I’m a Mac, still a PC

So I made the switch today. I went to the bank, took out 1080 euro (the feeling of 1000+ cash in your hand is empowering), and bought a 13″ Macbook Pro. I could have saved for a few weeks and bought a 15″ mid or high level, but my reasoning was:

• I didnt know if I would like it
• I didnt want to spend that much
• I wanted somehing small yet powerful.

The entry model was going to be more than enough to match that criteria. Yes its still a little expensive, and yes I would be happier with a 15″ screen, but honestly this is the best machine I have owned.

First of all the presentation is the best I’ve seen.. ever. The packaging was neat and simple. The welcome video, was actually very welcoming. And the build of the machine is just amazing. They’ve hidden the speakers too well, I can’t find them.

There is a distinct learning curve, but not an impossible one. The keyboard layout is different, mouse gestures are most definitely different, window managment is different. All these differences seem like a huge adjustment, but they’re all pretty manageable when looked at perspective.

The hardware obviously looks amazing. The black finish mixed with aluminum is probably one of the most used color palletes for hardware these days, but Apple pulls it off well. Nothing inside the casing is really outstanding, but Apple make up for it both cosmetically and in usability.

The trackpad is probably one of the more complex aspects of the Macbook. I like the gestures, but coming from a Windows background, I’m not that used to using several fingers to maneuver around the OS, and so I now cannot use my thumb as a rest for my finger . However the right click is one thing I’ve managed to conquer . Ok I lied, but this is all new to me

The software is both incredible yet extremely confusing for me. Most things are mouse-orientated but I use the keyboard most often on my Windows PC. This gives me a slight headache, but these are early days.

I dont like the whole expand-windows-as-much-as-you-need. When I maximize things in Windows, I do it because I don’t want any other application grabbing my attention. But theres always something interesting in the window behind that always catches your eye, which can be a bit distracting. I guess I have to get focused.

Overall this is an amazing machine (well I cant call it PC anymore can I, not really). The 2GB ram is actually pretty sufficient. Probably because this is based on Unix, but i’m no expert. Enjoying my Mac is a severe understatement. I love teaching myself new things, its the best way I learn. One of the most enlightening periods of self-education was learning to use a computer, and now it feels like I’m doing it again, only with a head start