September 03, 2007
My Mac Does Windows
At the Hangar, we stay on the forefront of technology (well, we do in our minds since the costs usually keep us from actually owning lots of cool stuff). Recently, however, I opined right here about the new MacBook Pro laptops headed our way.
They came. They worked. They conquered.
With its ridiculously high-resolution monitor, things never looked better (although the font sizes were so small, I had to use the “zoom” feature a lot). Of course, a high-rez screen isn’t only found on a Mac.
But lots of other things are.
I finally got around to loading Windows XP. Since Apple dumped Motorola for Intel processors, it only makes sense that MacWindows would soon be served up. Since I have some Windows-only software that I use regularly (and like), the need to be able to awaken the machine as a full-service PC was a huge selling point.
It was very, very easy to install Windows (thanks to Apple’s Boot Camp software which walks you through the steps to install it). Of course, the usual tsunami of Windows patches, fixes and updates took some time. Still, my Mac will run just like a screaming PC laptop and runs the Windows applications flawlessly (well, it runs them just like a PC).
So here I am… a new and happy Mac dude.
Now to be honest, I did purchase Microsoft Office for Mac (hey, H|S has a fleet of PCs and they all are Office machines). Interestingly, Microsoft’s stuff looks better on a Mac. Also, I do miss the ability to tinker with Windows machines. Mac has the system set up to be a bit mysterious. While mystery (or is it, variety) is the spice of life, it’s still good to give a man the ability to raise the hood and do some serious tinkerin’ on the thing.
Nah… make it all automatic.
I don’t miss the constant threat of virus and malicious code attacks. Of course, as I pointed out in a previous post, that’ll change when the code devils get bored poking Bill Gates and figure out that some equally deserving, rich folks use Macs.
Justice for all and all.
On a related note, I finally got my Blackjack mobile phone (which is basically a mini PC that surfs the web, plays videos, plays music and, yes, makes calls) to work flawlessly. That’s just in time for the coming wave of discounted iPhones thanks to a wave of competitors waiting in the wings.
Have a Happy Labor Day.