iConfess - Why I Am An Apple Disciple
I have been trying to answer this question for myself for ages now, and I think I have finally got it formulated. My name is K. Panda and I am a Mac user.
First to cover my ass when someone tells me that my personal opinion is wrong. I am not a Mac guru, power user, developer or genius. There are no doubt things that I have no understanding of that aren't taken into account regarding my choice of computer. If you want to get all technical about things then that is your choice, not mine. I am just your average guy that wants to have a computer that allows me to be as productive as I can be doing the things I want to do.
Every Christmas as a kid I asked for the same thing - "an art kit". I'm not really sure exactly what this particular "art kit" was supposed to be composed of. But it was supposed to allow me to do all sorts of "art". Like paint, draw, stamp, trace, do calligraphy, and I guess just about anything else you could do with a piece of paper. I never really got the ideal version of this Christmas gift, I usually got some colored pencils and some brushes and what not. But, I never got everything.
I guess if I was a kid now, and I wanted to ask for the "art kit" of nowadays, I'd ask for an iMac. And I would probably feel as though I got everything and more.
So, where does it all begin. It begins, back at Stony Creek Elementary School in suburban Philadelphia, where a young scamp of a K. Panda had his first experiences with a funny tv that had a typewriter attached to it. Well, that's what it looked like anyways. This was in the mid-80's and you could do some really inane things with the box. Things that I, frankly, had no interest in doing. If I had had a serious interest, then no doubt my current finances would be a hell of a lot better. Alas, the Apple II really wasn't drawing any of my attention. Neither would any other computer for the next 15 years.
I didn't start using Macs until OS9. And in all honesty I wasn't too thrilled with OS9, it still gave off the glint of the computers of the 80's. I'm not a programmer, I think visually, and I wanted a system that reflected what I was doing with it. And so came OSX, and changed my life. For the first time ever I had what I wanted in a computer.
Granted the first couple versions of OSX were pretty shaky but when Apple finally got it right, it was, in my eyes, perfect. Say what you will about the dock and all the eye candy but I loves it. In fact I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe the Finder... It is pretty rare when things designed by other people feel so much your own. And I guess if I was Apple, that's what I'd be going for. In my case they were spot on.
There are not a lot of huge differences between OSX and Windows. Yeah, I know what you're gonna say, but think about it. They are designed to run programs and deal with files. That's what computers do. However there are a lot of small differences. Probably thousands. And I think most of them go in favor of OSX, everything from the GUI, the icons, the file structure, the ability to customize things, standard interfaces, drag and drop, program integration, and yes, all the other eye candy that comes along with owning a Mac. Including the design of the machine itself. You know what a Mac does for me that a PC doesn't? It inspires me. And that is a gigantic difference in my book. A PC is a computer, a Mac becomes an extension of your life.
So, that's the Mac. What about Apple? Why do I like Apple so much? Is it because I own a Mac? Well, yeah. If I had a Mac and I didn't like Apple I'd be screwed. If you have a Mac you have to like Apple, because they are pretty much going to control your life. Because, unlike PC's, nobody else is making Macs. And with only 5% of the world using a Macintosh, not nearly as many companies are spitting out hardware and software for you. You rely on Apple to improve what's available and make the things you need. You put your faith in them and you have to blindly trust them not to make any costly mistakes, because if they do, you are going to pay for it. Thankfully they don't screw up too often. (Although 256 MB of RAM in a PowerMac G5 was a bit of a disappointment.)
Ok, I like Apple because I have to. But, I respect them for a lot of other reasons. Like the fact that they are one of the most innovative companies on the planet. That they are, in fact, changing how we live, and doing it with style. That they care about their customers. And that they, for the most part, give us what we want and occasionally a lot more. It isn't strange that they have a cult following and an absurd level of loyalty, it's to be expected. Every Apple event for Mac owners is like a birthday, only we have to buy what we get. And that's fine, since there is no better feeling than buying whatever new device Apple has cooked up. (Especially when it comes with a couple of Apple stickers.) So, yes, I am "one of those people".
What's left? Steve Jobs? I don't know him. But you can read his resumé here.
All I know is my Mac makes me happy, Apple keeps me satisfied and in suspense, and until somebody comes up with something better, I am going to continue to tell my friends and family to switch. So far the total is 9.
K. Panda
