Rant about my PC

[fr0d0]

PCs and Macs age about the same: the redundancy is built in with the OS. It's by design. Old manufacturers like Sun used to make PCs to last forever. This isn't a sustainable model. Everyone wants cheap, so that's offerred with the caveat that it won't last too long.
No self respecting Mac user would use a mac more than a couple of years old. It's an elitist peice of bling for heavens sake, rich people don't like being old news. I have 10 year old PCs I use with up to date OS's like Linux. Quite fit for purpose. And also as virus free as any Mac.
In short, your analogy is false, and syna is being modest: he is talking about very many more PCs than you've seen over a shorter period admittedly. Me: I've also been involved with IT from the 80's, and have supported thousands professionally. Mac is good, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking it's more than it is.

[Minimalist]

My son is a computer tech in a school district. Two years ago they switched from IBM to Apple laptops for the students. He hates it with a passion and can't wait for the contract to expire so he can yell at somebody to switch back.

It isn't the reliability which he says is about equal. It's the service aspect of the Apples which sucks in comparison.

Anyway, he won't let me buy an Apple so I have no say in the matter.

[Autumnlicious]

I've administrated more than my fair share of computers in my short existence

You hit the nail on the head. Your 'short existence' is precisely why you have NOT got the experience to be able to judge that.

I've used dozens of PCs and Macs since 1985. PCs, on average, are redundant within a year of purchase, and you're lucky if it's still running properly after 18 months, but it is definitely sorely outdated, and you really need (to fork out for) a new one!
Macs, on average, become redundant only after 3 to 5 years after purchase.

So how are PCs cheaper than Macs if you have to buy a new PC every 18 months while a Mac lasts 3 years plus? Not to mention the cost of anti-malware software and the (waste of) time involved in managing it.

Your're a fucking idiot. Especially for saying "PC's, on average, ..." and here's why:

A Mac is merely a specific brand of PC hardware, built with the same components. The only difference is the specific arrangement and quality of the build. So, to use a car metaphor, you would've said "The Tesla Roadster is better than the general all encompassing set of cars (of which the Tesla Roadster would be part of)". What? Singular member of set versus Set comparisons are fundamentally nonsensical.

Also, "PC" does not mean Windows. Unless, of course, you lump the historically x86-based "Personal Computer" to mean Intel branded CPUs and Microsoft Windows OS. Which would be quite stupid and shallow...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer#Software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_co...#Processor

Anyone who deals with computers would understand the importance of the processor architecture (x86-family) upon the term "PC".

So, now all you've got as an argument is build quality, as the specific arrangement of active components is actually quite common (for example, Thunderbolt is licensed to Apple exclusively at the moment, but there is nothing endemic to the technology that ties it to Apple hardware).

And even that falls flat when you look at things like the ToughBook, Vostros, etc,.

So now, you retreat to the only thing special to Apple Macintosh's -- OS X.

But that is a faulty strong hold, as OS X runs easily on non-Apple hardware (Hackintoshes, OSx86). And you can run any modern x86 OS on Apple hardware (Bootcamp, EFI tweaks). So, getting your OS X fix is not dependent on getting a genuine Macintosh. Not to mention, in the context of this thread, you advocated 'Switching to a Mac' from a user who spends most time in the Microsoft world -- as the User Interface is unique between the two, the user would have to relearn how to use their own computer.

Yeah, that's a fucking great idea -- "Switch to a Mac based on bullshit reasons!"

So, what are you pimping?

It can't be simply 'Mac vs PC' -- that would be as moronic as saying 'HP vs PC' or 'Adidas shoes versus All shoes'.

Or is the cult of Mac so powerful that you cannot spend a second without advocating the sucking of necrotic Job's cock?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

In future I will stick to tech forums with any such problems

That's probably not a bad idea - there's some knowledgeable people here, but nowhere as many as you'd find on a dedicated tech form.

For what it's worth, the problem you're having sounds like a hardware problem - so having the manufacturer deal with it is your best bet at this point. Having an early failure like this sucks, but at least you've got a backup PC.

That's what I did.


As it was only 2 weeks since I'd bought,I took it back to the retailer.(we have some pretty good consumer protection laws here).

The nice man gave me a new computer.This one has been just dandy so far.

I've joined a Windows 7 forum. So far they've saved me $70. I was after a book on Windows 7 a bit more advanced than 'Windows 7 For Dummies' (which I bought and have pretty much read)

Somebody recommended 'Windows 7 Power Users Guide" .Found it at The Book depository for $69.95. Thought I might wait for a bit., THEN another person told me the book is now available in pdf form FREE.I downloaded it,and it's spiffo. I'm a bit pleased.


0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000


Moros, thank you so much for that explanatory post. Yes I nearly bought a Mac.


I always though Apple computers were simply the best and that's why they are more expensive..(the Apple equivalent of this machine was over 30% more) I was also under the impression that Apples' OS is simply superior to MS. I also thought I was in for a steep learning curve. Seems I may have been sucked in a bit by apple's own hyperbole, and that of adolescent Apple users who don't have a clue.

Oh,I replace my PC every 3 years or so, not because it dies (usually it doesn't) but because I want a nice new one,with all the new bells and whistles. My PC is a tool and a toy.


The first computer I used was in about 1983, at work.. A Wang network using DOS. We switched to Windows in 1995. I bought my own first PC in 1999,a Pentium 2,using Windows 98. Loved it to bits and have used Windows ever since,except for that month I tried Linux Mint. We didn't get along. As it turns out,I actually like Windows.I understand it (relatively speaking) can usually get it do do what I want and (eventually) fix it if it's a software problem. However,I'm rooted if it's hardware.