Here’s one way that worked!
I know about it…it worked on me!
My son Matthew is a very talented Artist, Web Designer and much more. About three years ago he made a very effective move to convert me from PCs to Macs. I was a well confirmed PC user (since nearly day one of the PC generation – I actually started with an 8-bit Color Computer and a TI-16 bit device).
Need I add that Matt is effectively a Mac Super-User, despite having a lot of experience with PCs . But I resisted his efforts to become better informed for years. In much of my workplace activities I needed PCs, they were all my company had to offer.
But even at home, I stayed a PC user. I think I’ve had about 10 different models, including two personal laptops and one Netbook. About 3 years ago I got frustrated, totally, with Microsoft and its support, and actually swore off their software for more than a year, using the Ubuntu version of Linux in place of Windows XP. But that’s another story.
Somewhere in the middle of this Matt made me a present of a Mac mini (the one on top of the stack in the photo above) and convinced me to use it side-by-side with my desktop HP running Ubuntu. I was using the Web almost exclusively and all I needed most was a Web Browser, like Firefox. It and Apple’s Safari are free and available in lots of OS flavors (Microsoft take note – that’s customercentric in my opinion).
I did and was slowly won over. I was won over to the point that I added memory to it, upgraded to Snow Leopard and continued to grow my Web sites at an even faster, more efficient pace than ever before.
A few months ago he convinced me again to upgrade to a “Hackintosh” with much help from his friend Dan who lives locally, Matt lives about 1100 miles away. The cost was very reasonable… lots less than even a small iMac, but much more powerful!
I did and find that my low-cost Mac “simulator” has a higher GeekBench Score than Matt’s most powerful Mac Pro. (Over 6000!). I doubt if it will be long before he moves well past this.
As a result of my conversion, I have learned more about Apple (I’m now a stockholder, too). For instance, they have an easy review of how to convert from a PC to a Mac on the software side. What a company!
But, fair is fair. Microsoft has improved their software and support and I use the latest update to Windows XP on my laptop and Netbook. The HP is destined for recycling and I’ll put Windows software on the Hackintosh using either Boot Camp (Free with OSX) Parallels or VMware Fusion. That way I can keep using some of the PC programs I paid dearly for and know and love (sort of).
Some consumer-oriented companies are doing a better job of behaving like they really value people as customers (Show the Phone and Cable giants how it can be done, Microsoft!)
But Matt recently showed me some of the features of an iPad (he’s got one already). Maybe I won’t ever need a Netbook or a Mac Book! (Can iPad run Parallels, yet?)
I managed to get converted to an Apple iPhone last year (the iPad is not just a super iPhone), but there seem to be several lower cost smartphone options available now. iPhone’s great but pricey with AT&T.
Now if I could only get out of the AT&T contract without a big cash penalty… That brings me to Comcast & Verizon… but they are horses of different perspectives, in my book. I have lots of time to generate a new rant.
