Apple Archive

Macs More Flexible, More Friendly than Windows PCs

- 2003.06.06

With the iMac in 1998, Apple was hoping that it would get its users online quickly and easily. This worked, and Apple found out that if the consumer has an easy way to take advantage of technology, the consumer will use it.

iMovie was one of those applications that gave users an easy way to complete the task of editing short movies, which otherwise would have had to be done by a professional. iPhoto gives users an easy way to organize and edit their digital photos. And iTunes lets users play and sort their MP3s from one central location.

The nice thing about these applications is that they are all optional. iPhoto isn't the only application you can use to sort photos - if you'd prefer, you can view them in the Finder and edit them in Photoshop. The same goes for iTunes. You aren't forced to use it; in fact, it doesn't even become the default MP3 player until you open it and decide if you'd like to make it the default.

This leaves things open. If I felt like it, I could trash just about every application that comes preinstalled on the computer, and the OS would still work fine. Apple seems to be trying to find the right balance between a "non-destructible" home computer and a flexible professional computer.

When the average user buys a computer for the home, they want to be able to use it right out of the box without spending hours installing applications and configuring them. In many cases, the user doesn't even know where to begin to set a default browser, for example.

Microsoft's approach seemed to be "if we make it hard for them to change or remove applications, they won't have problems with it." However, that causes a problem in itself. What happens if you decide you don't like Windows Media Player. It's still there, and no matter what you do, it doesn't want to go away. Internet Explorer? It's the default unless you install another browser - and if you decide you don't like the other browser, have fun getting Internet Explorer back as the default.

Apple takes a different approach. Install the applications, keep them available in the dock, but wait for the user to click on them and then ask whether or not that application should be the default. It's a small detail, but it's an excellent idea. This way a home user exploring the computer will probably click "yes" when confronted with "would you like to make this the default for..." dialogue box and have no problems opening certain types of files in the future.

A professional trying to customize the computer to his or her needs has a much easier time. Instead of searching for the dialogue box that will prevent a certain application from loading each time a certain type of file is opened or an action is taken, a professional can simply delete the unwanted application(s) and concentrate on installing the necessary ones.

Apple has done an excellent job enabling any of its computers to be suited for almost any use, even though they may be positioned to different clientele. The PowerBook G4 can be an excellent machine for basic email, Internet, and word processing, while the iBook has the capability of making home movies just as good as any other computer Apple offers.

It's a great strategy; they all have almost the same software installed (except for AppleWorks, which only comes with iBooks, iMacs, and eMacs), so they are all equally capable out of the box.

Join us on Facebook!

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay