I've been a PC man my entire life. I grew up playing games under DOS and doing file management via Norton Commander. I graduated to Windows 3.1 briefly, then on to Windows 95 and 98, (thankfully) mostly skipping ME before upgrading to 2K (due to stability problems from trying to do too much web browsing, no less). Finally, on to XP, which I'm currently using on my personal desktop PC.
But that's not what I'm here to write about. I've been a backup Mac tester since shortly after I started working for Opera Software. I'm not really sure what it was that got me started. At the time, we were working on Opera 7.5, our first Presto-based release of Opera for Mac. I did most of my work on my Windows XP desktop PC and did testing on the Mac as needed. At first, there were things that just drove me nuts. Over time, I got used to some of the Mac idiosyncracies and learned to appreciate many of the OS features.
When I moved back to the US, Opera left the choice of which laptop to get up to me. I shopped around a bit, but really didn't like what I saw. One of the main problems I have with Windows laptops is all the extra software pre-installed that I don't want. And to compound that, you rarely get an actual OS disc, so you can't wipe the drive and install just the OS. That, plus my previous experience with a Mac and the sexiness of the new MacBook Pro made the decision clear: get a Mac.
Sure, I'd used a Mac before, but never as my primary system. Switching OSes is hard. It's not just getting used to the OS conventions, but you have to refind all the software that made up for OS deficiencies. Not to mention most of the software I use every day isn't cross-platform, so I have to find replacements for all that stuff. All the places you used to look for help won't help anymore. All the places you used to look for software don't have anything you can use. And all the years of experience with your previous OS just barely helps you scratch the surface with your new one.
It's worth it. OS X is beautiful. Everything just looks great, especially the fonts. I really enjoy how things work, too. This is how an OS should be. I have a feeling I won't be buying a computer with Windows ever again. And I can't help wanting to show my laptop to everyone I know. It's so curvy and gorgeous.
Don't get me wrong, there are problems. But for some funny reason, I'm so happy with my laptop that I don't really care. Somehow, Apple just does that to you.
