| Some less-than-charitable folks insist on calling Mac users a “cult.” Why? Well, who knows, really? Perhaps it’s because people who use a Mac actually enjoy using a computer, as opposed to folks using other systems who seem to wage a daily war to stop themselves from putting a fist through their screens. Perhaps it’s because Macs just work: you take them out of the box, plug them in, and within minutes you’re doing your thing. Perhaps it’s because Macs just look so darn good that we can’t help but admire (and point out to others) their stylishness and innovative design.Whatever the reason, in the end it doesn’t matter: we love our Macs and no amount of name-calling is going to change that.
Some folks also insist that love is blind, so we Mac users need to be careful that our love for all things Mac doesn’t blind us to the Mac’s limitations, annoyances, and even its failures.Yes, it’s true: the Mac isn’t perfect. Sure, the Mac is dead simple to use out-of-the-box, but some of its most useful and powerful features are hidden away in obscure parts of the operating system. Sure, the Mac doesn’t get in your way when you’re trying to be productive or creative, but sometimes it does something (or forces you to do something) that just makes you want to scratch your head in wonderment. Sure, the Mac’s robust design makes it a reliable machine day after day, but even the best built machine can have problems.
When they come across their Mac’s dark side, many people make an appointment with their local Apple Store’s Genius Bar, and more often than not the on-duty genius gives them good advice on how to overcome their Mac’s limitations, work around its annoyances, and fix its failures. The Genius Bar is a great thing, but it isn’t exactly a convenient thing.You can’t just drop by to get help; you may need to lug your Mac down to the store; and in some cases you may need to leave your Mac for a day or two while whatever problem gets checked out and hopefully resolved. |