09-24-2007, 12:07 PM

I'm a recent switcher (as of a week ago) and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I bought one of the new iMacs and it's really been a treat using it.

I have a lot of friends and relatives that use Mac's so that's sort of what started me on the iMac path. Of all my friends & relatives though, I am the only person that actually works in IT - I'm a programmer/analyst. Now I've only had my computer for a week so maybe I'll be whistling a different tune 3 months from now, but as I see it, a lot of Mac users (at least among my friends) are seriously misinformed. What I mean by that is, I hear a lot of anti-Microsoft/Windows comments that simply aren't true and are based on myths and popular misconceptions.

Have any of you experienced this? I realize this is a MAC forum but I'm not here to bash anyone. I love Macs AND PC's and I have no issue with someone preferring one over the other. I just don't like hearing people spout off with statements that aren't necessarily true. For example, I've heard the following comments that immediatley make me shake my head in disbelief...

1) On Macs, programs never freeze. Have fun pressing CTRL, ALT, DEL every 5 seconds. -- Odd, my first night using my Mac iTunes froze and I needed to hit CMD/OPT/ESC to "FORCE QUIT". It's really fantastic when that spinning color wheel comes up and doesn't go away too....nice.

2) You don't need drivers on a Mac - Really? Again, the first night I had my computer I needed to install a driver for my printer so that it would work. I have yet to see a single device that didn't require a driver of some sort.

Like I said, I'm a switcher and I love my new Mac - I just have no patience for PC bashers that have little to no knowledge of what they're saying.

Anyone else experience this?

09-24-2007, 12:30 PM

Well I've had my Mac for exactly 1 month as of today, and I must disagree with some of your observations, when you call them "Myths" I've never heard anyone Claim that a Mac will not Lockup, or freeze. It even states in the Owners Guide that if something Locks up or freezes, then you need to force quit. If that wasn't the case, there would be no force quit.

It does seem that your experiences are fairly uncommon though. In your situation the Mac Froze doing something relatively simple, but the only time My iMac has froze was while I was messing around with both iMovie 6 HD & iMovie 08, along with iDVD open and Safari open, Which obviously was more than the Mac Could handle, I wouldnt expect the system to run correctly with that much open, while on the otherhand My old PC could barely handle having Two IE 6 Browsers open without having a heart attack.

I am uncertain of where you ever heard you don't need drivers. This is simply untrue regardless of what Operating System you are using, as new peripherals come out, not all updates will contain the needed software.

Its great that you love Mac, but there are reasons for others to be PC Bashers based on their different experiences. I was a PC Basher Long before I even owned a Mac or considered owning one so I dont base my hatred of the Windows environment from my Experience with Mac OS.

09-24-2007, 12:34 PM

In my long Mac experience, drivers are fairly rare but not unheard of. The only two I have had install on my current setup have been for an HP printer (and the generic HP driver actually works in it's place I discovered) and a PCI-e E-SATA card.

Other than that I have scanners, hard drive galore, USB Hubs (both PCI-e and external), Firewire Hubs, Mice, Keyboards, large capacity external cases, monitors, digital cameras (both still and movie) and so on that have never needed drivers of any kind.

09-24-2007, 12:38 PM

when you call them "Myths" I've never heard anyone Claim that a Mac will not Lockup, or freeze. It even states in the Owners Guide that if something Locks up or freezes, then you need to force quit. If that wasn't the case, there would be no force quit.

I know, that's the point of my post. Of course programs will freeze. I'm just saying I've heard Mac users tell me that it never happens to them.

This is what I'm saying--I know Mac Users that say untrue things like I mentioned above. I'm not saying that I myself believe them to be true.

09-24-2007, 12:47 PM

I know lots of people that say untrue things about many different topics.

People should not say untrue things.

09-24-2007, 12:49 PM

ah...touche.

09-24-2007, 02:51 PM

Of all my friends & relatives though, I am the only person that actually works in IT - I'm a programmer/analyst.

Ah, so you would know there's no such thing as a crash proof OS!

To be fair, the common consensus is that OS X crashes less than Windows, and I think that is true overall. Apple makes the hardware AND the OS, so one point of view is that Microsoft will forever be swimming against the tide stability wise because they can't control every single configuration.

As for drivers, I think the picture that is usually painted is that things do tend to work more easily, although it is true that printers and scanners will need drivers.
On the other hand, you will never need to hunt for sound, graphics or keyboard drivers because they come through Apple update usually without you noticing.

09-24-2007, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by The_Grudge

I know, that's the point of my post. Of course programs will freeze. I'm just saying I've heard Mac users tell me that it never happens to them.

You wrote some have told you it hasn't happen to them -- As opposed to it never happens to Mac's. Well that may very well be true.

For the record, most (not all) brand printer drivers are included in OS X.

Someone once said, bashing Mac's is due to ignorance -- While bashing PC's is from experience. This is absolute truth.

Enjoy that new Mac.

EDIT: I've never had a Apple program "freeze" on me. Crash, yes. One attribute regarding OS X and drivers is that many drivers are automatically discovered. (ie; I use a RadTech BT500 mini rechargeable mouse that my MBP instantly discovered the minute I added it.

09-24-2007, 03:48 PM

I don't want to get a reputation for coming in here as the new guy and trying to wee wee on everyone's parade but the biggest myth I have had dispelled is that the Mac system and "experience" would be trouble free.

I don't have a problem with drivers, and I don't have a problem with the occasional application lockup. I am having problems with apple product quality control. I am on my second 24" iMac in less than a week and will likely be on my third by the end of this week.

Sure, there are others out there that are not experiencing problems with their new iMacs, though I suspect some are and just aren't putting 2 and 2 together, but the fact is that a lot of new iMac users are having trouble that no other Mac user on these forums or any other Mac forum can relate to.

I am at the point now where I don't have any clue whether the problem is hardware related or if it has something to do with the new 1.1 patch that came out a couple of weeks ago but so far both of my systems have had some sort of crazy graphics glitch / lockup problem. The one I am currently dealing with has even earned the name "Water World / Lava World" for how the glitch appears on white and black dominant screens respectively.

The Apple store for their part is great once they can finally find time to help me or get to my appointment, but with a new system, they just want to replace the whole thing outright. Apple care on the phone takes me through a battery of resetting this and starting up like that which of course doesn't really address things like graphics glitches. I have even had it suggested to me by well meaning forum members that I should re-install my OS! Wow, that is exactly why I switched in the first place. It was also recommended to me that I get Apple Care, fine, but it really lowers my confidence to know that an extended warranty is the only real way to get help on a system that I just purchased. It just doesn't sit well with me.

I hope I am just that one in a million raving lunatic and that this isn't really a widespread problem. Feel free to follow along in my blog (signature) or look at new iMac support forums on Apple.com and you will see some very large threads on the issue.

09-24-2007, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by illy5603

I hope I am just that one in a million raving lunatic and that this isn't really a widespread problem. Feel free to follow along in my blog (signature) or look at new iMac support forums on Apple.com and you will see some very large threads on the issue.

I'm not sure that you are the "One in a Million". Assuming that you have one of the new "Aluminum" iMacs, this is often what happens when one adopts a new model at the beginning of it's life. Look at the new iPods and the iPhones for a similar example. Early adopters always have the most problems. I know iit sucks for you though.

Just from what you have said about your graphics issue, I'm guessing it is a graphics chipset issue on the motherboard. Since you cant replace the chipset, you have to replace the MB or the computer itself. I recently went through something similar with my wifes ~15 month old C2D iMac, and it cost me over $900 to get it fixed.

Originally Posted by The_Grudge

I'm just saying I've heard Mac users tell me that it never happens to them.

It's entirely possible that it has never happened to them. That doesn't mean it never happens at all to anyone though. I've only had a few, but they have all been indicative of serious problems and not just random occurrences. That being said, I have not had one in about 6 or 7 months now. Everyones mileage will vary depending on how you use your Mac ands what you do with it.

09-24-2007, 04:17 PM

I'm one of the lucky ones. I haven't experienced that issue with my iMac.

I think you're confused regarding Applecare. You don't need Applecare to receive proper service. Not prior to 1 year (or 90 days phone support). You will be happy in 2 years 11 months from now should you have another issue and Apple says, we'll replace your iMac. I have experienced exactly that with a previous G4 PowerBook. We all know Dell would never do that. Apple's warranty service including Applecare is second to no one, and highly regarded by many aside from actual Mac user's.

No one builds flawless computers. You are entitled to rant if the issues are not being resolved by Apple, but don't confuse what Apple will do for you during this trying time. With that said, if Apple wants to replace your iMac, appreciate it. Good luck.

09-24-2007, 04:21 PM

Dead giveaway at the Genius Bar that you are a recent PC convert = "I think my motherboard is bad".

Apple installs logicboards in their computers.

09-24-2007, 04:49 PM

or if you tell them you installed a "program" on your computer.

09-24-2007, 04:51 PM

Ive had my iMac for a week and a half and have not had any issues what so ever except having to force quit on Safari once - not bad compared to my windows machine And I love being able to play WoW not at full screen. Can take a break whenever I want to use MSN or Safari or to control iTunes without alt-tabbing or exiting the game.

09-24-2007, 05:35 PM

Not to burst your bubble but WoW was playable in windowed mode in Windows also.