Apples, Impulses, Stupidity and Change

Long story short - I borrowed an Apple computer on Sunday. For about two hours. And then I promptly returned it.

Why? Well because I thought I wanted one. I did want one. Then I realized (2 hours later) that I was an idiot, and that I did not want one.

Why? Because the computer itself is very pricey compared to it's PC counterpart. And the incremental cost is somewhat staggering. The web software that makes owning a mac cool and makes working with pictures easy and fun, well that's $99 a year. The cost to move your data from your PC to your MAC (a cumbersome if not impossible task for a lay person)? Well that's $200, but if you sign up for the classes ($99) it's free.

To use the handy dandy backup tool? Well you have to buy an external hard drive that's larger (the kicker) than your compter harddrive ($300+) and then sign up for the annual software ($79).

I was told all of this at the store, but my logic was surely I can make do without the expensive tools. As with my PC, typically there's a web software (Picasa for pictures, google for websites, EMC software for backups) that you can get for free or nearly free.

At home, I discovered that everything I knew about a computer was wrong. And that every piece of software I had ever used would be worthless. I couldn't move the files from my computer myself, because everything I owned that I plugged into the PC and then the MAC would be wiped out as soon as it touched either computer. iPods can only be used with one or the other, and the iphone software that syncs everything for you to your MAC? $79 a year.

I'm sure if I had spent more time with it, I could have found solutions to all of these issues. I'm sure there is a website somewhere or software somewhere that you can download for free or cheaper than Apple's ridiculous charges.

But when you make emotional purchases, you (I) tend to have emotional reactions. My emotional reaction was "Get this computer as far away from me as possible."

I learned on Sunday that I'm not as smart as I think I am. That I'm not as adaptable as I had hoped. At least as far as computers go. I'm somewhat of a PC superuser. I blame my IT husband. This is not to say I know everything, but compared to average users, I'm pretty adept.

And I learned I'm pretty opposed to changing my PC ways. I don't want to give up my right click, even if it means never having to worry about viruses again. And I don't want to go back to not knowing how to fix things. With a mac I'd be calling support every time it froze, because I'd have no idea how to safely restart.

I wasn't ready for that.

If there is any mac user out there that reads this: I know it changed your life. I know it's better. I know it's ... cooler.

But it just wasn't for me. I thought that it could be. But it just isn't. I was stupid to think that I was willing to change. Because clearly, I'm not.

I think if it were more economical. I think if it had cost less, I would have spent more time with it. But it was a lot of bones we were talking about, and for that amount of money I just couldn't stomach it.

I debated even writing this here. My husband thought that I should warn the public. He says I fell victim to Apple's marketing machine and their wonderful hype. I think I did, in part. I mostly think I fell victim to my own ego. I thought it would be easy, and when it wasn't, I didn't want to play anymore.

I'm not necessarily proud of that - and if it didn't cost what it cost I would have worked with it. But I had buyers remorse almost as soon as the receipt was in my hand. Added to that the aggrivation of not being able to do what I wanted with the machine when I got home (without subscribing for $99) and I just had to get rid of it. $XX and it didn't do what I wanted? For that amount of money it should be able to blog itself!

I'm embarrassed and angry at myself for this whole episode. But I'll get over it. To all those that have made the switch and are happier for it ... I salute you. But I think I'm a PC user for life.