Some political thoughts on Microsoft v. Apple

Well, the entire post wont fit here, so I will instead post a link to my blog so you can read it and comment or add to the discussion.

http://thenewspolitic.blogspot.com/

Ummm .... I mean jasonc. ;-)

only?

...I am unsure exactly what you are trying to say here?

implying that you weren't credible, as if that discredits your very valid point -- That MS gives to Repugs (bill frist ugh) and Apple gives to dems/

ok, I thought perhaps you had mis-interpreted something I had said.

Also, if I were Steve Jobs, I would give a lot more to good politicians than a lousy thousand bucks, haha.

Giving the LEAST possible amount of money to big corps, and promoting freedom in the process. Can't beat THAT.

I like something w a good human interface design.

Or Thunderbird? Or OpenOffice? Or GIMP? Or GAIM? Or XMMS? Or Evolution? Or Nautilus?

...Use Open Office or MS Office?

But, I feel that if I did I would lose compatibility with others that I share my data and writings with.

I do use Camino for my browser, mozilla mac osx native versus Firefox which runs but is not as integrated into OSX, and I use G-mail for most of my e-mailing and have thunderbird for other more official sources of e-mail.

...you use VBA macros.

On every platform i need to deal with, i keep a copy of OpenOffice installed (OSX, Windows, Solaris, Linux).

No one i work with has noticed that any doc i create is NOT with MS Office. (just be sure to "save as..." in an ms office format. not hard to do at all.)

...create only word documents, or excel and powerpoint like documents as well?

And for what it's worth, Apple is definitely on track to introduce the iBorg any day now.

now thats funny.

user friendly. Every hip urbanite will want one.

I'm waiting for their iFuck product line.

...after writing this that it does seem like an advertisement for Apple, but I assure you I am not nor have I ever been employed by Apple. I am simply an advocate of using all my available tools to fight republicanism wherever I can, as well as informing others of relevant info that may help them do the same thing.

I think I've probably bought my last PC. Not a day goes by when I don't yell at my computer for the miserable MS software I have to use, and I can't think of anything I might want that a Mac couldn't offer.

OTOH, I don't see any $500 Macs out there, which has been the deciding factor for me.

mac Mini, Intel or the older Power PC chip, I am sure you can get one for even less than 500. When the Mac Mini initially came out it was $499.

http://www.lowendmac.com/deals.shtml

or this one

www.dealmac.com

or this one

www.macprices.com

You can find a mac mini for ~500.00

... www.macconnection.com

but you're not willing to pay for it?

being a state employee and all.

But as others have noted here, the resources are available if you know where to look. I guess I've just been looking for love in all the wrong places (as usual).

Now I just have to wait another 3-5 years for my current machine to self-destruct.

...Looking for love in all the wrong places could be the story of my life.

... I searched on tray.com by employer and found that the MS employees were very likely to give to MS's own PAC which gives to republican candidates, as well to give indivisdually to other republican candidates, although there were some that gave to Democratic candidates. The Apple employees on the other hand overwhelmingly give to Democratic candidates.

Because Macs suck. I will never for a number of reasons:
1.Apple sells the i-pod. I hate popular culture, rap and all of the "me me me" generation of spoiled teen punks
2.Microsoft has been around longer, they have more expirience.
3.Macs interface is the fathest thing from user friendly I can imagine. Endless lists of programs, text interface...ugh.
4. mac reasoning is retarded. Because it works? Well I have a Pc and it works.Because it's faster? That's because the only programs for a mac are 80's text games,And office software. a commadore 64 can run that. my PC would run that fast if all I had was photo shop and office programs.
5. I'm a gamer. I want to use new technology. games be re-released on a mac 12 years later isn't much of a help.
7. I want to be able to upgrade my computer. You know, make it better? not use the same tech 5 years till I pay 2,000 for another Pear..I mean apple.
8. Too expensive. and don't bullcrap me " well you can geta mini mac for $500" And right now I can get a brand new pc 2times as capable for 300. Also, with prices around 2,000 that you have to replace yearly, it seems like a rich person REPUBLICAN thing.
9. I've used one for a month and I hated it. Case closed.

About the donations: microsoft makes nearly 3 times as much as mac. if microsoft makes 3milion and gives almost half to democrats, thats 1.5 million. if mac makes a million and gives it all, who's being a bigger help.Also, wouldn't it be smarter to save by buying a pc and giving the savings directly to the democrats, rather then pay it all to mac, have them take 90% and then put it twords dems? also, microsoft is being bi-partisan. you know, where you take some of one idea and then some of another and comeup with something that makes everyone happy?. I'd rather pay for bipartisan ism to unify us all then pay more to get crappy hardware and give low amounts to democrats.

...It may be time to take a few deep breaths and back away from the computer for a bit.

Hatred for a computer? Well, that's just stupid.:rofl:

I'm not a gamer so I could be wrong but isn't gaming part of pop culture?:shrug:

:rofl:

I was :rofl: when I read that.

My mac will slay it any day.

Look, before we get into this - i see this entire apple vs microsoft thing as a petty little consumer grade pissing contest. I work with real computers for a living. x86, powerpc, whatever - it's all weak consumer grade toy hardware. good for games and writing notes to grandma.

But - it's obvious that you've never touched a mac, let alone OSX. You post reeks of ignorance.

Quake 4, Call of Duty 2, Worlds Of Warcraft, TheSims 2? You feel these are "80's text games", that are "12 years late"?

Look, i've got a windows box sitting right next to me. it's soul purpose in life is games. but as i said in my other post, your post reeks of ignorance. Now, by this same token, i've got a powerpc based mac sitting next to me as well as 2 Mid-range Sun workstations, both running Solaris.

This is my day-to-day *personal* computing setup.

you sir/ma'am, are a dumbass.

so people can decide it they are interested first? Your link takes awhile to load. :shrug:

I can do that.

If you need more incentive to buy an Apple computer, here is a link to Microsoft and Apple on BuyBlue.org

Microsoft's political giving.

Apple Computer's giving.

While Apple gives less total they give 99% of what they do give to Democratic candidates, and none to republicans, the 1% left over was a $500 gift to someone listed as an "other," versus Microsoft hedging its bets by giving to both with 44% to Democrats and 56% to Republicans.

A bit more research and I see that Bill Gates gives personally as well, and all of it goes to Republican candidates. According to Political Money Line Bill Gates gave $6,000 over the last 3 election cycles, $4,000 of that went to Sen. Bill Frist's (senate majority leader) VolPac and the other $2,000 to The Friends of George Allen. George Allen is a Republican Senator from Virginia.

Steve Jobs on the other hand has given only $1,000but it has gone to Democrat Rahm Emanuel in Illinois 5th Congressional District.

Even more reason to buy an Apple Computer.

Just wish I could afford to buy a new one even though this one works fine (if not a bit slow compared to a new one) after 5+ years! :)

If I posted a Direct Link to the blog post due to the newer postings pushing it down the page some.

http://thenewspolitic.blogspot.com/2006/05/different-kind-of-post.html

Windows XP hasn't BSoDed (Blue Screen of Deathed) me yet.

...My mac has never frozen, locked, crashed, or any other horrific thing I always hear people say they do.

I think that perhaps people are remembering a past experience before OSX came out when the operating sytem was a bit less user friendly. I highly suggest putting aside your past experiences and giving OSX a try. After all, Bill Gates did and now the next release of Windows, Vista, is copying a lot of its features and adding a lot of bugs and typical windows bloat.

Literally the last 10 years have been lockup-free.

You might have individual applications freeze, but rarely the operating system. What you had experienced could probably be fixed by repairing permissions. Fixed in about a minute.

in my experience, my windows box (my gaming system) locks up/crashes, etc *far* more often than any of my solaris machines.

your point?

(ps- gaming rig runs xp sp2)

:P

and it's going to take a miracle to change that. Try going overseas to give a business presentation on a Mac. You get the blank stares from hell. It's kind of like the Wal-Mart issue. Some people just have no choice but to shop WM and use Windows. Plus if you are a gamer you have no choices on a Mac.