"Apple Tax" Report Backfires On Microsoft

Ian Lamont writes "A Microsoft-sponsored report that describes a hidden "Apple tax" has fallen flat among the technology press. Roger Kay's report (PDF) compares various PC and Mac configurations, and claims an all-Apple household's costs would add up to an extra $3,367 over five years. Tech columnists and bloggers have slammed the comparisons and claims made in the report — even Mac-baiter John C. Dvorak calls it propaganda. However, some Mac fans still see a pro-Microsoft press conspiracy. Even if the comparisons are questionable, Kay's report and the accompanying television ads have clearly struck a nerve among the Mac faithful." Meanwhile, Linux users everywhere are scratching their heads.

Meanwhile Linux users everywhere are scratching th

[Anonymous Coward]

"Meanwhile Linux users everywhere are scratching their heads..."

trying to figure out how to install their word processor on the newest ubuntu distro

How about those hidden linux taxes?

[2.7182]

You have to admit, they are really well hidden.

Linux users

[onion2k]

Meanwhile Linux users everywhere are scratching their heads.

That's because using Linux gives you dandruff.

I'm just kidding.

Living in a basement is what gives you dandruff. :)

I can see the press now

[David Gerard]

Millions of smug Mac users and the four hundred smug Linux users pointed and laughed, having long given up [today.com] trying to convince their Windows-using friends to see sense.

"There's a reason the Unix system on Mac OS X is called Darwin," said appallingly smug Mac user Arty Phagge.

"It can't be stupid if everyone else runs it," said Windows user Joe Beleaguered, who had lost all his email, business files, MP3s and porn again. "Macs cost more than Windows PCs."

"Yes," said Phagge. "Yes, they do."

Ubuntu Linux developer Hiram Nerdboy frantically tried to get our attention about something or other, but we can't say we care.

Hidden Microsoft Taxes I Have Paid

[Dystopian Rebel]

Software Installation Reboot Tax
Virus Tax
Anti-Virus Installation Reboot Tax
MS Word Document Corruption And Formatting Instability Tax
MS Office 2007 UI Redesign Tax
Windows Genuine Advantage Tax
Windows Update Reboot Tax
DRM Tax
Internet Explorer Web Deficiencies Tax
Idiotic Advertising Campaigns Tax
Ballmer Squirt Tax

Re:How about those hidden linux taxes?

[GNUbuntu]

I'm still compiling the system you insensitive clod!

Re:How about those hidden linux taxes?

[ZarathustraDK]

They are quickly revealed to you post install, if your time is worth anything that is.

? Is he talking about the time you waste post-install where you're banging your hot wife instead of spending time swapping app-cd's, hunting .exe's on the net and installing drivers for your peripherals like on windows?

Yeah, analogue stuff like that is bothersome.

Re:Linux users

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, some of us live in an attic.

Re:Meh.

[DrLang21]

I'm confused. Why would there be a problem with carrying a bitdriver and spare wiring around.

Re:Meh.

[Anonymous Coward]

People should not be permitted to use more than their share of resources no matter how rich or poor they are.

Sounds like Comcast.

Re:How about those hidden linux taxes?

[wisty]

Including the time it takes, Linux and Mac are just better.

If you use a computer for testing out new libraries / frameworks / etc, Linux is a lot easier to use. apt-get install is a real time saver. I just don't have the time to tinker on Windows - that's for OS geeks, not people who want to get stuff done.

If you just surf the web, Mac is better, but it really doesn't matter. Linux PPPOE was a bit behind (on Dapper Drake, maybe it's improved) which is a big initial cost, but the stability and lack of viruses pay off in the long term.

Re:Linux Tax

[Aram Fingal]

Dude, I make almost twice that much per hour to install and troubleshoot Windows. You're in the wrong line of work.

Re:Pro-MS press?!?!?

[grub]

Hell, they've been treating Steve Jobs' recent illness as if the Pope himself had cancer.

Stands to reason, both those men run a world-wide cult.

Re:What's weird about those Microsoft ads

[pxlmusic]

one of my customers calling in one day was a mac user. we were troubleshooting his internet connection, and i asked him to reboot his pc.

he quickly "corrected" me, "it's a mac, not a pc."

as much as i wanted to correct that douche, i figured it was best just left alone. i realize that not all mac users are suckered fanboys.

Re:Meh.

[VGPowerlord]

I was going to respond to this post indicating that it is not the same experience. The hardware itself, totally outside of specs is much nicer on a MBP than any HP. Then I was going relate my experiences of loading OSX on HP laptops (among others)...hunting for drivers, manually editing files to allow the latest hardware to be recognized bythe existing drivers, not using auto-updates because they screw up those drivers and cause kernel panics after reboots.

and then a thought about this statement for a bit...

That doesn't mean jack. I can find an HP laptop with the EXACT hardware specs of any Apple laptop,

and decided that this statement in response to that comment would sum it up:

No you cannot.

Allow me to summarize what you said in the proper /. way:
[citation needed]