Featured

PC to Mac and Back

When I started with my company in the summer of 2006 I was issued a PC. This PC had belonged to someone else previously so I don’t know how old it really was. We got along just fine for a long time – it was reliable and dependable and I really didn’t give it much thought. Then, after I returned from maternity leave last February, it started its slow and painful decline. Just as when we get older my computer was taking longer and longer to do simple things and it would sometimes forget the mission in the process of trying to complete it. Being that I needed a dependable and functioning partner at work (and I had probably threatened a repeat of that Office Space scene with my computer one too many times) I was told I was up for a new machine. I had the choice – Mac or PC. I had seen the commercials (and working in marketing does not completely make you immune to good marketing) so I decided Mac. Yes I need a Mac – why? Why not – they’re cool, hip and slick. Meanwhile Ken, my go-to man for technical issues, doesn’t care for Macs and can’t understand this phenomenon behind them. I didn’t realize his feelings ran so deeply until mine arrived…

It was joyous receiving this new Mac, silver and shiny with interesting icons and…wait a minute where is the right click button? Oh – it’s ok, I can still use my mouse with right click abilities and with an extra push of a button I can access those without the mouse too…whew! This discovery process went on … and on. Wait, where is the Ctrl C, Ctrl V? Oh, its Command C, Command V – OK. Wait SnagIt doesn’t work on a Mac (I use this daily) – It does in Parallels – hmmm. But wait there’s Jing not the same but … almost. And the list continues. Ken would roll his eyes – I had to seek the support of my fellow new Mac users in the office for help. One day while watching me struggle with pivot tables and Parallels Ken realized that the shine had faded for me when I admitted “if I had to do it over again I wouldn’t have gotten the Mac” (or - what I was really saying – “I admit I was wrong please help me”). Ken came to the rescue…

Of course the Mac is slick and fast and fancy. But now I use my brand new, comfortable, reliable, dependable T400 ThinkPad … at least until it starts its decline in a few years. My Mac? It is now on Molly’s desk since her PC is in the later stages of decline. Will she stick with the Mac? Time will tell.

© 2009 Work Life Balance.