Creating a better experience

What if I told you that I was learning a new language, like Spanish or Italian…? You might say, “Hey, way to go Eric, that’s fantastic!” You might be really impressed and in awe at my ability to do this. You might be wishing you could learn a new language too and be really jealous of me.  Well, guess what….I’m not learning a new language so there is nothing to get fired up about. But, l’ll tell you what I am doing, and to me, it’s just as exciting. I’m buying a new home computer!!!

Our current family computer, a Dell 4550 has lasted us a good 7 years, but due to what happens to computers after 7 years of usage, it’s now time to retire it. So this is pretty exciting news and my friends and associates are pretty excited too when I tell them that I’m getting a new computer. They say things like, “That’s awesome!” or “Oh, you’re so lucky!” But when I tell them that I’m getting a Mac…dark clouds roll in and the mood suddenly changes!

“What?! Are you crazy? Why? That’s ridiculous!” The Star Wars references are fairly prevalent as well. Because after all, I am switching to the Dark Side. Their exhuberance quickly turns into scorn… their respect for me starts sinking and my credibility as a technology leader is now going down faster than the Titanic. 

But why? The way I see it I’m just learning a new language. I’ve been speaking English and using Windows my whole adult life.  And you know what? I’m going to be speaking English and using Windows for the rest of my adult life. I have no choice because Windows is the language of business.  But there’s one problem: I’m really sick and tired of Windows!  So therefore I’m jumping ship and trying something new.  I want to see if it’s as easy to do the things I want to do with a computer as people say it is.  I want to save time.  I want to do new kinds of stuff.  Hey, some people like spending their Saturdays uninstalling and reinstalling programs. But I’m done with it. And another thing…you can throw out Mac Office too! I’m looking forward to trying some cool new tools to create stuff, which is why I’m buying Apple’s equivalent, iWork instead of Office (for a quarter the price.) 

Most of us 30-somethings grew up suffering with Windows and so we feel bound to it for life because of all the blood we’ve spilled.  So, I guess this makes all of us some kind of sick, twisted blood-brothers.  Well, I am breaking these bonds and leaving the brotherhood behind.

I used to be an Apple-Basher too, but I have overcome these prejudices. I am moving ahead towards something different and new.  I’m passionate about learning. But it only happens when you can overcome your hangups and imagine a new you. You can’t think outside the box, if you are locked inside it. I hope my example can unlock one of your boxes…whatever it might be. In a future post, I’ll give you an update on how it’s going with my new computer. Stay tuned!!!

If you have any comments or want to bash me too, it’s okay…please do!  :)