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# My Mac Transition, Part I: Initial Thoughts
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/my-transition-1/
- Published: 2010-10-15T10:14:58.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-13T20:46:32.000Z
- Description: Follow me as I return to the World of Apple.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Platforms, Technology, Facebook/Meta, Macs, Rush, The Age of the Platform

After a 13-year hiatus, I have returned to the World of Apple. This is my maiden post on a non-PC. I'm going to turn this into a series of undetermined length.

## Computers and Me

By way of background, I turned to the dark side back in 1997 with the purchase of an Acer computer in Richmond, VA. I figured that I had to get serious about my career and everyone used PCs in corporate America.

So, why change? Even though I dance around the PC at crazy speeds (largely thanks to shortcuts), I figured that it was time for me to shake things up. Complacency is never a good thing. Hell, if [Rush drummer Neil Peart can take lessons in his 40s](https://wn.com/Neil%5FPeart%5FFreddie%5FGruber?ref=philsimon.com), then I learn something new in my 30s. (While the platform might change, the Rush references will keep on coming. Deal with it.)

My MacBook Pro arrived yesterday and I began playing with it immediately. When I bought the computer last week, I had also signed up for [Apple's One to One program](https://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/?ref=philsimon.com) and received my first tutoring session last night. Having something there to answer your questions is incredibly valuable. The hour flew by, only sullied by a broken pen that made my fingers look a bit like the [Birdman's neck](https://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2010/10/birdmans-neck-tattoo-has-become-self.html?ref=philsimon.com). (As an aside, what's with the NBA and these insane tattoos? I just don't get it.)

## First Impressions

In a word, wow. OSX is a much cleaner interface than Windows XP. (I haven't monkeyed around with Windows 7 too much.). I'm reminded of the Big Mac conversation in [*Pulp Fiction*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/?ref=philsimon.com). Macs have the same things that PCs have; they're just a little bit different.

On a separate note, God bless shortcuts. I love being able to do many of the same things that I have done with PCs. And the track pad is just sick. I have to get my arms around it a bit more, but I see many possibilities for time savings. Need a webcam and microphone? Sure, who doesn't. They're inside the computer.

## The Web and the Decline of Proper Applications

I suspect that my transition won't be too difficult, especially with a panoply of sites out there. So far, this Mac 101 site seems pretty good. More than that, though, I should be a quick study because I don't use as many proper applications as I did ten years ago. *Does anyone?* Yes, I still spend oodles of time with Microsoft Office, especially doing so much writing. But ours is a web-based world now and it's not as if I have to "relearn" Facebook, WordPress, or other web-based platforms. Also, while the computer comes with a simple email client, I've been a gmail guy for years. Again, here the platform doesn't matter.

## Our Social World

Of course, the web is a huge place with all sorts of sites on every conceivable topic. While I'm a big Googler, I'm also big on [social search](https://www.dataflux.com/dfblog/?p=4600&ref=philsimon.com). Translation: Putting questions out to my friends on Facebook or Twitter followers has already proven to be an effective way of getting information from people I trust. I already have received a number of tips from people that I may have eventually discovered, but it's hard to know what to tackle first.

## Simon Says

It should be an interesting journey and, to be sure, my PC days are far from over. I still have corporate clients who would scoff at the notion of connecting some weird non-PC to their networks. Hopefully, I can exude sufficient hipness while working on my new toy at coffee shops.