No, I’m not going back to school (at least not right now) but I am getting a MacBook Air. I purchased it on New Year’s Eve, for several reasons. I thought it was time to try a new OS, even though I’ve been a die-hard ”PC” since my early computing days. My experiences with Apple mobile products like the iPod Touch and the iPad have been so positive that I’m curious to see if the same is true for a “real” computer. I’m also tired of lugging my old laptop back and forth between the office and home; the iPad, as great as it is, doesn’t satisfy all of my needs as a mobile tech writer.
I labored long and hard over the decision between the 11″ and 13″ versions before finally settling on the 11″ tricked out with extra memory and the processor upgrade. While I was originally drawn to the larger model, I decided that I wanted to go as small as possible, with the correspondingly lighter price tag. When I compared all the options, I found that the 13″ version is actually larger in all dimensions (except thickness, of course) than my Sony Vaio Z, and wouldn’t fit into my everyday backpack. Once I made that discovery (and realized that I could compensate for the missing SD card slot with a simple USB reader) the choice was much easier.
I’m jumping into this project with both feet. In anticipation of my new companion’s arrival by the end of the week, I’ve upgraded my Dropbox account so that I’ll have access to all of my files no matter what computer I happen to be using at the time. I have also ordered the appropriate Waterfield SleeveCase, because no computer of mine is ever going to face the dangers of traveling the world without the protection of my favorite laptop case! The final piece of the puzzle is the Apple SuperDrive, which has been getting mixed reviews on the Apple Store site, so I’ll definitely be putting it to the test.
The plan is to chronicle my experiences as a new Mac user, both with the operating system in general and with some of the more popular applications. There have been many times over the years when I have heard about a new program and been excited to try it, only to be disappointed when I learned that it was available only for the Mac platform, not the PC. It will take some work to find those apps again, but I have been scouring the various best software lists on the web and will be getting plenty of suggestions from friends and colleagues.
Will the MacBook Air become my main computer, or will it remain a secondary device? Will I have difficulty learning how to use it, or will I take to it instantly and wonder why I hadn’t done it sooner? Stay tuned! Whether you’re curious about my adventures or just want to laugh at my fumblings in a brave new world, I hope that you’ll enjoy sharing the journey with me.
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finally…