Harvey's Profile

  • Jun 07, 2011
  • 13
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Latest comments made by: Harvey

  • Chris, one observation about you blog in general: I have read several of your articles in the past, and like this one, they all had a very negative slant towards Apple's products and its users. Yet you've named you site "Apple Matters" which seems to be deceitful. From the content of your writings you are being duplicitous with this title, giving the initial impression that this is a Web site with useful information for users of Apple products. You have snagged me, as well as many other users of Apple products into visiting your site with this deception. It would be more honest for you to rename your site with a title that is more inline with the content and intention of your articles.
    Harvey had this to say on Apr 13, 2011 Posts: 13
    Who do the Underdog Fans Root for Now?
  • Chris, you obviously have no idea why people choose to use Macs or other Apple products. No, it's not to support either an "underdog" or an "overdog". And no, it's not so that they will look cool (although that is a supplementary consequence ;-)). These are examples of the distorted rationales that Windows users mention when they sneer at Mac users... and none of them are valid! Also, saying the reason is "less software infecting them" is a HUGE understatement! And that is one of the reasons why Windows users become Mac users, but it is not the only reason. When people distort the truth about others just to boost themselves, it's indicative of the insecurity they feel over the long term choices they made. If you need to create illusions for yourself to believe, in order to "rationalize" and feel better about your own situation in comparison to others, then it may be time to look more closely at why you need to do this. Mac users, and owners of iPhones and iPads, are happy with the choices they made. There are many surveys and awards which make this very clear. Just one example is the iPhone topping J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey for 4th year in a row. Because Mac users have this high level of satisfaction, productivity, and quality, they are not inclined to waste their time creating false, negative rationales about the users of other platforms... as you do. By voicing your delusions about people who have chosen differently than you, you may be supporting other Windows users in their distorted sense of reality, but it will certainly have no effect on getting Mac users to ever switch to Windows (in fact this type of annoyance has the opposite effect). You have other choices that are open to you. Either be content using the platform or products you have chosen, or (if you are not quite happy) try another platform to see if you may like it better. But just generating fabricated and erroneous rationales about others is a disservice to yourself, and a waste of time.
    Harvey had this to say on Apr 13, 2011 Posts: 13
    Who do the Underdog Fans Root for Now?
  • I use Macs, but I'm not a Mac! It's the idiots at Microsoft who saw Apple's Mac & PC commercials, and just didn't get it. They don't comprehend that Justin Long is acting as an anthropomorphic Mac, and John Hodgeman is an anthropomorphic PC. They literally represent a Mac and a PC. They DO NOT represent Mac and PC users! This is what makes the ads so funny. At no time are Mac users or PC users called "Mac" or "PC". Yet, in Microsoft's commercials they have PC users debase themselves and declare "I'm a PC" as if they are not human beings, but actually machines (which explains a lot about PC users ;-) So, I'm not a Mac. That job is taken by Justin Long in Apple's commercials. I'm a human Mac user, and happy to be one :-)
    Harvey had this to say on May 27, 2009 Posts: 13
    Top 10 Reasons Why I'm a Mac
  • "However, those cheaper PCs aren’t automatically crap." I agree. A cheap PC is a cheap PC. If not much money goes into the components of a PC to be able to sell it for $300 it's not "automatically crap." But the point is that a $300 netbook is not the same animal as a quality notebook. It's OK for e-mail and Web browsing, but you can't run applications like Photoshop on it, or even do video editing. There are people who don't need or can't afford a quality computer, and for them a $300 netbook is just fine. And there are people who do need and can afford a quality computer; for them buying a $300 netbook would be just throwing their money away. So again we are back to pointing out that Apple doesn't make computers for the first group. What I did say was "But the same Windows users who believe that Macs are too expensive will pay twice as much for this inferior crap, simply because they don’t take the time to do a real-world comparison." In this case, if you look at the specs for the Dell notebook, it has a really low end 1.4GHz processor, a slow, low end Intel graphics chip, a 12" Screen, and a cheap plastic case. And yet the price of this Dell notebook is TWICE the price of the 13" MacBook that has a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a fast dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M GPU, a solid aluminum casing, and a multi-touch trackpad (which for most people is more useful than a multi-touch screen). So yes, this Dell notebook is "crap" when you consider that Dell is selling an inferior product for twice the price of the MacBook!
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 11, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • "Read the article again. Take the blinkers off and consider what it is really about. From my very opening statement I am alluding that it’s how they look at it, not you." Yes, we have read the article. If you're point is that some Windows users just want to by the cheapest priced computer without any consideration for what they are getting for the money, then we have all agreed that's true. You can buy a Linux/Windows netbook for about $300, and Apple doesn't make any comparable cheap, low-quality, low performance products. Again, we all agree with that. "The way we should look at the Mac vs PC cost camparson is who's buying. In particular, home users and what's their budget. Mums and dads for example." Yes, agree. But this mentality is changing. Here is one of several examples I know of just in my own circle of family and friends. My friends Sam & Sandy, and their two college-age kids, up until a couple of years ago was a family with 4 Windows PCs. One of their kids replaced their Windows notebook with a MacBook. Shortly after, the other one did also. Now, all 4 of them have their own Macs. Sam tells me often, without prompting, that they will never go back to using Windows PCs again. Your article is entitled "Are Macs More Expensive?", and you write that Windows users believe that Macs ARE more expensive. They believe this because there are no equivalent low-end, el-cheapo Macs to compete in this arena. This is something we can all agree to. All of these comments are not disputing the fact that there is this belief among some Windows users, just as they still believe that Macs only have one mouse-button. It's a mentality... but it's not reality. That is the point we are all making. And this mentality cuts both ways. For example, today on Egadget there is an article (http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/dell-latitude-xt2-multi-touch-tablet-with-11-hour-battery-now-of/) about another highly over-priced Windows computer. It's a 12" Dell notebook with really low-end specs (1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics, etc.) and it starts at $2,399.US! That's TWICE the price of the much better spec'd MacBook!!! But the same Windows users who believe that Macs are too expensive will pay twice as much for this inferior crap, simply because they don't take the time to do a real-world comparison. There are some misconceptions that can't be changed easily. But the point we are all making is that Apple is not in the business of pandering to these people ;-) What we are
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 10, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • Chris wrote: "It’s what MacGlee said about intangibles. Mac folks trying to prove Macs are on par love to throw in the intangibles - the longer expectancy, the software that comes with Macs, the higher quality parts etc." Chris, at this point it just seems like you're having a difficult time accepting reality. You keep going on about Macs being more expensive than equivalent Windows PCs, when it's been shown to you (multiple times) that they are not. Even without considering the "intangibles" you refer to, doing side-by-side comparisons like the one I did with the MacBook, or the article at PC Mech (http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-the-mac-overpriced/) you still are either living in denial, you are having difficulty thinking clearly, or you are just being obstinate in the face of all the facts presented. What is with you? It's your irrational, unjustifiable, absurd attitude that makes me question your lucidity and integrity.
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 10, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • @Chris Howard: "They’re not going to buy the Sony any more than they’ll buy that Mac, UNLESS that’s in the budget they have." As I wrote in my first comment: "This is because Apple makes a limited number of models that don’t compete with the least expensive Windows PCs, nor do they compete with the ultra expensive Windows PCs." People should not be surprised, or complain, that Apple doesn't make $200 netbooks, or $500 notebooks, or even $5,000 gaming machines. Even if Apple wanted to, there is no way that they could have an alternative product for every other Windows PC out in the marketplace. It just isn't feasible. And if they ever tried to be all things to all people it would mean financial ruin for the company. One of the main reasons why Apple is not currently producing cheap computers is because low prices means low quality (something that goes against what Apple products are known for), and it also means low profit margins (which would put Apple in a precarious position financially). In the example I gave, Sony Vaio vs. MacBook, this comparison is valid because they are two similar products. Again, yes there are cheaper (in every way) computers than Apple's. But Apple is not trying to compete with these cheap computers. "But that’s not how many PC users shop." The fact is that there are currently no cheap Macs for those users. The sooner that these Windows users (and Mac users) realize this and stop complaining about it, the sooner they can get on with their lives.
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 05, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • The problem with this ongoing argument is that when someone claims that Macs are more expensive than Windows PCs, the comparisons they give are not Apples to apples, they're usually Apples to potatoes. If you actually configure a name brand Windows PC to a similarly spec'd Mac, the results can be surprising. For example, here is a comparison between the 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook, and the 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Sony Vaio VGN-Z690: Both have: - 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor - 13" LED backlit display - Built-in video camera and microphone - 2 GB DDR3-SDRAM (DDR3-1066, 2GBx1) - 250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm - DVD-RW drive - 1000Base-T Ethernet - 802.11n Wi-Fi - Bluetooth The MacBook outdoes the Vaio with these features: - Faster NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor - Durable aluminum unibody (Vaio is plastic) - DVD-RW drive is slot loading - Keyboard has automatic back-lighting - The MacBook is 0.95" thin (the Vaio is 1" to 1.3" thick) - Multi-Touch trackpad - MagSafe power port And now for the surprise. These are the prices for each of these similarly configured notebooks from the Sony and Apple Web sites, checked today: Sony Vaio VGN-Z690 is $1739.99 US Apple MacBook is $1,599.00 US The MacBook, with better features than the Sony Vaio, is $140.99 LESS!!!
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • If you try to compare a cheap PC to a Mac of course the Mac will always be a lot more expensive. That's like saying that a Toyota Camry is more expensive than a Ford Escort. The fact is that Apple doesn't make bottom-end computers. There are many less expensive Windows PCs than Macs, but it's also true that there are Windows PCs that are much more expensive than Macs (some gamer rigs can cost 3 times as much as a Mac Pro). This is because Apple makes a limited number of models that don't compete with the least expensive Windows PCs, nor do they compete with the ultra expensive Windows PCs. Apple's computers are at a reasonably priced mid-range level. When comparing Macs to similarly featured and configured Windows PCs, all things being equal, Macs are usually no more expensive than a comparably priced Windows PC, or it may end up being slightly more expensive. This is the reality. When you add in the value of the excellent software included in the price of the Mac (e.g. the iLife suite) and the additional savings of not having to buy anti-virus software subscriptions and the down-time caused by Windows malware, Macs are a bargain compared to Windows PCs. But when making an informed, intelligent decision on buying any expensive item (such as a computer or a car) purchase price is not the only factor that we consider. For example reliability. Would you have buy a Toyota Camry if you knew that it wouldn't start some mornings, or it burned more gas than other comparable cars? How much is your time (or frustration) worth per hour to have to reformat your computer and try to recover all of your important files every time you get hit with a Windows virus? How much is it worth to you to know that your identity (credit card numbers, SIN numbers, etc.) isn't being stolen without your knowledge by Windows spyware? Other important factors when buying a computer, a car, or a house are build quality and expected life span. On average Windows computers get replaced every 3 years. The useable life span of a Mac computer is easily twice as long as that of a Windows PC (all of a sudden PCs are a lot more expensive than Macs ;-). For example, I have a Mac that is 10 years old (bought in 1999) that still runs perfectly. It runs the current Mac operating system and all current applications at a reasonable speed. I wonder how many Windows uses have a 10 year old PC, and can it run Windows Vista?
    Harvey had this to say on Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 13
    Are Macs More Expensive?
  • Beeblebrox, you are one of the ignorant people I was referring to. Thanks for proving my point :-) There have been way too many articles written by supposed computer experts that just don't know what they are talking about when referring to Macs. Here is a prime example I found on the Web today. It's one of the many articles by Windows users who continue to propagate the false information about Macs that Windows users believe, simply because they don't know what they are talking about: http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/comment/2235315/becoming-mac-convert-4430368 Mac users know more about not only their own computers, but also about Windows, while Windows users (in general) know nothing about Macs (or they know a lot of false information). The reason is simple. Mac users are either former Windows users, or they are forced to use Windows computers at work. This is why Mac users can compare the Mac experience to the Windows experience, and why they choose to stick with Macs. On the other hand, Windows users in general have had no real first-hand exposure over an extended period using Macs. When they choose to stick with Windows it's usually because they have very little or totally false knowledge of Macs.
    Harvey had this to say on Jan 29, 2009 Posts: 13
    You Mac's Got a Trojan? Ha, Ha!
  • Typo: "Most Mac users I have had contact with know a lot more about the hardware and operating system they use than the Windows user I have known." Should read: "Most Mac users I have had contact with know a lot more about the hardware and operating system they use than the Windows users I have known."
    Harvey had this to say on Jan 28, 2009 Posts: 13
    You Mac's Got a Trojan? Ha, Ha!
  • Wundryn, contrary to your belief that "Apple does a better job, out of the box, of taking care of these users.", Apple does not do any more than Microsoft does in educating it's users about the operating system they are using. My comment about the differences between Mac and Windows users is from experience. Most Mac users I have had contact with know a lot more about the hardware and operating system they use than the Windows user I have known. Most Mac users I know are aware of the difference between a virus and a Trojan, but to most Windows users they are considered to be the same thing. Most Mac users I know understand that you don't install suspicious looking software or respond to email from Nigerian princes.
    Harvey had this to say on Jan 28, 2009 Posts: 13
    You Mac's Got a Trojan? Ha, Ha!
  • Chris, excellent article. These are the same points I've been putting forward every time a Windows user hears about a Mac Trojan and says "see, Macs have viruses just like PCs". The sad fact (and I hate to sound like a PC bigot, but facts are facts) is that in general Windows users seem to be more ignorant about computers and malware than are Mac users. This is ironic considering the deluge of viruses and other malware that Windows users contend with, and accept as a way of life, every day. Because of Mac OS X's UNIX underpinnings we have never had even one virus in the almost ten years that we have been using OS X. And it's highly unlikely that there will ever be one. In contrast, Windows users are affected (and infected) by many thousands of viruses, and new ones are popping up each day. And yet, they totally disregard this "Microsoft tax", even when it means losing the use of their computers and having important files accessed or deleted without their knowledge. And Windows users accuse Mac users of blindly following Apple and not seeing the "light"??? WTF!
    Harvey had this to say on Jan 28, 2009 Posts: 13
    You Mac's Got a Trojan? Ha, Ha!