Mac Musings
Macs: Practical and Pretty
Dan Knight - 2002.04.10 - Tip Jar
Bauer starts by mentioning Apple as the exception to computers that come in "the bone-bleached greys of elderly underwear." Then she mentions blueberry, tangerine, strawberry, and grape iMacs.
Remember those - introduced in 1999 and replaced with more
natural shades (indigo, ruby, and sage) in mid-2000. 
Today's
iMacs come in indigo, snow, and graphite. No fruity flavors. No
Dalmatian spots or flowers. Just your choice of blue, white, or
gray.
Ms. Bauer should know this. After all, Macs are available in South Africa these days. Sorry, the "juicy fruitgum iMacs" are history.
But then she goes on to write:
- But in an IBM-compatible world, getting around using an iMac is like trying to climb Everest in Manolo Blahnik stilettos - glorious, but impractical.
Every Mac user reading this who manages to get along just fine without Virtual PC, a DOS card, or a Windows computer, raise your hand. Yes, using a Mac is glorious, but it's also eminently practical.
- Bear in mind that haughty Mac users will tell you they're as compatible with the rest of us as they ever want to be.
Flame bait. Heavens, woman, Microsoft makes Office - you know, Word and Excel and PowerPoint - for both the classic Mac OS and the newer OS X. These are file compatible with the Windows version. How much more compatible do you need to be than being able to run genuine Microsoftware?
She then discusses Apple's injunction against Daewoo (among others) for creating iMac look alikes that infringed on the iMac's unique "trade dress" - although Bauer seems to see it as nothing more than a case of color.
- Still, it can't be all Apple's fault that computer looks seem
to be taking a long time to catch up to their sophisticated
capabilities.
One school of thought might caution against judging a Notebook by its cover. What sort of buckle-brain cares what their computer looks like when what it does has revolutionised the way humans communicate with each other?
One school of thought might caution against judging a car by its appearance. What sort of buckle-brain cares what their basic transportation device looks like when it has revolutionized the way humans travel. Yes people do want just the right brand, body style, and color.
- However, post-modern consumers insist on more than practical perfection. Mass design tastes run to animal print cellphone covers, jellylike watches and Hello Kitty handbags. Style is why people buy Mont Blanc pens, not two-buck Bics that work just as well.
Now we're getting somewhere. Although the fruity flavors and flowers are iMac history, style is as much a reason for buying a Mac as productivity. Sure, we work better on a Mac, but it certainly doesn't hurt that it also looks good.
- Henry Ford's famous quip about how his 1926 Model T, the world's first mass-produced car, was "available in any colour so long as it's black" sounds quaint until you stare down the rows of dried porridge PCs that are our Model Ts.
Although Bauer doesn't want to admit it, Macs do what computers do - enable us to be more productive - and even share files with the Wintel masses. Too bad she won't consider a crisp white iBook, indigo iMac, titanium PowerBook, or silver-gray Power Mac instead of another "dried porridge" PC.
But that's her choice.
- We may be at the primitive end of the information age but if I can buy a digital diary covered in purple fur and a dancing alarm clock, can anyone tell me why I can't have a pink computer?
Who says you can't? (And that link is real, unlike this one.)
Seriously, if someone wants a pink laptop, it's far more likely to come from Apple than H-Paq, Dell, or any of the other major Wintel vendors. Stilettos optional, but like Reese Whitherspoon in Legally Blonde, you'll still be able to get all your work done.
Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent articles by Dan Knight
- Kill Caps Lock, but Leave the Rest of My Keyboard Alone (Mostly), 2012.02.03. It's too easy to hit Caps Lock by accident, but why change a keyboard layout that billions of users are comfortable with?
- Is This RIM's Macintosh Moment?, 2012.01.25. In 1996, Apple was in dire straits, but Steve Jobs redefined the company. Now it's do or die time for RIM.
- Saying Good-bye to Inkjet Printers, 2012.01.18. Apple has discontinued its $100 printer rebates, but even a free inkjet printer is false economy.
- More in the Mac Musings index.
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.
- February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Fix Home Button Delay, Tablet the Ultimate Mobile PC, iPad Notebook a Possibility, and More, iOS News Review, 2012.02.10. Also using your iPad at work, two photo editors, a new iPad text editor, Macally's magnetic iPad 2 stand, and more.
- White MacBook Goes End-of-Life, Logitech Touch Mouse Supports Gestures, Firmware Updates, and More, The 'Book Review, 2012.02.10. Also MacBook Air better than any Ultrabook, docks for MacBook Pro models, Intel offers improved SSDs, and more.
- Mac and iOS Browsers: Options Galore, Freeware Forum, 2012.02.10. Safari is adequate on Mac and great on iOS, but the range of good alternatives is stunning. LEM writers share their favorites.
- Apple's Support Lead Shipping, Smartphones Outsell PCs, OS X Ported to ARM by Intern, and More, Mac News Review, 2012.02.10. Also the power of Tex-Edit Plus, Google and Twitter are already censoring the Web, Snow Leopard Security Update, and more.
- LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
- 15 Years Ago Motorola Unveiled the PowerPC G3, Low End Mac Round Table, 2012.02.06. The G3 processor was optimized for real world Mac software and made a big leap forward in efficiency.
- Don't Kill Caps Lock, Learning to Love the iOS Keyboard, and an Adaptive iPad Keyboard, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2012.02.06. The Caps Lock key has a useful function, the iPad's keyboard really is useful, and checking out an adaptive keyboard for the iPad.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals
- Best iPod classic Deals
- Best eMac Deals
- Best MacBook Air Deals
- Best iBook G4 Deals
- Best iPad Deals
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals
- Best Apple TV Deals
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact
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.
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac Museum
DealMac
Deal Brothers
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ
Affiliates
Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay
