Apple by design.
The first Mac was a well
designed machine, but sadly the Mac has become
associated with style over content in some people's
minds. When really it should be the content has
dictated the style, form follows function.
It wasn't always this way, I think people forget the
Mac existed for a long time between the first Mac and
iMac which helped bring the company back to life.
Macs were for a long time
light grey boxes and came in a variety of shapes and
sizes, and not all were that attractive. Just take a
look at Low End Mac.
Yes, that's a
Mac
For years I came across
Mac hating PC users, but style was never part of the
argument as to why Windows was superior. Nobody ever
said, "You're just a fashion victim". It was all
mainly about the OS, the speed of the chips, but not
what it looked like.
Besides, Apple had
licensed the OS in the early 90s and I
had happily used it on Mac Clone, a
Motorola Starmax. I never chose to use
Macs based purely on their design, it's always
been OS first. Which is why a lot of Mac ads have
been disappointing. So they should just focus on
the OS, and less on the case, or humour. Which is
where the iPhone adverts I think are more
successful.
Motorola
Starmax
The people I know that
switched to Macs just use their computer more than
when they had a PC, I'm talking normal people at
home. Mum's and friends.
Apple have brought design to our attention, and
although I probably would still use a Mac if it
wasn't that great looking (being it's the OS first
for me), I have come to expect that a Mac will be
generally unobtrusive, which to me helps you focus on
just getting whatever it is you're doing done, with
less distraction (or at least not like it was
manufactured in the eastern block in the 80s)
Gateway PC -
It's a new one, honest!
Apple think more as
computer as appliance, not some sort of hobby in
itself. There are those who think the PC
should be some sort toy for those nerdy back-room
boys, a bit like train sets (not that there's
anything wrong with a train set), but a very male
pursuit that you tinker with and bash, like your
old car you've been doing up in the garage.
Apparently it's a very British thing?
(Oh, and Charlie Brooker,
Macs have had two button mice for along time. It
just doesn't look like it has.)
Why shouldn't a computer not look like a
Frankenstein's monster? Buttons splattered all over
and you'd certainly not want it where anyone could
see it. An ugly thing that you bash your shins on
under the desk, but great for flat pack companies who
created a dozen types of boxes to hide your shame
away!
My eyes, will
someone close the doors!
Apple are not perfect,
far from it, but they do have a way of pushing new
technology into the mainstream, which is then copied
by all and sundry. I'm talking more software there,
but Apple were first to get rid of the floppy, and
though vilified at the time, who on earth really
wants a floppy drive now? You may also remember when
the iMac arrived, everything suddenly was coming in
transparent plastic and Compaq stuck coloured bits of
plastic on the front of their Presario PCs, this is design by
decoration.
Compaq
Presario - We do transparent plastic
too!
Apple doesn't have an exclusivity on design, and
there are others I'd use if I could take my favoured
OS with me. I think now it's just normal to expect
something well designed, and if I ever end up running
Linux, I probably would want a non-hideous computer
to run it on, call me crazy.
To fault Apple over
design should also mean you're questioning
all companies concerned
with improving design.
After years of many people not knowing what a Mac
was, I still find it strange that Apple has risen to
such a well known brand, so I guess they're bound to
get some people's noses out of joint.
So, my point? Macs aren't and never have been just
for those who are design conscious and design isn't
just how something looks, but how well it works as a
whole. Ah well, seems as a Mac user you can't ever
win.
Further reading:
From Beige to Bondi
Blue
Mac images
courtesy of Apple Computer, Inc.