Saturday's Apple: Experience From Using a Windows PC

[Magnus]

Recently I had the dubious pleasure of using a Windows Vista PC for a while. Over a few days during our holidays I had to use shiny new HP Pavilion notebook to get on the internet as it was the only computer that could get online where we were staying at the time. This was because the Wi-Fi network was closed and there was no way we could get on it with our Macs. Anyway, you know the typical PC notebook, right? It's full of ports, stickers, lights, and all kinds of things that I guess are meant to make buyers be impressed by it. Me, I just think it makes it look cluttered and cheap. But I digress, I'm certainly not the typical PC notebook buyer.

So this HP notebook is on spec pretty impressive. AMD processor running at over 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 17" widescreen glossy display, Windows Vista Business, etc. It should run really fast, you would think, right? Well, yes you would think so but this HP was slow as trying to walk through mud. And I'm not 100% sure that there wasn't something seriously wrong with it but I suspect it was just the usual Windows plagu: to avoid getting viruses and spyware you have to run software that is supposed to protect you and very often that software is worse than what it's supposed to cure you against.

This HP was running the full Norton suite, it had another personl security software suite on it, and a few other bits and pieces. And I can tell you that even the slowest Mac that Apple makes today runs rings around this Windows notebook and it's probably not because of hardware, it's more likely the software.

But it's more than the software, the exterior design is also very different from what Apple usually comes up with. You know how typical PCs look like, full of details, ports, buttons, stickers, etc. This one out-ports any Mac allright but it also looks very ugly. It's like they try to cram every little bit of functionality into the computer without thinking about what it looks like. You know this but look at an Apple notebook and you will see what I'm talking about.

This brief experience for me highlighted a basic difference between Apple and most other computer manufacturers, and it's a difference that is hard to understand unless you've used computers from both sides quite extensively I think. It also reinforces my belief in trying to tell people about Apple and Macs because they should know about the difference because they deserve better than most of them are getting right now. At least everyone deserves to know about what Apple offers so they can make an informed decision. Let's go forth and save the world!

[medopal]

Good luck Magnus and Crystal where ever u r

Honestly the Pavilion should work faster, but im sure the Vista and teh Norton where hanging it.

The stickers are really disgusting (sorry), they try to make the laptop an eye catch with stickers!!!, its easy guys, just try to make the design more sleek. That day i saw an ad on One Tv about Sony Vaio, those people are really happy because the laptop has a lighting led!!!, come on people there is sensors nowadays.
As fake Steve Jobs, says on his blog, "we first create the design and ask our engineers to put everthing inside, and not create the device whatever the final design would look like!!!!"

I dont think u spend enough time to see the error messages, random restarts and BSODs!!
Try to avoid using Vista in ur trip, its not a good time to get sick

[Magnus]

I hope tomorrow we can get Wi-Fi access so we can just get online with our Macs, withotu having to go to the HP

[fangpyre]

I think the only PC comparable to a Mac is the Sony VAIO.
That would explain why the 2 are comparable from a pricing point.

As for the stickers, they are part of each company's marketing campaign, thus reducing the PC's price. Apple opted not to include these stickers, which increased the price a bit.

[Kingz]

Hi Magnus,

Just a quick question! Why were you not able to connect to the internet with a MAC ? Can't internet be accessed using a wired connection on a MAC.
I'm a PC user at present, planning to switch to MAC hence I do not have the experience you guys have on a MAC.

Thanks
Kingz

[Magnus]

Hi Magnus,

Just a quick question! Why were you not able to connect to the internet with a MAC ? Can't internet be accessed using a wired connection on a MAC.

Simple, it has nothing to do with Mac or PC. We're staying in a friend's house and we didn't have the Wi-Fi access password, and we couldn't reach them to get the password. Now we're on the Wi-Fi because they came home last night

[Kingz]

Oh Ok........ I get it now !! thank you.