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Message
Do programmers prefer Macs over Windows computers?
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:26 pm
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:26 pm
I am an engineer and I have only ever worked in companies that use Windows computers for business. However, my wife, who is a Java programmer, was issued MacBook Pros at both her previous job and current job. Both companies are publicly traded in the Top 10 in the Fortune 500 list. She didn't have an option to pick a Windows computer even if she wanted to at her first job. At her current job she would have to make a special request if she wanted a Windows machine. I know this is only anecdotal, but is there a reason Macs seem to be preferred by people in programming roles?
This post was edited on 7/25/14 at 12:28 pm
11
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:27 pm to euphemus
quote:
Do programmers prefer Macs over Windows computers?
frick no.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:35 pm to euphemus
Linux
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:40 pm to Displaced
i work for a very large software company, and we are standard on windows.
people who do web stuff will get macs but they are the exception.
people who do web stuff will get macs but they are the exception.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 12:56 pm to Hawkeye95
Most true programmers don't, at least in my experience. It's usually only graphics/design and (non-programmatic) web devs that prefer mac.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:08 pm to euphemus
I personally prefer Mac. Mostly because I build Ruby apps so I'm working from command line/iTerm all day.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:21 pm to euphemus
people who have used macs prefer macs. The only advantage for windows is games.
That said, programming doesn't depend on the machine.
That said, programming doesn't depend on the machine.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:28 pm to euphemus
I love love love a juicy big Mac while on my PC. Who doesnt?
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:51 pm to jdd48
quote:
Most true programmers don't, at least in my experience. It's usually only graphics/design and (non-programmatic) web devs that prefer mac.
its changing. I am seeing more people using macs for programming but its definitely the exception, outside of web dev stuff.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:55 pm to euphemus
quote:
my wife, who is a Java programmer, was issued MacBook Pros at both her previous job and current job
I have a couple of cousins who are programmers for a pretty major company who were also issued MacBook Pros for work. They use them to remote into hosted virtual machines and do real work.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:58 pm to euphemus
Programming in a language does not depend on the Operation System (OS) like windows, or a linux like distro that macs run with. Most 4GL languages have runtimes for any OS.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:58 pm to Tigah in the ATL
quote:
The only advantage for windows is games.
That and this little thing called "Internet Explorer" which a very large percentage of business-specific apps are coded in and for. The more elaborate the application, the less likely it is to work in one of your other web browsers. People complaining about IE being a good web browser is a pretty common theme on the web, but it's a pretty great browser, particularly when it comes to serious web apps, particularly things like Jail Management Systems and Electronic Health Records.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 1:59 pm to Hopeful Doc
At my office, every developer but has a macbook pro.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 2:03 pm to Tigah in the ATL
quote:
people who have used macs prefer macs. The only advantage for windows is games.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 2:14 pm to Srbtiger06
From my experience in BR and surrounding cities, most programmers use Windows and most designers use Macs. Most of the development work in this area is .NET.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 2:50 pm to MamouTiger65
Statistically, I would imagine most programmers use Windows, most designers use Windows, most gamers use Windows, most power users use Windows, most casual internet junkies and Youtubers use Windows, most bloggers use Windows, etc.. I would be interested, however, in any reliable data on certain task-specific user bases where Macs occupy a disproportionate amount of the market share.
This is slightly outside of my AOE, but unless someone in the industry can correct me with a technical explanation, I'm fairly certain there is no compelling reason beyond simple preference and familiarity to use one over the other for programming and design (outside of platform-specific app development).
This is slightly outside of my AOE, but unless someone in the industry can correct me with a technical explanation, I'm fairly certain there is no compelling reason beyond simple preference and familiarity to use one over the other for programming and design (outside of platform-specific app development).
This post was edited on 7/25/14 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 7/25/14 at 2:59 pm to ILikeLSUToo
Platform specific would even be a stretch. C++ can be compiled to run on either. .NET can run on several other OS's (Linux and MAC) using Mono framework distributions. Mobile platforms are about the only hold out now where you need to be tight with the OS.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 3:39 pm to Scream4LSU
quote:
Platform specific would even be a stretch.
With most companies running their software on Windows servers and most workers using Windows at those companies, most IT departments are going to be buying their developers Windows machines to develop on. There is not a lot of Android and iOS development going on in this area (BR/NOLA/Laf), so the majority of developers are going to be working on Windows computers. Since most of us make our living developing applications for the Windows platform, I've found most of us like to get familiar with the machines and operating systems we are developing for. If I was in an area doing iOS development, I'd expect it to be the opposite.
Posted on 7/25/14 at 4:08 pm to MamouTiger65
I do xcode iOS and Android dev with Xamarin on Windows all the time. Your chosen dev OS almost never precludes you from targeting any other OS as long as there is a compiler/interpreter for where you are going.
Full stacks like Ruby, frameworks like .net and java will run cross platform
Full stacks like Ruby, frameworks like .net and java will run cross platform
This post was edited on 7/25/14 at 4:13 pm
Posted on 7/25/14 at 6:37 pm to Scream4LSU
Switched from windows to Mac 7 years ago because I was tired of the crashes with windows. You can do all the programming you need on a Mac. .net is crap anyway compared to Java and iOS.
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