Why I am now never going to buy an Apple computer.

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benplaut · #31 Post by **benplaut** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:35 am

well, first of all, the endless battles are... endless... so you might as well just stop them while it is still a "friendly" conversation

i am fine with Macs, and i believe that they make terrific computers, and outstanding software+OSs. However, i can't stand the "Mac Cult"... if you gte what i mean

(am i the man-of-fewest-words at this website

)

lilserenity · #32 Post by **lilserenity** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:55 am

Woah now that is a bit umm you know, odd.

The article that is. For the record, I have not an implicit hating for the Apple Mac, not in the slightest, it just all comes down to the software I'm afraid.

However that article is very interesting, I'm not into researching cyber sexualities, ie: relationships over the internet with another person, either completely, or with the intention of meeting that person - but falling in love with a computer.

That's 'different'. I guess the slogan 'Think Different' definitely applies here

Maybe I should change my ThinkPad's desktop

http://www.lilserenity.com/Desktop1_Small.jpg
http://www.lilserenity.com/Desktop2_Small.jpg

For the record I did not sleep with a IIsi or my T23.

Although... *looks at cuddly toys*

Vicky

#33 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 12:50 pm

Wow, that desktop could fool me most anyday. What software are you using to change your Windows appearance?

lilserenity · #34 Post by **lilserenity** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:14 pm

It's amazing what one can do if they really want to. I finished tweaking my desktop today and here is the fruits of my labour.

It is on my T23 I assure you (1.13GHz/1GB/1400 x 1050 x 32)

800x600 Pic: http://www.lilserenity.com/T23_XP_HQ_SM.JPG
Full Size Pic: http://www.lilserenity.com/T23_XP_HQ.JPG

(Nice links for those with slower connections)

The software used:

Windows XP SP 2
UXTHEME.DLL 'modification'

(I'm sure that was the name of it)
Iceman's Jaguar Theme

Y'z Toolbar (Changes Windows Explorer toolbar glyphs)
Y'z Shadow (Creates the funky shadow on the menus and windows)
Y'z Dock (Creates a dock that is just like OS X, discontinued but findable)

Usually to do this you need StyleXP but if you read up on how to erm 'modify'

the DLL file above, you can drop these visual styles straight into c:\winnt\resources\themes (or c:\windows or whichever drive, my WinXP install is an upgrade from Win 2000 hence WINNT directory) and you can select them in the Display control panel.

You have to 'modify' this DLL so that Windows XP does not check for the Microsoft Signature that the Luna and Classic visual styles have embedded within them.

If you have SP2 as I do, you will need to search on the net for the information relating specifically to SP2's UXTHEME.DLL modification, as SP2 has funky stack overflow detection etc., which means in essence Win XP with Sp2 is a very different beast under the bonnet to XP w/o SP1 and w/SP1. A google search may help!!

Also see: www.jonmega.com/iceman/

From there you can download UXTHEME.DLL for non SP1 and SP1 systems, but NOT SP2.

If you do not use this, you will need StyleXP from TGTSoft.

As you have guessed this is very much a Windows XP based system, for Windows 2000 etc., I expect you would need to use WindowBlinds or perhaps even that other one that has been around for aaaaages, forget its name now, but its been around forever it seems.

Then apply Iceman's Jaguar visual theme as per the instructions on the above website. Make sure you install the fonts (Lucida Grande and Lucida Grand Bold).

Then search on the Internet for Y'z Toolbar, Dock and Shadow. You can download the toolbar icons also from Iceman's pages.

Finally for the calendar and tasks manager (top right) use Rainlendar.

With all that done and tidying up the desktop, you have a rather awesome looking ThinkPad desktop

If the Apple 'thing' is your thing. I am no Mac enthusiast/evangelist/fanatic/luddite by any means, I don't even own a Mac nor intend to either. But I did always have a soft spot for the Mac (in the System 7.0.1 and 7.5 days! And also the Amiga but there's another story for a very damp soggy rainy day!!)

The reason I like this is because it:

- looks awesome (I like aesthetics, believe me you if you saw my wardrobe you'd see i'm a sucker for good things

)
- combines excellent design of the OS X system and associated ergonomics with the more accessible open nature of Windows
- Leaves people totally bemused when I do presentation on projectors as they 'see' a Mac that has just booted with WindowsXP and has IBM ThinkPad on the lid

Ever the antagonist.

I'll post this elsewhere too as there is somewhere else where this is more appropriate as this topic is more about sleeping with your Mac G3 or something else equally odd

Vicky[/img]

asiafish · #35 Post by **asiafish** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:06 pm

I have just as much fun with VirtualPC on my PowerBook, when put in full screen mode people see Windows 200, including the boot-up, but running on an aluminum powerbook with glowing Apple logo on the lid.

Of course on the PowerBook, OSX is more than skin deep.

GoEatFood · #36 Post by **GoEatFood** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:05 pm

here is the simple facts.

1. Mac's were made for people with very little computer knowalge.

Point one. lack of expandability.

Point two. One mouse button being a standard.

Point three. Ease of use. now you may say this is a good thing and it is for someone doing basic things on their computer. but, for anyone that wants to try something new. I wouldn't say go with a mac because your going to be stuck with the same thing forever untill you go back to standard IBM based machine.

2. IBM based machines vs. Mac's in look.

first of all, this isn't a fashion show. nor, will you win any prizes for having a cool looking system.

second of all, with a little bit of work you could create an IBM based system that will look like a Mac. but, why would you want to do that they all look the same anyways. IBM based system have tons of different towers to choose from. so, for the most part if you put a little bit of work you will find that you can have a system that looks like no one else'.

now, I could go on and on and on. but, I'd rather not because we could both go on and on for as long as we'd like in the end they are both computers and will bring us to the same point. If you are worried about virus's get linux on your computer. from my understanding there arn't many virus's for that if any at all. the main point being that you being on here trying to prove that a Mac/Apple is a supperior system will never be proven. as many of the people have already said it's a matter of preference. I hope this was a decent first major post.

Lee

Bob Collins · #37 Post by **Bob Collins** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:10 pm

GoEatFood wrote:here is the simple facts.

1. Mac's were made for people with very little computer knowalge.

Point one. lack of expandability.

Point two. One mouse button being a standard.

Point three. Ease of use. now you may say this is a good thing and it is for someone doing basic things on their computer. but, for anyone that wants to try something new. I wouldn't say go with a mac because your going to be stuck with the same thing forever untill you go back to standard IBM based machine. Lee

Well, maybe not knowledge of computers, but rather a want to have the computer get out of the way. I think that things are quite different especially considering the major OS change when Apple committed to OS X and used a BSD system under the GUI. It is rather an elegant system to let newbies use the system, AND the CLI beneath for power users.

It is quite nice to fire up the CLI and ssh to my FreeBSD boxes at my office and work on them without having to use putty, for example, to get there.

Expandability is as you say, up to each user. I find that my Powerbook does not really need any expansion, other than upgrading the HD.

One mouse button is simple true, but when I plugged in a USB mouse, the second mouse button functioned with context sensitive stuff as you expect with Windows. Interestingly though I did not get any notice of new hardware, no request for software, it just worked. That was nice. And do people really need all the buttons that are now being added to Windows mice? Heck, my Windows mouse by Logitech has something like 8 buttons for ultra programability. I only use about 4 of them, and that is even using AutoCAD! I would posit, the average user will never use more than two buttons on a daily basis.....

I think it boils down to the tools you need and can use. For example, at work the other day, I received a series of PDFs of some civil engineering plans. My plotter does not have a RIP, so I had to open them in Photshop and then convert to TIFF and print from PS. The size of the files was rather large for PDF, but took a few minutes to open on my dual-processed Dell Workstation, and then a few minutes to convert in PS. Contrast that to my Powerbook that is half the CPU speed, less RAM, and running Photoshop Elements 3. The PDFs opened in a few seconds, converted in the same and were printed. In the time I could open, convert, and print one of those PDFs on my workstation, I did the whole lot of them on the Powerbook. Sometimes there are better tools.

I guess you use what is appropriate for your needs. That is why I run Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X at work. I use what is right and best for each task at hand.

Yes, Lee it was a good first post. Welcome and enjoy.

codestar7 · #38 Post by **codestar7** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:12 pm

That story truly had nothing to do with the computer applied...an IBM is capable of web camming too. Saying you hate Macs because some weirdo had a fetish for one is like saying you hate the rock the guy picked up and hit you in the head with....It wasn't the rocks fault you got a concusion, if you think that you realy do have a concusion....LOL...And its a little late to start hating Macs, or Apple computers, 80% of all the computers sold in the orient are Apples...the Japanese buy allmost exclusive Macs...they just make the IBMs for us less fortunate Americans.....lol

Torque · #39 Post by **Torque** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:22 am

codestar7 wrote:That story truly had nothing to do with the computer applied...an IBM is capable of web camming too. Saying you hate Macs because some weirdo had a fetish for one is like saying you hate the rock the guy picked up and hit you in the head with....It wasn't the rocks fault you got a concusion, if you think that you realy do have a concusion....LOL...And its a little late to start hating Macs, or Apple computers, 80% of all the computers sold in the orient are Apples...the Japanese buy allmost exclusive Macs...they just make the IBMs for us less fortunate Americans.....lol

I believe this thread was meant as a joke, but I might be wrong. I doubt that any potential Mac customers will look elsewhere, because they read about some homosexual who falled in love with his web-partners Mac.

...And about the mac vs. IBM thingy. Apple makes great computers, no doubt about that. I'm not really into the design, I must admit - but someone appears to be, so no sweat. The reason why I don't own a mac myself, is that I need to run some specific CAD programs that aren't compiled for Mac. I like the custimizability of my pc-based system, and the enormous amount of 3rd party software out there for it.

yukit · #40 Post by **yukit** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:44 am

Apple's master plan to sell more Macs is working.

My wife installed iTune on her PC, then got an iPod. Now she is looking for a Mac, probably a 12-inch PowerBook.

I am not giving up my Thinkpad though

asiafish · #41 Post by **asiafish** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:25 am

The 12 inch PowerBook is a really nice laptop. The screen is a bit small compared to a T-series ThinkPad, but otherwise there are no compromises.

Why I am now never going to buy an Apple computer.

Hate Mac's?

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