Friday, July 13, 2012

I Have a Confession to Make

Sometimes we play a little game in the barn called, Tell Me Three Things I Didn't Know About You. It is a good way to get to know the people you're working with. I'm often at a disadvantage since every detail of my life for the past six years has been spelled out on a blog for public display. I have to dig deep to find something nobody knows about. Generally that means something from a past that now seems a lifetime ago. In the spirit of that little game we play, in order to tell today's story, I have to make a confession.

I am a geek. 

As in card carrying member of Bill Gates certified geek squad, complete with a former subscription to PC World. I could take a computer apart and put it back together, I walked around with one of those little loose screw grabber things to prove it. I knew BASIC. I blame that on my parents for buying that first TRS-80 and later the Commodore 64. I built networks. PC networks. I certainly wouldn't have been seen fiddling around with one of those MAC computers. Heavens no.

Problem was, I was a girl. A farm girl no less. A career in technology at the time pretty much required you to play D&D, drink a case of Mountain Dew a day and have body odor control problems. I didn't exactly fit in. Unlike my coworkers I was able to communicate effectively. I would attend meetings where all the men in the room would look at me as if they were thinking, "She's cute, but why is she here?"  Then, eventually, I would say something, their thoughts quickly turning to, "Dear God! She knows stuff. How can that be? I thought she was here in case we ran out of Mountain Dew." 

Eventually I became a technology consultant. I met with C-level executives and gave them my opinion on their corporate networks. I can assure you that I never, ever recommended anything other than a PC. Why would any corporation ever use a MAC anyway? I mean what would Bill think? Would he end our long term relationship by taking away my certification? *gasp* Throughout the years I have maintained my loyalty. Sure, I had a marketing job where I was provided with a MAC. I rarely used it. By then I felt I had a decent desktop publishing program on my PC. I didn't need a MAC.

Then, just recently, my laptop starting having problems. Major problems. Like it would get so hot it would nearly set my pants on fire or if I tried to watch an online video the fan would kick in and sound like the space shuttle taking off. Never mind that I had to archive my photos off every few weeks because the hard drive was miniscule. I've been told by experts I should drop Bill and go with MAC for years. I just couldn't let go. What if MAC wasn't better? Would Bill take me back?

Then, one day, I happened to meet an Apple genius while perusing the mall. All he had to do was show me how processing photos in a MAC works today and I was ready to drop old Bill like a hot potato. "I'll take that one," I said pointing to the solid state retina display model. Unfortunately, as in true Apple style, they released a product but didn't actually have any available to sell. I had to wait a month for it to be built and then show up in the mail. 

It arrived today. I've been using the new laptop for a couple of hours and can't even tell the darned thing is on, it makes no noise and is cold as can be. MAC is better. Much better. 

All I can say is, "I'm sorry, Bill. We've just grown apart. I feel I have changed and you are still the same you have always been. It's me, not you. Don't feel bad. I'm sure you will meet someone new. Goodbye Bill."

 

 

 

 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have two iMacs, one laptop and two iPads and all are Apple products. In our house we don't even know anyone named Bill and haven't for 15-20 years. Bill who? LOL Welcome to the dark side, my dear.

Michelle said...

Steve Jobs is smiling down on you, my dear. And I'm sitting here grinning pretty big myself. What was that button? "Windows '95 is Apple '84"?

Unknown said...

Jacks got Mac....now I'm looking at an iPad. It happens.

Wendy said...

I use an imac (G5) at work. At home I have a Gateway, and have had a PC of some denomenation for the past two decades. My Macs always end up crashing, probably because they're so hard to keep clean of the constantly accumulating "crud" (highly technical term there) on the hard drive. I'm still a PC fan.

Karen Anne said...

I had an HP Windows laptop and could have cooked eggs on the bottom of it.

Now I have a Lenovo Windows laptop, room temp, doesn't make a sound, USB ports easily accessible, light as almost a feather.

Not that I think Windows is that great, but Steve Jobs was such a repulsive human being, denying his out of wedlock kid for years, for example, that I can't see myself buying an Apple product.

Michelle said...

Karen Anne, are you as conscious and critical of other genius' failings? For example, do you eschew Ford vehicles (Henry was lauded in Nazi Germany for his anti-semitic writings), and most music CDs (few white lilies in that industry)? If so, I applaud your consistency, if not....

Lori Skoog said...

Can't beat a Mac.

I need orange said...

I still have all pc computers, but am thinking an ipad may lure me to the fruity side........

Karen Anne said...

Michelle,

I do try to only buy stuff from decent companies and made in the US to support US jobs. Sometimes that is not possible.

I never buy anything at Walmart, for example.

Lately if I need something I look first to etsy and ebay, since I know money spent there is going to individuals and is sometimes helping the planet by recycling. That's where I bought my Lenovo, for example, even though I know they're made in China. I'm not aware of any laptop made in the US.

Elaine said...

I don't really care what kind of computer you use--what I can't get over is that a person with your mathematical brain is not a CEO of some high-powered company trying to save us all from ourselves!! Of course, trying to save all the goaties and sheep is not a bad idea either and ducks and llamas, etc., are included too.

tainted with a positive view said...

I felt the same way - my daughters had MAC's way before me and I fought it, but once I took the plunge, I LOVE my MAC! I can't say it loud enough.

Anonymous said...

I have not been here for a while but I have wondered about you. I am happy you have found the home you need. My life is the same, things somehow work out. I do wish you the very best!linda

Dianne@sheepdreams said...

I am definitely not the most tech savvy person. Got an iPhone several years ago, then (after years of frustration with a Dell) my MacBook Pro and last year my iPad. I love them all. Would not go back for anything. It all just makes more sense on an Apple product.

Benjamin said...

I don't know about y'all.. but I'm sticking with Bill and Stevie B. Windows 8 is fun and easy and those new Surfaces coming out later this year will be exactly what I've been looking for in the tablet arena. Not to mention my liberal use of Skydrive and its syncing across my Windows 7 pc and Windows Phone 7.. But all this Mac and PC business is all a matter of preference..

To the topic on hand, I admire your well roundedness. Your ability to technologically geek out AND have a passion for rural living. Its my dream life..

Mike Woods from Carmel said...

I think I have a little farm blood coursing through my veins too. I can see how that would not mix with life in the tech arena.

casacaudill said...

I was a loyal PC person (I also work in tech, incidentally, but not as a developer or programmer). And then I held an iPhone and holy cow. And then I got a Mac. And then I made work get me a Mac. I don't know how I'll ever go back to a PC.