Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

microsoft.com

11–20 of 41 posts

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#11
post #3

You know... all snark aside, a lot of these things are true: * Macs get a tiny fraction of the games available to Windows. * Macs really don't have Bluray support. * Macs really are different from Windows, although they are different in arguably a good way, and my mom had no trouble learning them. * Macs really do a crappy job with Word and Excel, and like it or not, and regardless of the degree to which this is MSFT…

What's ironic is that Windows 7 was designed to be more Mac like and less like Windows XP and now they want to claim advantage for Windows 7 as being "more like the computer you know to use."

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#12
post #11
post #3

You know... all snark aside, a lot of these things are true: * Macs get a tiny fraction of the games available to Windows. * Macs really don't have Bluray support. * Macs really are different from Windows, although they are different in arguably a good way, and my mom had no trouble learning them. * Macs really do a crappy job with Word and Excel, and like it or not, and regardless of the degree to which this is MSFT…

What's ironic is that Windows 7 was designed to be more Mac like and less like Windows XP and now they want to claim advantage for Windows 7 as being "more like the computer you know to use."

Windows 7 is more like the computer they know to use, even if it is slightly more "mac like"

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#13
I am a developer, and have been using PCs for 20+ years, always wanting to throwing out the windows whenever MSFT crashed the thing.

Bought a Mac two years ago, and to tell the truth, I never knew how bad Windows was really until I used OS X.

My wife started using computers two years ago, and she just loves the Mac, I am professional developer and can honestly tell you that developing on the Mac is just awesome to developing on Windows,the Mac rocks inside out!!!.

Pc's are old school, Macs will rule this new century in computing.

Macs are rock solid easy to used by both experienced and unexperienced users.

This Microsoft site seems quite lame, and is obviously targeted to users who have never used a Mac.

Best regards

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#14
post #3

You know... all snark aside, a lot of these things are true: * Macs get a tiny fraction of the games available to Windows. * Macs really don't have Bluray support. * Macs really are different from Windows, although they are different in arguably a good way, and my mom had no trouble learning them. * Macs really do a crappy job with Word and Excel, and like it or not, and regardless of the degree to which this is MSFT…

Another thing to think about: My mac is able to my TV without any bugs. (Major use case for my laptop) The screen just flashes and I'm ready to go. When I'm done I can be programming again just by unplugging the adapter. No more fixing my desktop icons.

(Don't get me started on how windows handles multiple monitors!)

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#15
I was amused by this key point: On a Mac, out of the box, you can only encrypt your home folder. With Windows 7 Ultimate, you can encrypt your entire hard drive and even USB drives. So your stuff can be safer wherever you go.

Obviously, the problem with this statement is, any and every Mac you purchase will have encryption available - even if it's "only" the Home folder (which, I'd guess, is where 99% of my personal data is located...) The same can't be said for the PCs at BestBuy with Home or Professional installed.

Just amused by it.

Now the, "the mouse works differently" statement...I'm not even going to touch that one!

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#17
post #3

You know... all snark aside, a lot of these things are true: * Macs get a tiny fraction of the games available to Windows. * Macs really don't have Bluray support. * Macs really are different from Windows, although they are different in arguably a good way, and my mom had no trouble learning them. * Macs really do a crappy job with Word and Excel, and like it or not, and regardless of the degree to which this is MSFT…

I've never had a problem with microsoft word/excel for mac.

I'm not trying to say your wrong on all of these points or anything, I just always find it funny how companies use Marketing speak and omission to lie.

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#18
post #4

9 out of 10 people already use Windows. Are they trying to get that number back up to 9.4 out of 10? I think their efforts are better spent in mobile and building an iPad competitor. It's really going to hurt when Apple and Google lock up the mobile and tablet markets.

I don't think this is a bad idea for them - I've heard (no sources, unfortunately) that new college entrants are now predominantly using Macs. It takes years for the loss of market share to truly translate into profit/revenue loss. If it's true that the younger generation is flocking to Macs in droves, then it would be deceptive and ill-advised to say that 9 out of 10 people right now use Windows, and that's the way…

This is precisely it. 1/10 are Macs, but among college students, it's 27% (http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/07/big-macs-on-campus/). This is why MS is worried.

Re: Microsoft launches a PC vs Mac website

#19
post #9
post #4

9 out of 10 people already use Windows. Are they trying to get that number back up to 9.4 out of 10? I think their efforts are better spent in mobile and building an iPad competitor. It's really going to hurt when Apple and Google lock up the mobile and tablet markets.

My guess: The brass at Microsoft was probably thrilled when Apple switched to Intel. To them, this meant easy virtualization/dual boot setups, so obviously, more licenses sold for Windows (because, c'mon, everyone needs Windows with that vast library of software that EVERYONE uses!) Then they realized people switching were happy with just OS X and the cross platform available titles....

Raise your hands if you own a Mac and don't have a virtualization/dual-boot setup.

crickets

Post reply on HN