When I went off to college I needed a Mac. It was a such a simple decision; Macs are reliable and there was a certain coolness to owning one. Not everyone had one and they were still a novelty. But three years later, I’m lost — Apple has become mainstream. Typing on my HP Mini 311 netbook, I wonder if I’ve bought into a fad of small, portable netbooks. They’re underpowered, but reasonably priced. I’m not done yet, I’m looking to complement my netbook with a desktop counterpart. The rush of excitement over buying a new techie device is dwarfed by a sense of confusion–what will I buy next, Mac or Windows?
I could lay out a pros and cons list, be cliche, and hope that readers enjoy the breakdown. I could focus on Windows 7’s major upgrades from Vista and XP. Or perhaps I could look at Macs energy efficient, sleek desktops. They’re all appealing directions, but what is captivating me most is the social and business implications of the decision.
Am I the only Mac user that is contemplating switching entirely to Windows 7? The questions just seem all too numerous. Windows 7 has truly surprised me; and I hate to say it as a self-declared “Mac fanboy,” but this is truly an amazing operating system.
Talk about the “everything works” stereotype of Macs, I’ve had plenty of crashes and freezes, it’s not perfect! Windows 7 isn’t either, but it certainly has moved into the same realm of “everything works.” Google Chrome is fully-featured and completely amazing, unlike the Mac counterpart. And many of you will exclaim, “Well, it’s in development and will be released for Macs very soon.” But therein lies the rub, Macs software is frequently developed second. If you want the latest technology, go with Windows.
I can assure you that I’m not simply going with the age-old wisdom of Microsoft’s totalitarian power. My college campus is full of Mac users; in fact, I’d say Macs have a 50-50 foothold on the college crowd. The only thing that stops most college students from buying a Mac is price, but god do they want one. The mystique and blind admiration for Macs is comical. Everyone wants one now, and they’re captivated by Macs’ unibody designs. Not to take away from them, they’re beautiful, but it’s what’s inside that actually matters to me.
If you want beauty and ease of use, Macs may still have the market. But Windows 7 and the computers that are manufactured with them are powerful and geeky. Like my Droid, it’s the power and geekiness that appeals most. Watch out Apple, I see a future where Windows 7 plays a greater role.
Where once I would’ve considered myself inseparable from the Mac way of life, I’m free. I’m free to choose whatever I want, and what I want most of all is a Quad-Core Windows 7 monster with a slick student discount at Dell ($569!). I feel disgusting even uttering the words, but at least I’ll be able to run anything and everything! I’m excited and nervous, but I’m going to try not to look back.
Have you switched to Windows 7 from Mac (or vice versa)? If so, please let us know in the comments below.
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