Dear MacFormat, MacWorld and MacUser

In fact, dear any magazine with a passing interest in computers generally – I’m not prejudiced – I have a challenge/proposition for you. Let me explain.

I’ve been a fan of Macs for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, due to circumstances I’d rather not go into, I can only remember as far back as 1990.

It was about this time that I discovered Douglas Adams. I immediately became a huge fan and, as any huge fan would do, I made it my business to find out as much about Mr Adams as I could.

One of the things I found out was that Douglas Adams had a lot of love for the Macintosh computer. Naturally, I wanted one too because if I had a Macintosh I would be a proper writer like my new hero. But computers were expensive so I put it out of my mind, until I became a mature student.

I’d been writing since I left school but had outgrown my typewriter and my Tandy laptop word-processor with its 4 line LCD screen and Brother portable printer.  I wanted to design the page too and use DTP software like QuarkXPress or Adobe PageMaker or even ClarisWorks.

The Desire

It was time to look at getting that Macintosh computer. So I bought the magazines, despite them being aimed at business types and highly paid designers. I sent off for the free guide to setting up your new Mac (from MacUser, I think) and I learnt all about the Happy Mac and Sad Mac. Finally, I started to save my pennies.

And that’s when it got messy and confusing.

I’d been eyeing up the Mac Classic, but Apple were just bringing out the Classic II. So with my sights fixed firmly on the new model I began to find the cash. It took months, but soon I almost had the required amount. That’s when Apple brought out the new, Colour Classic.

Obviously, a colour screen and a faster processor was the way forward so I decided to change my plans again and aim for the new, new model. This was clearly the greatest plan I ‘d ever come up with. I was the Napoleon of Apple Macs at this point. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to set it up when it arrived. And then, a broadside, Apple brought out the Colour Classic II.

By now I had started to get a little annoyed with Apple. Didn’t they realise how hard it was for me to get this kind of money together? Even with a student discount I’d already had to save up about £1500 ( I wanted a colour bubble-jet printer too) and Apple kept moving the goal posts. Something strange took over my mind. Something less “designer” and more “nerd”. Something, “Microsoftey”.

The Shame

It didn’t take much research to see that for the same money I could get a PC with comparable specs as a Mac Colour Classic II. Of course, back then, it wasn’t simply a case of comparing the numbers – Macs and PCs had radically different architecture – but I was blinded by the figures.

Eventually, I made my choice and plumped for a Goldstar 486 PC with Windows 3.1 and I’ve regretted it ever since. For once you get on the PC train, it’s really hard to get off.

Each time I outgrow my PC I have enough money for a new one, but only half the money needed for a new Mac. It just makes sense (financially at least) to stick with PCs. Even if you really don’t want to.

And I really don’t want to.

I’m desperate to change over to a Mac but I just can’t afford it. I even buy the magazines and books in an attempt to persuade myself to keep saving. But then I need to buy food and the money goes away again.

And then I had an idea.

The Offer

Magazines like MacFormat, MacUser and MacWorld are always doing guides to switching, but there’s always something missing. It’s all very well giving tips on how to change over from PC to Mac but what is it actually like?

How different are they really? Does the difference in software and OS make things that much harder to get used to? How much of my PC would I really miss? Does owning a Mac turn you into a douche instantly or not at all?

These are the things we need to know.

I would like to offer my services to MacFormat, MacUser and MacWorld, or any other computer based publication for that matter, in order to answer these questions.

All you need to do is buy me an iMac or MacBook, and I will use it to write you a series of articles on what switching is really like. I’ll cover the obvious stuff like, “where the hell is my ‘#’ key.” And I’ll look at the less obvious stuff like, “How much more awesome am I now?”

It’s win, win for all involved. I get a shiny new Mac (at last) and finally become a proper writer. You get some first hand observations from an actual switcher. What have you got to lose?

Look, there’s a contact form on this site or you can reach me on twitter. Don’t let the competition pick up on my offer first.

Have a think and I’ll speak to you soon.

Lots of love,

Mr Uku xx

Update

Since posting this piece I have been contacted by the Mac Magazines in question and they have all turned down my offer. On the same day, Apple introduced a series of new iMacs.

Coincidence? Probably, but it really makes you think.

Tagged as: apple mac, begging letter, macformat, macuser, macworld