Adrienne Adams's Profile

  • Jun 07, 2011
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Latest comments made by: Adrienne Adams

  • I switched about nine months ago. It took me over a year to make my decision. As a web and graphic designer, my livelihood is dependent on Adobe software. Once CS3 with native Intel support was announced, I took the plunge and bought a MacBook in anticipation of that release. I still have a PC for my day-to-day machine, but the MacBook is always running on my desk, and I have become totally dependent (and in love with) iCal, Mail, and several really wonderful 3rd-party Mac apps. As soon as finances permit, the PC will go bye-bye and a new iMac will grace my desk. I will never look back. If you still doubt, take my advice: get a Mac, use it for a month, and then decide.
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Oct 11, 2007 Posts: 6
    8 Reasons Windows Users DO Switch to Mac
  • It's interesting to see how the comments to this article quickly degenerated into a "mac vs pc" argument. I don't think that was the point of Mr. Stoup's article--rather he was describing an issue of credibility and acceptance. I enjoy reading the articles on this site because they are thoughtful, well-informed, and interesting. I don't own a Mac, but I'm interested in different OSs anyway. I come here to learn. A big issue I see with Mac-centric sites is that people who use and enjoy Macs tend to want everyone to share their joy. However, the reality is that people are free to choose, and if my choice differs from yours, the last thing I want to hear is that I am somehow less intelligent or competent. There IS an attitude problem--but it's not just with Mac fanatics. It's a problem with fanatics of all kinds. See Wikipedia's definition of proselytism: "The English language word proselytism... generally describes attempts to convert a person from one point of view to another, usually in a religious context." Proselytism can apply to situations other than religion. Trying to convert another to your own point of view is often a tricky proposition. We're often tolerant of diferent viewpoints from friends and co-workers, but it's annoying as hell to have a complete stranger tell us that we're dopes because we [drive a SUV] [eat meat] [use a PC] [don't worship Jesus]--take your pick. I'm always interested in hearing intelligent, lively arguments. I have no tolerance for arrogant assholes who impugn my intelligence based on my choice of computing platform. Lighten up, folks--it's just a freakin' machine. Macs break, PCs crash, the world is dangerous and unpredictable place. Get over it. I think it's possible to rise above the muck, and I'd encourage all good writers (like Mr. Stoup) to keep at it, no matter what flames may arise. Keep it professional, keep it courteous, and ignore the trolls and wackos. They will always be with us, and it's best not to give them too much attention. This is a great site. Keep up the good work!
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Dec 22, 2005 Posts: 6
    Take It With A Grain of Salt
  • I hope I don't come across as anti-Mac. OS X is a really good OS, one that more Windows users would be delighted to try, if they had an easy way to do so (IMHO). Trying not to hijack the comment thread, but a really big barrier to a wider adoption of the Mac OS is the problem of older hardware. Again, I'll speak only of my current situation--a small public library. We have several old PII's in the basement that are ideal candidates for a light Linux distro. Half of our public workstations (now running 2K) will not be up to snuff to run Vista, so no point in upgrading the OS there--they also make good candidates for Linux installations. None of these workstations will ever run any Mac OS, yet they are still too functional to throw away. Windows is simply too hard to secure for (or should I say from) public users. Using Group Policy is a nightmare, and the PAC tools available are either too expensive or too unweildy. Thus, a Linix environment seems ideal for setting public user permissions. Out staff workstations are less than 2 years old, so we will not be replacing them for at least 2 years. At that time, we might look seriously at Apple--except that, as I mentioned earlier, there doesn't seem to be any interest on Apple's part to put their machines in "government" for a discount, as they do now with education. For any public institution, price is pretty much the only factor that can be considered. So who cares what kind of computers we have in public libraries? The people who use our public workstations fall into two groups: 1.) People who don't have their own computer and 2.) People who can't use their home computer, either because it's broken or they're travelling. In both cases, it would be a great oportunity for them to try out a Mac--and they might be disposed to buy or upgrade to one when the time comes. Buying a new computer is a major purchase for the "average" consumer. I'm skeptical about recent reports of the number of "switchers" to Macs, mainly because it's not really that easy to abandon Windows in favor of another system. It's quite an investment in time and money for an established Windows user--remember how hard it is to change old habits, no matter how bad that habit may be. People still smoke, for god's sake! There is an incredible opportunity to bring Macs to a wider audience (including disgruntled Windows users) via public libraries, but without strong support from Apple, that will never happen--and Windows will continue to be the dominant OS for some time to come.
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Dec 17, 2005 Posts: 6
    Singularity
  • Mr. Stoup, Whew! Sorry to get you so riled up! I gather I came across to you in my post as some sort of expert. I am not, nor do I deliberately present myself as such. I speak only from my own experience. I work at a public library. I am not an IT professional. I did not recently take an introductory course in economics. I have been a Windows user for approximately 8 years. I am in charge of maintaining my library's 18 workstations, for both public and staff. In 5 years we have experienced one (1) virus attack (due to a staff email) and one (1) fatal blue screen (due to third-party software). We run a mixed XP-2K system, with a Linux Red Hat server. I spend much more time dunning people about overdue books than I do in maintaining and updating our PCs. At one point I became enthusatic about exploring the use of Macs in our library. I have yet to learn anything from Apple to lead me to believe that they have any interest whatsoever in supporting their product in public libraries. I am now concentrating my search on several Linux distros, as I have found the Linux comminity to be very supportive, polite, and accessible-- quite in contrast to many people in the Mac world. I attempted to voice an opinion that a diversity of choice in OSs is a good thing. I take it that you do not share my opinion.
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Dec 17, 2005 Posts: 6
    Singularity
  • "Whereas when PC’s get too infested with viruses these days their owners just throw them out." Sure. Yeah. PC owners are too stupid to know how to prevent viruses and/or clean them up. It's really quite amusing to hear people criticize Windows who haven't used it since '95, and who refuse to believe that there are millions of people using Windows right now! this very second! productively, safely, and securely. Is is possible to envision a future wherein people continue to have a choice of operating systems? I would no more want a Windows-only world than a Mac-only or Linux-only world. Competition is the only force that reliably drives innovation.
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Dec 17, 2005 Posts: 6
    Singularity
  • Interesting how the Apple media has seized upon this tidbit of "news" and made a field day of it. As this article rather kindly points out, there is NO EVIDENCE to back up the claim of one million "switchers". The reality is that any established Windows user will have to pay dearly for the priviledge of moving to a Mac. I did the numbers for myself: to move from a Windows P4 tower system with 2 hard drives, lots of RAM, and a good video card to an underpowered Mini would cost me at least $1500. To get a tower Mac that can do what my P4 can do would double that cost. A "switcher" has not only to move data to a new computer, but he/she has to replace virtually every application on his/her computer. In my case, I have over 50 applications (both purchased and downloaded). Every single one has to be repurchased or redownloaded, installed, and configured on the Mac. I would have to purchase several new applications to replace ones that are not available for Macs, and learn how to use them. My conclusion is that I cannot afford to switch. I know I am not alone in this conclusion.
    Adrienne Adams had this to say on Dec 03, 2005 Posts: 6
    Is That a Mac in Your Cart? Hi Switcher!