Mac world

I love my Apple computer, I really do, but never fail, every time I walk into the Apple store in the mall, I feel like I'm losing a piece of my soul.

A couple months back, an old editor at my company stopped by my office to say a quick hello, and upon seeing my computer, said, "You're still using that relic?"

That relic, as she called it, is an eight or nine year old PowerBook G4. I got it around four (or five?) years ago and it was at least four years old when my company handed it over. Needless to say, it's old and it definitely acts its age.

Throughout our relationship, my PowerBook has died on me twice, both times on deadline. As a self-proclaimed control freak (I am a prime candidate for a "Neurotics Anonymous" therapy group), I had what can be classified as a moderate meltdown when my hard drive decided to stop working while I was in the midst of putting together an entire 28-page broadsheet newspaper... did I mention my editor was on vacation at the time and I was in charge? You can imagine how seamlessly that production week went... Not very! Thankfully, the powers-that-be at work decided a computer was an important tool for completing my job requirements and I received it back after a brief (read: extended) hiatus.

In the last two weeks, I went to the Apple store twice with a friend who was having problems with his iPhone and was given the opportunity to observe the different kinds of people who actually use Apple products. As an Android user (it is my firm belief that my Android far surpasses the iPhone, sorry!), I figured I wouldn't be allowed in the store, but then I realized I am also one of the Mac computers' biggest advocates, and that that fact (and that fact alone) likely removed me from the Apple Blacklist...

So there I sat, for at least 30 minutes (both visits!) waiting for one of the geniuses at the Genius Bar to help us, and I stared at all the pretty little computers I would kill to have — all of which make my relic look like it belongs in a museum. It was at that point that I realized Apple stole my soul. I absolutely did not want to have to walk out of there without either a new computer, an iPad (I still have yet to fall prey to the tablet hype) or — gasp! — an iPhone.

Luckily I have what can be classified as armored-clad will-power and resisted the temptation to spend any money, but as I sit here today, listening to my old PowerBook G4 huff and puff (literally, the fan has been running for the last 15 minutes), I can't help but wonder... will I ever upgrade to a newer Mac?

And hey, who wants to buy my (even older!) HP laptop? Now there's a relic!