Then Come Get Some!

This here is my brand, spankin' new computer, a Macintosh Powerbook G3/300. It's a beaut ain't it? The white logo even glows in the dark when you have the computer on. The entire machine is a testament to the strength and creativity of Apple's industrial design group and points to the fact that they don't just make computers, they make works of art. And to me, that's better than being just another PC "clone" anyday.

However, the Mac G3s just aren't about looks alone. They're just about the fastest desktop and laptop systems you can find anywhere these days. At a zippy 300 Mhz, my system dazzles with a 14.1" display set to a 1024 x 768 resolution. Crystal clear. I can't even set my old 15" monitor at home to 800 x 600 resolution without going blind after an hour. The processor is so snappy that I can even run Windows NT via Virtual PC without having to take a nap first.

The feature that I love most about Macs though is the ability to personalize the desktop however I like. Although this capability isn't built-in to the Mac OS, it is provided most admirably by Greg Landweber and Arlo Rose's incredible Kaleidoscope 2.1 control panel. With it, you can utilize schemes that basically change the entire look of your desktop. And browsing through the archives, you'd be astounded at the hundreds of high quality desktop artwork available for free or as shareware. The scheme that I currently enjoy is Obsidian 1.5. Click on graphic to the right to get a bigger picture. Windows 95 and 98 have similar features but as usual, neither pull it off with as much style and grace as on Macs.

One concession that I will make to the Windows crowd is that the Start Menu bar is a very good feature. And it seems like I'm not the only one who uses a Mac and thinks that way too otherwise Proteron wouldn't have a reason to create the hugely successful control panel, GoMac 1.6, which replicates the program bar and Start Menu for Macs and gives them a distinctly Mac flavor. It's made organizing programs a lot easier since NOW Menus hasn't had a decent upgrade in ages. You can see GoMac in action by clicking on the desktop picture above.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to bash PCs although it might seem like it every now and then. ;-p Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses but my personality forces me to favor Macs. 'sides, I'd like to think that I've worked with both systems enough to make a relatively unbiased opinion on the quality of each. But I guess 4 years at a pro-Mac university was enough to alter my computer preferences for good. Maybe if I actually cared much about computer games I'd be a full-blown PC buff. But I'm not so that's the way the ball rolls. In conclusion, this shirt that I found at the MacSurfShop, pretty much sums up my computer inclination. Cheers. =)