Software
Windows 7 upgrade a nightmare; glad I’m a Mac user
By Jim DalrympleAugust 6, 2009, 7:51 am PT
In the next couple of months, Apple and Microsoft will both release upgrades to their operating systems. While they are both considered to be maintenance releases, the upgrade paths are incredibly different.
I hardly know what to say about Microsoft’s upgrade path to Windows 7. “Wow” comes to mind. So does “are you kidding me?”
Look at this chart that Walt Mossberg has over at AllThingsD:
All of the blue boxes in that chart require the user to do a “Custom Install.” Okay, that’s not so bad, until you realize that a custom install is Microsoft speak for “wipe your hard drive and start over.” Really? Just to upgrade to the new operating system?
Mossberg said that Microsoft will provide a free “Easy Transfer” program to help users in the upgrade process. That is good news. Except that it won’t transfer your applications, only your personal files and settings.
Now let’s look at what Apple has in store for its users.
Buy Snow Leopard for $29, not the exorbitant price that Microsoft is charging; put it in and upgrade your existing operating system. As long as your computer hardware supports the new OS, you’re good to go.
It’s good to be a Mac user.
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Windows 7 upgrade a nightmare; glad I’m a Mac user
By Jim DalrympleAugust 6, 2009, 7:51 am PT
In the next couple of months, Apple and Microsoft will both release upgrades to their operating systems. While they are both considered to be maintenance releases, the upgrade paths are incredibly different.
I hardly know what to say about Microsoft’s upgrade path to Windows 7. “Wow” comes to mind. So does “are you kidding me?”
Look at this chart that Walt Mossberg has over at AllThingsD:
All of the blue boxes in that chart require the user to do a “Custom Install.” Okay, that’s not so bad, until you realize that a custom install is Microsoft speak for “wipe your hard drive and start over.” Really? Just to upgrade to the new operating system?
Mossberg said that Microsoft will provide a free “Easy Transfer” program to help users in the upgrade process. That is good news. Except that it won’t transfer your applications, only your personal files and settings.
Now let’s look at what Apple has in store for its users.
Buy Snow Leopard for $29, not the exorbitant price that Microsoft is charging; put it in and upgrade your existing operating system. As long as your computer hardware supports the new OS, you’re good to go.
It’s good to be a Mac user.
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Discussion 43 comments so far
43 Responses to “Windows 7 upgrade a nightmare; glad I’m a Mac user”
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At least an Intel Mac user.
I don’t get the reason for the multiple versions of Windows, it seems unnecessarily complicated. Just sell one version as Apple does with OSX, well two if you count the server version.
This has always been Microsoft way of trying to make the most money out of its operating software. The ultimate version at $300 plus is simply obscene and not worth the money but all the other cheaper versions come in with missing features. Apple sell one version (ultimate) at home edition price and everyone of its upgrade systems have brought hardware improvement unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, Apple philosophy in selling its operating system respect the buyer honesty by not requiring him to input a registration number so it is easy to re install (not that this is something common) or transfer it to another machine. Microsoft tax is expensive and cumbersome to say the least and the reason I am willing to pay extra for a Mac is simply that I keep my machine through many OS upgrade, knowing that my Mac will keep its space in improvement with each OS upgrade. I am eagerly waiting for Snow Leopard because it will be the cheapest OS upgrade to date that I will have to pay for and the resulting increase in speed and power to my PBM will be quite substantial. It will be like buying a brand new and more powerful machine for the mere sum of $29!!!!!
Yes, buy Snow Leopard for $29 and then buy a mac for $2000.
And then buy Mac? Macs will come with Snow Leopard when Snow Leopard ships. Regardless, I’m not sure what you are getting at. Macs start at approximately $600.
The $2000 is very well worth it when you compare the quality built of the latest unibody laptop to a comparably priced PC laptop (there are such machines out there and they may not be selling very well). The cheap laptops simply won’t do because I use my $2000 for making movies and handling all manner of multimedia files. The PMB does all of these things without a hiccup and with great ease and considering that I spent a lot of time on my computer, the quality time spent on it counts for a lot.
They should call this the “IT Payback” release, because that’s who is going to benefit the most — not end-users, and not corporate, but all those folks with Microsoft certs on their resume`s.
I agree with you there.
Sorry, Jim,
I’ve been bitten by too many in-place upgrades of Mac OS X.
I thought that had gone well on the laptop where I did it (it had an almost fresh install of Tiger after a drive failure, so I went ahead). All seemed well for a month or so.
Then, I was discussing one of the BSD programs with my boss, who had a new machine which had come with Leopard. The couldn’t agree on the command-line options based on each reading the man page for the program.
It turned out that the in-place upgrade I did had indeed replaced the old comand line programs (all of them). But it had left the man page collection from Tiger on the system. (I did a full reinstall can copy back using Migration Assistant, which solved the problem.)
That was in contrast to to Panther, which had left intact the old command line programs. I should have learned from that (and I did check the programs right away after the attempted upgrade install to Leopard.
The clean install upgrade is easier on Mac than on Windows, but not by as wide a margin as is being suggested.
You use command line much more than me. I wouldn’t know if they had been upgraded most of the time
You used MacPorts, right?
Yeah, I’m with John. I pretty much do wipe and install upgrades for major releases anyway. Mac is better at it, but I like getting rid of the 10,000 little apps i played with for a few days and then forgot about.
It is way easier on the mac still since everything I want is in the home folder. I complicate for myself by bringing back as few of the prefs in the Library folder as possible.
I always carry over a few apps, but I agree there are some that I even forgot I had.
Still have Vista Ultimate sealed in it’s box switched to Mac and haven’t looked back will be upgrading to Snow Leopard & purchasing a MacBook Pro when they ship with Snow Leopard. Hoping to learn a clean install on the Mac as it was horror stories with Microsoft!
Windows 7 is even worse with the European edition I would have to purchase.
PCs have cost me more over the years & I hardly ever kept anything for new version yet only have a Mac 8mths and have important data I would hate to loose. I would not go back to PC days
I just bought a DELL with a 24″ monitor for $999 CAD. The DELL has Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor Q8200 (4MB L2, 2.33GHz, 1333FSB), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit, 6 gig of RAM, 1000 gig HD. I partitioned the HD and loaded Win7. As a former 15 year Mac user (I bought the Mac Classic in 1990) I had enough of being ripped off by the Apple mafia and itsbullied by its fascist fanboyz. I’ve been using Win7 since its public beta. I couldn’t be happier. I sold my 15″ MacBookPro, sold my G5 20″ iMac, and my dad’s eMac is going on Craigslist. I’m done with Apple. And when the Android OS comes to an iPod touch like device, I’ll be getting rid of my 2nd gen iPod touch. There’s a lot of bad karma heading your way, Apple. I’m not the only one.
Why do I not believe this guy was ever a Mac user?
His tone of voice reeks of PC, doesn’t it?
Actually, it sounds more like spam for Dell.
Up until last year I had a Snow G3 iBook that came with OS 9.1. I did a full nuke and pave when I upgraded it to OS-X (10.1 I think). After that I just updated to 10.2, then 10.3, then to 10.4. The little iBook never missed a beat, never had update problems, the new OS just kept running and running. I’ve done the same with my G4 PowerMac, just updated and kept going.
So when I get Snow Leopard I’m going to do a full snapshot of my 9 month old MacBooks, (always a good idea) but then just update. I’ve had good luck with that.
If Mika is “done with Apple” why does he hang out on Mac sites?
Mika,
How long have you been a shill? How’s the pay? Did they tell you to use the registered trademark symbol after the words Intel and Vista?
Geoduck, I used to hang out at Mac sites. I don’t now. I still read Macsurfer News, but even that is now a dying habit. My setup equivalent would cost me $4000 CAD from Apple. And most likely the gfx card would be borged or neutered. Apple is the same fascist corporation Apple’s fanboyz accuse M$ of being. Only with Apple you get the privilege of paying them a 100% to 400% Apple Tax as they propagandize you in their partisan politics.
Mika,
You are disturbed. You should be celebrating and back slapping on a win/ box site. But you are here. There is no one here who believes your tale or trusts your judgement. Go where you will be appreciated and leave the contented here a few moments peace. If I haven’t been clear … well you will respond anyway.
“Windows 7 upgrade a nightmare; glad I’m a Mac user”
That’s your regular programing, folks, and I’m here to tell you it is pure propaganda. Anyway, you are paying thru the nose to get some “peace of mind” because Apple’s marketing scum have scared you to death. Not that M$’s marketing scum are any better. Marketing scum they are all. But Apple’s marketing scum are particularly talented at their propaganda, and therefore they are particularly loathsome and deserving of scorn.
Mika does not deserve to be heard
Ignore it.
Although I must admit, it is entertaining to watch people try to justify a cheap system; which will have to be repaired soon, and runs a second rate operating system (Microsoft admitted) that interrupts you on a regular basis instead of just letting you be productive as being on par or better than a Class-A Mac
Here’s the equivalent chart for Mac users:
http://tumbl.strelau.net/post/156605288/upgrading-to-os-x-snow-leopard
LOL!
Remember that Microsoft astroturfer who used to hang around MacCentral and brag about owning BMWs? What was his name? This Mika guy sounds like him.
“Did they tell you to use the registered trademark symbol after the words Intel and Vista?”
LOL. Actually, the specs are copy & paste straight from my invoice.
As to cheap vs expensive systems, I can tell you that I’ve had more problems with my Mac hardware than with my PC hardware. My PC hardware (and software btw) has been flawless so far. It is Apple’s hardware that is the cheap of the cheap. The quality of Apple’s hardware innards is way sub par. Just because they slap their 100% to 400% Apple Tax, doesn’t mean that you’re getting quality hardware. All it means is that Apple’s marketing managed to bamboozle you so they can steal more money from you. What’s sad is that Apple’s programming is so successful, that you’ve become a sad parody of their 1984 commercial.
There was a guy like mika on TheMacObserver (several actually over the years). I learned that it’s best to just not feed the trolls. They get off on replies, not by being correct or making logical points or even making sense. Ignore them and they will go away.
Actually trolls are really rather pathetic.
I’ve never really understood why Microsoft intentionally creates confusion. Consumers don’t want to wade through pages of documentation for hours on end to find out what features are included with what operating system. Sure it may make sense in the short term but in the long run you just end up confusing your users and deterring them in the future from coming back (unless they feel like they have no choice.)
That chart looks like a bingo card.
Personally, I don’t find the Windows upgrades confusing at all. You have three versions to choose from – you either buy an upgrade, or a full install. Period. It’s really that simple. Then you decide if you want 32 or 64-bit. You can keep your files in place or install a fresh OS – just like Apple.
I think the chart is made to look a little more confusing than it actually is. I hear the same complaints about the Adobe Creative Suite options – I’m not sure what the confusion is about them either.
What I DO find confusing is just what the heck is the difference between the three? They list about 3 features on the site that are different, 2 of which I have no idea what they even are. What is the “ability to join a domain?” How would the average user know what that is? And why does it warrant such a big jump in price? What does Ultimate give you that Business doesn’t?
Why does MS make it so hard for anyone but an uber-geek IT worker? It’s a money-grab, that’s why!
Why is it that Mac users see so clearly and without confusion? I can’t believe Windows users actually believe their own drivel.
“My PC hardware (and software btw) has been flawless so far…”
Gimme a break, what – does this guy play Solitaire all day and nothing else?
If you use Windows and enjoy it you deserve everything you get!
Isn’t it strange that M$ chooses to call it “Custom Install”. The word “Custom” carries with it an implication of “special” or “better”. When what they really mean is “WIPE and Install”. Unlike a bowel movement, you need to wipe BEFORE installing Windows 7. Now that’s innovation!
If you actually look at the chart, the upgrade path is not bad for Vista owners moving to a similar 7 upgrade. XP owners are royally screwed.
While windows 7 might cost more the computer itself cost a heck of a lot less.
And no doubt worth every penny.
After working with wintel computers since the first ibm pc, I’m shortly going to get rid of my final xp 2.8gz pentium iv desktop and go all apple. I’ll keep the behemoth for occasional use – vba on excel and word for example, and one other industry specific program. I’ll never upgrade to windows 7.
I’m buying a mac mini as soon as snow leopard is released, having apple transfer all files, and get a switch to share the keyboard mouse and monitor with the ol windtunnel.
Total cost: Under $900.
Increased satisfaction from antivirus-free apple experience: Priceless.
imho
N
Well, I’ve always gotten Apple upgrades the day they came out, and installed them with no worries.
I’m in the middle of 4 projects, using Logic 9, and have no fears about installing Snow Leopard…evidently there is a nice peformance bump when using Logic 9.
Wondering what all this fanboy and propaganda rant is about…reminds me of the healthcare zanies who think the government is going to steal their grandma…my Macs are the center of my business, and are by FAR the best tools in the world for what I do. I certainly don’t use them because of some marketing scam. Can’t say enough about how great this company has treated me over the last 25 years, and how much MONEY I’ve made with their great tools.
I guess if all I did was play Doom all day I could live with a PC….
Looking forward to Snow Leopard! Read David Pogue today in the NY Times…
A while back a one time PC user who turned to Macs told me that PC users that rave about their MS OS and apps do so because they have become so conditioned to the crashes, lockups, blue screens of death, lost files, viruses and everything else that their ‘elegant’ OS can do to them that they have come to believe this is the way using a computer is the way its supposed to be.
Sad, isn’t it.
I’ve been using a Macs for 20 years. I still have an 8500AV and a 9500 that I use to store temp files.
LOL, doesn’t anyone realise this is a beta release you’re talking about? Your comparing a stable Mac OS to a Beta Windows OS. I didn’t think mac users had got that desperate.
Macs start at $599. Not $2000 like the Apple-basher posted above. Of course, many PCs start at even lower than that, maybe around $400 or so. But those toy PCs probably have less functionality than an iPhone (which itself is a wonderful pocket computer, ahead of its time).
“Most of the world uses a PC” is about as worthless and dumb as saying that “Most of the USA voted for Barack Obama”, or that “Most of 1930s Germany accepted Adolf Hitler to become their leader”.
In the Middle Ages, most of the people (ignorant and uneducated) also believed that the Earth was flat. Only a few, a small minority of intellectuals (e.g. Copernicus), knew otherwise.
There is nothing good about PC users bragging that they are in the “majority”. Every time they belittle Apple by saying that Mac users are a small insignificant minority, this logic is already flawed…