Thinking about a Mac?
- Thread starter LauraLeigh
- Start date
Since no one has defined intuitive yet, here ya go: readily learned or understood. If the people who have said they've used them, didn't readily learn or understand them, and then claim them to not be as intuitive as everyone proclaims, how are they and their definition of intuitive wrong? I don't think they are all that intuitive for a first time user. I was completely lost when I first used one, and until you have all the shortcuts memorized, there are a lot of things that don't really make sense. They're great once you know how to navigate through everything, but I wouldn't really qualify needing someone to show you as being intuitive. No one's really explained why they are, just that those saying they aren't are wrong.
The reason they are more intuitive for me?
Because the first time I sat down with one, I was able to look at the thing and use it effectively. Sure, there are a few shortcuts, but I went directly to them without having to pull down a help menu or look at a manual. Anything that wasn't obvious, a quick moment's thought led me right to without fumbling through trial and error.
Getting used to a Windows machine was like learning to ride a bicycle. Getting used to a Mac was like 'learning' to blink. Maybe it's a left/right brain thing . . . but I'm not a good judge of that since I'm one of those 50/50 people, lol.
Because the first time I sat down with one, I was able to look at the thing and use it effectively. Sure, there are a few shortcuts, but I went directly to them without having to pull down a help menu or look at a manual. Anything that wasn't obvious, a quick moment's thought led me right to without fumbling through trial and error.
Getting used to a Windows machine was like learning to ride a bicycle. Getting used to a Mac was like 'learning' to blink. Maybe it's a left/right brain thing . . . but I'm not a good judge of that since I'm one of those 50/50 people, lol.
Such as? You can sit down at a windows machine and use it effectively. Turn it on, log in, go to the browser (or word processor, whatever you want to do). It has a clear button labeled 'Start' to get you going, labels where the programs are, you can right click to get most of the functions you need.
I'm not seeing how a Mac is more intuitive. Hell if stuff is already out on the desktop on a windows machine just double click it (or right click and select open) and you don't even need go 'fumble' through a menu of any sort other than 10 lines of options trying to read which one says 'Open', which takes about .2 seconds to figure out since it's the very first option.
I'm not seeing how a Mac is more intuitive. Hell if stuff is already out on the desktop on a windows machine just double click it (or right click and select open) and you don't even need go 'fumble' through a menu of any sort other than 10 lines of options trying to read which one says 'Open', which takes about .2 seconds to figure out since it's the very first option.
I love how we actually had someone (my hubby) with vast experiences with BOTH machines come and offer insight and the only complaints PC users can come up with are regarding the necessity to use a different button for the purpose of copy and paste, the mice, and the inability to properly drag an icon to a folder. Even with my lack of computer knowledge, I am able to see the difference between lack of user intuition and machine failure and even I can appreciate the humor from this thread. 
Here's what I've observed in this thread: it seems that women, being more intuitive creatures, appear to overwhelmingly prefer working on a Mac, while the men, being creatures of habit who are often loathe to make changes, ask directions (preferring to muddle on until hopelessly lost), or try new things unless it involves sex, prefer Windows.
Desktop = Dashboard. It ain't hard unless you WANT it to be.
You like your Windows. Keep it. Having worked on so many different systems, DOS, Windows (everything from 3.1 up), a little Linux, and Apple, the Apple system, which Windows was pirated from originally, is the one that, for me, is far and away superior.
I hope people keep using Windows machines. There are a helluva lot of techs and support people who make a very good living off of them . . . some of them are good friends
You like your Windows. Keep it. Having worked on so many different systems, DOS, Windows (everything from 3.1 up), a little Linux, and Apple, the Apple system, which Windows was pirated from originally, is the one that, for me, is far and away superior.
I hope people keep using Windows machines. There are a helluva lot of techs and support people who make a very good living off of them . . . some of them are good friends
So am I. I still don't think one is better than the other. I had no idea you had to drag things to the recycle bin to eject them. I had no idea that to open the CD tray you had to hit a button on the keyboard. I had no idea how to right click. There are a lot of things you aren't going to instantly "know," no matter how much anyone argues that you just will. Holding down the icon in the dock to force quit? How does one simply "know" that?
I don't know how anyone can say that if you sat someone in front of a Windows machine they'd be lost and confused, but hand them a Mac, and everything "just makes sense."
I still don't think one is better than the other. I had no idea you had to drag things to the recycle bin to eject them. I had no idea that to open the CD tray you had to hit a button on the keyboard. I had no idea how to right click. There are a lot of things you aren't going to instantly "know," no matter how much anyone argues that you just will. Holding down the icon in the dock to force quit? How does one simply "know" that?I don't know how anyone can say that if you sat someone in front of a Windows machine they'd be lost and confused, but hand them a Mac, and everything "just makes sense."
What? Is it called a Dashboard on an Apple? I never said Apple didn't have an equivalent to a Desktop. I know they do. Have had for several years. I'm saying it's no more intuitive to click an icon on an Apple then it is to click one on a Windows machine.
And I'm still wanting explanations as to why it is more intuitive to use an Apple. Truly I do, I want to understand what draws ya'll to an Apple other than the marketing. You say it's easier, but how? Why? What makes it so? What can't ya'll do on Windows that you can on a Mac?
But like I said I'm going to the computer center later today and will use a Mac to do all my computer related work and we'll see if I instantly gain the knowledge of the machine upon resting fingers on the keyboard. Just give me some things ya'll think would be hard to do on Windows but not on a Mac.
This is what I'm wanting to know. Why it just 'makes sense'. Not just that it 'does' but in what ways. And not just because the commercials tell you it does. I already get enough of that from my cousin who, the sole reason he bought a Mac, was to buy into the 'life style' and 'trendiness' of it (his words, not mine). Like buying a Harley. Same machine for twice the price, just has better marketing behind it.
And I'm still wanting explanations as to why it is more intuitive to use an Apple. Truly I do, I want to understand what draws ya'll to an Apple other than the marketing. You say it's easier, but how? Why? What makes it so? What can't ya'll do on Windows that you can on a Mac?
But like I said I'm going to the computer center later today and will use a Mac to do all my computer related work and we'll see if I instantly gain the knowledge of the machine upon resting fingers on the keyboard. Just give me some things ya'll think would be hard to do on Windows but not on a Mac.
This is what I'm wanting to know. Why it just 'makes sense'. Not just that it 'does' but in what ways. And not just because the commercials tell you it does. I already get enough of that from my cousin who, the sole reason he bought a Mac, was to buy into the 'life style' and 'trendiness' of it (his words, not mine). Like buying a Harley. Same machine for twice the price, just has better marketing behind it.
Sorry, I can't let this drop just yet.
The one thing I can think of that definitely makes Mac better than a Windows machine is that Mac OS gets better with time whereas Windows........ well just look at Vista. It's a disaster. Even my PC-loving friends hate Vista. And now you can't buy a new PC without getting Vista.
Mac works to recognize its faults and fix them with their newest OS. Microsoft seems to recognize its faults and add more programs to get around them. That's just how it seems to me.
You Windows users - do you seriously never have problems with your computer freezing up on you? Granted, I love to multitask, so I frequently have multiple windows open and try to make multiple programs work at the same time. But I can do that just fine on my Mac. Why does Windows freeze up? I'll admit that I'm impatient. I don't want to wait for things to load before I get to use them. I want to click on things as things appear that I can click on and if it's not instant I get frustrated. It takes NO time for my Mac programs to open so I can use them.
The one thing I can think of that definitely makes Mac better than a Windows machine is that Mac OS gets better with time whereas Windows........ well just look at Vista. It's a disaster. Even my PC-loving friends hate Vista. And now you can't buy a new PC without getting Vista.
Mac works to recognize its faults and fix them with their newest OS. Microsoft seems to recognize its faults and add more programs to get around them. That's just how it seems to me.
You Windows users - do you seriously never have problems with your computer freezing up on you? Granted, I love to multitask, so I frequently have multiple windows open and try to make multiple programs work at the same time. But I can do that just fine on my Mac. Why does Windows freeze up? I'll admit that I'm impatient. I don't want to wait for things to load before I get to use them. I want to click on things as things appear that I can click on and if it's not instant I get frustrated. It takes NO time for my Mac programs to open so I can use them.
We have 3 macs and a pc right now...
The pc is newer than all 3 macs. The pc is already having to go in for repairs. This is a pc that barely ever sees the internet and has all the latest spyware/stuff on it as we got it put on right when we bought it.
My roommate got a pc at christmas- brand new and already been gone a month for being faulty. They had to ship it back because it was having so many problems and it took weeks to get it back in.
My other roomie and I both have macbooks that are older than the pc.... absolutely problem free so far.
Every single person I know with a mac absolutely loves it- that should tell you something there. Mine does everything I need it to reliably. Unless I was a serious pc gamer, I'd definitely go for a mac. My Toshiba before was pretty reliable until it just went dead this year (RIP).
The pc is newer than all 3 macs. The pc is already having to go in for repairs. This is a pc that barely ever sees the internet and has all the latest spyware/stuff on it as we got it put on right when we bought it.
My roommate got a pc at christmas- brand new and already been gone a month for being faulty. They had to ship it back because it was having so many problems and it took weeks to get it back in.
My other roomie and I both have macbooks that are older than the pc.... absolutely problem free so far.
Every single person I know with a mac absolutely loves it- that should tell you something there. Mine does everything I need it to reliably. Unless I was a serious pc gamer, I'd definitely go for a mac. My Toshiba before was pretty reliable until it just went dead this year (RIP).
I am not in on the Mac vs PC debate, but I can give an opinion on Vista........yes it sucks. I had my husband strip it off my new dell and replace it with XP. I don't like attempting to defend Vista, but Windows was sick of hearing about security issues and thought Vista would be the cure They just went about it bass ackwards.
I can answer honest to goodness NO I NEVER have issues with my computer freezing up..........NEVER. I have had MSN messenger freeze up, but that had nothing to do with my computer as it was happening to friends online at the same time as well.
They just went about it bass ackwards. I can answer honest to goodness NO I NEVER have issues with my computer freezing up..........NEVER. I have had MSN messenger freeze up, but that had nothing to do with my computer as it was happening to friends online at the same time as well.
Do you never have problems with your Mac freezing on you?
Yes, my PC has frozen. At least, I assume it would have eventually. My kitten walked across the keyboard and managed to open IE 122 times. I wasn't about to sit around and wait just to see if it would eventually freeze. Other than that, no, I don't have issues. Can't comment on Vista as I've never used it.
Yes, my PC has frozen. At least, I assume it would have eventually. My kitten walked across the keyboard and managed to open IE 122 times. I wasn't about to sit around and wait just to see if it would eventually freeze. Other than that, no, I don't have issues. Can't comment on Vista as I've never used it.
Again, not trying to add fuel to the holy way, but to answer the "freezing" question, no, I don't have problems with machines freezing. Not even a little bit. Sorry, that's not true. On my Macs I do. The two Macs in my office freeze even doing simple stuff like trying to browse to a website or trying to eject a DVD.
Just my experience.
Just my experience.