Bracknell-Forest Mac User Group

How long have you been a Mac User? I've been a Mac user now for coming up to four years. As a recent university graduate in computing, the tool I used to ply my trade became increasingly important to me as my course progressed. As I learned more about how the fundamentals of computers are structured, there seemed to be an increasing gulf between the ideals and theories of best computing practice I was being taught, and the reality of the current Windows platforms at the time - specifically Windows 2000. I had little more than a sideways brush with Unix and alternative OSs at the time, but enough information about them rubbed off for me to realise that Apple's move to a Unix-based operating system was good in all respects.

I cannot say when or exactly why I switched, but it was the classical combination of spending hours burning midnight oil installing and configuring drivers on Win2k and getting entwined in the inevitable cycle of downloading and reinstallation. I had had enough and clubbed together enough money to buy a second hand clamshell tangerine iBook and OS X 10.0. This machine was slow, underpowered and the OS was (in honesty), still public beta. But I was sold. I've never looked back since.

Do you own a Mac yourself? Oh yes. I'm becoming a habitual Mac polygamist: On average, I find myself swapping Macs every six months. I've had a few duffs in my time (I've twice waded into the QA debacle that is logic boards on iBooks and displays on 15" PowerBooks), but I've always believed that the real power of Apple is in the completeness and quality of the software - the hardware is just hardware. Software is where the real magic happens.

Do you use Macs at work? Oh yes. Luckily, I work for an Independent Software Vendor�called Extend Technologies developing a product for policy compliance called PolicyMatter. We are very liberal and forward thinking with our approach to technology and have an entirely Linux-based server infrastructure. So, a Mac on this network is in most ways more at home than a Windows machine.

Through my compulsive evangelising over the last year or two to my colleagues about the merits of the Mac platform, there are three more converts - so Apple compatibility is becoming increasingly important in our organisation.

What do you primarily use your Mac for? Nothing - everything. There probably isn't an area of my life that I don't actively use my Mac. I use it all day at work, then usually end up using it quite a bit in the evenings: usually for wireless net surfing, or general iLife-ing around. In the near future, I'm looking to buy a second hand iMac G4 for my study and use my girlfriend's Midi keyboard to add some dimension to my GarageBand creations...

Have you produced any masterpieces that you're proud of? Erm... well, yes, I suppose. Without my ego getting the better of me (and while we're on the subject of GarageBand), I'm particularly proud of my first GarageBand creation that I've called 'Ages of Man' and is a tribute to my much more musically-talented girlfriend. I'm amazed that I have never been able to read a note of music in my life, yet I can create something with such musicality. Please feel free to judge for yourself, as the track is on my website (in AAC, of course) at www.craigpugsley.co.uk.

What's your favourite piece of software? Now that's a tricky one. I use OS X and Mail and Safari for my everyday tasks everyday and they are great for what they do. But they are 'gruntwork' apps and not especially inspiring.

I love iLife '04.

I'm unashamed and unabashed about this fact, but I just get warm glowey feelings when I'm using of the like I have never experienced - and I write software for a living. As far as |'m concerned, Apple's iLife suite is the epitome of software excellence on any platform for any software domain, and it is the pinnacle to which all software can only aspire. Nuf said.

Have you ever had a 'Mac moment'? I'm constantly having them. Being lucky enough to use a Mac at work, I get to push it to the limits - and it performs admirably. Mac moments happen to me all the time in the form of being able to just open my PowerBook lid and OS X will sense which wireless station is closest and automatically connect me to it, being able to read and write all formats of files that are sent to me or I need to send, and of course not being effected in the slightest by any of the numerous viruses and worms out there on the net. My experience with my computer is one big Mac Moment.

However, there is one experience that shines above all others: the iLife experience. I loaned my Mum my digital camcorder when she went to Paris for her 50th birthday present. When it came back, I had edited and cut together her entire footage, included some music from my iTunes library and then burned the lot to DVD. I gave her this at Christmas; she popped it in her �30 DVD player and the wonderful iDVD theme animated menu popped up. As I had put markers in the iMovie project, she could jump to a particular scene and iDVD had automatically created the menu items for me. And the video itself was such good quality - I couldn't believe my cheap DV camcorder could do it! That was a classic Mac moment.

Would or could you ever consider switching to Windoze? I have never encountered anyone who has wanted to switch back. Once they see the elegance of the Mac experience, there is no alternative. Seriously, I would rather chance career than change OS.

Anything you dislike about the Mac? They have had some quality issues with their hardware in the last few years. I've been caught up in two of the major ones: the logic board on iBooks and white spots on the displays of 15" PowerBooks. My trackpad also stopped working on my 12" PowerBook (the one that was supposed to replace the 15" PB failure!). I wasn't too impressed with that. It also took an age to get through to anyone in Apple Support on the phone - but once I was through, they repaired the trackpad and had the machine on its way back the same day. Very impressive end to a flakey beginning.

I dislike the fact that more people can't experience the Mac too. Whether its to do with perceived high price tag, fear of switching operating systems and still being able to do all they do now, or just plain ignorance - I think its sad. Its not Apple's fault, necessarily (I think it comes down to cleverly distracting marketing and sales practices by Apple's competitors), but sometimes I think they could do more to back up us users who spend out life evangelising.

What would you say to those considering buying their Mac? If you have time, do your research. It won't take long before you're convinced Apple is the platform for you and then you can go ahead with the (rather large, admittedly) purchase of your new Apple machine with confidence. If you can't be bothered to do this research, then this is probably one of the only technology purchases you will ever make where doing research isn't entirely necessary.

Oh, and no amount of Googling can replace actually experiencing a Mac. Go to a store and play with one. Try and borrow one from somewhere. Buy a cheap iMac on eBay to get yourself acquainted then upgrade later. The Mac experience is one of a kind and there is nothing I can say to describe its power.

What's next in your shopping list? Flat-panel iMac to go in my study that I can use to download stuff, stream music and generally act as a Mac at home. I've gone back to a 12" PowerBook after trying the 15" and something else - but this is the one for me. I'm happy for the moment. My eye is always on iPods and I'll probably end up getting an eveTV box at some point too.

Top