The Geller household experienced a technological sea change as this traditionally Dell-centric family acquired our first Apple PC, a new MacBook on the occasion of our eldest daughter’s 16th birthday. We already have many computers in our home, so we didn’t really need a MacBook. However, my daughter deserved one. Since we now have more than enough computers in our house, we are thinking of getting rid of one or two. Apparently, some companies can recycle your old devices, so that might be a good idea. Having electronic devices sitting around the house is pointless, so it makes sense to recycle them. Now we have our new MacBook, it might be time to get rid of some computers.
No big deal you say, except for the fact that I communicate about technology for a living, and am a lifelong student of marketing, tech and the convergence of the two areas.
It is one thing to read about the cult of Jobs and the Mac. It is quite another to experience it first hand.
We have been through our share of computers, and I am sure that just like in many other households they have multiplied, sprouted wireless networks, and occupied a larger portion of our entertainment, school and work-related lives. Perhaps we have gotten a little jaded and even spoiled with all this technology. It gets really enticing to buy new technology.
When my daughter said she wanted a Mac notebook, I discussed this with my wife. I even read an in-depth review to find out more about Macs. In serious and hushed tones we discussed the implications of all this – having a new OS and way of computing to support and deal with. My wife wanted me to make sure I let my daughter know what this meant – Mac’s don’t work exactly like PCs, you’ll need some new programs, etc. Except for the blindingly obvious fact that most kids have been there and done that already in the classroom for years, duh, as most schools sport Macs these days.
So of course our fears were unfounded. It gives you a sense of nostalgia to hear your teenage kids squeal with delight like little children. It was nothing short of sheer joy as they powered the system up, and it took them through the simple set up steps.
“Make sure you go upstairs and help them with this – bring the documentation and other stuff,” wife said.
What documentation? What other stuff? It was all a no brainer, they did not need technical support from the vendor or dad for this gig. They had miraculously gotten everything up and running, and onto our wireless network with almost no effort, making me feel like the proverbial unneeded Maytag repair man.
The two sisters, who normally might be fighting were huddled over the MacBook, computing away in no time. A little later, there were some raucous noises from upstairs and I thought that the girls were killing each other. I went up to see what was going on, it turns out that they had fired up a video chat program and were having great fun with another friend using some kind of photo booth program that distorted their images.
