After I did the post a couple days ago about my terrible experience with a new Gateway Computer (actually with the computer and the support and pretty much everything else about the experience), I got a number of emails from Mac owners basically saying, ‘Switch to Mac. We all live in computer paradise.’
So I thought I’d answer the question on the site.
I must say that from my casual experience, Mac’s always seem to work better, be more intelligently designed, have a nicer screen interface and a bunch of other stuff. And honestly, after this most recent experience, for the first time in my life I’ve seriously considered switching.
So, why haven’t I, and, probably, why won’t I?
I think it basically comes down to two reasons.
First, I’ve been using PC-based computers for about 20 years. And over the years, I’ve invested a serious amount of money in software and various gizmos, all of which are PC-based. That in itself is probably enough to keep me shackled down in the Wintel universe.
Second, I’ve got a decent amount of know-how invested in PCs. I don’t just mean that I’d have to become a computer newbie again. But I can open up my PCs and install things and actually do a certain amount of maintenance on them. Not sure one can do that with a Mac, at least not to the same degree. In the background, I guess there’s also that concern about having ones whole computer set-up and data tied to one company.
Third (okay, I said two, but it’s my site), I’ve become very dependent on using a tablet PC for a lot of my note-taking and loose-leaf type record keeping. (If you’re a journalist or anyone else who takes a lot of notes or does a lot of research, I seriously recommend checking them out. I couldn’t live without one.) And I don’t think they exist in the Mac universe.
In any case, those are the basic reasons holding me back. (I know the hardware tends to be more expensive. But I pretty much live my life online. So I don’t think the cost in itself, if not too much more, would hold me back.) But I really do sort of secretly wish I could use a Mac because they just seem like they’re better machines. So I’d be very curious to hear from readers. Not just Mac users. In fact, not even primarily Mac users. Who I’d really like to hear from are former PC users who’ve switched to Mac. What have your experiences been? Any major downsides? Either in the final experience or in the transition over — moving your data over, etc?
Let me know. I’d be much obliged.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for Katherine Harris. That and other news of the day in today’s Daily Muck.
Well, it’s not exactly a bribe menu, but…
Brent Wilkes, whom we’ll simply 
identify as the dirtier of the two defense contractors who bribed Duke Cunningham (see below), had more than one friend in Washington. As we’ve mentioned before, he was close ($37-million-in-earmarks close) to Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA).
On November 14, 2003, Wilkes hosted a fundraiser for Doolittle at his swanky corporate headquarters – possibly to thank him for the $18 million in earmarks Doolittle had “steered” toward Wilkes’ company that year.
You can see the menu here. It comes to us courtesy of Wilkes’ wife’s catering company’s website, which is as far as we can tell the only website left standing of the once-formidable Wilkes empire. It’s one of their sample menus; they’re understandably proud of their work. And no, pork was not on the menu.
One thing I can’t quite figure out though: the ticket theme. Is it meant to symbolize that Doolittle was Wilkes’ ticket to government contracts? Or that Wilkes, who along with his cohorts gave Doolittle $85,000 over 3 years, was Doolittle’s ticket to a healthy campaign?
Oh, who cares. Mmmm… Applewood smoked bacon wrapped filet…
(Late Update: I stand corrected. TPM reader JB writes “‘Actually, pork (bacon) was on the menu. No jokes about “bringing home the bacon?'”)
Ah, now the gang’s all here.
Here’s a rosy-cheeked (and for some reason, overall rosy) Warren RoBold, the latest mugshot from Tom DeLay’s bad bunch of money launderers — okay, okay, alleged money launderers — down in Texas.
RoBold, a big fundraiser for DeLay, was indicted way back in ’04 for his role in funneling corporate contributions to Texas Republicans. He joins John Colyandro and Jim Ellis – and of course the beaming Tom DeLay.
A while back, we posted an email exchange that shows Warren RoBold setting up a fundraiser for DeLay’s ARMPAC in Abramoff’s skybox.
TPM Reader DB gives Katherine Harris her due …
Say what you will about Katherine Harris, but she certainly turned out to be a quick study, don’t you think? Only a couple of terms and right in the thick of things!
Good point. But fish to water and all.
The gavel falls for Duke Cunningham. That and other news of the day in today’s Daily Muck.
Katherine Harris hires a “top-gun” campaign finance lawyer, Tampa Tribune reports. (via PoliticalWire)
Something about Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) really brings out terribly snarky responses from TPM Readers.
Yesterday, Paul noted the Florida Recount Queen took $50,000 from the infamous Mitchell Wade of MZM, only to miss the deadline to get an earmark inserted for the company.
Reader LB : “This is the same Katherine Harris, if you remember. . . who was such a stickler for deadlines in November of 2000.”
Harris was wined and dined by Wade at swanky Citronelle, reader ZK spots in a Sarasota Herald-Tribune report — a real eyebrow-raiser, since the restaurant’s prix-fixe menu starts at $85, well over the Congressional $50 gift limit.
Finally, reader MP warns us to mark our calendars. In two weeks, Harris will be speaking at the Reclaiming America for Christ conference in the holy city of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Topic: how to “reset the wildly spinning moral compass of our great land.”
Perhaps her new lawyer will have some suggestions.
Peter, Paul & Mary’s Peter Yarrow speaks up for clemency for Duke Cunningham in his sentencing today. Apparently they met five years ago and became friends, reaching across the Vietnam-era divide. A weird nugget. But life is weird. Check it out: It’s sort of endearing.