testemunho bem interessante de um recem-convertido ao mundo mac (e ao mesmo tempo, convertido do palm pro windows mobile). pra quem se interessa por user experience, e' bem legal
On Wednesday night I was watching Steve Jobs doing his keynote speech for the iPhone and it was a complete turnaround from the first time I watched it. I remember being quite excited by the iPhone and the features at the time it was announced but I listened to the clapping and cheering with a touch of pity- why on Earth were these people cheering everything he said? It seemed to me that having such a loyalty to a brand was quite unhealthy and not at all normal. We can all see how some of the Apple products generate emotion that was previously impossible with an electronic device but this looked like 'cult of Apple' to me.
Jump forward to Wednesday night (2 weeks after I received my MacBook) and my view had changed a bit. I could now understand why these people were so excited and ready to hang on every word Steve said- they have been indoctrinated into the Apple way of life and any variance on that theme was fine by them. Within 2 weeks of owning a Mac my PC is being used for approximately 10% of my computer needs- it has taken almost no time at all to forget 10 years of Windows usage and become a Mac convert.
It also took me almost no time at all to move from Palm OS to Windows Mobile Smartphone and both experiences opened my eyes to how little data I really need- finances, ftp backups, contacts, email history and bookmarks are about it. Most of this is already on my exchange server and thus available from any device and so the realisation that my equipment was far too powerful for my needs hit me. Do I need a 3.2Ghz PC with 1.5GB of RAM to run what I need? Of course not. Do I need a computer that is fast, stable and pleasant to use? That would be a yes. The same theory applies to smartphones as well as computers- if it does the job why do I need more?
It is more than just buying a piece of kit that works well though- sometimes logic has to go out of the window and let emotion take over. I have been more than happy with the T-Mobile MDA Mail to the point that it has been the most pleasant PDA / smartphone that I have ever used, and I have owned and used over 50. It is fast and stable and needs little maintenance but the general look and feel of the phone are what makes it a joy to use. The size and shape just look great and whilst it is not a design classic like the iPod it 'feels' right for me. I have looked at the Samsung i600 which many would consider to be a better smartphone but the design and shape make it feel like a corporate, straight sided non-entity that does not stir any emotion in me. The battery life is suspect as well but that's another story.
The same thoughts are produced with the MacBook in comparison to my Windows laptop- the MacBook (and Mac OSX) are a joy to use and it actually makes me want to do more writing and to find time to work with it. The Windows laptop is a bland piece of technology that does nothing to inspire creativity. I am not suggesting that Mac OS is better because it is not- it is just different and seems to work from the moment you touch it. Admittedly it is a lot quicker than Windows, particularly when browsing the internet, but from a functional point of view there is little difference. The main point that stands out is everything. By that I mean everything from the casing to the magnetic power plug, from the look of the OS interface to the design of most third party applications. It all fits together so well and builds an 'experience' that is positive.
Ironically, despite my move to Windows Mobile, the Palm OS and related Palm devices also create a 'whole' experience. From the interface of Palm desktop through to the Treo and TX styling there is a consistency that most Windows Mobile devices have not achieved. When you purchase a Palm device you get a collection of software, paperwork and machinery that does look and feel as if they were born from the same design team- lots of us comment on the hardware design and operating system and many have moved from it but the overall set up is impressive.
Maybe it is the Mac novelty that is skewing my opinions but I seem to be relaxing more because of it- no longer am I dreading sitting in front of a bland PC to add news to 247, the experience is just that little bit nicer and that can only be a good thing. That does not mean I will ever join the 'cult of Mac' though because I have a life :)
Inserido de <http://www.clieuk.co.uk/index.shtml >
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rene
blog:
www.usina.com/oravejampodcast:
www.usina.com/rodaeavisa fotos:
www.flickr.com/photos/renedepaula
