The point i was making is much of the drivers in use have been tested by Apple and ship with the OS.

With Windows you tend to need third party drivers which are often variable in quality.

The problem with Microsoft's drivers is while they are stable, they often only implement the bare minimum. In the past I've had a graphics card with A/V out and the Microsoft driver didn't support it.

Edited by deleted (Sun 26-Jun-11 12:29:04)

The point i was making is much of the drivers in use have been tested by Apple and ship with the OS.

That is true. Becasue such a limited range of hardware is supported Apple can easily test all drivers.

With Windows you tend to need third party drivers which are often variable in quality.

I can see that you don't have much experience of Windows 7. There are a huge number of Microsoft signed drivers that ship with the OS or are available from manufacturers. And you have the choice of a much wider range of hardware.

For those who need their hands holding and are happy with a limited choice of hardware a Mac is a fine choice. For those who want a lot more flexibility, or are happy to tweak things, then a PC is the logical choice. Both have their markets.

You see, I don't get the understanding that to be competent with computers means you need to use Windows and suffer all the complexity of pratting about with drivers and all the other inherent problems with custom built hardware

I've done all of that, I've done electronics, built my own hardware, hacked hardware, built custom cables, written software, written plugins and so on.

I want an easy life now, i have responsibilities that take up my time, I want to have a social life. Not spend my time fixing up computers and Windows problems.

Weird, I don't have any windows problems.

That's fine. you're just the sort of person that Macs are aimed at.

Computers are no longer a hobby of mine, they are just an appliance. I have 5 or so bicycles to tinker with instead.

And yet, you, this forum, talking about computers.

As mentioned further up the thread. I got burned with Windows a few times and not because of doing anything out of the ordinary, just installing Microsoft software.

A few years ago I worked at a consultancy and they had an Intranet site, the admin posted that sometimes you'll get an error when posting, just try again. My manager posted that this was typical Microsoft quality software and to a point it is true, people are very accepting of workarounds and little rituals you have to do to keep it running well.

Microsoft have over the years reduced the cost of computing but also lowered the quality of it as well.

That's fine. you are just the sort of person that Macs are made for.

So? it's very easy to get drawn into arguments.

There seems to be a lot of people who like to come into this forum and be critical of peoples decisions on what they buy, why? I don't tell you what to do or what to run. I just point out why Windows and commodity hardware aren't right for me.