Why Apple? I switched to Apple after dealing with Window Madness for too many years, but it was a cascading casualty that resulted in the loss of 5 months of photos and five months of edits to other photos that finally shoved me over the precipice and I switched over.
Things have changed a lot since then, but at that time, you could not get software nor hardware for non Japanese Windows in Japan. I did buy a new Toshiba with an English OS in Akihabara but besides the paltry amount of software and hardware that store offered, I could use nothing else with it. Oh, this included a printer as the English version of Windows would not drive a Japanese OS ready printer. But where to get the ink? The internal logic of English and Japanese printers is different. The ink cartridges for Japanese printers will physically fit, but they would not work with my English OS laptop. Can’t buy online either. My credit card is a Japanese issued card, they can only sell/send software and hardware for the domestic, Japanese market. I was depending upon the one business that sold me my pc and their offerings changed frequently. Eventually was no longer to get more ink.
When I had a problem with my windows machine, the first issue was the reverse mommy and daddy game. MS said it was the responsibility of the pc maker and Toshiba said it was MS’s responsibility. When Toshiba finally decided to look into it, my pc was not in their system. It did state on the box that it was for the North American market. Gray market purchase I am guessing.
But losing all my photos and both back ups is what finally got me to go with Apple. At first, it was great! No black Tuesdays! I had control when or even if I wanted to download updates. No longer needed to hit “Start” to shut my computer down and then wait a changing and unknowable length of time before I could close it, pack it away and move on; a massive problem when using it on a commuter train. With Apple, all I have to do is physically shut the machine. Won’t melt the battery, won’t lose what I was working on. Things were even better with my first iPad and later addition of an iPad mini. Could seamlessly move from one device to another and pick up where I left off. Could not do so with my iPad and Windows machine. They were completely segregated systems.
Over the past ten years of so, things have reversed somewhat. Now it is Apple that has (sometimes) and not windows (so I am told) language issues between OS and apps. The compatibility issues between old windows docs and newer versions of various software did not exist with Apple. Sadly, they do now. Losing access to loads of docs and music files upon updates has become a common issue with Apple now too.
There is another issue that is of little import for many in the States but of vital importance to me here in Japan, the MBA is thin and light. Not so much now as I have lost most of my jobs, but I hope to build up more classes, but running all over Hell’s half acre with my ludicrously bulky, heavy Toshiba with a heavy spare battery and charging brick was no fun. Being able to have a computer at least as powerful that was about a quarter as thick and an even smaller portion of the weight with a long lasting battery and tiny charger was a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. My shoulders and back hurt at the memory of it.
My preference now is fountain pen and paper, but no one can read cursive these days and all my employers have switched to digital documentation.
The sad thing about all this is that the idiot phone is not inherently bad and rather it’s the people who control the technology and are using it against us that are the problem. That aside, there is of course a potential for addiction to such devices which is self evident everywhere we look but that comes down to personal awareness and responsibility. Just in the way I am right now choosing to spend time reading and responding to this article when I could potentially be doing something more constructive. And it’s kind of ironic that I would never even know of your existence or be able to interact with you if it wasn’t for these evil devices! Perhaps you can send me the address of your tent and I’ll write you a nice letter!
lol. Yes, it is ironic to be complaining about the very devices and system we are using to complain about them. I am often saying that I hate computers when I really mean that I hate how we are forced to use them. I have no problem with people choosing e-currency or having idiot phones but I do have a problem with being forced into using them myself or only being offered a lower standard of service at greater cost unless or until I too adopt these.
I am also against the ever increasing admin tasks being assigned. Time was, at the end of a semester or school year we teachers compiled the grades and them along with the attendance sheet in to the office and they then did what ever needed to be done with these. Now, we have to fill in various online forms with this data which in turn means we must have a computer AND the programs/apps the school uses, which for part timers, comes out of our pockets. Greater use of my time at my expense for no increase in renumeration. What’s not to like?
I think Mac hardware looks the business, but one of the reasons I went open source 20 years ago was the cost savings. I've looked in Apple stores over the years but could never justify paying so much. Linux runs like a dream on almost any old pc.
I would recommend doing a bit of homework on which hardware you can easily install and run Linux on. Used or new. The learning curve is not huge but the apps are different. Forget using anything like Adobe or CAD. It can be done but it is not usually 100% and can be time consuming. If you really need that kinds of software then you can dual boot a PC with Windows and Linux partitions.
Thx for that advice. I've got two older PCs (8-10yrs old) each with fairly powerful hd, decent ram & good graphics cards. Nothing fancy. Not a gamer, don't use many applications.
Would like to do rudimentary photo edit, schedule my life better and run some organizing /inventory database programs. Maybe static use offline w/vpn online webmail and such.
Would a Chromebook meet your needs? Those are very cheap. Also, Windows laptop so are much less expensive than the Apple equivalents, so that might be worth looking into.
Then here in the states, there is a Facebook marketplace. Not sure if there is an equivalent to not in Japan.
In regards to your Macbook erasing the hard drive issue, the only thing I can think to try is to see if you can zero it out by doing one of two things, trying to erase it via another computer, or maybe you can simply try doing a clean install of an operating system. You probably tried both of these though. If you could give me more specifics, perhaps I can help.
By erasing it via another computer, I mean seeing if you can use another computer to wire it to that one. There used to be a way to do this via firewire called "target disc mode."
The new Mac works fine. I must have relayed this information imperfectly. The old Mac requires a PIN code but when given goes back to the screen where it asked for a PIN code to be chosen. It repeats these two screens. I have not touched it since taking it out of my back pack once I got home. Currently not a priority but it is an issue I want to resolve.
My current iPad Pro, which I am using to type this reply on, was refurbished. Still expensive, but much less so than a new one.
It says a lot about the state of electronic technology when company service reps cannot figure out how to operate one of their own products that is merely 8 years old. Can you imagine a competent auto mechanic that cannot figure out how an 8 year old car engine works? I’d bet that most could repair an 80 year old car if they could either find of machine the needed parts. Not a slight against those who tried to help me, just a statement on the state of the tech; it changes so greatly in such a short span of time.
I rarely if ever go to an outside agency for help on computer repairs as I find out I can do it myself, or that the person rarely has more expertise than I do in fixing my machine.
You forgot your previous mac's password, or your apple account pin#?
I do know that Windows machines and iPads are very unforgiving about pins; if you forget them, you might as well be owning a paper weight then for all the good it will do you.
Why Apple? I switched to Apple after dealing with Window Madness for too many years, but it was a cascading casualty that resulted in the loss of 5 months of photos and five months of edits to other photos that finally shoved me over the precipice and I switched over.
Things have changed a lot since then, but at that time, you could not get software nor hardware for non Japanese Windows in Japan. I did buy a new Toshiba with an English OS in Akihabara but besides the paltry amount of software and hardware that store offered, I could use nothing else with it. Oh, this included a printer as the English version of Windows would not drive a Japanese OS ready printer. But where to get the ink? The internal logic of English and Japanese printers is different. The ink cartridges for Japanese printers will physically fit, but they would not work with my English OS laptop. Can’t buy online either. My credit card is a Japanese issued card, they can only sell/send software and hardware for the domestic, Japanese market. I was depending upon the one business that sold me my pc and their offerings changed frequently. Eventually was no longer to get more ink.
When I had a problem with my windows machine, the first issue was the reverse mommy and daddy game. MS said it was the responsibility of the pc maker and Toshiba said it was MS’s responsibility. When Toshiba finally decided to look into it, my pc was not in their system. It did state on the box that it was for the North American market. Gray market purchase I am guessing.
But losing all my photos and both back ups is what finally got me to go with Apple. At first, it was great! No black Tuesdays! I had control when or even if I wanted to download updates. No longer needed to hit “Start” to shut my computer down and then wait a changing and unknowable length of time before I could close it, pack it away and move on; a massive problem when using it on a commuter train. With Apple, all I have to do is physically shut the machine. Won’t melt the battery, won’t lose what I was working on. Things were even better with my first iPad and later addition of an iPad mini. Could seamlessly move from one device to another and pick up where I left off. Could not do so with my iPad and Windows machine. They were completely segregated systems.
Over the past ten years of so, things have reversed somewhat. Now it is Apple that has (sometimes) and not windows (so I am told) language issues between OS and apps. The compatibility issues between old windows docs and newer versions of various software did not exist with Apple. Sadly, they do now. Losing access to loads of docs and music files upon updates has become a common issue with Apple now too.
There is another issue that is of little import for many in the States but of vital importance to me here in Japan, the MBA is thin and light. Not so much now as I have lost most of my jobs, but I hope to build up more classes, but running all over Hell’s half acre with my ludicrously bulky, heavy Toshiba with a heavy spare battery and charging brick was no fun. Being able to have a computer at least as powerful that was about a quarter as thick and an even smaller portion of the weight with a long lasting battery and tiny charger was a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. My shoulders and back hurt at the memory of it.
My preference now is fountain pen and paper, but no one can read cursive these days and all my employers have switched to digital documentation.
The sad thing about all this is that the idiot phone is not inherently bad and rather it’s the people who control the technology and are using it against us that are the problem. That aside, there is of course a potential for addiction to such devices which is self evident everywhere we look but that comes down to personal awareness and responsibility. Just in the way I am right now choosing to spend time reading and responding to this article when I could potentially be doing something more constructive. And it’s kind of ironic that I would never even know of your existence or be able to interact with you if it wasn’t for these evil devices! Perhaps you can send me the address of your tent and I’ll write you a nice letter!
lol. Yes, it is ironic to be complaining about the very devices and system we are using to complain about them. I am often saying that I hate computers when I really mean that I hate how we are forced to use them. I have no problem with people choosing e-currency or having idiot phones but I do have a problem with being forced into using them myself or only being offered a lower standard of service at greater cost unless or until I too adopt these.
I am also against the ever increasing admin tasks being assigned. Time was, at the end of a semester or school year we teachers compiled the grades and them along with the attendance sheet in to the office and they then did what ever needed to be done with these. Now, we have to fill in various online forms with this data which in turn means we must have a computer AND the programs/apps the school uses, which for part timers, comes out of our pockets. Greater use of my time at my expense for no increase in renumeration. What’s not to like?
I think Mac hardware looks the business, but one of the reasons I went open source 20 years ago was the cost savings. I've looked in Apple stores over the years but could never justify paying so much. Linux runs like a dream on almost any old pc.
Wiping my old pc, loading & learning (& re- loading?) linux is on my list this summer.
After taxes. After planting. And after killing the grass.
The weeds are interminable (on electronics as well as my yard)!!
What makes me sick & tired?
MS & Alphabet & Apple and 3-letter agencies of all stripes.
I H8 MY FON.
I need the open source workings of Linux and a dumbphone. Until i don't.
I would recommend doing a bit of homework on which hardware you can easily install and run Linux on. Used or new. The learning curve is not huge but the apps are different. Forget using anything like Adobe or CAD. It can be done but it is not usually 100% and can be time consuming. If you really need that kinds of software then you can dual boot a PC with Windows and Linux partitions.
Thx for that advice. I've got two older PCs (8-10yrs old) each with fairly powerful hd, decent ram & good graphics cards. Nothing fancy. Not a gamer, don't use many applications.
Would like to do rudimentary photo edit, schedule my life better and run some organizing /inventory database programs. Maybe static use offline w/vpn online webmail and such.
So yes, i still must do research!!
I would try a usb boot on your old PCs. Costs nothing to download a free distro image.
Why apple?
Massively overpriced.
Get a 2nd hand windows laptop and either run windows, or install Linux, or have both running side by side.
Would a Chromebook meet your needs? Those are very cheap. Also, Windows laptop so are much less expensive than the Apple equivalents, so that might be worth looking into.
Is your current Macbook still usable?
Here in the states there are a couple of options, not sure if they exist in your part of the world.
First, there is a great site called "MacHeist" that offers refurbished older macs for sale.
https://www.macheist.com/sales/macbook-air-13-3-inch-8gbram-128gb-mqd32ll-a-mid-2017-refurbished?utm_term=customdeal4&utm_source=StackSocial%20Deals%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250331_Tech_DailyDeals_9amETuserTZ_136716_BabbelAllLanguagesLifetime125_10Products_FullCreative_a0xRn000003Kp6H&cmp=13046109&tmpl=17075754
Then here in the states, there is a Facebook marketplace. Not sure if there is an equivalent to not in Japan.
In regards to your Macbook erasing the hard drive issue, the only thing I can think to try is to see if you can zero it out by doing one of two things, trying to erase it via another computer, or maybe you can simply try doing a clean install of an operating system. You probably tried both of these though. If you could give me more specifics, perhaps I can help.
By erasing it via another computer, I mean seeing if you can use another computer to wire it to that one. There used to be a way to do this via firewire called "target disc mode."
The new Mac works fine. I must have relayed this information imperfectly. The old Mac requires a PIN code but when given goes back to the screen where it asked for a PIN code to be chosen. It repeats these two screens. I have not touched it since taking it out of my back pack once I got home. Currently not a priority but it is an issue I want to resolve.
My current iPad Pro, which I am using to type this reply on, was refurbished. Still expensive, but much less so than a new one.
It says a lot about the state of electronic technology when company service reps cannot figure out how to operate one of their own products that is merely 8 years old. Can you imagine a competent auto mechanic that cannot figure out how an 8 year old car engine works? I’d bet that most could repair an 80 year old car if they could either find of machine the needed parts. Not a slight against those who tried to help me, just a statement on the state of the tech; it changes so greatly in such a short span of time.
I rarely if ever go to an outside agency for help on computer repairs as I find out I can do it myself, or that the person rarely has more expertise than I do in fixing my machine.
You forgot your previous mac's password, or your apple account pin#?
I do know that Windows machines and iPads are very unforgiving about pins; if you forget them, you might as well be owning a paper weight then for all the good it will do you.
With a locked WIndows PC, you can usually boot from a Linux Usb drive and recover your data that way.