Harry Potter
Two Mac stories in a row. What are the odds?
So there I am, sitting in the server room trying to mind my own business. One of our "outside consultants" comes in and says she needs help getting her new computer connected to our printer. The outside consultants wait on no one, so I jump up and we walk to her desk.
On the way over, I ask what she bought. A Mac. She calls it Harry Potter because it is so tiny and cute. My bad attitude turns from bad to worse. I tell her I doubt I can get it on the network because I don't know how, (nor am I willing to learn how to). Nor do I want to change my network to make it work with a Mac. (On a side note, you Mac people can keep your suggestions and comments to yourselves. I simply don't want to hear it.)
Anyway, I sit down at her PC, and what do I see? She is running Windows XP in Parallels. I installed the networked printer in XP in about 6.2 seconds. Now the fun begins:
"Why did you buy a Mac," I ask.
"Because they are better," she responds.
"Then why run XP inside of it," I ask.
"Because I need Office," she responds.
"So, what do you use the Mac for besides Windows XP Office," I ask.
"Surfing the internet," are her last words.
So, let me point out the stupidity, stupidity that I believe every Mac user shares.
1. Buy a Mac because you think it is better. Mostly because of the cool commercials.
2. Immediately load the OS that you wanted to avoid in the first place, Windows XP.
3. Load an application into XP that is readily available for Mac.
4. Use your new tiny shiny trendy artsy fartsy "better personal computer" to mostly surf the internet.
I congratulate Apple on a great marketing campaign. I pity those who buy into it. Idiots.
April 1, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Well, when I run XP on my Dell, all the Lego parts on the inside vibrate and make this strange noise.
Buy a Mac and running XP is like Mother Teresa kissing Hitler on the mouth.
With all the sites replacing the need for Office (google docs, zoho and more) I can't see a reason to use XP at all.
Tj
May 22, 2008 at 3:47 AM
Yup - she sounds not-particularly-computer-savvy (I think "idiot" might be a little harsh - perhaps "more money than sense"?...) however I've used Mac OSX, several flavours of Linux, every incarnation of Windows since time began, and have to say that I can accomplish everything I need to do on any of these platforms, so it just comes down to personal tastes (in terms of ease of use as well as just style...) - I have found Mac the most straightforward to set up and use day-to-day. Less time fiddling with it, and more time actually getting stuff done. When supporting others who are less computer-savvy, Mac is great if you can afford it. For instance, I set my mum up with a macbook running leopard - no issues since I set it up for her, no support required. I guess XP comes pretty close nowadays, but just not as slick and pleasant to deal with for the uninitiated IMHO. I have run VM windows on my Mac, just to see how well it worked really, but haven't needed to use it for anything and have removed it now. Not criticising windows, and I can understand your opinions, but hey, if you've no idea how to connect a network printer under OSX, then you've perhaps not had enough experience with it to criticise others for using it... even though I agree that if your client is just using windows on her mac then she's wasted her money and should spend some time finding out just what the mac can do on its own - maybe then she'd jettison her windows completely and then you'll HAVE to learn how to connect up that printer! ;-)
May 22, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Maybe she sounds stupid (running Office on Windows in Parallels)(virtualbox.org is free if she really wants too) or is an idiot (having Windows XP) but:
- Pc has viruses;
- On pc's you have mallware / spyware;
- Lots of problems, ddl hell;
- You have different versions (vista), 4 to be exact. Mac has one (or two a server version but Microsoft has it too);
And not everybody is a quick leaner!
(You think too hard (Windows) when it's easy (Mac)!)
Maybe she needs to figerout things!
If you are a smart guy give her some advices (maybe you should reed it too) macmeep.com!
;)
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