I could not let this auspicious day go by without an electronic acknowledgment of the birth of the Macintosh computer by Apple.
As I type on the worn-out keyboard of my MacBook proudly beaming at this being one of the longest relationships I have shared. For my wasband, David and I had one of the very first Macs. Those cute little box versions that had the itty-bitty screen and the CPU all in one? I think it was all of 256k . . . It was the only way I learned to use a computer and have never owned a PC other than a Mac. (Yes, for the sake of healthy bi-partisanship, I have worked on other computers but not owned them).
Because of my Mac, this Southern California girl learned how to surf (the web) and how to talk (in chat rooms). I became so facile along with my loyalty that I became a member of e-World which was an internet Chat Room on steroids that was only for Mac users. There were hundreds of different 'communities' within e-World and I eventually trained and was 'hired' to facilitate a spirituality chat room online. In fact, I developed wonderful relationships with many Mac buddies and ended up flying to Seattle to perform a wedding for a couple that I had never met!
Learning and working on an Apple computer further changed my life when I was going to ministerial school and needed to get a job to offset costs. I surprised even David when I applied and passed the test and began working as a Solutions Agent for Apple in a secret location other than Cupertino. I loved working for a product and a company I believed in; and in helping dispel the myths people have about the superiority of PC's vs. Macs. My job was being a computer matchmaker, if you will. When people would call the 1-800 number, I would fact-find, ask the right questions and help them determine the perfect computer for their needs AND tell them where they could buy it and the necessary software.
While there, I entered two employee contests and proudly won them both. The first was to see how many Apple (then rainbow) logos you could wear on your person and clothing (I was up till midnight ironing transfers onto my wardrobe); and I also won an as "The Apple Voice." David and I even made our own video to help promote the campaign. We were known to loiter at Fry's Electronics just to eavesdrop so that when we would hear sales clerks stutter, stammer and give wrong information to customers we would rush in and save the perplexed customer by showing him/her what hardware and software was available for their needs or interests and demonstrate it right before their very eyes. Ah, life was good. And this was before USB and cross platforms.
From CNN.com: " The extremes to which people have gone in their love and loyalty for Apple (and specifically Macs) knows no bounds. Perhaps no one knows this better than Leander Kahney, news editor at Wired.com and author of Cult of Mac, as well as the more recently published Inside Steve's Brain. That would be Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' brain, of course.
From his phone in a San Francisco coffee shop, Kahney told tales of people allotting their limited vacation time to Macworld conferences, a man who has traveled to 40 Apple store openings and those who shaved Apple logos into their heads."
(nb: Personally, I have gone to four Apple store openings and I took one of my vacations to go to Mecca--aka Cupertino.)
" Speaking of worship, Israeli filmmakers Ron and Kobi Shely created "MacHEADS: The Movie," a 50-minute documentary that'll be available next week on Amazon's video on demand service and, soon after, on iTunes. The film includes footage from The Church of Mac in Los Angeles, where a preacher and congregants gathered to glorify the computer at a service that ended with, "Praise Steve."
Ohmygawd! I am distraught that I knew naught of this church. I am a dyed-in-the-wool MacHead and a minister from Los Angeles--how could this have eluded me???????
Forgive me, Steve for I have sinned. I somehow missed the mark.
Yet, my love and devotion knows no bounds and I continue to be a MacHead of the First Order. Prick me and my blood would still run rainbow color. And for me (and for "Wall-E") nothing can compare with the Om-like sound of a Mac starting up. Who needs THX?
Thank you Mr. Jobs and Mr. Wozniak for your creative genius.
With love and loyalty,
Your faithful MacEvangelista
P.S. I just received an unconfirmed e-mail that our President is a Mac fan, too.
Life IS good!
4 comments:
Blessings upon you, Rev. Duchess. I hope that you will visit "The Church of Mac" soon and check out all that Steve has blessed us with.
Yours,
The Reverend Doctor Bobby Newton
The Church of Mac
www.thechurchofmac.com
Praise the Law...and Steve Jobs!
I am in heaven-- the Church of Mac has found and blessed me.
Hosanas to you Rev. Dr. Bobby Newton for founding this church for us all.
I know that there are many out there who will nary understand our devotion--and yet, that is one of the things that makes us so unique and yet, oh so connected.
Thank you.
Blessings
MacEvangelista
dba Rev. Duchess
Manny told me a week & 1/2 ago that SDSU was selling Mac laptops for a good price so I had him buy one. It's quite different from a PC. There are a couple of things that he showed me how to use that I like. I have a feeling that I may be frustrated with not knowing how to do & where to find things. But I now I know the Mac diva. Don't be surprised if I email with lots of questions. The 1st one is that the screen goes to sleep after about 1 minute it seems. Where do we find the setting for this so we can change it? Thanks for the timely write-up Rev. D.
Welcome to Heaven, Carol.
er, I mean to MacWorld.
The reason PC user's get confounded when first learning a Mac is because Macs are so easy, you are used to making things convaluded to happen. e.g. when you want to turn off a PC you select Start (?)
Anyway, to answer your question:
Go up to the little Apple icon on the Apple menu bar. Pull that screen down and select System Preferences. (If you have OS X or later, your "Dock" opened at the launch, there is a little icon that looks like a square with wheel cogs inside). There you will see the basics you will need for any set up of the Mac.
Choose Energy Saver (light bulb) and then the next screen that opens, lets you set the time in between sleep modes.
I would also HIGHLY recommend what I told Sunshine -- pay $100 for a years membership to One on One at the Apple Stores. That gives you one free hour every week--yes, FREE once a week-- with a Mac Genius.
You go in with any or all your questions and they guide you through.
I am so thrilled to know you have a Mac and I am more than happy to help.
Long live Apple
(and kiss that hunny of yours for getting you one...wish they had more for sale..)
Post a Comment