Microsoft, Apple and Linux

[Kevin H]

If you want to discuss the vagaries of computers operating systems please do it here!

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by mendelo

"As an aside, the vast
majority of Bristol Owners seem to use Macs, which I think reveals an
individual streak where utility and quality are more important than
following the masses."

I find this statement alarming as I always assumed the ownership of a Bristol to reveal a truly individual character with some mechanical acumen whereas a Mac is a product of an entirely design and marketing driven firm with very little actual engineering, quality and creativity and whose products provide even less expression of individuality than PCs. Sort of like Bose.

No need to worry, because it's not true!

The Mac users are the Bristol owners who don't really know or understand what goes on under the hood (I'd say bonnet but "hood" is computer speak)

99.9% of them are blissfully unaware that Macs run their own flavour of Unix/Linux.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by lansdownplace

Don't forget, all current macs can run Windows AND linux at as well as OSX, and all at the same time. PCs can't match that.(Embarrassing fact: macs run Windows faster than same price PCs in tests)

Embarrassing fact - The "tests" you refer to are guaranteed to be subjective drivel in some (Mac) computer magazine, probably sponsored by Apple.

Here are some other embarrassing facts;

Macs now use Intel processors, just like PCs.

There are millions of "PCs" running Linux. The vast majority of web servers are basically PCs running Linux (the one that we're using right now runs CentOS).

PCs can run OSX, albeit in an emulator (within Windows). The only reason that PCs can't run OSX natively is because Apple have designed OSX specifically so it is not architecture independent. Why? because Apple make hardware and they want to force you to pay through the nose for it.

As for the merits of Microsoft (which is a software company), a huge number of Macs run Microsoft applications, particularly their Office apps. But name one Apple application, other than iTunes, which is used in abundance on PCs?

By the way, if Macs are so damn good, why do they command less than 10% of the global desktop computer market?

[lansdownplace]

The sad fact is that ms office dominates everything. I know you can
run Linux on a broken biscuit tin and there are open source versions
of ms office however try getting staff to use it without extensive
training. The fact is Microsoft have first mover advantage on the
products the bulk of people use the bulk of the time.

In any case all o/s systems will be irellevant on five years time with
cloud computing.

What Apple do really well is user interface, hence the success of the
iPod/iPhone. I loved my old Newton but I hav big reservations about
the iPod though.

[Jervaulx]

Quote (Kevin Howard)
By the way, if Macs are so damn good, why do they command less than 10% of
the global desktop computer market?

It's the prices Kevin, you can get 2 or 3 average laptops for the price of
one Apple laptop. A lot of people say to me they want an Apple computer,
but just cannot afford one. They have to 'make do' with a Windows laptop.

Andrew

[Bellerophon]

Well I have one of each, having just taken delivery of a new 27 inch Apple,
so does that make me ambidextrous as well as a Bristol owner, after all it
is only a means to an end.
My regards,
Bellerophon

[geo]

Originally Posted by Jervaulx

Quote (Kevin Howard)
By the way, if Macs are so damn good, why do they command less than 10% of
the global desktop computer market?
Andrew

It is the same thinking as might apply to a Bristol? (But do not tell everyone or everyone will want one!)

Originally Posted by Jervaulx

It's the prices Kevin, you can get 2 or 3 average laptops for the price of
one Apple laptop.
Andrew

Ditto Toyota, Ford, GM . . .? I'm thinking about renewing my Apple laptop as after 9 years of portability, it really is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Originally Posted by Jervaulx

A lot of people say to me they want an Apple computer,
but just cannot afford one. They have to 'make do' with a Windows laptop.

Andrew

Ditto Bristol vis-a-vis Toyota, Ford, GM . . .?

George

[Rubbond]

Just before Christmas I saw a new Apple computer that was just a big HD wide
screen monitor, with the whole computer inside the monitor!
Wow!
It did however kick out enough heat to keep your whole office warm in the
winter!
I'm going to buy one (about GBP 1500 here) and hope I can handle whatever
Apple use instead of Windows.
Greetings to all,
Andrew.

[dezelsky]

Are you buying it because your office is chilly? It is well known that MS or Linux do not have such versatility.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by rubbond

Just before Christmas I saw a new Apple computer that was just a big HD wide
screen monitor, with the whole computer inside the monitor!
Wow!
It did however kick out enough heat to keep your whole office warm in the
winter!
I'm going to buy one (about GBP 1500 here) and hope I can handle whatever
Apple use instead of Windows.
Greetings to all,
Andrew.

It probably doesn't put out more heat than a similar spec PC, but you don't notice it so much in a PC because all the heat is produced in a box with a couple of fans to disperse it.

I'm guessing apple don't have any fans in the all-in one unit that is going to be on your desk, so they have to get rid of the heat by radiating it, which probably means the monitor case acts as a heat sink.

A few PC makers have tried this all-in one format in the last year (possibly Acer, Asus and HP), however it seems to have been a passing fad, for now. The screens weren't huge (maybe 22"?), nor did they have much grunt, but then they were half of the price of the new iMac (or less in some cases). I'm guessing that they knew PC users wouldn't pay the sort of prices that Apple achieves.

GBP 1500 sounds very expensive. Is that the top spec 27" model?

[Bellerophon]

Well, I have had a 27 inch Apple for a while and have not found a heat
problem with it, (the back does get warm but not more so than a TV) so it has
not allowed me to turn off the central heating.
My regards,
Bellerophon

[Rubbond]

Dear Kevin, Bellerophon,
It wasn't extremely hot, but certainly the rear of the housing must have
been at least 45 degC (no ventilation holes that I could see).
Our TV's by the way are hardly warmer than ambient temperature, but they're
not flat screen.
I suppose you don't win that much space with the Apple, as you will still
need a printer/scanner/fax, but maybe these are available wireless?
One has to wonder what all these digimagnetic waves do to our brains....
Rgds,
Andrew.

[Bellerophon]

Yes, the printer, scanner and fax are wireless, (the latest Epson) so that
makes things very easy all you need is a phone line input in the right
place.
My regards, Bellerophon

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by Bellerophon

Well, I have had a 27 inch Apple for a while and have not found a heat
problem with it, (the back does get warm but not more so than a TV)

I also have one of these, though running Windows 7, and do not have any heat problems. I also have a MacBook Air again running Windows 7, as all our businesses are on Windows and I did not want compatibility problems.

My son-in-law who has a multimedia business and is an Apple evangelist thinks this combination is some sort of heresy!

Brian