Published in General on Tuesday, February 28th, 2006
So I've used a Mac since way back in university, back when my parents bought me a Mac Classic II. That thing was great, I remember using Photoshop, I think it was, and all sorts of cool never-before-seen-by-me software.
Right from that first computer there were some things you just had to love about using a Mac, besides just being different. Yes sir, there are innumerable things that I could list as being "the reason why I use a mac".
Would you like to know the single most glorious, rewarding and time saving thing about using a Mac?
Being able to tell people "I don't know, I use a Mac", when they discover that you are a web developer and begin to explain to you how their Win box is borked, and ask you "do you know why it does this?".
So anyways, I don't use a Mac anymore, I just say that I do.
Sitepoint's web devlopment books have helped me out on many occasions both for finding a quick solution to a problem but also to level out my knowlegde in weaker areas (JavaScript, I'm looking at you!). I am recommending the following titles from my bookshelf:
I started freelancing by diving in head first and getting on with it. Many years and a lot of experience later I was still able to take away some gems from this book, and there are plenty I wish I had thought of beforehand. If you are new to freelancing and have a lot of questions (or maybe don't know what questions to ask!) do yourself a favor and at least check out the sample chapters.
The author line-up for this book says it all. 7 excellent developers show you how to get your JavaScript coding up to speed with 7 chapters of great theory, code and examples. Metaprogramming with JavaScript (chapter 5 from Dan Webb) really helped me iron out some things I was missing about JavaScript. That said each chapter really helped me to develop my JavaScript skills beyond simple Ajax calls and html insertion with libs like JQuery.
Like the other books listed here, this provides a great reference for the PHP developer looking to have the right answers from the right people at their fingertips. I tend to pull this off the shelf when I need to delve into new territory and usually find a workable solution to keep development moving. This only needs to happen once and you recoup the price of the book in time saved from having to develop the solution or find the right pattern for getting the job done..
Comments and Feedback
That's excellent, i never thought of that one. Though being almost a year in (to using mac) i'm able to say, 'i don't really know, i use mac now'. The PC situation was getting ridiculous, not even just web dev issues, people at church still sometimes ask me about such and such PC problem. I mean, give me a break! I think i'm going to have to feign more PC ignorance in the future.
I've been a Mac user for about a year and a half, and I love being able to plead ignorance when Windows-using friends ask me for advice with their latest virus infestation or registry corruption. I tell them my computer simply doesn't have those problems.
Yep, it's the key to surviving out in the wild, no doubt. The only problem is, of course, those friends of mine who know I have Win boxes at home.
Maybe I can lie and tell them that they run Linux.. *Mike goes to find some linux stickers...*
That used to work for me until this past week, when a friend of ours suddenly started having problems with 2 of her 4 machines (2 aluminum powerbooks, 1 titaniam, 1 pizmo).
All of them user related, but she now thinks that I'm her personal geek.
Good thing she doesn't have my cell number ...
My job takes me into a variety of areas, primarily encompassing web and graphic design, a little illustration, and a little programming. I've worked with Windows on and off and several times tried to make it my primary platform. However, the two things that kept driving me back to the Mac were that it has a much more efficient workflow when working with multiple applications and files and, generally, its applications are more consistently and thoughtfully designed. It is clear to me that with respect to interface design Microsoft does not take the time to fully understand what they are trying to imitate and that seems to carry over to many Windows application designers, particulalrly in those companies which do not produce both Mac and Windows versions of applications.
I am so jealous of all you Mac owners out there. One day, one day.
Windows doesn't get borked, it's shipped that way.
That's funny, just this week a friend of mine asked me to help her with her mac, and I said "Sorry, I don't know anything about macs" :) (And I said that even though I've had a powerbook for a few months now. ha!)
Actually in university, when people'd ask me to help them with their computers I always said "I don't know anything about computers". They knew I was majoring in Computer Science, but somehow they still believed me. Suckers.
I agree that windows is often frustrating etc. but will MAC people ever get off their rather dull high horse. IT'S A COMPUTER - that's all it is. It is a tool that facilitates the creation of images, webpages, etc. etc. I mean really, people. It's just so dull to hear Mac people going on and on. Steve Jobs cares about you about as much as Bill Gates. Except Gates is a much bigger philanthropist.
For the record I own 2 PCs and 3 Macs.
"I don't know, I use a Mac"
That kind of supercilious retort should warrant a clip round the ear if you ask me.
Grow Up
Hey Chris, kinda think you missed the point; maybe have another read, right to the end this time?
ah sorry!
I just get so bored of the tiresome my Dad is bigger than your Dad" arguments. I get it everyday at work.
So, my points I feel are valid. Just not relevant :-)
That's awesome, I do that ALL the time too! Sunday someone called about getting their modem to connect:
"Sorry, I use a Mac and it doesn't even have a modem in it! I wouldn't know were to begin."
Good stuff.
I have been using a Mac for 12 years. When people ask me what could be wrong with their PC system, I always say..."it's not a Mac".
Wind your neck in the lot of you.
Self important sanctimonious Mac users should be herded together and set free on an iSland where they get have there own wankfest without getting on anyones nerves.
Macs are great machines - I've used them for years but subscribers to the cult of Mac are jumped idiots of the highest order.
I've been on OS X since it came out (2002?) and I use Macs at both home and work. This is great, and I wouldn't want it any other way, but when I head out on contract or into a Windows sea of biege, I'm lost.
Plus the longer I spend away from a Windows box, the more I lose the most basic of skills. It's fine on my own projects, but I do notice a decrease in competence, which can translate to lack of customer confidence in my overall abilities. Sad but true.
Hence, I think it's really important for people to use both machines if they're given the opportunity, as to keep their skills up to date.
I would say I use Mac as it dun fail on me as much as PC does. I guess it really depend on each individual's needs, considering if you are a Gamer, you probably will not be on Mac.
Hm... think this is a bad example. =P