Google apps follow-up
In my previous post about Google's application offerings for the PC, I was discussing how these apps enable Windows users to make better use of their PC and how they are inspired by the built-in features on a Mac. To be fair, Spotlight is the only Mac feature I can think of that goes the other way (i.e. was inspired by Google first) since Google's Desktop Search was around before Spotlight which launched with OS X Tiger (10.4). The point is these apps Google provides are designed to give Windows users the opportunity to work smarter, or to be more specific, make Windows work more like a Mac.
I think that makes Google awesome and I'm glad they provide these applications. Reproducing OS X's features to improve the experience for the rest of the world (using an inferior computer system) is case in point for how Google recognizes OS X as the superior computer system. This is quite the compliment to Apple I think, but they are used to it now. It didn't take long for history to repeat itself; I guess it never does in the computer industry.
Becuase of this, some people perceive Apple as being self-righteous and that turns them off. But hang on a second -- what if you were using technology that was better and smarter, and nearly everyone else you knew was using one that just plain wasn't? Wouldn't you try to change that if you could? Here is an analogy that I think will help illustrate what some people miss:
Could other factors I didn't mention influence one's health? Absolutely... but does that mean you're supposed to sit back and do nothing, hoping little Billy will soon become healthy and start learning despite his excessively delayed development? Fuck no! If she cares to listen, you do you damndest to teach Mom #2 how to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle.
What if you then learned that everyone in the same town as Mom #2 lived and raised their children in a similar way? What if you did your best to teach them to live better and healthier (within their means) but they responded with:
Maybe you would give up in this case too. This playful example is not as extreme as you're probably thinking. It is easily extended to the Mac vs. Windows arena. The difference is this: in my 'real-life' example above we can all easily say Mom #1 does better for herself and her son. But when it comes to computers, we are far more delusional. We either take advice from computer-savvy family members who only have experience with Windows, or we listen to so-called authorities that tell us "there is no such thing as better, it only depends on what you need to use the computer for"...
... when in reality it distills down to this, and only this:
Did you notice that none of the above questions have anything to do with "what you need to use the computer for". In my opinion that statement is really just a copout designed to lead people toward buying a PC. You see this situation in Dell TV ads & flyers or with the overly helpful* sales associate at the local Circuit City, Best Buy, Future Shop, etc.:
What a steaming pile of shit! The cheaper price tag on the PC is the clincher every time. But nobody tells these poor saps that over the next 3-4 years of owning their PC they'll be losing hours & days in lost productivity and therefore wasting more money, that the PC will only be zippy for a month or so as long you don't use the built-in web browser, that it won't break entirely as long as you have anti-virus, anti-spyware, a decent firewall and all the right drivers, that it will go out-of-date faster, that it will take up way more space in your den, weigh ~20 lbs, and waste excessive amounts of electricity. All this when they could spend a little more up front to buy a Mac and start using their computer right away, instead of being used (and abused, and tortured) by Windows.
The idea of these Mac-imitated apps Google makes for Windows is no different than the subculture of Windows users who make their PCs look and (attempt to) work like a Mac by skinning Windows to look like OS X. If you do an exact phrase search in Google (using quotes) for either of the following, you'll get (# of hits):
"make Windows look like a Mac" (313)
"make Windows look like OS X" (69)
"turn your PC into a Mac" (34,500!)
For anyone interested, one such program that will do this is FlyaKiteOSX.
Now do the opposite search and note the difference in hits:
"make Mac look like Windows" (5)
"make OS X look like Windows" (4)
"turn your Mac into a PC" (0)
It's not surprising that people want to do this, but it's odd in a way too. So why don't these people just use a Mac if they so badly want their Windows computer to look like one? Well... I think it mostly has to do with money and software. Money as in the purchase price of a Mac and software as in available titles for the Mac.
Perhaps this little treatise will help these folks to start using the actual computer system they so fervently try to mimick by hacking Windows on their PC. Perhaps the world of lay Windows users will start to catch on as well.
Now, as I see it, the only thing Apple hasn't taken care of is a migration utility to make the complete transition (if desired) from a PC to a Mac. i.e. all document data, email & address books, Internet favourites, etc. Sure there are third-party tools and brief help is provided on the Apple website, but I think a lot more people out there would quickly dump their PC for a Mac if they knew they could migrate ten or more years of their "Windows" life on their own; without the need to pay an IT guy/gal to do it for them. If there was enough desire from tired Windows users I think Apple would do this (that is, if Microsoft's lawyers haven't stipulated that they can't).
I will highlight soon some easy methods to migrate to the Mac from a PC... and that's another post.
* overly helpful to make a sale
In the sense of their enormous and constant growth, you could say Google is becoming the new 'Microsoft'. But whereas Microsoft has always been exploitative of Apple, Google pays homage to them (so far anyway). Pretty soon the phrase "Microsoft of Borg" won't apply, it will be "Google of Borg"! Poor Bill, first Netscape and now Google.
I think that makes Google awesome and I'm glad they provide these applications. Reproducing OS X's features to improve the experience for the rest of the world (using an inferior computer system) is case in point for how Google recognizes OS X as the superior computer system. This is quite the compliment to Apple I think, but they are used to it now. It didn't take long for history to repeat itself; I guess it never does in the computer industry.
Becuase of this, some people perceive Apple as being self-righteous and that turns them off. But hang on a second -- what if you were using technology that was better and smarter, and nearly everyone else you knew was using one that just plain wasn't? Wouldn't you try to change that if you could? Here is an analogy that I think will help illustrate what some people miss:
Two identical twin sisters each have toddlers the same age (genetic fitness for both moms is the same and medical history is unremarkable). One sister's toddler is very energetic, and already walking, talking, and toilet training. The other sister's toddler is 'healthy', but constantly irritable, still crawling, hasn't uttered a word, nowhere near ready for toilet training, and gets at least 4 ear infections/year. This mom purposely got pregnant when she learned she'd be receiving a government assistance cheque for much more money than she makes at Walmart.
The sister with the healthy toddler nursed for two years, eats very healthy - mostly organic foods, takes no medications and does Yoga three times a week. The sister with the 'slower' toddler raised her son on formula, eats like shit - mostly processed foods, takes clonazepam for anxiety, smokes, and never exercises.
Could other factors I didn't mention influence one's health? Absolutely... but does that mean you're supposed to sit back and do nothing, hoping little Billy will soon become healthy and start learning despite his excessively delayed development? Fuck no! If she cares to listen, you do you damndest to teach Mom #2 how to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle.
What if you then learned that everyone in the same town as Mom #2 lived and raised their children in a similar way? What if you did your best to teach them to live better and healthier (within their means) but they responded with:
"Fuck you treehugger, don't tell me how to live my life. You think you're so fucking great with your clear skin and your pretty hair. I'm happy with my life and so are my kids. Go back to your fucking Yoga class and stop bothering us".
Maybe you would give up in this case too. This playful example is not as extreme as you're probably thinking. It is easily extended to the Mac vs. Windows arena. The difference is this: in my 'real-life' example above we can all easily say Mom #1 does better for herself and her son. But when it comes to computers, we are far more delusional. We either take advice from computer-savvy family members who only have experience with Windows, or we listen to so-called authorities that tell us "there is no such thing as better, it only depends on what you need to use the computer for"...
... when in reality it distills down to this, and only this:
Do you want to use a smarter, more well-thought out computer system? Do you want to focus on your work and not on the things that prevent you from focusing on your work? Do you want to create a more pleasing work environment, use your computer more effectively and have fun at the same time?
Did you notice that none of the above questions have anything to do with "what you need to use the computer for". In my opinion that statement is really just a copout designed to lead people toward buying a PC. You see this situation in Dell TV ads & flyers or with the overly helpful* sales associate at the local Circuit City, Best Buy, Future Shop, etc.:
"Okay, I see... you want to type documents, check email, surf the Internet, and maybe watch a DVD? Oh, then a PC is definitely the best choice for you".
What a steaming pile of shit! The cheaper price tag on the PC is the clincher every time. But nobody tells these poor saps that over the next 3-4 years of owning their PC they'll be losing hours & days in lost productivity and therefore wasting more money, that the PC will only be zippy for a month or so as long you don't use the built-in web browser, that it won't break entirely as long as you have anti-virus, anti-spyware, a decent firewall and all the right drivers, that it will go out-of-date faster, that it will take up way more space in your den, weigh ~20 lbs, and waste excessive amounts of electricity. All this when they could spend a little more up front to buy a Mac and start using their computer right away, instead of being used (and abused, and tortured) by Windows.
The idea of these Mac-imitated apps Google makes for Windows is no different than the subculture of Windows users who make their PCs look and (attempt to) work like a Mac by skinning Windows to look like OS X. If you do an exact phrase search in Google (using quotes) for either of the following, you'll get (# of hits):
"make Windows look like a Mac" (313)
"make Windows look like OS X" (69)
"turn your PC into a Mac" (34,500!)
For anyone interested, one such program that will do this is FlyaKiteOSX.
Now do the opposite search and note the difference in hits:
"make Mac look like Windows" (5)
"make OS X look like Windows" (4)
"turn your Mac into a PC" (0)
It's not surprising that people want to do this, but it's odd in a way too. So why don't these people just use a Mac if they so badly want their Windows computer to look like one? Well... I think it mostly has to do with money and software. Money as in the purchase price of a Mac and software as in available titles for the Mac.
Three things I think will change these obstacles to Mac ownership are: the Mac mini, Boot Camp, and the expanding growth of Apple & third-party software titles for the Mac. The Mac mini definitely makes the "Macs are too expensive" rant less of an issue. In Boot Camp you've got Windows if you want it or really need it. And as for software, just go to the Apple Store and see for yourself. You can still use MS Office or you can 'go out on a limb' and try Pages and Keynote, Apple's new Word Processor and Presentation applications included in iWork '06.
Perhaps this little treatise will help these folks to start using the actual computer system they so fervently try to mimick by hacking Windows on their PC. Perhaps the world of lay Windows users will start to catch on as well.
Now, as I see it, the only thing Apple hasn't taken care of is a migration utility to make the complete transition (if desired) from a PC to a Mac. i.e. all document data, email & address books, Internet favourites, etc. Sure there are third-party tools and brief help is provided on the Apple website, but I think a lot more people out there would quickly dump their PC for a Mac if they knew they could migrate ten or more years of their "Windows" life on their own; without the need to pay an IT guy/gal to do it for them. If there was enough desire from tired Windows users I think Apple would do this (that is, if Microsoft's lawyers haven't stipulated that they can't).
I will highlight soon some easy methods to migrate to the Mac from a PC... and that's another post.
* overly helpful to make a sale
posted by IM at 11:18 PM
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