Pirillo says Vista will help Apple

Kevin, I would be happy to install Linux on a machine and use it instead of OS X. The problem is what do you do when you want to do something other than what is installed?

My previous experience with Linux is that I had to "compile" the program I wanted to run. Now, that was a while ago and distro's have improved greatly since then.

The problem I have now with Linux is two fold. One, it doesn't do all the things that I do with my OS X box now. It doesn't have iTunes. I use iTunes exclusively. Actually, it's kind of funny. I have the same problem with Linux that Windows users have with OS X.

The other problem I have with Linux is that if something goes wrong with it, I pretty much have to wipe the system and start again. I have never been able to "fix" a linux distro that has gone wrong. Yes, I have had distro's go wrong. I seem to have a curse with linux/unix. Every linux/unix box I touch seems to die within a month. I have to dead TiVo's, 2 dead routers, I have killed an SGI workstation by launching Netscape, etc... The Mac's I have here are the first linux/unix systems I haven't killed. Although I did have a scare a month ago when I had a program causing kernel panic's on boot up. Fortunately, I was able to figure out what was happening and remove the program and get my system back.

With the Mac, I have a place I can call for help when something goes wrong, I don't have that with linux/unix.

I always hate these analyses. To be honest all they do is polarize consumers and entrench anyone with even the smallest of preferences.

I use both Mac and Windows at work. At home, I've always used Windows. I can tell you first hand that Windows isn't perfect, but I use it without need for complaint. I will not be buying a new PC anytime soon, barring unforseeable circumstances, because I just bought one. As such, I fear I may have to pay for Vista to keep current as it is what I get paid to do.

I am considering avoiding Vista altogether if I can find a serious solution to my problem. I find that MacOS and Linux are becoming real possibilities for the first time ever. However, I can't just go out and buy Leopard and run it on my PC. On top of that, dual-booting requires buying Vista anyway.

I don't know what my next move is yet, but I will stick with XP until I figure it out. I have never had the level of problems with hanging/crashing that others always seem to report. Similarly, I have never had virus or spyware/adware problems, but I have always had scanners just in case. If XP had a future, I'd be happy enough sticking with it. Since it won't have a future for too much longer, I will choose whatever option proves to be the best fit for me.

as someone who's not a programmer and would only consider himself an intermediate user (as far as tweaking my os is concerned) i have to say i see no reason to ever switch. i bought a new laptop about 3 months ago and here are some reasons i made my choice of a pc over a mac:

1) every piece of software i want to run has a windows version; about 25% don't have a mac version yet. and the one piece of software i did want that was mac only, konfabulator, eventually got a windows version
2) a mac laptop was about 40% more expensive than my pc laptop which was built with nearly identical hardware. why should i pay more for the same intel chip?
3) i don't have to learn a new operating system. call me lazy but i like to be able to run my computer, right out of the box, without having to worry about a learning curve (and so does 90% of america since apple's market share has been less than 10% for the past few years now, at least).
4) sure, i could get boot camp but why should i futz with a two os computer? when macs can load windows exclusively then i'd consider getting one. but then, i'm not really buying anything other than apple design am i?

it's this last point that will see apple gain more market share - design. i will admit, apple can design some sweet looking machines but i couldn't care less about their os. but is an apple designed machine really going to topple microsoft's software? i don't think so. i'll stick with windows thanks. so i don't think microsoft has really anything to fear from apple. and i don't see a mass exodus from windows to apple.

I have something to ask the Mac users.

Doesn't it bug you that Quicktime won't play full-screen video without first having to upgrade to Quicktime professional?

Sure, you'll all say that you use VLC or mplayer, but that's not the point. If I spend $2000 on a brand new Mac, I'd expect a half decent media player out of the box. Maybe even one that could display video full screen....?

As another commenter pointed out, you have to pay for upgrades to your OS in order to even run newer versions of iTunes.

So it seems that Apple also like to screw their customers.

I'm so sick of people saying a person has a bias towards one thing or another. This isn't an unbiased source, its a blogging site, written by people that HAVE bias, just like everyone else... The thing is, they even say these are their opinions

http://www.weblogsinc.com/#exp_readers

So I don't know why everyone gets up in arms, the problem with the world today is people only want to read what they agree with, suck it up people, maybe we wouldn't be so damn polarized if we could enjoy opposing viewpoints once and awhile.

There are fine points on both sides here but I'm just going to add my 2 cents:

Microsoft
Revenue US$44.28 billion (2006
Operating income US$16.47 billion (2006)
(36.3% operating margin)
Net income US$12.6 billion (2006
(31.6% net margin

Apple
Revenue US$17.3 billion (TTM 1Q2006)
Operating income US$2.12 billion (TTM 1Q2006)
(12.27% operating margin)
Net income US$1.73 billion (TTM 1Q2006)
(9.97% profit margin)

Source: Wikipedia

Do you honestly think Apple is more than a tiny blip on Microsoft's radar? If it was a threat they would buy it in a split second. (Heaven knows they can afford it)

"Do you honestly think Apple is more than a tiny blip on Microsoft's radar? If it was a threat they would buy it in a split second. (Heaven knows they can afford it)".

This is not a viable option. Buying Apple would get Microsoft in serious trouble with anti-trust authorities. Oddly enough, from this point of view Microsoft benefits from a stronger Apple.

I agree with all the others who have seen Ryan's bias toward Windows and agree that because this is a blog, it should not be held against him. However, I have complained in the past that many stories here contain no Windows tag, yet when you go to the site from the story, it turns out to be something Windows only, and therefore should have had a Windows tag.

Secondly, the Mac "Platform" category in the box above, shows that about 40 percent of the articles are about Mac. However, counts that I have done over several random days shows that Mac stories are only about 12 percent of the total.

It is this dishonesty that I find objectionable.

I think Chris hit the nail on the head. Vista, no matter how pretty, how much more secure, is annoying. I just don't like it. Actually, I'm to the point of loathing it. So many little things, even a few big ones. Not to mention all of the re-install limitations and WGA junk that are going to work people's nerves.

I think that the way it functions is just too removed from previous versions for most average users to stomach. It will be at this point many users will realize that changing is inevitable and if they must change they could just as easily change to a Mac. As one Vista Beta tester I know said when I asked him his opinion of Vista, "Buy stock in Apple."

I'm getting the distinct impression, through usage and talking with people, that Vista = WinME-2k6. But this time, there is no WinXP waiting in the wings for MS to bail them out.

As far as reliability issues that occur with Vista, these will probably be worked out with SP1. Nevertheless, I personally just don't care for Vista.

For me The main reason for dislike apple is something deferent from the usual (stability, security, gui, etc') it's there concept of what is an os' and computer doing in the our time.
The os' meant to be nearly unnoticed layer above the machine. In a matter of years it will defiantly become like one when the speech recognition will really start to work..
The computing world unlike the electronic world is more free and open to deferent brands. It's not a political point of view, just an observation on the world that's going in the path of everything work and connect with everything.
So in relation to that, the concept of apple as a close box is primitive and can't and should not work..

BTW
As a power user using xp pro and zonealarm for security. My os' nearly never crashes (as part of what I'm doing dally, i really put the os' under a lot of pressure) and had no spyware/malware/virus problems. So if you a power user I really don't understand what are you doing to get in trouble..

See, my question is, if one of the Pro's for OSX is that it runs Windows Xp , then how is that a Con for Microsoft? I mean , people are going to have to purchase and install Xp OS's right ? So whenever a "switcher" labels bootcamp as a pro,

How does that hurt Microsoft again?

Ok.. I'll describe my MAC/PC experiences at the end of this comment.. but first.. My opinion on those switching...

I think many are disappointed with Microsoft. Software and OS updates have been long over due and the public has high expectations. Security is an issue.. Stability.. etc.. People are expecting Microsoft to perform poorly b/c their track record reflects that. The OS issues and delays have given them negative press. That just puts a bad taste in the mouths of consumers.. It makes people doubtful.. not hopeful.

Mac's have always been the foreign platform for most users, as Windows has been king for many years. However, we all can admit that Apple has been chipping away at the home market for some time. They have improved their marketing efforts. The machines are NOT as expensive as they used to be.. etc. More people are becoming more aware of Mac's and what they are capable of doing.. Yeah, you can do the same stuff on a PC... but it's "easier and safer" on a Mac (so they say).

Dual booting simply one reason consumers can switch and feel "safe". After ...For some people the switch is like relocating to a foreign country... BUT - what's this? They can speak my native language as well? Well, that's not so drastic... I can communicate in a way that's comfortable to me until I'm bilingual.

I've used both. In fact, I even made a switch from the Mac to the PC. After 6 years, my mac drives died and I was due a new machine. I bought NEW pc. It paled in comparison to my 6 year old mac. Then again, I was doing a lot of audio/video work. PC's don't seem to work well out of the box for that kind of stuff. I've recently switched back to the mac, but I use a PC desktop for work from time to time... But - I don't have a choice there.

Most people I know aren't as geeky as I am. They have simple needs. I tell people macs are easier and fun to use. Ease of use can be seen in the software installation instructions for PC and Mac. Windows installation instructions will take up many pages compared to a paragraph or two for mac. The average, ungeeked consumer doesn't know how to trouble shoot effectively or "fix" anything. "What is a registry???" -- They want perks that some people would think are silly. I think iLife is great for the average consumer. I mean...I've never considered Windows to be true plug and play. I've always had issues with silly things like USB drivers...even USB driver installation. You never have that issue on a Mac. You plug it in and do whatever you like without waiting for a driver to install or wondering why your machine will not recognize the connected device - even if it's thumb-drive.

Most complain about the ipod and being tied to Apple stuff (hardware/software - itunes). But that's not true. If you have an ipod, you have options. Itunes, emusic.com (the #2 online music store), allofmp3 (if u want that) and more. If you have something other than an ipod you have options - but they won't include itunes.

At the end of the day, both platforms do the same stuff in different ways. I like to think of them as cars. They can both get you form point a to b. However, Apple machines can also boot windows (for those afraid to take the Apple plunge). Microsoft has been getting negative press compared to Apples positive spin in many stories. Should Microsoft disappoint us (once again), more people will switch.

I made the switch to Apple and have never looked back. You can't be the Apple design and the underlying foundation of the Unix core that is the Mac OS. I now have two Macs - a Mac Mini and a PowerBook. I think Windows has finally run out of steam. Time for a product that works!

I made the switch last winter mainly because I was looking for a computer based recording studio. A mac was the obvious choice for my needs. Since then, I've only noticed bad things about windows. OS X is much more intuitive, and more importantly, it's more stable. To anybody who is afraid to end their relationship with windows, it's time you step up.

And with it marketing muscle no matter what Microsoft keeps rolling on.
Don't foget that Microsoft has a 10% non voting share
holding in Apple Computer.