Mac vs. PC - Fight!

[HCHTech]

My attorney referred me to an elderly woman in Florida (I'm in PA) who had had her identity stolen and needed help navigating the recovery process. She had a Mac, and I spent a good hour trying to get connected remotely. I was on a PC, and I tried everything I could think of, but she just couldn't navigate the granting of permissions necessary to make the connection. 3 different tools in all, but she just couldn't do it. Ultimately, I suggested she either have someone local do this work, or have them get me connected so that I could help. She booked someone who has helped her in the past, but she warned me that they couldn't do the job, but could undoubtedly get me connected (odd, but ok I guess).

Two days passed and the local tech calls me. It takes less than 5 minutes, but between the woman wanting to tell me a very-detailed but irrelevant story and the tech guy chiming in, it lasted 30 minutes (all billable!). What surprised me was the unrelenting stream of comments from this guy about how Mac were superior, and he just couldn't understand how folks even used PCs. "You know, you can run Windows in Parallels on a good Mac and it's just so much better - PCs are just junk!" "How much memory do you have? I'll bet your PC takes 3 times the amount of RAM than Macs need to do the work!" "Gotten any viruses...THIS WEEK? Hahaha." Just on and on. If this wasn't a referral, I'd have just hung up on them. Sheesh. You can have your own opinion, but there's no call to be a jerk about it.

When the guy finally left, the woman explained "Yeah, he's very good at his job, but he can be a lot" - uh, yeah. It turns out the woman was from my town originally and retired to Florida after selling her chain of 20 retail stores 10 years ago. In the end, signed up for our RMM, left a good review and called my attorney to thank her. So there, Mac-zealot - haha.

 

[britechguy]

There's no zealot more zealous than an Apple fanboy or fangirl.

It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.
~ Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

 

[trevm999]

I used to be a mac tech, and during that time I didn't understand why people were willing to put out so much money for them. However, as a tech they were great. No issues with reinstalling the OS/transferring computers, settings all transfer, so the end user barely notices. I've also seen Apple Support bend over backwards for people.

Adware and PUPs have had a strong Mac presence for a while, but Windows people underestimate the cost of having to have an AV constantly scanning in the background just in order to keep the base crud of stuff out.

Personally, I've always switched between Windows and Linux, and the Windows memory cost is real. My work Windows machine was recently upgraded to 64GB because 32GB was not enough to handle everything, while I have no issues on my 16GB Linux system. (This is software dev work though, not typical end user stuff)

These days, I'd gladly accept a Mac as my work machine, as basically the only Windows alternative with the support that companies. And I also understand why people not looking for the cheapest system with the highest specs go for a Mac. Yeah, there's a lot of fanboyism and marketing, and you can do the same things as any computer, but there is value there. And that marketing is what managed to convince people to learn a different OS.

 

[trevm999]

Probably even just the core UI stability make it worth it for some.

 

[Markverhyden]

I can guarantee you the world is full of Microsoft zealots that are just as irrational as Apple zealots.

At the end of the day I don't care. In spite of what people think computers really are all the "same". Each OEM just re arranges the furniture on users. Bob or Packard Bell Navigator anyone?

On the remote support thing I agree Apple's security measures are a real PITA. Especially when trying to enable remote access. In fact the OS expressly block's any programmatic effort to do that. Since I have a Mac is can literally follow them click for click to get these done. A nice tip. If you approve screen access first you can actually watch them until they've done the rest. Absent that this is exactly what a "Facetime" scenario is about. The catch is if the tech has Android and the patient has an iPhone. In that case you can generate a link for a web based Facetime session. https://support.apple.com/en-us/109364. You can also use things like Teams or any other video sharing 3rd party app.

 

[britechguy]

I can guarantee you the world is full of Microsoft zealots that are just as irrational as Apple zealots.

. . . In spite of what people think computers really are all the "same".

As to the former, I can't help but agree 100%.

As to the latter, I can't, and you give one example of how not "the same" MacOS is from Windows in its handling of remote access.

I'll agree that you can use a Mac, PC, or Linux box for virtually all of the same tasks, but the UIs and other aspects differ enough that I can't say that "sameness" applies whether from the end user or the technician perspectives. Similarity in many respects, sure, but nothing even closely like truly being the same.

 

[frase]

It is a wonder you lasted that long on the phone, props to you for that.

 

[HCHTech]

It is a wonder you lasted that long on the phone, props to you for that.

If this wasn't a referral, I would have given up long before I did for sure. I know how to do it sitting in front of a Mac, and tried my best to get the screen permissions first, but this poor woman just couldn't take instructions. She would have literally needed instructions like "now, click the 3rd button down from the top, the blue one". I was just describing things by name, and that wasn't enough for her.

We used to have a Mac mini in the shop for just these kinds of things, but I decommissioned it once it got too many OS versions behind - and because we were using it once per year on average, I didn't replace it.

Something that should exist but doesn't - a web-based MacOS emulator. No doubt that would be against copyright and you'd soon get a cease & desist letter if you built one, haha.

 

[Blues]

It is to put up with someone like that AC zealot for the paying clients needs I think we all know a few clients who like to tell the story even when most of the story is irrelevant and like you said it is all billable time. I will say I run into far fewer Mac or Windows zealots these days definitely Windows zealots it seems to be the rise of the Linux zealot now. That rant reminds me of so many Mac rants from the 90s to late 00s particularly the virus thing since virus issues went from a #1 issue to near the bottom now I think in large part due to Windows Defender and UAC.

 

[trevm999]

It is to put up with someone like that AC zealot for the paying clients needs I think we all know a few clients who like to tell the story even when most of the story is irrelevant and like you said it is all billable time. I will say I run into far fewer Mac or Windows zealots these days definitely Windows zealots it seems to be the rise of the Linux zealot now. That rant reminds me of so many Mac rants from the 90s to late 00s particularly the virus thing since virus issues went from a #1 issue to near the bottom now I think in large part due to Windows Defender and UAC.

Linux zealot makes a lot more sense to exist, since there is also a strong ideological component.

 

[frase]

Linux zealot makes a lot more sense to exist, since there is also a strong ideological component.

Do you you ARCH lol.

The "tech" that was ranting sounds like a novice, as who in their mind would banter on about such things as a professional. Different systems for different needs or individuals, personally I use Linux/Mint for Data Recovery, own a mac just to be compatible for services and as a tear down rebuild. Windows I do tend to use mostly as it runs everything seamlessly for my business environment.

To remote into macs I use Splashtop, works seamlessly send a link to client to install the streamer.
A local user must manually open System Settings on the Mac and allow Splashtop under Screen Recording and Accessibility.
Though yes there are stumbling blocks for those with limited or no knowledge at all which can be frustrating for both parties.

This job in particular was of high importance by the sound of the OP, no need for the other tech to have a mac rant; very unprofessional save it for Reddit.

 

[callthatgirl]

Tips for remoting into Macs, use Zoom, then you can see her screen to help with the security. It doesn't always work but can. I also have done video over the phone to show them the buttons.

Slashtop is pretty easy for the clients to see the buttons, there are now arrows on the security screen pointing to what to do. 2 steps I think not terrible.

 

[Markverhyden]

As to the former, I can't help but agree 100%.

As to the latter, I can't, and you give one example of how not "the same" MacOS is from Windows in its handling of remote access.

I'll agree that you can use a Mac, PC, or Linux box for virtually all of the same tasks, but the UIs and other aspects differ enough that I can't say that "sameness" applies whether from the end user or the technician perspectives. Similarity in many respects, sure, but nothing even closely like truly being the same.

I have zero problem moving between different OS's. As I've said before they just re-arrange the furniture to make themselves look unique. Therefore supposedly different. Just because someone moves the soup spoon from right of the dinner knife up above the dessert fork doesn't mean there's no way to eat the soup.

 

[frase]

I have zero problem moving between different OS's. As I've said before they just re-arrange the furniture to make themselves look unique. Therefore supposedly different. Just because someone moves the soup spoon from right of the dinner knife up above the dessert fork doesn't mean there's no way to eat the soup.

I hold my fork in my right hand, I am odd apparently in Australia as most do the opposite.