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Jinn · 01-31-2007, 11:39 AM

As someone who is a salaried, professional Software Analyst, testing computer software for defects, security concerns and usability, I can say that there is minimal difference in acceptance difficulty for users on a Mac and users on a Windows PC.

Most of the differences are application specific rather than OS specific, and depend entirely on the quality of development for that particular application.

As a part-time web developer, I can also say that I use Photoshop CS2, Imageready CS2, Dreamweaver MX 2004 interchangeably between the OSes and see no reason to declare either at a disadvantage. The availablity of Firefox and Safari and their similarities make standards-based development easy and ideal.

As a student, I can also say that word processing, Internet research and presentation software works identically across both Operating Systems.

As a Computer Science student, I can say that creating platform independent software, as well as using the latest IDEs is much more efficient, less time-consuming and much higher quality when I use software available for Windows.

Finally, as a gamer, I can say that I cannot playthe more than 100 gaming software titles that I own on a Macintosh operating system. Even were it supported on the OS or distributed as a Universal binary, the hardware I need would be much more expensive in a Macintosh than it would be in a home-built PC running a Windows or Linux OS.

It has nothing to do with usability, but of practicality. I have used some very poor software designed for a Macintosh OS, and I have used some very poor software designed for a Windows OS.

However, if I were concerned about creating software that the majority of the market could use, I would develop it for a Windows machine. If I were concerned about being able to play the latest games, I would use a Windows machine. If I were conered about being able to customize my computer, I would use a Windows or Linux machine. If I were concerned about a budget, and wanted the highest power/cost ratio, I would built a PC utilizing Windows or Linux. If I were concerned about desktop publishing, web developing or media creation, I would use either, interchangeably.

The fact of the matter is that the majority still needs the former, not the latter, and Macintosh will remain an inferior (by market share) and niche-marketed computer.

The majority of my work is performed on a PC, but I often work in labs which have a Macintosh and a PC on a two-port switcbox; I can choose either, and I typically choose the Windows PC.

In short, commercials that highlight imagined differences between the two pander mostly to fear, rather than truth. I have yet to see an example of a task that was dramatically harder when using a Windows-based PC than when using a Macintosh computer.

01-31-2007, 11:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	As someone who is a salaried, professional Software Analyst, testing computer software for defects, security concerns and usability, I can say that there is minimal difference in acceptance difficulty for users on a Mac and users on a Windows PC. Most of the differences are application specific rather than OS specific, and depend entirely on the quality of development for that particular application. As a part-time web developer, I can also say that I use Photoshop CS2, Imageready CS2, Dreamweaver MX 2004 interchangeably between the OSes and see no reason to declare either at a disadvantage. The availablity of Firefox and Safari and their similarities make standards-based development easy and ideal. As a student, I can also say that word processing, Internet research and presentation software works identically across both Operating Systems. As a Computer Science student, I can say that creating platform independent software, as well as using the latest IDEs is much more efficient, less time-consuming and much higher quality when I use software available for Windows. Finally, as a gamer, I can say that I cannot playthe more than 100 gaming software titles that I own on a Macintosh operating system. Even were it supported on the OS or distributed as a Universal binary, the hardware I need would be much more expensive in a Macintosh than it would be in a home-built PC running a Windows or Linux OS. It has nothing to do with usability, but of practicality. I have used some very poor software designed for a Macintosh OS, and I have used some very poor software designed for a Windows OS. However, if I were concerned about creating software that the majority of the market could use, I would develop it for a Windows machine. If I were concerned about being able to play the latest games, I would use a Windows machine. If I were conered about being able to customize my computer, I would use a Windows or Linux machine. If I were concerned about a budget, and wanted the highest power/cost ratio, I would built a PC utilizing Windows or Linux. If I were concerned about desktop publishing, web developing or media creation, I would use either, interchangeably. The fact of the matter is that the majority still needs the former, not the latter, and Macintosh will remain an inferior (by market share) and niche-marketed computer. The majority of my work is performed on a PC, but I often work in labs which have a Macintosh and a PC on a two-port switcbox; I can choose either, and I typically choose the Windows PC. In short, commercials that highlight imagined differences between the two pander mostly to fear, rather than truth. I have yet to see an example of a task that was dramatically harder when using a Windows-based PC than when using a Macintosh computer. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel Last edited by Jinn; 01-31-2007 at 11:44 AM..