Am I a Mac or am I a PC?

The last time I entered this debate was in 2001. It was my sophomore year of college and it was time to buy my first laptop. I had been using a 5-year-old Compaq desktop, donated by my father for the greater academic cause.

I chose the iBook – it, too, was a sophomore (at least, the sleek white version we’re all familiar with today) . I had grand visions of becoming a graphic designer in my spare time. I think I really just fell for the clever marketing.

Here I am, six years later, asking myself: Am I Mac or a PC? And this time, the question is loaded.

Today, I can’t look at an Apple-produced laptop without an expression of disgust. The sophomore edition turned out to be a real loser after exactly a year, when the warranty ran out. It emerged with a permanently faulty logic board that had to be replaced by the company multiple times. The machine fell apart by its third year. I found myself contorting the monitor so I could see slivers of screen; restarting after crashes from overwhelming heat; simultaneously praying and cursing while watching that insufferable little rainbow wheel turn and turn and turn, waiting to resume activity – but it just never resumed.

I believe that a $1500 machine (including student discount) should last longer than five – never mind three – years. The machine I’m on now is a 7-year-old Vaio, still going strong (but, admittedly, not strong enough if I’m in the market for a new, trustworthy laptop; this baby is effectively a desktop these days).

Which brings me to my point. Aside from my deep trauma concerning Apple customer service in its handling of its faulty iBook effort, I do reside in Israel, where Mac-help is nowhere to be found from a proper Apple dealer or someone I can afford and trust.

What does an (Israeli) torn lover do? I am still attracted to the Apple philosophy, I am still wooed by beautiful design and concept. I am, on one hand, willing to give all to make this relationship work, and on the other, fearful of another abusive experience and of poor (or no) customer service.

Yet, occasionally, I see other Israelis using MacBooks. What makes them trust? Who heals their hurt? Can they help me decide if I truly am a passionate, yet volatile Mac over a dusty, yet trusty, PC?

P.S. If you’re also Mac-owner/victim, read this article for tips on beating the heat.


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Comments

  1. Paul Knegten Avatar
    Paul Knegten

    Get a Mac. “No service” is a myth. Yeda Computers is an authorized service center. Also, w/ student discount (if you’re a student somewhere) if you pick one up in the US is $999 + a free iPod Nano.

  2. eliesheva Avatar

    Mmm… Apparently it takes at least 2-3 hours each way from Jerusalem to get there for service without a car. I need more security. Believe me, I feel like my non-existent child, Jimmy, is being torn from my arms every time someone gives me a reason not to get a Mac.

  3. Kather Avatar

    I’m late to the party but I just wanted to tell you not to get an Hp. The service in Israel sucks ass – bigtime! They consistently screw things up leaving your previous computer stranded in petach tikva for days on end, sometimes weeks. And no hint of an apology.

  4. britishyosef Avatar

    PC… PC… PC… PC… PC…

    Yes, I am an anti-mac graphic designer. Go figure.

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