I originally preferred MS-DOS and Windows over other alternatives, as they were all I knew of at the time. (I also tend to prefer English, as I don’t know any other languages to the same extent.) However, following comments by various colleagues, I bought an iMac in 2005. It took a little time to understand the OS, as I was used to doing things the hard way in DOS/Windows. However, once I understood the simplicity of doing anything in Mac OS (compared to Windows) let alone the power of the underlying OS (which I had also experienced with Solaris) there was no turning back. I sympathise with your experience.
No sympathy needed, I’m very happy to use Win as my preferred OS over Apple’s offering. I use both so I understand each of them as does my Son in Law (SiL) who works in support of InfoTech. He is happiest using Win as it provides the experience he prefers when it comes to choice. Again your choice is your’s and that is something I value, the ability to be given a choice.
EDIT: For clarity’s sake my SiL’s preferences encompasses both home and work.
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Your son-in-law working in IT support would of COURSE be in favour of MS Windows, as that generates by FAR the greatest number of support issues, thus guaranteeing him his job! Similar Unix/Linux roles require around 1/4 the number of support personnel. As a former MS-DOS/Windows support person, I understand his position.
So, anyone buying a ‘computer’ with Windows already installed is given a “CHOICE”?
Imagine if your car were ONLY able to run on (say) Caltex petrol!
Indeed they are given a choice, they don’t have to buy a Windows computer, they can buy a Mac (are they given a choice then as to OS installed), they can buy a Chromebook, they can install Linux or almost any other version of an OS on a computer except maybe an Apple one.
As I keep reiterating your choice is yours and I think we will never agree on an answer beyond that you and I are different users with different preferences.
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Correct, they TECHNICALLY don’t HAVE to buy a Windows PC, except in most cases they are not given ANY choice! The vast majority of retail outlets do NOT have the option of anything other than Windows PCs. The few that do are more interested making a sale than showing the customer a better OS. This puts Linux customers in a particularly invidious position, as they have to PAY for Windows and then fight to get a refund. Imagine if you were to buy a car and were told you could ONLY buy (name brand) fuel from then on. That would be UNACCEPTABLE!
There are numerous retailers as well as Apple itself selling Macs etc. EG JBHiFi is ubiquitous and sells Apple products. It’s easy to forget this when there are row upon row of Win based brands all competing for space. Most are very average products. There are diamonds and a duds amongst them too.
If you desire an Apple product or to try one out most of us have access to retail display models and to good on line reviews.
I use an iPad and iPhone, but am happy using Windows and Linux on PC and Laptop. Reality is that the Apple-verse does not have access to software products I use.
If we are going to use metaphors based on cars and Caltex Petrol, then Apple products are the most restrictive. Diesel, E10, 91 ULP, hybrid drive etc, if Apple were a car it would only come in a limited model range. All would be two door hatch designs with a premium unleaded engine the only choice, and no provision for a tow bar. Great for some but not all.
CAD, gaming, graphics and SD cards are but three reasons Apple products may not be a good choice.
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Yes they are widely sold and can be found in most big chain stores. Apple products can however be difficult to get at small independent computer outlets as they haven’t entered into a arrangement with Apple for sale of their proprietary products. There are however independent small retailers which also specialise in Apple products.
Getting back to topic, a good friend who has both a Mac and a Windows PC has has backups corrupted on both platforms and has always suggested that backup error checking is done to prevent a corrupted backup not bring able to be extracted when needed. I do it occasionally, but as it can nearly double the backup time, I often don’t do it unless I have sufficient time. It may be worth checking if your backup software has this function and use it to reduce corrupted backups through the read, compression and write processes.
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“Reality is that the Apple-verse does not have access to software products I use.”
Yet you use an iPad and an iPhone, which apparently DO have access to the software you use!
Would you care to elaborate just WHICH software that YOU need that is NOT available on a Mac?
“If we are going to use metaphors based on cars and Caltex Petrol, then Apple products are the most restrictive.” RUBBISH! Apple Macs allow you to run Mac OS (obviously) or Unix, or Linux, or Windows. Windows PCs MAY allow you to run Linux instead, but do NOT give you a rebate for the unused OS.
That’s how it is. Some things I can do on a portable device and that suits, and some I cannot as it’s impracticable.
We are well off topic. I feel we are heading down the rabbit hole of Apple vs Microsoft. We can agree to disagree.
I suggested Apple products are readily accessible in the market place which seems to be the first point of difference.
As to meeting all needs a mobile phone is a mobile phone, a tablet is useful for browsing, email, and basic photo editing (Apples proprietary format a distraction?) and portable Apps. A laptop or desktop is not either. Running Bootcamp and windows on a Mac, it is no longer IOS. Just another vanilla Intel device running Windows.
In the corporate world you fit into the universe the business chooses, as do the providers of the core productivity software. Apple has one niche in creative studios. Further discussion is best for an alternate topic IMO.
Back on topic, I use Norton 360 for routine backups, Acronis True Image Home for whole of machine images, and keep a recoverable third version of the initial device setup using the MS or OEM derived tools provided. One back up is deposited physically off site. Not as often as perhaps I’d like. In effect there are always at least two different storage devices using two different software packages.
A simple strategy assuming email is your most common tool is to not delete mail from the ISP/RSP mailbox when down loading to your local device. Belts and braces my mail goes to two independent devices. One a PC, the other a mobile device. Some live by their SMS content. I don’t have a solution to that and consider SMS to be inappropriate place to retain content. Device brand agnostic, cloud storage not assured.
P.S.
When you are still on ADSL, cloud storage is not that practical anyway.
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“Apple products can however be difficult to get at small independent computer outlets as they haven’t entered into a [sic] arrangement with Apple for sale of their proprietary products.”
Surely you are not attempting to suggest that Microsoft Windows is NOT proprietary?
No I am not suggesting that. My understanding is Apple approach is very diferent to Microsoft. Apple tends to limit its products to Authorised Apple Resellers and where their operating system runs on Apple devices. While Microsoft has Authorised Microsoft Resellers (I understand from a friend who is Microsoft Reseller it is mainly for licenses) and their Windows software runs on a range of different PC manufacturers and not limited to Microsoft devices.
This makes it difficult for anyone to sell new Apple (OS) devices, unlike that for Windows (OS) devices.
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It also makes it incredibly difficult for anyone to run Linux on those devices without paying the Microsoft tax! At least anyone buying an Apple product has already decided that they prefer that OS. Anyone buying a PC has no choice but to have Windows. In most cases they have no idea that there is another option (eg Linux) which does everything they want at NO extra cost!
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While not at your JB or Good Guys type shops many PC speciality shops commonly sell PC hardware without operating systems included, but offer them as optional extras.
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They used to sell Windows on discs as an OEM and Microsoft had a condition that the purchase must include a piece of hardware.
Microsoft updated their definition of hardware to mean an integeral part of a computer to stop retailers merely selling accessories such as audio cables.
For clarity, that is a condition of buying a Windows OEM license and has nothing to do with buying a PC without an operating system license bundled in.
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I understood that Dell and maybe a couple of other companies have Linux machines? And you can always dump Windows and install Linux instead. I’ve just recently discovered that I can run Linux on my 2010 macbook as the sole operating system. There’s ways round everything.
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Speaking of backup software, whilst i was at our local shopping centre this week, there was a display in the centre court promoting the redeveloping of the failed Paradise Palms Golf Course into a number of things including a waterpark.
I said to the person running the display that a certain local who has been spruiking his waterpark development on a flood plain for more than a decade won’t be happy.
I looked up this character’s website and looked at the September 2020 Update.
http://adventurewaters.com.au/latest-adventure-waters-update/
“Backup software? What backup software?”
You are absolutely correct. Both Dell and HP have some systems where Linux is loaded natively, without paying for Windows. However these are a very small minority of the offerings. Most computers have Windows loaded without ANY option. (Except for Apple, where you can load any OS you like.) In this case you are paying Microsoft for the Windows licence, and it is extremely difficult to get a refund.
Frankly, IMHO, all computers should be sold without any OS. You would then have a choice of spending MORE for Windows, or accepting Linux (and all Ita apps) for FREE.
Just imagine if your car were ONLY able to run on (say) Shell petrol, regardless of the price of other petrol brands available to everyone else?
Not very practical, most people want to get the thing going and not spend time loading and configuring an OS.
Not a very useful analogy. Just imagine if your car didn’t run when it was delivered. Just imagine if your computer’s OS was consumed whenever it was used. Just imagine …
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