A LOVE AFAIR RENEWED
Dear diary, today I fell in love, again! I know it has been awhile, but I can hardy contain my excitement. So many years have passed since I last felt this way. I have been disappointed time and time again, but finally my love has returned.
THE YEARS OF MY DISCONTENTMENT
As a former Apple employee and long time Apple enthusiast, I can remember, with great fondness, the feelings of passion when I first laid eyes upon the Apple II. That feeling was renewed when I sat at my desk within the hallowed halls of Apple and gazed upon the beautiful GUI of the Lisa for the first time. Having the opportunity to work on a Lisa everyday felt almost sinful compared to the interface of the Apple II. I had been blessed by the Apple gods and I knew it. And, then, I saw why 1984 would not be like 1984. The Macintosh was a “game changer” to coin an oft used but rarely true phrase. It was as if they shrunk the Lisa and made it affordable (well compared to the Lisa). I think my love of tech took a serious turn down the road of obsession that fateful Super Bowl Sunday so many years ago.
There have indeed been many pretenders vying for my affections. I have owned and enjoyed many of the offerings Apple has served up since that first glorious Mac circa 1984. I can’t say that they have not been well thought out, intelligently engineered pieces of technology that have met my particular needs over the years, for indeed they were what I “needed.” However, to paraphrase one of the great voices of our time, “The Thrill was Gone.” Where was that sex appeal? I wanted to feel that giddy enthusiasm that made me sign away my financial soul just to have one of my very own. Yes, the Imac, in all its rainbow goodness was cute, and the Bondi Blue PowerMac G3, attractive, but there was no sizzle. Oh I was somewhat smitten by many of the powerbook advancements culminating in the Intel version of the Powerbook G4 (Titanium) know as, the (first generation) Aluminum MacBook Pro., but nothing that would cause my heart to skip a beat.
LET THE MUSIC PLAY
Like a beautiful sunrise cresting over the eastern mountains, the dawning of a new era rose from Cupertino beckoning me near like a Jobsian Special Event. I was actually excited about the IPod and with the advent of the ITunes Music Store, my interest, as a music lover, was beginning to build. The problem was not the IPod, but rather, the need to carry around my cell phone as well. Considering myself a closet minimalist (when it suits me), I loathed the thought of techno-clutter. Finally, after I could resist the attraction no more, I jumped in and purchased a third generation IPod. I really loved having my music with me, but the extreme weight (in my mind) of multiple devices was a bitter sweet reality.
HOPE RANG ETERNAL
Dateline — San Francisco — 2007 — It was one of those moments when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. It was my first pilgrimage to the land of my nativity (technologically), it was my first Hajj to the Mecca of Apple. It was to me, a very religious experience. I had opted, because of back pain, to forgo the enormous lines of the keynote. Instead, I would be at the main doors eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be one of the first to see whatever Steve would announce. There I was, riding on the Muni from my motel to Moscone South. Everyone was buzzing about the keynote, “what did Steve say?” shouted one person. It was surreal, as though the whole world was watching San Francisco and I was right in the middle of it.
Now at Moscone South outside the doors to the main floor, I could not believe my eyes. A sea of PowerBooks and MacBooks. All of them were refreshing the various sites covering the keynote. “Our prayers have been answered,” one man exclaimed. “They did it, they really did it,” another added. I had to know what all the commotion was about. As I glanced down at the Macbook Pro below where I was standing, I saw it for the first time. Like a lifeless heart beginning to beat once more after being shocked, my heart raced, my palms began to sweat, I was in love. Nothing Apple had designed to this point was close to the iPhone in beauty, elegance, convergence, or the IT Factor. Where do I sign? I thought to myself. All of a sudden, the many pretenders were all forgiven. Apple had made it up to me in a big way. I can still remember the horde of people surrounding the display case containing this most precious of gems forged over two and a half years from the molten metal of vision, engineering, and chutzpah reigning in Cupertino. The promise of the IPod was finally fulfilled in the iPhone. Never again would I have to carry multiple devices. I could have my tunes, calls, email, and internet all in one drop dead sexy device. While I had enjoyed so many of the Apple products over the years, not since 1984 had I felt the euphoric sense of, “MUSTHAVE-ITIS.”
Having purchased the first gen., and now the second gen., iPhone 3G, Apple has definitely delivered on the promise of the iPhone. Like the trusty sidekick of a superhero, the addition of the App Store has transformed the iPhone App Store combo into the Dynamic Dual of the smart phone universe. Leaving home with my iPhone in hand, brings a sense of confidence, dare I say, protection. I feel like I can do anything with my trusty iPhone by my side (OK, that might be overreaching a little, but you get my point).
My restored love and faith in Apple, brought new hope of a very promising future. Something was still missing from my life that would complete me. I needed a new laptop that was as sexy as my IPhone. Something that would meet my needs while giving me that ego boost that comes from being with the sexiest thing in the room. What would Steve do for an encore?
Tags: Apple, iPhone, MacBook Air, Technology
