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journal: mac
Who says that people aren’t switching to the Mac?
They hear that Macs are easier to use but that's all they do, hear it
I’ve just been to PC World to have a look at the new iMacs in person as I’m looking to get one. Walk in and see two 17” iMacs sitting next to each other. A quick check of the about boxes finds that one is a G5 and one is a Core Duo and both look identical, as several people have said. I had to show it to the guy we were talking to because he didn’t think they had them in. I’m definitely getting one after playing with Front Row and Photobooth and other goodies (btw, Comic Life does rock as much as people say it does).
Anyway, enough about me and more about my story. I went over to a 20” iMac to have a look at the hugeness of it and then two people went over to the iMac I’d been looking at and someone from PC World talking to them about it. Then my dad starts talking to them when the PC World guy can’t answer a question and then I walk over. And so we spend about 20 minutes showing them the Mac and explaining all the benefits. They were buying the computer mostly for the woman that we were talking to and she’d obviously been talking to people who owned Macs. One of the first things she said was “So what are the benefits of this over one of these other computers, because all people say when I ask are that they are easier to use”. Ten minutes later she was of course agreeing with how much easier they are to use.
But there are loads of people out there in the same situation. They hear that Macs are easier to use but that’s all they do, hear it. They need to see and experience how much easier to use they are. And I think that I heard one of the most convincing arguments for the Mac over a PC from the woman I was talking to. While she was only wanting a computer for Office she said that if she got a PC then that would be all she used, Office. But if she got a Mac she’d have so much fun playing with iLife and all the other goodies included. Despite what we think about people just wanting a box to use Word on, they might want a box to use Word on but also play with home movies and photos and music and THAT is why the Mac is a winner.
And on a closing note, that was my first successful switcher 
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thinkback
I just showed them how to do basic stuff. Add applications to the dock, use dashboard, change the desktop picture, make a simple song in GarageBand etc. For someone who has never used a computer before, show them how easy it is to do stuff like surf the web, send an email etc. Tell them all you need to do to get connected to the internet etc. One example I used for how much easier Macs are is a wireless network, granted someone with no knowledge of computers may not be bothered about that, but it is far easier to set up wireless networking on Mac than using Windows
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| Feb. 18, 2006 | |
| 11:59 am |
From my experience there are two types of user:
Those curious individuals who click on every button and search through the menus to see what the software/computer can do.
(and use the help documents.)
And those people who have difficulty finding word docments they were working on and have never heard of copying and pasting. They type everything out twice and delete whole sentences to corrrect a mis-spelling.
They stay within word the whole time and if the accidentally click on the desktop, bringing the Finder to the foreground, they become totally lost and panic.
They also have no comprehension of what an “operating system” is.
They don’t feel that hey should have to learn anything about the computer or the software - it should just work (like a microwave.)
(and don’t use the help documents - because that’s hidden away in a menu called “Help”.)
Kindo OT: Me and my dad were at Fry’s today, and I just wanted to look at photobooth. So I play around a little, and I enable the X-Ray filter. I said something about how it stinks because I can’t see my bones, and he said that the teeth look pretty close. The weird thing though, is that his two front top teeth are fake, and in the X-Ray filter, they turn out completely dark, incontrast to both the rest of his teeth and mine. Weird. 
| Feb. 19, 2006 | |
| Liam | 10:27 pm |
Why do they call it a box? The new iMac looks nothing like one...it’s like a thick sign on a stand. Pretty thick. A shiny sign. The term box obviously references hardware like the PowerMac G5’s ancestors that were boxier and all. The Mac mini is a literal and figurative box. Perhaps we need a second term for the iMac design. Mac is good so far.
| Feb. 20, 2006 | |
| moreApple | 2:39 pm |
Because it’s a generic term for a computer, like calling it just a car instead of an automobile or a Honda Civic.
| Feb. 20, 2006 | |
| Arden | 5:21 pm |
People will switch when they become convinced.
Like when people switch car brands because they got bad services from the last one.
PS. I convinced so many people from buying iPods, it was quite satisfying.
Depends what you want from your MP3 player. If you want loads and load of features then you go for something like a Creative MP3 player. If you want less features but a higher quality and level of ease of use then you go for the iPod.
Most makers other than Apple seem to follow the Jack of all trades, master of none idea. If you put as many features in your product then people will buy it. Unfortunately times are changing and people are now willing to spend that little bit more to get the extra quality.
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| Feb. 22, 2006 | |
| 4:19 am |
That may be true, but once you bring up the issues of having to have a software to co-ordinate the music and a dedicated computer, most people people get put off by that. Also, the iPod isn’t all that easy to use.
It does have that cool factor, but once overlooked then any other mp3 players would be sufficient and they are far better AUDIO players than the iPods.
PS. I convinced so many people from buying iPods, it was quite satisfying.
You’re just anti-Apple, aren’t you? I’d say so, judging on how you crap on them every change you have, whether Apple deserves it or not. 
| Nick | Feb. 22, 2006 | |
| 11:57 pm |
I’m as anti-Apple as much as this site is pro-Apple.
I just give my humble advice, but bottom line is people get what suits them and a lot of them don’t know where to begin.
That may be true, but once you bring up the issues of having to have a software to co-ordinate the music and a dedicated computer, most people people get put off by that. Also, the iPod isn’t all that easy to use.
1. The software is free and isn’t exactly hard to use
2. Saying you need a dedicated computer is as bad as Napster claiming it costs $10000 to fill an iPod
3. How would you make the iPod easier to use then?
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| Feb. 23, 2006 | |
| 7:26 am |
That may be true, but once you bring up the issues of having to have a software to co-ordinate the music
Be careful, that’s where Vista is going.
We use to hear the Windows fans talk about how they like to just use Explorer to handle their music and photos and they would complain that Apple had dedicated software that would do all of that (I never understood that argument).
Now Vista comes with a photo application, DVD application, movie application, calendar application, music library application.
The Media Library in Windows Media Player 11 has been redesigned to make it easier to navigate and use your music collection. You’ll minimize the time you spend managing your music and maximize the time you spend enjoying it.
OT - I wonder when Windows will have any font management features at all. Sure, when OS X doesn’t have photo management features built into the Finder, it’s a bad thing. When Windows has no font management built into Explorer, it’s no big deal.
| Feb. 23, 2006 | ||
| 1:50 pm |
Having an OS with features to allow filing of files easier than ever before is a welcome concept.
However, having to install a complicated software in order to use a simple media player is not on.
I should be able to access my mp3 player on any computer, and any computer should be able to read my media player without the need of a software. What if I don’t have the internet handy? What if my PDA was my only computer?
These multimedia management features need not have to cost consumers money and time to use, by now they are fairly standard options on most OS out there, as they should (and as Microsoft had intended in the first place).
Anyway, the PMPs are here, kicked off by Samsung, Creative and the PSP, I think the days of the HD based mp3 players are almost over (and thank god I didn’t have to buy one!).
I should be able to access my mp3 player on any computer, and any computer should be able to read my media player without the need of a software.
Nah, who cares about Linux? 
| Feb. 23, 2006 | ||
| 11:17 pm |
I should be able to access my mp3 player on any computer
That nixes the Creative Zen series.
| Feb. 23, 2006 | ||
| 11:26 pm |
Informer, how many people do you honestly know that have a PDA but don’t have a PC?
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| Feb. 24, 2006 | |
| 7:28 am |
I have met a few expats using PDAs for everything they need, plus a great number of Japanese whose lives depends on them. In other words, you don’t have to carry around a computer or even own one to get by. 60 years ago, people didn’t need computers or PDAs.
My Sharp Zaurus is easily a computer of its own despite its PDA label.
I say I should be able to access my iPod on windows machines, but no! they don’t read mac formatted disks do they.
Also, A big hi to Pilky, Kryten is back 
Pilky, you REALLY should get one of them, I got a 20” G5 model and it is awesome.
| Mar. 03, 2006 | |
| 7:58 am |
I say I should be able to access my iPod on windows machines, but no! they don’t read mac formatted disks do they.
Um, the fault of the Mac formatted disks I’m afraid.
Um, the fault of the Mac formatted disks I’m afraid.
No……
Windows doesn’t read Mac formatted disks, Macs read Windows formatted disks.
Apple has put in support for windows, Microsoft hasn’t put in support for Mac.
I can format disks as Mac OS Standard, Extended(NJ/J/CS NJ/CS J), UNIX File System and MS-DOS File System.
What can XP do?
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| Mar. 07, 2006 | |
| 8:42 am |
If your “mac formatted disk” cannot be read by another computer that reads DOS, FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS then I’m afraid you’re delegated to a very small segment of computers that can.
In fact, it is the Mac that can’t read Windows CDs, Roxio hahah!!
But Windows have always been able to read Atari, Amiga and Apple formatted CDs. A simple search got me 15 Windows software that reads and manages files on Mac CDs. But seriously, its not like this is important is it? Emulators are there for a reason when we need to cross-platform (some platform more than others like Apple with their VPC), but thankfully most computers are reading off the same files from the internet.
What can XP do, hahaha, a lot more than a Mac that’s for sure.
But seriously, its not like this is important is it?
You were criticizing the iPod for not being compatible with every platform. Now you are saying it’s not a big deal.
I’m getting tired of how you flip-flop your positions based how it reflects on the PSP (scratches) or Windows (compatibility with formats).
| Mar. 09, 2006 | ||
| 2:56 pm |
You get tired because you don’t listen, read or follow properly.
Its not a big deal that the computers out there do not support Macs out of the box. Most of the clients that I work with who uses Macs, all converted their stuff for PCs anyway. I don’t bother getting emulators because I don’t think it is that important for me to have one for a Mac. And, for a lot of these clients, many have switched to using PCs because they’re faster and are no where near as expensive as computers need to be to accomplish their objectives. Photoshop, 3D, desktop publishing, can all be done on a PC and faster. Why install Mac emulators if you have PCs doing the job now?
And, did you know that the chipset in the iPod can play WMA, but Apple choose not to enable it? *dumbstruck*
Oh, how much does it really cost to fill up an iPod using the iTumes online services? Say a 30GB iPod?
OK, I read your post and I didn’t see anything that related to the point that was made.
We weren’t discussing Mac emulators. I don’t even know if there is one. What we were discussing is being able to mount Mac-formatted drives on a Windows PC. Apple gives Macs the ability to mount PC-formatted drives but Microsoft doesn’t give Windows the ability to mount Mac-formatted drives.
Before, you criticized the iPod for not being able to mount on every platform out there natively. You have now flip-flopped and you are saying that you don’t care that a Mac-formatted device doesn’t mount on a Windows PC natively.
informer, do you even own a Mac?
| Mar. 10, 2006 | ||
| 9:39 am |
1.
I just wondered what did you show them to convince them Mac’s were easier to use. I’m asking because somtimes the level of people who ask me that have NEVER used a computer and at that level it’s all uphill. Windows or Mac can seem an impossible to learn complicated system. For that level of person what would you suggest ?
--jim