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February 24, 2006

Further Thoughts from the Coffeehouse

(or..."The Bright Lights of the PowerBooks Are Beckoning Again")

As I have said before, I am not a usual coffee drinker. Yet, I am sitting in my favorite coffeehouse in downtown Springfield, The Mudhouse. I'm not drinking a latte, an espresso (which I have recently discovered I have been horribly misspelling), or even a regular coffee drink. I, instead, am drinking an incredible fruit-juicer called "Strawberry Bomb." I must say, it lives up to its name. It's made with Green Tea (so that means it's healthy, right?), and so my wife would love it.

And once again, I am being swept off my feet by a dream that has been growing in my brain and heart for the last three years: the dream of owning an Apple computer.

I've read story after story of people who decide they just don't "do" PC's anymore and they've decided to make the "switch." They became convinced that Apple was now the way to go, and they did it. They went out and immediately bought their new dream: The Mac. What's interesting is that the Mac-fanatic phase that many of these stories tell of seem to be a lot like getting tattoos. One simply isn't enough. They begin with the PowerBook. Usually the 15". The 12" is just too small, they say. Then, they find themselves in the next few weeks getting the next-best thing: an iBook. Then, of course, they decide they need a desktop. So, they go out - immediately - and buy an iMac. And get the best! Get the 20" screen! The 17" is just too small. Too small, they say.

Several of these "switch" stories are sitting in this coffeehouse right now.

They appear to simply be working. Working on business and corresponding with those they are close to or work with.

But what they are really doing is eating up all the attention they are getting from mere low-society PC-users like me. It's like they can sense our longing and desire for the beautiful titanium-alloy laptop with the beautiful blue lights shining from miles away. They notice our constant attention moving from our "boring-looking" XP software (not that there's anything wrong with XP) to their ultra-sophisticated-and-modern OS X beautiful software. And they grin. Grin because they like it that way.

At least that's my opinion.

I wish I were like these people. I wish I could just "make the switch" and decide to get an Apple. No more PC's for me! No sir! From here on out, it's the Mac for me. And then just go and get it! Yeah!

But, wait a minute. I DID make the decision. I decided three years ago that I was DONE with PC's and I was getting a Mac. I made the mental switch! And yet, here I am, still typing away on a Dell Inspiron (which is not a bad computer at all - but it's not making the "switching" thing happen for me). Three years later, I still have my crappy Compaq that has had more viruses than a mosquito in a fish market in India. I have used three laptops for business purposes (2 Dells and an IBM Thinkpad). And the "switch" has never been "turned off" in my mind. I have long given up on PC's and made the move toward Mac-thinking! I have changed the face of my interface to make it look like a Mac (Windowblinds, Objectdock, etc.) and yet, I'm still a Windows-user. (For Microsoft enthusiasts, Windows Vista - the upcoming Windows software update - looks very nice as well.)

(ObjectDock gives me at least a dock like OS X.)

So, why couldn't I be like the other "switchers" who made the move? What kept me from just getting rid of my ol' PC and getting my Mac?

Oh, right! Now, I remember! It's the $2,000 price tag - which for someone who doesn't operate on credit like me is a near-impossibility!

But, then, there's something good about dreaming. Something nice about not having what you want. Our wants don't kill us. The thought that "someday, we might just get it!"

And then, there's eBay!

21:55 Posted in Apple-coveting | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this

Comments

Hmm... I'm not sure we Mac usera are as cool as you seem to think we are. But I guess I should take the admiration where I can get it. Of course, I'm not sure my brokedown iBook from 2000 (that doesn't have a functional battery so I can't unplug it) really counts as "cool," but I can probably sell it to you cheap if it's the Apple that you want! Of course then I have to find the money for a new one... gotta getta Apple! (But I've never had anything else... go figure)

Posted by: Zarah | February 24, 2006

Then there is me.........your "keep your feet on the ground" wife that hits you over the head and says, "WAKE UP, there are diapers to buy, a house to save up for, college tuition to provide for, and more children to pay for, but I do promise that before 2006 is over, you will have your Apple!" Here's to loving you! :)

Posted by: Kristin | February 24, 2006

Oh my, Bryan. This seems very familiar too. When I bought my Compaq laptop some years ago, I was thinking of buying an iBook instead, but i chickened out. None of my friends had Mac, so I was afraid. But now, MAN, I wish I'd bought the Mac.

And then there's also the Kristin-aspect to it: my wife just laughs when I mention the Mac. :D
Thank God for wives who keep their feet on the ground, right? Right!

Posted by: Mathias | February 27, 2006

Do you by chance still have my BabyWise books? Also, why is apartment hunting so dang difficult? I mean, can't someone just have the perfect apartment at the perfect price available at the perfect time? Ugh. PS - Mont Clair Parc is ridiculously expensive (especially if you want ground floor), in case you didn't already know that from living there.

Posted by: Laura | February 28, 2006

Why go for the computer when there is all that wonderful theater equipment to buy!! :)

Posted by: Kellie | February 28, 2006