I was just reading this comment in the Tech Knowledge forum (scroll down to the entry by Kel, Feb 13th) and was reflecting on my experiences with XP Pro on an HP laptop yesterday (see my previous post on the subject of satellite modems).
My friend paid something like $2500 for his used HP zd7000 laptop with XP Pro (which interface surprisingly doesn't suck) and a ton of useful software. The thing is, he had previously visited with me and seen my 15" TiBook. I had sat and explained to him how with Virtual PC you could run anything that you could run on a "real" PC. I explained how the Mac hadn't crashed in two months (except for averaging a weekly Safari crash) and how much easier life seemed with it. I explained how both my digital camera (Kodak DC290) and my fathers (Canon Powershot A80) synced up immediately and flawlessly. How easily I could burn CDs and download and play music. And how much better the text display was (courtesy of anti-aliasing text).
All to no avail. Since buying it three weeks ago he has laid out hundreds in tech support money, getting it to work with his satellite system and fixing configuration issues. Is it just that people have become accustomed to their computers "sort" of working? Of expecting the interface to be confusing and cryptic? (This is not to say that Linux doesn't suffer from the confusing and cryptic interface as well. It does. It's just nowhere as mature and there are very few interface "experts" working on its design).
Why couldn't I convince him? Must have been that damn gold kryptonite.
Maybe Apple needs to start a loaner or rental program. Take one home and try it for a week sort of thing?
Posted by artandscience at July 18, 2004 05:00 PM