Choosing between a Mac and a PC is no easy task. There are many things to consider: ergonomics, functionality, and operating system just to name a few. But I’ll get to that in a moment.
If you’re wondering where I’ve been the last 2 weeks, I have been going through some major transitions (with business, home, and relationships –just to name a few)! I will get into the details of these exciting changes in another post very soon, but right now I want to share one piece of very exciting news: I am the proud owner of a MacBook Air!
I recently got into the market for a new computer. Having been a PC girl my entire life, the idea of a Mac OS was a bit frightening. Sure, my iPhone and iPad have revolutionized my life –but was I ready to take the plunge with a Mac? I was skeptical.
My inclination was to purchase a Lenovo U-series laptop; after all, its lightweight AND familiar. But after I had a brief conversation on the subject with a long-time IT “nerd” and Microsoft deserter, I quickly changed my mind. After many years of using PC’s himself, he felt like a Mac was the way to go without question. Why? Because of the following:
- No viruses = no anti-virus software and no blue screen of death.
- Although Microsoft products are ‘familiar,’ a Mac is way more intuitive to use than a PC.
- The Mac ergonomic design is clean, simple and fresh!
- Finding anything on a Mac is easy with a simple search. No ‘misplacement’ of files like on a PC.
- Download the latest OS easily and inexpensively through iTunes.
- No boot time! Unlike the Microsoft OS, the Mac OS boots up in seconds.
- With Office for Mac, you can have the best of both worlds – a fresh computer and business software you’re used to.
I thought about it a bit, and I decided he was right. These were overwhelming reasons and also, the energy of new beginnings called for a fresh technology slate too!
I went to the Apple store in Grand Central, NYC. I was in by 6pm and out by 6:30pm! I don’t use much processing on my machine and I don’t have much data; so I knew the Air series was the way to go. An associate at the Apple store confirmed a $999 base model would be perfect for my needs; albeit, the SD slot on the 4GB model did seem for a moment more attractive than the 2GB but I ultimately went for the 2GB base model anyway (I figured I could buy a $10 external reader/writer in the rare instance I use a memory card). After my purchase, I had a short FREE training session at the store, and within minutes, I was ready to use my new toy.
With Microsoft Office for Mac installed on my laptop, I’ve been thrilled with its functionality and ease of use. I am still getting used to the track-pad and keyboard (FYI – it is full-size!) and still learning all of Mac’s neat tricks, but so far so good. Sorry Lenovo… at just under 2.5lbs, the MacBook Air is a clear winner!