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Mac Lab Report
75 Mac Advantages Revisited
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Advantages Index
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 1
- Feedback #1
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 2
- Feedback #2
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 3
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 4
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 5
- 75 Mac Advantages, Part 6
- Origin of the 75 Mac Advantages
Once upon a time Apple Computer issued a document called the "50 Mac Advantages," which later became the "75 Mac Advantages," a document which purported to list 75 different advantages the Mac OS had over its chief competitor, Microsoft Windows 95. The Advantages document was created as a promotional item to be handed out to Evangelistas. Origin of the 75 Mac Advantages describes the history of the development of the 75 advantages in more detail.
Despite some flaws, the original document listed substantive differences between Mac OS 8.1 and Windows 95, which were contemporary products. Among other problems, the original document had a disconcerting way of shifting between versions of Windows to put the Mac OS in its best light. Overall, however, it was a very popular document with Mac advocates, and this series was based on an archival copy located at Alex Paterson's web site and used as source material.
In this series of articles, I have attempted to update the 75 Advantages to reflect the current state of the Mac OS (at 9.1/X) and the Windows operating system (now reflected by its Win2000, Me, and upcoming XP offerings). This being Low End Mac, the emphasis is on Win 98 and OS 9, but information about the other versions is included from time to time.
According to my analysis I estimate that despite the enormous effort that has gone into improving Windows, 56 of the original 75 Macintosh Advantages still remain (not counting one Advantage awarded two credits); 18 Advantages are either neutralized due to improvements in Windows or abandonment from Apple, and one Advantage is still being researched. The totals may change again if I am persuaded by my well-informed readers that I have some flaw in my reasoning.
Summary: Mac Advantages Revisited
Each Advantage is linked to the 75 Advantages Revisited article where it is discussed.
Advantage |
Status |
Count |
|
Weakened, still true. Windows improving. |
+1 |
|
|
SCSI defunct, but FireWire is a plus |
0,+1 |
|
|
Still mostly true, but slightly weakened |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, but Windows is improving |
+1 |
|
|
Still true but not perfect |
+1 |
|
|
Neutralized pending further study |
0 |
|
|
Neutralized due to Windows improvements |
0 |
|
|
GeoPort is dead |
0 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Already passed, currently irrelevant |
0 |
|
|
Still very true |
+1 |
|
|
Windows can do it now, but Macs are easier |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, and Mac has more combinations |
+2 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Still true (but DLL is not an extension) |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, but not a big deal |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, but do Macs have more problems? |
+1 |
|
|
No contest |
+1 |
|
|
Self filing extensions still win |
+1 |
|
|
Reduced to parity due to USB, but Mac still easier |
+1 |
|
|
Function available but buried in Windows |
0 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Still true but not a huge advantage |
+1 |
|
|
Still easier and more consistent |
+1 |
|
|
260 character limit on pathnames in Windows |
+1 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
No functional trash on Windows floppies |
+1 |
|
|
Varies by vendor; loss of ports on Macs weakens |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, and applies to CD-ROMs, too |
+1 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Neutralized due to Windows changes |
0 |
|
|
Only within the OS, not as a standalone |
+1 |
|
|
Neutralized due to Apple adoption of OpenGL |
0 |
|
|
QuickTimeVR rocks |
+1 |
|
|
iMovie & FireWire set the standard |
+1 |
|
|
ColorSync is more robust |
+1 |
|
|
Only in text-to-speech |
+1 |
|
|
Windows has innovated, Mac still better |
+1 |
|
|
Still true |
+1 |
|
|
Musicians love the Mac |
+1 |
|
|
When you can find them |
+1 |
|
|
Doesn't seem to have ever been true |
0 |
|
|
Publishers love Macs for a reason |
+1 |
|
|
Still true, but I miss Home Page |
+1 |
|
|
Yup |
+1 |
|
|
Pretty dang secure |
+1 |
|
|
Buggy |
0 |
|
|
Two clicks. One screen. |
+1 |
|
|
Oh My God! They Killed Cyberdog! |
0 |
|
|
In some things yes, some no, but perception rules |
0 |
|
|
An embarrassing flip flop, but coolness wins |
+1 |
|
|
AppleScript just keeps getting better |
+1 |
|
|
Great value, long battery life |
+1 |
|
|
Microsoft does a better job promoting its solution |
0 |
|
|
Sometimes more software for PC is a good thing |
+1 |
|
|
True, but not nearly enough of them |
0 |
|
|
More control but less speed; mixed advantages |
0 |
|
|
Reduced to a trivia question; what's OpenDoc? |
0 |
|
|
Seems to be better implemented in Mac OS |
+1 |
|
|
I have absolutely no idea |
?? |
|
|
We're talking about the PRAM battery here |
+1 |
|
|
Mac on Windows exists, but it isn't pretty |
+1 |
|
|
PCs panic when we give 'em Mac files |
+1 |
|
|
65. A Macintosh running Windows can share data between OS environments. |
Flip back and forth with ease |
+1 |
|
66. A Macintosh computer can be a client in virtually any network. |
Not unless your IT staff cooperates |
0 |
|
67. Macintosh computers include many features that cost extra on PCs. |
If Macs have what you need, they're better value |
+1 |
|
68. The Macintosh platform provides better customer support. |
If ZDNet says it, it must be true |
+1 |
|
69. Macintosh computers retain their usability and value longer. |
You better believe it |
+1 |
|
70. The Macintosh is rated more reliable for the third year in a row. |
Why did PC world drop Macs from rankings? |
+1 |
|
There's not much that won't run on a modern Mac |
+1 |
|
|
72. Macintosh computers require less hardware than PCs running Windows to run similar applications. |
I see no evidence for this |
0 |
|
Windows much better now; jury still out on XP vs. X |
0 |
|
|
74. Macintosh users are the most brand loyal of all computer users. |
Cold Dead Fingers and all that |
+1 |
|
Only data is an old study; still looking |
+1 |
Total: 56 of 75 still remain Mac advantages; (not counting one advantage awarded two credits); 18 advantages either neutralized due to improvements in Windows or abandonment from Apple; one advantage still being researched.
Concluding thoughts
I also know there are additional Mac advantages which have appeared since the original document was written, and some advantages of unique interest to hobbyists and people who preserve computers and use low end machines. A forthcoming article will discuss these Advantages.
When OS X settles into the Mac universe in a more-or-less final version and Windows XP is released, the series should be updated again - that'll be next year at the earliest, in my opinion. Other unfinished work in this project includes an extension to the advantages, listing features not covered or not existing in the original document, a list of Windows advantages over the Mac OS (for Apple to use the same way Microsoft has used the original Advantages document to improve Windows); and a revision of the entire list including some unfinished research on certain items and items which changed my mind based on reader feedback.
I'd like to thank Dan Edelen, the original author of the "75 Advantages" booklet; Dan Knight for his patience and assistance with this series; John Droz for his excellent Mac Advocacy resource pages; Alex Paterson for keeping an electronic version of the Advantages brochure alive, and many, many readers for their thoughtful feedback during the preparation of this series of articles.
If this series proves useful to you, I'd appreciate a note to
let me know the work was worth it; and if you feel compelled to
contribute to Low End Mac for assisting you promote the Our
Favorite Computer, feel free to 
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