I've taken the plunge. I've betrayed my brotherhood of logical, thrifty PC owners and I've stepped into that forbidden zone. I've purchased a Mac.

Specifically I've purchased a MacBook, in the 2GHz Intel 2 Core Duo processor. And you know something? It ain't bad.

I've long envied Mac users for their aesthetically pleasing hardware and operating system. Many times I've been the only PC user in a coffee bar and I've felt...watched. But the practicality of a PC... the myriad of uses and abilities coupled with the fact that it's roughly a third the price of it's Mac equivalent... I couldn't turn my back on that. Plus there's the benefit of there being so MUCH out there for PCs. Software in every shape, size and color. Hardware that is both functional and cost effective. Heck, have you done any price comparison between the Mac 30" flat panel and ANY OTHER BRAND?? It's staggering.

So why did I, loyal PC user, make the leap to this albino toned Mac notebook? What prompted me to make an expenditure on par with purchasing a used motorcycle? What drove me to chuck it all and jump into learning a brand new operating system?

Well, the truth is that in my business there are subtle little things you have to do to remain competitive. You constantly learn new skills. You spend time reading about trends and techniques and styles. You try to get into someone's head and learn everything they might possibly know about your craft, why they're successful and how they get the clients. And at this point, I've discovered that even though I can do anything with my PC that my fellows can do with their Macs I'm missing out on a sort of "hidden language" that they use. I'm a square peg with slightly rounded corners trying to wedge myself into a round hole. I fit, but it's a little snug.

So what's my verdict on this overpriced but aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment? Well... I hate to say it but I like it.

Setting up when I first turned her on was about the easiest computer experience I've ever had. This was due, in large part, to the fact that it did all the "work" for me. I didn't have to supply IP addresses or workgroup settings in order to get on my network, just a password. I didn't have to rifle through a collection of CDs to find drivers for my peripherals, it just "found them." And so far, I've been managing the very different navigation with relative ease.

Of course, I have to say that because of my very extensive knowledge of PCs, I actually have an understanding of what's going on "under the hood." I know what a miracle some of these features are, because I've done them myself. So I have a very rich and deep appreciation for the fact that the Mac OS is actually very simple and easy to use.

Darn it.

Don't get me wrong... I'm still a PC user. I will never "go all the way." There are just too many advantages to having a PC. For example -

I have an iMac that I purchased at the flea market (so I lied, this isn't my first Mac). That computer was built around the same time as one of the PCs I use on a daily basis. However, the iMac is a G3, and for the most part it's difficult to find software for it or get support for it. In general, it's just not useful for much. On the other hand, as I said, I still use the PC every day for myriad tasks. It has retained at least 80% of it's usefulness since the day I first built it.

Will the new Macs have this kind of longevity? Well, I'm gambling that they will. Now that they've moved on from the very limiting PowerPC chips and into the bright, gleaming world of Intel, I think we're going to see a new Renaissance for Mac. Heck, it got ME to buy one. So that, right there, is one of the signs of the "PC Apocalypse."

To all my fellow PC Brothers out there, I deeply apologize. I'm still with you in spirit. But I've been lured to the Dark Side by a sleek looking operating system and nifty bells and whistles, plus the ease of setup and use. Forgive an old Windows hound. I'm only human.

J. Kevin Tumlinson is the Editor for ViewOnline Magazine. He is also a Producer for Hat Digital Media. He will henceforth be known as iKevin.

I've taken the plunge. I've betrayed my brotherhood of logical, thrifty PC owners and I've stepped into that forbidden zone. I've purchased a Mac.

Specifically I've purchased a MacBook, in the 2GHz Intel 2 Core Duo processor. And you know something? It ain't bad.

I've long envied Mac users for their aesthetically pleasing hardware and operating system. Many times I've been the only PC user in a coffee bar and I've felt...watched. But the practicality of a PC... the myriad of uses and abilities coupled with the fact that it's roughly a third the price of it's Mac equivalent... I couldn't turn my back on that. Plus there's the benefit of there being so MUCH out there for PCs. Software in every shape, size and color. Hardware that is both functional and cost effective. Heck, have you done any price comparison between the Mac 30" flat panel and ANY OTHER BRAND?? It's staggering.

So why did I, loyal PC user, make the leap to this albino toned Mac notebook? What prompted me to make an expenditure on par with purchasing a used motorcycle? What drove me to chuck it all and jump into learning a brand new operating system?

Well, the truth is that in my business there are subtle little things you have to do to remain competitive. You constantly learn new skills. You spend time reading about trends and techniques and styles. You try to get into someone's head and learn everything they might possibly know about your craft, why they're successful and how they get the clients. And at this point, I've discovered that even though I can do anything with my PC that my fellows can do with their Macs I'm missing out on a sort of "hidden language" that they use. I'm a square peg with slightly rounded corners trying to wedge myself into a round hole. I fit, but it's a little snug.

So what's my verdict on this overpriced but aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment? Well... I hate to say it but I like it.

Setting up when I first turned her on was about the easiest computer experience I've ever had. This was due, in large part, to the fact that it did all the "work" for me. I didn't have to supply IP addresses or workgroup settings in order to get on my network, just a password. I didn't have to rifle through a collection of CDs to find drivers for my peripherals, it just "found them." And so far, I've been managing the very different navigation with relative ease.

Of course, I have to say that because of my very extensive knowledge of PCs, I actually have an understanding of what's going on "under the hood." I know what a miracle some of these features are, because I've done them myself. So I have a very rich and deep appreciation for the fact that the Mac OS is actually very simple and easy to use.

Darn it.

Don't get me wrong... I'm still a PC user. I will never "go all the way." There are just too many advantages to having a PC. For example -

I have an iMac that I purchased at the flea market (so I lied, this isn't my first Mac). That computer was built around the same time as one of the PCs I use on a daily basis. However, the iMac is a G3, and for the most part it's difficult to find software for it or get support for it. In general, it's just not useful for much. On the other hand, as I said, I still use the PC every day for myriad tasks. It has retained at least 80% of it's usefulness since the day I first built it.

Will the new Macs have this kind of longevity? Well, I'm gambling that they will. Now that they've moved on from the very limiting PowerPC chips and into the bright, gleaming world of Intel, I think we're going to see a new Renaissance for Mac. Heck, it got ME to buy one. So that, right there, is one of the signs of the "PC Apocalypse."

To all my fellow PC Brothers out there, I deeply apologize. I'm still with you in spirit. But I've been lured to the Dark Side by a sleek looking operating system and nifty bells and whistles, plus the ease of setup and use. Forgive an old Windows hound. I'm only human.

J. Kevin Tumlinson is the Editor for ViewOnline Magazine. He is also a Producer for Hat Digital Media. He will henceforth be known as iKevin.

I've taken the plunge. I've betrayed my brotherhood of logical, thrifty PC owners and I've stepped into that forbidden zone. I've purchased a Mac.

Specifically I've purchased a MacBook, in the 2GHz Intel 2 Core Duo processor. And you know something? It ain't bad.

I've long envied Mac users for their aesthetically pleasing hardware and operating system. Many times I've been the only PC user in a coffee bar and I've felt...watched. But the practicality of a PC... the myriad of uses and abilities coupled with the fact that it's roughly a third the price of it's Mac equivalent... I couldn't turn my back on that. Plus there's the benefit of there being so MUCH out there for PCs. Software in every shape, size and color. Hardware that is both functional and cost effective. Heck, have you done any price comparison between the Mac 30" flat panel and ANY OTHER BRAND?? It's staggering.

So why did I, loyal PC user, make the leap to this albino toned Mac notebook? What prompted me to make an expenditure on par with purchasing a used motorcycle? What drove me to chuck it all and jump into learning a brand new operating system?

Well, the truth is that in my business there are subtle little things you have to do to remain competitive. You constantly learn new skills. You spend time reading about trends and techniques and styles. You try to get into someone's head and learn everything they might possibly know about your craft, why they're successful and how they get the clients. And at this point, I've discovered that even though I can do anything with my PC that my fellows can do with their Macs I'm missing out on a sort of "hidden language" that they use. I'm a square peg with slightly rounded corners trying to wedge myself into a round hole. I fit, but it's a little snug.

So what's my verdict on this overpriced but aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment? Well... I hate to say it but I like it.

Setting up when I first turned her on was about the easiest computer experience I've ever had. This was due, in large part, to the fact that it did all the "work" for me. I didn't have to supply IP addresses or workgroup settings in order to get on my network, just a password. I didn't have to rifle through a collection of CDs to find drivers for my peripherals, it just "found them." And so far, I've been managing the very different navigation with relative ease.

Of course, I have to say that because of my very extensive knowledge of PCs, I actually have an understanding of what's going on "under the hood." I know what a miracle some of these features are, because I've done them myself. So I have a very rich and deep appreciation for the fact that the Mac OS is actually very simple and easy to use.

Darn it.

Don't get me wrong... I'm still a PC user. I will never "go all the way." There are just too many advantages to having a PC. For example -

I have an iMac that I purchased at the flea market (so I lied, this isn't my first Mac). That computer was built around the same time as one of the PCs I use on a daily basis. However, the iMac is a G3, and for the most part it's difficult to find software for it or get support for it. In general, it's just not useful for much. On the other hand, as I said, I still use the PC every day for myriad tasks. It has retained at least 80% of it's usefulness since the day I first built it.

Will the new Macs have this kind of longevity? Well, I'm gambling that they will. Now that they've moved on from the very limiting PowerPC chips and into the bright, gleaming world of Intel, I think we're going to see a new Renaissance for Mac. Heck, it got ME to buy one. So that, right there, is one of the signs of the "PC Apocalypse."

To all my fellow PC Brothers out there, I deeply apologize. I'm still with you in spirit. But I've been lured to the Dark Side by a sleek looking operating system and nifty bells and whistles, plus the ease of setup and use. Forgive an old Windows hound. I'm only human.

J. Kevin Tumlinson is the Editor for ViewOnline Magazine. He is also a Producer for Hat Digital Media. He will henceforth be known as iKevin.

I'm seeing this growing trend and I'm not sure what to make of it. Everyone seems to be going into business for themselves.

Hey, I'm on the crest of that wave, too, so don't think I'm complaining or anything. But I can't help but speculate as to why this is happening. I have a theory, of course. It begins with "major corporations are sucking the life from us like giant money-vampires" and ends with "I'm tired of making a corporation rich while I get sub-standard service."

Can you imagine a world in which we are no longer slaves to the whims of some board of directors we could never hope to meet? If your energy provider were, say, a buddy of yours or you could get cable television from the guy across the street then wouldn't the world be that much closer to the nostalgic yester-year of the '50's, where everyone knew the person they did business with?

The reality of that is coming due. A friend of mine recently joined up with a network marketing group that's taking advantage of deregulation and now I can purchase electricity from a guy I grew up with. The juice still comes from the same place, of course, so I'm still forced to deal with what some investors think the price of a barrel of oil should be. But at least I have a face and name to complain about instead of this rather vague image of a bunch of fat white guys in suits sitting around a table and smoking cigars while sipping brandy.

And the cable TV thing... that's not quite accurate. See, it's not going to be cable TV but instead I'll be able to purchase programming one piece at a time online. And eventually you just know that someone will figure out a way to be their own network executive. I'm hoping that someone will be yours truly.

What's behind this whole trend of self-employment? I think it's just the fact that we're all exhausted, fed up and angry. We're tired of the "above the line" dynamic. It really is all about making the guy above you rich while you're the one dealing with mortgages, car payments, rent, and the ever increasing taxes.

Did you know that "middle class" didn't exist until the public gained access to the printing press in Europe? It's true... as soon as anyone could print anything they wanted they started printing "How-to" books that taught the reader how to improve his or her lot in life. Soon, the poor were able to learn skills that could earn them a living and now a new class emerged. Where once there was wealthy and poor there now stood the self-made crowd. Entrepreneurship caused a whole new classification of society.

And now we're seeing it happen again. And ironically I think it's once again because of free access to information.

The Internet changed everything. In the '80's, Age of Greed, he who had the college degree had the inside track to success. The '90's, though, saw an explosion of degreed professionals who were clamouring for jobs and, frankly, not finding them. Then, suddenly, the entrepreneur started making a bigger play. Why? Because as the '90's spun on the World Wide Web dug in its heals and allowed Joe Everybody to have access to any piece of information his whimsical heart could desire. Now you could learn everything from the basics of computer manufacturing to time-honored skills like masonry. You could specialize your knowledge by learning all about how to build custom wood furniture or have a broad palette that includes videography and web design.

The Internet is the digital equivalent of the Gutenberg Press.

So slowly people are starting to realize that if they're not happy with what their corporate overlords offer them then they can move on. It's risky, sure, but the aphorism goes "Fortune favors the bold." And any chance taken is one less regret (that one's mine).

Many people are starting businesses while working for someone else. Some are taking the bold and profound step of walking away from their job and risking it all on their new business. Others are happy enough to just earn a little side cash on eBay. But the writing is on the forum... people are fed up with working for someone else. Now they all want to work for themselves.

After the shock waves wear off I think we'll find that it's a better world when you can know the person you're buying from.

J. Kevin Tumlinson is the Editor of ViewOnline Magazine and a producer for Hat Digital Media. He is self-employed AND his own best customer.