Confessions of a PC afficionado who secretly craves Apple products
I should start this blog by admitting that I have drank the Microsoft Kool-aid. I have sold my soul to Bill Gates. No, I'm not a Microsoft employee, but I make my living designing, building and selling solutions using Microsoft products on Windows Platforms.
Having said that, I have been for some years now, secretly craving the Apple products. It started with the iMac, and then the PowerBook and now the iPod. No, I haven't succumbed to these cravings - but everytime I go to a mall and I see an Apple store, I just have to go in and look at all these products - having an internal conversation with myself why I should and shouldn't buy them all.
I have to commend the brand and marketing machine of Apple - they are geniuses. The iPod, while amazing when it was first released is not that big of a deal (in my opinion). It doesn't play many music formats and iTunes, the software that comes with it will ony download the song for a particular device. What's up with that? A similar device, say, the Dell DJ using another software say Napster is a cheaper combination with probably more features. Where the iPod really goes above and beyond its competitors is accessories, accessories, accessories! The number of accessories that are available for the iPod and are not available to its competitors just make it a runaway product in its class at this point in time -- not enough to make me buy it yet, though!
iPod, iMac and the Powerbooks are all about the looks. With the more powerful OS X, a linux base, and some pretty cool skin, these new machines are a far cry from the very first apple machine I used when I was in junior high in the 80s programming GWBasic.
Why have I hesitated? First, there's the price. The knowledge that I can get more PC or more MP3 player for the price of a PowerBook or an iPod always gives me pause. After all, beauty is only skin deep. Also, I have a big aversion to proprietary products, and Apple products are very proprietary. Having also worked for both Intel and Dell, I sometimes feel a pang of guilt for coveting the competitors products :) Still, it doesn't stop me from putting them in my wishlist every Christmas.
At my new job, I am fortunate that I can indulge at least half of this secret obsession. I have now had my PowerBook G4 for a week, and I have been playing with it. I figure, if I can prove to myself that I can use a Mac (with Virtual PC for my Windows stuff) everyday to do my work, then I can have the best of both worlds. I am crazy enough to do this that I have to lug 2 laptops to work everyday! If my experiment works, I will drop the Dell laptop and stick with the PowerBook. I said IF!
Having said that, I have been for some years now, secretly craving the Apple products. It started with the iMac, and then the PowerBook and now the iPod. No, I haven't succumbed to these cravings - but everytime I go to a mall and I see an Apple store, I just have to go in and look at all these products - having an internal conversation with myself why I should and shouldn't buy them all.
I have to commend the brand and marketing machine of Apple - they are geniuses. The iPod, while amazing when it was first released is not that big of a deal (in my opinion). It doesn't play many music formats and iTunes, the software that comes with it will ony download the song for a particular device. What's up with that? A similar device, say, the Dell DJ using another software say Napster is a cheaper combination with probably more features. Where the iPod really goes above and beyond its competitors is accessories, accessories, accessories! The number of accessories that are available for the iPod and are not available to its competitors just make it a runaway product in its class at this point in time -- not enough to make me buy it yet, though!
iPod, iMac and the Powerbooks are all about the looks. With the more powerful OS X, a linux base, and some pretty cool skin, these new machines are a far cry from the very first apple machine I used when I was in junior high in the 80s programming GWBasic.
Why have I hesitated? First, there's the price. The knowledge that I can get more PC or more MP3 player for the price of a PowerBook or an iPod always gives me pause. After all, beauty is only skin deep. Also, I have a big aversion to proprietary products, and Apple products are very proprietary. Having also worked for both Intel and Dell, I sometimes feel a pang of guilt for coveting the competitors products :) Still, it doesn't stop me from putting them in my wishlist every Christmas.
At my new job, I am fortunate that I can indulge at least half of this secret obsession. I have now had my PowerBook G4 for a week, and I have been playing with it. I figure, if I can prove to myself that I can use a Mac (with Virtual PC for my Windows stuff) everyday to do my work, then I can have the best of both worlds. I am crazy enough to do this that I have to lug 2 laptops to work everyday! If my experiment works, I will drop the Dell laptop and stick with the PowerBook. I said IF!
1 Comments:
Hey, Marie. Welcome to the cult. :)
Actually, most people would say that Apple's biggest strength is vertical integration, although our marketing department obviously kicks ass. In the case of music, this goes from the iTunes Music Store to iTunes to the iPod. Competitors have generally had to rely on separate sources for content, software, and the mobile device, and it shows.
Without a doubt, new Apple users are attracted by the brand, the case, or the pretty bouncy icons. But as you say, beauty is only skin deep, so what keeps them loyal is the meat. I bought my first Mac after just getting tired of spending every spare weekend tweaking and updating the Linux box. I simply don't do that now, nor do I give a damn about viruses.
Also, don't be tricked into thinking that "beauty" is easy. Take the 30 GB iPod for example. Its dimensions are 10.4 x 6.1 x 1.1 (cm), and weighs 136 g. It's closest competitor, the Creative Zen Vision:M, is 10.4 x 6.2 x 1.86 (cm), and weighs 163 g. Yup, that's 70% thicker and 20% heavier, with the same playback time, and it costs $30 more. This doesn't happen just because somebody at Apple can draw.
How about the Dell DJ? The 30 GB one costs the same as the iPod, but has 2 hours less of playback time, weighs 40% more, and is 70% thicker. This isn't an accident.
You are also working on an old perception (it was quite true, but it is now old) that Apple products are proprietary. The Macs use the same drives, RAM, and I/O interfaces that everybody else uses. Plug in a USB mouse from a Dell and it'll work just fine.
Finally, Intel is no longer a competitor since Apple will start shipping Intel-based computers next year. Even Microsoft continues to ship the Office suite on OS X.
As for the price, let me know when you're really interested in buying something. I can get employee discounts for family and friends. ;) In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your PowerBook. Don't pay so much attention to what you can do with it as what you no longer have to do.
- Steven
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