Windows users are probably in denial

This is my first blog post written using a MacBook Pro. The world doesn't need another Mac user to tell you how crappy MS Windows is. But I've been a hardcore Windows user for 20 years. If Microsoft products pissed me off enough to switch, perhaps it's worth writing about to let my readers know. I'll keep it brief.

The first reason that triggered my major disappointment towards Microsoft was their decision to remove cut-and-paste and multitasking from their coming Windows Phone 7. Either the development team has suffered serious brain damage, or they all hate their employer. Then, my Windows 7 machine has been slowing down. Since my company tnt will be developing for Mac anyway, I bought the next cheapest MacBook by impulse, with zero research. It's like a leap of faith. If you've watched Matrix, it's like taking Morpheus's red pill. Most people would rather take the blue, and stay trapped comfortably within the familiar Matrix of MS Windows waiting for the busy cursor to go away. I've been taking the blue pill daily for 20 years.

When I got home, my kid asked to watch YouTube. Can the MacBook really be that user friendly? I thought. I opened up the box and started the MacBook. The battery was already charged. I browsed the user's manual to confirm there's no need to charge it for 8 hours before initial use. Within 10 minutes, the setup process was done. I got to YouTube. There was no need to install “the latest” Flash. No Windows Update nagging me to reboot. We started watching YouTube in 10 minutes.

Here's are the advantages of MacBook over PC I've discovered so far.

• The MacBook feels heavier, but sturdy. I like it's clean design.
• The adapter comes with integrated cable organizer. Very thoughtful. The power connector snaps on to magnetically.
• It boots up faster, and shuts down faster. Significantly faster. It recovers from Sleep mode faster. It recovers from Hibernate mode faster. Windows 7 might seem to be fast, but the intensive disk activity after booting up slows its response.
• I used to think that the touch pad was ridiculously big. But now I know it's necessary and very useful for multitouch gestures.
• Mac uses the function keys for adjusting brightness, volume, etc. If you need to access F1 – F12, then you need to hold down the FN key. That makes a lot of sense because F1 – F12 are seldom used. The keyboard lights up, so you can work in the dark..
• MacOS is smooth and responsive. No, I don't think you know what I mean by “smooth” and “responsive” if you are a Windows users. Those two words have long been removed from your vocabulary. I've never been so excited about a new computer since Windows 95.
• There's no significant hot spot on the MacBook. I can fry an egg with my notebook PC. My thighs are actually cooked to well-done.
• Uninstalling an application is just a matter of deleting it. So simple?
• Battery life is so long that I've never run out of it in a day. So I can't tell you for sure how long it can last.

The disadvantage so far is that some software is not available on Mac, or I haven't found competent alternatives yet. For example, the excellent Windows Live Writer and Microsoft OneNote. But then again, you can run Windows within Mac by using a software called Parallel!

I am still using my Windows PC as the primary computer because of work. But I already see no problem to have Mac for personal use. I will be exploring ways to use it for work too. The next thing to try will be Android.

As I discover further significant advantages outside the Microsoft Matrix, I'll be calling, like Neo does at the end of the movie: “I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid… you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you. “

Now I gotta fly.