Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Features, Holidays
Five ways you can make life easier for new Mac users
As we close out 2007, there are thousands of new Mac users just beginning to explore the wonderful world found on those shiny computers that were tucked under the tree/menorah/nonsectarian gift deployment venue. If there's one thing we'd recommend that experienced Mac hands could do to make the adjustment easier... well, there isn't just one thing, there's five. Got other suggestions for onboarding the switcher nouveau? Drop them in the comments.1. Don't buy Apple RAM. This should be stenciled on every Mac box, printed on UPS driver caps, and possibly placed on street stickers outside the Apple Stores (I kid! Don't sue me). I recently priced a 512 MB upgrade for a vintage G4 iBook, and while I would have liked the convenience of the Apple Store for quick pickup, I could not possibly justify the 300+% markup over crucial.com's or OWC's price for the exact same part ($150 vs. $38). I doubt that an educated-customer avoidance of Apple memory, either BTO or upgrades, will make much difference to pricing policies, but this situation is so insanely out of whack that something has got to give.
Update: Several readers have pointed out that you should hold onto your factory RAM in case you need to troubleshoot problems down the road, a good suggestion -- Apple support or Genius Bar techs will often ask you to return your machine to as-shipped condition. If you want to cross-check that you're getting the same manufacturer as Apple uses, you can always compare RAM prices and part specs in a jiffy at dealram.com. Reader JC did a quick survey of manufacturer markups on RAM and suggests that Apple's pricing may not be so far out of line when compared to other high-end computer vendors like Sony; still, I stand by my statement that buying Apple RAM is too expensive.
2. Make a shareware gift basket. You've got the massive downloads folder and the experience with your favorite Mac programs; why not leverage that? Burn a CD full of your top shareware apps, or register a couple of them in your buddy's name. Nothing says "I care" like software.
3. Give the gift of bookmarks. Your experience as a Mac veteran has populated your browser bookmarks with a zillion helpful sites; export them and send them on over! If you need a starter list: macfixit, macintouch, macworld, dealmac, macosxhints, versiontracker, iusethis, and of course our humble little blog.
4. Provide a personal support gift certificate. An email that says "call me anytime" might give too much license for midnight pleas for help -- maybe a stylized one-sheet saying "This certificate good for three hours of handholding, gentle instruction, wireless troubleshooting & general Mac advice" will set the ground rules.
5. Deliver the Kool-Aid. One of the hardest transitions for recovering Windows users to make when adjusting to the Macintosh Way is the attitude: expecting things to "just work" instead of having to tweak registry settings and swap out DLLs, being willing to cooperate with your computer instead of fighting it all the way. Sit with your buddy and watch them work for a bit; if you notice points of friction, try to lubricate. Remind them they can still right-click, allow them to plug in a printer and not go searching for drivers. See the light in their eyes return.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leonard Nimrod said 7:57PM on 12-31-2007
6) Show them the ropes.
— It can be frustrating for switchers who keep trying to do things the "Windows way." Give them some tutorials in understanding that OS X will probably have you go through less steps to accomplish the same tasks as Windows.
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geochick said 8:17PM on 12-31-2007
Awesome post Michael...
Thanks...
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Ed said 8:28PM on 12-31-2007
What about MacUpdate? I much prefer it over versiontracker.
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Karen said 8:57PM on 12-31-2007
A 300% markup? If only it was so low...
Here in the UK, Apple charges GBP 539.99 to take the iMac from 1Gb out to 4Gb. Buying 4Gb from Crucial would cost GBP 98.69. I make that around a 450% markup (and you get 1Gb of spare memory going the Crucial route).
I guess that Apple must take a lot of care in putting the memory in to justify the mark-up.
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JC Helary said 3:40AM on 1-01-2008
Here is what I found when checking what other makers actually charge for RAM upgrades.
http://mac4translators.blogspot.com/2008/01/ram-cost-on-apple-machines.html
Eric Warnke said 9:01PM on 12-31-2007
What I told my brother was...
"If something is difficult you are probably dong it the wrong way, call me and I'll show you how to do it the Apple way."
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D said 9:15PM on 12-31-2007
Apple RAM does have one distinct advantage: if your Mac ever has to go in for service, you won't get any hassle over the RAM. If you're shelling out for an iMac and AppleCare, you might as well just hand over the extra $150 to get 2GB of RAM and skip any hassle. I do agree the cost to upgrade these machines to 4GB is ridiculous, but in any case if you do use third party RAM, keep the original Apple RAM around and swap it if your Mac needs to take a trip back to Apple for service.
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robogobo said 9:23PM on 12-31-2007
what, you're nuts.
maybesew said 10:00PM on 12-31-2007
Don't be so hard on him. Apple RAM comes with Apple Warranty. It costs a lot more but for some people its worth it for the convenience. Apple retail stores and applecare mail-in repairs will not replace or do anything with 3rd party ram other than take it out and tell you it was causing the problem.
Ben said 1:53AM on 1-01-2008
However, you can buy Apple Original RAM for much less from third-party sources, such as Other World Computing, and still get full support from Apple.
Pete Zich said 12:12PM on 1-01-2008
I bumped my imac up to three for $75, I think that's a better deal no matter what.
mentalsticks said 9:21PM on 12-31-2007
Re. 5, about expecting things to 'just work': I remember when a friend gave me my first Mac (a 6 year old iMac G3 running Panther) and I tried to install Opera on it - i took me an hour, as I couldn't believe that all I had to do was drag it to the harddisk. I clicked it, ctrl-clicked it, re-downloaded it cause I thought something was wrong with it...
When I finally figured it out, I got hooked in no time. I believe I went out and bought my MacBook about two weeks later.
Never looked back.
Well, hardly ever.
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ben said 9:46PM on 12-31-2007
You don't have to buy the RAM from Apple, but I think you should always get Samsung RAM. Its the RAM that Apple recommends and it can be found for cheap on dealram.com and other sites. I agree with D's post above. Cheapo RAM will not be supported by Apple at any of their stores. Its easier to just have Samsung RAM.
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jaceh said 10:43PM on 12-31-2007
It certainly is amazing how much apple marks up their RAM.
In my experience however, the apple RAM has been the only RAM that has not failed. While Crucial is significantly cheeper and their customer support is excellent, I've had to replace their RAM no fewer than 5 times on just 3 PowerMac G5's. On my other two G5's, I installed RAM from the Apple store and have never had a problem.
Maybe its placebo or just good luck, but it is at least anecdotal evidence of something!
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Drupa said 10:53PM on 12-31-2007
Don't buy Apple RAM"??? That's the first way to get flamed on the Apple support forums. The self important squatters there will vilify you for not buying the high priced stuff offered through Apple. RAM is often scapegoated when it appears that the OS is the issue. I have always been skeptical that Apple hardware is so sensitive to RAM choices.
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ZeroCorpse said 1:49AM on 1-01-2008
I generally get RAM from Other World Computing, but keep the original Apple RAM around. If I ever need to send the computer in for repairs, the Apple RAM is going back in. The last thing I need is for AppleCare to refuse a repair because they blame the RAM for the problem.
And they will. I love Apple, but -any- warranty provider will try to find a way to avoid having to pay for a repair if they can. Don't give them an excuse by sending in a computer with third-party hardware in it.
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Matt said 2:32AM on 1-01-2008
I overheard a Mac Specialist at my local Apple Store tell a customer to buy RAM from OWC and said that is what he does also.
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Olga said 4:37AM on 1-01-2008
Apple Stores only stock the ram for units they are currently selling. You can't get ibook ram there now.
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Ed said 6:04AM on 1-01-2008
To clarify, they do have ram for the iBook G4, just not the G3. Still, you're paying 300 bucks for a Gig.
Cesar AKA Kori said 5:38PM on 1-01-2008
Excellent Michael, thnx for the post. Swtich from windows and ive been using mac for a weer or so.... Great Advice.
BTW, Scanner drivers well just as fine lol (my experience)
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