The downsides of buying a new Mac

On a Windows computer, you really only need to install backup software and quite possibly a third party browser. Of course many people (myself included) will install other software too, but you don't have to do that.

 

You don't even need to do that. Windows has backup and recovery features built in - and they work. And Windows has Edge and (for now) IE built in. It even has an email client, basic word processor, disk cleanup, defragging and SSD optimization tools.

IMO, one Windows greatest assets, by far, is (1) its flexibility that gives user the ability to use or not use those features as we see fit. And (2) the vast number of compatible (and affordable) aftermarket alternatives we have available to us.

I fail to see how claiming you didn't install any additional programs is supposed to suggest the iMac is somehow superior. That just makes no sense.To me, it is a testament to the amount of bloat it has preinstalled.

Does it include for free a full blown word processor? Spreadsheet program? CAD/CAE program? Music or video editor? Does it include all the games (and titles) you would ever want? No? Then it must be a lousy computer!

I would also point out extra programs often foisted on computers by computer makers that buyers don't want and would never use is a major complaint for many buyers and exactly why many of us build our own systems.

 

Slightly OT, but one Windows machine I had refused to boot quite often and regularly resulted in a BSOD. Even from a clean install of Win10 1809. Since installing Linux Mint it has performed perfectly and without any problems.

Is Windows that refined? I suggest not for all hardware.

Just an FYI.

 

And since I'm sure you'll ask, although I can't see the relevance, it came with a HDD with Windows 8.1 installed. It worked fine running 1709 but had major issues running anything newer. That HDD has since been replaced with a SSD and the RAM has been upgraded to 8GB.

As I mentioned, running Linux Mint it runs flawlessly.

Again, just a personal observation on one particular machine.

 

Right.
Many of the usual complains about PCs with Windows pre installed have to do not with the OS but with the crap that comes attached.
I remember a friend with a Sony Vaio laptop coming to me for help because the machine was so slow to the point of being unusable. I only had to use Autoruns and after 15 minutes of careful unchecking boxes, reboot and... magic! A totally new experience.

 

All that tells me is some hardware maker failed to develop properly, a compatible driver. There are 100s if not 1000s of different hardware makers making 1000s and 1000s of different products for Windows machines. Are you seriously going to pin your sample of one on Microsoft and Windows? Does your sample of one make the point moot that more than 1.5 billion Windows users have no such problems?

 

Make it two samples then Bill.

I had exactly same problem. After update about over month now, BSOD. Tried all recovery options. None worked.
And this from laptop of 4 months old with W10 Home preinstalled.
Seriously, Microsoft testing has gone downhill.

It's almost as bad as in old W95 days ...

 

Two out of 100s of millions. That settles it then.

 

You can't do a full system backup natively in Windows 10, only in 7 and 8.1.

That's why I said "quite possibly." Edge works very well, but many people prefer to use Chrome or Firefox. Whenever I install Windows 10 on and old Core 2 Duo computer, I'm really impressed by how fast Edge is.

I don't use Windows Defender and only use Edge occasionally, as I prefer alternatives. But of course, you don't have to do that, as both WD and Edge work very well.

 

Personally, I have "high" hopes that Edge-Chromium will be a worthy opponent to Chrome one day. I've always disliked Edge/IE since they were always behind Fx/Chrome. Having such a useless default web browser is pretty unforgivable, IMO.

 

Come on Bill, be honest, surf the net and you will see how many issues threads are opened daily, and that is only those reporting and complaining about it, i don't count those who even don't realize or care something is faulty.
When I had my computer repair shop, I have couple of dozen of customers a week with Windows issues, even some with newly bought machines.

Of course there is tons of happy users but that doesn't mean those having issues brought it upon themselves, Windows is far for being reliable out of the box, way less than the other OSes.
And that is tragic because MS have the resources to make it right, im a Q&A, I know MS can do way better than that.

 

WDAG has been broken on my desktop for over a year now. I've reported it on the Feedback hub, and they've responded that they are "Looking into it"

That was 4 months ago, still broken and no more responses.

 

For me it is Core Isolation - Memory Integrity, it is enabled by default right after a totally clean installation of Win10, i can't turn it off, and it denies me the use of some software...Totally scandalous...
And this happened on 2 different machines, so not a circumstantial bug.
MS keep adding half-baked/tested features that no one asked and can't even made them work properly.

 

Yep ... very few downsides to buying a new Mac ...

 

OMG! I updated my Mac today to Version 10.14.4. No Problems. Same as all the other updates I've downloaded and installed.

 

New $1,300 iMacs come with 5,400 RPM hard drives.

Is new iMac trash?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wICIuHK4-E

 

Yes, it's so nice to leave the Russian roulette of Bork Tuesday behind.

 

LOL

 

Good one.

 

Sure you can. While the feature is marked for deprecation, for now it's still in there and likely won't simply be dropped without a replacement.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-make-full-backup-windows-10

That said, there certainly are more feature rich backup utilities out there. I like Macrium Reflect.

For sure. I have Pale Moon as my default and Chrome as my secondary. As for Edge, sadly, Microsoft really blew it when W10 and Edge first came out. Edge clearly was unfinished and pushed out way before being ready. So users abandoned it from the start and unfortunately, humans tend to hold a grudge so many are not even willing to give it try again, even though Microsoft has been working hard to make it a viable contender. I agree with you that Edge is fast and there have been many other improvements since first released too. If I was trying it for the first time today, I might stick with it. But I'm "used to" Pale Moon now and it is also human nature to prefer the status quo and stick with what we are used to.

Come on, you be honest. There are over 1.5 billion Windows users with over 700 million using Windows 10. If even 1% of W10 users had problems (and 99% success is a fantastic rate in any industry), that would be 7 million failures. Where are they?

You go ahead and search the net as you propose. Are you finding 100s? 1000s? Or just a hand full that are "opened daily"? And of those opened daily, are they really because Windows itself was at fault?

BTW, of the 24 "New Posts" on this site for today, how many are from users having a problem with Windows? None!

Apple has the HUGE advantage of being so proprietary and so in control over everything associated with their systems. But that drastically limits the flexibility and options provided to users. If you don't mind being so locked into what Apple says you can do with your system, then that's fine! But the fact is, that confinement is totally unacceptable to most Windows users.

One of Windows greatest assets is its flexibility.
One of Windows greatest liabilities is its flexibility.

Do note, as seen via the link in my sig, that's I've been at this and have had a shop for awhile too. And what I find sad about your comment is you suggest (1) Apple systems don't have problems, (2) that all Windows computer problems are Windows/Microsoft's fault and (3) that all Windows are the same. The fact is Windows 10 IS very reliable IF users would quit dinking with the default settings. So yes, many (but certainly NOT all) problems are self-induced. But many are caused by 3rd party apps and drivers too. And despite your claims, even with Microsoft's deep pockets, they do NOT have control over 3rd party apps and drivers. They can publish the standards and protocols, but they cannot force 3rd party makers to comply.

Windows has nearly 90% of the market share. Mac OS less than 10%. Of course there will be more Windows systems with problems. But another issue that skews the appearance of things is, where do Apple buyers take their computers for repair? They basically have NO CHOICE but to take them only to authorized Apple repair centers where they basically have NO CHOICE but to replace the parts ONLY with Apple branded parts. I say basically because they can go elsewhere - but that will void their warranty.

What I think is really sad is how Apple supporters primary defense tactic for choosing Apple is to trash Microsoft instead of touting the advantages of the Apple. Oh well.

Wow! And just an i3 too.

 

Found another downside. Apple is scheduled to go 64 bit only on the next Mac OS Upgrade. Games that were purchased (or free) in 32 bit will no longer work if the developers do not upgrade their 32 bit games to 64 bit. I don't see any movement of the developers in the games I have in moving to 64 bit. I've went on their forums and it's silence. So it looks like I'll be losing the following games:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436

 

Wow, that is sad. Typically 32-bit software works just fine on 64-bit systems. It won't be able to take full advantage of the 64-bit hardware, but with many apps, that does not matter.

 

Bork Tuesday shouldn't have to be endured by anyone!

 

@Bill_Bright did you read my case?

Clean install of latest Win10 on 2 machines, in both Core Isolation get enabled by default without the possibility to turn it off, making impossible to install my security soft i paid for.
Do you think it is normal?

My problem is not that Windows has bugs, but they keep pushing half-baked features no one asked that introduce more issues while old ones aren't even fixed and old features are not optimized/improved .

I install Linux MX, all works out of the box, no issues...

Yes call me biased...

Note: personally I don't like Apple.

 

Thanks for the link, I had no idea that it had not been removed.

I have one computer running Windows 10 which has issues with updates. They fail to download, and prior to this happening it could download and install updates but new builds of Windows 10 would fail to install. At least it would roll back any changes, after the failed attempt to install a new build. However that computer has seen a lot of abuse and has issues with Windows, which would be fixed with a clean install.

On all of my other computers, no matter what version of Windows I'm using, updates simply work and don't ever cause issues. The same applies to new builds of Windows 10. I never wait for feedback on updates to see if there are any potential issues, I just install every update, as I know it would be extrememely unlikely for an update to ever cause issues.

That obviously is not your experience and I certainly can understand your frustration with Windows, but it is not mine. It seems that posters on security forums have more issues with updates than most people do. Quite possibly security software or tweaks to harden the system are the cause.