Last week, I was one of the many people who took advantage of the government’s tax break advantage for small business and decided to upgrade my computer and phone.

I had been thinking of doing this for a while as I thought it was time to be seen as a bit more ‘modern’ despite my tools being more than capable for delivering the job.  The only disadvantage was that having an iPhone 4, I couldn’t download some apps that did not work with the latest iOS version which meant that I couldn’t experiment with them to see how they worked.  It was high time to get a new phone.

My PC ran with Windows 7 on Microsoft Office 2013.  Someone mentioned to me to upgrade to O365 but as I had clients who were on these versions and I could access documents through their systems, the matter wasn’t as urgent.  I figured if I could still access and share client documents easily without the need to have these tools downloaded myself, it was still a workable solution.  I was simply working in their own “ecosystem” and I can still save my work in my own drives.  I also use Google Chrome, Google Cast, Google Drive and apps for everything and which all can be accessed through my devices and in the cloud including my Samsung Galaxy 10″ tablet.  I felt that I was across all the main tools that worked well with each other. The only Apple product was my iPhone 4 which was my hardy workhorse and I loved it. You can read about it here on my recent blog post I Need a New Phone.   The only time I felt that this phone let me down  was when I used iTunes – I’ve always hated iTunes for its lack of usability and control.  (Mistakenly I assumed it was because I was synching through my Windows PC that I was experiencing so many issues – it turns out that even with my new iMAC, the situation is still the same).  Luckily, I’m not alone and I have to thank the very few people who confirmed my belief and gave me tips on how to avoid this.

When I make purchases that relate to my work, I take time to make the decisions.  It’s important for me to have these tools work not only for me – but for my client work too.  I need to have access to the tools that they also would be using.  As my clients vary from large corporates, small businesses and micro businesses everyone is working across their own ‘ecosystems’.  Corporates are all Windows and Office based with PC products; small businesses vary between Windows and Office and Google Business based apps with PC products and micro business are the majority Google and have Macs as their main tools. I guess you can say that I like to have all my fingers in the pie so that I can service all my clients equally.

I did much research on the Apple products and also tested out some all-in-one touch screen desktop PC products running on the latest version of Windows 8.  While the former looked sleek and clean, the latter left me nonplussed.  The interface looked scattered (yes, I know that you can customise it), but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  Maybe the change from Windows 7 was too abrupt? Something was missing on the PC product.  It was beginning to look like an Apple product so the question I had running in my mind was, “why would I go with a product that is still fairly new to this setup and not go for the original?”  I knew full well that changing an ‘ecosystem’ meant a new way of working, a new way of pressing buttons and a completely new interface that meant me having to rewire my brain on how to do simple functions like screenshots.

Of course, in hindsight I could have just gotten used to the latest version of Windows 8 and be done with it. But no, I decided to jump in feet first and buy the iMac.  I also bought the full Apple Care for 3 years (I figured I needed it) and the iPhone 6. The phone was relatively simple to set up when it came to my contacts moving over but a bloody nightmare when I synced it and saw that every – single – app that I had downloaded since first buying the iPhone 4 was on my phone!  It was a nightmare to clean up manually as I couldn’t permanently remove all the old apps from iTunes (they were still listed in the iTunes library despite me clicking on them not to install). In the end I had to physically ‘Update All’ apps through my wifi and a cold sweat overcomes me every time I hook up my phone to iTunes for fear of seeing the odd 300 apps of a lifetime ago appear on my phone.

For the last week, I have spent many hours on it trying to relearn my behaviours and dare I say it, it has been a bit of fun despite the frustrations.  The frustrations are normal.  This is what we all experience when we experience change.  After all, imagine being a proficient user of one system and intuitively knowing your way around the functions and programs to starting afresh!  All of a sudden simple things like capturing screenshots and Print Screen require multiple clicks and a degree to figure out how to do them.  I have to relearn new behaviours.

Still, I love a challenge.  I love exploring the functions and customising them to suit my needs – right up to the point where I wipe out tool bars and lose documents and folders entirely (I had everything backed up so I’m not too worried if things disappear off the screen).  Having the trusted Apple Care number nearby means that I’m not too far from the solution. Within 2 days of having this product, I had made 4 calls to Apple Care.

Before I bought the Mac, I had created a play list on YouTube (see above) and viewed different videos to get a feel of what I would expect.  I particularly love David A. Cox YouTube channel and his videos were instrumental in helping me set out the Mac in how I needed it to work for me.  I also borrowed the Teach Yourself Visually books Mac Pro and OSX Mavericks from the library and systematically working through each chapter testing out all the functions of each program.  (I can’t wait to use iMovie to create more vlogs!)

So what are my thoughts so far from a seasoned Windows user to a 6 day old Apple Mac user?

• Get used to manual finger dexterity. There are commands for everything.  For example on a Windows system, Print Screen is as simple as pressing the button titled “Print Screen” on the keyboard and then right clicking into the page to Paste the image into the document.  In Apple, it’s Command-Shift-4 (for section) or 3 (for full screen) and then it saves to your Desktop and from there it’s a bit of a head scratcher to figure out how to insert it directly into a document without closing down all the other documents to find it on your desktop and drag it into your document.  I know I HAVE to be doing something wrong here. If someone can enlighten me to do this in less than 3 clicks it would be appreciated.  Also pics save to the highest resolution so that there’s an additional step to resize every image (I found out the hard way by writing this blog post – if there’s an easier way to resize images WITHIN the system, please let me know).
• Get used to nothing happening every time you press Control.  Control is Command. Command is Control.  There’s an analogy for the competing ecosystems just there.
• I get the feeling that Apple does not want you to play and tinker with their systems (or risk wiping out things as I did).  Just accept the tool for what it is and work within the parameters that they set out for you.  Don’t ask why – just accept.
• I definitely think there’s underlying shame and guilt marketing approach and hype with their products.  You can’t help but feel to made that you’re backward by some Apple lovers if you don’t insanely share their desire for Apple products.  To me, they are simply tools. Nothing more, nothing less. Aesthetically, they are pleasing to the eye if that is important to you.
• I love their customer service and their retail shops exude a passion for the product with sales consultants who give you superb support and assistance.  I also think their in-store workshops and collegiate feel of shared learning around the software and the hardware is fabulous.  I have booked myself into these workshops and personal training and let’s just say the sales consultant who gets me will have their work cut out for them.  I have a LOOOOOONNNNGGGGG list of questions.

I know that this post may have negative undertones but seriously, the same would have happened with a Windows PC where I would be critically analysing it between the different versions. Same same really.  To me, it’s a new tool to try and understand and then customise to make it work for my particular needs.  Meanwhile my Windows PC sits nearby as a backup and it’s unlikely I will let this go – not just yet.  Guess I’m a Function over Form type of gal.

Do you have any tools, resources or references for those making the move from PC to Apple? If so, please share as they may help me learn quicker.

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