSION. they are taking over our ntertainment. in 5 years vista will be installed on every computer in the world. go to your daily harvey norman or WOW catalogue and what do you see every single laptop, pc, now comes with vista. vista only came out like a month ago they would have to be mad to offer it for free. maybe if you listen to the song DOWNLOAD THIS SONG by MC LARS you will understand.pass this on. tell everybody you know, about VISTA. just amagin, teens of the future having to pay for their music and movies.
I switched to Mac a couple of weeks ago. I have been glued to it ever since. The only time I use my Windows box, is when I want to play a game or check and compare the operational differences between an application that is made for both systems, which usually leaves me back at my Mac.
I will not purchase Vista for many reasons, some of which are based on the ill practices of Microsoft and the rest based on things like being woke to the sound of a Microsoft Windows error at 5 in the morning, because some fowl little virus planted itself in my OS or The many crashes I have encountered for no apparent reason or the fact that if I change my video card I have to re activate Windows or any other stupid reason I could think of.
Mac is just as customizable as Windows and for far less money. Windows is good for games and not much else. They should just make it boot to an interface which allows you to choose which game you want to play and that is it.
So quit comparing a burger to a fillet, get a Mac if you do not already have one, and play games on your doze box.
wats wrong with vista?
Well, Although there are some people that have had good luck with windows vista, I have not had the same. Installation took forever and a day. On every machine that I have used that has vista (With the exception of 1) Vista has ran like a dog. I thought the idea of a new pc was for it to run faster than the old pc. I can double the speed of these vista machines and mine is probably about 3 years old now. Xp requires 256mb but vista needs at least 2gb to run decent?? I have vowed to buy a mac before I would ever transfer to vista. I am a computer tech and I have transferred people from xp and win98 to vista, and I always have to answer questions, Why doesn’t my old software work with vista? Why doesn’t my printer work with vista? Try explaining the lack of drivers, and poor software. Combine Vista in with Office 2007 and its wonderful “The language of this installation package is not supported by your system” Message, and you’ve got a day planned..
On the pro side, The site of vista has caused me to be very open to alternative operating systems, Until I buy my Mac (one day) I have started using Ubuntu. I would really recommend it to the moderatly computer savvy or willing to learn. It comes with OpenOffice, Firefox, and installing thunderbird is a breeze with the synaptic package manager. I have been using Ubuntu for the last few months now and I love it, its free too. Im not some linux nut or nothing, but I tried it before and failed miserably, and I definitely have to say that in the past few years linux has become much much better.
sorry, I meant I can run at double the speed of these new vista machines with my 3 year old xp machine..
I hope the performance of Leopard is going to be as good as in Tiger, I’m not 100% convinced in upgrading as fast as it launches, but I’m pretty sure I will, eventually. Some things in Leopard doesn’t mean anything to me because I don’t use such functions anyways but things as multiple desktops and CoreAnimation seem interesting
@ ??????? guy. i have vista and am completly able to download music. I use limewire pro and nothing stops me from downloading. Maybe you have a firewall stopping you but it is easily turned off
For everyone here, to each its own. I am running windows vista and i havent had a problem with it. I know nothing of mac or apple. And from what everyone has said. I see pros and cons of every system out their. It depends on the person running the program they like. I know im writing this months after vista got on the market.