From Windows To Mac

Sunday, June 15, 2014

From Windows To Mac

From Windows to Mac

Assalamu Alaikum,

After a long hesitation a few days ago I made the jump, I changed from Windows to Apple. It wasn’t easy I tell ya, the decision to purchase process was long, protracted and yes, painful. Leaving Microsoft’s Windows is not unlike weaning. Its also like leaving your best friend after so many years of beautiful friendship. Refusing to acknowledge it I must have been sold a month back when I saw how thin Adnan’s Mac Air was when I was carrying what seemed a ton of Windows in my laptop bag.  What tipped the decision to purchase was probably when I saw a Nigerian lady participant deftly using her Mac Air in the courses I conducted a few weeks back.

Of course the things are not at the right place in Mac Air compared to my trusted old Acer. Minimise and close buttons are not at the right place ; copy and paste deliberately hidden somewhere ; and scroll is an activity you have to relearn once again. I suspected it was a deliberate scheme by Apple just to annoy and irritate the Johnny come lately Apple converts.

The decision to purchase does make sense really, for the same amount of money one is prepared to spend on a Windows abled laptop one gets a heck of a lot more in specs by purchasing an Apple one. All that jazz about better graphics and CAD did not budge me. What actually did was I need to pass my laptop to the kids as they have busted theirs, and also the killer selling point that for a certain amount of money I can have Microsoft’s Powerpoint, Word and Excel in Apple’s Mac Air.! Well what more do you want. The sole reason you refused to buy Apple is no longer there!

Frankly those are all I need on a laptop plus the ability to send email and do some fesbuking. The lady assistant did say something about the three finger moves, the four finger moves, and the whole finger moves you can do on Mac Air. I have not mastered that yet hoping of course its all Shariah compliant.

There’s also the multi windows tasking and a whole spectrum of icons to introduce myself to. I guess as usual over time some will be overused whilst others will remain strangers to the end.

Slowly getting there, fonts on browsers are still small as I have not got round to figuring out how to enlarge them. Facetime from Apple to I phone looks good and better than Skype, although of course 9 year old Adila was sitting next to me when we tested it! The real test will be when I am a few thousand miles away. Battery life is one whole day which means I no longer need to set up wire booby traps at airport transits. And I guess if I want to I could also now practice my Apple smirk, as usually displayed by Mac users at those expensive coffee joints.

Incumbent President Malay College Old Boys Association might wish to buy one and use the campaign slogan from Mac to Mac in line with his nickname in the up coming MCOBA elections (smile). All other election Candidates will of course see leaving Windows as a Window of Opportunity to serve MCOBA. Sorry, couldn’t resist that, must be the atmosphere, in the run up to MCOBA elections this Saturday (smile).

Wassalam,

Zahid Class of ’72 Sulaiman House.