Mac: It's Just A Computer

I've made it clear that I've decided that my next laptop purchase will be a Mac. This does NOT mean I'm "switching." Far from it. My development "core" will remain Wintel as that's where I have placed the most significant portion of my hardware expenditures. Our dedicated servers are Windows 2K3/8. I use Visual SVN, VS.PHP, and Visual Studio 2005/8, all of which integrate together in a smooth and seamless harmony, getting out of my way so that I can get things done.

I can still purchase a dual core HP Workstation with XP Pro, four 19" monitors with Ergotron stands, and a Quad-head Matrox Parhelia for under $1K. You don't even get to smell a Mac Pro for less than $2.5 gees.

So here's the main thing that's bugging me: when I tell a Mac owner I'm getting a MBP, I get the same reaction as if I'd told my Mom that my wife and I have relented on our "no kids" policy and are expecting. There's the reddening of the face, maybe even some tears at the corners of the eyes...you know the drill, especially if you're a Mac person. :)

It's just a stupid computer, people. It's not going to make me more money or make my spare tire disappear overnight or make Internet Explorer suck any less. And to be very candid, Mac people are the biggest reason I've never bought a Mac. I just don't want to join that weird little cult of folks who seem to think that their slabs of aluminum and silicates somehow make them slightly better than the rest of us.

I'm going to get a Mac mainly because I'm curious. And because I can still run XP/Vista/Win7 if I need to (and I'm sure I will).