There are over a dozen people working at our fair Gizmodo, but as a Windows user, I’m in a definite minority. I still rock XP, and I’m pretty happy with that. Why haven’t I switched to Macs? Plenty of reasons, not least of which being that I’m just too smart to switch to a Mac. That’s right, I’m too smart for Macs. As Bill Gates’s retirement rapidly approaches I figured now is a good time to lay out why I’m loyal to his OS.
I grew up with Windows. Although my first computer was a Mac Classic (I was like 3 at the time, and I only used it to play that helicopter game where you have to drop the little man into the horse-drawn hay carriage), I’ve been using Windows PCs for nearly my entire life, learning how to fiddle with the command prompt in DOS and dealing with the rudimentary pile of crap that was Windows 3.1. I survived Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME for a short, painful time, Windows 2000 and now, finally, Windows XP. It hasn’t always been pretty (see: Windows ME), but through it all I’ve figured out every little trick there is to know about running Windows. I’m a monster on Windows.
And yeah, while some of those earlier versions were essentially garbage, running Mac as your OS wasn’t all that great a choice either, especially before OS X came out. Yes, fanboys, I know you love your Macs and everything, but come on: The OS never really came into its own as a real competitor to Windows until 2001. By then, it was too late for me.
And while I used to be pretty into PC gaming, the whole no-good-games-on-Macs thing doesn’t bother me so much anymore. It’s just that to me, when it comes down to it, the PC just feels more logical. Windows is an OS that feels structured and it makes sense just because I’m used to them. Macs feel more nebulous and more dumbed down, like the corners have been softened to not intimidate your mum when she uses your computer. Well, I like having the corners exposed. I like tinkering in the registry to improve performance, I like being able to really tweak the system at the base level. Windows has its engine exposed, and while it might not always be pretty, if you know what you’re doing you really have access to the whole thing. And hardware choices are choices I cherish as are access to plenty of apps. Apple takes pride in hiding everything under the rug and keeping it out of your hands to not let you mess it up. I don’t need kid gloves.
Furthermore, beyond the OS itself, I hate the cult of personality that surrounds Steve Jobs. I like the soon-to-be-retired Bill Gates way more than Steve Jobs, because the guy cares about more than just making enough money to build a castle for himself out of stacks of $100 bills (not that Bill can’t do that). Bill Gates is going to be remembered for seriously impacting the global health climate for the better. After all, the Nobel Prize is named after the dude who invented TNT, but his name is invoked a lot more often for encouraging advancements in science, literature and peace. And chances are, if the Gates Foundation keeps chugging along, Gates may even win a Nobel. Steve Jobs, on the other hand, just makes pretty plastic objects, and when it comes down to it, he seems like kind of a greedy dick. I’m more than happy to not give him any more money.
And you know what? Macs are too hip. Oh, look at me! I do graphic design! I wear women’s jeans and hang out in coffee shops! I’m a DJ! Well good for you. My computer is not a fashion statement. It’s a computer.
But really, when it comes down to it, the main reason I still use Windows is this: I’m stubborn and lazy. I don’t want to switch because it will amount to admitting that I’ve been wrong for the last 15 years or so. And it would be just a huge pain to do it even if I swallowed my pride, having to relearn all the shortcuts and commands and little nuances that make an OS tick. I know all those for Windows already. I am just far too lazy to relearn OS X, and I don’t care how easy you claim it is. I’ve made my choice, and I’m sticking by it. At least until I buy my next computer, because I sure as hell don’t want to have to use Vista. I mean, I like Windows, but I’m not crazy.
feral
June 26, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Fair comments, I must have been the only person who never had any issues with Win ME.
That being said, I did get an old Imac g3 last year so I could have a geezer at 10.4. Still, haven’t done it yet..
Report PermalinkAli
June 26, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Nice article …
Way to windows :D
I am a wondows user whole my life but now i was thinking abt changing to mac but ur article get me thinking again …
Report PermalinkMM
June 26, 2008 at 3:11 PM
The title of this article should be: “Why I still use Windows even though I clearly admit at the end of this article that OS X is better in almost every way”
Report PermalinkIan
June 26, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Macs feel more nebulous and more dumbed down, like the corners have been softened to not intimidate your mum when she uses your computer. Well, I like having the corners exposed
It’s not dumbed down. It’s “easier”. Mac OS is one of the most powerful OS’s out there – partly due to it’s Unix core.
The ‘corners’ are there, they’re just not shown so Joe Average can use the computer.
I had further reason just recently to stay with Macs: A friend purchased a Toshiba Laptop. After (no kidding) an hour of reboots, he was finally able to use his computer. It literally took an hour for the computer would configure itself! I can get working with a Mac within 5 minutes of the very first boot-up.
I could *never* go back to PC’s! Although, I do make a lot of money fixing them – they are good for something ;)
Report PermalinkStew
June 26, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Took the words right out of my mouth. Pretty much my exact reasons.
* I like tinkering in the OS
* I like being able to update my hardware
* I hate the Steve Jobs cult, & the wankery like “I’m so cool I bought a mac”. Computers are functional. Not fashion statements.
* Games (not so much any more though) plus other software
* Apple products cost so much more (eg. Dell 24″ 1/2 the price of Apple 24″ Cinema display – the exact same panel was used it both & the Apple had bugger all inputs)
I’m no fanboy. OS X is nice and all. I’ve had my problems with WinXP (& previous versions).
Exposed edges, ability to tinker, lack of supposed “coolness”, PRICE! FTW.
Report Permalinkrangott
June 26, 2008 at 5:54 PM
oh come on, im sick of hearing bitching about Vista. I admit it was rubbish at first but now its great. I will admit again there isnt much reason to upgrade unless your a serious gamer.
As for Ians comments about about the toshiba laptops problems, my girlfriend bought one as well it had the same problems but after I formatted it and changed the bios it boots in about 2 mins, my computer is booted and ready to use in under a minute.
Thats the real beauty of vista and high end machines.
Im a film student and constantly battling the mac fanboys about which is superior for film. So far the only reason mac might be better is apple pro res codecs other than that, the price of macs are enough to put me off forever.
Report PermalinkWok
June 26, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Windows, because almost everyone still uses it.
Vista because it is the best version of Windows (although admittedly not that much better than XP).
Report PermalinkSteve
June 27, 2008 at 9:25 AM
classic article! yeah, i use a mac, and have done so for many year, plus, convinced a few others to make the switch… well, they made it due to seeing how easy everything was on a mac.
i guess if you’re XP savvy, then you are gonna love it.. perhaps! But in my experience, those who tinker under the hood on XP machines are the ones stuck in the homes and not in the office where i believe OS X shines. I Laugh at my firends who’ve ‘tinkered’ their XP boxes but won’t let anyone near them… OS X is fullproof, idiot proof and perhaps bullet proof! no need to tinker!
Report Permalinksp0radic
June 27, 2008 at 9:40 PM
That’s a pretty dumb article with some bad logic. It doesn’t make too much sense. It seems to be written by someone who doesn’t understand computers. Quite annoying.
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