Software

Mac vs. Windows: The “McDo WiFi Guide” Revelation

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief July 26, 2011 · 1 min read

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This McDonald’s brochure for the store’s WiFi Guide paints a clear picture between the Windows and the Mac OS X operating systems; but that really depends on where you’re coming from.

The brochure shows step-by-step instructions on how to connect to the McDo WiFi and it clearly shows the Windows operating system taking 2 out fo the 3 pages while it’s barely half a page for the Mac {via}.

There’s a catch though — the instructions for connecting WiFi on Windows OS includes 3 variants — XP, Vista and Win 7; while on the Mac, it’s just one (they didn’t bother separating Tiger, Leopard and Lion).

Second, the instructions for the Windows users assumed that the PC is set up manually and needs to be changed to Automatic. ON the Mac, they assumed the network is set to Automatic.

Of course, depending on what operating system you frequently use, one might have a totally different understanding.

A Mac user would say “reminds me why I chose the Mac in the first place.“.

A Windows user would say “well, now we know who’s the nerd, right?“.

So, what would you say?

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mac os x vs. windows 7 windows vs mac

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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116 Comments

Bryan · 15 years ago

mac is build out of commonsense.

Jhay · 15 years ago

What about us Linux users? ;)

Wakocoke · 15 years ago

Windows = Nerds
Mac = Tech Noobs

Epstein · 15 years ago

Why does McDo think that an average Windows user have the WiFi settings on manual? By default, Windows has it on “Automatic” it does not change to manual by itself. I find that weird. If the user have the settings on manual obviously he or she knows how to change it back to automatic. All that McDo has to say is “Hey! We use automatic Wi-Fi settings!”

I use both Windows and Ubuntu. I find the logic weird. What if the Mac is on manual settings?

japong · 15 years ago

Windows differ on the wifi card drivers as PC has different hardware options/manufacturers, while a mac is a mac.

jay · 15 years ago

Macdo ee hahaha Microsoft p din ako haha

qwertbvcxzi · 15 years ago

It’s “Mcdo” not Macdo. dumbass

jlox · 15 years ago

+2 radioactive_balut

magdiwang · 15 years ago

+1 radioactive_balut

jonas · 15 years ago

Tried this in my android tab. It works fine

Tim · 15 years ago

No big deal for me. The goal of the brochure is to help either type of users. Although I must commend Apple that their design is well-thought of, there’s very little need to change how the user interface looks like (or where to look for things) even when they upgrade their OS.

Windows is the primary product of Microsoft (is it still?), so they need to make the user feel unsatisfied somehow for each upgrade. Apple’s primary business is hardware, so they make you feel unsatisfied on the hardware end whenever a new one comes.

User45 · 15 years ago

I don’t really get the idea of going to Mcdo or any Public WiFi area you could thing of and use your laptop (Mac/Win) to surf the net. That’s why they invented the tablet and the smartphone.

Iyan Sommerset · 15 years ago

I’m guessing the person who created the brochure hasn’t used a Windows PC at all and needed to download a guide from the internet.

All I did was boot up my Win7 netbook, click on “WiFi networks detected” and clicked on the McDo WiFi option.

Flaw in their logic though – most WinXP systems use proprietary WiFi control software. I personally know the Intel ProSet controls differ significantly from the ones used by Atheros and Broadcom chips and that some override the stock WinXP wireless controls so that you *have* to use the proprietary control software.

And kawawa naman mga naka-Linux, no love from McDo. :P Kahit Ubuntu man lang, being the one distro geared towards non-geeks.

radioactive_balut · 15 years ago

Don’t worry we Linux users can deal with our wifi connections with or without “how to connect” guides. It’s not as difficult as everybody thinks it was.

noob · 15 years ago

@ radioactive_balut

exactly! nung una nga halos mga programmer lang gumagamit nyan. buti nga ngaun may mga easy to install ng mga distro. most of them doesn’t need a dumb guide like that to operate a computer.

gothiccreed · 15 years ago

The fact you’ve chosen Linux as your operating system simply means you’re ready for troubleshooting challenges even if distros like Ubuntu are now on the market.

gothiccreed · 15 years ago

Yeah…. poor linux users….

Next thing you know that linux user wielding an old circa 2000 toshiba laptop already have all the details of your surfing because you’re not really connected to Mcdo’s wiki router but to his/her dummy access point :)

radioactive_balut · 15 years ago

^hahaha indeed. Aircrack baby!

Jonaflormicfren · 15 years ago

It all depends to the one who wants to use it.

agvu · 15 years ago

well, windows 7 configures much faster than vista or xp. although it doesnt configure as fast as the mac’s. but if one needs to set up a proxy server, it’s virtually the same.

xxxxx · 15 years ago

just get a mac n try it out. stop saying windows does wifi better. windows wins on a lot of feats but not in simple wifi connections. both op systems have their share of flaws.

Messie · 15 years ago

So many witty (and some dumb) comments! I wish I can up/downvote here similar to reddit. Panalo iyung iba eh! haha! =D Keep it coming guys!

rene · 15 years ago

it’s mcdo who is over estimating…

Jeric · 15 years ago

Never had a problem connecting to wifi on windows.. unless there is a third party driver that conflicts to the native wifi network of windows. It’s just easy as the one on mac.. Meron pa ba talaga hindi marunong mag wifi? I’m sure if you have a laptop, you then know how to connect to a wifi network.

garz · 15 years ago

I think those long steps applies only to xp. In win7 all you need to do is click on the network button on the system tray and select the desired network. Right?

Wilson · 15 years ago

Doesn’t matter. Both can connect almost at the same time. A 1 yr old boy will spend years connecting even using macbook air.

garz · 15 years ago

of course he will. he’s 1 year old boy who can’t read nor write. How’s he supposed to connect in that instant?

Marck · 15 years ago

Naku, pahirapan na rin maghanap ng upuan sa Mcdo nyan

neil · 15 years ago

doesn’t matter if the instructions are long or short, complicated or simple… macs will always be macs and windows will always be windows… WE ARE GETTING FREE INTERNET WHILE EATING OUR BURGER!!! being a FANBOY is just so OVERRATED!!! just make sure your drink doesn’t spill all over your “80K” laptops…

Steve Jobs · 15 years ago

Simple Logic.

McDonald’s is not for Mac users. Walang tatambay sa McDonald na naka Mac. Yung may mga netbook lang siguro na nakiki WIFI lang.

bee · 15 years ago

it’s really no big deal, if you really know how to use your computer, whether it’d be a mac, windows or linux laptop, you’d never really have to bother reading a flyer to connect to a wifi hotspot. OS’s try their best to help users do things easily, it just that they have different approaches in their implementation. at the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference, it’s what you want to use, or what you are used to.

Apache · 15 years ago

Nice One they based something “BIG” in something “small”. Okay one question? Where are the Mac OS Computer Shop last 1995-Present Just stating the Obvious when I was a kid playing Ragnarok last 1996 first shop I played with I used Windows still then going in different Computer shop and played, I never even in manila Spotted a Mac OS Computer Shop ever so donâ€™t even Compare a simple WiFi Connection to that thing common simplicity is one thing but S********. I think I will just keep it simple enjoy yourself. DISCLAIMERS DO NOT EVEN TRY TO REPLY I WILL NEVER EVEN TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU. Have Fun ïŠ Always Smile

D · 15 years ago

That just about reflect the number of people who use Windows versus Mac- still around 9 Windows to 1 Mac

Adrian Maaliw · 15 years ago

nice service from mcdo helps mac or windows users to guide for a connection.

pls dont complicate things. make it SIMPLIFY…

123 · 15 years ago

obviously, its biased MACdo! most mac users let people know them. they just cant afford to keep on ground.

Lucien Tiojanco · 15 years ago

Funny. Last I checked, connecting to Wifi using Windows 7 only involved clicking the WiFi signal on the notification area, then choosing the network you wish to connect to.

fr0stbyte · 15 years ago

So uh.. I did it in four steps on my PC. lol

Wil · 15 years ago

only 2 clicks on Windows 7 (click the network icon, then click on McDo wifi) ;)

Earl · 15 years ago

What would i say? Well, if you’re a wifi user regardless of OS/system, you should know how to set it up without having to go thru a printed instruction at all..

Disrupjon · 15 years ago

Hi! I have both own a mac and windows laptop, and truth to be told, connecting internet with a mac is as fluid as it gets, 3 years of no hassle whether here at home, at the coffee shop or malls!

On the other side, If your an advance user, yes, you will have no problem connecting with Windows…That is, If it works all the time.. but seriously, its not! There are times that it just stops working with the connection, you have to restart this, reboot that, some modems or routers needs additional drivers blah blah.. so what you do? You have to manually configure, or add the connection, much like this mcdo flyer is telling us.

nonono · 15 years ago

I do not get this post? does this imply the boss yuga is a mac fan boy?

fr0stbyte · 15 years ago

You’re stating the obvious. lol

Earl · 15 years ago

Of course not…i still remember he posted once in the past that he will never convert to a mac coz it for sissies..

chinitoguy · 15 years ago

This sucks! I am an APPLE HATER and a LOYAL MICROSOFT WINDOWS USER. Stirring a competition between Apple’s OS X and Microsoft’s Windows is good since Windows is coming with revolution with its Windows 8. Can’t wait…

charles · 15 years ago

mac is simply amazing. so neat and powerful

nameless · 15 years ago

Sorry Windows and Mac users. Linux users are the real winner. No need for those dummy instructions. We just know how to make it work :)

deuts · 15 years ago

Ayos! That’s the spirit! If you knew how to install a Linux OS into your machine, syempre dapat alam mo din pano configure mga drivers ng wifi card mo para maging automatic na yan! wala talagang tatalo dun! hahahah

Jazon · 15 years ago

+1 we don’t need silly instruction manuals from a clown!

darkhorse 427 · 15 years ago

amen! ubuntu lts user, no need for instruction! who’s the geek now?!

Rodrigo H. Madelo Jr · 15 years ago

I doubt. Setting a connection in in Windows is really as easy as the Mac is. You could just click the network on the notifications and choose the available connection you want to connect to.

The brochure’s instructions on setting up the free wifi, particularly on Windows, contains the manual way to configure the connection. It would be shorter if you would intent to. Same also for the Mac machines, it would really take too much if you will intently make it long.

So I guess the one who made the brochure is a loyal user of Apple machine(s). And as it looks, he/she doesn’t know the easier way to connect in Windows.

boggart · 15 years ago

why go to mcdo for wifi? totally takes the fun out of eating your big mac! life. live it!

chinitoguy · 15 years ago

And besides eating JUNK FOOD is not healthy. McDonald’s is planning to compete with Starbucks soon. McDo will change its menu and improve its coffee offers. They will also match what Starbucks unique customer service has. I doubt they could do that. So why go to McDonald’s for free Wi-Fi? I still prefer JOLLIBEE or STARBUCKS or even COFFEE BEAN.

Teknisyan · 15 years ago

It still depends on which OS you are most proficient with.

btw… no steps for Linux users?

john · 15 years ago

baka wala masyadong mac users na nakikiconnect so they didn’t bother with the detailed instructions (mas marketable ang pc users tingnan mo walang instructions for us linux users)

supernaut · 15 years ago

they maybe thought that you (linux user) are techie enough to know how to connect to any wifi :D

Louie Ang · 15 years ago

The line “So, what would you say?” is just inviting a Mac vs Windows war here. I can imagine the comments now

haroh · 15 years ago

The instructions were obviously made in favor of Mac.

Windows are not set to Manual IP config by default but the instructions assumed your laptop is set to Manual mode making the process look longer and complicated for an average user.

Oh well. I’ll just get my self a cheeseburger.