I came across this article via Coudal Partners’ Fresh Signals feed (what are you waiting for SUBSCRIBE!) and took some time to think about where I stand on the whole fanboy thing. I like to think I’m moderate… here are some thoughts – I’d be really interested to know where you stand on the issue.
But I regularly get asked by people whether they should switch to Mac when they’re needing to upgrade their gear. I didn’t always use Mac and my initial impetus to switch actually came at the hands of my boss who actually made it possible for me to get a work supplied Mac (in return for becoming the onsite expert in all things Mac). So do I always recommend making the switch?
No.
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my MacBookPro, have you seen one? They’re GORGEOUS. Yes, sexy and slick and just beautifully put together. But if someone asks me what they should get I always answer the question with other questions like “What do you want it to do?”
“Why would you want to switch?” and the kicker, “How much do you want to spend?”
If all you want to do is surf the web and send/receive email both platforms will be perfectly adequate. You can get a cheap PC to do all of this for less than a Mac (and yes, I know, their prices have dropped.) So you have to ask yourself are you prepared to pay extra for the sexy? To be part of the Mac club? Is it really worth it because you’ll then have the learning curve of a new system that doesn’t always behave the way you’re used to.
I find the Mac’s creative tools infinitely easier to use than a PC so if want to use your machine to edit photos and video, to put together dvds of such media to archive or give to friends then I say go with a Mac, but realistically a PC can still do these things and maybe better than it used to when I was a PC user… I’m rapidly getting out of touch on that front.
So, when it all comes down, computers, phones and technology are tools for a job. I love my iPhone, and am as impressed with the new iPhone4 and the iPad as any other tech geek who loves the pretty and is awed by Apple’s ability to create products people can’t wait to get their hands on… But a wise man tweeted recently
“Consumerism will always be alive and well as long as Steve is on the Job. A totally adequate iPhone is suddenly made redundant by #iphone4”
And as tempted as I may be to be impressed and lust after the next product I have to be cautioned by the above and ask myself “Is my identity tied up in which brand I use?”
I hope not… and if it starts to sound like it is, I hope you’ll call me on it…
What about you? How attached are you to your techno bits and pieces? Will you defend to the death the choices you’ve made in terms of gear you use? Why?
Hi Dee, this is timely for me to read (yes, I zoomed out/in to read it more easily :} ) as I need to buy a new computer and have been tempted to get into Macland. Anita loves hers, but then my fellow IT students seem to say NOoooo stay with what you know. I am studying Cert IV web design, so will hopefully be able to do some basic websites from home. So I’m really torn – I’m drawn to the Apple world, but hesitant at the same time as I don’t want to overload my brain. Have just installed Ubuntu on my aging laptop and will see how I like that.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the reply Tricia, you could always spend an afternoon with Anita’s computer and see how you go! Yes, there is a learning curve, and if you’re already on one with learning web design, you could be in the flow!! However, the problem will be having to buy all new software to go with a new computer, so it may depend on what you’ve got to spend.
Have fun with Ubuntu, I’ve played about with it and there is some amazing free software to go with it… (Gimp as a replacement for Photoshop, Kompozer for Dreamweaver, Inkscape for Illustrator). Amazing that people are out there making free software that does amazing things!