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BBC's brainless Mac vs PC test

January 23, 2009

What was the point of the BBC asking a Microsoft employee to test a Mac Plus against a modern-day Windows PC?

This rather silly experiment was undertaken by MSN technology editor Jane Douglas as part of the BBC's celebration of the Macintosh computer's 25th anniversary.

MSN tech editor Jane Douglas

Douglas looked bemused by the older computer's reliance on floppy disks, and so came to the staggering conclusion that she prefers her Windows laptop.

Just to make the stunt even more pointless, the BBC could come up with only a Mac Plus - dating from 1986. That's 23 years ago, guys.

Perhaps the funniest thing that this exercise in squandering TV licence fees comes up with is the fact that Microsoft employee and top MSN tech journalist Douglas still uses Windows XP.

Mac vs Windows XP

Not Windows Vista.

Not Windows 7.

But Windows XP, which is a mere 15 years younger than the Apple Mac Plus.

I suppose Jonathan Ross must be glad that the BBC has managed to out dimwit his own stupid stunt on the same day that he returns to the airwaves after a three-month suspension.

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Posted by: Simon Jary

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Comments

Posted by anskyber on January 26, 2009 :

I'm speechless. The BBC at its crass best.

Posted by Paul Urban on January 26, 2009 :

I don't suppose that the test was any better or any worse than the pointless and inane test they do the gadget show. Some of them are so ridiculous and I really do feel like putting my foot through the tv after watching them. They recently done a ridiculous test of the apple air laptop against a netboook, it was stupid and embarrasing to watch.

Posted by tricky on January 26, 2009 :

Should have let Clarkson do it, he'd probably have tied them to the back of a Lambo or some equally useful test.

Posted by MacWorld Reader on January 27, 2009 :

Good article. Well done.

Posted by Droo on January 28, 2009 :

I was wondering how a 25 year old got to be a BBC editor in the first place?

I wonder whose daughter she is...

Now that is the real crime of the BBC. Nepotism.

Posted by simonjary on January 28, 2009 :

She's not a BBC editor - she works for Microsoft's MSN. She might be a very good journalist - just not in this instance.

Posted by Tom on January 29, 2009 :

I love how the 23-year-old computer still boots faster than a modern Windows laptop, though. Perhaps not such a bad comparison after all.

Posted by Jake on January 29, 2009 :

Come on, guys. Give her a break. She didn't have much to work with -- what's she going to do, compare it to a 1986 PC running Windows 1? *shudder*

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