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Software update popped up with some packages to upgrade. Conceptually, not a lot different from Windows software update, so no real surprises here.

I went on to define an account for my Lovely Wife. One obvious difference from Windows is Fast User Switching; on OS X it’s actually, well, fast….perhaps ‘Instant User Switching’ would be a better term for it. The screen does a way-cool spinning cube transition effect, and bam, you’re on the other account; the switch takes perhaps a second. This is a huge differentiator given our typical home usage.

Interface-wise, I was reminded from my prior days on Macs that the menus are always at the top of the screen, not on the windows themselves. Essentially, to use Windows parlance, everything is an MDI interface, complete with not exiting when the last window closes. Well, not actually true; some applications do exit, typically small utilities. To contrast the two, Windows is consistent, and OS X is logical. When in Rome…

New to me was the dock at the bottom of the screen; this takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s a nice interface, easily customizable and extremely functional.

The keyboard had nice key response but felt a bit small to me, being used to Microsoft Natural keyboards. I was reminded that the Mac version of the Control key is actually not the one labeled ‘Control’, and it’s in the wrong spot. It’s a bit difficult to retrain the pinky finger after 25 years on IBM keyboards.
The mouse had to go. Aesthetically pleasing, but the enjoyment ended there; we immediately replaced it with a Logitech MX Revolution.

Hookup to my Logitech Z-680 speakers required an optical cable and an adjustment to the sound preference panel to select the optical output. In contrast to the hours I would normally have spent finding some reasonably stable Windows sound driver, researching the effects of slot placement with respect to ACPI automatic IRQ steering and associated latency and/or conflict with the video card, ridiculously simple and delightfully devoid of blue screens.

So far, so good.

However, I didn’t realize just how quickly the penalty would arrive.

Slinging heavy boxes around is hot work, and the air was getting stuffy. I resolved to open a window for some fresh air so that we might more fully enjoy the Mac unboxing experience.

There are blinds on the living room window of the heavy-duty metal variety; they have to be raised in order to get at the window latch. As I was in the process of raising them, they detached from the wall and struck my forehead. I stood there stunned for a moment thinking, wow, that’s gonna leave a mark.

I turned back toward Patrick, whose countenance immediately became somewhat pale; he dashed off muttering something about towels. I tentatively touched the impact area, and immediately pondered that the feeling of a lot of blood running down your arm is something you don’t experience very often, but something you immediately recognize when it happens.

It was evident that Mac geekery would have to be postponed; immediate medical attention was required. We mopped up the worst of it, left a note for my Lovely Wife, and headed out.

In San Jose on a Sunday, one visits the nearest Emergency Room to have large holes in one’s person plugged. It’s not a bad place per se, but it’s filled with sick and injured people; this detracts somewhat from the overall atmosphere.

For example, Horfing Man. This poor guy was hurling like it was his job. Deep, guttural, gravelly bass; profound volume.

And he did this every four minutes, for two solid hours. You had to feel for him.

Eventually, if you’re bleeding enough, they do triage and repair you. Five stitches and a tetanus shot later, we were ready to return to the new Mac.

In retrospect, this is the first time I’ve been physically assaulted by a window treatment.

I suppose I can say for certain that switching to the Mac has scarred me for life.

Running Windows is like a job now. The malware situation is just completely out of control; staying on top of it requires constant vigilance. Perhaps Vista might have improved this for me, but what I’ve seen there so far looks like the same old story with new police state overtones. Pity, since the Aero UI is gorgeous.

A good and very persistent friend had been proselytizing the Way of Mac for years; he’d occasionally show up at the door offering a subscription to Macworld, that kind of thing. A True Believer. Secure in the knowledge that he used a superior solution.

You get the idea.

Apple’s conversion to Intel processors and introduction of Boot Camp removed any serious barrier to conversion; my defenses were weakened. Pouncing on the opportunity to win a convert, he demoed his new Mac Pro Quad to me.

My memory of the next few hours is spotty, but it concluded with a trip to the local Apple Store.

This journal will chronicle my switching experience. Hopefully, it can be of some benefit to others making the jump.

I am at peace with it.