First Time Mac Users: You Do Not Need to Install Windows
Being one of a very small handful of Mac users at work I am inundated with Apple related questions. The majority of the inquiries I field are from people who just recently purchased a Mac, like as in a couple days ago recent! One of the first queries I almost always receive is, “how do I install Windows XP?” I hate to break it to you Mac n00b: you do not need to install Windows. OS X does everything Windows does but better.
I completely sympathize with first-time Mac buyers. The Mac OS X experience is just like the commercials portray the operating system – different. It is minimal, clean and simple on top of highly advanced. Migrating from the Windows world to the Mac world can be a dizzying experience, especially if you are not all that computer savvy.
Windows is a safety blanket. It makes people unfamiliar with OS X comfortable because it is something familiar. So I totally understand where people are coming from when their initial thought is to install Windows XP right after taking their brand new iMac or MacBook Pro out of the box
But get this – if you are a first time Mac consumer then trust me when I say you do not need to install Windows on your sexy new Mac hardware. This is not to say installing Windows is blasphemy. Quite the contrary, especially since Apple offers Boot Camp. It boils down to Windows ultimately not being a necessity for the average Mac user.
OS X is an operating system for which applications are specifically designed. Using native OS X applications will produce far better results than their Windows counterparts. More often than not the applications are of a superior design, perform better and are easier to use.
If you have a need to view Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents then simply purchase Mac Office 2008. A cheaper, simpler alternative is Apple’s very own iWork productivity suite. It does everything most people use Microsoft Office for but at a fraction of the cost.
About the only scenario where installing Windows makes sense is for gaming. If there is a specific Windows-only version of a game you simply must have then this is one of the few situations where dual-booting using Boot Camp may be desirable. The same can be said for that one critical application without a Mac counterpart.
The bottom line is this: you do not need to install Windows! You bought a Mac so use it as it was designed. You’ll find your Mac life to be so much easier if you do.
I replaced my parents' Athlon X2-based machine with a Core 2 Mac Mini with OS X.
90% of the things they did, I was able to find OS X counterparts of. Except for a couple things: My dad uses an odd “clientless” Cisco AnyConnect VPN client to connect work, as well as Lotus Notes. The workplace only issues Windows versions of Lotus Notes.
I reluctantly had to install Windows XP.
The only reason I have windows on my computer (using Virtual Box) is because I simply need Internet Explorer 7 when developing websites. Probably the only reason when you have to install Windows is when you want to play games as most games aren't supported on a Mac.
I completely agree that the only reason Windows needs to installed is gaming. If it's for dev, use parallels or some such VM system. When I got my first Intel based Mac (my first Mac was an iBook G4) a couple friends asked me if was going to duel boot my instant response was “heck no!”
There was nothing I couldn't do with native OSX software and I much preferred OSX anyway. As for gaming, I have an XBOX 360 for that. I got tired years ago of having to update my PC to play the latest game at top graphics at a cost which I could get 2 or 3 consoles for. The only game I play that isn't console based is Football Manager and guess what, yup, it is OSX native, glorious!
AutoCAD. Gawd.
That's the thing – finding the OS X counterparts. There are a few Windows-only apps but 99% of first-time Mac users will not be using that type of peculiar software.
I feel for you having to install XP on your Mac. It's just a waste of system resources in the grand scheme, methinks.
Well, what's worse is the Cisco client works in OS X, and I know an OS X version of Lotus Notes exists — it's just that I can't seem to get my hands on a copy. >_o
Exactly – games is the biggest reason for having a requirement to install Windows on a Mac.
Definitely with you on preferring the OS X software over their Windows counterparts. It only makes sense considering the situation, right? :-)
I just transitioned my stepdad onto a Mac, and amazingly, he has to have Windows for work. Obnoxious, proprietary medical software that only runs on Windows.
But he's a rarity, the first I've ever helped that required Windows.
Wow! Andy, thanks for stopping by and grabbing a bowl of our special Miso Soup! Very cool to see you around our part of the internets.
I probably should have added a line or two in the write-up about software like what your Step-Dad is using. Oddly enough, my Step-Mom is in the same boat because she works for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and telecommutes to work daily. It is for this exact reason that she has yet to transition to Mac while my Dad is a huge Mac consumer.
I purchased Mac Office 2008, for specific documents, etc.
I must admit, I do like the iWork Suite, also.
90% of programs do not work on non Windows platforms. Saying that you dont need windows, is saying that you dont need 90% of computer software.
That may be true if you occasionally check your email and/or only listen to music. If you're as advanced as a MS office user, you're probably all set with Mac.
If, however, you play or if you work on anything (and i mean anything) more advanced than music,web and word typing than its more than likely that you need windows. Sad, but true.
My work uses a 3rd party tool that only works on IE, so I have to.