This is the first in a series of of posts titled Get a Mac. The objective of the series being to explain the nature of the Macintosh computer while also expounding on some of the intricacies that make using the Macintosh OS a far less frustrating experience than using Windows frequently is. The new I’m a Mac, I’m a PC ads have been extremely effective at encouraging people to consider purchasing a Macintosh computer and because of this I would like detail my experiences in having used a Macintosh computer for the last 5 years. I’m not one of the righteous Mac zealots that simply think Macs are best for everyone and everything under the sun. I am, however, someone who believes that a computer should get out of your way and simply let you do what you want to get done. Just use what’s right for you! It might be a Mac, and I’m going to use use this series of posts to try and convince you exactly of that.
My main thesis consists of the following points, with each point eventually having an entire post dedicated to supporting it.
Apple computers are far more dependable than Windows computers.
Apple computers are far more intuitive than Windows computers.
Apple computers are faster to operate than Windows computers.
Apple computers are more enjoyable to own than Windows computers.
Apple computers have a greater amount of quality software available than Windows computers.
I’ll start by giving you a little background as to my computer experience. I used Windows computers all throughout high school and throughout most of college. I was only exposed to a Macintosh computer by nature of the fact that my best friend in college, a music major, purchased one. I was initially intrigued by the how crisp everything about it looked – the display, the documents, the typefaces – and the fact that it seemed simple to use. I was intrigued enough to save up $1300 and buy one myself. It should also be noted that at the time I was a poor college student eating Ramen 4 times a week, so spending $1300 was the equivalent of a normal person spending about a million. The next car I would buy turned out to be cheaper than that computer. It’s been 6½ years since then and I’m typing this sentence on the same computer (see this post to learn more about her). Not once have I regretted the purchase. I have never had to take it in or hire someone to clean it, reformat it, fix it, or remove a virus from it. Not once. Ever.
I’m big on simplifying life in every way possible and my use of computers is no different. At the end of the day we’re still talking about a machine whose sole purpose of existing is meant to be simplifying your life. If it’s not good for that, it’s not good for anything. This is really why I’m going to the trouble of writing this. I’m just as big on encouraging others to simplify their lives.
Before we begin we’ll look at some very basic facts about Macintosh computers.
Macintosh computers are made by Apple Inc. Apple is the company, Macintosh Computers are what they make (among other things). Apple is the only company that produces Macs. Apple produces the actual hardware along with the entire operating system (OS). PCs use the Windows OS – be it Windows XP Standard, Windows XP Home, Windows Vista Home, Windows Vista Professional, et cetera. Macs use OS X (pronounced O-S-Ex). There is always only 1 current edition of the Mac OS. There are no Professional, Home, Student, or Basic editions. The Mac OS has one version. Period. This is the first thing that you’ll notice when considering Macintosh computers. This line of thinking, simplifying in order to create quality software and hardware can be traced all the way through Apple as a company.
Super Geeky Fact #1. The forthcoming release of Mac OS (10.7) will be smaller in size than it’s predecessor, all while including additional features not found previously. (source: apple.com) The equivalent of this would be Windows Vista being smaller in size than Windows XP. I’ll be scattering facts like this throughout these posts, mostly because I’m a geek and I love little facts like these. If you also like them, then chances are I like you. Don’t worry if you don’t, chances are still fairly good that I like you anyway.
Apple computers are far more dependable than Windows computers.
I have made this my first item of debate as I would consider this the strongest point to my argument. Most lawyers would probably save this part for last, but I’m not most lawyers. Actually I’m not any lawyers. I’m not a lawyer at all. I am glad we cleared that up.
I work on a Macintosh computer 40+ hours per week. I am never forced to restart my computer. I never shut it off when I leave and I almost never remember to shut it off over the weekend. I never have need to. I never restart it because I never get the feeling that the computer needs it – or slows down because of it. The only time I restart my computer is after it’s been on for a couple months straight and even then it’s only a formality. This is absolutely unheard of for Windows machines. I have spoken with multiple Windows IT specialists and their first troubleshooting step is almost always to restart the computer. Why? Does anyone know why a person should have to restart their computer simply because they’ve actually been using it? Aren’t you supposed to use it? It seems that normal users of Windows just assume that this is one of those necessary evils that you get with computing. I’m here to tell you it isn’t normal, or necessary for that matter. It is ridiculous.
I’ll use a brief story to serve in demonstrating this point further.
There is a graphic designer at my workplace who uses a Windows computer. His computer was purchased completely new and direct from the manufacturer. We have only installed design software on his computer since then. Nothing else is installed. On his machine Windows freezes to the point that it won’t function about once every 2 days. On average about once every day his machine will give him some cryptic error message telling him that his design software has to quit. His track record would indicate that this error only happens to occur if he has been working for at least an hour on a project without saving! It’s gotten to the point where I can just about tell how much work he has lost by the specific groan he makes as his computer is crashing. He would be the first to acknowledge the quite large cumulative amount of work we have lost because of these various and unexplained errors. He works alongside 2 other designers who use Macintosh computers. He has since said that he regrets not getting a Mac. Make him look a lot more geeky and dress him up in a tan suede suit and it would be just like one of the I’m a Mac, I’m a PC ads.
In conclusion, if you want a computer that will just get out of your way and let you do what you want to do you need to Get a Mac.
Get a Mac – Part 1
This is the first in a series of of posts titled Get a Mac. The objective of the series being to explain the nature of the Macintosh computer while also expounding on some of the intricacies that make using the Macintosh OS a far less frustrating experience than using Windows frequently is. The new I’m a Mac, I’m a PC ads have been extremely effective at encouraging people to consider purchasing a Macintosh computer and because of this I would like detail my experiences in having used a Macintosh computer for the last 5 years. I’m not one of the righteous Mac zealots that simply think Macs are best for everyone and everything under the sun. I am, however, someone who believes that a computer should get out of your way and simply let you do what you want to get done. Just use what’s right for you! It might be a Mac, and I’m going to use use this series of posts to try and convince you exactly of that.
My main thesis consists of the following points, with each point eventually having an entire post dedicated to supporting it.
I’ll start by giving you a little background as to my computer experience. I used Windows computers all throughout high school and throughout most of college. I was only exposed to a Macintosh computer by nature of the fact that my best friend in college, a music major, purchased one. I was initially intrigued by the how crisp everything about it looked – the display, the documents, the typefaces – and the fact that it seemed simple to use. I was intrigued enough to save up $1300 and buy one myself. It should also be noted that at the time I was a poor college student eating Ramen 4 times a week, so spending $1300 was the equivalent of a normal person spending about a million. The next car I would buy turned out to be cheaper than that computer. It’s been 6½ years since then and I’m typing this sentence on the same computer (see this post to learn more about her). Not once have I regretted the purchase. I have never had to take it in or hire someone to clean it, reformat it, fix it, or remove a virus from it. Not once. Ever.
I’m big on simplifying life in every way possible and my use of computers is no different. At the end of the day we’re still talking about a machine whose sole purpose of existing is meant to be simplifying your life. If it’s not good for that, it’s not good for anything. This is really why I’m going to the trouble of writing this. I’m just as big on encouraging others to simplify their lives.
Before we begin we’ll look at some very basic facts about Macintosh computers.
Macintosh computers are made by Apple Inc. Apple is the company, Macintosh Computers are what they make (among other things). Apple is the only company that produces Macs. Apple produces the actual hardware along with the entire operating system (OS). PCs use the Windows OS – be it Windows XP Standard, Windows XP Home, Windows Vista Home, Windows Vista Professional, et cetera. Macs use OS X (pronounced O-S-Ex). There is always only 1 current edition of the Mac OS. There are no Professional, Home, Student, or Basic editions. The Mac OS has one version. Period. This is the first thing that you’ll notice when considering Macintosh computers. This line of thinking, simplifying in order to create quality software and hardware can be traced all the way through Apple as a company.
Super Geeky Fact #1. The forthcoming release of Mac OS (10.7) will be smaller in size than it’s predecessor, all while including additional features not found previously. (source: apple.com) The equivalent of this would be Windows Vista being smaller in size than Windows XP. I’ll be scattering facts like this throughout these posts, mostly because I’m a geek and I love little facts like these. If you also like them, then chances are I like you. Don’t worry if you don’t, chances are still fairly good that I like you anyway.
Apple computers are far more dependable than Windows computers.
I have made this my first item of debate as I would consider this the strongest point to my argument. Most lawyers would probably save this part for last, but I’m not most lawyers. Actually I’m not any lawyers. I’m not a lawyer at all. I am glad we cleared that up.
I work on a Macintosh computer 40+ hours per week. I am never forced to restart my computer. I never shut it off when I leave and I almost never remember to shut it off over the weekend. I never have need to. I never restart it because I never get the feeling that the computer needs it – or slows down because of it. The only time I restart my computer is after it’s been on for a couple months straight and even then it’s only a formality. This is absolutely unheard of for Windows machines. I have spoken with multiple Windows IT specialists and their first troubleshooting step is almost always to restart the computer. Why? Does anyone know why a person should have to restart their computer simply because they’ve actually been using it? Aren’t you supposed to use it? It seems that normal users of Windows just assume that this is one of those necessary evils that you get with computing. I’m here to tell you it isn’t normal, or necessary for that matter. It is ridiculous.
I’ll use a brief story to serve in demonstrating this point further.
There is a graphic designer at my workplace who uses a Windows computer. His computer was purchased completely new and direct from the manufacturer. We have only installed design software on his computer since then. Nothing else is installed. On his machine Windows freezes to the point that it won’t function about once every 2 days. On average about once every day his machine will give him some cryptic error message telling him that his design software has to quit. His track record would indicate that this error only happens to occur if he has been working for at least an hour on a project without saving! It’s gotten to the point where I can just about tell how much work he has lost by the specific groan he makes as his computer is crashing. He would be the first to acknowledge the quite large cumulative amount of work we have lost because of these various and unexplained errors. He works alongside 2 other designers who use Macintosh computers. He has since said that he regrets not getting a Mac. Make him look a lot more geeky and dress him up in a tan suede suit and it would be just like one of the I’m a Mac, I’m a PC ads.
In conclusion, if you want a computer that will just get out of your way and let you do what you want to do you need to Get a Mac.