Because it just works, stupid.

I have always used PCs, at work and at home.  I have always owned PCs.  Now I have a Compaq Presario desktop and a sweet little Toshiba notebook.  I haven’t used any Apple computers.  I always found Mac zealots really irritating.  My attitude is, look, it’s computer technology, not religion.  And the un-critical media hype preceding the iPhone release last year was beyond silly.  (A cartoon about that had the press bowing before a huge iPhone that loomed up like a monument, and was captioned “iFawn”.)

I use my computer a lot, and enjoy all the things I can do with it.  I am a fairly expert user for a non-techie, and I don’t mind spending time with my computer learning how to get the most from it.  With all that history and investment in hardware, software and the learning curves,  I’m not eager to change the basic technology I’m using. 

But my next computer purchase is likely to be one of these.  

Not because it’s morally superior, or ethically pure, or 100% organic, or blessed by God - which it isn’t -  or even because it *is* pretty. 

Nope.  Because the damn thing just works.

I have had it to the eyeteeth with Windows Vista.  With mysterious churning “processes” and “services” that spike my CPU usage up to 90 percent when I haven’t even opened any programs yet.  With antivirus programs that can constitute some of those background resource-eating computer-slowing churning actions, and that want to take over my PC use from me.  With formerly inexpensive, simple and fast-running applications that have grown bloated and sluggish (see my farewell to one of them here).   With constant nagging from Microsoft  to install this week’s emergency urgent must-have patch to fix another glitch or “vulnerability” they have just discovered.  With applications ceasing to respond and having to be shut down and restarted.

I am just part of a trend:  people who use PCs at work on tech-supported networks, who want to come home and just use something that works. 

For instance.  My 30ish cousin the software engineer, who is of course his Baby Boomer parents’ personal technology consultant, convinced both of them to get Macs.  Because - you got it - they just work.  No fuss, no feathers.  He said that in 3 years, he’s only had one call for help from his mom, and that was because she just forgot how to wake the thing up out of sleep mode or something.  And, he said, if you only knew what a miracle that is ’cause she was always having crises with a PC. 

And there’s my friend “Cindy” whose son is a professional computer systems security expert.  These days Cindy’s computer at home, and her hubby’s too, are Macs.  They use PCs at work and used to have them at home.  The Macs, they love.  Because they just work.  (They have a whole wireless network going, printers and all, but then they have that free consultant on call.)

Last month I emailed a friend and asked how he’s liking the iMac he recently got - after years of using PCs.  He’s a retired guy who’s become a serious amateur digital photographer, the one often tapped to take pictures of trips and events and family gatherings with his nice SLR equipment.  And thus sits down to edit gobs of pictures all the time, and create DVD slide shows, and all that stuff.  With edits for privacy and length, here’s what he wrote in reply:

About the iMac.    24 inch screen.   Wireless keyboard, wired mouse.   IT WORKS.     Plain and simple, it just works.    I will be dumping the PC as soon as is humanly possible and will never look back.   Everything is in the huge 24 inch monitor, that makes all other monitors pale by comparison.   The web camera is in there, so is the mike, so are the stereo speakers.   The CD/DVD drive is in the side.   Footprint is just the stand for the monitor.    All the USB and Firewire slots are in the back.   Clean.  No mess of wires, no junk.  Quiet, of course.   It  ah,   er….. like - works.
 
I have these following programs, (and none other)    Unlike a PC (Piece of Crap) it does NOT come loaded with junk little pesky programs and useless games and little things working in the background.  I do NOT need virus protection, that is taken care of by Apple.  I guess will keep the *gasp* windows computer for e-mail, as I refuse to mess up the iMac with useless junk..  I will add e-mail address maybe…   Maybe.  Unlikely, but family for now
 
iTunes.   awesome program.  You have heard of it - and it works to an unbelievable level with the parent computer, iMac.  It is simply jaw-dropping when working together.   . . .

iLife - which are the iMac versions of *gasp*  Word, Power Point, Excel and *gasp gasp* Access.  They are called:  Keynote (PowerPoint) Pages (Word) and Numbers (Excel).  I refuse to buy the Windows programs or OS that will operate on a MAC, even though they work faster and better on a MAC, than Windows can EVER hope for.   *barf*
 
Aperture.    Completely awesome and unbelievably powerful digital image program.   It is so advanced, that I’m currently using and easily having fun with iPhoto - which makes ALL of my other programs in total, look lame by comparison.   I will have to buy the million-page manual on Aperture later, but have been looking at it, and my jaw just drops in wonder.
 
iPhoto is spectacular - and you will have to look at this:  [link to his gallery]  Making the gallery took me three minutes.   Finding your obscure photos is so easy, you will just drool over it.  Keeping your mass of photos in order is so easy - you will send me presents. People can download your photos, or add to your albums if you wish.   It too, works.
 
iDVD - which makes Sonic Pinnacle insignificant.   I begin to cry it is so simple to use.  I will use it to make slide shows with music, which are easily transported using iTunes.   The program makes me just sit and wonder why I didn’t buy an iMac LONG ago.   The Pinnacle program has a learning curve that is straight up, and remains so.   It has proven to be a somewhat unstable program at times.  
 
iMovie.     I’m beginning to cry again.   Unbelievable…. 
 
Garage Band.   FUN !   And you can easily make your OWN music to go with your photo slide shows.   FUN FUN FUN !
 
Time Machine.   You go out and buy a 500 GIG harddrive, (I’ll tell you which one) and MAC simply backs up everything on your disk, automatically.   You never even think about it,  as it, well, works.
 
Have you gone out and downloaded SKYPE yet ?   Why not ?    You will need it - as we can easily yak back and forth, learning how to really compute with ease.   Plus, it’s free, and works better on a MAC than   *gasp*  windows.
 
iWeb.     I made my web page in three minutes.    I can add to and delete from my web site so easy, I shudder.   And start crying all over again.     Again, you might have to type this in.   Windows, y’know.   [link to his page]   Check out my welcome page.  You play with it a bit, then click the PUBLISH key, and presto - you have a web site.   With a million photos and your personal novel.
 
Also, Mail and Safari - which is the Internet connection, with your own MAC address.    mine is: [edited]    Nice, huh ?   
 
Address Book.  I transported all my 200-plus address over to iMac.  took 15 seconds.    Actually, nephew Ted did it for me.  He is the iMac guru of the family.    So when you want to e-mail somebody, with a few clicks you have their address in front of you.
 
iCal - Calendar program.      I’ve spent so much time making our other Calendar program, that I might not use it, but….
  
Lessee.     the .Mac programs cost me $100.00  per year, which gives me the opportunity to have a web site and the gallery site as well. 
 
The 24-inch iMac -  2.4 GHZ dual core processor - 2 GB memory - 320 GB hard drive -  wireless keyboard - wired mouse - CD/DVD +- optical drive and burner - and the awesome program Aperture pre-installed, along with the programs above -  $2,357 delivered to my door.
 
My windows box with the 17-inch flat screen looks pretty small sitting side-by-side with the 24 inch iMac.     go to:  www.apple.com and snoop around.    Up on top, click on Mac for starters.   I have the Mac OS X Leopard..   Then look for the iMac with the big honking screen.  That’s me.   Click on the photo of the iMac.      Drool.    Save up the buckazoids.     Get SKYPE.   Call me.

Another friend is finally setting up a home office because she’s retiring and won’t have the law firm office anymore.  She’s going shopping for a Mac and I’m going with her to the Apple store next weekend.   I won’t be buying.   Not yet.  Not for several months yet. 

I will have to remember not to drool.