November 14, 2006
new mac arrived
My brand new 13″ MacBook laptop arrived today.
So this makes it about 10 years since I last used an Apple properly. It’s certainly a lovely piece of hardware [Euan Semple recently told me, “Even opening the cardboard box is a religious experience”], however so far I’m not crazy about, or at least, not used to the Operating System.
Yes, I felt much the same way about my old Mac, a decade ago. Something about their “hipster cute” software has always rubbed my cynical and misanthropic self the wrong way.
Yes, I’ll still be using my M1400 Tablet PC, especially for the cartoons and graphics.
I’ll let you know how I get on with my new cuddly toy…
[Bonus Link:] From my archives– “Why I prefer Windows to Macintosh”:
10. When I was in high school, people who were overly into hipster brands were routinely taken behind the bike sheds and savagely pummeled. That is the natural order of things.
This post inspired one commenter’s ire:
As for your final point … you should be bloody ashamed of yourself for that one Hugh. How many other non-mainstream kids got “pummeled” behind that bike shed? Maybe a few gay kids? A couple of racial minorities perhaps? Natural order my ass.
Two years on, I still remember that comment well. One of my favorites.
Hugh, I was exactly in your situation 2 months ago..When I picked up my MacPowerBook. I started out on Mac in 1993 but gave it up. After having been sneaking at my friends Mac’s for a year I finally made my mind up. Now I have one feet in both worlds working in parallell with both. Takes time to get used to the OS X UI — but once you do — it feels great.
you are now a true geek…welcome to the club!
Curious. I see you chose the white Macbook. What was the reasoning behind that?
It’ll take maybe two weeks and then you’ll never want to go back.
Weren’t you instantly crazy about the Tablet PC when you got it. Is life moving that fast that you fell out of love with it so quickly (cartoons and graphics aside)?
And ouch! I don’t click over from Bloglines often, so the red hit me hard.
Anyway, looking forward to reports on the Mac use.
I work with both Macs and PCs for four years. While I love the design of the Macs (all all Appley things), the experience is ultimately an empty one. Like going out with a beautiful man and finding that he is dull and uneducated.
I’m planning to make the switch from Windows in a couple of months. Admittedly, I don’t mind windows at all, but I do mind all the Apple zealots (to quote Anil Dash) who can’t imagine why anyone would want to use a PC. I want the experience of knowing both — the world is too big to know only one OS.
D’accord, Lee. That was behind a lot of my reasoning, too.…
Something about their “hipster cute” software has always rubbed my cynical and misanthropic self the wrong way.
It’s just UNIX. With a really nifty windowing system.
Which is to say that underneath the hipster cute software is a cynical and misanthropic operating system that you can either embrace or ignore.
I don’t want this to be a bum-out, but Hugh, someone should warn you to get some protection. Anywhere you touch the MacBook it will disintegrate. Literally.
Marware makes a good padding for your wrists, and while it’s new, it’s better to get a rubber cover for your keyboard before they start to yellow.
Oh, and while I am overall ok with having bought a MacBook, you’re going to want to get the extended warranty. I’m about to send mine in for a third time due to a hardware issue.
You’re going to love it. Wait until you start cranking out those video clips.
Why not install BootCamp/Windows and see how many times you end up using Windows? You’ll notice that you end up using the Mac more.
Hugh,
I agree with you — while the Mac OS operating system is cool, it definately takes some getting used to for us PC people. I imagine Vista will give Mac’s a run for their money once it is officially released.
“Which is to say that underneath the hipster cute software is a cynical and misanthropic operating system…”
Heh. Brian, I like them better already!
what happened to your site layout? subjective opinion– the red doesnt appeal to me at all…
You’ll get used to it.
Welcome in the geek’s world…
Aah ‘da Mac!
First… Take some time and have fun with it! Play with PhotoBooth, it’s a hoot. Also, I recommend David Pogue’s Tiger Edition (OS 10.4, August 2006 or later printing) from the Missing Manual Series. You will learn way more way faster and it is a fantastic reference source!
Now a totally personal perspective…
A material component of my work is creative concept generation (ideas and how to make ‘em work i.e., make ‘em pay large!) and one output (results!) amongst many includes increased economic performance (more dough in the pocket, easier, faster, better!).
Macs contribute to fostering my creativity because they are fun, and equally, they don’t get in the way of my creativity!
And… when it comes to my increased economic performance based on personal experience all I can say is “Oh Yeah! Awesome!”!
Rock on Hugh!
I’ve used both mac and pc.….extensively for design and layout. They both are great — sometimes. They both suck — sometimes.
It dates me, but I occasionally yearn for rapideograph pens, amberlith, the smell of rubber cement and markers.….ah the gritty world that it now gone.
With computers, I feel if the monitor is crisp, sharp and clear, I can work with any OS or software put before me.……
Hugh,
I love the site. I have been admirer for a while, but never commented. This one drew my attention. I recently acquired the very same Macbook. I could not be happier. Once I took a little time to learn the OS, I found that it is much better system.
Once you go Mac, you’ll never go back.
Thanks again for such a great site, and keep up the good work!
Heh. Brian, I like them better already!
UNIX does an amazing amount of ‘stuff’ extremely well. However most of that stuff is of no interest to people except that it allows you to get down to work. You probably know this.
Apple’s genius here was to redo the bits that the users DO care about (the bright shiny lights if you will) while leaving the machinery underneath more-or-less alone.
Be sure to count how many times you say to yourself “hey, that’s neat!” as you discover its many unassuming layers of naturalised productivity.
I like Mac OS X because it offers a pleasant, usable GUI with great standard applications and the power of UNIX still there underneath with a command-line just one click away (I keep Terminal in my dock). That said, there are plenty of things about both Mac OS X and Apple hardware that I do not like – e.g., the horrible “Zoom” button, the fact that the “home” and “end” keys tend to do either nothing or not what you expect, and the horrible mice (even Apple’s latest, the Mighty Mouse, of which I have two, is oversensitive) – but my gripes with Mac OS X seem to be fewer than my gripes with Windows, so I currently use it as my primary OS.
I do also use Windows for applications that Mac OS X cannot run (e.g., my voice recorder’s software, which uses Sony’s DVF file format, and games), I mostly like Windows Vista from what I have seen so far (driver issues aside), I try GNU/Linux with GNOME and KDE now and then, and I have Web sites running on GNU/Linux Web servers constantly, so I am certainly not a Mac zealot. It is merely one of the many tools – or toolsets, you might say – available to me. It seems like a pretty good tool for most of my needs, but not for all of them and if I find a better tool for my needs, I will use it instead of or as well as Mac OS X; there is no sense in using the wrong tool or being confined to one toolset if two of them better meet your needs.
I think I’m going to hurl…
that looks really sexy. congratulations~! i think i should update myself with technology too.
Randy said: “Curious. I see you chose the white Macbook. What was the reasoning behind that?”
)
I’d have to guess at Hugh’s motivation.. but maybe because the black MacBook is basically the same (slightly bigger HD, if I recall) machine as the white one but with an extra $200 sticker shock? It’s a great pricing strategy by Apple to eke out more cash from people who want to buy a MacBook but want to look superior for almost no added benefit. (I think it’s a great idea though
One vote for red.
And another for pummeling accusers.
Feel free to start with me.
OMG! hugh got a mac! of all things, my mac is not what i would rather cuddle up to even if its battery does keep my lap warm. notebooks are a bit like men… you think of the advantages of one, when you are with another. same with macs and pcs.
Congrats on the Mac purchase Hugh!
Macs are ghastly and clumsy for handling tree structure filing systems because the applications default to the applications’s last used folder, rather than to the user’s last folder. Makes for endless faffing and lots of lost documents. Also, the choice of software is so limited. Most PDAs and telephones are designed to synch with Outlook, and functionality is greatly reduced with iSynch.
Macs are great for kids who just want to play iTunes and look at picture. They suck if you want to run specialist software, if you enjoy tinkering and modifying computers, or you wish to do any productive work.
Hugh,
Wondering how you’re getting on with the new Mac.
I’ve been using Macs for years and if you’ve any questions about getting started on it I’d be happy to help.
The right software for what you want to do with it is critical.
I strongly recommend you try out the Quicksilver application, it can change how you use the whole Mac interface.
I’m not a massive Mac fanboy, but I do like the way they make their products — and I occassionally use Windows too.
Hugh: Once you go Mac you never go back.
André Hedetoft
Geek Movie Director
Join my Fan Club so that I get to make my next geek movie over at http://www.andrehedetoft.com