Filed under: Hardware, OS, Switchers
Tales of a Failed Switcher
It's always sad to see us lose one, but it does happen.
Dwight Silverman of the NYT attempted to make the switch from Windows to Mac via a Mac mini, but it didn't stick. Silverman concludes his article by saying, "I found I really missed using Windows. I missed the layout, the look-and-feel, the ability to tweak and futz with impunity, the endless supply of freeware and shareware. While the Mac was pretty, simple and easy to use, I constantly felt like I was having to battle constraints to use it. . . . As a result, I only lasted 10 days with the mini. I wasn't displeased with it. But it just didn't feel like home."
I'd like to see him try it again. Maybe for a full month this time, and see if he still has these issues. Several parts of the article had me saying "WHAT?!" aloud, because they just don't make sense to me. I mean "the ability to tweak and futz with impunity"?! IMPUNITY! On a PC? No way.
[via MacFixIt]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Blair Robinson said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
This article read like on big argument from tradition. His only critiques are "It's diffrent", and then he seems to equate diffrent with bad, instead of just being diffrent. I only recently switched to a mac, and though there definately is an "adjusting curve" once you get used to using expose, and software like quicksilver, it's reall just a more enjoyable experience then windows. Also his comment about freeware and shareware seemed way off, they're maybe 200 diffrent mp3 players on windows, the amount of unique software on mac is greater (quicksilver, growl, delicious library, adium, etc etc)
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KRaSiVy said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I agree with Blair - and was going to make similar comments as well...
Almost every friend I have are using PCs... and when I mention the fact that the Mac is a viable alternative to all those security holes and viruses, the first response would be "aren't they really hard to use?!" And when I start giving them tips and hints, it becomes clear to me that I'm wasting my time.
The predisposition of "Macs are hard to use" is still very clear in a lot of people's minds. And it's the thought of having to "re-learn" how to use something that makes people back off from changing/migrating. Sad but true - especially in the case of technology.
Maybe I'm just not doing a good-enough job in selling the Mac idea to people. They think Apple makes good-looking computers - but that's where it all stops for many people!
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dave said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
Good riddance to bad rubbish. If users are "too scared" to make the switch cuz "they didn't feel at home" after a couple of days then super.. more toys for the rest of us. It doesn't sound like this reject of humanity could actually grasp the contexts and dynamics of what he had his hands on.. so out the doors with 'em.
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PXLated said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I've converted several people. Actually they converted themselves. I loan them a Powerbook with the provision that they use it for 30 days. Everyone that has, is now a Mac user.
You just can't get there in 10 days if you are a long time Windows user. And you definitely won't get into all the nifty third-party stuff in that time.
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Adolph Trudeau said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
Silverman is a columnist for the Houston Chronicle. I hate to harsh on my former hometown paper, but I don't think he makes any sense:
"But to find most of the programs on the Mac, you must find the Application folder on the Mac's hard drive. Once you use a program, it ends up on a menu on the Finder, the equivalent to the Windows desktop."
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amb34 said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I switched back in March. Actually, I think I am bi now (I'm not even sure what kind of comment this just turned into.)
What I mean to say is that I use a PC at work (IBM Thinkpad T40-which I love-very light, very powerful, and of course, very free.) and I tinker on the Mini at home. I also use a HP laptop (okay, I guess I'm a swinger too.)
There are some problems playing both sides. Naturally none of my proprietary work software works on the Mac. There are some PC needs I have to have (no our IT guy won't even discuss letting me use a mac on our network-a macophobe, I guess).
But I do love the mini, and I had to have Tiger the day it came out. I vow never to buy another PC (I know, I'm spoiled getting a free laptop from work, great VPN support and always able to do anything with it.)
But for my wife and I, it is mac only now. Just a few months with a mini and I lust for a G5 powerbook (whenever they figure out how to cool the thing).
I did buy Office for the mac-I need pure portibility between the mac and pc.
I understand the freeware problem. I have a great image viewer on the PC, Irfan viewer, which does not work on OS X.
I still can't figure out how to copy a music CD (I always get bogged down in Disk Utilities-what the hell is that?). How about simple right click on the CD, with an option to make a copy? Would this be too hard for Apple to make a switcher never have to figure out Disk Utilities?
The big problem is that for a long time mac user, things are second nature. When you switch, nothing is in the right place (dirty thoughts in my mind right now.) Afer fighting with windows for twelve years, I'm fairly comfortable.
A mac is easy to use, but there is a learning curve. I am not switching back, but I am not giving up my pc either.
G5 powerbook. G5 powerbook.
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Peter Koritschan said 1:40PM on 7-19-2005
I agree with that he should have tried it longer. I am a switcher since about 5 weeks, and the first 2 weeks were tough, especially until I had migrated all my contacts and mails, which without Outlook2Mac would have been SO difficult (maybe Apple should make this transition easier).
But then I started finding small freeware and cheap software programs that helped me customize my iMac and increase my productivity, and I am still collecting more programs, but I must say there is a GREAT amount of BEAUTIFUL (design-wise) and USEFUL freeware on the mac, something which was tough to find in the Windows-world, as beautiful design was rare for freebies, and the usefulness was tough. Under OS X I especially love that programs I dont want I can delete with a simple drag to the Trash, whereas under Windows there are Uninstall programs (which often don't work or leave traces forever).
Now I am getting more and more used to OS X, and will never go back to Wintel (except for maybe a Media Center solution down the road, until CenterStage for OS X is out, or of course for the office, where I have to use what the company wants me to use).
So dear Dwight Silverman of the NYT, give it a try for longer... if it wasn't for the iMacs price and for the fact that my WinXP laptop had a broken screen, I might have given up after the first week too, but let me tell you, once you get used to it and find all the good sites (to which TUAW often links :) the world of OS X becomes very beautiful.
Pete, the new addict...
P.S. anyone know how to customize the icons for the Movies, Pictures, Music etc folders and for the Mac HD? Any cool sources for icons? (Thanks!)
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samkim said 6:16AM on 12-06-2005
-_- there is soooo much freeware and shareware for the mac. the dude isn't completely wrong, of course there is a learning curb but i still think he's a boob. If 15 year olds and 75 year olds can switch (i've sold them macs) then anyone can switch easily. a few tips and you're off, never to return to PC land. XP is ugly by the way. i don't think it's a bad OS, i just hate their blues and greens, too saturated.
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Jonathan Schroeder said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I am a recent switch as well, and although i never plan to go back, i have to agree with him on one point... there are restraints to the amount of free material on the mac... case in point: i tried to get oregon trail working on my mac last night and the only free Apple II emulators are for windows. the ones for mac are poorly made, and very difficult to use.
thats a ridiculous example of the lack of freeware for Mac as compared to PC. Its something ive accepted.
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Peter Koritschan said 1:40PM on 7-19-2005
In response to KRaSiVy's comment:
I heard the people use the arguments about Macs being hard to learn. So what I did (last week alone I got 3 people to Switch):
- show them some of the iLife apps (iDVD for example, iTunes with Airport express, magically beaming music to the living room speakers)
- show the Delicious Library (I LOVE the barcode scanning, easy checkout to friends, and the gorgeous graphics)
- show them a cool Mac app like COMIC LIFE, with all its ease of use and cool sound effects (the love for details shown by many Mac developers).
And your friends will be running to the next apple store!
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Brett said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I agree, 10 days is too short of a time, especially when you are switching cold turkey. OS X follows much different processes. I work in both platforms (and probably still spend more time in Windows) and it took a good month to get a handle of just how things jive with my iBook.
In response to #1...for what it's worth: the amount of unique software on mac is greater (quicksilver, growl, delicious library, adium, etc etc)
AppRocket - http://www.candylabs.com/approcket (I just use the Windows "Run" command, myself) Collectorz DB Software - http://www.collectorz.com
Trillian - http://www.ceruleanstudios.com
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Brian said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I deall with lots and lots of switchers. I run a business helping people try Macs out for the first time. I always give them the same advice. "The operating system will be different, but after two weeks you will be using it as easily as you do Windows."
I've never had a client try it for two weeks and still desire to move back to Windows.
On a side note, the "Mac Club" has an uncanny ability to self-govern and self-filter those who belong and those who don't. Anyone else notice this?
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Malfoy Roark said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
Switching isn't for everyone. Around Xmas I dropped $3400 on a 17" PB 1.5 ghz, 1 gig ram, 80 gb 5400 rmp drive, iSight, applecare, the works. I used it for a month and just felt like I wasn't getting my moneys worth. So I ended up selling it on ebay for $3200. I don't have anything really negative to say about it(some things weren't fast as I'd like but ah well) but at the time I just don't think it was right for me. I think part of the issue might be that I use multi machines and so the PB wasn't my sole machine. In a year or so I'll give macs a try again, this time itll be a Dual G5(I go big :) )and make it my sole machine. Maybe I'll have better results. So to end this, I'll repeat, I have nothing bad to say about my 1 month PB experience, I just have to accept that the Mac isn't the end all for everyone.
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armedmemory said 5:45PM on 8-28-2005
The author clearly didn't try several of the things that make the Mac greatincluding using the Dockand simply discounted RSS readers even though there are more than a dozen on Versiontracker. As for look and feel, this could be said by anyone writing an article about a different OS, try making a Sun guy use Windows, or a UNIX guy use Linux and they will all have these complaints. I'd really like to see an indepth article about someone who switched-back, not this grab-bag of generalities.
Peter,
Changing icons is very easy, go to http://interfacelift.com/icons-mac/ for lots of cool icons and instructions on how to use them.
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narco said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I was close to converting a friend of mine to a Mac. She said she wanted something that didn't have spyware/viruses, easy to use, didn't break down all the time and wasn't ugly looking. I thought the Mac would be perfect for her -- she was even willing to pay extra for such a machine.
Then her sister, coworkers and friends got to her. They all said the same thing: "You're not a graphic designer, you don't need a Mac." Basically saying that if all she planned on doing is talking via-AIM, email, internet and basic word processing, then a Mac is just TOO POWERFUL for her.
I hate all these misconceptions. It's almost like racism in the tech world. But when it all comes down to it, I'm not the one actually using the PC, so I'll continuing enjoying my Mac.
Fishes,
narco.
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KRaSiVy said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
Peter Koritschan: thanks for those tips! Keep forgetting about 'em features that really make the Mac look (and work) cool! :)
Narco: can't agree with you more! I get people thinking the same way as well... these misconceptions can really corrupt the innocent mind!
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Steve M said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I switched (back) in February with a Mac Mini. Being a Linux/Unix developer, and having used a Mac before (prior to 1997 all I used was Macs,) the transition wasn't very hard at all. I like OSX a lot (wrote a critique of it over here: http://www.wrecklass.net/mini_review.html ) and the little Mac Mini allows me to do all of my work related development just fine.
However, it is true that the amount of software available on the Mac is weak compared to Windows. I am specifically talking about commercial software. I am also an avid computer gamer, and the number of games available on the Mac is a big let down for me. I will continue to use a Windows Pc for many things, including gaming. However, for most productivity related stuff, the Mac is great.
BTW, I have to say that the comment "learning curb" made me laugh out loud. I suspect a few people think they have hit a curb when they first try the Mac, but typo (it should be "learning curve" of course) was very humerous.
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madtracer said 10:49AM on 6-27-2005
and speaking of humorous typos... it's humorous, not humerous. ; )
and the lack of availability of games or other software for the Mac is not the Mac's fault. it's simply a matter of marketshare. more people use PCs, therefore there's more software created for it. However, most software that's created by hobbyists, for example (like freeware/shareware), is far more thoughtfully designed than alot of the schlock made for PCs. someone above said it well, that Mac software developers are often very detail-oriented. so while their maybe 1000 shareware apps for PC, only a couple will be truly great, while on the Mac there may be fewer apps, but there will be a higher percentage of good options. just some food for thought.
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David said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
I switched before Apple invented "switching" and I recall a good long week of frustration based on my attempts to do things the Windows way. Naturally that often failed miserably - making me miserable.
After a while I caught on to "the Mac way" and my experience improved but I still wasn't exactly happy. This period lasted about a month or so. Then one day I realized I'd set up a printer and scanner with no problem at all and that for over a week my computer hadn't crashed. At that point I got it and within a week I'd sold all my PC gear.
This guy didn't even get beyond the first stage. He wasn't a switcher - he was a toe dabber. And his toe hardly got wet.
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Chad W. Taylor said 4:18PM on 6-16-2005
HOMEWORK for the unswitchers: Go to CompUSA and COUNT how many display computers are showing some kind of windows error message.
First and foremost, I work on a Windows-based computer forty hours a week. I am a software engineer developing stand-alone and web-based applications. I know the nitty-gritty of regedits, DLLs and how softwares are deployed and installed into each computers. Thanks to Microsoft, I make a decent living.
I know how ugly and messy the Windows can be. I don't mind that as long as I get paid for dealing with that.
As soon as the day's over, I am eager to leave the Windows-infected world and do my personal stuff on my Mac. I have been a Mac user since OS 9. I love Expose, Dashboard, Smart Folders, Spotlight, iChat multi-video chat.... hell, everything!
As a Developer, I love Xcode and the flexibility of various language it offers to us. EXPOSE is a huge time saver as I switch between windows. There's one thing though, I hope Apple will come up with a powerful web-based development tool like .NET.
10 days to try a Mac. I'm glad he's long gone. He doesn't deserve to be on a Mac. Go enjoy Longhorn... well... if it ever comes out. And yes, mingle with those Geek Sqaud nerds who makes a decent living on the mishaps of Windows.
Anybody try the Dictionary short-cut (CMD-CTRL+D over any word) yet?
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