December 13, 2004
Project “Get Wife New Computer” Completed
As previously discussed, I was shopping for a new laptop for my wife. There was always positive and negative comments on each brand. No clear winner. I personally like my Apple PowerBook but it is a Mac. Would my wife use a Mac? She has always been a Windows user. She wasn’t sure if she was interested. Drat.
So I started back down the Windows laptop route. Dell consistently seemed like the best one to get. Either the new Inspiron 9200 or the Latitude D800. But which? Then in a random conversation, Kim says, “Why do I need a laptop? I don’t take it anywhere”. Ok, then a desktop. The issue is that she is at a desk that is built into a counter in the kitchen. There is no room for a tower and all the cords. I explain this and Kim asks, “Doesn’t somebody make an all-in-one computer?”. No….well, no PC folks really. But Apple just came out with one! Would you use a Mac?
So we went to the Apple Store yesterday and looked at the iMac G5. We debated the size and placement of it. The key bridge to the Windows world is Microsoft’s Remote Desktop. You see they have a client for the Mac. I have our “main” home computer in my office. On the Mac, with a single click, you can launch the remote desktop and make it full screen — essentially turning the Mac into a Windows desktop from the looks of it. Will that work for her? Yes.
The debate was on — 17” or 20”. Is 20” too big? Not too big for me. I want the 30” display myself. So after some negotiations, a few price discounts because I brought my MacMall magazine for price matching, we left the Apple Store with a 20” iMac G5 loaded — 1 GB of RAM, 160 GB hard drive, free printer, internal DVD burner, wireless, and a game for Sydney.
I brought it home, plugged it in, and had her running in less than an hour with all her replacement applications. Have a look at the new setup! So for the first time ever, my wife has a more powerful computer than I do. What is the world coming to?
So yes, I am now an offical Apple computer owner and I am happy about it. You know what really did it for me — when I went to pull up a quick price quote before I ran out the door. I tried to fire up IE and it just sat there and went to not responding for about 2 minutes. I am sick of that bullshit. It is pathetic when I have to wait on the computer to do simple things. The sea change is coming. Go, Steve, go!
