Mac VS PC; Which will it be?

Some people claim that PCs are superior while others will exclaim that Macs are the cream of the crop. Can they both be right? No, but is one better than the other? Nope. It’s all a matter of personal preference.

A lot of people grew up with PCs. When they came across a Mac, everything was new and confusing for them, almost always causing them not to like Macs. This is a lot of the times the reason why PC users don’t like Macs. Of course, a lot of them won’t admit this, but they same exact things go for a lot of Mac users as well. They’ve grown up with Macs and aren’t used to PCs and find them difficult to use, therefore inferior.

I’ve grown up with both. They are both good in their own ways and fall short in others. It really depends what you use your computer for. For hardcore gaming and business work, a PC might fit your needs better. For designers and students, Macs could work better for you.

I like Macs better, and here’s why…

  • A more intuitive and less buggy user interface. Sometimes Windows will screw up on me or just take a long time to do something. Macs tend not to do this. It’s just… smooth.
  • Better integration between hardware and software. Both the hardware and software are made by the same company, allowing for a unity that just isn’t available with Windows computers.
  • Programs. GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto aren’t available on Windows computers. I actually use those programs.
  • There are other reasons, but they are slipping my mind right now.

What do you use and why?

 

 

New competition

Every so often, a new competitor will emerge in your market with something better than what you have and will steal business from you. Sometimes it may be the new ice cream shop down the road, sometimes it may be Google. Whatever it is, you’re loosing business because of it. So, what are you going to do?

What you shouldn’t do is nothing. The situation won’t get any better if you leave it alone. You need to take action for the sake of your business.

There are a few things you can do:

  1. New marketing techniques. Think of some new, creative way to market to potential customers that the competitors haven’t taken full advantage of yet. Come up with a creative marketing campaign that would take the focus away from your competitors. Be creative.
  2. New Products. Come out with something that is better/cooler than your competition. Find something that would set you apart from your competition; offer something your competitors don’t offer.
  3. Niche Markets. If the new competition is especially fierce, than you can resort to niche markets. Find a niche within your market and focus on catering to that.
These are only a few ways to deal with new competition. I’m sure there are more, but this is a good starting place. Good luck!

iPhone 4S: Disappointment or Improvement?

It seems that a lot of people were disappointed upon the announcement of the iPhone 4S. Most people believed it would be more of an iPhone 5 and not an iPhone 4S, meaning most people thought it would be a total rethink of the iPhone and not just an improvement. I thought it was kind of obvious that if Apple announced iOS 5 a few months back than this wouldn’t be a big update. Also, there was an iPhone 3G and 3GS, so it only makes sense to have an iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. A lot of people still thought that Apple was going to release a radical update despite the undeniable evidence pointing in the other direction.

Therefore, I cannot understand why people would bash the iPhone 4S because their foolish expectations weren’t lived up to. Stop complaining. If you (an ambiguous “you”) don’t like what they made, then make your own iPhone. They don’t control you. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it! But please, don’t complain about it.

Moreover, this iPhone 4S has been cleverly dubbed as the iPhone “For Steve”. Although it is clever, I highly doubt that it was intentional. It is most likely a coincidence, but who knows, Apple could have changed the name from “iPhone 5″ to “iPhone 4S” for this exact meaning. We will never know, unless they release some sort of statement about it.

That’s all I have to say about the iPhone 4S. If you disagree/agree with something I said or you have a general comment, feel free to leave a comment. Also, will you be getting an iPhone 4S when it is released? I know my dad will; I might even be able to post a video of “Siri” first-hand… but no guarantees.

EDIT: I understand that my opinion might be somewhat unclear just from reading the above post, so for clarity, I think that the iPhone 4S is an improvement and not a disappointment. I think Apple did a great job with it and I can’t wait until it is released.

The end of an era; the Steve Jobs era

Today, one of the greatest geniuses to ever grace the world, is no more. It deeply pains me to write this, but Steve Jobs, as confirmed by Apple, is no longer with us. Steve Jobs seemed to have inserted a special form of magic into every one of Apple’s products that made them special. I grew up with that magic, that magic sparked my interest in technology, that magic played a huge role in who I am today. Steve Jobs has single-handedly made an enormous impact on my life. I felt as if he was a part of me, and now that that part of me has seemed to have vanished, I am left in an utter state of confusion and disbelief. I am sure many tens of thousands of people feel the same way that I do. Eventually, together, the Apple geeks of the world will pull through. It won’t be easy, but it will be done.

As a tribute to Steve, I will share my experiences with the company up until this point. I honestly wish I could share more than this, but I have homework to do.

My mom worked for Apple for 14 years (EDIT:4 years, but she worked in a mac-centric shop for 9 more years) and she raised me on Macs. I bought my first mac, a Mac Mini, in 2006 (I was in 5th grade). It took me almost a full year to save up all my birthday and allowance money, and even though it took time, I really really wanted the Mac. By that point, I have researched all the technical specs of all the whole Macintosh line and knew them in and out. I could have taught the employees a few things (in fact, I think I did when I went in to buy it), and I was in 5th grade. When I finally got it, I was the happiest kid on earth. This was my first experience buying a computer. Along with this shiny new Mac Mini came my love for technology, a love that I will pursue in college and beyond.

When the iPod Touch first came out, I was one of the first to have it. Over the years, I have lost, bought and found many iPods. As of right now, I own an iPod Nano (won it), an iPod Touch (found it, I lost it previously), and an iPhone 4. Honestly, I would be lost without these.

So all in all, I have 5 Apple products (I also have a 1998 lime green iMac) in my possession, and I am proud to own a part of Steve’s brain children. May you rest in peace, Steve.

P.S. This post has been created on a Mac Mini

My new iPhone 4

I have had my eye on the iPhone for how ever many years it has been out. I’ve had a countless number of iPod touches, but they couldn’t compare to the iPhone. Not having an iPhone was like, at least for me, an audiophile without a record.

I have been stuck using a crappy Samsung flip phone with T9. Even though some people love the simplicity of a flip phone, it’s a little to simple for me. It took me forever to send a simple text message (“foot” is not “what”; stupid T9).

Although it isn’t like me to get a product when a new one is coming out relatively soon (the next generation iPhone is probably coming out late summer), I REALLY needed a new phone. It was coming to the point that that flip phone was limiting my abilities to communicate with my friends and family. It was time to move on and I could not wait for that new iPhone.

I’m happy to say that the days of T9 are over with my purchase of a 16 gb iPhone 4 last weekend. I suddenly feel like I am apart of a an elite society of iPhone users that didn’t exist before I bought it; and it feels great! I’m such an apple geek, haha. I don’t care, I’m proud of it.

A full review will come later.

P.S. This post was written completely on an iPhone 4 via the WordPress iPhone app.