Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 Service Pack 1 set to launch next week

What lag issues? Anything from loading system menus, starting up programs, even switching from minimized to max view takes forever. And don’t even get me started on Safari – biggest POS browser the world has seen.

Compatibility – if you’ve tried to share any Office files between Macs and PCs you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Everything is so closed and guarded by Apple that you can’t even make a keynote converter.

As for features – mostly based on lack of applications. For Windows, I can search google for any software I want with the words “free” in front of it and I bet I can find a freeware or opensource version of it. With Macs? Nothing. And if it existed I bet Apple would try to limit that too (like with jailbreaking) as to keep their ‘perfect’ little macs chugging along happily. It’s easy to keep something working when everything is fenced in!

On the side – what the hell is up with OS X wifi utility??? Honestly, the thing has a life of it’s own! It is ALWAYS the Mac users who come for help when trying to connect to secured wifi – often times I have to enter all the settings in manually. With windows everything is as automatic as it gets, and if you want to change anything it is all located under 1 network profile, not scattered all over unrelated menus. Unless you are trying to connect to your typical Linksys WEP/WPA secured connection, this thing will give you hell. Dealing with that and slow menus on at least 75% of Macs will drive you nuts. People at work daily swear at their Macs. When I ask them why they even got one, they respond with “I don’t know, I just like them”….

And all this is just from working with other peoples macs a few minutes each day. I don’t even want to picture having to own one. Only reason I’d like one is to be able to develop for the iPhone.

“What lag issues? Anything from loading system menus, starting up programs, even switching from minimized to max view takes forever. And don’t even get me started on Safari – biggest POS browser the world has seen.”

Care to give us specifics about your system/OS? I’ve used Chrome from day 1 on my MBA so no opinion on Safari.

“Compatibility – if you’ve tried to share any Office files between Macs and PCs you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Everything is so closed and guarded by Apple that you can’t even make a keynote converter.”

Share Office files? Like with Dropbox or SugarSync or Google Docs? No worries there my friend.

“As for features – mostly based on lack of applications. For Windows, I can search google for any software I want with the words “free” in front of it and I bet I can find a freeware or opensource version of it. With Macs? Nothing. And if it existed I bet Apple would try to limit that too (like with jailbreaking) as to keep their ‘perfect’ little macs chugging along happily. It’s easy to keep something working when everything is fenced in!”

Specifics please. Let us know what you want for free on OSX and someone will likely be able to help you.

“On the side – what the hell is up with OS X wifi utility??? Honestly, the thing has a life of it’s own! It is ALWAYS the Mac users who come for help when trying to connect to secured wifi – often times I have to enter all the settings in manually. With windows everything is as automatic as it gets, and if you want to change anything it is all located under 1 network profile, not scattered all over unrelated menus. Unless you are trying to connect to your typical Linksys WEP/WPA secured connection, this thing will give you hell. Dealing with that and slow menus on at least 75% of Macs will drive you nuts. People at work daily swear at their Macs. When I ask them why they even got one, they respond with “I don’t know, I just like them”….”

I’ve had zero problems connecting to various private/public networks. I’m really not sure what you mean here without specifics. My little office uses a Linksys WPA2 connection nd I connect fine within about 1 second of walking in the door. Where do you work that people swear at their Macs? Is it a Windows reliant work area?

“And all this is just from working with other peoples macs a few minutes each day. I don’t even want to picture having to own one. Only reason I’d like one is to be able to develop for the iPhone.”

If you don’t actually use a Mac for more than 2 minutes at a time, how do you consider yourself qualified to make these comments?

BTW, I use Mac/W7 about 50/50 between my work and home use.

@Scooter: I use macs 10-30 minutes at a time. Not my own. And in that short time I noticed all the short-comings. I’m not allowed to have a first impression?

And no I won’t be using drop box. If you think I’m lying and just hating on Apple, well….I’m not. The same way you think none of the issues I mentioned are problems is the same way I feel when people complain about Windows – i have never ever had an issue with Windows and can’t see how others have.

As for the wireless…the connection is a bit more sophisticated as it uses a more complex authentication method. Google “eduroam”.

I forgot to mention the hardware: Almost no USB ports, and everything else requires a freaking dongle. Want VGA? Get a dongle. Want HDMI? Get a dongle. I have all that built in on my Windows laptop.

Also, the keyboard sucks. It is clearly not designed for fast typing. What I hate most though is that god-awful trackpad. WHERE THE HELL ARE MY BUTTONS!!!! I feel like smashing a Mac every time I have to use it. First thing I do when working on a Mac is plug in my Logitech wireless laser mouse.

The only thing Macs have on PCs is battery life – my laptop only gets 3-4 hours running on eco mode (dedicated graphics card off, screen dimmed, etc). Macs have excellent battery life. I’d rather pay an extra $60 per battery and extend that time than lose my extra ports and hardware to make room for a bigger battery.

“I forgot to mention the hardware: Almost no USB ports, and everything else requires a freaking dongle. Want VGA? Get a dongle. Want HDMI? Get a dongle. I have all that built in on my Windows laptop.”

I don’t use my MBAas a HTPC. No HDMI required….but that’s just me. I do however use my HTPC as a HTPC. I don’t use my MBA with VGA. No dongles needed.

“Also, the keyboard sucks. It is clearly not designed for fast typing. What I hate most though is that god-awful trackpad. WHERE THE HELL ARE MY BUTTONS!!!! I feel like smashing a Mac every time I have to use it. First thing I do when working on a Mac is plug in my Logitech wireless laser mouse.”

Beauty is on the eye of the beholder and beauty is my Mac keyboard. Many would disagree with you here.The trackpad is a thing of wonder. This coming from a long time Windows laptop user.

I thought you didn’t have a Mac…you only used your co-worker’s Mac. Send it to me if you really hate it that much.

If you need lessons on how to use the Monkey-Simple trackpad, let us know. We’re a helpful community.

I am like you. I get allergy attacks when I touch ANY Apple product! You should see my pictures of the rashes I get. I posted them in YouTube!