Dujodu Blog

What switched? Did I switch?

I bought a Mac, an Apple- you know, the kind you can’t eat because they’re carved out of a solid block of aluminum (at least the cases are). This may come as a surprise to many of my friends who have sat through my anti-mac rants over the years. How did I end up changing my mind?

I’d like to tell you a story about building my first computer. I remember meticulously digging through pages and pages of hardware specification tables, websites dedicated to getting the best deals online, and reading through numerous build-it-yourself computer forums to find the best cost to performance ratio for every single piece of hardware in my soon to be new machine. Every component was like a new puzzle, each requiring it’s own formula, it’s own specific criteria, and of course a modest price to make it into my super machine. It took weeks of research to finally decide on the parts. The deals and specifications had to align perfectly, when they did I made my move. I was sure to buy a case with an internal light and a transparent side panel so I always had a window to view my masterpiece. I didn’t really think about it at the time, but that must have been the motive.

OK, I’m getting a little off track, but I needed to put into perspective my mentality at the time. The Apple computer was practically the antithesis of my creation. Buying one meant that you were locked into the mac operating system, there were only two or three machines to choose from, the components were already picked and couldn’t be hacked or upgraded. The prices were set, no deals to be had and only one vendor to “choose” from. How could anyone be interested in THAT when they could build their own computers?!

The benefits of building your own computer were obvious. You could save money on a faster machine, you weren’t locked into the apple OS, you had the freedom to upgrade individual components, and it was just fun!

So the question is, what changed?

I guess back then it actually paid off to do it yourself. You could build a better machine for the money than you could buy from HP or Dell. Unfortunately that isn’t the case anymore. If you want to build a computer yourself, it’s going to cost you much more than something comparable from one of the big named vendors. Of course you’ll still end up with a better machine if you build it, but I don’t think you’ll end up getting any deals. Scratch off saving money from the benefits list.

When I decided that I wanted to buy a new computer I knew I wanted a laptop. Laptops of course don’t even present the option of the build-it-yourself route. Most components on a laptop are built into the motherboard so upgrading isn’t usually an option (scratch that from the list too). I already submitted to that fact and was actually quite relieved. I definitely don’t get the same thrill out of spending hours of my free time trying to find the best deals on computer parts anymore (Uh oh, I guess I don’t think it’s fun anymore either).

Buying a mac wasn’t even on my radar when I started the search. If you would have talked to me 3 months ago and told me that I was going to be sitting in bed typing a blog post from my very own macbook pro I would have thought you were insane. Aside from the lack of clear benefits with my new perspective, there were a couple other things that finally tipped the scale in Apples favor.

Windows… do I really like windows? Were my anti-mac rants fueled by a vast burning love for clippy and the search dog? At the time, there were a LOT of applications that wouldn’t run on a mac. Now most of the applications I use do run on a mac, and if they don’t I can run them in Parallels or simply boot into windows (now possible since Apple moved to their intel based chipsets). Those factors combined with the proliferation of OS independent web applications make the choice of an operating system much less of an ordeal.

I also have come to appreciate simplicity in many forms, not least of which simplicity in the design of objects that I interact with on a daily basis. I think it’s safe to say that Apple beats 99.9% of the PCs in this area. If you want to hear my rant about PC laptop design trends, just ask. (the condensed version is that they are basing their designs on overly complicated airplane like boombox designs for apparnetly no reason).

I think the main factor in deciding to buy a mac though has to be how impressed I am with the iPod touch & iPhone. I think Apple nailed these products, and they are probably the two coolest tech gadgets around. My enjoyment of my new iPod definitely made me seriously consider the macbook. I’d love to tell you everything I love about my iPod, but I’m saving it for a different post. The bottom line is that my confidence in Apple skyrocketed after using the iPod.

Ok, I think that’s all I’ve got for now. Hopefully that was somewhat enjoyable to read, I think I got most of my points across about how it was possible for me to make the “switch.” I might expand on some of my favorite and least favorite aspects of OSX in a future post. Until then, I will be enjoying my new Macbook Pro!

Tags: apple, rant, technology

This entry was posted on Friday, October 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pm and is filed under Rants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “What switched? Did I switch?”

Corey Says:
October 28th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I was happy to be there every step of your transition.

Now, you’ve out-Mac’d me.
Dujodu Says:
October 29th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Yup, to be fair my mac exposure levels increased greatly when I started working next to you, you even introduced me to the wonders of the iPhone. I would say that your guidance initially opened me to the idea of considering a mac, so congratulations, maybe they should send you a new macbook
Justin Rueth Says:
October 30th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Sigh… Dustin. Come on. You know I have always respected you. I look to you and your blog posts because you seem to be always one step ahead of the game. Then you go and pull something like this. I am disappointed in you. In the next few paragraphs I am going to speak my mind, in an honest fashion from the perspective of a PC guy who’s friend who was a hardcore fan of PC, and has now switched to an Apple. I would expect the same from you if I did something like this. It’s for your own good. Snap out of it, man.

First, I can’t believe you would prefer the iPOD over something like the Creative Zen Vision M. The iPOD forces you to use iTUNES which I cant stand, ever since Apple tried to attach crap-ware with every update. Second my Creative Zen supports many more video formats that the iPOD. Last I heard iPOD checks for DRM on all music you try to add.

Then you state “simplicity” is such a plus, but you say you have to run programs in “Parallels” or “boot into windows”, instead of just seamlessly working on something. You’re lying to yourself, who are you trying to convince me? or you?

Another reason why I hate Apple’s is because when someone buys one they have to sit and brag about how much better it is than what they have been using, and everything else that have ever seen. It’s like a snarky remark from people that drive hybrids. They talk like their shit doesn’t stink but instead have just caused more global warming by buying their fuckin hybrids and delaying the production of real fuel efficient cars by another decade.

Just a side point here. I can’t stand the i-Everything naming pattern, that makes mac’s trendy. It makes me sick. No originality what-so-ever. “i-Whatever” is just a cheap buzz name to imply simplicity for idiots who know nothing about the computer except that it looks pretty and people who use them in coffee shops are cool important people. “What does this program iChat do? Ohhhh, it’s for Chatting… COOL! My PC never did this!” Does the Mac have an application called i-DONTGIVEASHIT? Have fun trying to customize your Mac, oh but then again you probably wont have to because it’s so pretty as it is. “Look how INDEPENDENT I AM? I USE A MAC. I’m an individual, i separate myself from the main stream to be just like all other Mac users, with no originality just like them. I just conform to all trends and shop at the Banana Republic”

And how could you choose an iPHONE over a Blackberry. On screen keyboards are all the rage if you’re a 17yr old girl. Come on, use a man’s phone. On screen buttons are way slower texting on an iPHONE than a nice qwerty raised real keyboard on a blackberry. Check out http://www.Crackberry.com. Before you make another huge mistake and buy another apple iFuck or whatever call your sponsor. ME. You’re off the wagon and I am trying to help you.

I hope this is humorous to you as I am NOT ATTACKING YOU but more directly what you have become… an Apple lover. They really hit a nerve with me.

You asked “What switched?” It’s you boy. YOU. You bought a fucking Mac! For godsake! YOU DID!! Sorry for being harsh with you but I figured as a friend I should be honest with you and tell you what was too hard to tell yourself… You’re one of them now… The people who you have always despised… The people like Mr. Stocki… (no offense)

I am sorry to go off on you like this but you have changed. I still like you but you have changed. Biking everywhere, drinking tea, and using an Apple. This is a trendy thing.
Justin Rueth Says:
October 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
GOD I JUST DON’T BELIEVE IT. I HOPE I AM BEING “PUNK’D”. WHERE IS ASHTON?
Justin Rueth Says:
October 30th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Watch out for “Corey” he is one of them too. Like a Jehovah’s Witness they go person to person trying to convert you. They’ve reached you, but they will never get me. I swear it!
Brian Says:
October 30th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Can’t Mac and PC just live in perfect harmony… wait they do… on apple hardware.

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What switched? Did I switch?

6 Responses to “What switched? Did I switch?”

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