When perusing blogs, I came across the article, “8 Reasons Windows Users Don’t Switch.” (care of SteelBuddha).

I thought I’d open the conversation to a less “Mac-oriented” world, if only to avoid the rabid bite-back.  I think Steven Leigh’s article has hit the nail on the head in just about every point.  (well…I would contend that Vista and I are not on speaking terms, but I digress…)  It is true that there are generalities made about those who use Windows (Window of Opportunity referrring to corporate people and big-whigs - those of us only interested in money and power) and those who use Apple (hipsters and artists, the cool people who make beautiful things, or hippies and trend fanatics.)

I’d like to respond to the points myself and perhaps add a couple others that may not have been considered.

I’ll start out with a discussion about my background with Macs.  I have had computers in my house since I was six years old (24 years) and it wasn’t until last year that I had an Apple.  However, at grade school we only had PET computers or the glorious Apple IIe - with the first MOUSE I had ever seen.  There was ONE in the entire rural school.  By the time I went to high school, they had PCs. I’ve had various PCs most of my life, usually on the low end.  My first husband had an old old old Apple II of some sort that was only suitable for playing Mah Jong and typing up term papers, which he still did on my PC. 

Last year, I obtained a three year old iMac laptop with OS X (no idea what animal) that had primarily been used as a speech pathology tool.  Within a few months, I was avoiding the thing as much as I could until we purchased a new computer.  We want to give it to a new owner, but that would require getting it to boot up again so we can erase our old files.

So I’ve been no Mac fan - but PCs have many problems too.

1.    Ignorance

It’s true - I lack knowledge about how Macs work and this is a huge hindrance for me.  While the author indicates that the GUI and task usability is intuitive, I find myself frustrated by Macs.  I find myself not knowing where to find some of the most basic things.  Whether this is due to years of familiarity with PCs or some disconnect in my brain, it still makes me leary about giving Apple a spin.

2.   The Office

This is a huge reason for me.  Every office I’ve ever worked in uses PCs and Windows exclusively, and I often bring work home.  These days I bring the work laptop home, but just the idea of having to switch platforms mentally is not appealing to me.

3.    Hardware

This wasn’t something I’d considered because I have enough ignorance about Apple to not know whether EVERYTHING they sell is customizable.  From reading this article, I note that it is NOT, and this too is a huge detractor.  What if I want to change the motherboard?  What if I want to add hardware?  A company that makes it hard to make my computer MINE would seem to me to be trying to squeeze extra dough out of the users.  It feels like leasing a car - I’m not allowed to fully use it, change it, or really make it MINE.

4.    Price

I know little about the price of Macs, but I can tell you something about the price of iPods.  Holy Moley!  We’ll get more into the price vs. the usability of that little piece of metal shortly.

5.     Lies

Steven brings up one of the top reasons why I’ve never gotten a Mac - none of the games on the shelves work with Macs.  Almost everything I’ve ever wanted to play has played on PC only…or if there was an Apple version, it was more expensive or hard to get. 

I’ve also had tons of my friends who do use Macs indicate that Macs are better, are superior, are more efficient, less buggy, etc etc.  My personal experience with Macs has not been any of these things.  In fact, I’ve always felt that Apple has pumped up its products to an unreal expectation.  They don’t appear to be easier to use, less expensive, better made, or all that better thought out.  I’ve always wondered, “What’s the big deal?”

 And let’s discuss the iPod.  I spent a LOT of money on the iPod for many reasons.  Nothing seems to equal hubris more than to say that you’ve created a device that works on both Apple and PC.  Then watch how clunky the connection to the PC works.  Nothing says, “Screw you” more than your iTunes library becoming corrupted 8 times in the span of one year.  At best, my iPod and my computer have a thin truce until one decides to vomit on the other.  I’ve also had to reset my iPod at least 6 times, had to reinstall iTunes three times.  At one point, just having the iPod plugged in would keep my computer from booting up.

No joke.  It is has been mainly my experience with the iPod that has kept me from really giving Apple a full out try.  I tried somewhat with my iMac laptop, but it died too.

Oh - and I’d like some background on that “Apples don’t get viruses” malarky.  The laptop went all wonky after it was subjected to some serious virus ridden docs.  Simple logic indicates that the viruses might have made a difference there.

6.   Windows Bashing

This ties in a lot with the previous, but I’ll add on that one of the reasons I know so little about Macs is because when I do hear about them, it is only in reference to how much Windows sucks.  The very fact that Apple portays PC users as “The Man” offends me.  I’m not Corporate America.  I’m quasi-average Jo.  I’m also an artist to some degree.   So, purporting that I’m on the “Dark Side” of the Force does not win me over.

7.   Vista

Vista has the capability to be super powerful.  But it is also super buggy, and the experience of moving to Vista (which was FORCED on many of us) makes me feel that changing to Apple would be similar.  Suddenly, certain hardware and tools didn’t work anymore.  Games and programs all had to go because Vista didn’t support them.  I cannot explain the level of annoyance this caused for my household.  So the very idea of going through an even BIGGER upheaval with a switch to Apple is anathema.

8.    Mac Users

This one is a large component - but I have to say the Apple user doesn’t fall far from the Apple Company.  Apple’s elitist attitude has positioned it as the snooty know-it-all that the regular person can’t get behind.  The same issues I have with our current administration (Bush & Co) is the problem I have with Apple - hubris and arrogance.  And I’ve read enough classical literature to know that those with hubris and arrogance always fall. 

Additional Reasons:

Comfort:  It’s comfortable to be using a PC.  It’s what I’ve been doing for years.  I know Apple frames that statement as part of the “old way” whereas Apple exemplifies the new generation.  But this isn’t Computers vs. Typewriters here.  It’s Pepsi vs. Coke.  Two similar products that accomplish the same goals in slightly different ways.  The pluses of changing to a Mac are simply not good enough to make me want to even consider changing.

Compatibility: Steven Leigh mentions in item #2 that MS Office compatibility is there.  Yet when I read reviews I read that compatibility between Apple and PC in MS Office is a joke.  All the things that highly efficient Office users want to do are not easy, or sometimes even possible.

This has been long, but I’d like to know what your feelings are.  What do you prefer to use and why?  If you’re a rabid Apple fan, feel free to explain (succinctly and courteously) why you feel Mac is the way to go.  Does the trendiness play a part?  Do you really feel it is easier to use? 

PC lovers - speak out as well.  I’d love to know of people out there who have both Apple and PC experience and ultimately chose PC.  Why?

And just for kicks, if you ever owned a TI-99, please give a shout-out here.  I’d love to commiserate with those who have experienced the Wumpus.