I don't know if I would really count as a switcher because I have an old MacBook, but I am considering replacing my Dell desktop with an iMac. There are several reasons why switching to an iMac for my desktop is an appealing idea, and it seems like the upcoming model would be a good time to jump back into the Apple world, if it does indeed feature a non-reflective screen, which I find preferable to the shiny displays Apple has been sporting. However, I do have some reservations about buying a new Mac, and I'd like to get just a little bit of feedback on my complaints.
Much of my trepidation stems from the direction that Apple has taken over the past few years. I think my favorite Apple machine was the eMate (not sure how many people remember that green thing); maybe its nostalgia for my youth, but I remember it feeling study and usable, yet somehow innovative and fun. That was more or less the opinion I had of Apple as a company as well. I don't get that opinion any more. Now Apple feels like a gadget company that markets to hipsters.
So how does this translate to an actual purchase decision? Well, I want to buy a computer for serious work, not a 27" iPad. I'm torn between seeing Apple as a company that makes high-quality, compact, attractive computers, and the image of Apple as a fashion-over-substance company committed to invading every aspect of human life with some additional toy, while simultaneously eradicating the concept of personal computing.
And this isn't even to mention the "Big Brother" complex Apple seems to have developed. Another troubling thing to me is the integration of "the cloud" into everything (which frankly is feeling forced at this point); from what I understand, Mountain Lion is supposed to require to user log into iCloud when turning on his computer (please, correct me if I'm wrong on this point). This bothers me because, presumably, if I get a new iMac, it will come with the newest OS installed, and I really don't have any interest in iCloud integration. Of course, more troublesome than the actual issue of iCloud itself is that Apple can just force compliance on all new users (if I am correct in the understanding that this is required of all Mountain Lion users).
So really my concern is this: I want a computer which will allow me to work, at a desk, using a mouse, and saving my files on my own hard drive, and while I suspect that this will still be possible on a 2012 iMac, I get the feeling that this is exactly the sort of thinking that Apple sees as a problem for their master plan, and is therefore scheduled for elimination. While I still think that Apple makes compact machines that offer performance and efficiency with innovative designs, I'm not sure if I can really jump on board with a company which I find more disgusting with each passing year.
PCs, despite their disadvantages, seem to offer a bit more freedom, while Macs demand conformity -- this wasn't so much of a problem back when Apple was known for high-end computers that were often associated with education and graphic design, but as they slowly morph into the manufacturing front for iTunes/App Store, I'm not sure if I'm willing to fall in line.
Much of my trepidation stems from the direction that Apple has taken over the past few years. I think my favorite Apple machine was the eMate (not sure how many people remember that green thing); maybe its nostalgia for my youth, but I remember it feeling study and usable, yet somehow innovative and fun. That was more or less the opinion I had of Apple as a company as well. I don't get that opinion any more. Now Apple feels like a gadget company that markets to hipsters.
So how does this translate to an actual purchase decision? Well, I want to buy a computer for serious work, not a 27" iPad. I'm torn between seeing Apple as a company that makes high-quality, compact, attractive computers, and the image of Apple as a fashion-over-substance company committed to invading every aspect of human life with some additional toy, while simultaneously eradicating the concept of personal computing.
And this isn't even to mention the "Big Brother" complex Apple seems to have developed. Another troubling thing to me is the integration of "the cloud" into everything (which frankly is feeling forced at this point); from what I understand, Mountain Lion is supposed to require to user log into iCloud when turning on his computer (please, correct me if I'm wrong on this point). This bothers me because, presumably, if I get a new iMac, it will come with the newest OS installed, and I really don't have any interest in iCloud integration. Of course, more troublesome than the actual issue of iCloud itself is that Apple can just force compliance on all new users (if I am correct in the understanding that this is required of all Mountain Lion users).
So really my concern is this: I want a computer which will allow me to work, at a desk, using a mouse, and saving my files on my own hard drive, and while I suspect that this will still be possible on a 2012 iMac, I get the feeling that this is exactly the sort of thinking that Apple sees as a problem for their master plan, and is therefore scheduled for elimination. While I still think that Apple makes compact machines that offer performance and efficiency with innovative designs, I'm not sure if I can really jump on board with a company which I find more disgusting with each passing year.
PCs, despite their disadvantages, seem to offer a bit more freedom, while Macs demand conformity -- this wasn't so much of a problem back when Apple was known for high-end computers that were often associated with education and graphic design, but as they slowly morph into the manufacturing front for iTunes/App Store, I'm not sure if I'm willing to fall in line.