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Back in the Saddle |
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 Ok, it's been a while since I wrote anything worthwhile. I'm finally getting back on that horse and writing about something. So in the last couple weeks, what has happened in the world of Apple? Well, probably the biggest thing is that the iMac G5 has begun shipping, and people are going apespit over it.
Time declares the iMac G5 the "Gadget of the Week", PC Magazine gives it 5 circle thingies out of 5 (thanks to As The Apple Turns for the link), heck even CNET has a hard time belabouring it (I mean really, it's like they're not even trying any more, they could at least tell us it's too white and lacks a floppy drive).
But that's not all that's changed in recent weeks. The whole iPod thing seems to have reached a critical mass and it seems like Apple can do no wrong. Sure, there's your usual anti-Apple pundits, funded by the dark side to spread lies and keep the Empire in control (*COUGHENDERLE/THURROTCOUGH*), but for the most part Apple could ship flaming G5's and the press would say how great it is that Apple thought to build in a marshmallow cooker.
Ok, maybe I'm taking it a bit too far, or perhaps my time off from writing has given me a new perspective on things, but personally, at my place of work, people seem much more open to the Mac - if not downright drooling over Apple's hardware.
It seems to me people are at the point with Windows where they're fed up with it. Or perhaps the great Bill Palmer is correct in that the success of Apple's Switch campaign was delayed merely because many PC users actually budget for computers and are just now getting around to buying a new one (as opposed to us die-hard Mac geeks that charge $2000 on a credit card because we simply MUST have the latest and greatest from Apple).
To reinforce this, take a look at the headlines of PC sites: it's usually security this, virus that, or spyware otherwise. I won't list a bunch here, that's what MacDailyNews is for, but one article in particular claims that, "the number of new viruses and worms aimed at Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous [not from where I'm standing] Windows operating system rose 400 percent between January and June from the same year-earlier period". Just one more reason for people to switch, or at least consider it.
Last but not least, an article at PC Magazine lists the top "10 Things Wrong with PC Technology" wherein our good buddy, Lance Ulanoff, recounts his wife's growing frustrations with Windows. When asked for a list of what she felt was wrong with computers and technology she reportedly wrote:
1. It sucks
2. It really sucks.
3. Even when it doesn't suck, it sucks.
4. Just thinking about it sucks.
5. Just thinking about thinking about it sucks.
6-10. Repeat numbers 1 to 5.
But wait, it gets better. Lance then writes his own list of what he feels is wrong with computers, and basically it boils down to everything that is right about Macs!
1. It's too hard to use.
2. There's too much guesswork.
3. There are still too many wires, and sometimes it's hard to know what goes where.
4. Security stinks.
5. What works today may not tomorrow.
6. New systems are full of unpleasant surprises.
7. Most software's still too hard to use.
8. Competitive practices make computing harder than it should be.
9. It's never simple enough.
10. Hardware manufacturers let users down.
Seriously, does any of this apply to today's Macintosh? I don't think so. And I think that for whatever reason(s), the media and society in general are finally beginning to buy into Apple and buy Macs.
So hold onto your hats, it should be a fun ride.
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September 23 2004, 8:03 AM EDT, by
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Comments:
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| sweetjimmyhugs |
9/23/04, 9:58 AM EDT |
Good points there, Jonahan. I think it's laughable that people still use Windoze when the could just as well get a Mac, and if they don't want to spend the money, Linux.
I also think it's funny when a guy in a pirate costume comes up to my car at an intersection and asks me for change...
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| CK Lai |
9/23/04, 11:58 AM EDT |
I've had to use Windows (in all its incarnations) off and on for several years now (as in only if I have NO CHOICE), and I have to say it doesn't really suck that badly. The problem with Windows is: it's just "good enough". As in, it doesn't REALLY SUCK that majorly. It works (more or less) and most people have come to live with Window's annoyances. Also, Apple's been paying for the bad karma of the Sculley/whats-the-other-guy's-name??? reigns for several years now (re: Apple myths).
That said, I do believe there's a sea change going on, and Apple is finally turning the tide (to mix my methapors) and more and more people are finally learning to actually LOOK and SEE and find out for themselves about Macs instead of relying on outdated myths.
So, as you said: it's a very interesting ride ahead of us.
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| Neal Eaton |
9/23/04, 1:00 PM EDT |
I whole heartedly agree with Mrs. Lance Ulanoff's comments about Windows.
Let me start by saying that I have been a Mac user since 1987 (an Apple user even longer) and in that amount of time I have only had 1 problem so bad I had to re-install my OS.
It was about 6 months or so after getting my Dual G4 800 in 2001, and I deleted a file I shouldn't have (d'oh)...I took it to Apple Store Willow Bend, and they suggested re-installing OS X, because the probelms I was having were not happening in OS 9.
After the re-install, I have had 2 system crashes in just over 2 years.
In the same amount of time, my co-workers have had to re-install Windows so many times that we've lost track.
I was just talking about this topic this morning...I went to my bosses brand new IBM ThinkPad to check my setup of our DSL line (which was WAY TOO COMPLICATED, BTW). I launched Internet Explorer, and typed in apple.com to check it out. Can you guess what I got instead??? A screen that tells me there is no site called 'apple.com'. SO, I typed in www.apple.com, and got the website.
Windows is SO FULL of small things like this (not being able to just type 'apple.com' and get to the website) that I just don't have the time to even bother with trying to do ANYTHING in Windows.
I only hope that as more and more people see the ease of using their iPods with Windows that they will grow tired of dealing with it and make the switch to the Mac platform.
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| whatsinaname9000 |
9/23/04, 9:16 PM EDT |
my 10 reasons of what's wrong wtih microsoft:
1. It sucks.
2. It sucks harder.
3. It's not shiny.
4. It's not cool
5. It sucks.
6. MICROSOFT IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!
7. My whole darned school uses it.
8. Number of viruses=Total number of cells in a wooly mammoth
9. MICROSOFT IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!
10. It sucks.
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| Michael Fischer |
9/23/04, 11:49 PM EDT |
I think one of the reasons for a 'delayed' effect for the switch campaign is what change means to a Windows user. Change is bad.
One of the common adaptions for Windows people is to never change anything if they want to continue working. This leads to strange practices. Although there are more doo dads than you can shake a stick at for Windows, adapted Windows people know you have to buy everything you need when you order the computer ... once you have it up and running, no change allowed. Likewise, when Microsoft releases a new OS, the adapted Windows user sees this as a plot to sell new hardware because obviously you have to change computers to use a new operating system.
You can imagine what the thought of changing to a different approach to computing might invoke in the adapted Windows user. Really bad news.
However, over the past couple of years the rise of viruses and worms combined with major headaches has required people to change or die ... and some adapted folk seem to be thinking that if they have to change anyway, they might as well change in a big way.
If Apple can maintain their reputation for security for another year, there could be big changes as the people who have survived the past buying cycle start to think about doing better than survive.
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| DJ-LC |
9/24/04, 7:14 AM EDT |
Well someone is stealing JM.com's bandwidth, who wants to fess up ?
By the way WIAN, I'm stealing your list :-)
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| nhmacusr |
9/24/04, 9:14 AM EDT |
I think that the real reason for hte delay in switching really doesn't have to do with either company (Apple or Microsoft that is). It is mainly economics. For most families, a computer is a large investment that must be budgeted for. When the switcher ads came out, a lot of people said ya cool, but can't afford to run out and get one. They have to save for it. The bulk of the people out there are not upgrading hardware every year. In fact, I can't tell you how many people I know who still use Windows 98 in P1 and P2 boxes. They still work. It boils down to a want not a need. However, those first customers from when Gateway and Dell started to pick up steam are getting back into the market for a new machine. Apples continued success with bringing desirable machines to hte market is paying off.
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| whatsinaname9000 |
9/24/04, 5:47 PM EDT |
that's very true. I know a lot of people that want to switch to macs, but they just don't have the money for it.
if only the emac was cooler....
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| ZackMac |
9/28/04, 2:56 AM EDT |
Even though this is an older article, I just can't get over how bad that [doodoo] stinks.
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| Jonahan |
10/5/04, 9:24 AM EDT |
Yeah, yeah it do.
This is why Apple needs make a $400 Mac with just the basics, you know, Serial ports, Floppy, Onboard inegrated audio and video, and just really fugly overall, to be sold to unwitting Windoids that go only for price.
But it's like a chrysalis - at first it has viruses and forced seemingly random crashes to make Windows users feel at home. Then it slowly gets better and better, showing them what OS X can truly be like.
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