Winner of Our Latest Contest Speaks Out on All Things Apple

Applematters ran a contest to see which of our readers could get closest to what Apple would reveal on September 9th. The winner was breuklen, aka Ronald, who will be receiving a black Speck CandyShell case for his future iPhone. And he has some serious yet irreverent things to say about Apple.

How do you use Apple products in your life? And how long have you been a Mac/iPhone user?
I simply use a MacBook purchased this past February. Before that, I used an aging iMac that was falling apart. It was nearly 9 years old before using it became intolerable. Alief (yes, I named my MacBook; in this case, after my deceased cousin) is for business purposes and daily communication with family and friends both near and far.

What is your favorite app on either the iPhone or Mac?
Skype! It's a great tool to keep in touch as it's not intrusive and very simple to use.

What kind of headphones do you use with your iPhone/iPod?
I use to be a fanatic about headphones. I'd spend more on the phones than on the walkman/discman that I owned. That obsession ended with the iPod. I usually buy a moderately priced pair since my freakish ears can't tolerate Apple's earbuds. My phones are usually black and in-ear. I've used about a half dozen over the past 6/7 years I've owned iPods. When/IF I finally get my hands on an iPhone (see more about that below), I'll spring for a decent, but not expensive set of phones.

What other Apple products do you use?
I'm an Apple enthusiast, not fanboy. I call myself a MacHead. I use the Mac platform for its ease of use and because of its beautiful design. And of course, for its longevity. Besides my MacBook and iPod shuffle, I currently don't use any other Apple product. That may change soon as I'm thinking about buying Bento and the iPhone. I hate, hate, hate AT&T and vowed to never use them for anything again after a disastrous relationship change from Cingular. With recent rumors that the exclusive contract with Apple may be extended, I feel I have no other choice but to consider them some time next year if there are no other viable choices from other providers. The Palm Pre and Blackberry phones just don't do it for me.

What's your take on the fabled tablet?
It will probably be a great product that will redefine the category. And it will probably never be in my home office. It'll be too expensive and not what I need for my business, nor leisure needs. Were I to be fortunate enough to have a recent business idea take off, it may be something I'd buy and then give to the hubby to play with.

Which direction do you wish Apple would go in the near future?
The same direction it's currently going. I don't think Jobs & Co. should worry about the enterprise too much. Microsoft and others have that pretty locked up. The team should focus on consumer products that they can redefine. And simply make their current offerings better.

What do you enjoy about Apple Matters? And how can we improve the site?
I won't lie: I love the snarkiness that I often read in response to posts/essays. I don't read as often as I like, but that's because I have a "real" job and am focusing on my consulting business.

Do you have your own website or blog?
I do have my own blog, but prefer not to hype it. It's been pretty dormant with just a few posts these past 18 months. Twitter and Facebook have been fantastic time-wasters. I've reconnected with some family members and former high school classmates after decades, so I don't have time for real blogging. However, I will be blogging for my own business early next year.

AND NOW TO SOME PERSONAL QUESTIONS:

Your username on the site, breuklen, what does it mean? And how did you pick it?
That's extremely simple = I'm a Brooklyn boy through and through. (Unfortunately, I now live in Queens.) I remember reading about the Dutch origin of the name: Breukelen; it means Broken Land. I only realized later that I forget an "e" after the "k" but like the way it reads on the page. So it stuck.

How old are you?
42 as of the end of July.

What do you do for a living?
I work in retail as a Customer Service Manager/Specialized Merchandising Manager. It's for a well-known brand that I'd rather not mention right now.

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be and why? And could an Apple product help?
As a lifelong Brooklyn resident, I'm steeped in reality. I don't think I could change anything in a significant way as an individual. I'd just wish to see more civility in the world. Celebrities and pols should lead the way, simply because they have so/too(?) much influence. I won't hold my breath though. And no, Apple can't do a damn thing about truly changing the world in any significant way.