Fanboy Advices
Short URL for this post: http://plp.me/rq0EVtI realize the impending irony of writing this post right after my small hommage to Steve Jobs.. but somebody on the Internet is wrong. You know how that goes. Jim Darlymple recently blogged about his definition of an 'Apple fanboy':
Someone who is tired of technology being difficult and knows there is something better; someone that loves to get the job done instead of working on their machine; a person that isn’t afraid of breaking the status quo; someone that appreciates quality design and workmanship; a person that realizes cheapest isn’t always best. Apple fanboys are commonly confused with the sensible people of society.
I don't care much about his argument for quality design and workmanship, his affirmation that cheapest isn't always best or his stab at societal common sense. What transpires from the rest of his 'definition' is what I don't want to see happen with the world. Telling people to get an Apple product if they think technology is too difficult is how we'll end up enslaved to the fruit-people. It's supremely important in this day and age not to let technology become overwhelming. Technology, in the state it's in, is meant to be understood and played with, not merely consumed. If you have no understanding of what you're using, well first you're going to be in a world of hurt, then you'll have to rely on somebody who actually understands to help your sorry ass out. Technology isn't kind to neophytes. For every Apple fanboy there is, there's a geek who knows better.
'there is something better'
If you buy a Mac because the alternatives (namely Windows and Linux) are too complicated for you, you have no clue what you're talking about and you should go back to studying technology for a bit. Windows is just as easy as Mac, but has numerous downsides due to its popularity so I won't delve into that. Linux? Well, Linux isn't for everyone. I'd still recommend to try (yes, you can just try Linux without installing it) an easily-accesible distro such as Ubuntu on your old machine before I suggest dishing out over a thousand dollars for a new machine. Calling Apple products better than the alternatives because they're more automated is like calling automatic cars better than standard. If you want technology that will do it for you, come back in a decade or two. Right now, we're trying to understand it and see what we can do with it. Once we have that figured out, we'll let you fanboys know so you can line-up 3 days in advance.
'love to get the job done instead of working on their machines'
Jim forgets that everything from the keyboard he's typing on to the software he uses to post his rants were made by people who preferred to 'work on their machines'. The world needs hackers, people who refuse to settle for what they're given and want to do and learn more. Jim is saying to buy Apple instead, as it's a lot easier to get around while being completely oblivious to what's actually going on. What do you do when your beloved glowing Apple doesn't heed your command? What if you want to achieve something the engineers didn't expect or design? Settling for automation is the death of innovation and right now, that's the worst thing you could possibly do.
'break the status quo'
That's just silly. The only thing that's breaking the status quo when it comes to computer OSes is using Linux. Go in any conference/tech meetup and after you're done counting all the Macs and iPhones, tell me how many people you notice using Linux. The iPod came out 11 years ago. Ever since, Apple has been the status quo. Just look at the units sold, and the math is fairly simple.
Don't settle for a shiny gadget. Technology is beautiful and opens up a near-unlimited number of opportunities. Don't let fanboys scare you from embracing it, and don't let them advise you on what you buy. Evaluatuat the possibilities in front of you and make a choice for yourself. That's the first step to learning technology.
