The Mac Question

Q: Are you into Macintosh computers?
T. Mcgorray
A: I have received inquiries recently questioning what appears to some as an XP bias. The truth be told, I am the quintessential technophile. I am interested in most technology related items from computers, to software, to gadgets, to scientific theories. The reason that many of my articles appear to have a Windows XP slant to them is because many of the readers that write in have questions about computers with Windows XP as an operating system.
To answer your question directly, the answer would be yes. I wrote an article a year or so ago trying to encourage people to overcome their fear or indifference towards Macs. I have owned Macs in the past and found them pound for pound to be better computers than their IBM compatible counterparts. PC’s has not matched the power and speed that is unleashed from having two computer processors. This includes those using the much hyped hyperthread technology, which is supposed to imitate the experience of having two real computer processors.
The things that have plagued Macs in the larger consumer market have traditionally been its price and degree of public familiarity. With a price tag for a G5 system with the nice flat screen monitor, costing more than the a years instate tuition at the U of A, it limits how many people will do more than just play with it at CompUSA. There is hope on the price front though. Mac has release a scaled down, near barebone, single processor Mini Mac this month. At about $500 is comparable in price with most PCs today, but it has the luxury of still being a Mac.
I have found that many non-Apple users have heard of Mac, but they do not have much experience using them. This is the result of the proliferation of PCs in workplaces. I feel that some people are creatures of habit, and they are reluctant to embrace change and diversity. Public familiarity with the Apple brand is growing though. This is due in part to the popularity of a few of their products. Many younger computer users are familiar with Macs through its ibook and powerbook laptops, hands down among the best on the market. Younger and older users alike are becoming familiar with Mac products via the iPod. I believe that the Mini Mac will help to reintroduce Apple to many computer users.
I believe that Macs are the thoroughbreds of computers. When you buy one you know that you are getting quality and performance. The only way to truly appreciate such a machine is to maximize it’s potential whenever possible. Likewise, relegating a Mac to the mundane tasks of daily computing is like asking a Kentucky Derby winner to pull an apple cart. I think that as we as a society become stronger computer users, we will see a shift from the PC’s, as we know them to PC’s that resemble Macs or even Macs themselves.