I can see the headline now, “Man Who Just Discovered Apple Starting to Piss Off Friends.” As if emerging from the blinding ignorance of the Dark Ages, Don Dodge, popular tech blogger and former Microsoft salesperson, has made a revolutionary discovery… Apple actually makes technologically advanced, user-friendly products that rival, if not exceed, the Windows-driven PC. Unfortunately for Dodge, this world-shattering moment of enlightenment comes on the heels of the 59 billion other people who already knew this.
In a recent blog Dodge writes about his transition from Windows to Apple with the same awe and wonderment you find in a 16 year old kid who just discovered Led Zeppelin; of course they’re a great band, but acting like you’re the first one to realize that is really annoying. However, while he treads ground that has long been trodden, Dodge does point out a few key advantages that the Apple has long had over the PC.
Aesthetics
First, as the ubiquitous PC vs Mac commercials continue to preach, Apple certainly has a flare for aesthetic quality. The sleek and professional design of the Mac has always attracted the eye of consumers more than the blocky, lifeless communist-block styling of the modern PC.
Functionality/User-Experience
Second, Apple has long advertised itself as a more intuitive choice for computer users, and so how Dodge missed this up until now, I’ll never know. For most Apple users the continued attraction is that, simply stated, a Mac does what they want it to do. There are no bulky systems to setup, a minimum of wiring to attach, and no annoying drivers to install; all that coupled with the fact that the Mac significantly decreases the amount of daily issues or hangups, which means never having to see a BSOD again.
Despite a few poignant and refreshing observations, however, what is really amazing is that through his many years of proselytizing for Microsoft, offering glowing and effusive praise for the superiority of the PC over the Mac, Dodge was apparently able to maintain a stark and absolute unawareness of his company’s foremost competitor.
Now I’m no salesman, but if it was my job to sell potential customers on the benefits and superiority of my product over against my competitor’s, I would probably want to know how my product was better or faster, and I would certainly want to be versed in the strengths and weaknesses of all my main rivals. I can imagine Don Dodge hard at work selling some unfortunate sap on the wonders of the PC when he’s asked the simple question, “Does the keyboard illuminate in low light situations?” and with an arrogant laugh Dodge replies, “Of course not! No computer can do that!” Well Don, welcome to the light!
In the end, what I found missing from Dodge’s blog were any particularly useful insights. I was disappointed that he failed to offer his unique perspective on this longstanding competition between the Mac and the PC. Having seen both sides, as he puts it, you might think he could develop a stronger case for the strengths of the Mac, or even in fairness to the PC, offer some insights into what Windows does well.
But for now I can confidently say, as many of Don Dodge’s friends have no doubt already iterated to him, “welcome to the other side… now please be quiet.”
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Written by: Matt Klassen. www.digitcom.ca >. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com > by: RSS >, Twitter >, Identi.ca >, or Friendfeed >
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Interesting and funny