First of all, I don’t call myself a Mac guy or a PC guy. The term “PC” will always mean “personal computer” to me, and that itself is nomenclature for a general-purpose, consumer-grade computer that an “average” person will have at home. It doesn’t mean Windows as everyone is using it, but that’s due to historical reasons that you wouldn’t expect an average user to know.
The war between Microsoft and Apple is very amusing, and I think Apple is really coming out as the “winner” because of how aggressive their marketing campaign has been. Apple has been so much more up-front and simple in their delivery, while Microsoft tries to create a giant magical grandeur like they have something to hide. Microsoft’s responses to Apple have been lackluster, boring commercials that feel like they are trying too hard to defend their image. Recently, I’ve actually found Microsoft’s commercials to be decent to watch, because they seem like they are _finally_ listening to the criticisms Apple isn’t afraid to throw at them. I think their “computer hunter” commercials are very effective, because they showcase real people trying to find a computer similar to how any other consumer might do it. The shortcoming of this latest campaign though is that it doesn’t really show what the capabilities of their operating system is. All I see really is that people are comparing hardware specifications, saying that Macs are too expensive, and that basically they choose Windows because they don’t have a clue or don’t want to learn how to use Macs. It’s understandable, since there are historical reasons why Microsoft Windows was much more popular. The large market share is also a reason why so many viruses and trojans target Windows as well. Mac OS has fared well because of this, and that’s why they get to make fun of Microsoft Windows in their commercials.
I personally don’t care if I’m using a Mac OS system or a Windows system. I think Mac OS has a very nice and simple elegance to it, and the included software is very nice. I like the Explorer presentation in Windows much more than I like the Apple Finder. It feels more transparent and easier to control. Plus, I’d rather game on a Windows machine than Mac OS (no way in hell am I going to try virtualized gaming). With my current attitude towards PC gaming these days, I’d rather just buy an XBox360 and call it a day (though I really like the Steam platform a lot now). If I could have it my way, I would take all the bits and pieces I liked and smash it all into one operating system. However, I don’t have the time or capacity to do so, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. Other people don’t seem to want to make that sacrifice because they want to feel in control which means staying with the familiar. Why waste time with something they don’t want to understand if it doesn’t bring them instant gratification?
Windows XP is plain fine for me, but eventually it will be obsolete despite it being somewhat dated already. If I had to move on to another system, I’d probably go to either Ubuntu or Mac OS. I’m comfortable enough with either of them, and all I really do on computers these days (besides programming) is check my e-mail and browse the Internet. I’ve yet to jump on this wireless/netbook/mobile device craze that is going on. It’s not a matter of me becoming a Luddite, but it’s that I have no need to do it. I grew up fascinated by electronics and gadgets and whatnot, but now I’m discovering life is much more than what lies on a computer screen.
