Katherine Hannaford writes...
Confession time. I haven't always been obsessed with Microsoft and Bill Gates - this time last year, I was worshipping at the Temple of Apple. Yep, I was a Steve Jobs addict, more than content with my iPod, iBook, and Mighty Mouse. But then something happened - something I refer to as The Day The Music Died. I said "bye-bye, Miss American Pie", as my iPod conked out on a long-haul flight, just as I was enjoying some Searching and Destroying with Iggy and the Stooges. Then, shortly afterwards, my iBook threw the biggest tantrum possible, and I gave up all hope of ever having an Apple product which lasted longer than a year - so what to do, but bite the bullet and throw a thousand notes towards Mr. Gates. I haven't looked back since, but one thing that really infuriates me to this day is smug Apple fanboys - yes, Robert Webb, I'm talking about you.
Charlie Brooker recently wrote a great column for the Guardian Unlimited, giving the theme away rather easily with the title 'I hate Macs'. In it, he comments on the recent Apple adverts featuring Mitchell and Webb, saying 'If the ads were really honest, Webb would be dressed in unbelievably po-faced avant-garde clothing with a gigantic glowing apple on his back. And instead of conducting a proper conversation, he would be repeatedly congratulating himself for looking so cool, and banging on about how he was going to use his new laptop to write a novel, without ever getting round to doing it, like a mediocre idiot'. Are you nodding your heads in agreement there, readers?
Think of how many arrogant, stripey-jumper-and-black-square-framed-spectacles-wearing Mac users you've met in your life. The numerous graphic designers, game developers, journalists, CEOs, heck, even your unemployed housemate, who all carry around their Macbooks swathed in the most expensive of laptop bags, with an invisible sign proclaiming to everyone 'I'm a mug - mug me!' in big letters. Something must be done. Somehow these people must be culled stopped. This selection of society must be stopped from breeding, mating with other pasty, stripey-jumper-and-black-square-framed-spectacles-wearing Mac users. Join me in this Revolution To Stop The Apples From Taking Over The World. Join me - by refusing to mate with them. If we do this, eventually their race will slowly die out, disappearing from areas such as Islington and Shoreditch, Hoxton and Kensal Rise, so us PC users can regain our rightful land. And then plaster the billboards with 10 feet tall adverts for Vista.
I've done my bit already - on a recent date with a game developer, he smugly boasted of his iMac and surround sound set-up in his 'trendy' Clapham Junction flat, suggesting I should 'swing round that night' with him, so he can show me the new OS X, Tiger. Now, surely this was code for 'let's go have hot steamy sex at my flat, where I will position your body so I can still keep my iMac within sight', and he was rather good-looking, albeit smug, with his stripey jumper (grey and blue), and black square-framed spectacles (clear glass, natch). But a Mac user? Could I really lower myself that far? Turns out, I can't, and didn't, as I made my excuses and left the bar shortly afterwards, alone. Told him I had to go home to defrag my hard drive. In more ways than one...
Warning: You can 'flame!', 'n00b', or 'lolz ur skillz r ghey, teh steve jobs is d hax0r' me all you want, but each time I will retaliate by posting this photo on Shiny Shiny -
Oh yes. Defrag all night long, baby.
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While I agree with all of the non-Bill Gates lusting sentiments, let me just say you are absolutely batshit crazy. And I love you for it. :)
But then Mac users will start breeding with other Mac users, creating super mac users, and then we'll all be doomed!
Disclaimer: I am a Mac user
from the picture next to your little rant, it looks like you are just as much a card carrying member of the "myspace generation" as all those stripey-jumpered, black-plastic-rimmed glasses wearing mac users, so i would watch who you make fun of. seems to me to be a little of the pot calling the kettle black, eh hipster? just because you use a pc doesnt make you anymore more hardcore than a mac user. just because its harder doesnt make it nerdier, it just makes it less efficient.
Oh I love it when people don't understand humour.
I have been building PC's for years now and all I can say is that Macs are made out of the same parts PC's are. The only difference now is the OS, and that is pretty much over now because my 24 inch iMac runs OS X and XP.
My Macs never crash, I put a new battery in my 3G iPod so it will last on longer flights. I do make decent living though keeping PC's running. So by all means post a pic of Bill for me.
Believe it or not, I am using a Mac on the internet right now without antivirus software or spyware monitors. Can't say that for my PC's.
It's a drag when being punk means rebelling against Steve and praising ACME MegaCorpSoft. You look more like a SUSE girl to me. :)
Maybe that was humour?
Kate,
You have my deepest sympathies regarding your experience with your iBook and iPod conking out on you. And, I'm not writing this to disuade you from your convictions in any way.
I simply want to point out some _realities_ that you may not be aware of when your hardware died on you.
The reality is that no electronic hardware lasts forever, that is why warranties & extended warranties exist.
Reality #2, some electronic devices (computers, MP3 players, etc.) work well long after their warranty expires, while others of the same make & model may crap out early. When hardware does crap out early, it's either because of a defective component, or it's due to misuse by the user.
Reality #3, as far as electronic manufacturers go, in recent independant surveys Apple (by a long lead) had better reliability _and_ customer satisfaction in its products than any other manufacturer.
Going back to "Reality #2", I also had a fairly new iPod crash on me. When I contacted Apple about it, not only were they curteous & helpful, but they immediately rushed me a brand new iPod and they paid for the return shipping of the broken one. Not only that, but the new iPod they sent as a replacement was a newer model with a larger hard drive than the one that I had previously.
Yes, things do break. But I've been very happy over the past 17 years of buying Apple products, with how infrequently they break, and when they do -- how quickly and graciously Apple responds in getting me a working replacement.
To assume through your experience with your 2 Apple products failing, that this applies to all Apple products, and that this type of failure does not happen (in greater frequency) with other companies' products, is a very ill-informed conclusion to make.
I used to think that Macs were only for the "elite" but I've had my opinion very much changed since becoming a Mac user last year.
I'm a student and I don't carry around my Powerbook in an expensive case. Two of my student friends also use Macs and they certainly don't behave like this either. We bought our Macs using the student discount offered by Apple and don't consider ourselves to be any better than anybody else because of this.
Don't tar us all with the same brush please. =)
wow...what an awfully bad write up of mac vs pc. I use both. I have both in my house and find both perfectly fine for the situations in which I use them.
First, all Apple products have a one year warranty, so if you have something that broke in the first year, they'll fix it for you. Odd concept and a tough one to grasp I'm sure.
Second, are we really getting a stern talking to about over trendy-ness from someone who edits a blog about overly trendy handbags and writes for a celebrity website? Are you really bitching about expensive laptop bags when you edit a blog about overly expensive handbags? Seriously?
If you'd like to write a post about how you feel as though the Mac ads are dishonest in their characterization of Windows security problems then feel free. But seriously, if some wanker tries to lure you to touch his tackle with promises of seeing his iMac then perhaps the problem isn't Apple's but your taste in men.
I work as a computer tech, and I use and support both Windows machines and Macs. Both have their own set of problems, but just remember that you are absolutely not tied down to either one. There are many forms of Linux that require absolutely no Linux knowledge, as odd as that is to say. Try checking http://distrowatch.com/ for one that you like. I personally love, love, LOVE Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com). You can either order a *free* CD with Ubuntu already burned, or you can download it and burn a CD yourself. I have decided that since I currently am not dating anyone, Ubuntu will be my Valentine! =D
You have my deepest sympathies.
I think you'll find Mac users very helpful but in your case perhaps less informed. No doubt you will quickly find the Mac community's super-users and become each others sources of informed assistance in your areas of expertise.
I have been a convert for 18 years and in that time brought several hundred Windows and DOS users to the Mac. To the best of my knowledge nobody has chosen to return to leave the Apple universe and many dozens have become very strong advocates.
What I see your switch adding to the platform at this time is the further reduction of the commonly held beliefs about the Mac and Apple that are simply FUD. I expect you are starting to realize that much of what you may have perceived as zealots and half truths from rabid Mac advocates in the past, were instead people trying to help you become informed. I don't think any Mac user would wish to misinform but we are dead tired of hearing the uninformed regurgitating the usual FUD or simply making up new lies to propagate in Windows land. This FUD has been an extremely effective tool to control the masses for over two decades. That is starting to crumble a little faster these days and I hope your informed and even handed analysis will assist in the re-education of the millions.
Welcome to the Mac.
LET"S BICKER ABOUT OPERATING SYSTEMS ON THE INTERNETS!!!!!!!!
Both are good machines. If you do not need/want to alter hardware, either is fine, with Apple having the edge because it makes the hardware and while M$ never did. But if you do want non-standard stuff -
As far as I remember (but then, I do not pay all that much attention), the only hardware to come first from Apple was a DVD writer - for which you had to buy a new computer that was built around it. It took a few weeks for many third-party manufacturers to ship drives for the Windows system[s].
OTOH, a cash-register/accounting addon/modification/premade/whateverflavor was available for MS-DOS. Many such things are available for niche-market needs for Windows - Mac is a niche market...
With Windows Three circa 1974, I was able to dial into my office mainframe from home and work. And use a 45" TV to do it, so I didn't even have to put my glasses on. Remind me, when did Apple add a modem - and software that would talk to a mainframe before mainframes had support for PC's? And I lusted for (but alas never got) an add-in that would emulate an IBM370 mainframe, which would have been useful as I was tech support for a couple of those. So I was pretty much compelled into the M$ camp, where I remain (albeit Vista does not seem at all inviting...).
Whoever Katherine Hannaford may be, she needs a boyfriend.
I pine for the days before Apple became mainstream-cool, when we count on our fellow cultists to be clueful, or at least have a sense of humor.
Any article where Katherine Hannaford makes fun of expensive bags is not to be taken so seriously, people.
Well looky, looky here. I found another Mac lovers wet dream site. You Mac loving pillocks obviously don't get out much.
Macs are for the socks and sandals brigade. They're not worth a light compared to a PC. In any situation a decently specced PC will walk it past a Mac and for less money. Macs are about as exciting and interesting as kitchen appliances.