I’ve been trying to help a friend work on her website, and got this message. Once you get labeled as a computer geek, you get these questions all the time.
On Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM, xxx xxxxxxx
wrote: Mike,
BIG QUESTION??? PC or MAC? I have a new apple computer that I hate. It is supposed to be for the [business –ed], but no one knows how to use it since all the staff has PC. do you have a preference, mac or pc?
I find the switch from PC to Mac to be one of the most frustrating things “regular” computer users do — because it often does not live up to false expectations. The novice to intermediate user hears how wonderfully easy and intuitive a Mac is, then buy one, and sit in front of their shiny new computer and go “huh? Now what?” There is this mystique that OSX is just so obvious to use, and everything is just where you expect it to be, but really, that’s a myth. You need training on it, just like any other equipment.
Once you get accustomed to one way of doing things, it is really hard to break out of it. I know I experience this all the time when I have to use a Mac — I just can’t find things where I expect them to be. When switching between OS’s I tend to have better luck finding things on Gnome / Ubuntu than on a Mac. Maybe that just indicates who the developers of Gnome were trying to target their product for.
Even something like the Ipod suffers from the same thing. I’ve heard time and time again how “intuitive” the Ipod is, but I have had to tell far too many people who have handled mine how to turn it on, turn it off, change the volume etc… I think people interchange intuitiveness for experience. Once you have learned how to use any ipod, it is reasonably intuitive to use. But I have watched people stare at that dumb little machine to try and figure out why it won’t turn off, even after they switch the hold button back and forth a hundred times. Even after having the thing for a long time I don’t successfully turn it off first time, every time. I think that borders on inexcusable.
In my opinion the design of the ipod (at least the “classic” — I’m trying to avoid the iPhone) actually gets in the way of a good user experience. Even something as simple as changing the volume shouldn’t require thought and explanation. Just try to change the volume on your 5g ipod while playing a game of solitaire on the train. Intuitive, indeed.
I wish there was an alternative that had as many accessories as the iPod. I would switch.
