Apple takes a few shots at Windows during WWDC09

[DJG]

I believe the Mac's biggest selling point is their reputation as an "appliance" - you turn it on and it works. It's not a "geek techie machine" . I have two close non-techie friends that after years of wrestling with their store-bought cheap PCs got Macs and love them.

Me, I'm a techie type (occasionally also tacky) and build my own. I could never stand an appliance type. And let's face it, if you're reading this most likely so are you, although I've "seen" a few posters (??!!) that might be better off with an appliance ...

The point is some people have problems, others don't, with either camp. The fact that the market is so large on the PC side means the price / problem ratio seems to be tolerable.

On the Mac side, artsy types are not the only big market. The photographic industry, for example, is a big Mac user, although some might think of that as an artsy segment. Sure some of it is, but a lot of it has nothing to do with art. Photoshop software gets developed in Macs as the main platform. The big selling point there is, you guessed it, it's an appliance you don't have to tweedle with - and OK, oooh, it looks so cool to boot (pun intended).

As to why MS has more problems being an appliance, well there are some good (and I'm sure some less good) reasons. Unlike Apple, who controls both the hardware and software design, MS has to try and make their OS work with a plethora of crappy to excellent hardware components, in a potentially mind-boggling amount of combinations. Care to enumerate the potential test case scenarios? I think I'll pass, thank you.

In the end, I'm glad there's Apple, just like I'm glad there's Nikon (I have a Canon) and I'm glad there's Chevy (I have a Ford - wait, is there still a Chevy???). Competition keeps us moving forward - usually.

I like tweedling and like to have complete control over what my system is, like to nurture and evolve it, so here I am, and most likely so are you.

But I do have to say, I really miss the Amiga ...