October 19, 2003
Convert
The first computer I owned was a Kaypro II with a C/PM OS. On my way home from the store with it, IBM released DOS, and by the time I got it out of the box, it was obsolete. I lived with that because at $1600, (1982 dollars, yet) what else ya gonna do? I don't remember it ever crashing - there was nothing comparible to a blue screen of death, and I became used to the command line as SOP.
My next machine ran Windows 3.1, and I became a GUI baby. From then until this summer, every new machine I got had some version of MS Windows. After I began using *nix in IT classes, it became apparent that not all OSes were equally unstable, pourous, and cantanckerous. My interest in the alternatives grew.
In July, with Cecelia needing the Win2K desktop for online classes, me wanting to get online myself at the same time, and both of us deciding life is too short for dial-up, we took the jump to broadband and a wireless home network. I needed a laptop that would fit well into the preceeding parameters and, after investigating, weighing, and wondering, I sucked it up and came to a decision. Instead of continuing to bitch and complain about Microsoft and Windows and viruses while willfully continuing to put more money into Bill Gates' pocket, it was time to take a stand.
I took the plunge and bought an Apple Powerbook. I chose it not because of the logo, but because of OS X. I won't go back. I never thought much about Apples except that they were the "other" pc that a very small band of fanatics thought were great, but people who needed a "real" computer chose Wintel. Wow. Was I wrong. I may sound like one of the Apple convert ads, but I guess that's because... I am!
And three months into ownership of my Apple, I still haven't had it crash or lockup or puke whatever project I'm working on. Unix stability, Quartz graphics, command line when I want it and that awesome Apple GUI when I don't - I love my Powerbook.