Pigs can fly!
Quite a few years ago, I became a "Mac hater". Long
story, but the short of it is that a Mac net used by
our publications department (at a company where I was
working) let me down at a critical time. It caused me
a lot of grief. Then, when Apple killed off the
Newton, I swore eternal hatred.
Before I go on, I should note that I still use my Newton 2100 every day. It still has the best "to do" list handler I've ever used. Despite the jokes about its handwriting recognition -- which were ALL about its first generation of software -- it still recognizes my handwriting better than I do. It remains the best PDA software ever written, as far as I'm concerned.
And then, slowly, several other things happened:
1) Apple put BSD UNIX under the hood in OS X.
2) OS X has matured through a few major releases and is now a superb OS.
3) Apple put Intel CPUs into the Macbook Pro line. "Boot Camp" added the ability to boot/install NATIVE Windows XP. So, I have that as a fall-back if I simply can't get something running under OS X. (I haven't needed to use it.)
4) I get a nice educational discount via CMU, along with a fabulous rebate on an iPod -- which I gave to my wife.
5) I've been listening to numerous people's opinions that I value who all say that it's time to try Mac. You know who you are...
So, I switched a week ago. Now, I'm hopelessly, unapologetically, completely a Mac guy. It has unified my computing needs/desires in a way that nothing else has been able to. UNIX where it matters and the world's best user interface in front. It talks with my Linux servers and my windows desktops/laptops just fine.
Plus, the Macbook Pro, with a 2 Ghz dual-core Intel CPU, DDR2 memory, SATA hard disk, etc., is the fastest computer in my gaggle. This thing absolutely ROCKS! People complain about Macs costing more than their PC counterparts, but you really do get more for the money. I'm fine with that. I've never minded paying a bit more and getting a bit more.
As a result, my laptop is no longer a traveling copy of my data. My Linux servers now carry a non-traveling backup of my work. As it should be.
The Mac talks wifi, bluetooth, usb, firewire, infrared, VPN -- you name it. I can connect up to _something_ nearly anywhere on the planet and securely connect to the net.
And, one of my favorite things about Apple, from the first day that I used my first (of 3) Newtons, is the cross-application data integration. My Macbook hasn't let me down. My IM package (iChat) gets its real names from my rolodex (Address Book). My email program (Mail) shows me a green icon next to any of my contacts (from Address Book) who is logged into IM at the moment. THAT is cross-app data integration. I haven't felt that feeling since I first learned to love my Newton. No Windows or Linux set of apps has ever provided that feeling to me. Apple GETS IT. Their software guys and gals know software like no one else. Kudos!
I now think of "PC people" as those that haven't tried a Mac. Once you try, you will never accept anything less. Redmond should be quaking in their shoes (but they're not).
Before I go on, I should note that I still use my Newton 2100 every day. It still has the best "to do" list handler I've ever used. Despite the jokes about its handwriting recognition -- which were ALL about its first generation of software -- it still recognizes my handwriting better than I do. It remains the best PDA software ever written, as far as I'm concerned.
And then, slowly, several other things happened:
1) Apple put BSD UNIX under the hood in OS X.
2) OS X has matured through a few major releases and is now a superb OS.
3) Apple put Intel CPUs into the Macbook Pro line. "Boot Camp" added the ability to boot/install NATIVE Windows XP. So, I have that as a fall-back if I simply can't get something running under OS X. (I haven't needed to use it.)
4) I get a nice educational discount via CMU, along with a fabulous rebate on an iPod -- which I gave to my wife.
5) I've been listening to numerous people's opinions that I value who all say that it's time to try Mac. You know who you are...
So, I switched a week ago. Now, I'm hopelessly, unapologetically, completely a Mac guy. It has unified my computing needs/desires in a way that nothing else has been able to. UNIX where it matters and the world's best user interface in front. It talks with my Linux servers and my windows desktops/laptops just fine.
Plus, the Macbook Pro, with a 2 Ghz dual-core Intel CPU, DDR2 memory, SATA hard disk, etc., is the fastest computer in my gaggle. This thing absolutely ROCKS! People complain about Macs costing more than their PC counterparts, but you really do get more for the money. I'm fine with that. I've never minded paying a bit more and getting a bit more.
As a result, my laptop is no longer a traveling copy of my data. My Linux servers now carry a non-traveling backup of my work. As it should be.
The Mac talks wifi, bluetooth, usb, firewire, infrared, VPN -- you name it. I can connect up to _something_ nearly anywhere on the planet and securely connect to the net.
And, one of my favorite things about Apple, from the first day that I used my first (of 3) Newtons, is the cross-application data integration. My Macbook hasn't let me down. My IM package (iChat) gets its real names from my rolodex (Address Book). My email program (Mail) shows me a green icon next to any of my contacts (from Address Book) who is logged into IM at the moment. THAT is cross-app data integration. I haven't felt that feeling since I first learned to love my Newton. No Windows or Linux set of apps has ever provided that feeling to me. Apple GETS IT. Their software guys and gals know software like no one else. Kudos!
I now think of "PC people" as those that haven't tried a Mac. Once you try, you will never accept anything less. Redmond should be quaking in their shoes (but they're not).
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