The folks at WXP News took quite a bit of heat over a recent newsletter article about Mac computers. One offhand remark led to a slew of “don’t knock something you’ve never tried” comments, to which they felt obligated to point out that they did, in fact, own a Mac. They just prefer using Windows.
I can definitely relate.
I don’t know how many times I’ve written here about a problem with my browser or some computer weirdness occurring after one of Microsoft’s stealth updates, only to receive an anti-Windows comment from an avid Apple fan. Until now, I’ve always dismissed such comments as annoying evangelism.
But lately, truth be told, I’ve been thinking about making a change.
Oh, I don’t have any particular beef with Microsoft. I’m rather a big fan, if that’s the word to describe someone who sticks with a product due to their own inertia. My life is so online oriented that the thought of trying to figure out my way around an entirely new operating system seems a bit overwhelming. Old dog, new tricks — you know how it goes.
Besides which, there’s the money issue. I hate the thought of sinking that kind of dosh into something only to find out that it was utterly unsuitable for me. Cars are notorious for losing value the instant you drive them off the lot, but computers are so much worse: open the box and plug it in and you’ll never, ever find a place that will let you return it because you simply didn’t like the way it works.
Apparently, some smart company has realized that many people feel this exact same way and now they’re offering Mac rentals. Although geared for corporate users looking for, say, machines suitable for an off-site training session, I can’t help thinking that it’s a perfect solution for people who share my shyness over sinking in money until they’ve tried something out themselves.
Thursday, September 27th, 2007, 6:39 pm | 
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September 27, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I’m with you on not wanting to relearn anything. I know some people who are having problems with Vista, so there might be some relearning in our futures either way.
Renting a Mac is an interesting idea. You try it and tell us about it.
September 27, 2007 at 10:02 pm
I hated the Mac when I first switched and regretted it because I was absolutely the old dog hating new tricks. But you can’t part me now. For me it was a security issue. I know zilch about keeping a PC secure and hubby had enough to do.
He’s a hardcore geek so he loved all the work involved. Upgrades. All that stuff. But he soon became a convert behind me and is now WORSE than I am. I find it is especially useful if you’re more of a creative type (which we both are). But it can do anything else we needed.
That’s just us. Renting a Mac is interesting enough. I think hubby wishes he could rent an iPhone instead though. lol
September 27, 2007 at 10:07 pm
VL,
I use a ThinkPad at work but have an Intel iMac. I can tell you there are quirks with the Mac, such as minimize being on the left. But overall, it has been a great experience. Best of all, you can run Parallels and have Windows on the same machine. A must if you use Quicken or some other app that is either only available on Windows or is better on Windows.
September 28, 2007 at 9:04 am
I didn’t know about Parallel, Opinionator. I love the thought of being able to have one computer that runs both!