I'm writing this because I've found the computer experience that I think most everyone has been searching for in a personal computer and thought I would share. Obviously I'm posting this in an area where most everyone will agree (c'mon it's a MAC forum!) but sometimes it's nice to reflect on what we really have under our fingers.
Many things these days are built under the assumption that it will be discarded within a few years or when it breaks (whatever comes first) so with that design philosophy, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of concern with making sure that all aspects of construction and design are fully taken care of. Sure, there are some aspects of design that have to allow for customization but there are some of us that simply enjoy having a great product right out of the box that we just turn on and it simply works. To be honest, there are few products that I've used that I used and immediately felt like I got every cent of what I spent to get it. Usually, there was always some point where I felt somewhat cheated that I had not gotten exactly what I had asked for.
2 years ago, I got rid of my Blackberry Pearl and walked into an Apple Store and purchased an iPhone and wow, what a difference that made in my perspective of Apple and everything Windows. I appreciated the solid heft of the new phone in my hand and how smooth, functional, and at the same time, simple operating system that was at once powerful yet easy to use. What occured was the realization that I had been missing out on something really great. For the first time everything worked and when I did need to "dig" into the OS it was easy to find everything that I was looking for, usually in a click or two. I'm sure anyone who has used Windows can relate to having to dig through multiple menus and tabs just to find what you were looking for that seemed to be hidden for no reason whatsoever. What was impressive was that a company (Apple) had taken the time and care to really think out their product and deliver a nearly unparalleled build quality that combines such functionality and simplicity that still looks great in your hand or on a desk.
That brings me to my next point which is the heart and soul of why I'm writing this. For years the computer world has simply crammed more and more complexity into their products to keep up with new standards and technologies for the sake of progress and largely ignored the fact that it's great to have a whole lot of capabilities but what's the point if it's so complicated that you need to have a fair mastery of Windows just to make something work? I remember playing around with Windows 3.1x, 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista and eventually 7 and I never felt like I got the experience that was really possible with all the hardware and software that was out there. It always felt like I was still working with a prettier version of Windows 95 in all honesty. Windows XP started a slight transition in the model with trying to simplify certain processes but I think that it was at best a half-hearted attempt that just made things more frustrating and it only got worse with Windows 7.
So a few months ago, I started working with a lot of people who had a Mac and at first I dismissed it as nothing special. The first time I used the interface and looked over a regular MacBook and especially the MacBook Pro , I was simply blown away. I could hardly believe that it was all so simple, well-thought out and powerful at the same time. Everything that I had been looking for in every PC experience and ultimately been left disappointed.
So after a couple months, I was completely hooked. I sold my recently purchased Windows laptop and bought a 15" MacBook Pro. Now I look back at all the years that I used Windows and it makes me appreciate the MacBook Pro that I'm using to type this post on.
Now I have the computing experience that I've always been looking for. Thanks for reading.
Many things these days are built under the assumption that it will be discarded within a few years or when it breaks (whatever comes first) so with that design philosophy, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of concern with making sure that all aspects of construction and design are fully taken care of. Sure, there are some aspects of design that have to allow for customization but there are some of us that simply enjoy having a great product right out of the box that we just turn on and it simply works. To be honest, there are few products that I've used that I used and immediately felt like I got every cent of what I spent to get it. Usually, there was always some point where I felt somewhat cheated that I had not gotten exactly what I had asked for.
2 years ago, I got rid of my Blackberry Pearl and walked into an Apple Store and purchased an iPhone and wow, what a difference that made in my perspective of Apple and everything Windows. I appreciated the solid heft of the new phone in my hand and how smooth, functional, and at the same time, simple operating system that was at once powerful yet easy to use. What occured was the realization that I had been missing out on something really great. For the first time everything worked and when I did need to "dig" into the OS it was easy to find everything that I was looking for, usually in a click or two. I'm sure anyone who has used Windows can relate to having to dig through multiple menus and tabs just to find what you were looking for that seemed to be hidden for no reason whatsoever. What was impressive was that a company (Apple) had taken the time and care to really think out their product and deliver a nearly unparalleled build quality that combines such functionality and simplicity that still looks great in your hand or on a desk.
That brings me to my next point which is the heart and soul of why I'm writing this. For years the computer world has simply crammed more and more complexity into their products to keep up with new standards and technologies for the sake of progress and largely ignored the fact that it's great to have a whole lot of capabilities but what's the point if it's so complicated that you need to have a fair mastery of Windows just to make something work? I remember playing around with Windows 3.1x, 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista and eventually 7 and I never felt like I got the experience that was really possible with all the hardware and software that was out there. It always felt like I was still working with a prettier version of Windows 95 in all honesty. Windows XP started a slight transition in the model with trying to simplify certain processes but I think that it was at best a half-hearted attempt that just made things more frustrating and it only got worse with Windows 7.
So a few months ago, I started working with a lot of people who had a Mac and at first I dismissed it as nothing special. The first time I used the interface and looked over a regular MacBook and especially the MacBook Pro , I was simply blown away. I could hardly believe that it was all so simple, well-thought out and powerful at the same time. Everything that I had been looking for in every PC experience and ultimately been left disappointed.
So after a couple months, I was completely hooked. I sold my recently purchased Windows laptop and bought a 15" MacBook Pro. Now I look back at all the years that I used Windows and it makes me appreciate the MacBook Pro that I'm using to type this post on.
Now I have the computing experience that I've always been looking for. Thanks for reading.
