You know, few things bother me more than someone implying that I’m stupid for having an opinion they disagree with (it’s an opinion, get over it), but I’ll usually let it go without too much trouble since I’m certainly guilty of that as well. Now, shooting out that opinion indescriminately at an entire group of which I happen to be a part, that ticks me off a bit more - since I don’t like being lumped in with everyone with whom I happen to share one view - but again I’ll usually get over that as well. However, to make such a blanket statement using false information and outright lies, and then to react to people who correct you - including myself - by calling them names and generally having a big ol’ snooty attitude about it, that’s unforgivable.
Through some sites I check frequently, I came across this article by Larry Bodine about why he doesn’t like his new Mac:
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1160730321685
Honestly, I couldn’t care less whether he likes his Mac or not, just don’t make stuff up and spout completely incorrect crap to make your point. I know, I’ve written some pretty one sided stuff myself, but I got over that, and at least I did my freaking homework first. And I’m not even a professional! I won’t quote the whole thing, but some of the highlights include:
I was suckered in by the hype about freedom from viruses, simplicity of computing and versatility. Instead, I bought a boat anchor that can’t view Web sites properly, is not compatible with Microsoft Word and can run only dumbed-down versions of regular software.
Why do bad versions of 3rd party software mean the Mac is a bad computer? and how can he claim Word is incompatible then go on to talk about using the Mac version of Word?
Doing a simple screen capture was an immense chore. On a PC you just press Alt and tap PrtScr. With the Mac I had to download and launch special programs to accomplish this simple task.
I didn’t even bother with the Mac’s iCal or Mail, which required me to buy an @mac.com address.
Both assertions are completely false, OS X has built in screen capturing abilities, and you don’t need a .Mac account to use iCal and Mail.
For me the killer was the Web browser. Safari simply cannot read Flash. It is, quite simply, a second-rate browser.
I even called Apple headquarters and asked when a better version would be available and was told that Apple is in no hurry to improve it.
On the suggestions of friends, I downloaded Netscape and Firefox, which were no better
No, Flash works just fine, and I’ll bet a hundred bucks he didn’t actually call Apple and talk to anyone of any consequence. The help line tech isn’t going to know the inner workings of the company, genius.
Yeah, this guy’s a winner. Most of his complaints have to do with shoddy Microsoft programs - which is hardly Apple’s problem - or with things that work differently that he never actually bothered to figure out. What’s worse is how he reacted when he got called out for these innaccuracies.
To put this in perspective, Mr. Bodine is a legal marketing consultant, and this article appeared on a legal technology news site. You’d think editorial standards would keep this kind of crap from being posted, but I guess not. Apparently, I’m not the first person to be bothered by this, as evidenced by this post on his own site
right here.
He complains that people have been calling and leaving rude messages, and sending rude e-mails. That’s unfortunate and shouldn’t happen, there are better ways to deal with these things. Unfortunately, he doesn’t address any of the factual problems with his article, instead he says:
The Mac users are just realizing that they have bought orphan technology. Macs are the Betamax of the 21st Century. And it’s not just me who find Macs less appealing. Apple holds only 4.8 percent of the U.S. market share, according to the July 2006 issue of MacWorld magazine. In other words, 95 out of 100 computer buyers don’t buy an Apple computer. There must be a reason, yes?
This guy is unbelievable. And a jerk. I don’t care if that’s a personal attack, it’s true, he’s an egotistical, ignorant jerk, and should be referred to as such.
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apple idiot rant