Hey Joe, do you ever find anything positive to say about Microsoft? How about renaming this blog,"Microsoft Bash." It's depressingly negative and uninformed.

Negative, maybe, but "uninformed," unfortunately, isn't so.

The problem is you can't fix Vista--it's just Not a Good PC O/S. It asks you to do the same thing three times,* it gobbles memory, it was released initially in machines that didn't have enough to support it--and couldn't be expanded with enough to use it.

So there are a f*ck of a lot of us out here who will never buy a MS O/S again because of the way Vista was originally presented being SO at variance with what it is.

Joe still holds out hope for Vista, not realising what a cancer it was on release. (Think that legendary batch of bad Schlitz.)

Macs are easier to use, have better graphics, include Developer rights with the purchase of the machine, etc. Despite all of that, Windows PCs had a legacy benefit in that they were easy to use if you had used a previous version.

You want to fix Vista? The only way to do it is to give free upgrades to all the people who were suckered into buying woefully inadequate machines--and it's probably too late for a large set of them.

*Yes, I know it does things similar to what several Linux systems do. MSFT users have been telling us all along that their system is easier to use than Linux. They used to be correct. At the margin, the choice between MSFT/Linux is now smaller than Apple/MSFT. This is not good if you're honestly trying to compete in the consumer (ease of use more important than processing power) market.

Hey Ken and Joe you sound like really smart guys... NOT! Seriously go ahead and pay 4 times the price for that Apple product that can do all those 4 things you want it to do. I bet you can do those same 4 things on ANY PC for a fraction of the cost. Apple is for all those dorks that want to be different. And since they didn't have any girlfriends in high school or ever for that matter, you will spend top dollar for a over priced piece of equipment with an inferior OS that was only built to run a couple of programs. But since all you use it for is a dating service online, by all means be different! I could find you 100's of PC's more powerful for 1/2 the cost. But that isn't what you are looking for. You are looking to be different to try and hide your Inadequacies.

It is halarious, everyone I know that owns a MAC has buyers remorse now that they realize that MAC is even more buggy and much less secure than Windows. They just don't want to admit it because then they might not be "cool" and paid 4 times the price.

Hey you Mac guys, I have some land in New Orleans I would like to sell you. You will be very special then. DORKS!

Funny that you only show the MAC pro commercials to Joe. But hey, your readership is down because people all know you are just a Microsoft basher now.

For all those people that want the truth about Mac's, take a look at this comercial. This is everything a MAC user is thinking but is afraid to say in get outcasted by "Outcast Nation" of Mac users.

What I love about my MAC... So True...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxd1W3wqjtY

If you guys could get at least the simplest thing right, then you might get some traction with your juvenile baiting and sissy-boy posturing. In computer networking, MAC stands for Media Access Control, and on a LAN it's a unique identifier address for a piece of hardware. Mac is the customary short name for Macintosh.

Now, learn how to use a spell checker and MS Word's grammar correction tool, and you'll be on your way toward middle school graduation in no time.

*"Seriously go ahead and pay 4 times the price for that Apple product"*

4 times?

Seriously try an argument that isn't obviously ignorant and biased.

Jason O:

How about this one?

15" MacBook Pro costs $1,999 + $349 three year warranty for a grand total of:

$2,348

15.4" HP dv5 Notebook for $506 + $99 three year warranty for a grand total of:

$605

Yes, bro! That's pretty damn close to 4x the price for notebooks that are pretty close in specs. The Mac has 400 more Mhz plus an extra 90 GBs of disk storage, but the HP notebook comes with 3 GBs of memory versus 2.

I'll be the first to admit that M$ should have shipped Vista with the quality and driver support of SP1 from the get go. However, I've been using it for 10 months now, and I've had zero issues. So, please spare us with your uninformed and biased comments. At least I can honestly say that I've never used a Mac, so I would not know if it's better or worse than Windows functionality wise. But like most people, I can do simple math and recognize wholesale FUD as well.

And, I agree with the previous poster that Joe really needs to find more positive things to say about M$ or just focus all of his attention on Apple and Google.

Wow! You sure touched a nerve, Joe! It looks like the truth really hurts!

Looked at the HP specs...reviewer says display is dim...resolution is only 1280 * 800....plastic feels cheap...only 800 MHZ RAM...don't forget to send away and buy your system disks....and don't forget your yearly antispy/virus software...if you want a Kia..go buy an HP!

I've read your blog for months now. My Verdict: Epic Fail.

It's called Microsoft Watch...should call it Microsoft Watch with extreme bias AGAINST Microsoft and an amazing love for Apple.

Probably was the original name, but it was just too long right? You're lazy...I know how you are.

i remember joe saying positive things about the first windows ad which featured bill gates and jerry seinfeld...now suddenly what happened to you? changed your mind... i think "I am PC" ad was great... apple ads just shows how arrogant they are..

Doctor Doug, is that you out there making all the pro-ms posts and saying Mac cost too much?

Ain't it amazing how often a simple difference of opinion turns into abuse in these postings? A bit like the way the new Apple adds are, adolescent smartarse nastiness - a mean laugh the first time, but gets tired really quick.
I've used Vista and OSX. Vista's quite OK ...now, if not at first. It is a bit underwhelming, considering we had to wait years and years for it. And the market is underwhelmed, Microsoft is clearly very unhappy about the slow take-up rate and mediocre reputation.
OSX is better in most respects. It's much more satisfying and enjoyable to use, and I'm more productive using it than using Vista. But I've had more bugs and fiddles with the latest version than any previous cat. It's not too bad from that point of view, but it doesn't always "just work".
I loved the I'm a Mac/PC ads, but the latest two, not so much. Like McCain's overdone attack ads, they can do more harm than good.
Microsoft's recent ads are interesting. As Vista is to OSX, so the MS PC ads are to the "I'm a Mac" ads. They're better than they've done before, some intelligent thought has gone into them, but in the end they don't totally cut it.

I see the PC fanboys are out in full force today: "Hey, stop bashing our horrible OS, would you?" "Booh, hoo. Apple costs 4 times as much. And since I can't afford that I will call you names to bring you down to my level"

Too bad these folks just don't understand the hidden costs of owning a piece of junk PC. Moreover, comparing the bottom of the line PC to the top of the line Mac is their typical juvenile tactic.

I find it even funnier that they bash the Mac in one sentence and in the next proclaim they have never used it. Now that's the definition of ignorance. What they fail to realize is that most Mac users today are PC converts that finally got sick and tired of that inferior platform.

What really would have been funny is if they pushed "Windows Everywhere" and showed people on windows with multiple vendor machines claiming "im a pc", then show windows virtualized on linux claiming "im a pc" and then windows virtualized on mac hardware and claiming, "even i'm a pc". it would hit a better target that even apple couldn't parody.

@Joe:
I've watched the tenor of your commentary change over the last couple of years, definitely not as pro Microsoft as it used to be. I think it is in line with the performance of Microsoft. Keep up the good work.

@Mr. Incorporated:
I can look past the personal attacks, but when you said, 'everyone I know that owns a MAC has buyers remorse now that they realize that MAC is even more buggy and much less secure than Windows', you exposed yourself as a fraud. Nobody believes that, no matter how many times you say it.

@Truth:
The video is talking about flaws in OS9, not OS X. That's so last century.

@The price check guys:
Apple doesn't compete on price. Microsoft's profit margin is north of 80%, while the hardware guys are working on razor thin margins for a commodity product. It's their bloatware and crapware, and inferior configurations, that hurt Vista the most.

In the big picture, Microsoft has stumbled of late. The WOW starts now, did not turn out as planned. It took 2 years for the hardware to catch up. New drivers and a service pack later, 'Vista runs just fine'. I am not impressed. The *nix crowd is building on a solid foundation, is tapping into a wealth of open source software, and making inroads like never before.

Windows 7 is moving to the cloud, decoupling applications, and trying to preserve as much of Vista as it can. The core of Vista is better than many people give it credit for, but solving a perception problem is harder than solving a technical one. Personally, I believe that until the System Registry and ActiveX are replaced, Windows is tainted goods.

Just to stir the pot, I close with my favorite line from the Apple commercials, directed at all those who's livelihood depends on Microsoft:

You are coming to the sad realization...

Shields Up!

I cant and wont comment on a Mac because I havent used one yet. This is all set to change, I am looking to buy one for the wife (after Im sure that there will be no major price drops in the near future) - She's been sold on the fact that their image appears "trendy" and she hasnt heard the global damning of the product like she has with Vista.

Is Mac a better system IMO? I'll let you know, but if she finds it reliable and functional then it will be money well spent.

Its pretty obvious that I am a Linux/open source user and at home do not have a single installation of a MS product anywhere.
I think times are changing in regards to the acceptability of using an alternative to MS, however I dont find the Mac adverts very effective (IMO) as the jokes and jibes about Vista were "ours" long before Apple started running its series of ads (and to be honest a little tired)

I dont think MS ploughing money into advertising can help. We all know the MS product range (and thats the problem) even non-techies I speak with are blasting Windows now, the MS adverts IMO only seem to keep the MS jibes alive. If there is anyone who needs to be reminded of the MS product line or brand name, then they probably will never be a customer anyway.

Windows 7 has got a while before it is released, and even if it is the best OS on the market, IMO by then we will have a considerable migration away from the Windows product line. MS will have to work very hard to win back its custom, if its not already too late.

Lets see, we have MSlive - not too hot (to say the least), Windows Mobile playing second/third fiddle to other platforms, Vista being almost globally damned (rightly or wrongly), so the question needs to be asked, what is MS doing well presently?

While all of this is going on, other platforms are eroding the Vista customer base. I think Dave Lindhout hit on some valid points, and I dont think that it matters if Vista is good or not, people are laughing at it regardless, and I cannot see many people having faith in Windows 7, when its already been branded Vista SP3 and it hasnt yet been released.

Both the Mac and Linux platforms have an ideal opportunity here, people are willing to consider alternatives now, Windows is no longer the be all and end all, and infact maybe MS should have considered distancing itself from the Windows name for the next release, as I think its image is not likely to go away.

I would though like to end on a note that hopefully wont wind people up. I dont particularly want to see mass migration from the Windows platform to Linux. I believe the average Windows user is largely responsible for the monster that is now Windows, users wanting a complete nannying from their OS has contributed to its massive resource requirement that Vista likes to gorge itself on (after all MS was responding to the demands of its users). I think if these users came to Linux, we'd end up with a very similar product and that is the last thing I want.

Maybe theres a place for all? Windows/Mac/Linux? One thing is certain (IMO) is that Windows will no longer be the OS that everyone has to have.

I find it amazing when a company that's drowning in spare cash can't find two quarters and a dime to hire professional help and create a consistent, scalable advertising and branding strategy.

Oh wait, that company has the same problem when it comes to creating operating systems -- LOL

Must be something in the water.

stefan oetter, nice web site, seeing as you're an Apple reseller. No bias there, you hack!

On paper the MacBook Pro and HP dv5 are in the ball park of comparable notebooks. Certainly, the MacBook will weigh less, include a little better quality finish materials, and have a little more umph. But again, it's @ nearly 300% inflation, Bro! If I add about $200 to my HP dv5, I'll be at a machine that's no Kia. Rather, it would be more like a Toyota Camry with tons of money in my account for other things I need versus paying through the nose for the cool factor.

All you're doing is perpetuating the myth that a Mac is worth the extra money, mainly because you make your money from the Apple that feeds you. Moreover, how many teenagers walk into your store and pay for a MacBook Pro where you know they're giving you their money and not mom/dad's?

Personally, I haven't used anti-virus software for any of the 12 years that I've owned personal computers. With the relatively low security vulnerability footprint demonstrated by Vista over the past two years compared to Apple and Linux, why would I need to run purchased A/V? Vista has Windows Defender, which is a quality anti-malware program that doesn't cost me a red cent. All I have to do, as would anyone, is pay attention to what you're downloading and running. If you get suspicious, run a full Defender scan and you stand about a 99% chance that it's going to find and remove the issue.

I own a Mac, and I used it exclusively for years. Then Vista came out, and I swear to god, I like it better. I now primarily use a HP desktop and my Intel based iMac just sits in the corner and pouts. The Vista machine is amazing. I mean, it has more than three USB ports! I didn't know computers could come with so many. And they have a port in the front so that when I'm plugging in my camera, I don't have to turn the whole damn computer around to see where the port is. You know what else is in the front? The power button, so when I want to turn on the machine, I don't have to turn the whole damn machine around to find the power button. My HP also has these great card readers built into it, so if I can't fine my camera cable, who cares? If I want more storage, I can add another hard drive. My gosh, since I have more than three USB ports, I could probably add an external drive. This thing is freakin sweet. It has two DVD drives. I can copy a disk without having to turn my computer around because the side loading disk drive on the iMac is blocked by shelves on my desk.
But I digress. The post is about the commercials, isn't it? I don't think Apple has put out a good Mac commercial in years. The last one I liked was the iMovie commercial where the young couple got married on the beach and made a DVD for his parents. That sold me on what I can do with a Mac. What do the Get a Mac commercials show me? The Mac is an idiot who can do nothing except talk about Vista. "Vista sucks, Vista sucks, Vista sucks." Isn't that just the kind of negative, personnel attacks that we don't need in this campaign? Ok, so the people making commercials for Apple think that Vista sucks. Great. But why is a Mac any better? From watching all of their commercials, I can't think of one. Hell, it's been a year since they had the Time Machine commercial which was probably the last ad that actually said anything about an OS X feature.
As for the "I'm a PC" ads, I think they're brilliant. They're warm, and touching. They have a bit of humor, but not a lot. They're the only commercial that my wife makes me go back and watch again.
I was a Mac. I drank the kool aid and had all things Apple. I bought an iPod when the thing was $400 freakin dollars. Then I guess I woke up and discovered that my Mac wasn't all that great, and Vista wasn't all that bad. They're all just computers.
Apple was like the friend who you had back in high school who was really funny and cool, but he just wasn't all that popular. And you though, if only everyone knew how funny this guy was, he'd be the most popular kid in school. Then one day he starts to get that popularity, and what happens? He becomes a jerk. Well, Apple became that jerk.
The "I'm a PC" ads are equivalent to the "Think Different" ads that Apple put out years ago. They work on a much higher ground than these childish little Get a Mac spots.

Joe, I have to agree with this article almost all the way. Please don't take offense here, but one point I would make different than yours. Microsoft is between a rock and a hard place, even Ballmer has admitted that "Vista is a work in progress." This can mean anything from Vista is not ready, or Ballmer and MS knows if product Vista, really is a pig. Since MS and the public mostly know that, why would MS want to even mention the Vista word in any commercial. The Vista word is going hurt them. Seven is a better word, instead of saying Vista R2.

I really wanted Vista to be a good OS. I wanted it to be a really secure OS, it does neither, sadly. Hate the fact that I continually see folks bring me their windows computers to fix the malware problems. Microsoft has been aware of the malware problem for how long, and has done so very little to fix them. In fact, Micro$oft tries to exploit the malware problem for finical gain, by selling Onecare now.

Why I am a pc advertising is a failure.

1. Doesn't really refute any of Apple's arguments.
2. The Vista word cannot be mentioned in the commercials, because Vista is now the problem as to why alternative OS is gaining.
3. MS tried to turn the Apple commercials from one of "I am a PC or Mac computer" into one of "I am a PC user." That is not working with users, they see through that.
4. I predict that the commercials will soon become about "Windows Seven," and take on a vaporware quality, about how great it will be. This will be the major effort at damage control, to prevent more market share shifting.
5. Mac users are a very vocal lot. And new converts to any religion, are also usually the most vocal. Mac is like a religion. But the big plus for Mac users, like Linux users, is that Mac is almost malware free, but compared to Windows, you would not be far off, to say it is malware free.
6. Vista Crappable, (capable) and ultimate extra's have also to a smaller degree hurt the reputation of MS among the buying public. Trust has evaporated. Apple now has that trust.
7. The price of Windows software is far too high.
--------------------------------------------------
Price is the main thing that Micro$oft OEM's compete with Apple on. But I would never compare an Mac Book Pro with a low end HP like one poster did. Just not a fair comparison. Even here, Micro$oft fails, as its the OEM that sell the computers for less, and NOT Microsoft that sells their Windows OS for less than Mac OS X. In fact, it could be argued, that Mac OS X purchase separately, cost less than most Vista versions. So any real advantage of Windows, comes not from Microsoft, but from OEM's, with cheaper hardware prices, and 3rd party software makers. Windows is just what a lot of users are stuck with, as a legacy operating system, that either do not have the time, or desire to change to something better.

www.distrowatch.com download a linux free iso today, it will set you free.

Thanks Joe, for posting these latest Mac commercials - they had me laughing so hard I was in tears.

The buzzer one is especially funny, because Vista has been such an image disaster that MS has gone out of their way to not mention it in their own commercials.

And I agree that the "I'm a PC" campaign from Microsoft is really pretty stupid. It's acknowledging the effectiveness of the "I'm a Mac" commercials, and gave more fodder for Apple to run more of the "I'm a Mac" commercials (see above).

And the reason the commercials are so funny is that there is real truth behind them (albeit exaggeratted).

The only good thing the "I'm a PC" commercials does is kind of make it look somewhat "cool" to use a PC. But again, it does little to promote the Windows or Microsoft brand.

What is halarious is all you "girfriendless, wanna be cool and over pay to try and be cool, Mac users haven't even commented on the video I posted (The Truth about being a Mac User). You know you don't want to start discussing that becuase you have nothing to dispute. The only thing the Mac has going for it is.. It has a monolopy on all the Dorks that think somehow owning a Mac will make them different. Those are the same losers that watch "The Pick-up Artist" on MTV. I bet each one of them owns a Mac.

@Goblin:
Based on my own experience, the Mac is different. Not necessarily better or worse at first, but definitely different. To get the most out of it, you'll need the willingness to learn, the ability to learn (both of which I am 100% certain you possess), and patience.

I'm told that to best appreciate a Mac, you need to watch someone who's used it extensively and not someone just moving from Windows.

My wife has her MS certifications, but recently got tired of the Adobe Premier upgrade treadmill and the hefty hardware requirements looming with Vista. And so we got an iMac. She was driven by the desire learn how to use it best, and now is very comfortable with it. The display is gorgeous, and between iMovie and Final Cut Express, it does HD video with ease and perfection and low software cost. She even supports a friend who got an iMac and still struggles with its differences from "the Dell he was used to for years". I don't use the iMac very often, and find myself asking for help a lot. But I'm getting there.

Mac is like a different country, and whether or not you feel comfortable is pretty near 100% dependent on your attitude. One can assimilate well to a foreign culture, or one can play the all-too-common "Ugly American" and complain about everything that is different from "the way we do it at home".

My oldest daughter went through high school and college using Windows, but now uses a Mac Pro at work and wouldn't want to use anything else. But then again, in high school she could sit at the computer keeping up with AIM conversations, do her calculus homework with the book in her lap, and talk on the phone, all at the same time and without missing a beat. She could probably make an abacus turn out HD video, so she's not a typical Windows-to-Mac story.

You will also gain a new appreciation for Linux. I notice that a lot of the cool user interface behaviors in Gnome are a blend of the best of Windows and the best of iMac.

Good luck, and enjoy!

@Joe,
I find the various comments here to remind me of the editor wars of days gone by. Most of them can be summed up as:

"System X is vastly superior to System Y because I know System X really well, I am too lazy to learn System Y, and anyone who prefers System Y is a hopeless idiot, degenerate scumbag, or worse."

Cheers for the heads up on the Mac Philosopher, although its the wife that wants it, I fully intend to explore and learn the new system.

Its very easy for me to be pro Linux and anti Windows, however I had always wanted to give Mac a good go so that I could say I had a balanced view of all options.

The wife is not Microsoft Certified or anything, she simply wants to surf, send emails and do a little wordprocessing, so Im hoping that she will be able to sit down in front of the Mac and just get on with it. People may be wondering why, with such simple needs of a laptop I dont go for a Linux/Vista system for her. I said the same. Unfortunately shes been sold on the Mac image, so I suppose the ad campaign for Mac does work. (also I am very interested to try out the system, hence why I dont mind shelling out on it.)

why does every one blame Microsoft for the mess.. DELL,HP and other PC vendors are equally responsible. They are the ones who come up with brick like design with absolute no innovation to their design....

Microsoft's logo is the little flying Window, correct? I still see it on microsoft.com

Goblin : wrote

"Cheers for the heads up on the Mac Philosopher, although its the wife that wants it, I fully intend to explore and learn the new system.

I am very interested to try out the system, hence why I dont mind shelling out on it."
--------------------------------------------------

One can get a I Mac G3 with Tiger OS X with decent specs for about $100 on E-Bay. One I Mac G3 I paid $19 for. B & W G3 Macs can be had for as little as $10 if one looks around. Of the three Macs that I own....I probably didn't spend more than $125 for the three of them.

@The Truth about the Mac:

"What is halarious is all you "girfriendless, wanna be cool and over pay to try and be cool, Mac users haven't even commented on the video I posted (The Truth about being a Mac User)."

Seeing as how you seem to take any criticism about MS or Windows as a personal afront, I'm guessing you're the one who is "girlfriendless", unless she's of the "blow up" variety.

Geez, it's just software and computers. Take a big chill pill.

Taking software and computers so seriously is a major "babe repellant".

As for me, I don't have a "girlfriend". I have a wife and two kids. And I have a Dell Inspiron with Windows Vista dual booting with Linux Mint. I have an iPod Nano, but no other Apple products.

But I must say, I really like the "I'm a Mac" commercials. They are really hilarious, especially these latest two posted by Joe. And these latest two really get the upper hand over Microsofts "I'm a PC" campaign. Apple really baited Microsoft, and is completely calling the shots now, and making MS look stupid in the process (not that MS needed any help with looking stupid).

Right now anyway, in the advertising and name brand wars, Apple is eating Microsof's lunch.

That's just the simple truth. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings. Maybe you should take Stuart Smally's advice:
"I'm smart enough, I'm attractive enough, and ... gosh darn it ... people like me!"

the Truth: Vista sucks...MacOS sucks and it's for little GIRLS....XP, thank god you still around

Thank God for XP?

I really hope you stick with it then. In a few years time when the average specs are way higher than Vista requires you'll be raving about Vista.

A little behind the times, but I can tell from your comment of "MacOS sucks and it's for little GIRLS" youre a real tech expert.

Whats youre opinion of Linux?

Joe: Keep your day job...Bob Garfield at Advertising Age isn't going to be calling to interview you for his column.
In looking at the new AAPL ads, it seems that they've become markedly more smug and self-righteous. I'd question the prudence of running such ads during the middle of this presidential campaign that's already heavy-up on the negative. An individual who has viewed both "I'm a PC" and either of the two Mac ads above will come away with entirely different attitudes about the respective brands: Apple's image loses luster because of the implied message: Vista's a loser and so are those who use it. Given the installed base of Vista, alienation of such a large group of your potential switching customers is always losing bet. Reason #1: Cognitive Dissonance. Given the long run of this campaign, the non-tech consumer may be wondering why Apple isn't talking more about Macs rather than dissing the competition in their advertising. (Maybe it's a cue to keep message boards like this one roiling with Fanboy wars.)
APPL annouced their 3Q08 results: Good qtr, slight revenue miss, but exceptional gross margins. P/E still ~20 compared to S&P's 10 -- Still Expensive. AAPLs future depends on it's product pipeline, but mostly the economy. On the latter point, advantage MSFT #and also HPQ, DELL, Lenovo etc.# APPL's financial message boards are full of Mac partisans extolling the value of the stock. What's the old adage? "Never fall in love with a stock." Or a tech company, for that matter

I would rather have a Commodore 64 than MS Vista. It offers real world stability that leverages an organizations ROI by enhancing the end user experience. The Commodore's cassette drive while slow by todays solid state PC devices is 100% compatible off the shelf, thus saving the end user countless hours of Vista workarounds.

@JM
LOL.
Whilst I echo your sentiments for a return to the "golden age" of computing, the C64 is a little extreme!!!

How about the Amiga 500 and Workbench 1.3 rather than Vista?

Doesnt this Mac/Vista/Linux debate, echo a little of the ST/A500 wars of the 90's?

The C64 was damn good though!

I was slow in moving onto Vista because I'd heard all the bad things about them. That meant that when I first started using it, SP1 had been out for a while. So, I can't see what all the fuss is about. Now that the major bugs have been fixed, I don't see why people are still complaining.

Yes, there's one little annoyance, and that's the UAC thing... which will be sorted out in Windows 7. But, from all the hype (anti-hype?) I was expecting to be interupted by UAC windows every two minutes. I can handle them popping up maybe half a dozen times in a day and maybe slowing me down by a whole thirty seconds in total.

I'm not a Mac user. I've tried them. Some of my friends own them. I've had a play around with them to see what I could do... and didn't see what all the fuss was about. I certainly wasn't going to pay a load more for them.

I've used Linux. Now, there I can see why people might choose Linux over Windows. I can also see why a whole lot more people don't. It all depends on how you use your computer and what your preferences are. As far as I can see, there will always be valid reasons for choosing one over the the other and people will make their choices based on whichever reasons mean more to them. I personally choose Windows but I'm never going to tell anyone they shouldn't use Linux.

But Macs? They're prettier than Windows PCs. But I'm happily typing this on my Vista computer and I'll be updating to Windows 7 when it comes out.

Wow!

Way to miss the point guys!

Joe wasn't didn't say Vista is bad he said Microsoft's markting is crap and lets be honest here, it *is* crap.

Oh, and...

@Ken Houghton
What does "Macs (...) include Developer rights with the purchase of the machine" mean?

Windows, MacIntoshes, and commercials.

A. So what? Commercials are commercials. From the way they're developing there must be a prize for the most inane.

B. Operating Systems are GUI's. They have to be used because most people wouldn't do things like write ini and bat files because they were confusing. That very shortly ended with the disappearance of the DOS platform.

C. The DOS platform had some implicit weaknesses.

D. All programmers are nuts, mainly because they're required by management to do impossible things in less than no time.

E. Apple/Mac and Microsoft are the two big players in the market. Most of you seem to be saying either that he should be writing about something else or that he doesn't have the right to an opinion. I won't characterize it, because that would be direct flaming; however, as a clue, I doubt I'd emulate it either.

F. Good grief.
--Glenn

wow the vitriol LOL

I love the new mac ads, and at the Microsoft across america event I saw the new I'm a PC one and finally saw a decent - but not earthshaking MS ad
but still - Vista is lame.

And no I do not own a Mac. Yes I have used Vista - two beta;s and a production build. Shame they came up with junk this time out. I wiped and went back to XP. To upgrade a machine to run an app for a purpose is one thing - to have to increase your hardware just to run the OS for pretty bling is stupid.

I was hoping to wait for 7 = now Ballmer says that Windows 7 is Vista R2 - so disappointment again.

maybe it is time to switch

The real reason that: "Why 'I'm a PC' Is a Brand Failure" (one thought, could it be MS product stinks?)

Vista R.I.P.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/vista_r_i_p
by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (remember this guy Joe? you should, he wrote and is writting some fine posts)

Quotes from the link: "Vista is awful. Everyone knows it, including Microsoft, and now Microsoft's actions have made it clear that Vista is on its way to the Microsoft junkyard with such similar failures as Windows ME and Microsoft Bob.

You don't have to believe me. Just look at what Microsoft has been doing. First, Microsoft started fast-tracking Vista's successor, Windows 7. Recently, we discovered that Windows 7 alpha will be coming to developers this October.

Still, you might think, "So what, Microsoft is still giving us a choice between Vista and Vista for the next year or two." Wrong. The rumors were true. Microsoft is extending XP's sales life again."

To ALL THE MS AND APPLE DORKS HERE! THROW YOUR COMPUTERS AND USE AMIGA AND GET A LIFE!

I think you guys seriously need to stop flaming Joe just because of negative posts. The site is called "Microsoft Watch", not "Microsoft Fanboi." If this site is intended to be an update on the goings on of Microsoft, much as a weather report is intended to be an update of the goings on of the weather, then these days it is rather hard to claim sunny, cloudless skies all around while the category 5 hurricane Vista continues to annihilate the coastline and move further inland without showing signs of weakening.

I agree it's a brand failure which is sad in the way that Vista is sad. Microsoft has the money and the people to do brilliant things and it does mediocre things.

I really do think there are some very smart people at Microsoft, but perhaps because it's such an inbred culture (used to work there...) they sorta miss the forest for the trees. The brand campaign should've been about Windows not the PC which is fading as a form factor (how fast is debateable but have you seen the kids texting and surfing the internet on their iPhones recently?)

Vista should've done simple things well such as boot up faster, not wig out when hibernating/sleeping/etc. and finding your network without having to fiddle with your network. these are things that make Macs 'just work' and Microsoft seems hell bent on forcing people to work harder rather than admitting that their software needs to work better. It's really not about being capable of doing something which I think reasonable people would admit the MS OS CAN absolutely do with enough effort and tweaking, it's about having it happen without having to work hard.

I agree it's a brand failure which is sad in the way that Vista is sad. Microsoft has the money and the people to do brilliant things and it does mediocre things.

I really do think there are some very smart people at Microsoft, but perhaps because it's such an inbred culture (used to work there...) they sorta miss the forest for the trees. The brand campaign should've been about Windows not the PC which is fading as a form factor (how fast is debateable but have you seen the kids texting and surfing the internet on their iPhones recently?)

Vista should've done simple things well such as boot up faster, not wig out when hibernating/sleeping/etc. and finding your network without having to fiddle with your network. these are things that make Macs 'just work' and Microsoft seems hell bent on forcing people to work harder rather than admitting that their software needs to work better.

It's really not about being capable of doing something which I think reasonable people would admit the MS OS CAN absolutely do with enough effort and tweaking, it's about having it happen without having to work hard.

I agree it's a brand failure which is sad in the way that Vista is sad. Microsoft has the money and the people to do brilliant things and it does mediocre things.

I really do think there are some very smart people at Microsoft, but perhaps because it's such an inbred culture (used to work there...) they sorta miss the forest for the trees. The brand campaign should've been about Windows not the PC which is fading as a form factor (how fast is debateable but have you seen the kids texting and surfing the internet on their iPhones recently?)

Vista should've done simple things well such as boot up faster, not wig out when hibernating/sleeping/etc. and finding your network without having to fiddle with your network. these are things that make Macs 'just work' and Microsoft seems hell bent on forcing people to work harder rather than admitting that their software needs to work better.

It's really not about being capable of doing something which I think reasonable people would admit the MS OS CAN absolutely do with enough effort and tweaking, it's about having it happen without having to work hard.

Microsoft may have gotten it right. I'm a PC, IF PC stands for "pissed customer". My Vista experience has been the worst computer experience I have ever had. My software that worked great under XP is blocked in Vista. Vista was a Beta when bundled with my computer, because Microsoft apparently put profits before providing a quality, vetted product. Nothing works right consistently with Vista. I am not stupid enough to keep banging my head into a wall - when 7 comes out, I will be behind Microsoft - far, far behind. I'll let others Beta test it.
Maybe in about two years, after they get there next
Service Pack out to correct all of 7's deficiencies, and after they have issued the upteenth version of Windows Genuine Advantage for it, I will think about using it. I will fill the void until then with Linux, Mac and nurse my barely functional Vista Home Premium until it is declared obsolete, to be replaced by Microsoft 8.
I previously suggested to Microsoft that the solution to the Vista problems was to give every Vista user free Windows XP. Now I believe they should give every Vista users a laptop running Windows XP, which I have found to be the best solution to keep functioning if one has to use Vista.

As an avid user of Macs and PC's, I must say that the PC users here are truly "panties-in-a-bunch" crowd. PC's are for gaming (because devs are slightly lazy and companies can't usually afford to budget for development for 5-10% of the computing market) and Macs are for REAL work. Period. When the statement "include Developer rights with the purchase of the machine" is uttered and then idiots on the PC side wonder what that means, you know the have never seen a line of C code in their lives. What the statement means is simple, want to develop for the OS you just bought? Use the RAD we have included as purchase price of the OS. For Windows you have VS (now express is free - but has to be downloaded and is still a stripped down copy), or Dev-C++, or just a compiler and notepad, but the idea is to get your users if they are so geekly inclined to join the dev crowd. In MS world, they don't expect a user to EVER get into the dev crowd, and if they do, charge them for the luxury of developing for the OS they just forked over hard-earned dough for.

If Vista is a work in progress as Ballmer states, why in the hell are they charging for it? Linux is a work in progress - and they're tons of distros you can use. With Vista you get SIX different "works in progress" with which to burn your money (and eventually your productivity) with.

So, for someone like myself, what would I do? Pirate Vista and XP (personally ONE copy, any customer MUST purchase their own "work-in-progress"), use Linux Mint to dev with (iPhone apps in eclipse, much fun! - NOT!) and buy my games to support real developers who have finished products, not "works-in-progress" for $400 - "Ultimate" the only version worth anything meaningful.

Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's what many, many geeks do now. We just don't complain like freakin' morons like the Chinese AFTER we pirate the damn OS.

Besides - M$ gets plenty of dough from nations, businesses, OEM builders, etc. Why in the hell would I (or anyone for that matter) pay for unfinished work, lost productivity, and poor support?

As an avid user of Macs and PC's, I must say that the PC users here are truly "panties-in-a-bunch" crowd. PC's are for gaming (because devs are slightly lazy and companies can't usually afford to budget for development for 5-10% of the computing market) and Macs are for REAL work. Period. When the statement "include Developer rights with the purchase of the machine" is uttered and then idiots on the PC side wonder what that means, you know the have never seen a line of C code in their lives. What the statement means is simple, want to develop for the OS you just bought? Use the RAD we have included as purchase price of the OS. For Windows you have VS (now express is free - but has to be downloaded and is still a stripped down copy), or Dev-C++, or just a compiler and notepad, but the idea is to get your users if they are so geekly inclined to join the dev crowd. In MS world, they don't expect a user to EVER get into the dev crowd, and if they do, charge them for the luxury of developing for the OS they just forked over hard-earned dough for.

If Vista is a work in progress as Ballmer states, why in the hell are they charging for it? Linux is a work in progress - and they're tons of distros you can use. With Vista you get SIX different "works in progress" with which to burn your money (and eventually your productivity) with.

So, for someone like myself, what would I do? Pirate Vista and XP (personally ONE copy, any customer MUST purchase their own "work-in-progress"), use Linux Mint to dev with (iPhone apps in eclipse, much fun! - NOT!) and buy my games to support real developers who have finished products, not "works-in-progress" for $400 - "Ultimate" the only version worth anything meaningful.

Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's what many, many geeks do now. We just don't complain like freakin' morons like the Chinese AFTER we pirate the damn OS.

Besides - M$ gets plenty of dough from nations, businesses, OEM builders, etc. Why in the hell would I (or anyone for that matter) pay for unfinished work, lost productivity, and poor support?

As an avid user of Macs and PC's, I must say that the PC users here are truly "panties-in-a-bunch" crowd. PC's are for gaming (because devs are slightly lazy and companies can't usually afford to budget for development for 5-10% of the computing market) and Macs are for REAL work. Period. When the statement "include Developer rights with the purchase of the machine" is uttered and then idiots on the PC side wonder what that means, you know the have never seen a line of C code in their lives. What the statement means is simple, want to develop for the OS you just bought? Use the RAD we have included as purchase price of the OS. For Windows you have VS (now express is free - but has to be downloaded and is still a stripped down copy), or Dev-C++, or just a compiler and notepad, but the idea is to get your users if they are so geekly inclined to join the dev crowd. In MS world, they don't expect a user to EVER get into the dev crowd, and if they do, charge them for the luxury of developing for the OS they just forked over hard-earned dough for.

Do you think that Obama is going to win because the Republicans have such a bad candidate?
Why did John McCain make his final argument against Obama... coal?
That's his closing argument? William Ayers, Rev. Wright, spreading the wealth, Born Alive, meeting dictators without preconditions, etc. all have to take a back seat so that McCain can go to Colorado and New Mexico to talk about coal? Does this more or less explain why he's going to get his clock cleaned Tuesday?

i'm a pc... and i'm cool.

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