IBM: ‘Mac users are happier and more productive’ ...the employees who use Macs are more likely to stay at the company November 12, 2019 https://www.computerworld.com/article/3452847/ibm-mac-users-are-happier-and-more-productive.html
Can't help but think this smacks a bit of Apple fanboyism. For what I have my Mac for, I'm pretty happy, but I'm happy on other platforms for what they do too. They've all got things that can be a little annoying (except I wouldn't touch W10 with a bargepole) but ultimately they're tools to be used.
I've had the misfortune of using Macs before and I'm much happier using Windows. I find using macOS to be an extremely frustrating experience, as it seems that very little thought has been put into its design, unlike Windows. Before I used Macs, I honestly believed that they would be much better than PCs. But I was wrong. Of course, the above is just my own opinion. I'd much rather use Vista, than macOS. But, to put that in context, I love Vista and think it was one of the best operating systems that Microsoft ever released.
Macs are a lot more expensive than Windows with similar hardware, which it's not a negligible difference. I have never had a Mac, therefore I can't tell what my own level of happiness would be using one, but statistics as flawed as they can be, do give an idea of what's popular and what people choose to buy. This is coming from Apple itself: "Apple reveals Windows 10 is four times more popular than the Mac" and that was back in 2017 https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/4/15176766/apple-microsoft-windows-10-vs-mac-users-figures-stats I'm with Roger I liked Vista a lot, and even though there is a lot of controversy about Windows 10 I can't imagine switching to Apple, as Windows is getting better with every new upgrade (my own experience of course)
I had the misfortune of using Vista (which had more bugs than a rainforest) and I'd rather walk up the M1 with nails in my boots than go back to Windows. I'm with IBM on this; Mac's rock!
I have a close friend who works for IBM and he was one of those who used Windows for most of his life (personal systems, while at university and at his place of employment). He is well acquainted with the IBM corporate culture ( a long and winding road with a few speed bumps to boot), however he was not surprised when IBM IT offered him a choice, MAC or PC. He chose the MAC and confessed to me that it was more out of curiosity than anything else. He is now a convert. He tells me that the MAC is gaining a foothold in his department (they are all analysts). It seems to me that the enterprise environment is pursuing the 'less drama, the better' approach and maybe that is what the MAC has over the PC.
I used a Mac before I ever used Windows. Although using Windows was unavoidable at work, I always thought it was slumming it compared to Mac. At home I've now switched to Unix, including macOS and Ubuntu. I feel liberated.
Maybe they are happier in general because if you can afford a Mac you have more money than others? The few people where I work that use Macs are the ones most likely to come to me with IT requests. No offense intended, use what you like, but I just don't see it.
I'm not buying the elitist argument. I may have got 86Gb of RAM more and a trillion Gb of memory with equivalent hardware running Windows, but I don't need it. My iMac was reasonably priced and I could have spent the same on a Windows machine. I'm happier because I prefer Mac and I believe it to be a better operating system. De gustibus non est disputandum.
I think there are many variables at play. Maybe these people have higher salary? Maybe they work in different department, have different tasks, responsibilities?
Likely. Where I work it is the boss and his family that use the Macs. They obviously have more money than the rest of us and their duties on the computer are way less than most of the staff.
At the end of the article there's this: And to me it's nuff said, this is just a piece of publicity/propaganda.
I do not think the article was propaganda. It referenced IBM's productivity findings re: MAC v PC, which was not especially of a misleading nature. He also highlighted the purpose of the conference. IMO, the writer was not trying to promote a particular cause or point of view.
I bought a "27 iMac last spring. I already had Apple TV, iPhone, Apple watch and iPad so I though: why not a Apple computer too? I sold it a couple of months later (lost about $700 since I wanted to get rid of it fast and buy a big expensive monitor instead. Gotta love the second hand market on Apple products!) I just couldn't feel the joy I feel when I use Linux, or Windows (gaming) for that matter. Sure, the screen quality was spectacular, awesome! (why the hell isnt 5K bigger on PC?) but I felt too restricted with Mac. I for one wasn't happy with it.
"Developers love Macs": https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/why-programmers-think-mac-os-x-is-best-os-use-3638706/ (but more developers use Windows these days: https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#technology-_-developers-primary-operating-systems)
I still think using words such as "happier" is trying to evoke a this vs that argument. I guess there are many different reasons why people choose what they choose. The ONLY reason I have a Mac is one piece of software I use. That's it. The only alternative is to jump ship and use software that's cross platform but I don't want the learning curve and I've grown up with this software so I'm locked in to Apple. My old G4 is still working (only just). Like many others was waiting for the new MacPro cheese grater but already done my rant about that. Love the form factor but don't need the upgradable options which make this thing prohibitively expensive, or indeed unnecessary for some. Needed to upgrade and went for 2019 27" iMac custom build earlier this year, upgraded the RAM myself and shot for the best processor, and got SSD not fusion drive. Pretty happy so far. The screen is amazing. NO thermal throttling. The dark mode and night viewing options are a real plus to me. What I don't like are the 1/2 neutered help files that want an internet connection, which for a pro app is just plain stupid. (Complained to apple about this so I hope they fix it) I like to work offline and I don't like that I've had to go through a raft of settings to stop the phone home behavior. I'm under no illusions that M$ has their "version" of phone home behavior so they're just as bad as one another. I like OSes that offer more privacy so I've started heading in the Linux direction for online stuff.
AppleTV and iPhone here also, they are both preferable to me versus similarly priced android based products I've owned, and looking at a new desktop too. I've narrowed down the only reason for me to get a Mac is for airplay to the ATV and VLC 4.0 has airplay coming so there goes that. I can get much better performing hardware for the same money and run Linux instead. Apple's dedication to Intel for desktops is proving to be a poor choice. I can run MacOS via vmware on Linux too from what I understand though I haven't tried it yet.
