Vista changed my view (not that it matters much to Bill Gates)
Hi, I’m a PC.
If you were casting for the new spate of “Get a Mac” ads from Apple touting their newest line of Intel-based computers, I would have been the perfect candidate for the role of Windows PC played so expertly by John Hodgman. I’ve used Microsoft’s operating system pretty much my whole computing life; I’ve even argued its superiority over other systems. Not that I actually think it’s superior, mind you: I’m well aware of all the buggery, drawbacks and potholes inherent in Windows, but I know they exist and I know how to work around those. It’s a functional dysfunctional relationship.
At least it was until this week. I finally made the move and bought myself a new iMac from Apple, and the tipping point was Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, Vista. Released a few weeks ago, this new operating system promises to be a big improvement over past versions of Windows, with better security, an easier-to-use interface, and more features for managing digital entertainment. Phooey, I say. I’m convinced that Vista will be just as buggy, just as bloated, and even more expensive in the long run than Windows XP ever was. And hence the switch. I have gone over to the other side.
Not that it will mean anything to Bill Gates and Microsoft. Commanding about 95% of the operating system market, the company and its founder stand to reap huge returns as home users and businesses are forced to upgrade to this new system. PC makers such as Hewlett-Packard also stand to gain from users who decide to just replace their older PCs rather than deal with the hassle of upgrading the OS. So my decision not to invest in more Windows ware will have negligible impact on the Wintel universe, but it has already made a huge improvement in my relationship with computers.
So now, as funny and entertaining as they are, you can stop showing me all those Apple ads, Steve Jobs.
Bye, I’m a Mac.











