Apple vs. PC

There is a big debate that's been sparked recently from a writer on www.burbia.com about a recent visit to an Apple store and how it remarkably seemed to change his life. While the writers comments were mostly spot on in regards to Apple branding and what I imagine an expereince at an Apple store is like he lost credibility in my eyes when after labeling himself a non techie spoke of leaving the store with a $2,300 Apple desktop system.

Now looking back through my posts you'll see that I too became stricken with the Apple bug awhile ago, I especially began to like Apple after I was given an old iBook. I wanted more Mac and newer Mac. But as I neared my final decision making to purchase a new laptop, I stopped short of purchasing a new MacBook pro and swerved right back to the Dell lane. I'm very happy I did. I saved ALOT of money and got ALOT more computer.

Apple is good in many senses, if you're someone who isnt a hardcore computer user, if you want a REALLY clean desk (Apple is great for this), if you want to fit into the cool crowd at Starbucks and Borders, or if you're really a computer noob looking for an easy to use system. Sure there are other reasons but for lack of time I'll stop there.

I currently use many operating systems, I spend most of my time with XP, recently started using Vista, have had very good expereince with Tiger and even use Linux Ubuntu for an old PC I use as a music sever or sorts. They all work well for me for the most part, and each computer has specific jobs they do. Yet while I am using at least two Dell PCs that should have been retired long ago I received them becuase people had no room for them anymore. I received my iBook becuase the person at the Apple store told my sister (who falls into one of the categories above) to "just buy a new one" when she asked about added Wi Fi to her iBook.

When you're a PC user you sometimes have a lot to deal with, but you're in it for the long haul, when your a Mac user your equipment doesn't have time to break before your forced by Apple to just upgrade to the next one. Need an example, look no further than the iPod! Wait nevermind the iPhone!!!

The bottom line is no matter what choices you make, Windows, Mac, or even Linux to think you have the most fullproof computer in the world is meanigless.

A Laptop that fits in a Manila Envelope is Cool!

You've got to hand it to Steve Jobs and Apple, they really know their marketing, and they really know how to make technology cool. Maybe that's part of the reason I'm going to get a MacBook instead of a PC laptop. However I won't be getting a MacBook Air, not because its not cool just because I need a little more Book for my money.

The slim size of the MacBook Air is amazing, anything that can fit in a manila envelope is cool in my book, heck right after the announcement I went over to the filing cabinet and realized I already had a case for one in the event that I did buy one! It's the cost of the MacBook Air thats a bit much for me. At a base price of $1,800 its priced slightly higher than the comparable MacBook I've been pricing and eying up which has twice the hard drive space, a faster processor, an optical drive and the three year warranty for just about the same price.

I like how Apple solved the optical drive issue with two choices, one which going on the fact that you at least have another PC in the house is essentially free, the other is only $100 for a USB optical drive and thats also pretty cool. However despite the fact that the machine has 2GB of ram which is nice, I can't get over the need for more hard drive space.

Overall though its a damn nice piece of hardware and anyone caught with one is going to immediately have the cool label attached to them.

I'm not an iPod user and I don't have an iPhone so the rest of Apple's Keynote didn't mean a whole lot to me, but Apple products do essentially define cool (even if my Zune is SO much better than any iPod) and they do a hell of a job at it. Heck maybe that's why the Nintendo DS and Wii sell so well, maybe people think Apple makes them!