Biting the Apple

I have been a tech-geek for as long as I can care to remember, and one of the things you will notice about us is our idolizing of the Mac as the revered god of all things 'computerial'. This week saw the launch of the new MacBook and MacBook Pro. But frankly, the newer models lessened my intention to one day own a Mac. The 'new' Macs to me seem more like one of the zillions of laptops running the standard MS Windows or some derivative of Linux OSs.

The fine line between Apple and others, I believe, stemmed from its refusal to lean to the masses. While the rest of the world went after an array of models concentrating on various configurations to suit every type of computer user, Apple had just 3 models of laptops (MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro – as of before the launch of new models earlier this week), with 2 options in each of them. What this did was to build in an identity that we could relate to, something I call, Mac-like. Their design philosophy was based on the minimalistic, and the serene white panels all over their models. The colour was reserved only for what was displayed on the screen.

Also, the obvious close integration between their hardware and software made the Macs what they were - Macs.

Going to the masses has brought in enormous popularity for Apple, not least because of the universal iPod. However, this has come at the cost of pandering out to the common masses and the quality we always have associated with a Mac has taken a beating. Recent customer complaints which are only growing in number is testament to this fact.

Now it does not even seem worth taking the new MacBook which comes loaded with great graphics and features, which are exactly what is touted by so many others.

But the point of this post is, I did not dare buy the Mac when I was younger, because they command a significant premium over the regular laptops and I would be spending my parent's money on it. And now when I am getting to the point where I can decide on one or two things where I do not have to be hard on my money's worth, Macs are no longer Macs (sigh!)