Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

January 29, 2008

The Mic is On: We’re Talking About PC or Mac!

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

The age-old question — PC, MAC, or Something other?

We might talk about:


422387350_b3c21d02bf.jpg


And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring links about PCs and Macs to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?





Filed under Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog |




C'mon. Let's talk!

247 Comments to “The Mic is On: We’re Talking About PC or Mac!”

  1. January 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
    Trisha said

    Hello!

  2. January 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
    Eric said

    Am I first? From class and all?

  3. January 29th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
    Trisha said

    Sorry, I beat you here

  4. January 29th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Trisha!
    How have you been?
    I was thinking about you this past weekend. :)

  5. January 29th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
    April Groves said

    Hee hee…front and center ;)

  6. January 29th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
    Eric said

    Never mind, Trisha beat me!

    Hi Liz, Hi Trisha! I must say that I love the PC!! I am MAC illiterate, so please don’t ask me to work on a MAC!

  7. January 29th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
    Joe said

    Hey Liz,Trish and Eric,
    You all beat me here. :-(

  8. January 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Eric!

    Hi April!!

    Welcome to Open Mic!!

  9. January 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
    Trisha said

    I’ve been ok! How have you been? You were actually thinking about me?

    Hello April and Eric!

  10. January 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Trisha, I was wondering what you’re doing this winter!

  11. January 29th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Good evening everyone!

    Mac at heart, but alas, I switched to a PC in 2000 and haven’t looked back. Cheaper hardware, ability to upgrade on my own, more software options, and I get the best of Apple - ITunes!

  12. January 29th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
    Trisha said

    Well, I’m not doing any gardening! Especially not today

  13. January 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
    Eric said

    Hi April, Erik, Joe.

    Good to see you all here!

  14. January 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
    Trisha said

    Earlier today it was in the 50’s, then it rained real hard and then like an hour later it started snowing.

  15. January 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Erik!
    I only wish iTunes let me have the cover art for songs they don’t carry. Windows Media Player was better for that. My iPhone misses those pretty pictures.

  16. January 29th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
    Brooke said

    Hello Trisha, April, Eric, Liz and Joe. Great to be here tonight. I am excited for this topic after Liz’s post that made me laugh so hard. I needed that today.

  17. January 29th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    Trisha said

    I’ve already gotten my annual seeds for this year already - I can’t wait to plant lots of sunflowers!

  18. January 29th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Liz - you can drag/drop any graphic from the web into the album window - I usually go to Amazon for that. Works like a charm.

  19. January 29th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Joe!
    I was talking about you today. We were talking about live Open Comments at SOBCon07. :)

  20. January 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Brooke!
    That’s me. Here to serve!

  21. January 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Erik!
    That still means I have to do the work. Media Player used to do that for me. :)

  22. January 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Hi Everyone!
    I’m here. A tad late because I went to put on comfy jeans and my new favorite t-shirt…got it at MacWorld. It says “I’m a Mac” :)

  23. January 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
    Joe said

    Liz, that was fun and this year should be even better (who were you talking about me to?) :-)

  24. January 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
    Trisha said

    Does anyone have suggestions for a good windows laptop? I will need a new computer soon.

  25. January 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
    April Groves said

    I love my PC…I am a writer, not an artist, so it suits me fine. But I would like to get a Mac for my husband. He loves graphic design and I can really see how the PC may not do as well in that area…

    And Mac users always look like they have a secret…

  26. January 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Erica!
    All of this time, I thought you were a person. Go figure!

  27. January 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Trisha!
    Your sunflowers will be butterfly catchers for sure!

  28. January 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
    Eric said

    Hi Erica, Hi Brooke

    Wow! We’ve got me (Eric), Erik, and Erica!! This is going to be fun!

  29. January 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
    Joe said

    PC x 3 as I told Brooke earlier.
    I even built one of them from the ground up. Can’t do that with a MAC

  30. January 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
    Trisha said

    Its not that I don’t like Macs, but I already have too much software that is for windows.

  31. January 29th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Joe!
    It’s true you can’t . . .

    One’s a standard transmission.
    One’s an automatic. :)

  32. January 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
    Brooke said

    I have both Mac and PC. I like them both. I actually do a lot off my designing on the PC - but the Mac is great for all of my family pics, uploading etc. It has only frozen 5 times in a year and a half. But the pc I have used for a long time and almost all of my clients are on a pc. It is helpful to be on the same platform.

  33. January 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Hi Liz!
    Nope, fooled ya. Just call me Mac:)

    April — I’ve felt like I have a good secret since the day I set up my first Mac — back in the day.

  34. January 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey, Trisha!
    I’d love some young upstart to knock ‘em both off with something more elegant and beautiful.

  35. January 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
    Eric said

    A question for mac lovers:

    Are macs really easier to use? I have the belief that the PC is easier, but of course I’ve been using a PC most my life, and probably don’t know any better! (I’m sure you will ask me to define “easier”, but I may not be able to)

  36. January 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
    Joe said

    Nothing like a 4 speed if you’re plowing snow. Gets the job done nice and neat. And it’s really hard to blow the tranny.

  37. January 29th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Brooke!
    Have a Fat Tire . . . I’m with you. It’s a whole lot easier to be on the same platform as the industry in which I’m working.

  38. January 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
    Brooke said

    Thanks Liz - but I thnk in honor of a future OMN I’m gonna have a wine!

    Trisha - totally agreed. Most of my stufff is for a PC and it’s too hard to change now.

  39. January 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
    Trisha said

    I’m actually using linux right now, but I got it preinstalled and don’t really know how to use it right. I’ve never even been able to update anything.

  40. January 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Well then, Brooke,
    Try this Sancerre

  41. January 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Joe - I build as well. Is it just me or have components crept up in price over the last decade whereas Dell’s prices keep going down, down, down?

  42. January 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Hi Eric (with a c),

    For me, Macs think like I do…so they’re easier. Guess it depends how you think.

    Now I have not yet put Leopard into the mix, so not sure how it will impact my love affair…

    From Erica (with a c:)

  43. January 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
    Trisha said

    If I was rich I’d get a Mac and a pc and a linux (and learn how to use it right).

  44. January 29th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Liz! Thanks for hosting this conversation. I’m in the market for a new laptop.

  45. January 29th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
    Joe said

    J Erik, don’t forget Dell is still a PC. I have an Inspiron 1501 laptop and couldn’t be happier.

  46. January 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Trisha,
    If I was rich, I’d get a guy named Frank and a woman named Lucille. Then I’d let them pick what they wanted to do my work on. :) :)

  47. January 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
    Trisha said

    I heard once that Dell laptops weren’t that good - how long have you had yours and have you had any problems with it?

  48. January 29th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    *Waves* Hi all!

  49. January 29th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Great thinking Liz! I’ll take Frank and Lucille’s clones. Plenty of work here in rainy CA.

  50. January 29th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
    Trisha said

    If I was really rich my computers may not get used so much.

  51. January 29th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
    Joe said

    Trisha, only a couple of months, but I haven’t had any problems with it at all.
    That’s what I’m using for this tonight. ;-)

  52. January 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
    Brooke said

    Witty Liz!!

    So Sancarre? Right now - Smoking Loon - Merlot.

  53. January 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
    Eric said

    Thanks Eri”c”a!

    I am going to do a bit of browsing on your site. My wife is the Wellness Director at Drake University here in Des Moines, so I like to keep tabs on the wellness field.

  54. January 29th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Touche Trisha! (I don’t know how to get the accent mark over the e)

  55. January 29th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Delaney! Hi Rick!

    Oh, Brooke! Here ya go! Enjoy. I can’t drink red. :)

  56. January 29th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Eric,
    I taught for 18 years at Drake until this past spring. I’m now at the University of South Florida in Sarasota.

  57. January 29th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Dear “cs” Eri-a and Eri-

    I was well once. :)

  58. January 29th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Hi all… who is ahead in the holy war? Mac or PC?

  59. January 29th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim,
    I think we were waiting for you to start.

    Would someone answer Delaney’s question? . . . she’s laptop shopping. :)

  60. January 29th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
    Trisha said

    eric - I really haven’t updated my site for a while, like I should be. I’m planning to re-launch my blog early March.

  61. January 29th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
    Joe said

    Erica, you need a French computer ;-)

  62. January 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Tim! Are you keeping warm in Des Moines?

  63. January 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
    Trisha said

    I would answer Delaney if I could - I need a new one too

  64. January 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
    Eric said

    Hi Delaney! Hi Rick!

    Trisha - I’ve had a Dell Inspiron 9300 for a couple years now, and I haven’t had any problems with it (knock on wood ;) - I liked being able to customize it the way I wanted (of course you can do that with about any brand now).

  65. January 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Trisha - avoid Dell like the plague. It was the WORST laptop I ever owned… it lasted all of 15 months before it went KA-PHLOOEY

  66. January 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Hi Delaney! I’ll bet you’ve seen those Salad Creations franchises in Sarasota…we’ll be opening them here in the SF Bay Area soon.

  67. January 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
    Trisha said

    At one time I had heard that IBM thinkpads were really good, but I don’t think they make them any more.

  68. January 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    So far everyone I’ve asked has voted for the Mac!

    http://www.delaneykirk.com/2008/01/im-shopping-for.html

  69. January 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    I’ve got a Toshiba Satellite. I don’t know that I would get one again. Something came loose about a year and a half after I got it. Every once in a while I have to give the corner a rap because it freezes up.

    Of course, it’s three years old now, still works fine otherwise, and has stood up to the periodic rapping. :)

  70. January 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
    Trisha said

    How long do laptops typically last?

  71. January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
    Joe said

    Tim, I think it might be that you burned up the keyboard so much with all those words of wisdom you keep giving to us. ;-)

  72. January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
    Eric said

    Hi Delaney,
    I’ve heard many mention of you through Tim, so I’ve been hanging around your blog as well (except I’m known for looking and failing to comment - I’ll need to change that this year)!

  73. January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Iowa weather has been cruel the last 24 hours. 50-60 degree downward shift in one day…pure evil.

  74. January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
    Trisha said

    My husband has a Toshiba Satellite and the touchpad just stopped working after a while.

  75. January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Erica,
    I haven’t seen this franchise. I actually live in downtown St Petersburg and commute. Is it worth going to?

  76. January 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Actually, Trisha,
    Lenovo has made the last two Thinkpads I’ve owned and I’d still pay the extra for my next one . . . the service is unbelievably good.

    And you can drop the titanium cover.

    But most of all the keyboard is full-sized and has that famouse IBM kinesthetic feedback they were famous for . . . still.

  77. January 29th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
    Scot Herrick said

    Hi Trisha,

    I have a Thinkpad and have had a variation of it at work and at home for about five years now. They are awesome laptops — and spend the extra $100 or so on getting the slightly larger screen. It is only about an inch bigger, but it is surprising how much difference it makes.

  78. January 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Rick,
    I have a three year old laptop too . . . do you think they’ll start walking on their own soon?

  79. January 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Nice spin on it, Joe, but my Dell days were pre-blogging and pre-book-authoring.

    Delaney, I wouldn’t touch a mac with a 10-foot pole. Since Drake has Macs in Meredith Hall where I teach (curse those journalism students), I have to navigate through them on occasion. They’re about as intuitive as stereo instructions in Swahili.

  80. January 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    Do they still have the little stick in the middle of the keyboard for the mouse, Liz? That was the big thing I didn’t like about Thinkpads. I’d much rather have a touchpad.

  81. January 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
    Trisha said

    Liz - are they all large sized? I was planning to get a smaller one that would be better for travelling and use it at home with an external monitor and keyboard.

  82. January 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Scot!!
    Great to see you! :)

  83. January 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Trisha, depends on what you do with one. I’ve been using my G4 ibook for a few years and it treats me well. I have it on my desk, hooked up to a huge Sony monitor and another keyboard. Boosted it with expanded hardrive memory. Use it in a docking station and unplug it to go when I head out.

    I take good care of it (been feeding it Klondike bars since hanging out here) and it treats me good:)

  84. January 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Eric,
    Glad to have you come by. Please feel free to comment….

  85. January 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Trisha,
    It’s only the keyboard, not the numberpad, so it’s millimeters larger than a small laptop. Those with the big display screens just screw with where they put the keys.

    Nothing makes me crazier than being on a keyboard where the keys are in different places. I have an IBM keyboard for my desktop too. :)

    It’s the tactile feedback . . . I’m addicted to it. :)

  86. January 29th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
    Char said

    Hi all! Let me start off by saying why didn’t someone make me start Twittering sooner????

    Second - when it comes to PC and Mac - I go both ways. I have an iMac G5 and a Dell PC.

  87. January 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Ouch, Tim. Liz says be nice…I’m wearing my I’m a Mac t-shirt and I’m definitely more intuitive than stereo instructions in Swahili:)

  88. January 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
    Trisha said

    Char - I’m jealous!

    I just started using Twitter recently too, I don’t know what to write on it though.

  89. January 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Has anyone seen the new Mac Air?

  90. January 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Char!
    That’s bi-putal for sure.

    You can lead someone to Twitter, but you can’t make ‘em tweet. :)

  91. January 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Angela!
    Don’t let peer pressure move you. Pick the one that your head and your heart really need.

  92. January 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
    Scot Herrick said

    And I forgot for Trisha:

    Yes, they are still being made. IBM sold the PC division to Lenovo and they continue to make the Thinkpad — they’ve actually done a bit of innovating on it as well.

    Rick — yes, they still have the little red thing in the middle that can be used as a mouse (my preference when on the road, actually…), BUT, they also now have a Touch Pad. The options allow you to use one or the other or both.

  93. January 29th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Erica - I warned Liz that the gloves might come off for this discussion. I’m sure you are much more intuitive than stereo instructions in Swahili… but we may have to discuss your wardrobe choices :)

  94. January 29th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
    Brooke said

    Delaney - yes! It’s cool except everything is extternal because it’s so thin. That seems worthless to me then…

  95. January 29th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim,
    If you can’t make your argument without an emotional gloves off foray, how strong is your argument?

  96. January 29th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Delaney,
    My husband hung out with the Mac Air at Mac World. Says you can’t beat it for lightness but it so doesn’t meet his needs, has no CD/DVD port if I’m remembering the conversation, and he says he’d never touch one — and this from a guy whose middle name is Mac.

  97. January 29th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
    Joe said

    I’m just glad this isn’t about IE and FF, then the gloves would REALLY come off. :-)

  98. January 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
    Angela Maiers said

    Hello Everyone! I am so excited tonight! Like, Delaney I am in the market for an update. Everyone is trying to talk me into a MAC, but all I know is PC. So,…I am ready to listen!

  99. January 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
    Trisha said

    I can’t believe no linux people showed up here tonight though.

  100. January 29th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Same point, Joe,
    How strong is an argument that needs you to take your gloves off?

    Make’s it sound like it’s not about the computers or the browsers. heh-heh

  101. January 29th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
    Brooke said

    So true Joe…so true!

  102. January 29th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Liz - I didn’t think I was doing a “foray” - just sharing my observations. Sorry that Erica took offense.

  103. January 29th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
    Char said

    You are right Joe! I’m a FF girl for sure.

    Trish - I am finding Twitter really useful already for everything from venting to sharing my latest post and asking questions, and everything in between.

  104. January 29th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Brooke,
    Yes, I understand it doesn’t have a DVD drive but I really don’t use that very often. I love the look of it in the photos.

  105. January 29th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim,
    I didn’t think you were doing one, I thought you were thinking one might be coming . . ,

  106. January 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Tim,
    I’m good. Just not changing t-shirts though:)

  107. January 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
    Brooke said

    Yeah Delaney - it looks great! Also doesn’t have an USB…Bt if you don’t need those things - it seems great!

  108. January 29th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Tim, How’s the new book coming? Any release date yet?

  109. January 29th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Nah, no “forays” coming, Liz… I’ve owned a Toshiba and a Dell and I’ve been “sentenced” to deal with Macs at school. I’ll take my custom-built Nobilis any day of the week… this thing is a tank, I get great service from the shop where I bought it, and can rest assured that my computer will work well when I turn it on.

    But it’s a free country and people are allowed to make their own mistakes :)

  110. January 29th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
    Angela Maiers said

    Has anyone talked about the MAC that fits into an envelope-I came a bit late tonight?

  111. January 29th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
    Scot Herrick said

    Oh…and I forgot to weigh in on Mac versus PC…

    Being in Seattle-land, one tends to get a preference for PC’s quite naturally — along with all of the Bill jokes that go along with them.

    I have three PC’s, one of which is a laptop. With XP, I’ve been very pleased with the stability and good applications on them.

    But, the Macs engineering and styling just rock. The wife and I are talking about replacing the desk PC’s with Mac’s and leaving the laptop as a PC (because my hobby requires software only available for a PC…).

    Here’s a new perspective on thinking through PC’s and Macs: Bill Gates is very much about platforms for computers. Steve Jobs is very much about useful tools for people to use on their computers.

    That has lots of implications — you can probably do more with a PC (way beyond what people actually use them for…). But Mac’s have specific tools built in that work really well. So if what you do is covered by Mac’s built in tools, you could have a good fit. If what you are trying to do is not on a Mac, you should lean to a PC.

    That’s oversimplified, of course — this is a comment on a blog, not a paper!! — but along with the other comments it can give you some good perspective to evaluate the computers.

  112. January 29th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
    Trisha said

    Char - I don’t know what to say because I’m afraid I will bore or irritate someone by writing something they just aren’t interested in reading. But then I tend to worry too much.

  113. January 29th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
    Brooke said

    Yeah Angela - that’s the MAC Air. Delany and I were discussing.

  114. January 29th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Delaney - Thanks for asking - I’m on chapter 8 (out of 10) chapters. I have another observation with the “men in camos” this weekend. I should be done with the core 10 chapters by next week.

    BTW, I’ve been trying to call you the past four days but don’t seem to catch you at home.

  115. January 29th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
    Joe said

    Liz, I just got a Zero Point Module trying to post my last comment.
    It said something about -0- information?

  116. January 29th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Tim,
    I’m currently in Tampa. Jim has pneumonia and I’m playing nurse. Do you need me for something ?

  117. January 29th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
    Trisha said

    Good-bye everyone! I have to go - House is on.

    Thanks for the laptop suggestions!

  118. January 29th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey, Joe,
    If that’s your first zero error, you’re doing well. I’ve had a couple of database problems since we upgraded to 2.3 yesterday. They’re still shaking out. :)

  119. January 29th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
    Brooke said

    I like the music!

  120. January 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Delaney,
    forgot to answer your #75. Yes, they are fabulous. Fresh stuff, no salad bar, salad chefs do the work, you just choose up to 40 toppings plus the protein and dressing — they toss or chop. You eat and take home the leftovers because there’s lots. Of course I’ve got a bias. their website is http://www.SaladCreations.net and you can see if there’s one at your end of Florida.

    and most if not all have free wireless access so you can take your new Mac to lunch:)

  121. January 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Just got here, so who’s winning, the PC or the MAC?

  122. January 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
    April Groves said

    I love House - we are watching it too…

  123. January 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen!
    There’s no clear winner at the moment.

  124. January 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Delaney - just an interesting update regarding the manuscript you sent me last month.

    Hope Jim is feeling better soon.

  125. January 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Looks good, Erica. I’ll have to check it out!

  126. January 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    Good night, Trisha.

    Hi Karen. If my stats are any indication, PCs are winning. Over 75% of my visitors are on windows, 6.5% on Macs, and 1.5% on Linux. The rest are unknown or not widespread enough to talk about.

  127. January 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Speaking of Twitter– wow, what a social media tool! I think that’s one of the reasons the Steak ‘n Shake stuff took off on the ‘net.

  128. January 29th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
    Joe said

    Yeah Liz, every time WP does an upgrade, I get a post to write and a code to share for fixing whatever problems happen.
    That’s one reason I wait until the problems arise BEFORE I actually update all my blogs.

  129. January 29th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Good night, Trisha!

    Enjoy TV!

  130. January 29th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
    Karen Putz said

    I’ve had limited experience with a Mac. I wanted to buy a Mac recently, but the hubby wasn’t convinced. With kids in the house, it seems like we pick up viruses here and there with the PC.

  131. January 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Tim,
    I’ll try to call you tomorrow night. Will you be home?

  132. January 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Where has Mike DeWitt been recently? This is the third week in a row where he hasn’t been here during the normal 7-10 range.

  133. January 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    You’d think that this would be all figured out by now. . . Those two guys are going to lose to the guy who comes along and beats them both. :)

  134. January 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Liz, are you enjoying the storm?

  135. January 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    Angela Maiers said

    Gotta put the kiddos to bed, I will check back later to see what the final word is. Let me know about the envelop MAC! It looks interesting!(sorry Tim)

  136. January 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Tim!
    I know he’s been scarce! He’s working on a new project that he’s determined to make a go of it!

  137. January 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Delaney… I’m teaching the next three nights in a row. Your best bet is Thursday afternoon.

  138. January 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Tim-in the meantime, can you email me the details?

  139. January 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    OK, I’ve off now to make sure my patient takes his medication. Will check it later.

  140. January 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    I’ll ship you off something tomorrow, Delaney

  141. January 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen!
    It doesn’t seem to be storming here. But it sure is cold by the windows. :)

  142. January 29th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Wow, we’ve got a major one by me! Ice everywhere, swirling snow and fierce wind!

  143. January 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
    Brooke said

    Wow Karen - we just havve low low wind chills. I don’t thik it’s gonna storm…

  144. January 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
    Char said

    Since I am having fun with my new favorite tool tonight - let me know who is on Twitter. I’ve added some of you - tweet me

  145. January 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Karen,
    where are you? Which suburb?

  146. January 29th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Char, I just started on Twitter. I’m DeafMom.

  147. January 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Angela - no apology needed… I’m also intrigued by a mac that would fit into an envelope… it would certainly facilitate the “return to sender” action.

  148. January 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Good night Delaney!
    thanks for coming!

  149. January 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Liz, I’m in Bolingbrook. Did you catch the news last week? I was denied some shakes at Steak ‘n Shake and it hit the news.

  150. January 29th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen,
    I caught a bit of it. But I didn’t realize it was YOU!

  151. January 29th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
    Brooke said

    Char Im on - squishythefish.

  152. January 29th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Hi, I’m back. Sorry for the blip. Had to grab a sweater (it is bloody cold here no matter how much I crank up the heat) and while away the phone rang and…………

  153. January 29th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Yeah, that was me. All I wanted was two darned shakes… thanks to Glenda, it has been going around the ‘net pretty well.

    http://putzworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/steak-and-shake-looks-like-this-touched.html

  154. January 29th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Tim - this whole Mac/PC debate would make for an interesting segue in our creativity class. Natural assumptions that PCs = left brain; Mac = right.

  155. January 29th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Karen, just went and read your post about the shake up. Glad it’s getting around.

  156. January 29th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Char - twit at jerikpotter

  157. January 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
    Char said

    Karen & Brooke - I think I am now following you.

  158. January 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Gosh, I’m so clueless. I have to take my head out of the computer. Karen, that’s amazing! Yea! for you!

  159. January 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Thanks, Erica. I think the corporate office has sat up and taken notice.

  160. January 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
    Brooke said

    Karen - I just read the story. I am shocked because that guy was so ridiculous!

  161. January 29th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Erik!
    That’s a natural assumption — left and right brain — about the folks who built them, but not about the folks who use MACs and PCs. “_

  162. January 29th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Karen,
    Where do things stand now?
    (BTW, it’s snowing)

  163. January 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Brooke,
    Yeah, so ridiculous that people think I did something to provoke his behavior!

  164. January 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Erik - bring this topic up on the March 14 class lecture… it would be a great discussion when we talk about judging our creativity.

    Karen - just read the background story. Have you heard anything from S&S yet? If those corporate types had any brains, they’d be slobbering all over themselves trying to make it right rather than letting is leak all over the blogosphere.

  165. January 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
    Eric said

    Karen,
    I’m just catching up on the whole Steak and Shake situation. I must say that you seem like a very down to earth person who just wanted good customer service! You are fully in the right, and I applaud you for making the situation public. I hope you can get it resolved in a manner that is exceptable to you!

    P.S. - Don’t let those “anonomous” comments get under your skin - “They” obviously don’t have the character to bring their arguments to you in a professional manner!

  166. January 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Brooke,
    Yeah, so ridiculous that people think I did something to provoke his behavior! They can’t believe a manager would act that way.

  167. January 29th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
    Brooke said

    Karen - such a silly argument - what a waste of time you spent on him! Glad itt’s over. Did they offer you a lifetime of free shakes?

  168. January 29th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Well, I have a meeting with the corporate people tomorrow. I’m bringing a lawyer with me from Equip for Equality. They tried to discourage that, of course. I’m asking them to revise their training procedures, install a drive thru access button and a nice apology from the manager.

  169. January 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Karen,
    Some folks have never been supported. They come from a place of “deprivation,” and figure everyone is out to get something, especially some of theirs. :)

  170. January 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Karen,
    Since we’re now entering the food franchise business, I’ll take your story with me as we interview managers. I’d like to use it as a case study and ask the candidates how they would have handled your request. If it’s not answered with a great response, no hire!

  171. January 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
    Eric said

    Twitter folks - I haven’t done this yet. I’m worried that I’ll become too addicted and spend way too much time on it. (I already get paranoid about this with my blog).

    All I hear are good things though! What’s a guy to do?

  172. January 29th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Good idea, Erica! And remind them to never threaten the customer with the cops!

  173. January 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Eric, you Twitter, you get sucked in! Whooosh!

  174. January 29th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Oh, and for the record…I’m a wellness coach who loves Macs, as in computers, not hamburgers with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on sesame seed buns. We’ll be selling salads:)

  175. January 29th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
    Char said

    Eric - I dragged my feet for the same reasons as you are - just do it! You won’t regret it.

  176. January 29th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
    Karen Putz said

    A salad franchise? :)

  177. January 29th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
    Eric said

    I love salads (of course I love Mac’s too - not the computer!)

    What kinds of salads?

  178. January 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
    AnnOhio said

    No wonder it’s so quiet on Twitter..it slipped my mind open mic night!

  179. January 29th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Erica,
    Here’s how I manage my Twitter life… The key for me is discernment and gentle self discipline.
    Come up with some Twitter rules for yourself. ID why you’d use it first. Then set times to tweet (say, one tweet twice a day plus respond to @s when they appear in your Twitter time.) Look at the tweets people make before following them — if it’s many tweets a day and you follow many people, in one screen it could be all them and going to back pages to see a better sampling of those you follow is time-consuming…so be mindful. Also look at their blog or website and see if that’s who you want in your neighborhood.
    I could go n but that’s what a guy could do if he wanted t o…but does he???

  180. January 29th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
    Brooke said

    Well - you guys all have a great night. I wish the MAC and the PC in this head-to-head battle!

  181. January 29th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    AnnOhio!
    I almost didn’t notice you without the cartwheels coming in!

  182. January 29th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
    Karen Putz said

    Time for me to run my kids up to bed. Stay warm, everyone!

  183. January 29th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
    AnnOhio said

    I was thinking perhaps a pogo stick tonight. :o)

  184. January 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Good night, Brooke!
    Enjoy that wine!

  185. January 29th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
    Eric said

    I think this guy wants to!?!?! Of course, it took me 6 months+ to dive into the wonderful blogosphere after I started “wanting to!”

  186. January 29th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    #179
    Erica
    Did you just write that comment to yourself?

    I’m so confused!!!!

  187. January 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    AnnOhio!
    Could you really get a pogo stick to work? That is sooo coool!!

  188. January 29th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Eric,

    Oops. The comment in #179 is for you. I am just so used to typing my own name…sorry.

    Karen and Eric, the salad franchise is Salad Creations. I mentioned it earlier somewhere above??? Anyway, head to http://www.SaladCreations.net they are growing rapidly. Liz, you can find some in downtown Chicago I believe. The website lists locations. We’ll be selling to 50 franchisees in the SF bay area in the next 3 years (I hope:) and then you can all come visit and I’ll treat (even if you don’t use a Mac).

  189. January 29th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
    AnnOhio said

    Pogo stick..probably only in my dreams or on the internets..

    :o)

  190. January 29th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    Good night Brooke and Karen.

    Good thoughts in your meeting with S & S, Karen.

    I’m off, too. I’ve been sitting in a corner too quiet tonight, anyway. Y’all take care.

    Thank you, Liz. Stay warm.

  191. January 29th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Now, I’m really confused. I have to use a Mac to eat salad at a franchise in Chicago somewhere above in the next 3 years?!!

    whew! That’s some goal.

  192. January 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Good night, Rick.

  193. January 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    AnnOhio!
    We could play jacks instead. That I know how to do.

  194. January 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Good night, Rick!
    Thanks for being here. :)

  195. January 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    OK, everybody, I finally joined Twitter

  196. January 29th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Oh Liz! Jacks! I haven’t played for years. Do you have some?

    Hi AnnOhio, nice to meet you.

  197. January 29th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim,
    are you still here?

  198. January 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
    Eric said

    Erica - I thought it was, so I left you comment #185

    Look out everyone!! Tim is on twitter!

  199. January 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
    Todd said

    Hey, I went to the wrong post too! ARGH.
    MAC all the way!

  200. January 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Jacks is one very cool game. Yep, it’s true.

  201. January 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
    Todd said

    Did I miss everyone saying how great he Mac is?

  202. January 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
    AnnOhio said

    I haven’t played jacks in forever…

  203. January 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
    Todd said

    Favorite game and does it play on a Mac?
    Civilizations and yes! It plays well.
    Also The Movies - also on the mac.

  204. January 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Yes, Liz, I’m still here

  205. January 29th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    My younger, older brother accused me once of playing with a square ball and loaded jacks . . . it was the only game I ever beat him at.

  206. January 29th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
    Todd said

    Favorite computer in the house now….my iMac, and it’s two years old.

  207. January 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
    Todd said

    I’ve only played jacks recently for some photos my wife and I took. Part of the fun of 365 days project.

    Photos uploaded … via iPhoto and the iMac.

  208. January 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
    Kelly said

    I’m late! But I’m Mac. Not originally. I used to own a cheap PC. My husband is a diehard Mac person and I got used to his and had to have one. Now, we’re all Mac at home and office. We have one sad little PC for a piece of accounting specific software…

  209. January 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
    Todd said

    Loaded jacks? Hmm. Scary.

  210. January 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hang on Todd!
    We’ll catch up to you!!

  211. January 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
    Todd said

    I was late too Kelly. Studied and then lost track of time.
    And after Liz was so nice today. :)
    Did I mention, Macs rule!

  212. January 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
    Aruni said

    Hi Liz - well we have 1 mac and 4 PCs (1 laptop) in the house. I started out with a Mac Classic…loved it. Then switched to a PC when my work gave me one and have used one since then. I like my PC but I have to say I get quite upset with Windows Vista and other Windows stuff.

  213. January 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey, Kelly!
    Great to see you. I hope you stop over to talk to the sad little PC now and then so that it doesn’t get a complex about being all alone. :)

  214. January 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
    Char said

    Liz - I have decided that Twitter is a lot like Open Comment Night - except that it is going on 24/7.

  215. January 29th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Char,
    I think Open Comment Night is Twitter’s weary old grandmother. :)

  216. January 29th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
    J. Erik Potter said

    Goodnight everyone. Off to brave the cold, winter night.

  217. January 29th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Tim,
    I just popped over to Twitter to get back to someone who just send me a DM. While there I looked for you. There is some guy with your same name who is “Intuitive” or something like that…is that you?

  218. January 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Be safe Erik… see you Thursday night

  219. January 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Todd,
    I’m doing all I can to get you out of Akismet, but it really seems partial to you tonight. :)

  220. January 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
    Todd said

    We have three live computers in the house. My wife and son each have PCS, and I have the Mac. But next purchase will be a Mac to replace mine and hand me down this one to them.

  221. January 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
    Eric said

    Thank you Liz and all! It has been great being back here! I appreciate the conversation. Count this as my official vote for the PC!!

  222. January 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Eric - miss having you in class this semester.

  223. January 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim!

    This message just in from Mr. Dewitt . . .

    Tell Tim that I’ve been avoiding the place since he phished my mailing address…

  224. January 29th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
    Joe said

    MAC or PC
    PC or MAC

    Only one
    Can you truly hack

    If it is games
    You want to play

    Go with a MAC
    It’s the only way

    But if you really need to work
    A PC is the one, he says with a smirk

    Which is the winner
    We may never know

    But be happy with your choice
    Or you will forever glow

    With envy and malice
    And be really quite sad

    When the other computer
    Could have made you quite glad.

    Berma Shave

    Nite Liz
    Nite All

  225. January 29th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
    Todd said

    Honestliy though, I’m considering getting a laptop of the PC kind, just because I don’t need tons of functionality and need to have it be cheap.

    Is it worth the trade off?

  226. January 29th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
    Eric said

    Tim and Erica,
    You’ve convinced me to take the leap. I am now on Twitter. My username is “esppoker”

    Thank you again LIz!

  227. January 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    Nite Joe.

  228. January 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks, Joe, Good night!
    Sleepy swell.

  229. January 29th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Phished his mailing address? LOL… the guy posted it here on open mic night for all to see. :)

  230. January 29th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
    Eric said

    Tim, Erica, and the rest,

    You’ve convinced me to take the leap! I’m now on twitter as esppoker ( I use to play poker, but don’t really anymore)

    Again, thank you Liz…You are an amazing host!

  231. January 29th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim!
    I know I saw that. :)

    I think he was pulling your PC!

  232. January 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
    Kelly said

    Liz, I don’t leave the PC all alone all of the time. We have to use it to make our scanner compatible. One of the downsides to Macs is the number of folks who don’t understand the differences and still sell products. Canon. Ick. We were sold a copier with scanner/fax/etc functions - that didn’t work once we got it in the office. There was a note on the PO that said “No, not compatible with Mac” and the sales guy wanted a sale anyway. So the work around ended up being a PC. It did. We replaced it with a notebook PC. Fingers crossed that one stays around…

  233. January 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    He can pull my PC all he wants, Liz… it will still outperform any Mac.

  234. January 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
    Erica Ross-Krieger said

    I’m thinking the stomach growling means I’m way past due for dinner. Got so caught up here I forgot the time. Nice to chat tonight.
    G’nite Liz, Todd, Tim. Char, AnnOhio and whoever else is still here. See ya in 2 weeks.

  235. January 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Night Erica… don’t forget to change your t-shirt… lest somebody mistake you for a Swahili refugee :)

  236. January 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tojosan,
    When I set my macho-puter self aside and thought about what I do most . . . I type. I need a great display, because I care about how things look. I need a great keyboard because I type. I need speed as fast as the Internet will go and as much memory as I can open Windows on my two screens at one time. :)

    That’s how I decide. :)

  237. January 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Good night, Erica!
    Love the shirt!

    Swahili mac, too funny!!
    Tim. :) :)

  238. January 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    OK, Liz, I’ll behave. for now. perhaps.

  239. January 29th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Tim,
    You always behave and sometimes you dance. :)

  240. January 29th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
    Susan Reynolds said

    Would you believe I was delayed because I was dealing with Mac/PC & file format issues?

    Little problem making sure a video that’s going on the blog and the http://frozenpeafund.com will play on everyone’s screen.

    Are there still snacks?

  241. January 29th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
    Amie Gillingham said

    I cut my computing teeth on macs at school (despite having commodores, etc, at home) and was indoctrinated into the cult of mac at Carnegie Mellon back in the my school years. But it got to the point that I couldn’t afford the mac habit, and my ancient SE simply couldn’t do what I needed it to, so my husband (then boyfriend) got me onto custom built (by him) pcs. Then the chilluns came. And I needed a laptop. So I got pc laptops. And they were teh suxor. So now I am back in the cult of mac, which is logged in remotely to my dead-monitor pc laptop which has all my stuff on it.

    So endeth my computing tale.

  242. January 29th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
    Susan Reynolds said

    Amie’s story is what I call reality

  243. January 29th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    You can say that again, Susan

    Think it’s time for me to get my Mac-disliking tail to bed.

  244. January 29th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
    Shashi Bellamkonda said

    I had this dilemma a year ago - Mac or PC and despite many friend’s good advice went for a PC. Familiarity was one thing and then the fear that my old files will not be compatible. Anyway will think of this when I get a laptop next.

    Cheers ! Great conversation sorry I joined late.

    Shashi

  245. January 29th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
    DaveOlson said

    okay I know I missed the party but I’m Mac all the way…
    Just my two cents…. :-)

  246. January 30th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    Hi Liz,
    Just wondered your take on the conversation…did Mac or PC win??

  247. January 30th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
    Rowan Manahan said

    Hi Liz,

    Sorry for the extremely late arrival (you can issue me a Tardy Slip if you like). Really interesting discussion, in keeping with quite a number that I have seen over the years. If you have become comfortable with a European car, it takes quite a while before you stop turning on the windscreen wipers when you mean to turn left in your new Japanese car. No-one likes change …

    Currently, I am running an XP laptop with Office 2003, a Vista laptop with Office 2007, a Mac G5 tower with Tiger and Office Mac 2004 and a Macbook Pro with Leopard with Office Mac 2008. BUT, I loudly maintain that I am not a geek. Honestly. No really! We have to be able to deal with whatever our clients throw at us, so we have legacy stuff going back to Windows 98 and Mac OS 9 too. So, just in case anyone wasn’t listening - not a geek.

    I spend about 80% of my time on Word, PowerPoint and Firefox, so once the app is open, I really don’t care what platform I am running on. But, I would have to say, having used the two main platforms in tandem for 15 years now; for the ease and flow of working, I prefer Mac. Far too much time spent on patches and security bandaids on XP to get it to its current (relatively) stable position. Vista is just dire. No amount of prettying-up the front end is worth the immense amount of time I spend waiting for basic functions to take place on this dreadful, dreadful OS. Vista? They should have called it Disasta.

    I suppose, as in so much of life, it depends on what you need your machine to do for you. I usually have Word, Firefox, a mail app, PowerPoint and maybe a photo-tweaking app open at the one time and I want to be able to manage files and drag stuff around from app to app with zero hassle. I do not want MacAfee interrupting my flow 20 times a day as it has to on both XP and Vista, but rarely, rarely seems to do on the Macs and I ABSOLUTELY do not want to sit around waiting for windows to open and render - latest count on a brand new Dell Inspiron 1521 with an upgraded graphics card and 2GB of RAM was 22 seconds to open the control panel window under Vista. Not acceptable.

    So which machine do I gravitate to when I’m not responding to client needs? Either of the Macs (as does my 81 year-old Silver Surfing mother). When I pick up a hammer, I don’t want to have to enter into a protracted negotiation with it as to whether or not it feels like punching nails into timber today. I want to not have to think about my computer - it’s just a tool. And I never, EVER, want to have to wrestle it into submission.

    Non-geek that I am, I’m a-veering Macwards!

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