Steven Joniak – the Blog

As anyone who knows me will already know, the last April 1st post was indeed an April Fool’s joke (or at least attempt at one). Apple and I go together like peanut butter and chocolate and what a tasty combination that is! mmmm, resse’s pieces…

Just to clarify, my last post was sarcastic as I have had a much better overall computing experience since the early ’90s using Macs. I’ve spent a number of years using PC’s for work and found them to by MUCH more problematic, virus ridden, graphic-less and overally frustrating to use on a day to day basis. Overall, the Mac OS has been far more produtive, problem free and pleasurable to use day to day then any Windows or Linux version I’ve tried to use. The fact that its really only my PC friends who ask for help or advice to ‘fix’ their computers, where as my Mac friends only ask, how do I create this or that IS a testament to the stability and different computing nature of the two platforms. 

Neither Mac or PC is perfect by any means, but the Mac is far more an elegant, refined and productive OS with just as aesthetically pleasing hardware to boot. Truth be told, if I was to match up the features and hardware of a PC from Sony, Dell, HP or any the other main brands I’d be paying as much or even more then a comparable professional Mac, which for me being a creative professional is absolutely perfect. Add to that there are so many other little details in both hardware and software you just don’t find on the PC side. PLUS, I can STILL run a full version of Windows XP Pro INSIDE my Mac OS X, running both OS’s at once, for the occasional testing of websites for clients – and it all, just works.

Since 1995, I’ve only ever run into 1 hardware failure (old Mac died), 2 viruses (harmless ones in ‘98 that simply kept restarting the Mac) and only ever lost files because of my own ‘tinkering’ with Unix commands (d’oh!) and with each version of Mac OS X am finding having very bad crashes only happen, at most 1-2 times A YEAR. The rest of the time I can just keep working away happily without much hassle at all.

And that is why I will always love my Macs.

For a long time I have been a devout Mac fan – always defending, always buying the newest and best when it comes out and thinking that I was ahead of the curve. But recently I’ve been feeling less a Mac zealot and more a Mac idiot.

But no more paying Steve Jobs – its time to start paying this Steve right here! To think of the countless hours I wasted watching keynotes and reading up Mac sites on every rumour, detail and new feature only to come to realize that it was all a show – a smoke screen – but I nolonger have the wool pulled over my eyes. So now I’m going to begin decrying a new mantra – Turn your back to the Mac.

Once I finish up these projects I’m going to sell every Mac related item I know and fully embrace the other side – the PC – and I can say my eyes are nolonger wide shut. I mean if everyone else is using them, why can’t I join in on the fun? Besides, if I want real fun I can just use my PlayStation 3 now anyways, so its a win-win! Sure I’ll have to contend with a less appealing interface, bloated software, driver issues and constant virus checks BUT I’ll be saving money and all that time I spent reading and watching all that Apple ‘cult-like’ media.

If it feels a bit chilly around here, its probably because hell hath frozen over since I’ve decided to make the switch as its THE LAST thing anyone would  have thought I could do. The new theme will help reflect my change to the darker, more worn side of the tracks where I give up the forbidden fruit for the Windows into a new soul.

Besides, I always did like the ‘PC’ better in the Apple commercial.