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Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Simulacra — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:26:55 -0000

I've always been a techie. There has been a computer in my house since 1975. My first individually owned personal computer was a Mac IIc. I've respected ALL of technology. I loved gadgets and hardware. I loved apple gadgets all the way up until February 2006. I took a job with a university working as a tech support specialist. The campus was 20% Mac (A considerable chunk) I came with experience in Windows-only support environments. I was shocked at the behavior of the smugness of Mac users on campus. The director launched a huge campaign to get everyone to switch. I always promoted a diversity of technologies, but now it seems I'm attacked for doing anything BUT insulting Microsoft. I've never thought Microsoft as anything but a money hungry company with a halfway decent software that just happened to be trendy enough in the business world to take over. Now, I'm finding myself defending an evil corporation, because I feel this other growing evil company rising up to not only destroy all competition, but completely leave out 3rd parties. Apple does not include 3rd party support, Apple products are elite, and I'm tired of the arrogance. I will NEVER buy a mac until Apple stops deleting known issues from its forums; I will never own a mac until the company has a better history of eco-friendliness, and until they open up their software; I will certainly never own a mac until they treat their employees better. You're evil, Apple. I don't care how nice your hardware/software is. You're evil, and I take a stand.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Dana — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:19:55 -0000

I was a Microsoft user "and pc tech" since Dos 3 until three months ago. I bought a used Power Book G4 for curiosity's sake, thats all it took.

I now own three Macs, and all are online. Still no viruses, still no adware, and the only thing I've gotten to crash is the godawful java plug in for Firefox, an since it works fine in Safari, its hardly Apple's fault.

Sometimes its hard Not to be smug, I went to some geek gatherings recently and got all kinds of shit for going to the "dark side" and I'm still trying to figure out, The Dark side of what? Computers thats don't freeze on me? Computers that are not choked in extra pointless terminate and stay resident processes?

And best of all no daily 40 minute security regimen to keep my computer clean, just because I had it online, to only have re-os every six months when the registry starts to go senile.

I don't know where the idea that if your computer is actually friendly and easy to use, then you must be an idiot got started. Its pure geek, big D*ckism. I'm heartily sick of fixing other peoples broken windows boxes. And that means anyone who does not know what a reg editor is. Or people who download "spyware removers" from pop up windows.

Most of my friends who still have tech jobs, "my tech job went to India sadly" have switched, and I suspect Apples demographic is about to take a sharp spike in the "people who know how a computer works" demographic.

If its any consolation, iTunes is still a bloated pos. But right now the "smug" people are the people with Windows based PCs, the ones who can't stand the idea that viruses, crashes, malware, pop ups and bloatware are a way of life, and that anybody who's computer is NOT an infected mess has to be a lying zombie for Steve Jobs, or a Mac "Fanboy". During the days of "Mac Crashwhore 9" I'd have bought that, but now, no. I've seen it and it won't wash.

The only people offended by the I'm a Mac, I'm a PC ads, are the ones who KNOW how bad Windows is actually getting and don't want to admit it, for them its just a bit too close to home.

I'd like to thank Microsoft for Vista, Media player 11, and the Zune. "Can you say wakeup call?" Without the release of these three fine products, I would not be on a MacBook Pro today.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Angela — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:31:07 -0000

I think "PC" is sweet in those commercials. Very lovable.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

nope — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:21:57 -0000

I hate the smugness of your post

I mean, seriously, who the hell are you? What makes you qualified to criticize Apple? Who cares what you think? Sounds like you're dealing out a fair bit of smugness yourself.

So, ya, those Apple ads are ADS. Just like Microsoft never mentions the constant crashing and continuous onslaught of viruses in any of their ads, Apple doesn't mention that perhaps you might get in a situation you don't understand in their ads. What a surprise.

At least Apple has a basis for their smugness, you on the other hand, I'm not so sure about.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

James Bailey — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:39:04 -0000

One thing you can do is take a look at the various logs including your console.log and the system.log. Many times there is more information than is presented to the average user. You can find the console application in:

/Applications/Utilities/Console.app

There might also be a specific installation log for the application you are trying to install.

The mere existence of these log files shows that Apple in no way believes that their system and application software never has problems. Don't confuse marketing with engineering.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Bigapple Dick — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:35:26 -0000

Hell yes, go punch a baby get thrown in jail and we can be spared your miserably pathetic rant for now and forever!

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Joe S. — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:07:41 -0000

Do you mean upgrade? Final cut anything is an Apple only product. How do you cross-grade?

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Tedious — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:45:23 -0000

Only nerds, professional IT workers (and only the ones that use MS software exclusively), and people who work for MS-centric publications are offended by these commercials.

In the non-tech press and man-on-the-street interviews, the reception is above-average. The negative buzz they create online is limited to people who have never (and claim they will never) spend money on Apple products - and ad-driven websites that pray for a revival of the Mac vs PC War.

This time it's only being fought by gray-hairs and pizza-faces (aka the "Gamers") and the trolls who tease them.

Remember: Only trolls claim the Mac is more than 95% perfect.

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Steve — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:41:14 -0000

I love the smugness of Apple.

I'll go further, I love the ARROGANCE of Apple - that's what it is most of the time.

When things don't work - you're fairly certain it's your own fault, and it's up to you to figure out the solution - rather than screaming to the heavens that the people who sold you the machine screwed it all up.

So much of my ego is wrapped up in the elite cloud of Mac Zealotry that surrounds me that I REFUSE to let something not work on my Mac. I will make it work (or just declare that it isn't worth doing).

With Windows, I'm usually convinced it's a bug right away and give up because I don't have the slightest bit of my self-image wrapped up in whether or not Windows "just works".

Re: i hate the smugness of apple

Richard — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:40:21 -0000

The ads are what David does to Goliath. If you're with Goliath's crew, you'll find the ads annoying. We David's cheer when they come on.

As for your install, sorry. Macs are computers and sometimes they do fail and sometimes they do frustrate. If you're coming from the PC world, as I suspect you are, you may not yet understand the Macintosh way, which is to not overthink things.

A cross-upgrade? Does this require FCP to recognize the program you're replacing it with? I suggest reinstall the original program, then install FCP.

Best wishes,

Richard Taylor