in loving memory of my toshiba satellite, 2004-2009
[Mac voice]: Hi, I’m a Mac. All your friends have me. I’m shiny and pretty and easy to use, and made for people who like to think of themselves as arty, as you clearly do, Ms. Thrift Store Sweater. I’m also perfect for people who really hate when things break or become completely obsolete after four and a half years, and let’s face it: You’re technologically very lazy. I’ll look so cute sitting next to AK’s little black Mac—-you should get the white version of me so we can be all ebony-and-ivory. Oh, by the way, I cost a bazillion dollars. [PC voice]: Hi, I’m a PC. An Acer Aspire, specifically—-don’t you like how my name implies that you’re already hoping for something better? Kind of like the Ford Aspire, and we know how well things turned out with Ford! Your dad found me on the sale shelf at Best Buy and assures you that I’m “as good as an eMachine.” If you go with me, you will feel worthy of your dad’s love and generosity. You might as well just stab that MacBook through his heart, not that he would ever say so. And admit it, all you ever do is type and blog and cruise Facebook, which I think I can handle-—I just won’t do it with the culty flourish of Mac Attack over there. But hey, if you want to pray to Xenu, be my guest.
[Confused, slightly pathetic Cheryl voice]: Suggestions, anyone?
Comments
"technologically very lazy" = me, which = just as confused and slightly pathetic as you.
There, there. You're surrounded by experts on the other end of this sad extreme that defines us, both online and in real life, I'll bet!
I think MAC is ridiculously expensive, and the only thing I thought was different was the operating system, which, now that I use and love Vista, is not even an issue.
Try the Acer.
C.C.: Yeah, how is the TV these days? Maybe we should bring it flowers and a mylar balloon.
TL: You're one of the first people I've talked to who's had actual experience with an Acer (or, well, actual-adjacent experience). Good to know!
I kind of want to see a Mac/PC flame war in my comments section. Thanks, y'all, for your initial fighting words!
There. I said it. Call me what you will!
You actually need less expertise to run a Mac--we're all so used to having to navigate Windows that Macs can seem confusing at first because everything is simpler.
And, of course, everything I'm saying is subjective. But Macs are definitely more beginner-friendly, in my experience.
I'm a PC fan. More bang for the buck. More free software. Less expensive components. Easier to replace components. Less pretentious in general. Way less pretentious at the cafe. How many of those cafe writers have already published two books, anyway?
I like some of my Mac friends, though. (Like CC, say)
I've had an iMac for over 4 years with very little trouble. It started spitting CDs out near the end of my 3 yr extended warranty, but it couldn't have been simpler to drop off and get fixed. He also gave it a new power supply and motherboard while he was at it since those were watch items for my model. If you live close to an Apple store, you could forgo the extended warranty and just take it in to the genius bar if you had any trouble with it. If parts were needed, then there'd be a fee.
I'm looking to get another iMac this year, but I'm waiting for it to be upgraded and for the new operating system to be released (hopefully in the next few months).
If you're deadset on a laptop, PC is probably the way to go for the price.
Christine: I do like me some bang for my buck. If I wanted to go full cafe-pretentious, I'd need to be working a screenplay (while on the Westside) or maybe a manifesto (on the Eastside).
Claire: Seven years! That's how long a computer should last. (I can't help thinking that way--I grew up with a toaster and vacuum cleaner that we inherited from my grandmother.)
1) It never crashes (PC does) that's good news.
2) It is a lot faster than PC.
3) It provides full 64 bits. PC provides more complicates bits than the Mac.
I wish you the best of luck on making your final decision.
Henry and I are a house divided - he with his PC and me with my Mac. He knows how to get good deals on techy stuff, in case you want to go with PC and want to be price sensible.
I have a Mac and I like it. I don't miss the blue-screen-of-death that accompanied my PC. The shortcuts on Mac are less intuitive than on a PC but perhaps you don't use shortcuts and that's not an issue. Another cool thing about Mac: apple care.