iJudas
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.
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.
posted by Unknown @ 6:29 AM
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