# "Mac or PC" Question Staged. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627 "2003-11-11T16:28:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/21 "2003-11-12T17:23:02Z")
Are we sure that’s not a parody site or something. It looks just a _little_ too over the top to be real. I mean look at this - > [@](#): > > As he tells it, while out at a local supermarket shopping for food for his cat, Dr. Franklin noticed one of those small tents advertising “Free Rock Chip Repair” that have been springing up in our nation’s parking lots. Curious, he went to enquire about getting a ding in his windshield sealed, only to learn that the person manning the tent had other intentions, namely to try and recruit Dr. Franklin into a cult! or this > [@](#): > > Clearly the Lord has created Halloween for the purpose of bringing the would-be-damned to us, His loyal followers, at an early age so that we may help them on the way to Salvation. So, in fact, this is not merely an unexpected opportunity, it is an obligation that we as Christians must rise to. Halloween isn’t the witching season, it’s the witnessing season! I mean… it just seems so, funny to me. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/22 "2003-11-12T18:29:02Z")
It’s a joke site, as evidenced by its connection to the long-running Landover Baptist Church joke site. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/23 "2003-11-12T19:33:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \* > It’d probably have the same number of problems if the people who bought them didn’t know anything about computers. You keep believing that if it makes you feel comfortable, **sb.** But it’s false – even a freshman CompSci student will tell you that a UNIX-based OS (is far more secure and reliable than the rickety mess that’s Windows. > [@](#): > > Fact is, PC’s are much more often bought and used by people who have no conception of what security is, much less how to do it; they can barely even run an e-mail system. Which is why Microsoft puts out things like Outlook Express. It sure doesn’t help when Microsoft makes things more vulnerable by default, such as automatically opening email attachments or letting scripts wreak havoc with the computer. > [@](#): > > But the style issue is bullhockey. Who cares what the darn thing looks like? I’m not looking for an art deco peice! Really? How ugly is your car, then? Or your television set, or your stereo, or your clothes? After all, “who cares what the darn thing looks like?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/24 "2003-11-12T19:44:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*Really? How ugly is your car, then? Or your television set, or your stereo, or your clothes? After all, “who cares what the darn thing looks like?” 😉 \*\* I agree with the rest of your post, except a _desktop_ computer doesn’t usually leave your room. I wasn’t aware of people caring what their TVs look like, only bigger the better. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/25 "2003-11-12T19:49:31Z")
Ummm … this is about declining journalistic standards. Or at least that’s how it was meant. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/26 "2003-11-12T20:39:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*I agree with the rest of your post, except a _desktop_ computer doesn’t usually leave your room. > > I wasn’t aware of people caring what their TVs look like, only bigger the better. \*\* Well that’s a silly argument. If that were the case, then who cares about what my couch looks like? Why should I care if it matches the rest of the house? As long as it’s comfy and utilitarian… that’s all that matters, right? Same goes for the fancy china with the fancy patterns. Let’s get rid of it and use school cafeteria plates! they work just as well. While we’re at it, let’s get rid of the waterford goblets. Speaking as someone who has a background in design and art, design is very important to me. _I_ care about things look like. I would prefer having say… a plasma screen tv vs the old school ones in the wood cabinets (talking strictly appearances). You have to give Apple credit where it’s due, whether you like the platform or not. The I-Mac was highly influential in terms of design. After its debut, everything on earth, it seems, was being manufactured in candy colored clear plastic. Maybe _you_ don’t care if a computer is designed well or not. Maybe a beige box does it for you (although, that in a way is a designed product itself… it could be in a pressed board box and still work). However, to say that people don’t care about design of everyday things is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/27 "2003-11-12T20:46:24Z")
Macs suck. They’re overpriced, they’re not really all that good, they’re unhealthy, the sesame seed bun is always nasty, that secret sauce will make you retch, and the beef is mostly cardboard. What? ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/28 "2003-11-12T21:10:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*It’s a joke site, as evidenced by its connection to the long-running Landover Baptist Church joke site. \*\* From what I read, they’re trying to shut Landover down, not help them or affiliate with them. It seems over the top to me too, however. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/29 "2003-11-12T21:11:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*You have to give Apple credit where it’s due, whether you like the platform or not. The I-Mac was highly influential in terms of design. After its debut, everything on earth, it seems, was being manufactured in candy colored clear plastic. \*\* IIRC, the [uncolored plastic PC case](http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0161404) has been around longer than the I-Mac. They’re just not very practical when it comes to keeping things cool. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/30 "2003-11-13T00:12:13Z")
I personally use a Mac for my design and editing (video) work because the programs I prefer are Mac based and the power and space (and lack of CRAP that comes preloaded with a windows machine) are more readily available and more easily used. I have a Windows XP PC as well, because I like to play games that are NOT available for Mac and some of the ‘crap’ that comes on PCs is actually useful (as in, not having to buy a word processing program for it) or fun as in a built in solitare program. So… Mac or PC? Depends. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/31 "2003-11-13T00:23:40Z")
[Platform hijacks-the last resort of the pathetic loser](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=73951) This thread was about something else, you silicon blowholes. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/32 "2003-11-13T08:05:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > **_I_ care about things look like.** Me too, which is one of the reasons I prefer PCs. They have, and have always had, far more options when it comes to looks than Macs have had. Oh, and old TVs in wood cabinets look _much_ nicer than those ugly plasma TVs. (Although the picture quality on the latter is undoubtedly better.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/33 "2003-11-13T12:56:09Z")
> [@](#): > > If that were the case, then who cares about what my couch looks like? Why should I care if it matches the rest of the house? As long as it’s comfy and utilitarian… that’s all that matters, right? Yup. Sure, there’s nicer furniture for the guests, but I could care less in my own private sections of my house. That’s my place to play, so I don’t care what color it all is. > [@](#): > > Same goes for the fancy china with the fancy patterns. Let’s get rid of it and use school cafeteria plates! they work just as well. Only use it for the guests. Ordinarily eat on plain ceramic plates. > [@](#): > > While we’re at it, let’s get rid of the waterford goblets. The only time I drink out of any such things is on occasions when I want to have a fancy dinner. [quote] Maybe you don’t care if a computer is designed well or not. Maybe a beige box does it for you (although, that in a way is a designed product itself… it could be in a pressed board box and still work). Beige, black, green: The color doesn’t affect the function. A computer is just something I stick in a corner and use; I don’t need to look at it. Hell, if I need to I can just cover the darn thing up. In the end, I’d rather have a powerful, versatile peice of equipment over one that matches the carpet. Now, if you disagree, go head. But I’ll still hold you in a certain amount of contempt. And, frankly, I think the PC boxes of today look much more professional and slick than the Apple cases anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/34 "2003-11-13T13:24:15Z")
I’m disappointed that the young woman didn’t get to ask her original question. The idea of hijacking a meaningful question to add “light relief” is obnoxious, nevermind unethical. Being a slight technophile, I’m far more interested in what her original question was and what the answer would have been than in any ridiculous staged platform debate. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/35 "2003-11-13T13:36:05Z")
Thank you **Cervaise** and **Idlewild** for trying to end the hijack and get back on topic. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/36 "2003-11-13T13:43:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*Well that’s a silly argument. > > If that were the case, then who cares about what my couch looks like? Why should I care if it matches the rest of the house? As long as it’s comfy and utilitarian… that’s all that matters, right? > Same goes for the fancy china with the fancy patterns. Let’s get rid of it and use school cafeteria plates! they work just as well. While we’re at it, let’s get rid of the waterford goblets. \*\* So you use the good china and the waterford every meal? \*\* > [@](#): > > Speaking as someone who has a background in design and art, design is very important to me. _I_ care about things look like. I would prefer having say… a plasma screen tv vs the old school ones in the wood cabinets (talking strictly appearances).\*\* Well I’m shocked to learn that all home makers need a background in art and design to properly decorate their house. You like plasma screens, and others may not. I’m sure there are people shelling out good of money to buy some old “retro” style TV in a faux wood cabinet, it’s all subjective anyway. More importantly most TVs are the same on the inside, and that’s the crux of it. If I want to buy a 32 inch television, I can pick from a variety of brands, each with their own unique style. But at the end of the day, a TV covered in pink fur suspended by chains from the ceiling is the same fucking thing as a plasma screen hung on the wall. The same cannot be said for computers, as they are wildly different in non visible ways. \*\* > [@](#): > > You have to give Apple credit where it’s due, whether you like the platform or not. The I-Mac was highly influential in terms of design. After its debut, everything on earth, it seems, was being manufactured in candy colored clear plastic. \*\* They weren’t the first to do this, so it’s not the most original idea in the world. I’m sure those little plastic cases do a great job of keeping all that EMI out. “My cordless phone may be filled with static, but my computer is so purdy!” Another example of form over function. \*\* > [@](#): > > Maybe _you_ don’t care if a computer is designed well or not. Maybe a beige box does it for you (although, that in a way is a designed product itself… it could be in a pressed board box and still work). \*\* I can’t wait till about 20 years from now, when the beige box is “in”. Of course I care if a computer is designed well or not. I just happen to care if it’s designed well for it’s intended purpose, not if it has racing stripes on it or it matches the couch. \*\* > [@](#): > > However, to say that people don’t care about design of everyday things is wrong. \*\* I have no problem with this, however, of all the things that should be viewed in a strictly utilitarian fashion when considering the purchase, a computer should be at the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/37 "2003-11-13T15:47:29Z")
I will answer this briefly because I fear the thread has been hijacked for too long. If you would like to continue this discussion, we can start a new thread. **Jeff Olsen**. I realize that there may have been other companies that had plastic cases first. That wasn’t my point. You can’t negate that with the introduction of the I-Mac, every thing (staplers! Glasses! Toilet paper holders!) was being manufactured in clear candy colored plastic. It doesn’t really matter who was first, but rather who was more influential. **smiling bandit** , Why bother having fancy stuff for the guest at all? Hold me in contempt all you want, but I still stand by my ideas. That you think that PC boxes are better looking simply reinforces my statement. It’s just that we have different ideas on what looks good. It’s all subjective. **World Eater** , Do I use china and waterford everyday? Yes, in fact, we do use our good stuff as everyday. I don’t believe in using my best only at holidays. “Well I’m shocked to learn that all home makers need a background in art and design to properly decorate their house” I never made that case. You will note that I said: “Speaking as someone who has a background in design and art, design is very important to me. I care about things look like.” Never once did I say you need a degree in art to decorate your home. I was, as you can see, speaking for myself. You stated “I wasn’t aware of people caring what their TVs look like, only bigger the better.” Well, I was letting you in on the fact (as you weren’t aware of it) That I care about what the TV looks like. You go on to state that "of all the things that should be viewed in a strictly utilitarian fashion when considering the purchase, a computer should be at the top of the list.’ Well, again, it’s all subjective. My feelings are that if I am going to have a computer\*, why not have one that looks good too? \*because I really don’t want to get into a completely different hijack, let’s assume that all computers are equal in performance. I don’t even want to discuss platforms because I’ve seen it time and time again: you’ll never change our viewpoints, we’ll never change yours and we’ll simply argue about it til the cows come home. This is why I will not discuss your “form” vs. “Function” aspect of your reply. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/38 "2003-11-13T15:59:15Z")
p.s. to **Homebrew** sorry about the hijack! To respond to your OP, I have a question, not being familiar with the ‘rock the vote’ interviews. Are the questions all fielded before hand? I see where she said she had a more indepth question, but what stopped her from asking it anyway? Would it have been edited out? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/39 "2003-11-13T16:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > smiling bandit, > > Why bother having fancy stuff for the guest at all? > Hold me in contempt all you want, but I still stand by my ideas. I don’t really care whether you ahve different tastes. What I _do_ think is silly is that you strongly implied to me that you don’t are about the functionality and efficiency of an item, instead focusing solely on how well it matches your decor ideas. Now, if I’ve misunderstood you, I’d apologize, except that you basically went out and said as much. > [@](#): > > That you think that PC boxes are better looking simply reinforces my statement. It’s just that we have different ideas on what looks good. It’s all subjective If you want to use really nice looking things, fine, but don’t pretend that you aren’t buying something which is crap just because it looks nice. There’s a difference between buying a Tv with poor contrast and a broken power switch and buying a new 50" Plasma screen, regardless of what the case looks like. Incidentally, I like the new PC cases precisely because they scream “serious hardware” and not “I’m an easy mark who bought this P.O.S. because I like candy-apple red.” ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627/40 "2003-11-13T17:27:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*I will answer this briefly because I fear the thread has been hijacked for too long. If you would like to continue this discussion, we can start a new thread. > > \*\* I really don’t think it’s fair to **homebrew** to continue hijacking his thread. We’ve been asked twice to stay on topic. I would be more than happy to another thread if you’d like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-or-pc-question-staged/212627.md?page=3)