Originally Posted by 1991-C4

It amazes me that people have enough computer "smarts" to find a forum to post a question, but yet are unable to use that same process to find the answers to their questions.

I think some people ask questions in a forum like this one not only to get their question answered but to interact with others who may have had the same experience. It's more of a social interaction then simply researching their problem themselves. There is also the sympathy factor. "My (insert electronic gadget of choice) just turned into an expensive anchor and I want someone to empathize."

One other point, reading some of the posts here makes me glad I missed the flash thread. I don't think my heart could take it. So much animosity... and for what, really?

Originally Posted by Seadog

My big issue is bloatware from Microsoft, Adobe, and so many others.

That is an interesting point. That is exactly how I feel about Apple's flagship multi-platform application: Itunes. If there was ever an example of bloatware or a program growing well past its' intended boundaries Itunes has to be it. Slow, huge and blatantly intrusive. I can't disagree with MS and Adobe programs having similar issues however. I personally think Word might be the worst single program ever forced on the business environment while Excel might be the greatest. I guess no company is immune to over development in the quest to become the next "must have" application.

I actually like both Word and Excel......If you can get rid of about half of the features you don't need, and it cost a lot less. I also agree that iTunes needs to be overhauled.

Originally Posted by Billee

I'm a long time Microsoft user and the iPad was my first Apple product. Here's my take on the discussion.

1) Apple makes the most technically slick, user-friendly products on the market.

2) I feel constrained and limited by Apple's control of what I run on the device.

3) I was turned off by the buying experience. Going to the Apple store was like entering the temple of some techno cult. I spoke to several sales people and they all had the same attitude: "You have come to the source of all things wonderful and we know what you need better than you do."

You describe my experience perfectly. As a user of an Android phone, an iPad and mostly Windows PCs (I started out owning one of the original Macs 26 yrs ago) I'm covering a wide range. Simply stated, my experience on the iPad is much smoother than the other two, but I chafe at the restrictions. My experience on Android is OK, and I like the freedom, but there are times I miss the simplicity of the iPad. My experience with Windows is okay, but I get aggravated when my computer suddenly decides that it needs to do something, especially something I've not explicitly asked for. At the same time, I've loade several versions of Linux on computers thinking that it would be nice to have an open OS versus MS. Usually, within 2 - 3 weeks, I'm returning that machine to Windows, because within the paradigm I can control it. Linux would force me to take control of things I don't want to put effort into.

Bottom line, we tend to like some things better than other things, and the level of that like or dislike tends to control the passion with which we work to convince each other of our own rightness.

And having said that, some people are just jerks and live to see what kind of trouble they can stir up. The internet gives them the illusion of a safe place to anonymously let out their frustrations.

Originally Posted by Seadog

I actually like both Word and Excel......If you can get rid of about half of the features you don't need, and it cost a lot less. I also agree that iTunes needs to be overhauled.

That's a good point - they should make "office Lite". It really is impressive in many regards how sophisticated products like Excel and Access have become, but so many users dont need the bulk of what those apps are capable of - but they do need compatability with those using the full versions.

They are sort of doing this with the new office online stuff. You get lite versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoit - and its free. Unfortunately, the iPad is not supported, or that would be my Office Suite.

Originally Posted by bdegrande

In general, Windows bashers (which I am not, I use all sorts of operating systems) have used Windows and dislike it for specific reasons, while Apple bashers have never owned a machine running OS X or iOS.

That is generally true in my observation as well. Personally I think life's already too short and hard without finding things to pick on or be unpleasant about, but I think that some people who bash another product are merely doing it as an identity statement to assert themselves, rather than any genuine animosity with the product itself.

(And picking on one particular name to bash seems to be true for almost any kind of niche product - e.g. Rolexes for watches, Montblancs for pens, James Horner and/or Hans Zimmer for soundtrack music fans... )