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What are these “macs” and “pc” things people are jibber jabbering about?

Macs make me feel cool and important sometimes, sure. Coda is ok..Its def nothing to spend 160 bucks on a weak ass proprietary power supply on.

Ok, let’s just face it, apple, applecare, apple tv, all of Jobs’ closed-hardware-platform bs…its f’n embarrassing to be a mac user. I have 2 powermacs, 4 centos servers (I develop on a redhat box…oh hmm a guy who develops on a real web server!), and 4 PC’s. I like both OS’s (OSX and WINDOWS) and because I support both I get to use them everyday.

But to me, who cares which is prettier or which one the stars use, or which one has a better text editor (are you kidding me?). I like a success story, and a MAC is not that to me. They don’t make a good comeback story, even if they did make a come back… DRM and the itunes saga? ..price? I built a PC for 400 bucks last week that will smoke any powermac for under 3k…pretty lame. MACS are def NOT for the elite…maybe for are for the need-to-feel-elite? It takes more than an OS to be elite at anything. I also happen to think win7 will redeem vista and stomp mac sales…anyone else?

Time has already told us, MACs no longer revolutionary (1980s), nothing THAT ahead of the curve has erupted from OSX that we can not live without…even Ubuntu looks OK beside one…and someday soon ppl will need the extra cash.

I have a success story for that dude who asked us name two success stories that don’t dev on a MAC? How does India and China wrk for ya? No?

To me the guy who wrote this is saying: “Hey, PC’s ain’t so bad guys. Comon…check it out you can do this and this and that, much like a MAC ..and maybe more!”

I say, “A hell of alot more” and welcome to the majority. (the ppl u dev—I mean work—for).

Everyone needs a Mac!

Can has comment pagination?

whaa, whaa, whaa. My shiny, flashing future box is better than your shiny, flashing future box. Just think, 100 years ago no one had any of these things and did they complain?! NO! Get a grip.

As a student I had a Mac and loved it. At work I have programmed in Windows pretty much since its inception. Several years ago I reverted back to a Mac for web development. It was like a breath of fresh air and I could never go back.

This is not to say Mac’s are a better web development tool for everyone, just that they are for me.

and go back to work… if you have some.

A linux article would be great. I have Ubuntu on my laptop and haven’t found the necessary apps needed for web development.

I had a Mac for 2+ years. I moved back to a PC when I realised I done everything about 2x faster in Windows.

is it some kind of joke got nothing to post?

This discussion is just going in circles, with the “OS Wars”. Most of the author’s apps have something “similar” on a Mac – except for AutoHotKey (but AppleScript could give the same capabilities).

I switched recently, because I had the opportunity and ‘liked’ what I felt with a Mac for 3 days. When my laptop arrived and an hour of googling, I found alternatives or Mac equivalents of what I use in my Windows box, so my workflow is pretty much seamless:

Notepad++ to Textwrangler and then bought Coda
XAMPP web server (they have a Mac OS release)
VirtualBox for VM’s and testing the various flavors of IE/FF/Opera/Webkit on Windows.
Backups are handled by Time Machine
Bootcamp – if something can’t be avoided.

A good site that could help when looking for alternatives is AlternativeTo: Link [alternativeto.net]

So, my Windows box is mostly for backup and gaming these days, which the Mac badly needs.

Man this is awesome, great tools – Thank you !

Yes, usually you have more trouble with an PC but if you got advanced knowledge then you have no probs and your PC is much much better as an MAC ! MAC is for beginners, really!

Mac users…look into Crossover rather than VM or Parallels. It installs and runs most windows programs without having to chew up valuable space and memory if you were to use VM or Parallels.

FYI if you design/code properly you wont have issues being cross-browser compatible.

To summarize this blog post, it’s best to agree to disagree. I did 7 years of design and development on a PC. All great work, got the job done and was happy working. However, as soon as I tried the Mac and became comfortable using it, I realized how much more efficient I was working on the Mac. PC is still great, but the Mac suited ME well and is superior for MY needs. To each their own, fellas.

@kaye, before I’ve decided I want to work as a designer, I’ve worked on freeBSD as a coder, I am aware of the fact that OSX is build on the kernel of BSD4xx, which makes it almost a direct descendant of UNIX. It even looks to me like a freeBSD with gnome.

Windows isn’t that bad at all.

I cannot understand this “I hate MS Windows” thing. The PC from which I am typing at the moment has 43days 12h:40min uptime…. the last time I’ve rebooted was because of a OS update. I use remote desktop everyday, I work on adobe products, use Eclipse based software for coding, I even listen music with MS media player, and everything works just fine …. so I think it is not the operating system it is the users…. mine is installed, tweaked by me and I’m the only person that uses it.

I can’t hide the fact that I have experience as windows support technician, but this only shows how complex in reality is Windows when it comes to customising it deeply… just as any UNIX (I use XP for the moment), it only lacks the best internet administration tools… but this is for another conversation.

Way to let loose all the fanboys. honestly I use a windows computer at work and a mac at home for my freelancing work and personal use. I prefer the Mac hands down, but that is just me. I crank all my work on both operating systems. To say that you need one OS over the other is preposterous. Both OS’s have good and bad aspects. Real designers and developers don’t require the crutch of a specific OS. Besides, you use programs to do your work not the OS. So if you are hating on EITHER Mac or Windows, go beat your chest somewhere else while the big boys work.

” there are plenty of reasons to stick with (or switch back to!) Windows.”

What I see here are reason to stick with a PC, but not any reason to switch back. Every app listed here as an equivalent on Mac; having 1000 mouse to choose from instead of 100 is not a big problem and most periferial even if they don’t have a specific driver will work on Mac with a generic driver (do you really think it’s that hard to make a tablet ou keyborad work on Mac ?); iand come-on, having the ability to chage the interface listed in an article about developpent machine ?? You can also do that on a Mac BTW.

If you developp with .Net, it makes sense to use a PC; If not, use what is best for what you develop; I know that RoR was made on Macs and is a little harder to install on PC and make it work correctly. When using Unix tools, it’s best to stick with Unix systems, right now that’s mean Linux and Mac OS X.

Its all about the tools. What gets the job done. The OS is irrelevant.

EDITORS: NO MORE OS POSTS: DESIGN POSTS PLZKTHNXBYE

I like the article for the information it provides but I love it because it’s a killer example of how to write a post that provides useful information and also works as spectacular link bait. Over 500 comments is really impressive.

543 comments? seriously?

I wish people could compare Mac to PC in an unbiased way. I cringe just as much when I hear a PC user say Mac users are all trendy elitists as I do when I hear a Mac user say “It just works” or “Macs never crash”. Where are the people who like and use both?

I did however think it was funny that some of the “benefits” of using Windows are the ability to download third party programs to make it work like OSX already does. If you want your PC to work like a Mac, why not get a Mac?

Seriously, just stop the flame wars. Both platforms have their benefits and downfalls, and you just have to pick which one you prefer. One is not outright better than the other.

Mac Os X is UNIX based. Which says a lot. For years I was happy with Linux but PSD files made me switch back to a Photoshop friendly operating system: Windows Vista, a really chipper solution compared to a simple Mac. I just had to install Vista as a neighbor to my Linux partition; IN THE SAME MACHINE, which says a lot too.

The arguments are not valid. Anyways, I wouldn’t use a PC just because I can’t afford the constant crashes, viruses and system failures. Plus, who the hell designs or creates on Windows anymore? Windows vista? are you kidding me? By far the WORST copycat of OS X so far.

tired I agree with you 100%

do what you want with your life, if you’re happy with Win go ahead…
We’ll both die sooner or later.

I’m sure that I’ll die eating an apple :)

Is there any difference, at the very end…? :)

Cheers!
Valerio
YellowCurl.com

@Valerio: Liked your comment :-) Really a good conclusion.

I feel sorry for PC users.

if there is any design component to the job, no Macee no workee. Serious design clients always insist on Mac, anything else creates too much work, shapes shift, colours change, fonts jump, it means a lot of fiddling around to put things right. Do everything in Mac from the outset, the results are more straightforward and dependable and it keeps the final bill down.

Did not think about the velocity of develop??? All know that any Windows OS is more slow than a mac or a linux OS based computer. I`m web developer and I have a mac, and now I realle am happy!!.. Before with Windows all were more problematic with virus etc..

Altho I am committed to switching to MAC, I still have some PCs and thought, Rocketdock – OK. If the other recommendations are as bad, it’s a good reminder about MACs, they just work!

I have done graphic design on both MACs and PCs, and the difference is minimal. A good computer is a good computer. You tend to get what you pay for. I currently work from home running two web-based business: and . I use a PC with high quality parts installed myself. It handles everything as well as any MAC. Honestly, I think MAC has done a wonderful job of turning all it’s loyal customers into snobs through their “I’m a MAC…And I’m a PC” ads. I like to call it brainwashing. It’s kind of the same way politicians are elected.

Great article.. I use a Mac at work and love it, however, my home laptop is a 3 year old Dell still running XP and it’s as comfortable as an old pair of slippers..

However, I prefer the OSX experience and am currently weighing up whether or not it’s worth the extra moola when I next purchase..

But, as the man rightly said, forget about the OS hype and sniping, it’s a means to an end.. they are both highly customisable and can both pretty much bend to do whatever you need them to do..it’s just about whatever suits you personally best.

Thanks for making me feel better about my decision to go with a very nice but lower priced 17 inch Dell instead of the pretty MacBook Pro that I really wanted.

What a pile of unsubstantiated rubbish, all of those poor excuses of web dev apps. Notepad++ ??? how does that compare with apps on the Mac such as BBEdit and Text Mate? Both of those apps are far superior to notepad++ and any other Text editor app that I have ever used on Windows. Also you cant fantastic IDE’s like Coda or Espresso which are only available on the Mac.

Putting the great apps to one side the UI is far better in OSX Leopard than XP, Vista or Windows 7. My workflow has speeded up ten fold since using the Mac compared to my Windows days. With great features like Quick Look, Exposé and Spaces OSX has made myself so more productive.

As for backups Time Machine is a fantastic backup app that comes free with Leopard. Also there are utilities like Carbon Copy Cloner and Superduper that can make a full bootable backup onto an external drive.

Before writing an article like this the author should try OSX Leopard for a couple of months and then see what his opinion is.

I am coming to hate my mac as yet another part of the hardware fails on me. Again. Next time around, I’m seriously going to look into a good PC. The PC I use at work has never failed at all, but I’m on my third mac in five years.

“I am coming to hate my mac as yet another part of the hardware fails on me. Again. Next time around, I’m seriously going to look into a good PC. The PC I use at work has never failed at all, but I’m on my third mac in five years.” nothing but a troll..go hide dude.

IE can´t run on a Mac?, Microsoft can´t even make a half decent job on a PC, on the Mac IE was nothing but pure garbage, so why run it?.

PC´s are for gaming, web wanna-bees, and people who just loves to ehh…..fix things.

You’ve just listed a whole lot of alternatives for things that were originally mac or are already built in to many mac products.

i don’t know how to spell: C2Q, i7 or Phenom II, ddr3, gtx295 or HD4890….

most of the gay developers at my office use asp.net, they say it’s pretty and you can make it draw ribbons, rainbows, whatever…

they also wear belly button shirts to work

I like my Mac simply because it is an enjoyable computing experience. I use both Mac and Windows in the office where I work and in my experience I can do my work knowing things will operate the way they are supposed to on a Mac. I am a print, exhibit and web designer and do a fair amount of programming as well and I can tell you that without a doubt Apple computers are very capable in a variety of departments.

I admit that the Mac operating system prior to OS X (which was released in 2001) was a bit quirky and would be prone to the occasional computer virus but when Apple decided to scrap OS 9 (best decision they ever made) and rebuilt the operating system from the ground up they not only made it very sleek, streamlined and intuitive but also made it very stable. It is built on a rock solid Unix foundation. The built in firewall technology is sound and with apps like TextMate & Coda (for programming), LittleSnapper (for archiving my inspiration) and a host of others I have seen absolutely no gaps in the iMac I work on.

Now if there are Windows apps that I still want to run I can access them through VMWare Fusion or Parallels, since Mac can run both the Mac OS and Windows OS natively. I personally prefer VMWare Fusion simply because I can run Windows apps seamlessly in the Mac environment.

My brother has recently switched over from PC to a Mac at home and he is a Navy fighter pilot who is used to working on some of the most advanced computers out there. In his own words spoken to me in a Mac to Mac video chat he told me “I am never looking back man!” Don’t make a decision on what computer you are going to use based on what someone else tells you to do. If you love Windows, more power to you. But do know there are other options out there that are just as good if not better than the Windows operating system.

First, this article is strange because you are trying to emulate a Mac on a PC. It doesn’t prove PC is inherently better… just you have Mac envy.

If you are publishing to a linux machine, it is much easier to test out new extensions, compile software, etc, on a Mac before posting up to your live linux server. I used PC’s for 7+ years, and switched almost two years ago to Mac.

I will NEVER go back. :)

Actually you can do it both ways. Since the new Macs have an Intel processor you can install Windows natively to run as a primary OS that you boot into but you have to restart every time you want to switch from PC to Mac and back again. To me this negates the point of having a Mac unless you are just looking at having the hardware.

What the apps like VMFusion and Parallels allow you to do is enjoy all the bling of the Mac OS and have access to Windows apps as well. I have so far have not run into any issues with Windows apps using VM Fusion… not to mention it allows you to install many different version of Windows (Windows XP, Vista, etc.). Don’t believe me check out this video on it.

http://download3.vmware.com/demos/fusion/

However, if you want a full PC experience you can choose option one and go that route but personally I prefer to do it the latter way.

Like I said above “Don’t make a decision on what computer you are going to use based on what someone else tells you to do.” If you are happy with Linux that’s awesome! Go for it. It really is not a matter of which system is better. Ultimately it comes down to what you as a user feels comfortable with, but before you make a decision do your research. If you don’t feel comfortable on the operating system you are using then it is likely that your productivity will suffer.

What can you do? I can’t switch to PC.

I used Mac ever since. Do you have to hate me too?

It depends on the user. Don’t bash Mac.

Bash the boastful user.

Why do you have to hate Mac?

Hatred may only mean insecurity or bitterness

There is this prevailing rumor that Mac’s are more expensive than Windows, but if you’re a serious web developer, the Mac is the best value you can find. Out of the box, you have an Apache web server running PHP that is fully supported by the system and that you can get into right away. Adding MySQL is a minor problem for a serious web developer. To get the equivalent features on Windows, you’d have to buy the most expensive “Professional” version of windows, which cost ~twice as much the single full-featured version of OS X.

Testing is critical as well; OS X is the only platform that allows me to develop and test on every single major (and not so major) browser and every single major operating system on one box. I don’t even need an internet connection to develop and thoroughly test a fully functioning web application.

Mac OS X has system-wide application services that make streamlining your workflow extremely efficient, and even fun. So it is a very simple matter to build and test locally, and then deploy remotely with the greatest of ease.

Plus, if you’re developing with Ruby on Rails, the Mac is hands down the best option. The available Mac tools for RoR development are phenomenal.

Of course, I am biased. People will use what they like, and they are entitled to that, just as we are each entitled to our opinion. But I’m sorry, I don’t see the logic in disparaging the Mac platform on technical grounds; it covers all of the bases admirably. On personal aesthetic preferences, maybe. But that’s all there is.

Why do people care what other people use, just use what’s best for you…

Without seeming rude, this post is abysmal. I confess I’m a Mac user but I switch to Windows when I need to. Principally because the author is right to say there are many really great Windows-only tools for web development. But this selection is so crummy, I doubt it will come as a surprise to anyone. What about ImageOptimizer, HTMLOptimizer, FlashOptimizer? As yet, Google Chrome is a Windows-only browser. That’s to say nothing about the swathes of windows-only screen annotation tools. Also, there are so many more plugins on Firefox (Windows), that it’s really a must-have. Last but not least, though hopefully not for much longer, IE is still the most widespread browser and there’s no decent version available on OS X. So, there you have it – if you want cross-browser compliance, Windows is inescapable. But ask designers which platform offers the shortest workflows and most intuitive (and reliable) tools and there’s really only one answer. The Mac.

What kind of web developers who use Microsoft Windows??? Thats why the web is so crappy like now…

This is linkbait, to be sure — nothing fires people up more like a Mac vs PC discussion. I write for a large Mac/Apple focused blog, and the debate will never really go away. I suppose that isn’t inherently a bad thing; it means more than one platform exists.

Really though, I think the piece could have been a lot stronger if you pointed out things that are unique to Windows, instead of trying to point out ways you can use Windows to try to ape (and almost always poorly ape) OS X. It undercuts a large part of the central argument if you end up just highlighting Mac OS X look-a-likes.

For instance, I’ll argue, as a die-hard Mac user, some key-advantages of using Windows as a development environment for web work, over OS X (most of this isn’t about web design, but developing web applications):

** Cross-browser testing is a huge selling point for using Windows as a development platform for web design/development. Huge. Other than testing Windows Software or features for some of the tech sites I write for, I use Windows on my Mac for one primary reason: to test IE support for anything I’m coding or designing. I’ve pretty much abandoned IE 6, but I still need to test in IE 7 and IE 8.

** Using cross-platform technologies (Silverlight, for instance) and .NET which you can really only do with a lot of ease in Windows. Visual Studio isn’t the best IDE on the planet, but it doesn’t deserve a lot of the criticism it gets. I went to my local Microsoft campus in February for Xamlfest (with my MacBook, running Windows 7 in a VM, natch), and was totally impressed with WPF, Silverlgiht and a lot of C# in general.

** Alright, let’s talk development technologies. IIS isn’t my server choice, I’ll take Apache, but the latest IIS is pretty decent, and you can run PHP and ASP.NET stuff side-by-side, depending on what type of project you are doing, IIS might be what you want to use for development — especially if creating a corporate intranet app that needs to access existing Microsoft SQL server stuff.

Those are your concrete benefits, all UI-goodness aside. Would I still rather do ASP.NET stuff on my Mac using a Windows 7 VM, yes, without a doubt. But by bypassing the very real differences of web development across the two platforms and focusing solely on making a Windows machine look like a Mac (albeit a Mac held together with chewing gum and paper clips — not a real Mac), you undercut the basic argument.

By the way, even though I’m a diehard Mac fan, I could easily write a post arguing that Web Developers really only need Linux. The design tools are subpar (GIMP is not Photoshop, Inkscape is no Illustrator), but for actual coding and testing, it’s more than adequate. In fact, I use a Debian VM as my staging server before pushing anything live.

I’d say Mighty Box is a far better alternative to Quicksilver than Launchy

This is one of the worst articles I’ve ever read on Smashing.

thanks

I am a mac guy, can’t wait till I can afford my mac
But currently I am using a PC and this article was informative because it does
show a way to get some key features from a mac in the windows environment.
So because of this I would have to say this article was worth its while, but unfortunately people always think too much about these articles that deal with the touchy subject of which computer system is better. People please remember that no matter what computer people choose to work on, they make that choice for personal preference. No matter what is said there is always going to be a debate about which system is better but we all just have to agree that they each have their key features that people like. And remember that by flaming you are just doing exactly what the marketing companies want you to do, so why add fuel to the fire.
My 2 cents may not be worth much to you but again its my opinion so it can’t be wrong.

Launchy as Quicksilver replacement? Rocketdoct as Dock replacement? You are kidding! :D

If there was a single app for windows that could compete with coda, i would highly consider the idea of a windows based machine being better for development than a mac. You don’t have to be coding heavy hitter to see how much easier it easy to do the smallest of tasks on a mac vs. a pc

I love to work with Mac, not only because it’s beautiful and “trendy”, but I think it’s far more stable than Windows and, about differences between the two OS for rendering sites, I just have to emulate Windows to test my sites on IE6, IE7 and Firefox.

So I don’t understand why I need to install so many apps to emule MacOS’ functionalities when I have a Mac, Coda (excellent code editor) and VMWare to emulate Windows to test my sites on IEs.

I personally don’t like articles that compare things in such a one-sided way, be it about Mac or Windows. Both systems have a huge library of useful software that can make your workflow smoother – and in the era of Windows 7 and Snow Leopard, both have the guts it takes too. In the end, it all comes down to your own creative work, and the individual’s preference.

Great, just the niveau Mac-envying-PC-users use to defend why their PC is crashing more beautiful ;-)

Mac developers are such a minority. That’s a fact. The title of this article suggests otherwise doesn’t it? It means well, but fails in its delivery and content.

if you never try a mac, you couldn’t speak about differences between pc & mac.. mac has a fantastic design, stable OS, easy to use.. switch back to pc from mac.. is impossible!

Totally disagree as a 10 years experienced developer (Macromedia – Adobe Certified Instructor & Expert). Switched to mac 1,5 years ago and didn’t want to mention the time before, thinking it as a bad morning experience after a long night ;)

Anyone that does not use a MAC is not a designer. Come on people get on board MACS ROCK !

come on you guys!!
give the author a slack! He only wanted to emphasize on the fact that “There are always alternatives”. Web developers don’t really have to have Mac to be efficient!!!!!! do they?

This is an awful article.

I have had a PC for all of my life but just under 3 years ago my partner got a mac. I was working on a website at the time and I moved over to the mac to develop it because the software was so much better, the fonts are nicer and it is just a pleasure to work with. Needless to say my next computer purchase was an iMac and I’ve never gone back.

There is a lot more to using a mac than some of the things suggested in this article, and you can download hundreds of crappy utilities to try and get your PC to be like a mac (I know, I tried this with my old laptop) but at the end of the day you cannot get any better than actually owning one.

Imitation is the best form of flattery after all.

@Paddy – complain about the display of a laptop was not clever at all. u should ALWAYS use a bigger external display when u are working. but if u’r too lazy to do so, no one can help you.
for me… PC (u guys mean Windows, right?) is a must if i need to do MS .net projects, using VS to build web apps… but for other projects, i prefer Mac OS over Windows.
i just hate Windows (i actually have a media PC at home of TV and gaming). it gives me error and freezes too often… or maybe just to fix some tiny issues but take us hours to do so… just too much pain to deal with. *sigh*
i m actually happy working on my old white macbook (w/ 3gb ram) -> mail.app + PS + AI + open office + tons of firefox windows opened + parallels (winxp w/ VS + IE) running altogether at the same time -> my mac is not freezing nor gives me blue screen. :)
if my winxp vm crapped out, i can always trash it (but not format my hdd and reinstall the whole OS). b/c time machine already backed it up.

Windows has tried hard to catch up to what macs already offer. If you have ever tried textmate for script/web development you’ll never go back.

Any good developer should use the best tools for the job. Tools make things easier. Hell you _could_ build a barn by hammering in the nails with your hands. But why??

It’s not so much about “evil” microsoft or “elite” apple products. You should use the best tools for the job. Frankly picking Vista with half-baked web dev tools so you can avoid “elitists” is silly.

Honestly the OP deserves the flamefest he’s getting here.

I really wish Smashing Magazine would quit posting opinion pieces from people who have no clue.

Notepad++? Really? Coda, Espresso, and TextMate are all very comparable…and look better.

WAMP? How about MAMP which runs MySQL, Apache and PHP in an environment much more similar to Linux? You don’t test code in an environment that doesn’t even come close to matching your production environment.

The day I switch OSes for a widget clipboard manager, well, it’ll never come. There are plenty of options for these on either Windows or Mac…none of which offer anything to terribly useful for developers over the others.

AutoHotkey? Um, isn’t that just a ridiculous name for a shortcut? Oh, and Cmd+W works in most applications already on Mac…

Syncback….again…another piece of software that isn’t anything special and for which there are 25 replacements.

Windows Live Writer? This is absurd…you’re really stretching here…

Bottom line, just because the environment you use works for you doesn’t mean that it works for someone else.

Agreed, at home all Macs… At work all PCs… I’m reminded every day that indeed OS X is a whole generation ahead of Windows. Not that I don’t love the downtime from dealing with screwed up… well everything, software, hardware, updates, virus scans, viruses in general, regular bail out and reinstalls, flakey software and so on. I wouldn’t hate Windows so much if I wasn’t forced to use it.

To each his own but Windows people PLEASE refrain from asking Mac users to fix your pile of S PC. We use Macs to avoid the stress! Get something else or ask PC users to fix your junk, they feel empowered by a fixing something a few times daily. Makes them feel in control…

What you forgot, was the fact that Windows has no serious console whatsoever which is basically required if you program in Python or Ruby or something else that’s not PHP. If you want Adobe Creative Suite (to cut your designs) and console in one, you *need* a Mac.

Windows doesn’t crash every ten minutes you idiot. You just don’t know how to use Windows I guess.

I must admit that windows is not the best OS, but say that it crash every 10 minutes it’s ridiculous, that it’s the most stupid argument that I ever heard in the last month.

+1 for a GNU/Linux article. I’m currently developing in Debian and Ubuntu and for me it’s perfect.

I have to laugh at this kind of “discussion”. PC or Mac? All we do is use the hardware to run the software we like. So, if we look closely, the hardware shouldn’t matter. It’s the working of the software that we like. Some like software that is visually strong, and some like software that is intuitive, or fit for a certain purpose. It all depends on the user and of course the person(s) that make the software.
And before you start any discussion on Operating Systems; It’s about the same.

If I could use my favorite piece of software without hardware and O.S., I would probably be the first to try. If you use a piece of software that you like, and see a feature in another piece, tell you software-programmer, he/she will be glad to hear this kind of improvements.

Not a compelling set of arguments to ever use a Windows PC.

I don’t see how installing applications is “hacking the PC to be a mac”

None the less, it’s all a matter of personal preference, they both are generally capable of doing what a developer/designer needs to do and the rest is up to the individual preferences. Both great platforms and both with pro’s and con’s.

The immaturity of some of these comments is amazing!

I’d also love to see an article like this about Linux although it has a way to go to be in the same league and Win and Mac.

Never saw a usefull tool like CSSEdit on PCs :-)
It dont need a Mac for good Webdesign, thats right, but it can help you a lot to use a Mac …
Dont know how is your workflow, but mine is much more faster since i use Macs.

PCs = development, games, business
MACs = aesthetics? gee great.

PCs rule, everyone knows it. That’s why Mac users always have to use VMWare or Bootcamp to use PC functionality whereas on a PC we don’t need anything from a Mac. ;)

Well why not have the best of both worlds (or three) and just get a Mac? = )
Virtualization for the win.

once a wise man said to me:

“its not the tools you use,
its just the technique.”

whatever. sure developers don’t NEED a mac. you can write code on a vic 20 if you want. the fact is windows is garbage for just about every day to day task in comparison to osx. if you want to debate this, linux wins hands down for power users.

i guess writing like this depends solely on who shipped you your latest freebie to write about.

I’ve been using a Mac on average 10 hours a day since 1996 for design work. I never really understood the loyalty to Apple that some people seem to live by. It’s a computer.
I have a windows laptop and a FreeBSD desktop. Bringing my work home with me got old about 10 years ago.

The fact that you recommend FTP (totally insecure and hackable) and that you recommend editing files live on your server would indicate that you do not really have a clue. Get rid of FTP and put ssh in place. Then use version control, cvs, svn, git etc. put all you work in a vcs, then deploy, then test, then deploy to live.

Mac vs Windows vs Linux, who cares. Bad workmen always blame their tools and also buy flashier tools to compensate for their inadequacies.

Once you can hack it on the command line then you can use gui tools, not before.