Mac vs Windows, Apple CarPlay & Android tablet share: IT Pro's web comments round-up

As another week in tech draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the stories that have prompted the biggest response from the IT Pro readership.

The stories that garnered the biggest response this week are all strangely Apple related, with the consumer electronics giant's connected car plans and latest market share stats being keenly scrutinised by our readers.

Android vs. Apple

Gartner's latest tablet market tracker made for interesting reading this week, with its revelation that Google's Android software was the most widely used tablet OS in the world during 2013, with 62 per cent market share.

Apple, meanwhile, languished in second place with 36 per cent market share.

The analyst's findings were greeted with a collective shrug of the shoulders by IT Pro readers, with many citing the fact Android devices are typically cheaper to buy than iPads.

"The iPad is not a particularly clever buy now, with its compulsory locked garden approach, lack of Flash and (what appears to be) some very serious security issues," opined regular IT Pro commentator Brianm101.

"Oh and you pay through the nose for an inferior product - what's to like about Apple products anymore?"

This was a point echoed by Henry3Dogg, who reiterated the impact price has on people's tablet buying decisions.

"Perhaps [what this story means is] $150 tablets are more popular than $500 ones, and clearly that would lead to more sales of Android tablets than iOS ones," he wrote.

"And as is so often the case, this means that many of the least well off waste their money on a cheap product that will only be used for a few days."

Apple CarPlay breaks cover

In other Apple news, the firm announced the motor manufacturers who will offer a re-worked version of its iOS software, dubbed CarPlay, in their vehicles.

The functionality allows iPhone 5, 5s and 5c users to replicate the iOS experience on the touchscreen interface of their cars by connecting their devices to the vehicles.

Drivers can also use Apple's voice assistant Siri to open Maps, for navigational purposes, and dictate emails and text messages while driving along.

Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, the IT Pro readership doesn't seem to think so.

"[This] would have been better if it showed the TomTom app instead of Apple's Maps," commented The Spectral Knight.

"It looks like a weak extension, rather than an integrated iOS add on," he added.

Graham Mills fears the offering could prove too distracting for drivers, and result in accidents.

"I note the demo shows the driver selecting lots of options on the screen, so it's not really hands and eyes free," said Mills.

"In the UK we outlawed TV screens that could be seen by the driver. I feel that this should be treated in the same way."

Bye, bye Windows

IT Pro tech editor Khidr Suleman really put the cat among the pigeons with his controversial feature about why, after 20 years of being a Windows user, he's now a fully paid up member of the Apple fanboy community.

In the article, he listed all the reasons why he thinks Macs are superior to Windows machines, with his jibe about the former not requiring anti-virus causing some real upset in the comments section.

"This man needs his head examining," said one.

"I stopped reading when I saw no need for anti-virus'. Come on, man," fumed another.

BrianM101, who you may recall also passed comment on IT Pro's Gartner's tablet figures this week, was one of many to take umbrage at Suleman's comments.

"What universe do you live in - no anti-virus required? Get real. How about the serious security flaws that are now appearing," he asked.

"Yes, Apple's hardware is on average better, but that's only due to its much higher price and at [a cost to] the environment [because of the product's] reduced upgradability and reparability.

"I have both an iPad and a Mac Pro laptop. Nice hardware horrible software. Give me Windows 8, even with its bad user interface, any day."

However, there were also plenty of other comments in support of Suleman's "no anti-virus required" claims, with several users describing it as an unnecessary expense for Apple users.

"I've never had any anti-virus on my Mac and never needed it. It's a lot, lot harder to get a virus on a Mac as every application is enclosed in its own 'sandboxed' environment," said Spaghettidba.

"Generally you'll never need antivirus software unless you're the world's dumbest Mac user."