Bit Literacy - Mark Hurst [69]
Appendix B: On Mac vs. Windows
At various points in this book I reference Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OSX, the two dominant operating systems today, and suggest tools and methods that are compatible with each operating system. But I never state an explicit recommendation for either operating system. I will do so now, citing Macintosh as the best choice, but I must first qualify my recommendation.
Let me first state that I am not "pro" or "anti" any technology company—Microsoft, Apple, Google, or any other. In evaluating or recommending a tool, my sole concern is users' ability to engage bits in a productive and healthy manner. If a tool allows users to practice bit literacy, I'll recommend it, no matter which company created it. (I have very little interest in the technology industry's politics and fads, which already get enough commentary elsewhere.)
As it happens, though, most tools I recommend happen not to be made by Microsoft. The best text editor, todo list, calendar program, word processor, photo manager, music manager, Web browser, search engine, and operating system—among others—are all made by competitors to Microsoft. By some dynamic of their corporate cultures and the larger marketplace, these companies have managed to deliver more bit-literate tools. Microsoft could change, though, and I hope it does. If and when Microsoft begins developing bit-literate tools, I'll happily recommend them.
In the meantime, the question remains for many users: should they buy Windows or Mac? The debate has raged for years, and my words won't be the last on the subject, but I can say confidently that Macintosh is almost always the better choice.
First, the exceptions. There are two situations in which I actually recommend Windows over Macintosh:
1. Some users need to plug into an existing Windows network at school or work, and so Windows is the best choice. Even though a Mac might work perfectly well on the network, the typical IT department will refuse to support Macs; there's no use in fighting them, since they control the network. The user needs to be on good terms with them, anyway, in case their Windows PC has problems later.
2. Some people really are pro-Microsoft and anti-Apple, and they're reflexively opposed to anything Macintosh-related. If the user is one of these people, I immediately agree with their choice of Windows, since they wouldn't be happy with a Mac. (Employees at my company, however, have no choice: regardless of their stance, they all must use our Mac-based "Good Easy" system, described below.)
Now, with exceptions done, we can state the two main reasons to choose a Mac over Windows:
1. Macs are easier to use.
For years Apple has fostered a corporate culture focused on design and innovation. (Apple created the iPod; Microsoft created the animated paper clip.) It's no secret that Microsoft often "borrows" design ideas from Apple for use in its new products. Needless to say, the original versions are better designed. Apple's commitment to the user experience has, over the years, cemented the Mac's position as the easier-to-use computer.
One other advantage is that Apple designed both hardware and software in the Macintosh, creating a more stable, more tightly integrated machine. Microsoft, on the other hand, built Windows on top of an archaic program called DOS, and then had to make it all work with various hardware manufacturers. Because it was built in so many pieces, Windows is unstable and often frustrating to work with. Anyone who has installed a printer or other external device on both Mac and Windows can attest: things "just work" on the Mac, while Windows tends to need a lot of high-tech twiddling (some would call it babysitting) in order to work properly.
Bit literacy allows users to work more productively with less stress, and so it only makes sense to choose the easier-to-use platform. Given the choice between getting things done more or less easily, why would anyone choose the harder option?
2. Macs are