What the heck is a "Mactard"?

Cricket

Cricket

FFF's Little Wench
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I heard this word last night, directed and me and I have a couple of things to say.

First. Are people so closed minded and low that they judge people by what computers/OS they use? Some girls use tampons and others use pads. Does one go around calling the other a tampontard?
Its a tool. Okay, people? Its just a computer. Its a aluminum and glass (or plastic) case with hardware and software loaded onto it.
I don't go around calling my Windows friends PC tards or Linuxtards. Because I'm more open minded then that. I respect people's choice in hardware/software and its fun to talk to people about why they use what they use. I surely don't think I'm "Better" than anyone else because I use a computer from Apple. Its almost like people think Macs aren't computers and they are for stupid people who know nothing about computers.
Well to all those out there, you are wrong. Do some history on Apple and you'll see they basically revolutionized the PC. My "Macintosh" is just as much of a computer as your HP. It isn't better and it isn't worse. Yours works for you and mine works for me.

Second. What the heck is a Mactard? It sure as heck shouldn't apply to me. And anybody that uses it to address someone (you know who you are) is pretty immature and close minded.

My dad has a lawnmower that cuts grass. Big deal. Same thing for computers. I'm not going to judge anyone because they use a different lawnmower than my father does.

Also. MAC isn't Macintosh.
MAC is Media Access Control
Mac is Macintosh

Opinions please?
 
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Interestingly enough, I know plenty of people from my university that use a mac. A lot of math professors I know use a mac. A few from the biology department do too. And I think all of the computer science professors I know also use macs. If macs were only meant for stupid people, I find it hard to believe that my math and computer science professors, of all people, are stupid. I think there are a few more advanced and more complicated things you can do on a mac; not everybody knows of them. I suppose they are rather well packaged and contained from the hardware side, but then you can't say the same about the software.
 
Exactly. You're obvious smarter and more open minded than most.

All computer platforms have a place in the world. If I'm not mistaken. Linux is still used for sciences and or servers?
 
I think a lot of people take too much from those Mac commercials and think all Mac users are smartasses who hold themselves higher than PC users.

My brother and I tend to poke fun at each other from time to time and make silly jokes about it. He uses a Mac and I use a Gateway. It's all in good fun though and we don't mean it. I have nothing against Mac users or Macs. My stepmother has one and I play around on it all the time when I visit her. Although that damn mouse does my head in sometimes. >_>

A computer is a computer is a computer, imo.
 
It's essentially 'fanboyism'.

I don't know what causes someone to become a fanboy/girl, but I suspect it's down to insecurity issues. They can't be confident in their purchase so they have to find flaws in the other one to make sure that they have 'the best system'. If you spend hundreds of pounds on a computer, you want the best one right?

I prefer Mac, I don't like Windows. But I can use both and they both satisfy my needs and neither one is 'shit'.

If someone tells you your Mac/PC is shit, then ask them why Windows/Mac even calls them a competitor.


Utter nonsense.
 
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I wish everyone had your way of thinking >.>

Its annoying to think that I myself personally am being judged just becuase I choose to use a Mac.

I guess I better never wear black again because everyone will automatically think I'm goth or emo.

So I'm sure you can see my frustration.

So if it means fangirl/fanboy I have been incorrectly labeled.

I use Macintosh because... well my family has used them since they came out. Apple Lisa and Apple Macintosh were the first computers to use a mouse in a GUI besides the Xerox Stars in PARC. Windows didn't exist. I PREFER Mac OS but I can easily use Windows. I consider myself very computer smart. I like both and both have pros and cons.
 
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You don't sound like a serious Mac-geek, so I can hardly expect you to understand the depth of this issue. There is some serious history between these two companies, and some very polarized debates over quality and distribution issues between diehard fans. Those "I'm a Mac, you're a tasteless bloated PC" ads only added fuel to the fire.

Frankly I think Macs are a total waste of money in terms of gaming machines, they offer significantly inferior performance than custom PCs for an absurd premium in cost, and run only a fraction of the programs available on Windows. That doesn't mean I think you're a "mactard" though, any more than I think people running around with Gucci bags are rich snobs. It's just an alternative lifestyle, as you put it. :p
 
Well thanks for that.

I agree Macs aren't great gaming machines. You could build a PC stronger than mine for half the price. But I use my computer for school, graphic arts (I'm learning) and a bunch of other stuff. I do have "some" games but I prefer console gaming. Its how I grew up playing games I guess.

I myself found alternatives to all my friends' PC software but I guess it depends on what you use in Windows.

After my iBook G3 (2001 model) lasted til 2009 (it still works) thats like 8 years.. 8 year old laptop. I thought why not get another one from Apple?

Its not that I think one is better than other. I prefer one over the other though. Different strokes for different folks. Or whatever my dad says. But after a laptop from a company still works even after its 8 years old. Would you hesitate to buy another from the same company?

People complain about Dell all the time. But if a Dell lasted me 6/7 8 or more years you bet I would go buy another one!
 
The first computer I played on was a black and white Mac Plus. I mainly played it for Shufflepuck, Brickles and Cannon. All memorable and simplistic games. After that I bought my own color Mac LC 2, this was before I turned 10. I used that for classics like Glider Pro and Sim Ant, and occasionally Sim City 2000. The next big computer purchase in the house was a Power PC G3, where we moved up to Marathon, Tomb Raider, and Escape Velocity. Our teardrop iMac G3 (which we still use) was relatively fast when we got it, at least fast enough to play the original Unreal Tournament. The next purchase was an iBook G3 that still runs to this day, which played more Escape Velocity, some Nanosaur and fairly high speed Starcraft and Warcraft 2. Much later on we got an iBook G4, which is still the newest Mac in our household. I'm assuming they're going to move on to a Probook when that machine breaks down.

So yes, I know what growing up with Macs feels like. I also know that until you build your first gaming PC, you will never truly understand the joy of putting in a custom operating system with whatever software and settings you want. Mac OS does not allow you do this without illegally hacking the software that runs it, so excuse me if I'm a bit cynical when certain Mac-fanatics accuse Microsoft of being monopolistic and domineering of the market.
 
Ignoring the fact that they have a monopoly on the Software/OS Market is pretty arrogant. If you read up on the history of Microsoft it's easy to see how they got where they are. However, I don't care because there are still alternatives. We have PCs in the house. I have helped my dad build some of them. I agree its fun to put one together. But I guess when it comes to a actual computer we "buy" that is prebuilt its from Apple.

We build our PCs. The only OEM PCs we have bought are laptops. Cuz everyone knows BYO laptops are ugly and a pain in the bum.

So nobody has to claim Microsoft is a monopoly, because its just a fact. I honestly don't care because Apple has a monopoly in the music/MP3 market and premium computer market.

I personally don't see what all fusses about.

On a obvious note. If Microsoft made their own computers they wouldn't allow any other OEM to run Windows besides them. Apple tried that and it didn't work. That would be like Microsoft letting Sony run the Xbox 360 OS on the PS3.

I however don't whine about Microsoft. I respect them. Competition is good. I'm a bit beefed about my Xbox though >.>
 
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We're closeminded as fuck. However, even we don't point and laugh when we see a Mac. Sure, we will never use one, for we play far, FAR, too many PC games, and we all know that Mac doesn't have a lot of compatibility in that department.

If you like games, go PC.
If you like doing everything else but that, go Mac.

Personally, we prefer an Open OS rather than a Closed OS.

We've had tons of "which is better" arguments. None of which have ever ended good, and none of which we have started. Sure, PC's are more viable for virus', probably because most are made to crash PC's because Mac doesn't have as many users.

In the end, it's personal preferences. We seriously don't see the need for bashing people that use a different OS.

Also, why create one more discriminatory subject? We already have plenty of those. Stick with what you've got. :mokken:
 
I didn't create it really. I simply asked what a Mactard was. But so far I've gotten great answers.
 
Cricket said:
I didn't create it really. I simply asked what a Mactard was. But so far I've gotten great answers.
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Oh, our apologies. We didn't mean to imply that you created it. We were speaking about people who do this in general. Why did they have to create another discriminatory subject? It makes no sense to us.
 
Us?

*is scared*

But its actually my bad. I misread what you said.

And to answer your question. I dunno. I agree Apple's commercials didn't help. Those weren't the reason I got another Mac.

It was basically because my iBook G3 served me so well. It still works. It was just too slow for school and the stuff I needed it to do.
 
Oh, don't mind us, we just refer to ourselves in plurals. :D

Also, we can see where the commercials don't help at all. However, at the end of the day people really need to see that it's just business. Every now and then a company is going to sling mud at another company.

Take the Version and AT&T commercials for example. :ffs:
 
i like macs, but they're very overpriced for my tastes and don't offer any noticeable performance increase over PC's. i like PC's, but it takes a lot of searching around or piecing together to get a good one for a decent price. in the end i have no preference, and in fact am typing this on my 5 year old $600 Dell laptop PC that still works and has given me faithful service with minimal problems, barring a small HDD.

one thing the mac commercials have instilled in me, is a mental picture of its users. every time i see a mac user my mind jumps to that picture, of them being a prick and a poser. it's maddening 'cause i know it isn't true, but that's my first mental reaction thanks to apple's commercials.
 
Yeah. I know how you feel. Half the people over a MacRumors are like that, seriously. Its a like a elitist thing or something. It gives just about every Mac user a bad name.
 
Cricket said:
Yeah. I know how you feel. Half the people over a MacRumors are like that, seriously. Its a like a elitist thing or something. It gives just about every Mac user a bad name.
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In making this post, I think you've answered the issues addressed in your initial post.

I don't at all hate Mac, and I know that it's users are as diverse as consumers of any other product, but I do seem to imagine that same "prick" image whenever it comes up.

To be honest, the company did it to themselves. In making those commercials, they wanted to go and make out like Mac was the softwear of the elite, and that PC Users were ignorant, lamers, or nerds. I think it backfired for most, as it seemed really tacky, tasteless, and flat out pathetic.

I also dislike a lot of the myths it seemed to advocate that mac users have about the product, the biggest of which: "Macs can't get viruses". Completely innacurate. Viruses are completely about programming, so no transitive-operating softwear is "immune". Again, it just points back to that whole elitist image.

To add to that, I've got a few friends who are Mac users/owners that act pretty pompous about it. It makes every discussion about it a bit hard to take.

And finally, regarding this "image", the Apple stores I've visited have had terribly rude employees. It's as though they don't really look to help you.

Still, I've got nothing against the general mac user or the computer itself. I had to use it a lot during my Senior year of high school when I was in "video production". We used many high-end products such as Final Cut Pro, LiveType, and a few other ones. It has incredible features for creative purposes, editing, and so forth.
 
While I'm quite pleased with myself to have a mac, I was always a windows person and I still think Mac is more fiddly in terms of usability. Sure, it's user friendly in terms of speed and accessibility but that means nothing if so many simpler abilities are sacraficed. However my main choice of work is art and writing, so the mac is absolutely perfect for me. I don't like that there's such a split, Windows plays games and macs cater to recreational work. Why is that such a bad thing? I use both, after all, and I see the pros and cons of both, but it's not like a lot of those cons are not deliberate or accidents. The cons are mainly there because they know why the user bought it, and people see that as a fault. Awnser- buy the laptop/computer that actually suits all of your needs and you'll be happy. If you don't check the specs and think about what you want to be doing with your spare time before you spend you'll get pretty upset. I am kinda peed off that the mac doesn't really go for PC games and I still have to use the upstairs computer, so that's wholly my fault.
 
- Moved to Computing & Technology -

I'll follow up with my opinion on the subject later, never heard mactard though, that's a new one. Though in short summary there has always been a pretentious air given about mac users and I believe it is the media that surrounds them. Apple, before Ipods came out didn't have much to claim to since PC was out customizing their MC users. Now a days.. though there have been quite a few notable differences between the two users, and I'll discuss those later.
 
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