Almost25 years ago I wrote my thesis using a word processor.  This was a leading edge piece of technology at the time.  It was a lot more fun than bashing away on my manual typewriter.  It was my Dad’s computer or rather it was the computer he used at work but since he owned the business it was no big deal to drag it home for me to use.

It was a wonderful thing. It was one of the original Apple Macintosh computers.  It was a beautiful thing.  I was amazed that I could write my thesis up and change my mind as many times with what I wrote without it being a major deal.  A quick delete and retype – perfect.

The only other time I’ve used Apple Mac’s were when I managed a team of designers and had both a PC and Mac on my desk so I could work on different types of documents.  The PC for usual business and the Mac for editing documents and proofing.  My office was like a cupboard and there was only room for me, my desk and my multiple computers.  No room for anyone else.

I’m sure you can guess what I took delivery of this week!

We have lots of computing gear in our house but I came to realise that when I head off on my globetrotting later this year I might have to share a computer.  There is nothing worse than waiting for getting your turn on the computer than having someone looking over your shoulder when you’re using it.  It’s like someone reading a book out loud whilst you are trying to read it.  I simply don’t have the patience for that for 5 weeks.

After much procrastination and weighing up the pros and cons.  I finally took the plunge and ordered myself a new laptop and it arrived today.  Or rather I should say I picked it up today after chasing the darn package around the local courier system.

My very own Apple Mac.

Just like the original Mac’s the 21 century Apple’s are as stylish and beautifully designed.  Opening a Mac is like unwrapping a stunning gift.  It’s all packaged up so everything looks wonderful yet everything has a careful purpose.  No wasted paper, bits of cardboard and unnecessary plastic bags.

There are few things as well designed as Apple products.  It’s such a shame that they weren’t clever enough in their early days to conquer the personal computing market.

There’s nothing clunky about the Apple, especially the keyboard which is neat and a pleasure to tap the keys.  Not like the clunky keyboards you get with many PCs.

The stylishness goes to everything, even the operating manual.

I’m such a sucker for excellent branding.

How clever of them to know that my Apple and me were made for each other!

There is one huge downside of using an Apple Mac over a PC.  There is heaps to learn to use it properly.

On the face of it this is just another PC.  But the buttons are in a different place.  The software is slightly different.  But aside from the usual teething difficulties you have with any new piece of equipment the Apple offers some smart, design savy features that make it a joy to use.

The spooky thing is that when you start to wade through some of the how to videos you come to realise how much computing technology is marvellous and more importantly how much Apple Macs have moved on from the first one I used all those years ago.

I’m looking forward to getting to grips with my new techno-pet.  That’s if it doesn’t mysteriously get borrowed by someone else. To be fair, since we used someone’s student enrolment to get the education discount it is only right and proper that he should get a little go.  Little being the operative word