To Mac or not to Mac – That is the question

When you think of cutting edge technology and trend explosive devices, which company do you think of?

If you said Apple, then I’d have to agree with you.

Case in point; in 2000, mp3 players were either huge and inconvenient, or small and useless. But then the world changed Oct. 23, 2001. Steve Jobs announced on that day the release of the iPod; it was a trendy little device that could hold up to 1,000 of your favorite songs, and you could access them with the spin of a click wheel. That day, the music industry was forever changed, and the world never looked back.

Suddenly CDs became optional and a bit dated. Who wanted to burn a CD to listen to on your Discman when you could hold 1,000 songs that would never be damaged due to outside elements?

Apple continuously changes the face of technology. They were always praised for their high quality of computers. Some of the public has feared the illusive ‘Mac’ in the past because of its inability to work with a Windows operating system, but for those who knew the Apple system, they knew it was a gem. Programs like Final Cut allow anyone to change and shape your film, creating your own professional quality movies. These programs are top of the line; while they are expensive, the old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ rings soundly in my mind.

Apple has made leaps and bounds for their reputation with their mass appeal for those who love anything media. Their most recent revelation has been the highly anticipated “iPad,” the latest in tablet devices. Amazon and Barnes & Noble have released eReaders that allow you to store books and periodicals on it, available for you to read whenever you desire. However, the iPad is the love child of the iPhone and the iMac. With the iPad, you can do anything from watch movies to catch up on the latest issue of Rolling Stone.

The question has to now be asked: If Apple wasn’t setting the bar up higher and higher, would any company strive for the greatness that they have achieved? Of course brands would produce trendsetting devices and items that would cause public appeal and mass use, but would they really be on the same level that Apple creates? Windows always seems to have a response to Apple products; take for example the Zune. It’s an mp3 player, but it’s Windows-geared rather than Apple. But how popular did the Zune get? Are mp3 players called Zunes? No, usually you refer to it as an iPod.

Another Apple ‘pro’ than you should be aware of, something that effects the difference between a normal day and a day that you want to rip your eyeballs right out of the sockets, are viruses. Windows has thousands, nay, millions of viruses. They are as safe as a three-year-old riding a bike during rush hour. However, the Apple computers are vulnerable to a whopping one virus. That’s right, one. I’d say it’s pretty simple to avoid one virus. Protecting the files on your computer is a top priority to any college student. Computers contain pictures, schoolwork and even personal work, and nobody wants to feel the emptiness of having lost all of your documents.

So while Apple isn’t the only option out there, it’s safe to say it’s the top of the line one. If you are truly a media enthusiast and you don’t have a Mac, treat yourself. Apple products are there to give you the best possible media experience. So now the only question left to ask is: To Mac or to not Mac?

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.