The Debate Rages

Web Extra

March 2008 Issue

Our advocate for Apple and protector of PCs continued their debate of who’s box is best in a flurry of e-mails. Here is what they wrote:

Ben Stevens: In looking over Rick's paper, there are a few items that I think need to be reworded or clarified.

Hardware. Rick states that you can only buy Apple products in the Apple store. While that is true for the computers, it is not true for printers and other peripherals, as they sell those for many different brands. More importantly, his statement about having to buy new hard drives from Apple is just plain wrong. As long as you get the right size, you can buy third-party hard drives (and RAM) and easily insert them into Macs if you want/need to do so.

Word Processing. WordPerfect is no longer available for the Mac and won't run under OS X, which is a PC advantage to some/many. However, NeoOffice will open .wpd documents and can save its documents in .wpd format.

The best. I think that Rick's statement that PCs that compare to the MBAir are available for under $1,000 is wrong. I have a post going up next week on my blog that discusses an article at AppleInsider that compares the MacBook air to offerings from Sony, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Asus, and there is a chart that lists these feature-by-feature and cost-by-cost—you can view the chart here.

Rick Georges: In fact, the MacBook Air's battery and hard drive can't be replaced, except by Apple. See this article.

I have no objection to editing to make clear that only Apple computers can be bought at Apple stores. Actually, peripherals, and even some Apple computers, can be bought at many stores. However, the choice of models is limited to Apple manufacture. The MacBook Air also doesn't have a network port. It's USB port won't take a USB EvDO modem, etc.

As for being too expensive, check out this link for a discussion of MacBook Air prices. The comparison chart is loaded with false comparison. One computer has 2 Gigs of memory, another 1 Gig. Price comparisons depend on many factors.

Georges: Oh, yes. And my comment says comparable "features." The comparison chart only lists "ultra-lights." The specs are less than I have on my 3-pound Dell D430, which I bought for $1,000. If you use Ben's chart, make clear that comparable features are available in many notebook computers that may not be as thin or pretty or light.

Stevens: On the battery, this article shows that it can be replaced by users and how easy it is.

I agree that price comparisons are tricky to make sure that you're comparing apples to apples, which we're not here since it’s Macs vs. PCs. However, the chart that I referenced in my blog article compares ultra-light notebooks, which is what the MBAir is. I only wanted to be sure that you're comparing ultra-lights to ultra-lights and to a "normal" notebook ... maybe simply using some language, such as "somewhat comparable" would be fine to make clear that they are not identical.

On the network port issue, that is an issue for some but not for others. My MacBook and its predecessor (PowerBook) both have network ports that have never ever been used by me. I connect to my network wirelessly at home and work.

Rick, thanks for your hard work on this project. I thought that your article looked great and that you made some good points (considering that you're advocating an inferior product, LOL).

Georges: It was fun. However, keep in mind that 95 percent of the readers will be using PCs. So, I suggest that the ads on my website will get a lot more traffic. LOL.

Georges: BTW, keep in mind that the battery replacement solution you advocate will void the Apple warranty. That is one of my primary objections to Apple, anyway. They are always trying to keep you in-house so they can make more money. That is offensive to me.

Stevens: I'm not advocating doing the battery change yourself, but merely pointing out that it is possible. Again, the MBAir has only been announced for a week or so and it is only now being shipped, so let's not be too harsh that some of those policies are still in flux.

Also, my actual experience w/Apple's support is contrary to that. The AppleCare plans are very reasonably priced, and when you have a problem, they pay shipping both ways, and the longest we've had a computer gone (door to door) is 48 hours. Most repairs can be made in the Apple Stores, but I'm not very close to one. Point being, they don't make more money by handling their repairs that way. ...

Georges: Please. Apple is about profit. As soon as the video you refer to went up, Apple was screaming, and it was redacted. Harsh? It is impossible to be too harsh with this arrogant, greedy company. LOL.

Stevens: Surely you're not trying to say that Microsoft is any better? Don't get me started. ... Let's just agree to disagree :o)

Comments

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Posted by Ernie - Feb 28, 2008 01:11 pm CDT

Rick offers two points in favor of Windows that I find interesting. (1) It’s better because it has wider adoption, and (2) the cost of switching to a Mac would be too great. Yet, he continues to use WordPerfect (which now has about the same market share as Macs) because it is ‘superior to Microsoft Word’. Face it: you don’t want to change and so—as is typical of people in that situation—you rationalize why their is no need for change. I get the same reaction from people when I tell them that they should learn to live with less paper and take up scanning. They don’t know digital information but yet the staunchly maintain that paper is better than digital information. BTW, I posted my own take on this debate at my ‘Ernie the Attorney’ blog.
Posted by Mac regrets - Mar 3, 2008 03:27 pm CDT

The most important difference was not mentioned in the article. Macs cannot use the Microsoft Explorer browser unless a program to run windows is also purchased (and then what’s the point? Plus, the computer runs slower and the battery drains quicker). Explorer is required for several web programs (such as those used by trademark and patent lawyers and some email systems). We bought a mac, and regretted our choice because of the limits of not having explorer!!!
Posted by Stanley Winikoff - Mar 6, 2008 01:59 pm CDT

I use a Mac and a PC and like the Mac better because it’s more stable, has far fewer freezes and restarts. However, when hiring staff, 99% of all secretaries and paralegals, as well as most attorneys, are familiar with PC’s, Microsoft Word, and Outlook. Why take on the added training burden?
Posted by cartoonasaurus - Mar 8, 2008 08:06 pm CDT

Interesting industry-specific take on OS choices.
The confusing and infinite array of PC parts and platforms is a definite negative because it is so easy to purchase parts that don’t “play” well together, and sometimes the problems don’t present themselves until after your data is damaged. And though there are tons of excellent PC websites that help with the incredible amount of PC issues, because of the built-in complexities of Windows and hardware/software confliicts, sifting through potential answers to these questions is vastly more difficult than with Apple’s approach.
See the macfixit site as a stellar example…

I use both, but the Mac has my vote without hesitation - it’s advancements over Windows is mostly based on it’s non-legacy approach. Windows Registry baggage causes the majority of it’s problems.
Posted by zaxzan - Mar 9, 2008 03:21 am CDT

To quote R Georges: -
“Please. Apple is about profit. As soon as the video you refer to went up, Apple was screaming, and it was redacted. Harsh? It is impossible to be too harsh with this arrogant, greedy company. LOL.”.

Oh my golly gosh, Apple is about profit - No! ... say it isn’t so, those nasty, greedy and evil corporate bastards ... that’s it, I’m going to recycle my Mac and turn a new leaf, from now on I am only going to pay patronage to the community minded Microsoft and their meritoriously cheap PC’s.

How could I have been so ignorant of how nurturing Microsoft truly are, Microsoft are not interested in my money. I now understand that Microsoft is just big cuddly teddy bear, that desires what is only best for me, you and the whole world in general.

... Oh, err… Whoa there, hang on, what am I thinking, have I spent too long soaking up the suds on Mr Rick (rick, is that spelt and pronounced with a silent “P” ;) Georges’ web blog.

Let me start again, now that I have had a moment to breathe in some fresh air.

Here is my opinion of Rick -

1. Antediluvian
For goodness sake get up to speed with the present Rick, you sound like someone living in the past, peddling the old, tired shaggy-dog stories, step up to the here and “Now” for a real taste of the “Wow”. Then again you are still hooked on the hoary eXPerience.
2. Delusional
Rick, how long can you go without an iPhone? I bet it just busts ya nuts that the iPhone is all Apple sweetness - However, let it be known that my spies, my super-duper snoopers, in St. Pete will spill the beans, as soon you are seen bathing in Apple’s ever present coruscation, ha, I mean to say, even ‘dark ones’ like you, want to be seen and perceived as “cool” :)
3. Awash in perfidy
How are your porkie-pies about the MBA battery swap out going, most web sites state eight minutes to swap out the battery, slightly longer of course, should you wish to plonk in a 3rd party hard drive as well.

Anyway, I can’t hang around here all day, gotta get smug some where else ;)
Posted by -hh - Mar 9, 2008 07:56 am CDT

The Edge writes:
“No lawyer would tolerate lying to a court or judge, how come legal publications allow authors to lie to the public? Make arguments based on fact...”

This is what I also saw as a shortcoming in this ‘debate’. Instead of focusing on the facts, it disingenuously tried to win through emotional hot-buttons.

Overall, the expense to business is going to be a combination of the product’s life-cycle costs and of the productivity of the employee using the machine. These numbers are far harder to quantify than merely initial purchase price, but the studies that have been done have consistently given the nod to the Macintosh. This is why the Mac can be worth paying more for. Plus it sounds like more people need to read, “The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less”, by Barry Schwartz, to understand why “more PC choices” is a fraudulent feature.

In the meantime, I hope that Rick Georges enjoys his Dell D430. In comparison to the Air, it is ~10% heavier, has a ~10% smaller screen and has ~30% shorter battery life in exchange for him saving $800. He could have instead chosen the Lenovo X300, as it fully matches the Air’s weight & screen, and nearly matches it on battery life...and it adds an optical drive, but at $2700, its $900 more than the Air, and $1700 more than his Dell. And taken together, these three laptops give a very good illustration of the technology reality of “Diminishing Returns”.

-hh (C) 2008
Posted by John Gehart - Mar 11, 2008 03:43 pm CDT

Note on WordPerfect for Mac: For more than a decade, the Mac Version for WordPerfect remains the best (i.e., fastest, best legal feature set, most intuitive, simplest to use, least frustrating, etc.) Mac word processor for lawyers and remains available on the web. It runs natively on PowerPC Macs under “Classic” and runs virtually on Intel Macs under “SheepShaver”. See http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/wordperfectmac/