To say that I am Apple Computer obsessed is an understatement and you are about to see why.
Since the very beginning of my computing career, I have never actually owned a DOS/Windows based computer. While I have been burdened with some work issued computers over the years, I have always had my trusty Mac at home to ease the pain. Sharing in this obsession, my dad and I have owned at least 12 Macintosh computers over the years and that doesn’t even include the accessories end.
I know…this is a blog about blogging so why the hell are you talking about the fact that you can only whip out the checkbook if there is a logo of an Apple with a bite out of it? Well, there is an explanation after I show off my sickness.
An Apple Obsession That Rivals That Of Steve Jobs
To lay it out for you, here is my history with Apple Computer…
Macintosh Classic
Where it all started. In the early ’90’s, Apple released the Macintosh Classic (Classic II pictured) with it’s 8 mhz 68000 processor and a whopping 1MB of RAM. With fond memories of playing the Parachuter game, my all things Mac obsession started with this little all-in-one machine, a 9″ black and white screen, OS 6.0.7 and a single button mouse.
Macintosh Centris 650
With the newly integrated CD drive, the Macintosh Centris was the next logical upgrade. Remember the days when you actually had to put the CD in a case before inserting it into the computer?! With an upgrade to discs, OS 7.1 and a color screen…we were off and rockin’.
Macintosh Performa 6100
Heading into the mid to late ’90’s, we jumped up to the new PowerPC processors to the 601 with the Performa 6100 series. These new lightning fast 601 processors (by those days standards) were the start of the PowerPC platform that would carry Apple computer all the way to the Intel switch. Armed with SCSI drives, OS 7.5 and more robust audio and graphics…we were living the good life.
PowerComputing PowerCenter Pro 210
What a lot of people don’t know is that during the time period between 1995 and 1997, Apple approved licensing for 3rd party manufacturers to carry the Mac OS platform. During that time, we actually owned two models that ran Mac OS but not on Macintosh branded computers. My computer was the PowerCenter Pro 210 from PowerComputing that even eventually saw a G3 upgrade card from OWC amongst other upgrades.
PowerComputing PowerTower Pro 250 MP
During the clone years, my dad ended up running a PowerComputing PowerTower Pro 250 MP that saw 2 250 Mhz 604e processors. This machine eventually saw a host of upgrades from OWC as well.
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics)
With the year 2000 on the horizon, it was time for an upgrade to the G4 processor and that came with the Power Mac G4 AGP. The first of the G4 line to get an AGP graphics slot, this tower was a significant upgrade from our tapped out clones with a 400 MHz processor and 100 MHz system bus speed.
Power Mac G4 Cube
Our house rarely had less than 3 computers running at once…so of course we had a Cube laying around! Revolutionary Apple design but a PITA to upgrade. The G4 Cube was short lived, but it did bring a lot of press and marketing to Apple Computer as they started their run to the reputation they hold today. The G4 Cube eventually got an upgrade card and was maxed out beyond belief, but it too was retired.
Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio)
After a lightning bolt surge blew up my heavily upgraded PowerCenter Pro 210, I ended up with the Digital Audio version of the popular G4. With a 133 MHz system bus and the 466 MHz G4 processor, this Power Mac was the first to come shipped with the new OS X operating system. The complete overhaul meant that I eventually downgraded to 9.2 until software companies caught up, but OS X was a huge leap forward in OS technology that others (ahem…Microsoft) are still copying today.
This computer actually still runs in my dad’s basement with an OWC 1.4 GHz G4 upgrade card.
Power Mac G4 Mirrored Drive Doors
When it came time to upgrade my aging Digital Audio G4, I went to the multi-processor MDD G4 from Apple. This sexy, mirrored drive case would carry my into the mid 2000’s after a host of upgrades that even included hacked graphics cards and SATA drives. At the end of its life, it was actually one of the fastest MDD’s clocked on XBench at the time.
This one still sits in my office closet.
MacBook Pro 2.4 Core 2 Duo
In 2008 when my blogging career really got off and running, I decided it was time to break my tower streak and head to something more mobile. I stepped up to the laptop place with the 15.4″ MacBook Pro 2.4 Core 2 Duo. With laptop speeds becoming increasingly faster with mobile technology and the introduction of the new Intel processors earlier, it made sense to get similar processing power out of a more mobile platform. With some memory and hard drive upgrades…I was off and running and my tower tweaking days were over.
Previous Apple Accessories
I wish I could say that the Apple sickness within my brain and my family stopped with Apple computers, but that wasn’t the case. Over the years…we have dipped into the Apple bucket for other needs as well.
- Apple QuickTake Digital Camera – VGA resolution digital camera
- 2 – iPhone 3G
- 2 – iPhone 3GS
- 3 – iPhone 4
- 1 – iPod Mini
- 1 – iPod Click Wheel
- 1 – iPod Color Display
- 2 – iPod 5th Gen Black
- 4 – iPod Shuffle 2nd Gen
- Miscellaneous Printers
- Every OS from OS 6.0 to Snow Leopard (and whatever comes next)
So What Are We Running Now?
As the obsession continues to get unhealthier by the day. Here is what my family and I are running right now.
MacBook Pro i7
I made a huge leap forward and picked up a 15.4″ MacBook Pro i7 this year. It all started with my wife saying, “I want a laptop.” So now she is running my old 2.4 Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro and I am enjoying the speed of the new Intel i7 processor.
Apple iMac 24″ 3.06
My dad is running a early 2009 3.06 Intel Core 2 Duo 24″ iMac. Surprisingly, both of us have gotten off of the “Pro” tower platforms as the fully integrated options of the MacBook Pro and iMac have gotten fast enough to run the Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro.
Apple iPhone 4
There are 3 iPhone 4’s in my family (me, my wife and my dad)…all without any signal issues too for what it’s worth, and my mom is running my old 3GS.
So What Does All Of This Have To Do With Blogging?
There are two things you should take away from this exercise in obsession…
- I Do Not Review Products That I Can Not Be Unbiased About – I am the review blogger guy that teaches other bloggers how to get in free stuff to review. One of the things I really hammer home with bloggers is that you have to stay unbiased and truthful in your findings regardless of pressure from manufacturers or your personal views. Your credibility is everything as a blogger and if you lose that…it is very hard to gain back. I have a hard time being unbiased about Apple products…so I do not publicly review them. That is something you should take into consideration as you review products.
- A History Of Quality Brings Repeat Business – I have faith that Apple will build a solid product for my needs. For that reason, I do not need someone else’s opinion before I pick up my next computer. My personal history with the brand is more than enough to make me spring for the latest and greatest. You should strive for this same loyalty in your blogging by creating repeat visitors and purchasers of your product. It requires you to go over the top with your quality, but that will multiply over time.
Apple Computer is a great case study in how strong marketing with quality products can make consumers lineup to purchase what you have to offer. When you are finding your audience and selling your products, creating an “Apple like” atmosphere around your content and monetization efforts will create a loyal following that will spread your word like crazy.
Your #1 goal in blogging should be to create an army of customers and subscribers just like me…
12 comments
My first Apple product was the iPhone, which I bought the week I got home from Afghanistan (I’d been salivating over it for months). I quickly got hooked and then bought a 27″ iMac, which has become my primary workstation.
A few months later, I bought an iPad. 2 days ago, bought a Mac Mini.
So from May 08 to Aug 10, I went from 0 Apple products to 4…if that trend continues, I’m going to need a bigger house 🙂
Welcome to the sickness Nathan! It only spreads from here. Hell…if David Risley…the owner of PCMech is running a Mac…that gives you an idea on how contagious this can get!
Check out MacCreate.com when you get a chance. It’s a friend of mine’s blog network that I help out with from time to time.
Hi Robb,
What a great comparison to Apple.
You clearly pointed out two main points to always stand by in the blogging world.
Quality cannot be emphasized enough. It will bring you repeat customers and in the blogging world, repeat readers.
Kindest,
Nabeel
Hi Robb,
What a wonderfull post by you thats why you are different in the blogging network.
Writing these types of “obsessive” posts also serves to turn off people who don’t share your obsession. It’s good that you don’t extend this to your review blogs.
-Erica
Very true actually. When you show a bias towards one brand or product it goes against your credibility in other related areas.
Some would argue that sharing an obsession further solidifies the audience for or against you, which I consider a good thing.
I agree with that general sentiment, but it depends what it’s for. If you want to cheerlead something that bonds your audience with you (and/or against a common cause), and then sell based on that sentiment, it’s a good thing. (Examples: Quitting your job; living abroad; the fight against debt.)
Politics, religion, etc. are not such a good thing, because they pretty much just anger people. I put Apple products somewhere close to “religion” in that sense.
-Erica
I wouldn’t say I have a “sickness” about it. I am an Apple fan… but that said, I’m not attached to it. When it stops serving my needs, I’m gone. Hence my switch to Android from the Iphone. And I’m liking it. A lot.
But, yeah, when it comes to the desktop, I switched to OS X because Vista pissed me off to no end. And since that switch, I much prefer OS X. It is more stable and I far prefer the workflow.
Windows 7 made up for the crap which was Vista, but it isn’t enough to make me want to switch back to the PC. Furthest I’ll do is to install it on a VM… which BTW is another reason I like Macs. 🙂
Admit it Dave, you’re sick! The only prescription is more Apple (or cowbell, whichever you prefer).
Gee, I guess I’ll be the bold one here and raise my hand as a PC guy. 🙂
Nothing against Apple, as I’ve just never owned one. I’ve given serious consideration to a MacBook Pro for my next laptop, but that won’t be until the 2nd half of 2011.
Everyone swears by Apple machines, so they must be top notch.
Hey Robb,
I really don’t wanna take your time so I’ll just tell you my question.
If you really like Apple products and in one of your older post you said you were nothing but a big geek, how come you don’t start your own technology blog? I mean I’m not just saying that, but I’ll say you have the quality to making a tech blogging geek. But you know you are provably really busy with the oneninety8 network, and with Robbsutton.com so another blog for you provably would just be too much work for you. I mean I’m having a lot of work with my first and only blog(coming out soon by the way) about technology and to me it just seems too much work and money for a fifteen year old like me.