Mac Fans and Netbook Derision
I recently replaced my old laptop with an HP Mini netbook, which I've discussed elsewhere. So far, I've been pretty satisfied. My biggest problems have been with Ubuntu 9.04 (8.10 worked perfectly), not the hardware. But I've gotten Ubuntu configured how I want now, so between the OS and the Mini, I'm quite happy. Battery life is good, the keyboard is fine, etc. The only real complaint I have is that the special "function" key should be to the left of "ctrl" and not between "ctrl" and the "windows" key.
Anyway, I was reading this post at a Mac blogger's site and found it a number of the comments both amusing and befuddling. To summarize, the author tried a Dell Mini with OSX installed on it and didn't like it - the keyboard and screen were too small, and overall it didn't have the power of a full-blown Mac laptop. At the end of his post he said that he was aware that he "got" what netbooks were supposed to be but it wasn't something he wanted to be a part of. The post was fairly objective but there was definitely a negative undertone, which I didn't really get. You know that netbooks lack the power of a full-blown laptop - so complaints about that just come across as Mac elitism. I mean, seriously, what did you expect?
The comments, however, were far more interesting. There were lots of people who stated that they had good experiences with their netbooks, but there were a few that just came across as totals asses - the "Apple elitists" that we know don't represent most Mac users but seem to be the ones that we hear from the most. Particularly this douchebag: "If one can’t afford a Mac, then get a second job or better job. It’s as simple as that." Way to bust down those stereotypes, pal.
What I find most pitiful are the people that feel the need to extensively crap all over the concept of a netbook, particularly by pointing out that they aren't as powerful as regular laptops. Again, that's the point. Saying "I was going to get one for my mother-in-law but with her vision she probably needs a bigger screen" is perfectly understandable. It's another to say "these things are pieces of junk toys! They suck and if you buy one you're an idiot who also sucks! Apple is soooo awesome!" (I'm not exaggerating much with that overdramatization, either...).
I guess I should be used to such idiocy on the Web, but I still can't fathom why people waste the energy on something that really doesn't affect them and which they claim to not care about. Yeah, I know these are "Mac fanatics", but you get the same thing everywhere - gaming, sports, other computer systems, etc. The amateur psychologist in me thinks that these people feel threatened by the target of their derision and thus they feel the need to attack it (a topic I address in terms of gaming in another post).
Oh, well. For the record, if it wasn't for Linux I'd probably have a Mac myself. I thought about getting one (they're way too pricey, but I don't need a "second job or better job" to afford one), but I have neither the time nor the desire to become experienced in three operating systems. Windows and Linux are enough (though I'd give up Windows knowledge for OSX if the latter had anywhere near the marketshare of Windows, or if it supported more than a handful of games).
Anyway, I was reading this post at a Mac blogger's site and found it a number of the comments both amusing and befuddling. To summarize, the author tried a Dell Mini with OSX installed on it and didn't like it - the keyboard and screen were too small, and overall it didn't have the power of a full-blown Mac laptop. At the end of his post he said that he was aware that he "got" what netbooks were supposed to be but it wasn't something he wanted to be a part of. The post was fairly objective but there was definitely a negative undertone, which I didn't really get. You know that netbooks lack the power of a full-blown laptop - so complaints about that just come across as Mac elitism. I mean, seriously, what did you expect?
The comments, however, were far more interesting. There were lots of people who stated that they had good experiences with their netbooks, but there were a few that just came across as totals asses - the "Apple elitists" that we know don't represent most Mac users but seem to be the ones that we hear from the most. Particularly this douchebag: "If one can’t afford a Mac, then get a second job or better job. It’s as simple as that." Way to bust down those stereotypes, pal.
What I find most pitiful are the people that feel the need to extensively crap all over the concept of a netbook, particularly by pointing out that they aren't as powerful as regular laptops. Again, that's the point. Saying "I was going to get one for my mother-in-law but with her vision she probably needs a bigger screen" is perfectly understandable. It's another to say "these things are pieces of junk toys! They suck and if you buy one you're an idiot who also sucks! Apple is soooo awesome!" (I'm not exaggerating much with that overdramatization, either...).
I guess I should be used to such idiocy on the Web, but I still can't fathom why people waste the energy on something that really doesn't affect them and which they claim to not care about. Yeah, I know these are "Mac fanatics", but you get the same thing everywhere - gaming, sports, other computer systems, etc. The amateur psychologist in me thinks that these people feel threatened by the target of their derision and thus they feel the need to attack it (a topic I address in terms of gaming in another post).
Oh, well. For the record, if it wasn't for Linux I'd probably have a Mac myself. I thought about getting one (they're way too pricey, but I don't need a "second job or better job" to afford one), but I have neither the time nor the desire to become experienced in three operating systems. Windows and Linux are enough (though I'd give up Windows knowledge for OSX if the latter had anywhere near the marketshare of Windows, or if it supported more than a handful of games).
posted by MythosaAkira | 11:11 PM
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