Switcher Profile: Apple's 'halo effect' claims former editor of Windows Magazine

I really don't care what peope use in their home. You know why? I don't want to fix their PC's. I do not want to support Macs in the workplace. As apps in the enterprise become web based and not require a thick client it might become irravelant what OS your web browser is running on to do work. But until then... Your going to have windows as your desktop OS. Personally that's all this computer science grad cares about.

Your home is your castle. Put whatever you want in it. Don't expect me to applause you or scorn you. My house will have what I want in it. iPads (slates) and iPods/iPhones are in mine now. I write this from an iPad. But I'm not going to learn OS whatever animal they call it. I don't need it and don't have problems with windows 7.

I can vouch for this halo as well. After years of being a WIndows geek, even to the point of building almost all of my PCs myself, I felt like i was empowered by the skills of knowing how to fix any Windows problem. However once I got past the realization that computers should work for us and not the other way around, I started getting annoyed at Windows. However i didn't switch over just yet. I was still flying the Windows flag and would refuse to even consider a Mac. But then a friend showed me his iPhone (the 1st gen iPhone, it was jailbroken as well), and it was love at first use. I immediately recognized the potential of it and forked out crazy money for an unlocked jailbroken iPhone (it still wasn't on sale in my country at the time). And once the 3GS was released officially, I bought that one as well. I started to forget my supposed hatred for Apple and started looking into Macs, with my Sony Vaio laptop with WIndows Vista giving me the ***** at the time, I took the leap and bought an iMac. And guess what, an iPhone4 and iPad later, I am certain that I'll never buy a Windows PC again. My two year old handles the iPad like he was born with the knowledge (actually i'm exaggerating, he picked up his iOS skills on our iPhones). Ofcourse OSX isn't perfect, and ofcourse Windows has a lot to offer, but there is no doubt which platform is looking towards the future.

In response to Mike M. - first off I totally agree that competition is good and for that reason I have never wished that Microsoft and its Windows OS would just go away. I've been using computers for over 30 years; both Apple PC's and Windows based PC's. In the early days most of my exposure and use was in the work place so when I decided to get my first PC for home it was a no brainer then as it would be now - Apple. Over the years I have been proved right time and time again. I remember the argument about Apple costing too much - but then as time went bye others had to replace their Windows PC's much more frequently then I had to with my Mac. I never went to school to learn computer science, programming, etc. but then again I never had to with the Mac. Over the years I have been probably 99% successful in troubleshooting/correcting/repairing my Apple computers - not so with Windows based PC's; Microsoft would blame the problem on the hardware and the hardware companies would blame Microsoft - I know of many Windows based PC's that had to be scrapped because the problem couldn't be solved. I have so many experiences over the years that have proven to this individual that the best computer experience as always been with Apple. In my broad circle of family, friends and co-workers I have never known of one person who switched from Apple to Microsoft but I do know numerous people who have switched from Microsoft to Apple and NEVER regretted doing so. After I was discharged from the military I came home and purchased my first new car - no import, American made. That car turned out to be less then desirable... well after 4 more "American cars", each worse then the other, I finally went with an import. That car served me well, so did the next import and the next and the next... to this day I will not buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler product. I was a working stiff with a growing family and didn't have the money to throw away on poorly made cars. I have the same feeling about computers - I don't mind spending good money on a better product - over time it costs me less. Back in the day one big argument for Windows based PC's was the availability of games and that Apple had no games. As an adult I really wasn't interested in games I was looking for more and more is what I could do on an Apple. Is Apple perfect? No! Are foreign cars perfect? No! Since I hate wasting my money I'll always go for the better product. But then again I guess I'm old school.

It won't be long before we read the headline "There and Back Again by a Windows User". The change is gradual but it is coming. You can walk into most Verizon or AT&T stores, ask for an iPhone and the kid behind the counter asks you "Why would you want an iPhone, have you tried an Android?" Most of my younger friends are all using Android Phones now and my iPod Touch is starting to feel like a novelty again; like it did when I bought one 8 years ago. I love my iPod Touch, I think Macbook Airs look really cool, OSX is neat, but I am starting to get the feeling that the winds of change are coming soon. I thought for sure my first smartphone was going to be an iPhone 4 but again I waited and unless iPhone 5 is stellar I may be going to Android or WP7. Windows does not suck and it's those kind of comments that remind me how hostile and stubborn the Apple community can be. I have been a windows user for over 20 years and I have no regrets. For everyday tasks, Windows 7 works great for me. Would I like OSX? Yes I think I would. I am just tired of Apple fans talking down to windows users. I have OSX it enough over the last 20 years to know that it is a solid operating system. But why pay all the money to switch over (new computer, new software) when I am perfectly happy? There is no reason. Options are good and so is competition. OSX needs Windows and vice versa. They are both excellent operating systems because they have grown up together.

I try to keep an open mind, telling myself that Windows 7 is every bit as good an OS as OSX.

"It's just my preference to use OSX"

I have been using both platforms side by side for years. Lately however, my Windows use has dwindled down to a virtualized Win 7 and XP with different versions of IE for web development purposes. This past week, I talked a friend into forgoing the Hackintosh installation that I did for him a year and a half ago, in an attempt to lessen his dependency on me for support. I bought him a copy of Windows 7, and spent the last 4 days switching everything over for him.

My conclusion? I was wrong. Windows sucks!