Ultimate Theologica Throwdown: Mac vs. PC (vs. Linux)

[Rey Reynoso]

You knew it was coming. Free will vs. Dispensationalism and Preterism was small potatoes.

1. Which do you use: Mac, PC, Linux?
2. Which is better?
3. Why?

[JL Vaughn]

1. PC generally.
2. No difference.
3. Because all 3 systems have proven they can frustrate the heck out of me, so why trouble myself with more expensive frustrations or with uncommon frustrations?

[Rey Reynoso]

LOL

[ben hind]

1. Mac.
2. Mac/Linux.
3. Because (a) Mac has a better operating system in terms of it running smoother (fewer crashes), faster (because it isn't overloaded with non-essential windows rubbish you never use), and it looks 100 times better than windows (which funnily enough windows tries to copy but just creates a second-rate version of the look and feel of Mac).
Because (b) you want actually run windows on a Mac, so you don't in fact need to worry about not running your favorite windows applications on Mac (which in windows you can't run Mac OSX at the same time).
Because (c) Mac is more secure as there are less browser hijacks, adware, malware or spyware that targets Mac, let alone penetrates its security.
Because (d) every software application for Mac that has Windows counter-parts is far superior.
Because (e) ....I could go on.

- Ben

[JL Vaughn]

Ben,

(a) I haven't rebooted my 2 PCs computers at work in 3 months. My Mac has had to be rebooted twice in that time. My Linux machine twice.

Yes PCs lot a lot of junk. It's called security. Something Mac and Linux don't have.

(b) and (d) are in most cases to similar to differentiate.

(c) Mac and Linux are more secure because PC users have better things to do than create viruses. Neither operating system is as secure as Windows. And Windows is only secure because of the continual attacks made by Mac and Linux users.

[mem]

Who knew that our selection of operating system reveals deep things about who we are as human beings?

I'm a Linux user personally. Fan of Ubuntu. Started using it for some projects nine or so years ago, and I haven't really looked back. As a developer, it's pretty handy to have around, the package management can't be beat, there's less of a sense of privacy invasion, and I haven't had to run a virus scan in years. Older hardware performs admirably, it's eminently configurable, and more usable (in my opinion, of course).

Windows is handy if you play games, but I'd argue that the software available for Linux boxes (I can't speak so well for Macs, though I've been impressed with the latest offerings I've tooled around with) is generally better.

[JL Vaughn]

Mem,

It depends on what you do.

For some of my purposes, commercial software either is not available or wasn't available back then for Linux.

You haven't had to run a virus scan because no one writes viruses to attack Linux. That's not a fault of the Windows operating system.

I've actually found Windows to be more and more frustrating the more they try to make it like Mac.

30 years ago, I had to be into the nuts and bolts of the operating system to do what I had to do.

The Mac was built on the philosophy that the operating system knew better than you did. You were required to be an expert to do anything out of the ordinary. Back then, UNIX and PCs were built so that any user could get into the operating system and do what he had to do, and he was allowed to work at the level he was. Expert was better, but it wasn't required.

Mac still requires you to be an expert to do anything that is not preapproved. It is the true, big-brother computer.

PC, UNIX, and Linux have all three headed that direction to varying extents.

The PC is in the lead in functional security, because it has to be. The PC has also had to take on more big-brother pre-approved Mac features, because most people want the Mac simplicity for the pre-approved functions. Bill Gates obviously has done that well. He has become quite literally "server of all."

Because of lack of demand, Linux is allowed to function as DOS once did. That's a good thing too. I'm finding it more and more impossible to program a PC.

Blessings.

[Rey Reynoso]

I have all three and have a love hate for all of them.

Love ubuntu and then moved over to OpenSuse for pure computing hotness. Can't stand that if you're not an expert in doing stuff in kernel you're pretty much an idiot and blind man, lurking on forums to do what you need to be done because Everyone has been there. Asking a question in a linux forum is met with everything from a helpful link to a snide "you use THAT package?"

I love my mac because of its sexy simplicity. You plug something in and it works. You need something gone, its gone. But I hate it because you need to restart once a day and because anything expert is so buried that you can't figure out how to fix it. Why the heck are there three font folders and if I have to delete Helvetica Fractions every single time the stupid thing does an update? Honestly, why even include it in the OS if it conflicts with Ichat and Safari? And what's up with the stupid spinning wheel of death that tells you "Maybe I'm crashed, maybe I'm not: wait 20 minutes and find out." Serious GRRR factor.

I love my PC because of the games and the fact that the internet Works on it the way its supposed to work but I can't stand that I need virus protection and spyware protection and rootkit protection and firewall protection. It's gotten to the point that I went to the supermarket and bought myself a package of extra large ribbed computer condoms "For Your Computing Pleasure" just so I can use the computer and not get infected. And then, and then, the amount of processes you have to weed through to find out which one is the virus, checking them against long sometimes incomprehensible databases. At one point, I can't verify this, but I think some of the Microsoft KB articles were written in Summerian.

[JL Vaughn]

Rey,

Amen brother!

I knew we had to agree on something.

[Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton)]

I typically use a Vista laptop. On occasion, I've dual-booted it into Ubuntu Linux. I like Linux. I like open source. There are some pretty robust utilities and tools for Windows though that I kept coming back to. Most are documented on the list I link to on my main Theologica page.

[mem]

JL, it is true that what you do will have a pretty significant impact on your use of a system. I've found Linux more suited to my needs (and budget) than Macs or PCs. I don't much care what others use, though—I'm happy for people to use PCs if they like, or Macs if they can afford the Mac Tax.

One thing I will say, however, is that Linux internally is different enough from Windows that even if it were popularly used, we still wouldn't need virus scanners. It is not simply that people don't write viruses for Linux, but that the methods used to exploit the machines are different.

I find partisans for operating systems a bit annoying; as Rey mentioned, Linux dorks can be extremely arrogant towards casual users (telling someone to go compile it themselves is pretty ridiculous, though not as ridiculous as telling someone if they don't like it, they can program it themselves). I think Ubuntu has done a lot to make the Linux desktop more usable, but there's still a lot of improvement left (though I'd argue mostly with aesthetics).

The real problem with a lot of OSS is that it's inherently selfish, and this can provide a bad user experience.

[Gina]

I got a Macbook this year after using PCs exclusively for most of my computing life. All in all it was a frustrating experience. Macs are NOT intuitive, and the fact that they insist they are ("use it just out of the box") means you have to buy manuals and dig through web forums to find answers because they don't provide them. I could not get anywhere with it for a few days. And I do have to reboot frequently. And web apps do not work as they should. This makes the sleek and sexy factors much less impressive to my mind.

I do like Apple Works, which is much more reasonably priced than Office.

Do you really not need a firewall with a Mac?

[mem]

I think in general that you're comfortable with what you've used. I worked with some family friends in switching from Windows to a Mac, and the transition was certainly difficult for them. Their dogged annoyance with MicroSoft persuaded them to persist in their efforts, and they're really pleased with their decision now. In general, I recommend people go with what they're comfortable with unless they're prepared to deal with the learning curve.

All computers need firewalls generally speaking. High-speed Internet providers may include one in the Hardware That Makes Everything Go at home, and this can mitigate the need to install one on personal machines. Running any machine of any operating system unprotected on the Internet is a Bad Idea. UNIX-based systems (like Linux and Mac machines) are vulnerable to attacks as well, though as I said before, they're different than the ones that usually afflict Windows machines.