Apple offers Mac mini 'test drive'

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Maybe it's a culture thing

Some of the comments that already have been posted show exactly why Apple hasn't succeeded in expanding its market share with the Mac Mini. Sometimes it seems that the Apple folks just don't get the fact that people who've never used a Mac don't understand -- CAN'T understand -- why they should shell out more of their hard-earned bux for a Mac Mini that has no monitor, mouse, or keyboard, when they could buy an entire working Windows computer system for less.

Yeah, I know about all the great software that's bundled with the Mac Mini. Sheesh...GarageBand is a killer app, for sure. That's all terrific. It also happens to be completely irrelevant to users who don't know what the Mac is, what it can do, and what kind of a difference it can make in the way they use a computer. Not only do they not know, they don't care. Apple doesn't show 'em why they SHOULD care. And then there are the rabid Mac fanatics... aaarrrggghhh!!! OK... maybe that's not Apple's fault; but it sure doesn't help the Mac's reputation.

In my case, I switched to Mac because it was essentially a job requirement. If that hadn't happened, I doubt that I ever would have considered a Mac. I didn't perceive it as a serious computer; I just didn't know any better. I thought it was an overpriced, over-hyped, designer toy, and doggone close to an object of idolatry among undersexed, overgeeked twits and pseudo-liberals.

Then, because I had to, I bought a G5. OK... now I get it. But I still remember where I came from -- I remember that my attitude toward the Mac was negative for no good reason, but I didn't know it. I felt perfectly justified in totally dismissing the Mac. I think it's a culture thing. The Windows world really is a lot like the Matrix, in the sense that when that's all you know, you think that's all there is. I suppose the same is true for the Mac world too; it's just that Windows is nearly ubiquitous, so that tends to reinforce its dominance. So, for most folks, the Mac is out of sight, and out of mind.

As it turns out, I actually prefer the Mac OS X environment over Windows. I'm still a Windows user, and it works just fine for running the only remaining app that I need it for -- MS Project. For everything else, I prefer to work in OS X. But so what? Everyone has preferences, and I'm not talking about preferences here. Arguments over that sort of thing are pointless, and in any case they're unresolvable. I'm not even talking about the perceived advantages of one system over another. I'm talking about the uphill battle that Apple has in getting people to even CONSIDER the Mac as a viable alternative to Windows boxes. The point is that I never suspected that there could even BE such a huge difference. Apple never convinced me, and I doubt that they're going to convince enough others to make a big difference in their market share anytime soon. Maybe this Mac Mini deal will help.

Then again, maybe it won't. Price is certainly one of the roadblocks. Until I actually used a Mac, I had no basis on which to assess the price differential between Macs and Windows boxes. All I could see is that "Macs are more expensive." I KNOW I'm not the only person who thinks like that. Yeah...NOW I know that the price differential is irrelevant, because NOW I know the Mac's benefits. But how was I supposed to know that when all I knew was Windows, and I saw the Mac as a joke?

I don't know how Apple can convince anyone to "think different". I had heard all the pro-Mac arguments, and it all sounded like noise to me. The only thing that actually convinced me was actually using a Mac to do some real work, day in and day out. Installing software. Uninstalling software. Seeing how easy it is to find where all the stuff is. Being able to look at something and know exactly what it means and understand exactly what it does. It's faster, easier, less demanding...I dunno, it's more intuitive, or something. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it's not easy to describe. Until I experienced it, I just didn't know.

I suspect that's the biggest challenge Apple has to overcome: the general level of ignorance or even the negative perceptions that people have about the Mac... perceptions that, in my case, were just blown away by the experience of using a Mac. Before that, I didn't get it, and I don't blame anyone else who doesn't get it... well, maybe except Apple.

I dunno whether this Mac Mini deal will work. Maybe it means that Apple is finally realizing that the only way to really get the message out is to physically put a Mac in people's hands, and let 'em see for themselves. That might generate some market share for Apple. I wish them luck. They're gonna need it.

Posted by: slingzenarrowzuvowtrayjissforchin   Posted on: 08/31/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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