Why Web Developers Don't Need a Mac

R

Raithlin

Executive Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
5,060
Reaction score
33
Location
Centurion
I found this article interesting - about time Windows applications were touted instead of the ever-present Mac...

Why Web Developers Don't Need a Mac

As Web developers, we never stop hearing about the Mac. A lot of people love to talk about their Macs, but despite the “elite” status of the Apple computer, is there any need for a Web developer to splash money on one? A few weeks ago, Mark Nutter wrote here on Smashing Magazine in favor of swapping your PC for a Mac, and while some of his reasons are good, there are plenty of reasons to stick with (or switch back to!) Windows.

This article explores the best aspects of the Windows PC and, more importantly, the different apps that Web developers can use to become more efficient in their work. Every piece of software mentioned here is free to use.
Click to expand...
 
eltherza said:
No-one ever needs a 'mac' - it's such and elitist fashion statement to have a mac....
Click to expand...
When I started off I really did need a mac. Of course they weren't much to look at then. Boring beige boxes but since the various print houses used them so did I.

Considering the upgrade policies of many companies sticking with Mac over the years made financial sense.

Come to think of it even today some of my software is OsX only so I guess I still need a mac.
 
the one click.... one click to rule then all :D, if only the damned thing allowed L and R mouse buttons.
 
Necuno said:
the one click.... one click to rule then all :D, if only the damned thing allowed L and R mouse buttons.
Click to expand...

uhh...it does :confused:

mouse options are much more flexible than the windows default configuration.
 
Necuno said:
the one click.... one click to rule then all :D, if only the damned thing allowed L and R mouse buttons.
Click to expand...
You're in luck - I created this simple little guide for another disillusioned forumite on how to do Left and Right clicks with a mouse on a Mac.

picture.php
 
bwana said:
You're in luck - I created this simple little guide for another disillusioned forumite on how to do Left and Right clicks with a mouse on a Mac.

picture.php
Click to expand...
Aw, sweet guide, man. Totally put me back on the right track! :D
 
eltherza said:
Hopefully tomorrow we can have a guide on how to middle click and use the scroll wheel! :D
Click to expand...
Baby-steps - I dont want his entire world collapsing at one time ;)
 
alf101 said:
If you have a Mac, you don't have to switch back to a Windows machine.

A Mac runs windows better than a PC anyway.;)
Click to expand...

Whoa, before we (or just me) all get confused lets put some terms down

This debate is actually OSX vs MS Windows for web developers (and not old fashionable elitist printing moderators... yes I called you old bwana! :p) rather than PC vs MAC [because, funny enough, a MAC is a PC...]
 
eltherza said:
Whoa, before we (or just me) all get confused lets put some terms down

This debate is actually OSX vs MS Windows for web developers (and not old fashionable elitist printing moderators... yes I called you old bwana! :p) rather than PC vs MAC [because, funny enough, a MAC is a PC...]
Click to expand...

Ok, then I have no idea what's better. :o
 
Yeah, PC = personal computer

A mac is a personal computer, but they've skewed the view of Macs as "not just a PC" and associated PC with "MS windows computers"

So the mac comes as an image of the computer package, OS and hardware "built for each other" type mentality. And the "just works" comes through. But it's still a Personal Computer. Apple tried very hard to make "mac" cool and new and visually smooth while at the same time making windows (AKA "PCs") seem geeky, problematic and you need to be a nerd to be able to actually use it.

It worked very well. It's why macs are viewed as somewhat fashionable because "pcs" are "geeky and fragile"
 
The last windozer I had was a 486 Win3.1 behemoth from the early nineties, around the same time I got my first mac (A classic II)

Since then, I have only ever had Macs. And yet, I agree with the article's assertion:
"Web developers Don't Need a Mac"
Hell, they don't need a PC either. I can roll out a web page using my Nokia, for crying out loud. And any website that can be "designed" on a PC (win) can just as quickly be made on Linux or a Mac. It's true.

However, as a web developer who has been at it for 15 years let me say this, from my point of view:
Web Developers Want A Mac

or at least this one does...
 
that's true you don't need windows either...

Many developers are now only using linux, to test with IE there is ies4linux.
opera and firefox both work natively on linux, chrome is under development.

so no need for windows either, save money and use Linux.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X