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Tee · May 8, 2006, 06:17 PM

I am becoming sick and tired of the increasing limitations of the Mac. Almost daily I am marginalized in some new way because I am a Mac user.
I encounter websites that don't function properly.
Services that are not available to me.
Files or documents that do not display properly.
Hardware that is only partially 'supported.'
Etc etc etc..

I don't need even need Windows compatibility, What I need is for my Mac to to be able to function in the real world and online.
Too many websites and online services are off-limits to Mac users.

I just downloaded a PDF file that Preview can't fully display properly...

The Mac can't function effectively in todays mainstream computing environment.

I have been a monogamous Mac user since 1987.

I'm not going to get into trying to list every single glitch that I have encountered in the past 4-5 years.
Macintouch.com has a lengthy list of Mac Marginilization issues

I will say that It would be nice to be able to watch current release movie through www.movielink.com or to listen to a few tracks at Napaster.com

I feel bad for new computer users who get a Mac and then discover that they are locked-out of popular services...

I am seriously considering switching to Windows.
Really.

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 06:17 PM

Yes we saw your other thread. Very nice.

I suggest you switch back to Windows ASAP.
Really.

rambo47 · May 8, 2006, 06:19 PM

Buh-bye.

olePigeon · May 8, 2006, 06:22 PM

Do you have more examples other than not being able to watch movies in Windows Media Player?

As for your PDF, did you try Adobe Acrobat Reader? eBooks and encrypted PDFs won't always display correctly, you may have to use Adobe's official Acrobat reader. I haven't run into a PDF and Preview hasn't been able to display correctly, though.

awaspaas · May 8, 2006, 06:23 PM

Firefox is also an excellent browser.

andreas_g4 · May 8, 2006, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Tee

I am seriously considering switching to Windows.
Really.

-1

Good luck

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 06:32 PM

If you want Napster over iTunes you got some issues.

sek929 · May 8, 2006, 06:35 PM

So you can't watch some crappy video of a kid getting hit in the nuts at eBaum's World, who gives a sh*t?

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 06:44 PM

I hear Windows has better support for Virus' and Spyware.

kmkkid · May 8, 2006, 07:30 PM

I haven't used windows in like 10 months, am I missing something important?

Doubt it.

ironknee · May 8, 2006, 07:39 PM

jest wait till vista comes out...the end of microsoft's credibility

stevesnj · May 8, 2006, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I hear Windows has better support for Virus' and Spyware.

voodoo · May 8, 2006, 07:58 PM

One could say Windows is practical over cool. As such I can understand the decision to choose Windows. It will pretty much work with anything if time and effort are invested in it.

It's just so tasteless..

V

Sarc · May 8, 2006, 08:18 PM

actually, from my experience, the number of incompatibilities has come down when compared to say ... the OS 9 days.

Scotttheking · May 8, 2006, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Tee

I just downloaded a PDF file that Preview can't fully display properly...

Preview stinks, FYI. Get thee a copy of Acrobat Reader.

rickey939 · May 8, 2006, 08:39 PM

Proud of you stinker.®

JoshuaZ · May 8, 2006, 09:17 PM

Life goes on. Run another OS.

brassplayersrock² · May 8, 2006, 09:21 PM

today an elderly lady was in this copycop down the street and she sat down at a mac to do some work, a guy in the store told her, oh nah, itll be easier on this pc, so he sat her infront of it, and after about 10-15 mins of her trying to get the thing to do whatever she needed it to do, she dropped the mouse, she promply went back to the mac and 5 mins later she got what she wanted done and printed, and was out the door.

ink · May 8, 2006, 09:37 PM

*yawn*

I find it hard to believe that you think it's worse *now* than back in the 90's. Operating systems are becoming commodity items.

PS: Download Adobe Acrobat Reader if you don't want to use preview, and let me introduce you to a great website: http://www.versiontracker.com

macaddict0001 · May 8, 2006, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Scotttheking

Preview stinks, FYI. Get thee a copy of Acrobat Reader.

Although Preview doesn't support things such as encrypted pdfs and pdfs with embedded media, it is a whole lot faster, kinda like safari vs camino.

lavar78 · May 8, 2006, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by macaddict0001

Although Preview doesn't support things such as encrypted pdfs and pdfs with embedded media, it is a whole lot faster

Indeed.

Salty · May 9, 2006, 12:38 AM

Never had problems with PDFs but if I did I'd know enough to get acrobat reader.
Since flip4mac came out haven't had a single problem viewing a video...
And uhh... yah... oh if a browser page gives me trouble I open it in Firefox. Or just use the debug menu (enabled with pith helmet) and just make safari pretend it's IE.

turtle777 · May 9, 2006, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Sarc

actually, from my experience, the number of incompatibilities has come down when compared to say ... the OS 9 days.

Oh shut up.

Nobody wants to hear facts.

-t

Kr0nos · May 9, 2006, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by Tee

I encounter websites that don't function properly.

Blame the 'web designers' then. It's not Apple's fault that so many don't code their site standards compliant.

Dark Helmet · May 9, 2006, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by Kr0nos

Blame the 'web designers' then. It's not Apple's fault that so many don't code their site standards compliant.

It is not the web designers fault but the web developers actually.

AssassyN · May 9, 2006, 02:24 AM

As sad as this is, it's true in so many ways.

Macs are the best at what they do, but definitely lag behind in everything else.

Ever tried to list eBay ads on a Mac and use their built-in colors/fonts/etc. tools? Can't do it.
Ever tried to open a complex macro-ridden Excel file on a Mac and it work perfectly everytime when first made in Windows? No way.

I keep both around since they are great at certain things; the intel chips are changing it all though, because now you can have both in one shell.

brapper · May 9, 2006, 05:02 AM

+ baby = YOU!

ha.

Big Mac · May 9, 2006, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by AssassyN

Macs are the best at what they do, but definitely lag behind in everything else.

Makes a lot of sense.

I have never owned a PC, and I have never used VPC. Yet, there has never been a need of mine that my Macs could not fulfill. Never. Of course, there have been times when it would have been convenient to have a PC in order to do various things. There are certain pieces of software with no equivalents on our side that would improve my productivity. That much I am prepared to grant. However, at the end of the day, there has never been a desire sufficiently compelling to justify the purchase of a PC.

Kr0nos · May 9, 2006, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

It is not the web designers fault but the web developers actually.

Not to derail this too far, but why did you think it was important to make this distinction? Are you trying to say that web designers aren't involved in deciding how a site is coded?

In any case, it sure as hell isn't Apple's fault…

King Bob On The Cob · May 9, 2006, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by AssassyN

As sad as this is, it's true in so many ways.

Macs are the best at what they do, but definitely lag behind in everything else.

Ever tried to list eBay ads on a Mac and use their built-in colors/fonts/etc. tools? Can't do it.

Never tried it, but have you tried using the latest Safari Nightly (Google WebKit), and faking yourself as FireFox or Internet Explorer? (Alot of times, features that "aren't supported" are really just the web developers not wanting to test anything, so they disable it on all browsers except one, even if the web browser really does support it)

Originally Posted by AssassyN

Ever tried to open a complex macro-ridden Excel file on a Mac and it work perfectly everytime when first made in Windows? No way.

That probably has alot to do with Office on Mac's "Lets not run every macro, especially the one that's writing random crap out to the hard drive" feature. Be glad it does it too. Macro Viruses are ones that can get us too.

Mastrap · May 9, 2006, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Scotttheking

Preview stinks, FYI. Get thee a copy of Acrobat Reader.

Think so? It displays 99% of all pdfs I come across perfectly and a lot faster than Acrobat.

Cody Dawg · May 9, 2006, 09:10 AM

I just downloaded a PDF file that Preview can't fully display properly...

Uh, in Preview go to "Setup" and set it for a lower percentage or higher percentage (I like to use 96% personally) and it will look just fine.

Other than that, methinks you are a Windows troll and just out to have some fun.

If you need Windows then use Windows. Go buy a POS from Dell and learn to speak Hindi so that you can understand "tech support" when you need help.

Dark Helmet · May 9, 2006, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Kr0nos

Not to derail this too far, but why did you think it was important to make this distinction? Are you trying to say that web designers aren't involved in deciding how a site is coded?

In any case, it sure as hell isn't Apple's fault…

because I am a web designer and most of the time you hand off a PSD to the programmers and many times they make really bad programming choices. I don't like getting the blame from users that a sight doesn't work in Safari when the programmer flat out says "who cares it is just safari, everyone uses IE". If I push the matter further the client or company just looks at how long it will take to fix and don't see a value in making it 100% compatible. Bad management yes but it is still not the designers fault.

Jawbone54 · May 9, 2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Tee

I am seriously considering switching to Windows.
Really.

Go ahead then. Switch.

Every day I have to work on a PC for about 30 minutes. I get so annoyed with it that it makes me want to throw it against the wall after a few minutes. I've been a Mac user for 3 years, and I will never go back to Windows....period. Good luck with Vista in a few months. It'll feel like Tiger Lite.

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I hear Windows has better support for Virus' and Spyware.

Cody Dawg · May 9, 2006, 10:24 AM

I suggest that we all pitch in $10 each and buy this guy a nice POS for about $349 from Dell.

Then he won't come back here and post again.

Millennium · May 9, 2006, 12:30 PM

These are not limitations of the Mac. They are limitations of an industry which has bought into the unethical lock-in practices of one of the most corrupt corporations of our time. And you, too, are buying into them.

My advice: don't. There is nothing you can do on Windows that you cannot do on the Mac, aside from running specific programs. Occasionally, you may have to hunt around a bit to find the program or service that does what you want, but it is there.