Comments on: Switcher http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/ notes, photos, and other collectible fragments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:02:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-5754 Richard Fri, 06 May 2005 21:46:55 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-5754 Glad you enjoyed the book Justin. Now you have to try to meet Hertzfeld and Atkinson... they live in your neck of the woods. Both of them are insanely nice people. Glad you enjoyed the book Justin. Now you have to try to meet Hertzfeld and Atkinson… they live in your neck of the woods. Both of them are insanely nice people.

]]> By: Justin Blanton | Revolution In The Valley http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-5750 Justin Blanton | Revolution In The Valley Fri, 06 May 2005 17:06:04 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-5750 [...] somewhat proud to be a small part of that today. I was informed by Richard (who has some similar anecdotes [...] [...] somewhat proud to be a small part of that today. I was informed by Richard (who has some similar anecdotes [...]

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4297 Richard Wed, 23 Mar 2005 13:03:51 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4297 Tiger.... grrrrrrr! Tiger…. grrrrrrr!

]]> By: David N. http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4296 David N. Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:21:33 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4296 Yes, you are absolutely right about the OS upgrade thing. It is like getting a whole new computer with powerful improved and new features for just $129. If you do anything serious with your computer they are worth every penny of it. Yes, you are absolutely right about the OS upgrade thing. It is like getting a whole new computer with powerful improved and new features for just $129. If you do anything serious with your computer they are worth every penny of it.

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4294 Richard Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:56:50 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4294 A few things pre-big post: 1. It's not like Microsoft doesn't charge for big OS upgrades so there is no difference here. The 1.5 to 2 years between these big system upgrades is a while and they are not bug fixes; they are complete reworks with new apps and functionality. Unlike others, I have never felt ripped by Apple charging for these large upgrades. The bug fixes are free and happen online automatically. 2. You can use any USB mouse with a Mac: multi-button, scroll wheel what have you. Whatever you're used to will work out just fine. Two urban legends down, 20K to go! I'll cook up a big post at some point, thanks for the encouragement. A few things pre-big post:

1. It’s not like Microsoft doesn’t charge for big OS upgrades so there is no difference here. The 1.5 to 2 years between these big system upgrades is a while and they are not bug fixes; they are complete reworks with new apps and functionality. Unlike others, I have never felt ripped by Apple charging for these large upgrades. The bug fixes are free and happen online automatically.

2. You can use any USB mouse with a Mac: multi-button, scroll wheel what have you. Whatever you’re used to will work out just fine.

Two urban legends down, 20K to go!

I’ll cook up a big post at some point, thanks for the encouragement.

]]> By: David N. http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4293 David N. Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:32:57 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4293 Richard, given the quality of your other articles, I have a feeling that you can make a good contribution to the "why get a Mac and why is it actually cheaper" debate. However, I am wondering whether instead of a very lengthy or multi-part piece you should not instead aim for a kind of "say it all in one page" article with some URLS to the lengthier articles already out there. I somehow feel that a short to the point piece with links would offer a greater contribution. Anyway, just my two cents. Richard, given the quality of your other articles, I have a feeling that you can make a good contribution to the “why get a Mac and why is it actually cheaper” debate. However, I am wondering whether instead of a very lengthy or multi-part piece you should not instead aim for a kind of “say it all in one page” article with some URLS to the lengthier articles already out there. I somehow feel that a short to the point piece with links would offer a greater contribution.

Anyway, just my two cents.

]]> By: Carthik http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4292 Carthik Tue, 22 Mar 2005 03:34:47 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4292 A search on google leads me to this informative page, which seeks to answer the question of whether <a href="http://forgetcomputers.com/~jdroz/pages/03.html">PCs are indeed cheaper</a>. After reading a bunch of the pages linked to from that page, I still wonder how a Mac user feels about this, and what are the benefits that can't quite be put down in numbers. The numbers are confusing too, but begin to make sense when I realize that unlike in PCs, there is not much of a choice when it comes to PowerBooks (for example). There are only a couple of models and both seem to be high-end models, when compared to PCs. A similar question, and <a href="http://mindfulmusings.net/weblog/2004/1/8/why-would-one-switch-from-moveable-type-to-wordpress/">its answer</a> convinced me to switch to WordPress, in a way, and much as I am tempted to ask you, Richard, I wonder if it might not be too much of an ask. If you decide its not so, then I would be overjoyed to read what you - a Mac user for 20 years have to say about why Macs are worth the money :) I am particular concerned about having to pay each time a new version of the OS comes out, and some other small nags, like the famous one button mouse. I will not say anymore right now, and will leave it up to you to describe why Macs are so lovable :) A search on google leads me to this informative page, which seeks to answer the question of whether PCs are indeed cheaper. After reading a bunch of the pages linked to from that page, I still wonder how a Mac user feels about this, and what are the benefits that can’t quite be put down in numbers. The numbers are confusing too, but begin to make sense when I realize that unlike in PCs, there is not much of a choice when it comes to PowerBooks (for example). There are only a couple of models and both seem to be high-end models, when compared to PCs.
A similar question, and its answer convinced me to switch to WordPress, in a way, and much as I am tempted to ask you, Richard, I wonder if it might not be too much of an ask. If you decide its not so, then I would be overjoyed to read what you - a Mac user for 20 years have to say about why Macs are worth the money :)
I am particular concerned about having to pay each time a new version of the OS comes out, and some other small nags, like the famous one button mouse. I will not say anymore right now, and will leave it up to you to describe why Macs are so lovable :)

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4290 Richard Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:55:04 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4290 Oh boy, you are now giving me reason to write a post on what makes a Mac worth any offset in cost. Would you like to read such a post because if just one person says yes I'll get started on it. I've been making this rationalization for years in front of thousands of people (mostly teachers who see me demo something and ask why it's so hard to do same in their Windows machines). It would be fun to do a "Daring Fireball" length (not quality, I'm not that good) article on this. There are some big things that make the Mac different and a load of little details that if you overlook are meaningless but if you see add up to a vastly different user experience. I know for years it was easy to get behind the "closed system" argument or the "Apple is for rich designers" argument or whatever the latest thing is, but honestly, one can make arguments about anything and twist things to support any pre-made conclusions (witness our nice adventure in Iraq). Maybe the best way to handle it is one big initial post and many follow ups as I'm sure I won't get it all in one. Give me a green flag and I'll get started. However, Carthik, you personally would very much enjoy Andy Hertzfeld's book because it's about all of the initial decisions that led to what we have now. Even though most of the characters in that book and story left Apple shortly after the first Mac shipped, their decisions are still evident in the design and philosophy. Atkinson and Hertzfeld are probably the most important characters in the entire history of the Macintosh although few today even know who they are or what they did. I'm totally in awe of them both to this day. Oh boy, you are now giving me reason to write a post on what makes a Mac worth any offset in cost. Would you like to read such a post because if just one person says yes I’ll get started on it. I’ve been making this rationalization for years in front of thousands of people (mostly teachers who see me demo something and ask why it’s so hard to do same in their Windows machines).

It would be fun to do a “Daring Fireball” length (not quality, I’m not that good) article on this.

There are some big things that make the Mac different and a load of little details that if you overlook are meaningless but if you see add up to a vastly different user experience.

I know for years it was easy to get behind the “closed system” argument or the “Apple is for rich designers” argument or whatever the latest thing is, but honestly, one can make arguments about anything and twist things to support any pre-made conclusions (witness our nice adventure in Iraq).

Maybe the best way to handle it is one big initial post and many follow ups as I’m sure I won’t get it all in one. Give me a green flag and I’ll get started.

However, Carthik, you personally would very much enjoy Andy Hertzfeld’s book because it’s about all of the initial decisions that led to what we have now. Even though most of the characters in that book and story left Apple shortly after the first Mac shipped, their decisions are still evident in the design and philosophy. Atkinson and Hertzfeld are probably the most important characters in the entire history of the Macintosh although few today even know who they are or what they did. I’m totally in awe of them both to this day.

]]> By: Carthik http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4289 Carthik Mon, 21 Mar 2005 05:13:12 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4289 Nice story, Richard. 1984...umm...must have been the last of my kindergarten days! I have been thinking of switching to a mac for oh-so-long now - the cost (for a powerful powerbook) seems prohibitive, when weighed against the other nice things that can be had for the price. The reason I mention this is that everytime I read something like this article, I catch myself thinking that there must be something to all this that justifies the cost. Nice story, Richard. 1984…umm…must have been the last of my kindergarten days!

I have been thinking of switching to a mac for oh-so-long now - the cost (for a powerful powerbook) seems prohibitive, when weighed against the other nice things that can be had for the price. The reason I mention this is that everytime I read something like this article, I catch myself thinking that there must be something to all this that justifies the cost.

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4288 Richard Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:23:32 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/03/19/switcher/#comment-4288 Dick, wow, this is so cool to hear from you after all these years. If memory serves (and it does not serve well these days) after looking at the emug roster, you are the sole surviving early member. Am I right? Congratulations. Looks like the group is a lot smaller than it used to be but hey, the web has pretty much killed users groups off in many places. But, if I was there I'd still be a card carrying member! Dick, wow, this is so cool to hear from you after all these years. If memory serves (and it does not serve well these days) after looking at the emug roster, you are the sole surviving early member. Am I right? Congratulations. Looks like the group is a lot smaller than it used to be but hey, the web has pretty much killed users groups off in many places. But, if I was there I’d still be a card carrying member!

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