Why the hell are all app demos done using Macs?

dadads · 2011-08-10T03:23:22.000Z

When I see demos of web apps (videos, screenshots), I can't help but notice that they are all almost exclusively done using Macs.Is there some secret to why everyone's doing this? Why am I not seeing more demos on Windows? Or Linux for that matter?

tomfakes 14 years ago |

I think there are a few reasons

1. Mac UI looks good, browser fonts look good there too 2. A lot of open source stack developers use OSX as their dev machines, so the code has already been tested there 3. Since OSX is BSD, a lot of the same server code runs, and runs well on OSX, so demos can run well with everything hosted on the same machine without needing VMs or other tricks.

Windows can do all of this too, but some stuff doesn't work as easily on Window. Microsoft server stack runs great on Windows, but 'the cool kids' are all running open source stacks.

watmough 14 years ago | |

Also, QuickTime player has a feature right on the file menu to do a screen recording.

http://i.imgur.com/JvmiM.png

I know there are other tools, but it's hard to beat built-in.

Regarding font rending, there's an old article by Joel:

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/06/12.html

but the main point is this image. Take your choice.

http://i.imgur.com/qMmXt.png

dadads 14 years ago | |

I can say the same thing (open-source stacks) about Linux, and not many Linux demos are out there

tomfakes 14 years ago | | |

Almost no-one uses Linux as their desktop. A lot of the UI tools don't work as well on Linux, or have no Linux versions at all.

alecbenzer 14 years ago | | |

I always use Linux as my desktop - never touched a Mac except for when I use my brother's mbp and I only use windows for gaming. (though to be fair I am considering finally venturing into mac-land and getting a mbp for myself).

CyberFonic 14 years ago | | |

An exception to prove your rule: I use Linux on all my desktops and servers. MacBook and iPad for demos and on the road. So yes, for those who watch my demos and presentations, they'd think that OS/X is the way to go.

jordandanford 14 years ago |

Mac OS X is generally seen as the most visually appealing OS, so I figure that's likely to be the reasoning

ajsharp 14 years ago |

Chances are, that's what the developers are using to build the product. Same with the people making the screencast, if this is a different party than the developer(s) themselve(s).

PonyGumbo 14 years ago |

I ended up re-doing screenshots of my web app on OSX because the browser windows have slightly thinner frames. It just looked better.

jlambert1 14 years ago |

I think a lot of hackers are using macs, and a lot of startups are using them too. It's part of the new "uniform" for startups.

alecbenzer 14 years ago | |

The idea of a "hacker" and a "uniform" don't really seem to fit together.

edit: and actually, I think the whole "uniform" mentality is exactly the way that apple wants people to see its products, whereas that kind of thinking makes Linux users' skin crawl (at least this linux user's - coming on HN is making it harder and harder to make myself buy that mbp...)

GHFigs 14 years ago |

What difference does it make?

bloudraak 14 years ago |

The fidelity seems to be better on OS X than on Windows, and therefore the site justs looks more crisp. Its something that I noticed testing websites on both Windows and OS X.

CyberFonic 14 years ago |

If you want to be really funky, create your demos on Haiku (BeOS work-alike) !

hagyma 14 years ago | |

What a cool idea! :)

dstein 14 years ago |

pg covered this nicely:

http://www.paulgraham.com/mac.html