Well I just wondered...if I would hate Microsoft and Windows that much as most here seem to do, walking towards Linux or to Apple would have been my first step....
So that huge market share seems to prevent it for some reason?
There is just one word..OFFICE<<<<<
I know you will say well there are other workable versions, but its the gold standard in education and industry. You won't get programs for PLC control in Linux for the main players like Allen Bradley, Omron, Telemecanique etc to run in other operating systems. I have seen Puppy Linux used in education but it was a specialised school.
Robotics systems and all modern control programming is done with windows OS. Unless there is a specialised terminal.
So from a professional point of view you can't just swap to Apple or Linux..its not viable. Some Education now requires the use of office 365 and they won't accept anything else. I have seen interanet systems where if a Linux terminal is connected throws up an alarm and they remotely block it from the system.
MS have a monopoly with both industry and education. Another example is ALL education teaches MS systems its a requirement for ICT when kids leave school. Guess what they only teach MS and if you enquire about anything else they tell you its not usable in the world of work. If you go for an apprenticeship you have got to have level 2 in ICT MS. Why because all industry uses it, there are the odd few that use Apple but its more specialised and even servers are being changed over to MS from Apache because they are serviced by technicians trained in MS systems.
Even ECDL qualification the "European" driving licence is MS based ie transferable within the EU.
I don't see a Linux driving licence or an Apple driving licence..its ALL MS systems.<<that's reality no matter how you try to twist it. MS has the control of education and industry in the EU.
If its in education main stream then anything else is just a toy<<very few people will want to lean it all again just to do the same thing on Linux etc.
You get a few apple users but even they have to use programming with MS..if you have to send work to a college they want it in MS word etc. They won't accept anything else with XL imbedded in the work. If the format changes when the lecturer opens it that's it..fail.
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
I will also add,
The grip of MS in education is getting tighter, its now a requirement that vocational based learning is done using applications that run in MS OS.
Why because the workbook is the program that runs in MS Win and guess what its not even platform transferable within Windows versions<<that means you have to have the free upgrade to Win 10 or you can't do the qualification to get your job. Now we see why its a free upgrade..the drive now is to move away from paper based systems.
Its not a choice its a requirement.
Your looking at the future..
Regards
M. Gregg
The grip of MS in education is getting tighter, its now a requirement that vocational based learning is done using applications that run in MS OS.
Why because the workbook is the program that runs in MS Win and guess what its not even platform transferable within Windows versions<<that means you have to have the free upgrade to Win 10 or you can't do the qualification to get your job. Now we see why its a free upgrade..the drive now is to move away from paper based systems.
Its not a choice its a requirement.
Your looking at the future..
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
Well microsoft office is available for Mac too.
Some reasons I can think of are:
1- Mac is more expensive than PC's, including repairs and services (by a factor of two or three).
2- Mac was not meant to be 'all things to all men' so a lot of fun software out there (sometimes unlicenced) do not run on a Mac.
3- People think it would be another thing to learn, and they resist that.
Otherwise in scientific circles (universities, research labs), professional photography and film, Mac's are being used more than PC's.
But with the advent of windows 10, and Microsoft's current strategy, it may tip the balances towards other OS's .
I'm personally going off anything Microsoft! but a Mac is not for me either.
A PC of similar quality will cost about the same. Macs don't break as often.
IBM is rolling out Macs as fast as they can… every one saves them big bucks.
IBM cuts down IT support staff w/ Mac deployment, says 5% of Mac users call help desk vs 40% for PCs | 9to5Mac
They also tend to be useful longer. My newest Mac for instance is 7 ½ years old. My oldest 10 ½ yrs. All doing useful work.
dave
One problem is software,
If you are using a PC for fault location or anything else you won't find Mac compatible software ABB, Telemecanique, Siemens, AB they all have software for a MS platform . Even office is an issue, in education you have to have the latest Office or you can't teach it. Its no good if its two or three versions behind.
Its a bit like running WINE on Linux its OK but very limited. I know everyone will say no its not I can hack this and do that but,,that won't work in education.
Its plug and play or upgrade with a click.
Mac is not taught as main stream in education. ICT qualifications are another issue.
The apple Ipad is very good and I could see that possibly being a runner, but its still not main stream. At home yes..in industry questionable.
Regards
M. Gregg
If you are using a PC for fault location or anything else you won't find Mac compatible software ABB, Telemecanique, Siemens, AB they all have software for a MS platform . Even office is an issue, in education you have to have the latest Office or you can't teach it. Its no good if its two or three versions behind.
Its a bit like running WINE on Linux its OK but very limited. I know everyone will say no its not I can hack this and do that but,,that won't work in education.
Its plug and play or upgrade with a click.
Mac is not taught as main stream in education. ICT qualifications are another issue.
The apple Ipad is very good and I could see that possibly being a runner, but its still not main stream. At home yes..in industry questionable.
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
I wonder how many people would accept your first claim! that they cost the same.
Also availability of repairs to the masses at lower costs, eventhough not needed as often, is another matter
The last in your issues could actually be a curse,
people like to change to newer models (for no reason at all sometimes),
how could they when they have a good working model from 5 years ago.
This is why some cheap clothing companies sell more than quality tailors.
Computers, Laptops and mobile phones are also fashion accessories these days.
Apple in the UK,
More expensive harder to get fixed and more expensive to do.
I pad<<get it open change the battery<<can't see it working.
Most PC's in industry are trash after about 2 years<<covered in oil dropped on the floor connectors broken cables split.
A battered mac wouldn't cut it, it needs to be throwaway.
A mac may be good at what it does, but when the software updates for new equipment its not going to cut it.
You only need to look at the connection changes on the PC for usb for a start. What happened to fire wire?
Regards
M. Gregg
More expensive harder to get fixed and more expensive to do.
I pad<<get it open change the battery<<can't see it working.
Most PC's in industry are trash after about 2 years<<covered in oil dropped on the floor connectors broken cables split.
A battered mac wouldn't cut it, it needs to be throwaway.
A mac may be good at what it does, but when the software updates for new equipment its not going to cut it.
You only need to look at the connection changes on the PC for usb for a start. What happened to fire wire?
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
It might be true for laptops. For desktops, Mac aren't very attractive. Especially if you build your system yourself (which is really easy compared to diy electronics) and pick reliable parts. Furthermore, a failure on a desktop PC often means changing only one part. On a imac... major nightmare once you're out of warranty.
And even for laptop, the fact is that their line up is very restrictive. Wrt options, I'd rather keep my thinkpad t440s vs the macbook pro 13 (same street prices). My problem with Mac is that they just don't have what I need in their line up and the possibility of customization is near zero.
Gone the way of dodo!
Firewire was originally for DV cameras, USB2 was more convenient, now USB 3 has surpassed it.
DV cameras gave way to new digital cameras, with compressed AVC videos of smaller file size.
It reminds me of,
Mac>>>Betamax vs PC>>>>VHS..😀
At lest Linux will run on a PC..I just wish it was world beating..But alas it cannot compete with MS.
Regards
M. Gregg
Mac>>>Betamax vs PC>>>>VHS..😀
At lest Linux will run on a PC..I just wish it was world beating..But alas it cannot compete with MS.
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
LOL..😀
I remember those huge laser disc's like an LP record..the days of the big floppy disc and Sinclair Microdrive.
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
Very true and valid.
But that point is a double edged knife.
In industry, that is desired, you do not want your staff to be able to customize things.
In personal computing, that is a major annoyance,
unless you're a housewife 😀.
well all three formats are now dead, so it's an even comparison.
V2000 was way ahead of it's competition for domestic use.
Like the CD and DVD? Possibly the hard drive as well..I'm surprised the bios still exists MS tried to take that one over as well a while ago it had a Linux block built in.
Only MS OS would run..I think it was UEFI
Found it:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/yes-uefi-secure-boot-could-lock-out-linux-from-windows-8-pcs/
Regards
M. Gregg
Last edited:
Can anyone reproduce this error in W8.1 (or even W10)
I'd be very interested to know if anyone using W8.1 or W10 can reproduce or has encountered an error with the included 'Reader' app (the built in pdf viewer)
The problem always occurs when opening an on-line pdf and Reader gives an error message of 'Can't Open This File' and 'There is a problem with the file format'. Closing Reader and retrying and the file always opens OK.
This is a reproducible error that seems to have occurred following some past update (I've no idea which).
I'd be very interested to know if anyone using W8.1 or W10 can reproduce or has encountered an error with the included 'Reader' app (the built in pdf viewer)
The problem always occurs when opening an on-line pdf and Reader gives an error message of 'Can't Open This File' and 'There is a problem with the file format'. Closing Reader and retrying and the file always opens OK.
This is a reproducible error that seems to have occurred following some past update (I've no idea which).
Just install Adobe reader 11 (with updates OFF, otherwise you get DC which is not too pleasant)
- Status
- Not open for further replies.