Come this December, I will have been a Mac user for 6 years. I got my first mac (a sexy little iBook) for Christmas. My uncle was working at Apple in Cupertino which provoked me to look into Apple computers.
After my first visit to apple.com I got intrigued by the veil of mystery that surrounded the Mac. At the time I didn’t know anyone that owned one. This presented me with the opportunity to be the first to learn about the technology. I could safely fiddle to my hearts content without anyone telling me a better way to do things. It gave me a chance to take the longest way possible to arrive at the simplest solution and learn new things along the way.
I had plenty of friends that knew about Windows. I even had some that knew about Linux. Due to this fact, I would always be second best. I wouldn’t have the chance to learn as much. If they asked what I was working on it would eventually lead to just giving me the answer. As long as there were others that used these operating systems, I would always be second best in my mind.
With the Mac I had free rein to explore until I saw fit. I could come up with my own weird ways to do things without anyone telling me to do it differently. I developed my own opinions on software and created new habits.
Getting a Mac opened me up to exploring other technology. It was the gateway drug to my tech addiction. I got addicted to trying out different technologies and trying to learn as much as possible. I believe that my foray into the Mac world made me more comfortable learning new things.
I by no means hate Windows, contrary to what some of my friends think. I use Windows daily both at school and at work. Since getting a Mac, I have learned more about Windows. The Mac OS has taught me a ton about operating systems in general and I have taken that knowledge over to the Windows side.
My main point is that I didn’t start using a Mac for the debatable claims that people make (like lack of viruses, it just works, etc.) I started using a Mac to quench my geeky thirst for technology. I continue to use a Mac because this is where I have built my computing world. I have my own software setup that makes my life easier day in and day out. I have set up things to work best for my way of thinking and I continue to learn new things as I explore new problems. Sure my software may have capable counterparts on the Windows side, but why switch. I don’t believe that all Windows users should switch to a Mac for this very reason. Stick with what you know and what you like. I like using my Mac and I see the benefits of Windows as well.
Hopefully others can see that although I am a Mac fanboy 90% of the time, I still maintain a strong grasp on reality. My beginnings with the Mac weren’t the same typical arguments you hear again and again. Mine was much deeper and connected with a part of my life that defines me.
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