Julie's Web Journal

Every once in a while I think it would be nice to have a Mac. Then I read posts like these from Dave Winer Raoul Pop (among many others) about their Mac woes. It does make me think twice.

Other considerations include:

• The expense involved in switching platforms. With the exception of laptops, I haven't purchased a new PC in nearly 20 years. I've always performed a hardware upgrade - keeping some components and ditching other. Granted, that option isn't for everyone, but it's helped me keep costs manageable. Then there's the software expense.
• Do I want to constantly switch between two desktop computers to get my work done? (Actually, the Mac has software that will allow me to run Windows. I'd have to keep the old system running until I was absolutely certain that the Mac would do everything I need.)
• What if I want to upgrade? This seems very problematic on the Mac end. The solution seems to be to replace the computer. That gets expensive - especially when I can just swap out a motherboard and processor for a couple hundred bucks on my PC.
• What about repairs? The two posts linked above - along with numerous other reports I've seen - don't always speak well of the tech experience at the Apple Store. That consideration aside, my computer is my main tool for work. If the laptop is down, I've got the desktop, and vice-versa. If the power supply goes out on my desktop, I can pick one up at Fry's and be back in business in a couple of hours. Heck, we can even swap the drive on a laptop computer. (And yes, I've seen plenty of people do that on their Mac laptops as well. Good for you!) If the motherboard goes out, I can swap it out. 

Yes, I know: Not everyone is a geek like me and even PC users can be without a computer for several days to a week getting a repair. And yeah, I've seen plenty of horror stories about the repair departments at Best Buy, CompUSA, and other stores. I suspect the Apple stories stick out like the proverbial sore thumb because of Apple's reputation for quality products and service.

But you know what? I've been running my Vista box since March with few problems. I've had to jump through hoops to get my scanner to work, but that's been the worst of my problems. (It's an older scanner, but it's professional quality. The manufacturer has since released drivers.) I don't suffer with lockups or BSOD messages. My biggest gipe with Vista is UAC. I'm hoping for vast improvements in that area with SP1.

For me, the big hurdle to switching platforms is the cost. However, I also like the fact that I can tinker with my computer. If I want a better DVD burner I don't have to leave it at a repair depot to get the job done. If I need to open the case to blow the dust out I know I can do it without voiding a warranty. (That applies to any platform, BTW.)

I also like the Mac OS. Steve Jobs, if you're listening, you could make a bundle by allowing your OS to be installed on PCs. Yes, I know that opens a huge can of worms in terms of support and hardware compatibility. Microsoft (and hardware vendors) have pretty much managed this. How about you? Maybe that's not where you want Apple to go, and I can respect that. But I do think that the high cost of Apple products is a barrier for a lot of people.

So for now I'll stick with what I have.

Tags: Technology