Why I use a Mac computer, but an Android phone

Jan

Jan

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Why I use a Mac computer, but an Android phone

When people see my MacBook, they assume that I have an iPhone. With Apple’s ecosystem so tightly integrated, why wouldn’t they?

However, I have used an Android smartphone since the launch of the HTC Desire in 2010 - and a MacBook laptop as my work machine since 2011.

While iPhones and non-Mac laptops are fine devices, I will never go back to Windows or Linux on my work PC, or switch to iPhone.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been tempting, but there are many small things which when added up, keep me coming back to Mac and Android.
 
Jan said:
However, I have used an Android smartphone since the launch of the HTC Desire in 2010 - and a MacBook laptop as my work machine since 2011.
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Having recently moved from iOS to Android I miss the tight integration between my phone and macbook - you wouldn't understand it if you've never had it.
 
Im the exact opposite, I have been using an iphone for years and use a windows laptop.
I have a macbook pro, it sits on my desk in my office and gathers dust because osx is a steaming pile and I refuse to work with those restrictions.
Android phones get slow after a while and the user experience is ok but not as polished as ios. I had pretty much every top of the range android phone from the G1 through to the Galaxy S5 at which point I switched to Apple and wont go back from there.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
I have a macbook pro, it sits on my desk in my office and gathers dust because osx is a steaming pile and I refuse to work with those restrictions.
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Restrictions? :confused: I've heard plenty of people claiming iOS was overly restrictive, but never OsX.
 
bwana said:
Having recently moved from iOS to Android I miss the tight integration between my phone and macbook - you wouldn't understand it if you've never had it.
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Agreed. Having my desktop and mobile mail clients in sync, including the contacts I've tagged as VIP was just awesome. There are workarounds through Gmail, but it's always a compromise that's not quite what you'll get from native integration. Having the phone ring on my computer was also cool.

It's not quite enough for me to switch permanently, but damn if it wasn't tempting...
 
Jan said:
Agreed. Having my desktop and mobile mail clients in sync, including the contacts I've tagged as VIP was just awesome. There are workarounds through Gmail, but it's always a compromise that's not quite what you'll get from native integration. Having the phone ring on my computer was also cool.

It's not quite enough for me to switch permanently, but damn if it wasn't tempting...
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I miss Airdrop the most. I took for granted being able to send a photo or file to/from my phone with a press of a button. Then there's the syncing of user data, including all my passwords, notes, contacts, between all my devices. Some of it I've also been able to replicate using Google but not all of it, and what I have, not as well.

I also miss being able to do simple things like plugging in my phone and sharing it's internet connection or effortlessly creating a wireless hotspot depending on my circumstances.

TBH I don't think I'd resent android so much if I wasn't for the MBP, but I value my laptop more than my phone, so I won't be giving that up anytime soon.
 
I'm exactly the opposite of you Jan,
Never owned ANY mac or Apple products, honestly speaking.

Got a iPad a few months back, played around with it, thought to myself, why would you want that?

In an office that is 95%macbooks and iMacs, have to try fathom them out sometimes, and I keep asking myself, but why would you want that?

If all you do is 5 things, and NOTHING else, it makes sense, but as a machine for general use, don't see the point of buying such an expensive tool.
 
eg2505 said:
I'm exactly the opposite of you Jan,
Never owned ANY mac or Apple products, honestly speaking.

Got a iPad a few months back, played around with it, thought to myself, why would you want that?

In an office that is 95%macbooks and iMacs, have to try fathom them out sometimes, and I keep asking myself, but why would you want that?

If all you do is 5 things, and NOTHING else, it makes sense, but as a machine for general use, don't see the point of buying such an expensive tool.
Click to expand...

That’s the Israeli side of you :D
 
bwana said:
Having recently moved from iOS to Android I miss the tight integration between my phone and macbook - you wouldn't understand it if you've never had it.
Click to expand...

Why did you switch? I'm thinking of doing the opposite.
 
biometrics said:
Why did you switch? I'm thinking of doing the opposite.
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My kid broke her iPhone, so I gave her mine. As far as sacrificing for you kids goes, it doesn't get much bigger than that, so I know I'm going to the good place when I kick it. :p
 
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bwana said:
I miss Airdrop the most. I took for granted being able to send a photo or file to/from my phone with a press of a button. Then there's the syncing of user data, including all my passwords, notes, contacts, between all my devices. Some of it I've also been able to replicate using Google but not all of it, and what I have, not as well.

I also miss being able to do simple things like plugging in my phone and sharing it's internet connection or effortlessly creating a wireless hotspot depending on my circumstances.

TBH I don't think I'd resent android so much if I wasn't for the MBP, but I value my laptop more than my phone, so I won't be giving that up anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Ah... I've basically always used cloud sync stuff like Dropbox, Google Photos, and Google Drive (and Pushbullet for awhile), so I've never seriously used Airdrop or the vendor-specific equivalents in Android.

Right, the hotspot! Totally underrated integration. Yes, Android gives you a hotspot, but all the info you get about your phone's connection from iOS! And the ability to turn on your device's hotspot from your Mac was really cool.

I have not been able to reliably share my Android device's Internet connection via cable since three generations of smartphone ago... still haven't figured out why.
 
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bwana said:
My kid broke her iPhone, so I gave her mine. As far as sacrificing for you kids goes, it doesn't get much bigger than that, so I know I'm going to the good place when I kick it. :p
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You could buy a new one. :confused:
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Im the exact opposite, I have been using an iphone for years and use a windows laptop.
I have a macbook pro, it sits on my desk in my office and gathers dust because osx is a steaming pile and I refuse to work with those restrictions.
Android phones get slow after a while and the user experience is ok but not as polished as ios. I had pretty much every top of the range android phone from the G1 through to the Galaxy S5 at which point I switched to Apple and wont go back from there.
Click to expand...

Android phones have gotten better since the the S5.
 
crackersa said:
That’s the Israeli side of you :D
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Oh yes, look I think iMacs are designed well, and look smart, and certainly more expensive then nessasary.

And yes I concede that they do the 5 things they have to do, exceptionally well, and they are simple enough for children to fathom.

I just don't see them working well for everything, and their price is more then anybody could reasonably expect.

Let me compare it to a Tesla model 3 , essentially it's an electric battery car. Jazzed up by nice screens and a autopilot system.

But the electric car can be made a lot cheaper, and much more reliable, and simpler to maintain. It can be as simple as a VW beetle even.

Problem is their is no money in it, sadly I must admit, and nobody who builds a cheap electric reliable car can expect to make any money.

Same with the iMac vs pc , one is simple and works nearly everywhere, cheap, and 80% reliable, but not much profit on it.

Another is expensive, limited, and exclusive to people that can afford it.
Like a Tesla car, even though it's quite unnecessary sometimes.
 
Jan said:
Ah... I've basically always used cloud sync stuff like Dropbox, Google Photos, and Google Drive (and Pushbullet for awhile), so I've never seriously used Airdrop or the vendor-specific equivalents in Android.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing you don't often find yourself out of wifi range. Having to sync a photo to Google and then back down to the other device is a PITA and a time suck.
Jan said:
I have not been able to reliably share my Android device's Internet connection via cable since three generations of smartphone ago... still haven't figured out why.
Click to expand...
Yeah, what is it with that?
 
eg2505 said:
If all you do is 5 things, and NOTHING else, it makes sense, but as a machine for general use, don't see the point of buying such an expensive tool.
Click to expand...

Well this is just not true. So I've decided to read "general use" to mean "I can game on it", and then your statement makes more sense :D

(I also don't have much use for an iPad, except maybe on planes where getting my laptop open is difficult.)
 
biometrics said:
You could buy a new one. :confused:
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The opportunity presented itself to give Android a fair shake, so I took it.

But yeah, I will replace the iPhone, just not right now.
 
I'm too inept a user to even wonder about the differences, other than price.
 
Jan said:
Well this is just not true. So I've decided to read "general use" to mean "I can game on it", and then your statement makes more sense :D
Click to expand...
Save your breath.
 
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