The real Angry Birds.
Girl Tech
Hello,
Just thought I’d share with you how much it bothers me that Companies aren’t make tech for girls. I’m talking about the robust stuff like computers. I mean how cool would it be if you could actually buy an Apple Macbook in Pink? Why stop at that, why not have Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple or in every colour in the rainbow? Why don’t Apple make a range for the ladies? It seems a shame to miss out on this growing trend and the only Company that seems to be marketing towards the ladies is Dell and I think their range of Inspiron laptops are pretty fantastic! I was even tempted to buy one because I could have whatever colour I wanted but truth be told I had my heart set on owing an Apple.
It’s not that I hate Windows, because I have worked on it for over 12 years and I grew accustomed to Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, WIndows NT, Windows 95 and Windows 2000, but I’d always felt an allegiance to Apple. I dreamt of owning one but the price was always the killer!
So I’ve dabbled with Mac’s since 1992 (when Apple was known as Apple MacIntosh) and it was my sister’s boyfriend who was the first person to get me onto a Mac, which he’d bought and ever since - I’ve been fascinated with them!
Along came Windows 3.1 and every Company seemed to adopt it, only big design firms were using Apple, but a lot has changed since and in 2005 I decided to go for it as an ex-testing desktop was available from my Husband’s company for a small price. He was one of the bosses so he got first dibs on equipment they were getting rid of, so I was quite lucky. It took him a while to bring it home and I remember when he did he said he was busy and didn’t have time to set it up for 2 weeks, so the next day (when he was at work) I did it myself. Whatever was on the hard drive wasn’t required they’d done a backup so I simply plugged it into the electricity and deleted everything except the Applications and drivers and reinstalled the Tiger OSX. I was proud of myself because I got it all setup nicely on my home office desk and connected it to the Internet. My husband was shocked when he came home and saw that it was working and asked me who I’d paid to come and set it up and when I said no-one I did it, he was pleased. I still don’t quite believe that I’d done it, I didn’t have any problems, but I guess having had experience with Windows I pretty much knew my way around and to be fair (to own up and say I wasn’t a complete novice to computers) in 1994 I started working at Australia’s first Corporate Internet company as a Technical Support officer. I did that job for about 8 months before being transferred to another department, so I had to know modem settings, my way around Windows to help customers connect to the internet etc.
The iMac I was given in 2005 was a G5 PowerPC and I still use it from time-to-time but I’m in love with the new 24 inch iMac and I’ll make do with what I have until I can afford an upgrade (probably later this year or next year).
In May 2009, my Husband bought me a White Macbook and since then the iMac isn’t been used that much. I’m running out of space on it and I need to back it up but I just find the Macbook easier because we have wi-fi so I can sit wherever I want at home and I’m on the Internet but I know I should be using it and my husband has threatened to get rid of it, but I keep telling him no I want to keep it so I’ll soon do something with it.
So that’s how I was introduced to Apple and I know I’ll never look back!
My husband asked me when he was buying my Macbook if I wanted to buy Parallels (which I would install on the Macbook to run Windows as well as using the Leopard OSX) and I said a big no thanks to that, why would i need that now I’m familiar with Apple? OK sure there are some applications I find hard to use eg Seahorse and The Gimp and I still cannot find a program matching Paint Shop Pro that I can work out how to use, but I only ever dabbled in making my own backgrounds and that creative side of me is on the backburner. I’m learning new ways to keep myself entertained. I would like to find something that I can use simply to make my own backgrounds, images etc but I’ll deal with that in the future.
I know a lot of people aren’t impressed by the price of buying a Macbook or an iMac and yes they are expensive, but why not save up to buy quality kit that’s going to last for years, than buy a new Windows laptop or desktop computer which breaks down, doesn’t withstand accidental drops, shows the blue-screen-of-death or becomes infected with viruses? I can’t go through the stress of using Windows again. It was an enjoyable experience in the past, but that was in the past and now I have two Apple’s which I’m very happy using. I can’t/won’t go back to Windows!
My husband is a recent Mac convert too. In December he bought a Macbook Pro (the new Aluminium one with backlit keyboard) and as he’s a Programmer he’s adjusting to all the different Mac apps and tools he needs and so far he’s given it the thumbs up. He still has a Windows laptop and a Netbook but since he’s had the Macook he’s not turned them on once. He has to test things in Windows and spends time on location at another office and any Windows testing he needs to do is done there. I’d be quite happy if our house was free of Windows and no I don’t mean windows in the wall of my house!
So for anyone out there thinking about taking the plunge into buying an Apple I’d say go for it. The good outweigh the bad and yes its a bit different but there’s helpful people at Apple stores called Geniuses.
I’ve also influenced a friend who bought a brand new 17 inch iMac in October (her first Apple) and she didn’t know how to work things like how to do print-screen, or how to copy + cut + paste or even how to turn if off etc but after me explaining basics she’s now picking things up and shared with me recently on how to make a slide-show in iPhoto, which I’d never done before. She printed out her photos on her home printer using her iMac and iPhoto into a book format and gave it to her family for Christmas in hardcopy and in PDF. It contained old family photos and ended with all the family members pictured with their children.
Anyone can use an Apple, it just might take time to save for and you won’t know everything right away, but its fun to learn and try new things and its not too difficult. I’m sure once you have an Apple you’ll feel the same way I do. Not many people see the benefit of going back to Windows - although I’m sure there might be some.
So for all the ladies out there who own a Macbook you already know you can jazz it up with hard cases and coloured Macbook sleeves. I had a Pink hard case on my Macbook but it seemed to make it overheat and since I’ve removed it, things have improved, so I won’t be using that hardcase again and when I went to find a new one at Apple they only seemed to stock the Unibody covers and that’s for Macbook’s from October 2009 onwards. My Macbook was made in early 2009 so until I upgrade I’ll keep it tidy and I have a huge padded sleeve to put it in when I need to take it with me.
Here’s a few pictures of my Macbook (May 2009):
and the photo of my Hot Pink Macbook protective sleeve/pouch:
Thanks for reading and feel free to let me know what you like about Windows and/or Apple and if there’s a bit of girl tech out there that you think I might be interested in, please comment here or message me @karenwilson on Twitter.
Until next time, Karen.
My first blog!
Hello,
I’m just a few days away from receiving my brand new 16gb 3Gs iPhone (White) and I’ve decided to make an unboxing video (yeah I know it’s been done before), but honestly, I’ve never seen one with a female which I thought strange and yesterday I thought, why not create blog and a YouTube site to post photos of the iPhone and my other Apple tech. Of course some of you know and follow me on Twitter. I created the Tumblr Blog and the YouTube site to be three different ways of finding out about Mac Girl UK.
My plan is to include a video on the unboxing as well as photos and I’ll post them on the blog and publish the link via Twitter. I’m new to Tumblr so some parts of this blog will be tweaked in the next few days but please come take a look and if you like what you see and think you might enjoy my ramblings, you can follow me on Tumblr and/or on Twitter.
I’ll keep this post short because I’m waiting for the iPhone to arrive and you’ll hear more from me once I have receive it, which I hope will be tomorrow or Saturday at the latest.
Have a great day, Karen.
