So when the Mac vs. PC commercials first aired ages ago, I fell in love with Justin Long. I mean who wouldn’t want to be geeky cool. But I am a die-hard PC fan, and to be honest, far more resemble Jon Hodgeman’s character. Stodgy comes to mind. But I am surrounded by uber cool friends who try (sometimes without success) too keep me at least nominally on the path to cooldom.
I have a friend from Texas who has an amazing sense of style. She can put together the oddest combinations of clothing and look like a million dollars. I on the other hand would look like a bag lady (no offense to bag ladies everywhere). Bottom line, it’s not easy to cool me up.
However, after my semi-literate phone was stolen, my husband took the leap for me and presented me with a new iPhone. We haven’t been separated since (the iPhone, I mean). Seriously what a freakin’ cool product. And I only have the 3gs model. The only problem was that my old eyesight had a little trouble seeing the text—especially on the web, and though I can squeeze it bigger, by the time I’ve managed to get it large enough to decipher there are only five words on the screen. Which means a lot of scrolling. 
But there’s an app for that—or more accurately a new machine for that. The iPad. When it came to getting my iPad 2 I did something I’ve never done before. I invaded my stash of unspent birthday money (and you can guess how long I’ve been saving that when you consider the price of an iPad) and bought one for my very own self. AND I LOVE IT. (Note the caps!) Seriously the little guy has become the keeper of all my stuff. The holder of all my secrets. The king of my world. Okay, I think that’s over stating it a bit. But basically, I like it.
Which brings me to the point of this diatribe (and you were wondering if I had one). Slight aside…why is it that the punctuation goes inside the parenthesis? It makes so much more sense to do it the way I said it as it’s ending the original sentence which wasn’t in parentheses? Sorry, I digress. The point. And as Ellen DeGeneres says…I do have one. I am considering going for a full count and introducing a new friend to the mix. The iMac. Now for me (and my PC is cringing as I type this) this is a HUGE step.
And I’m afraid. Seriously, I’ve never been totally cool and while I’ll admit this would only be technologically speaking, it still scares me to death. I mean, what about the delete key? You may scoff, but I love the delete key…I use it all the time. And it’s different from the backspace key—they are not the same. And what about Outlook? I love Outlook. And Word. And I know there are Mac versions but will they really feel the same? And games…this is a huge worry. I love to play computer games. Not War of Witchcraft or whatever it’s called…just simple games like Diner Dash and Royal Envoy and Plants vs. Zombies. I’m amassed quite a collection over the years. But they’re all PC. And some of them *gasp* aren’t available in Mac format. What’s a girl to do???? 
Okay, so what do you think? Do I have it in me? Can I make the switch? Will the PC guy haunt my dreams if I do? Will Justin Long accept me into the cool club? If I buy an iMac now will Apple come out with the new version immediately after? It’s enough to make my mind spin. Maybe I’ll just buy a blue-ray player instead… but then what would I do with my old DVDs?
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Well to be fair mom i have a bluray player you guys can use while I’m at school, it’s called my PS3 and it’s sitting in the drawers in my room.
had to get the iphone after all our kids got them. now I can’t leave the room without it! I have the IPAD but bought the ZAGG mate so I have a dedicated keyboard to type on! Love it when we are traveling as it protects the IPAD, especially thru the airport screeners! LOL…..my next purchase (when I save up enough) is an IMAC! woohoo
Sounds like we’ll soon be twins…well triplets actually since Sherri and I were separated at birth.
I did the opposite, I bought the iMac first and then the iPhone, but I certainly love them both. My iMac has a delete key, of course I opted for the wired version of the keyboard instead of the smaller wireless one so that I would have the numeric keypad on the right side. It didn’t take me very long to get used to it, and I did buy the Mac version of Microsoft Office. It’s a little different, but not so much that I couldn’t figure it out. Good luck, I hope you take the plunge, I know you’ll love it.
I think the wired keyboard is definitely the way for me to go.
Oooh, you are very daring. Can I admit that I JUST got texting on my phone yesterday– a new phone is on the way with a little keyboard. I have a laptop, and a kindle– I’m not a complete dweeb, but I’m slow to catch up with technology when it comes to phones especially. We shall see. Keep us updated as you learn more!
It seems the more I get the more I want. LOL
A tad off topic, but can someone give me the pros & cons of a tablet? I’m considering a purchase, but not sure I truly need one. I don’t care whether it’s iPad or another manufacturer. What can you do with them? What do they NOT do? What tasks do you perform most often on your tablet?
Thanks!
What I do with my iPad most often is read. I have iBooks and Kindle apps, should add the Nook app, but I read on it lots. Next, I take notes for books that I am working on. I have a bluetooth keyboard case for it and it’s handy to write on, but I don’t use it for major writing, just some updates and proposal notes. And grocery lists. Great for travel notes/receipts/reservation numbers for traveling. Some of this I also do on my phone and the iPad/iPhone joy is they connect with iCloud and information transfers between them easily. I have lots of recipes on my iPad and it’s good for looking things up fast, light research. Also, I play a few games. Battleship, Monopoly, I like the boring old standards.
I use my iPad most for surfing the net and checking email at night. Also for text messaging with my daughter. I love it. I also use it in the middle of the night to jot down notes for whatever plot I’m working on that’s keeping me from sleep. I use it also to watch TV shows I’ve missed. Check out HBO to go and also SHowtime togo. I don’t use it (often) to write. Without a mouse it’s too cumbersome to try and edit with touch while typing. But it’s great for short stuff, like emails, notes, and texts. I also read books on it. Even sold my NOOK because I like the iPad reader better and also I can get the NOOK and Kindle versions for iPad. Also like that it syncs with my phone and itunes so we’re all on the same page. Over all highly recommend it. OH and most importantly it’s my only computer when I travel and I absolutely loved having it with me. used my iphone to piggy back the account and that way didn’t need a 3g iPad, just wireless version.
Thanks so much, Sherri & Dee! That’s exactly the kind of feedback I needed. You gals rock!
I had hundreds of books and DVD’s I donated or gave away when I moved to England. But I refused to depart with my LORD extended version DVD’s and my Ever After. I also brought a few of my MUST have books (Clan of Cave Bear series was one.) The rest is gone. Gone gone gone.
Yes they do sell players that do both. I seen Blu-Ray that is also normal DVD. We also have a region free DVD player on the pc.
Of all the things I had to leave behind or sell, the one I miss the most would be my ‘stang. -sniff- I really do miss driving her.
Oh I bet. Love Mustangs. Especially old ones.
You can still use your current DVD on a BlueRay system… As for PC versus Mac… You have to do what ever you feel comfortable with. I have never been one to to with the trends.. You have to be yourself and to me that is cool.. So keep your PC or not.. Don’t do it just because someone else is doing it. I want to be an individual, not a clone..
I feel like I should be standing up and singing…
You will love it and not look back. I don’t understand your fear of the delete key. I have an iMac and there is a delete key and a return key on my keyboard. In fact, there are two delete keys. One backward, one forward.
Its been a few years since I made the switch, but I am not sorry. I am an all Mac zone.
it’s the cordless keyboard that only has the backspace key. No num pad either. Wouldn’t have thought it would matter. (I have one for my ipad) but it drives me beserk. Only just learned that the plugged keyboard has all the regular stuff. Plus I was also told any keyboard will work, so that’s not going to be a problem i guess. Just like the mac’s sleek little keyboard.
I have the wired keyboard because I needed the number pad as well. Maybe one day they can get the whole thing wireless.
I think we can use other wireless keyboards, but I’m not sure. And I assume with practice I could do without the delete key but I use it a lot and figure being wireless isn’t worth the hassle of having to relearn. And besides I do have the wireless keyboard if I find I really want to use it.
I have a wired keyboard and a wireless mouse and the things that bugs me about the mouse is the battery use (need to replace batteries about once a month). I’m assuming you’d have the same issues with the wireless keyboard. Just FYI.
good to know. I’m getting the track pad and I think it doesn’t come any other way but wireless. Will let you know when/if I make the leap.
I own PC’s and an Android phone, but it’s purely a monetary thing. My very first computer experience was on a Mac and I adore Mac products. I do have a couple of iPods, but that’s it. If money was not a factor, my home would be a Mac Only Zone.
So, while I love my PC and phone, I would heartily say GO FOR IT. Get the Mac! You will find the computer is sooo user friendly. If I can self-teach on one, you can too.
P.S. You can always keep the old PC around just for some of your non-Mac games.
That’s what I figure, but of course this whole thing started when said PC started to act up…so it’s days may be numbered.
The only Mac product I own is an iPod Shuffle (which I love). Our new smart phones are the Motorola Atrix2 and we love them. My DH is computer dude around here and he’s PC all the way, so I’m sticking with that. Although I do think the Apple products are very, very cool.
And Dee–I completely agree with you about the punctuation and the parentheses. What’s up with that??
Thanks for the parentheses support! It really bugs me. And my husband also has an Android. He bought it for the programming possibilities, but even he is thinking about switching his laptop to Apple. And my film making daughter is definitely going to be making the switch –software wise for her, apple is where it’s at. (P.S. she was already cool)
I USED to love my shuffle. But now my shuffle doesn’t really shuffle. It keeps going through the same 20-30 songs. How come they can’t create an algorithm that starts the shuffle at a different point in the alphabet each time?
You’d think with the brain trust they have they’d be able to work that out!
I could not deal with a Mac because I have problems with Apple’s philosophy. So, no iPod, iPad or iMac for me (though an iPad is tempting). If I get a tablet, I’ll be sure to get an Android one.
By the way, as far as I know, all Bluray players can play DVDs too, so there’s no need to panic or donate your DVDs, you can simply go on watching them. I’ve got one and I haven’t replaced a single DVD.
When I buy a new movie or tv-show, it depends on what it is. For big action movies with lots of special effects and a 5.1 (or better) soundtrack, I tend to get the Bluray version. For a ‘simple’ tv-show, I often feel a DVD is good enough (certainly while DVDs are still cheaper than Blurays).
I think your plan is perfect for splitting up the collection between DVD and Blu-ray. To be honest I didn’t think I wanted blu-ray at all, and then my daughter showed me the difference (her Playstation # whatever is blu-ray) and I could actually see it. So for something like Galdiator or Independence Day I bet it’s amazing.
Dee, I was just like you a few years ago. Just like you! It’s still pretty hard to cool me up, but I switched to MacBook Pro a few years ago and have never looked back. Yes, it was new to me and getting used to the keypad seemed like it would be tough. It had it’s moments, but overall easier than I expected. And there is a delete key. Yes, indeed. I didn’t really lose any time in learning. I learned as I went along and bonded quickly with my Mac. And I am not techie at all. My husband is usually my go-to guy with computer questions, but he’s anti-Mac so when things happen, I figure it out on my own (also good for me) or Tweet a help message to Sean’s coworker who is a Mac fanatic. Now I have my eye on an Air.
My advice: the Apple guys will tell you that Pages is great and all you need. Um, no. I had to get Word for Mac. And then my writing life was pretty much back to normal.
I actually already have Office for Mac (long story) so if/when I leap I’m all set. And I think I will go with the plugged keyboard since it does have a delete key (the wireless does not–although it’s called delete it’s really just backspace with a fancy name).
Oh and I have pages for iPad and am not impressed although it works fine for the few times I need to write on the ipad.
Don’t like Pages either. I’m a Word girl.
Also, there’s Outlook in the new version of Office Mac. Have never used it, and usually the Mac Office versions are not as fully-featured as the PC versions (imagine that!), but it does exist.
And FYI, don’t get Quicken for the Mac. Not. Good. I have a PC laptop and I keep my PC Quicken on that machine.
Good to know about quicken. We live by that product.
Word!
When our PC Desktop was taking FOREVER to do anything we made the switch to the Mac and I have never been happier! It took a whole 8 minutes to load when we plugged it–WOOT!! It did take me a week to get used to the new set up but I would have to do that every time we updated the PC software. We have since bought the kids a Mac desktop, a Mac laptop, the IPad 1 and IPad 2.
Both my sons have PC laptops for college but I think my daughter who will go in 4 years will end up taking an IPad and be getting her textbooks digitally!
BTW I still have my Outlook email–it is easy to set up.
Forgot the hubby has an iPhone and when it is time to change over the rest of the phones we will be going to them too.
Well the Outlook news is a relief. Still change is not always good. She says while sticking her toe into the water.
Dee, thanks for the laugh. I have been looking at tablets but as of yet I have not taken the plunge. I want one. I think it would be helpful in my work.
I have not taken the iplunge. My dad swears by his mac and iphone. Hubby and I have HTC androids and I am perfectly happy with their performance. Hubby built the pc all by his lil self and though it probably could use an upgrade, it does what it needs to do.
We did do the High Definition tv though. Go figure.
Blue ray will not last, I do not think. But then look at DVD compared to VHS. We all said DVD would not make it and go the way of the Laser Disc (remember those huge silver record size discs to watch movies?). I have several American DVD’s I brought over that of course do not work here unless we change the region of the player. But if you do take that plunge and buy a Blu-ray, consider donating your DVD and movies to a care home or nursery or even the hospital for people who are confined to watch.
If you could see my wall of DVDs you’d know that I will never go BluRay only. Maybe if there is a player that will play both? Otherwise I thnk I’m committed! And I remember PAL days! When we lived in Austria we actually had two tvs. One for European TV and another from home to play our VCRs–Yes it was that long ago. Friends used to mail us the latest shows. The two sets faced each other in the living room.
Blue Ray def plays both (or at least ours does)…