My life in Mac
Who would have thought that a big city girl with her big city dreams and a husband who supports Apple Computers like they’re going out of style, would have fallen prey to the world of Mac? I’ll be the first to admit that I did not think it could happen to me. Growing up we were very fortunate to have computers readily available in our lives. We attended schools that supported technological education and our mother made sure that there was always one working computer in the house. Now, those first few computers had one color screen (green), accepted both floppy and hard disks, and Oregon Trail was what I seriously thought the West was like. Eventually our lives were “upgraded,” whatever that meant, and we were on top of the world with our ability to chat online and look up information that was probably sort-of true at times. I never really payed much attention to whether or not I had an Apple or a PC. I knew that there was a difference, but it didn’t seem to matter. I cruised through my freshman year of college sharing one desktop computer with my 3 other roommates. We had dial-up internet and while it may have taken 45 minutes to log-on and check our e-mail, we somehow managed to share and even got a few papers typed and printed. Mind you, back then we were not required to type our papers and I soon learned that handwriting took up much more space than printed pages and so I often stuck to the handwriting to fill those 5-10 page papers. Still there were those suckers who thought they were so cool with their fancy fonts and double spacing. Way to go you!
I eventually made it through college, learning how to download my syllabi and assignments off the internet. In some classes I was lucky enough that the professors actually put their lecture notes online after class. I was also fortunate they didn’t grade students on attendance back then, at least not in the classes I was taking. Our university’s computer labs were upgraded and I enjoyed the free internet use in the public libraries. That was where I had my first real Mac experience. There were very few Mac’s in that lab. PC’s dominated the horizon. I would usually just sign up for the first available computer and scurry on over with my backpack and winter coat and boots and gloves and scarves and lunch and well, let’s just say I had a lot of stuff with me. I quickly caught on that the Mac’s were always being reserved for the IT students. That intrigued me and yet caused a bit of fear in me as well. They all had such stern looks on their faces like they were doing something so important us mere mortals would never understand. I steered clear.
The rest of my college career was spent on a variety of PC’s and eventually a HP laptop. I was content. No, I was more than content. For a long while I was happy. Things got done, papers were written, research was completed and my means of communicating with the outside world was up to par. I moved out of state and took my laptop with me. Things were going so well until my boyfriend at the time bought a Mac. Something in him changed. It was subtle, but after a while he was speaking a language I couldn’t understand. He was speaking of things that were beyond me. That were beyond my PC. He was speaking Mac.
I ignored it for so many years. And then I married that Mac man. I stayed on my side of the couch with my PC and he stayed on his with his Mac. We didn’t cross contaminate. Then Christmas 2006 found itself on our doorstep with the looming lure of a Macbook Pro. John got it and convinced me to take his old Powerbook. I did so reluctantly. I didn’t really care what type of computer I had, I just needed a way to use the internet and respond to e-mails. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like change. In fact, I loathe it. But I thought I’d give the Mac a chance.
The whole reason I’m writing the blog is because I’ve had a change of heart. Last week I was asked to helped a friend out on her computer. I was lost, shocked, maybe even stunned to find myself trying to navigate the miserable patterns of the PC world. I found myself with a pounding headache and a new appreciation for the features my computer offers. I am embarrassed and proud to be a part of this new club. We go to an Apple Store almost every month even though we know exactly what they carry. We even go there when there are no new products to buy. We dream of Apple products that will revolutionize our TV watching experience and we talk of the latest applications. I admit that I enjoy using Mac’s in school technology labs and I can help most K-6th graders with their Mac questions or problems. I am happy with my computer. I am happy with my Mac.
This blog is dedicated to my husband who deals with my insufferable inability to handle change…
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Welcome to the world of Mac. Like they say, “Once you go Mac, you won’t go back.” Have you tried Leopard yet? It’s awesome!
Welcome to our clan… Kool-Aid is served at 6pm…. just kidding of course!… anyway… glad you enjoy your Mac. I tell everyone I’m a recovering Windows addict.
I am a mac convert too. I am typing this on my iPhone. I enjoyed reading your post. Going to the apple store is a favorite pastime too. Good luck.
that was an amazing post
i don’t have a Mac but my friend got one for CHRISTmas and it’s AMAZING!
i also have to say, I loved the oregon trail! one of the best games EVER!
oregon traillll
good times :]
well
i am not converted to macs yet
ive loved my ipods i have had, but ive always loved the cheaper prices of pcs..
maybe someday ill switch over..
it just seems like such a pain since we have all 8 of our pcs hooked up on networks and stuff here at the house
Hi Sarah! Great post. I understand it well. I was converted back in 2001 when I bought my first Mac from a friend. I’ve owned probably half-a-dozen Macs since then, and now an iPhone. I have to use a PC at work, but I can’t ever imagine going back in my personal life.
Oh, and Alexis: When it comes to your network, you’d be surprised at how easily the Macs find the network and hook on. Getting them on your network will probably be much easier than it was with your PCs. And you can always sell your old PCs on eBay once you’ve switched!
I cannot believe you posted on this. you are ridiculous. just remember acceptance of change does not mean judgement bestoyed upon others. i can’t believe I am even replying to this blog. seriously.
Haha…crazy computers.
My mom has a iMac desktop and a HP laptop the school provides her with, she likes Mac better as well. Mac’s weird me out though, I haven’t gained status in the Mac club yet. Or maybe I’m just perplexed how the employees act at the Apple Stores in the Seattle area.
All the computers are perfectly spaced when you walk in and all the employee’s look like they’ve been zoning out those very computers for twelve hours straight, but strangely wear clothes like they just rolled outta bed and would rather marijuana be legalized. It just confuses me a relaxed-looking person, but not at all relaxed in their minds, totally high-strung.
Also Mac’s are too white in my opinion, you have to touch everything it seems to get them to operate, my i-pod broke and they told me they couldn’t fix it, that I’m better off just buying a new one (I was SO pissed), and you can’t Myspace IM on Mac’s.
Haha…I don’t mean to complain after it’s taken so long for your conversion. I think it’s great there’s equality in your marriage now, technologically, haha.
I bought an HP laptop, it comes Tuesday.
Maybe one day I’ll write a blog like this, but for now Bill Gate’s is my God Father. I live in Seattle, so I guess it’s fitting.
Peace Sarah.
Oh. And I totally forgot about Oregon Trail AND green screens for that matter…That game was SO amazingly AWESOME.
LOL I think I still have Oregon Trail here somewhere.
My main issue is just having the funds to start over, so I really don’t. I know really nothing about Macs, but your spouse does some amazing things with his. I know what you mean about change. Change and I have a love/hate relationship going on. 
yo.. we’ve got the same first name. that = rad!!
Hi Sarah,
Heather (my wife) and I switched to macs about 2 years ago. It happened to us too. I don’t want to go back to the pc. Not because macs are faster or have better graphics or whatever. Just because they seem to work. And they make sense. And they make me feel like I’m doing something natural when I use them. This is very unlike my old PC which made me feel quite stupid when I used it. It would taunt me with errors and glitches and hangups and other, equally annoying stuff. And yet, I’d find myself going back to it. Not because I wanted to, but because I HAD to. I kind of felt like I was in an abusive relationship and kept crawling back to my abuser because I needed them so badly. Well, I can happily say this is stuff of my past. We proudly own a macbook pro and an i-mac and we’re not going back.
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