# Welcome me to the dark side **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564 "2010-05-24T14:14:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/21 "2010-05-25T14:29:43Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Thanks for the clarification. I was afraid you’d spent way more money than necassary… [This](http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mac_plus_g4.jpg) is the one I got. It’s gonna ROCK! (The sad thing is that I clearly remember when those were the newest thing…):rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/22 "2010-05-26T14:21:45Z")
Okay - observation number one: so that really is the best place you could figure to put the on/off button? WTF! ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/23 "2010-05-26T15:21:33Z")
\ You cannot mar the aesthetic with unnecceary buttons! (And you’ll find you don’t use it alot) it’s the USB plugs that bug me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/24 "2010-05-26T15:53:48Z")
My wife actually picked it up and set it up for me yesterday. She’s all excited to show me the wonders of the machine, and can’t quite understand why I’m saying, **“I’ll let you know if I need to use it tomorrow, or maybe the next day…”** 😛 But it sure looks purty sitting on that desk! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/25 "2010-05-26T16:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] Okay - observation number one: so that really is the best place you could figure to put the on/off button? WTF! [/QUOTE] That there even IS a power button seems to be a concession to Windows users that couldn’t grasp the idea of pressing a particular key on the keyboard to turn on a computer. And, as **Unintentionally Blank** said, you probably won’t use it more than three or four times a year unless you’re one of those neurotic types who actually turns off their computer rather than just letting it sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/26 "2010-05-26T17:59:38Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > That there even IS a power button seems to be a concession to Windows users that couldn’t grasp the idea of pressing a particular key on the keyboard to turn on a computer. Heck, I’d have no problem with an on/off key, tho of course I’m sure they wouldn’t label it clearly as such - instead they’d use some cute icon which in no way conveys on/off to me. 😉 In fact, when I saw no obvious button I looked to the keyboard and pressed something I thought a possible candidate, only looking to the back of the computer when it produced no result. I’m sure it is a fine tool which I will become comfortable with extremely quickly. But technology regularly impresses me at how far over the heads of the low-level user it is pitched. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/27 "2010-05-26T21:40:10Z")
In regard to the thread title: “The dark side” is Microsoft, taking over most of the galaxy, choking off competition and manufacturing an army of clones that aren’t good for much except blowing up. Apple is a scrappy band of rebels that manages not to be obliterated through a series of clever maneuvers. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/28 "2010-05-26T21:57:53Z")
Except, you know, Apple is behind only Exxon and Microsoft in valuation. They ain’t the scrappy droids you’re lookin’ for. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/29 "2010-05-26T22:03:28Z")
I’d describe Microsoft as more akin to the Borg from ST-TNG, assimilating left and right, heck, they even have the same catchphrase “Resistance Is Futile, you will be assimilated” Apple has a great, easy to use OS, and a simplicity that attracts the type of computer user that doesn’t care about _how_ the OS works, just that it does, wheras a Windows box can be customized/tweaked to the power user’s desires easier than a Mac OS based box I’m not saying the Mac OS _can’t_ be tweaked, it can, but I’ve found that after running both OS X _and_ Win7 on my MacBook, I’ve found that 7 is easier to tweak the look and feel of, and I have far more experience on the Mac OS side They both work just fine ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/30 "2010-05-26T22:14:30Z")
A couple of weeks ago, I got a 13" unibody MacBook Pro to replace my aging 12" G4 iBook. I held off on the purchase, thinking "Well, I really don’t _need_ it. I can live with the slowness and dim, splotchy screen. The prices on refurbs in recent weeks convinced me to make the plunge. My home PC is an aging but still more-than-adequate PC; a dual core AMD 64 X2 3800+ with 4 gigs of DDR1 memory that I built about four or five years ago. Eventually I’ll get a Mac Mini to replace it, and relegate the PC to file server duty. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/31 "2010-05-26T22:21:58Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I’m not saying the Mac OS _can’t_ be tweaked, it can, but I’ve found that after running both OS X _and_ Win7 on my MacBook, I’ve found that 7 is easier to tweak the look and feel of, and I have far more experience on the Mac OS side > > They both work just fine And that’s coming from a Mac Tech. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/32 "2010-05-26T22:31:59Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > In regard to the thread title: “The dark side” is Microsoft, taking over most of the galaxy, choking off competition and manufacturing an army of clones that aren’t good for much except blowing up. > > Apple is a scrappy band of rebels that manages not to be obliterated through a series of clever maneuvers. Eh, maybe 20 years ago. I think it’s sad that the 1984 commercial could now in many ways apply to Apple just as much as it could to Microsoft. Congrats on the purchase, **Dinsdale**. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/33 "2010-05-27T00:10:28Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Except, you know, Apple is behind only Exxon and Microsoft in valuation. They ain’t the scrappy droids you’re lookin’ for. As of the close of trading today, [Apple passed Microsoft](http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/26/technology/apple_microsoft/index.htm?hpt=T2). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/34 "2010-05-27T12:37:12Z")
Okay, here’s another question - how come delete works like backspace? I guess I can get used to it, but it seems counterintuitive. Seems like everyone is interested in hiding or complicating the very few commands this low-end user uses regularly! ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/35 "2010-05-27T15:13:38Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Okay, here’s another question - how come delete works like backspace? > I guess I can get used to it, but it seems counterintuitive. > Seems like everyone is interested in hiding or complicating the very few commands this low-end user uses regularly! What I want to know is WHERE THE FUCK IS THE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON?!?!??! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/36 "2010-05-27T15:23:44Z")
Personally, I prefer the Mac OS because I’ve been using Macs since kindergarten and am completely at home with the interface, whereas Windows feels uncomfortable and counter-intuitive to me. I imagine a lot of Windows users feel just the opposite. The antipathy that the two groups have toward each other feels juvenile to me now. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/37 "2010-05-27T15:52:59Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > What I want to know is WHERE THE FUCK IS THE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON?!?!??! > > 😛 Right under your right finger. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/38 "2010-05-27T16:27:23Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > What I want to know is WHERE THE FUCK IS THE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON?!?!??! > > 😛 Enable it by going to System Preferences, Mouse, and checking the Secondary Click box. You can then plug in a two-button mouse, or if you have the touch-sensitive mouse sold with current Macs, just ckicking in the appropriate area on the mouse will work. ---
**Author:** ![JoeH2O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@JoeH2O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeH2O)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/39 "2010-05-27T21:42:33Z")
You don’t even neet to enable anything in preferences - a 2 button mouse will “Just Work ™” when you plug it in. I actually use a Microsoft Comfort Optical with my iMac (I know, shock horror). Welcome to the dark side, can I have your Apple stickers please? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564/40 "2010-05-27T22:06:37Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Except, you know, Apple is behind only Exxon and Microsoft in valuation. They ain’t the scrappy droids you’re lookin’ for. I heard on the news this morning that Apple has surpassed Microgates. We gave my son a Mac Plus for his 19th birthday in Feb 1986. No Gates product has ever passed our thresholds. Back in the day, there were things I could mess up, but they were so easy to fix, I never worried. My friends with those other things always complained about things like blue screens of death. I had no idea what they meant. When I finally had to use a Windows product at work, I was able to figure it out, but man, what a hassle! Welcome to [“the computer for the rest of us”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apple_Inc._slogans) team. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-me-to-the-dark-side/540564.md?page=3)