Mac vs PC

[essayel]

Let's just say that I, personally have nothing against Macs. I understand that they are excellent machines with many advantages, as well as the little fillip you get out of being different to the average home computer user. But they are also pricey - costing more than I can really justify spending when, for me, a PC does the job quite well enough.

But why do some Mac users have to be so bloody offensive? No, not all. Most of you are sweet. But today I had a young man who borrowed my broadband dongle, plugged it into his Mac and when it didn't work IMMEDIATELY he yanked it out and gave it back with a discontented pout. He wondered why the whole of Wales only uses PCs when Macs are so superior and complained about the problems he was having sending files that "you PC users can't open". [We are the - um 91%?] There was some eye rolling and impatience that I might have forgiven if there had been a little humour with it, but coupled with a sneer, no.

I didn't say 'fuck you' but I thought it. Grrrr

Other than that it has been an interesting day. The film premiere for Resistance is today so we had events in the museum. The Powers that Be decreed that it would be nice if we dressed 1940s and since I couldn't find anything to fit I've spent the day in a boiler suit with a scarf round my head. We were supposed to be window dressing but after 20 minutes or so of standing around like a poorly made animatronic puppet I got bored and went to do the accounts. However I can tell you that Owen Sheers, Tom Wlaschiha and Alexander Doetsch are even prettier in the flesh than their photos imply. Also a LOT skinnier!

Jen came with me and dressed up too, but she was all glam with red lips and her hair in a snood. I looked like I'd just come off the swing shift, packing shells with HE.

Comments

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is such a pain. When somebody gives me the Mac-User Superiority routine, I just say, "I can't afford a Mac. If you want to pay the difference, I'll be happy to buy something better."

Sorry, but I'm with you. I DESPISE Microsoft, particularly the Vista boondoggle-- "Here, we need a few extra billiion$, buy our Beta version" -- but if I can get a serviceable machine for $4-500, I just don't see why I should pay $12-1500. We've got five animals, and that difference covers a lot of vet bills. (Why, yes, my furbabies are more important than my computer cachet...)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Why, yes, my furbabies are more important than my computer cachet

Ditto, though 2 less animals and I have to factor in skin-babies and an elderly mother. Also ditto in that I mourn XP. It was FINE there was no reason to fix it.

I've stopped being annoyed about it and am more exasperated now, wondering why that young man felt he had to be such a dick.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

XP was GOOD. That's why they had to stop supporting it. Why would anybody buy their new crap when something better already existed?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I guess there's always *gulp* Linux. But I think I'd want the opportunity of getting to know it a bit before I went over to the Penguin.

I've been using Windows since 3.1 and used Dos before that. I rarely think beyond those options.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I tried buying a computer with Linux. It came loaded with both McAffee and Norton, and I couldn't get the damned thing to boot up because the two security systems were locked in a death struggle. I'd call tech support, the hardware people would tell me it was a software problem (and I'm sure they were right) and the Linux geek-boys sneered at me because I was a non-geek trying to use their damned system - a mere civilian. I've never dealt with such a bunch of supercilious assholes in my life. Linux advertises itself as easy enough for ordinary folks, and maybe their customer service has improved in the five years since I dealt with them, but from what I've seen of them, the penguin is a snarky boy i don't want to waste time on. It's a pity, because I DID want it to work.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Gah that brand of geeky arrogance can be very hard to bear. I come across it in history fora as well. "Well obviously Varangian helmets cheekguards are shaped differently *eye roll* any fool would know that!" It's the downside of the internet. People with specialised knowledge and no social skills let their inner-pricks out to play.

The railway enthusiasts are the worst IRL. I have a friend who paints murals, she does her research very carefully within the time frame she's allowed to get the job done. When she was doing a depiction of the local railway station as it was in 1943 she had 2 elderly men come and watch her paint everyday. They talked to her a lot about what she was doing, but they waited until the job was finished to tell her with great relish that the bridge, which she had correctly painted GWR maroon and cream, had been rust brown primer all through 1943 [something he knew because he remembered it] so her painting was 'incorrect and misleading'. "Bloody women," one of them said, "just can't be bothered to do their homework."

Remembering that kind of thing is useful. No matter how much research one does when writing there will always be someone who either has done that little bit more, or has read more up to date material or who was THERE who can pick a hole in what one thought was whole cloth.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I suppose they were waiting for her to beg them for their advice. Or, who knows, maybe she did and they didn't think of that detail until after she was done.Meh.

[mcgonagalls-cat.livejournal.com]

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I think I might have, dripping with sacrcasm, said, "You certainly are welcome. And thank you for treating my equiptment so well." What a rude jerk!


So, um, pictures of skinny hunks please.


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[essayel.livejournal.com]

Tom Wlashchiha (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0937239/), who is far skinnier than his photos imply, Alexander Doetsch (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4101853/) who is far prettier in real life and Owen Sheers (http://www.lnpt.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/owen_sheers.jpg), local poet and novelist, who is smallish and neatly built.

[mcgonagalls-cat.livejournal.com]

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What? No snapshots with at least one of them draped artistically about your being?

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[essayel.livejournal.com]

Pffft, no! I stayed well out of the way until the men with cameras had gone. The curator was doing all that kind of thing.

[innerslytherin]

I was just discussing this with a friend of mine who grew up with PCs and currently works for HP. He reminded me that the Cult of Apple really does exist. A British study confirmed that Apple fanatics have the same type of brain activity that deeply religious people have.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

That's very scary - and explains a lot actually.

Have you seen this (http://youtu.be/d0pgO3uffvk)? It made me giggle.

[innerslytherin]

*DIES laughing*

"I could never buy a Samsung, I'm creative." One of my huge complaints about the snobbery of Apple. Um, 'scuse me, I've written a dozen novels on my PC and had no trouble being creative. LOL

(It's possible I'm fiercely loyal to PC like Appleheads are fiercely loyal to Apple.)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'm fiercely loyal to my bank balance :D

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Splitting hairs maybe, but ain't they all "personal computers?" Shouldn't we be saying "Mac" or "Dell" or "e-machines?" Then differentiate which op system we are using? BTW, I'm a non-MAC user. Just what we ended up with. Haven't run into many that are super snotty about their MACs, but...
Dave

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Split away. I'm just using the terms employed by the dedicated Mac user.

You have to admit that Mac vs. PC is a lot more concise than "brand new Mac Air running the latest version of Lion vs. three year old Toshiba A210 running Vista with Windows Service Pack 2" is.

[cweb.livejournal.com]

I work in an entire office full of Mac users. I have the accounting program on mine, so I have a PC. I feel like the unwanted child:(

[essayel.livejournal.com]

My workplace is all PC, apart from possibly the planning department because of the CAD software they use. It's difficult enough remembering to convert files from my own machine back to the old style Office docs without having to cope with a completely different set of software.

I feel for you. This isn't the first time I've met a bloke who seems to view his Mac as an external gold plated penis. I can't imagine what it must be like to work in an office full of them.