Why do people feel the need to mention they're using a Mac?

Because they’re just better…

Even if so, what’s the added value?

of the mac or mentioning it? You mention it because you’re proud and hope to turn a few PC users on to something better.
The added value of using them is just that they work better, you have less difficulty, fewer worries – oh and they look so much nicer!

Adding that isn’t helpful. I’m not sure why the person felt the need to mention it.

And I am typing this on a Mac.

“the person” added that because the question is why mention you use a mac – for me, it’s just to point out that that’s my choice, and it’s my choice for the reasons mentioned above.

But it didn’t help answer the question. The person specifically said they are doing a presentation for Windows.

edit :: And Vincentt is correct. I was referring to the answer of the linked question.

Wildflower, I think “this person” referred to the person who posted the answer I linked to :)

Anyway, do you think a Windows user that is looking for podcasting software will go and buy a Mac to give it a try because someone says he’s using it?

no, but it may plant a seed….....and although I obviously can’t read that other person’s mind, I often use the ‘I use mac’ line to get out of helping with PC/Windows queries – of course on here, that’s easy: don’t post an answer….

Many people, whose profession requires them to work in a windows environment, choose Mac’s for their personal use. Sort of like a bus driver, who owns a Porsche.

@wildflower – It does plant a seed, indeed. A seed that will grow out to a full-grown dislike of Mac users who seem to post irrelevant comments. I mean, most people don’t even want to think about their OS (obviously, otherwise so many people wouldn’t be using Windows ;-).

@MKIA – yes, I understand that, but that’s no reason to mention it when not asked for, is it? I mean, if I were to ask the bus driver for the route to <placename>, then it’d be odd if that bus driver would mention he’s driving a Porsche.

unless it’s a route he only knows from driving his porsche and it goes under a bridge or viaduct that he’s not sure the bus will fit under…

wildflower, that obviously doesn’t apply to this and similar situations…

“My VCR won’t eject this tape I really need, how do I get it out?”

Answering, “Buy a DVD player.” isn’t really helpful.

Vincentt
You actually nailed it there earlier…..Windows users don’t want to think about their OS, whether it’s the stress of managing it or the general dislike of the supplier, whereas mac users are the opposite, they quite like those things about their OS…..hence they may choose to make a point of it.

I think it’s the same reason why Saab owners smile at each other when they’re on the highway.

They know they’re paying way to much for parts and labor.

hey maybe the guy is a new mac user like myself and felt the need to shout it out. The end!

@Hollister0221

The problem is that a lot (almost all) Windows based questions asked on the non-nerdy part of the Internet result in someone answering with “Get a Mac.” It is annoying, and I use a Mac.

Mac represents their uniqueness, stylish, and reliability.

I mostly see these “built on a mac” signs on most web designers websites. They think that somehow using a mac makes them more creative then everyone else or that they are somehow better. But in reality, its all the same whether you are a mac, pc or even linux. Thats why I have recently started putting a “Built On A Dell” link at the bottom of most websites i build.

@mirza
Go with “Best viewed with Netscape v4.0.1”

“Best when viewed”

That guy you refered to in your question just sounds desperate for someway to sound superior. It could also just be a joke. One of the pitfalls of typing things is you can’t get the intonations that tell you he was just joshing around.

Yeah glial, I’m trying to block out the 90’s.

That sucks when people do that!

I’m using a Tandy!

Its a Vic 20 for me. Oh wait. that was the 80’s.

Iiphone01, I’d be annoyed when someone was constantly boasting his “uniqueness, stylish, and reliability”.

wildflower, while it sounds convincing at first, on second thought Ubuntu users have also (often) thought well about their OS choice but (mostly) aren’t boasting about it when irrelevant. Then again, that might be because their choice didn’t involve as much money ;-)

Great answers everyone :)

“Hi, My name is [wildflower], and I’m a mac user.”

“Hi, my name is [Vincentt] and I just had breakfast this morning.”

what did you have? …she types on her mac

their proud of it. Their ego wants to Brag.

My theory is that I think most Mac users feel more or less frustrated, time and time over, browsing thorugh all these forums on the Internet, where PC users are scratching their heads not knowing how to burn a DVD for instance. Something that is so drop dead simple as pushing a simple button on a Mac, can still be asked for among PC users.

I think we simply want to push things forward a little bit. Podcasting has been around for ages in the Mac world.

@makemo: i dont get why most mac users think that pc users are frustrated about using a pc? its really not as buggy or as complicated as apple claims it to be

@makemo – does mentioning you are using a Mac alongside an answer to a question on Windows podcasting tools “push things forward”?

No, but these occurrences normally express a well-intentioned suggestion that people move forward to the better platform.

People make wrong decisions using PCs. Politicians use them as well. They could just wind up emailing no, when they mean yes, because of PC.

…and it couldn’t be such that different OS’s suit different people? I, for one, know for sure OS X is not my thing, and apparently, Mirza has also made a conscious choice for Windows. I’ve never made a wrong decision because of my PC (which, admittedly, doesn’t run Windows, but I’m sure Mirza has never made a wrong decisions because of Windows).

Also, what’s the relevancy of “Politicians use them as well”?

@ vincentt – on the head. differnt suits fort differrent folks.

Better still, Mac people never wear suits. ;)

No true I have a swim suit on right now. A speedo in fact.

EWWWWW

OK, which is worse; pointing out you use a mac or that you wear a banana-hammock?

one further, I use a pc and a mac while in a banana hamac. HIGH FIVE!

oh dear lord! Its only a mental image, but I will still have to wash my eyes out with soap now!!

Hehe. Ok and end to this. I use a mac and pc. I am however fully clothed. sorry to walk down that path. heheh.

meh…..no apologies necessary – us mac heads can take a joke in the spirit its intended ;)

So, different suites for different folks – so “the better platform” is not very well expressed?

I for one would not have chosen Mac if I didn’t believe it was indeed the better platform and I stand by my choice and proud to let anyone know.
And if I think someone else may benefit from switching, I will let them know.

I have a friend who likes to tweak an operating system to withing an inch of its life. He likes to use it to manipulate files on a code level. A pc is better for him.

I could care less about that. I want a system that makes the environment stable, safe and easy to use so I can focus on doing what I want how I want. That to me is Mac.

of course now that there’s bootcamp theres all the less reason for choosing a PC

@makemo: Mac people never wear suits. – You could have not been any more wrong. If you ever get a chance to come to Manhattan, just stop by at some of the Marketing Agencies. You will find rows of fancy cubicles with iMacs. Using the iMac, are people professionally dressed in suits. And honestly Apple needs the “suits” to use their computers to boost their 6 or 7% market share

And just to get this clear: there is no right answer as to what OS is better. Theres an OS that suits everyones needs. But seriously can we stop with the fanboyism – it doesn’t matter which OS is better. Ultimately its upto the user. If a user is stupid, even the best computer in the world wont make him a john nash.

Lastly, you can also use OS X on a pc. And as for all you people , who think macs are perfect and nothing ever goes wrong with them, i would advice you to try getting a job at an apple store for a day.

> And if I think someone else may benefit from switching, I will let them know.

I don’t suppose that was the case here, was it?

> of course now that there’s bootcamp theres all the less reason for choosing a PC

That is, of course, overlooking the fact that you’re paying for Mac hardware+Mac software+Windows… Ka-ching!

well, like Gucci family motto says: Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

I think the most logical answer to the question, “What’s your favorite Windows podcasting tool?”, IS, in fact, “Hey pal, buy a Mac and get it done”.

I don’t see how this could be inappropriate as an answer to a question like this. Even if the inquirer mentions Windows, he or she appears to be confused about the obvious way to achieve what he or she wants (podcasting).

When did the inquirer explicitly tell, that the advice to his or her question needs to stay within the context of a specific platform or OS?

A solution is a solution, no matter the platform.

I think you can tell from his question that the presentation was supposed to be about Windows podcasting tools. Most Windows users aren’t even aware of other operating systems, but here it was clearly mentioned. You can ask that the asker spell it out literally for you, but most people can tell what a person means by subtle hints like prefixing “podcasting tool” with “Windows”.

Also, telling someone to spend a lot of money just for that presentation isn’t exactly helpful, is it?

Well, as [mirza] already pointed out before, there is the solution of at least emulating OS X on PCs, at virtually zero cost. So the moral of the story probably goes, that it’s perfectly suitable with any advice pointing at a Mac solution to the task at hand.

The gap between OS’es these days, isn’t that huge. That is to say, you can effectively run any OS on any other OS; it’s easy for PC users to run a Mac environment on their computers. But still, the burning question is, if there’s any resemblance of an argument left, for Mac users to run Windows on their computers, other than to accomodate the unfortunate fact, that most people are still unaware that they are using a lesser competent by-product of the technical phenomenon we have come to call, Computers. They (as weird as it may seem) persist on not taking the leap into a future with products engineered for user-centric operation.

My theory: The poster mentioned that he was using a Mac to clarify that he did not himself use the tools he had mentioned, and so they did not necessarily have his endorsement.

Personally, if I’m recommending Windows software to a Windows user, I feel obligated to clarify, “I’m using a Mac now, and it’s been several years since I’ve used this software,” or “This software came out after I switched to Mac, so I don’t personally know if it’s any good.”

It’s not a snobbish, “Well I’m on a Mac,” so much as a helpful warning about the validity of my recommendation. It’s perfectly innocent (except perhaps for the part where I’m probably hoping that this will deter them from trying to get support from me, but that doesn’t usually work.)

And, of course, I’m typing this on a Mac.

@aidje – hmm, that sounds very credible indeed. (In this case it might not apply, because the “which includes podcasting tools out of the box” still is a bit snobbish, but I can see that this might apply in many cases – thanks!)