Watch, Read and Learn: Laptop Purchase

Hi, I am Nicholas and I am a Mac, PC, Linux, Desktop, Macbook, Netbook Eee(1000H w00t)

1st of all,

$1000 does not = low end notebook; $1000 = low end Macbook. This was the point of the ad and is true. Apple needs to make a netbook- iPhone/itouch doesn’t count. They could contribute so much to a market that needs them and considers them elitist for floating so high above them in price. Throw the world A $300-Wait cuz your Apple $400 netbook. This would make the world a greener, greater and happier place.

2. A Macbook-is a finished, whole product, providing a user experience that every Apple employee and as you can tell from the fanboys every user can back 100 and 10 over eager percent.

The argument should not be about the price or the product but people’s attitudes and behaviors towards budgeting and selecting a computer purchase. Microsoft supports naive but typical American consumer purchasing habits in this ad- As everyone prefers their clients/customers: dumb and spendy. She focused on 2 aspects of the purchase- screen size and price point. How stupid (although she got a nice HP)! I know it is the American way to buy based on size and price, but choosing a computer should be treated like choosing a husband or a wife.

Take it even further, when choosing a computer for another person, say a child, this is like choosing a baby-sitter or best friend for that kid. For something you/ your kids/friend/whom ever are going to spend a lot of time with and share intimate secrets and experiences, you might want to hear what others say about an individual model, know its habits, ambitions and plans for the future. Get to know them a little.

Selecting a computer that is underpowered (below recommended hardware specifications) as well as notorious for it’s constant errors, complex, hard to understand interface is usually a mistake. Simply purchasing an underpowered PC based on it’s price or screen alone is like picking an unemployed, overweight drug addict and convicted sex offender for a partner, and while that might be fun for a day or two the relationship will only result in your tears and frustration and is your own fault. If you are into or think your friends and family are attracted to the notion of unemployed, overweight drug addict and convicted sex offenders, then you might want to go login to Dr. Phil’s website, as your issues are beyond my expertise.

It’s not about how big it is, it’s how you use it!

Apple uses the same hardware that is available to all manufacturers (except you damn oppressive Canadians above us, you don’t deserve good parts! J/K). The Mac difference, is in the operating system. Every Mac has the ability to provide a good-to-great experience; they do not offer a low-end, low-quality product to pawn off on you.

Every PC offers a full range of absolute crap-ehh-okay-good-gooder-almost… there- almost there- I’m gonna brick-dang not quite great. This is because, Windows Vista is a gas guzzling SUV of a product. They force hardware innovation like SUVS force wars in the middle east and off shore drilling as we search for the means to fuel these machines (ooh burn admit it!).

So instead of offering her cold hard cash or merchandise, I offer Lauren a free ride to a workshop from the Digital Liquidity Project. I will pay for her digital Kung-Fu Lessons. Lauren has no resource, reference point or principle set for what makes a whole and finished product, provides the most value, or best computing experience. There are simple principles that can be taught to the every day red head (Lauren if that is your real name), that can empower your experience in the digital domain.

Hindsight: What Lauren  Should Have Done & What You Should Do

Logically, she should consider purchasing a netbook, craigslist, for an old Macbook as an option (as she might be aware and admits in the ad- their superior overall- interactive experience factor. Sad that an old Macbook competes with many new PC Laptops-but it is truth and I am no fanboy.

We need to teach Lauren, and others Digital Kung Fu. Purchasing Principles are just one part of that! That is why you are here I imagine.

The Problem With Low End Notebooks & Why Apple Doesn’t Make Em.

low end notebooks, anything running under recommended spec for the operating system, specifically the rink-a-dink 1 gig o ram Intel Celeron, MS Vista Models are a huge problem to consumers and humanity in general.

This is like telling someone that a cardboard box is a place to live and is within their budget. In fact it is encouraging people to choose a dumpster as their digital domicile to screw them out of money.

Apple is really good at making whole products; relying on the human experience of computing to determine value. Microsoft and most manufacturer’s focus on specifications, math and subtle minimal visual tweaks. The PC world is getting better but it’s not part of the corporate consciousness yet. HP and Intel work on amazing interfaces and products but have not quite reached the wheel in their devices.

Full Disclosure- Before You Send The Hate Mail

I am not an Apple Fanboy, treehugging liberal artist living in a friend’s loft in the Bay. I am an IT Consultant with a long career in helping and educating consumers and businesses make better decisions regarding technology. I do not receive a sent for product recommendations nor am I a commissioned computer sales vendor(UNLIKE 99% OF ALL IT CONSULTANT SELL OUTS OUT THERE) AND I am a gun-toating, tree hugging, fiscally conservative, human prioritizing,Windows XP, Eee PC, Macbook card carrying nut and member of a secret organization called the Corporate Underground! Fear Me! Muhahahaha!

-Nicholas McGill

Heroik IT Solutions

650-265-7985