You're a Mac User? Consider Yourself Lucky!

Remember high school? Remember the peer pressure and the efforts we all made to fit in? How about college? The experience for most was somewhat the same, whether a chemistry or journalism major, we all ran with a crowd and tried to be one of the boys (or girls).

How about your office environment? Do you fit in or stick out like a sore thumb? Are you among the dominant species of PC users or of the endangered Mac lot? Who are your friends at work? Are they Mac or PC users, or both? Most of us have developed social skills to the extent that we have developed friends both at work and in other aspects of our lives.

The corporate battle for computer dominance was settled long ago. Though it was for the most part won by Microsoft and Intel by 1995, the introduction of Windows 95 pretty much added the last nails in the corporate coffin for Apple Computer. Unless, of course, you are a graphic designer, newspaper publisher, video specialist or other creative professional that Apple has managed to maintain a dominance in the marketplace.

As Apple worked to pull out of a nose dive during the past few years, it discovered something. While it has been for the most part shunned in mainstream corporate America, it is admired and revered by creative professionals. They never left and are helping Apple fuel an explosive comeback.

Our staff graphic designer recently received delivery of a new blue 400 Megahertz G3 Mac, what I like to call Apple's "Blue Meanie." One thing is certain, Apple Computer is making certain with its new Macs and iMacs are noticed. The 21-inch Multi-sync monitor on this baby is huge and crystal clear. Coupled with the G3 tower, the system is something for the eye to behold. In addition to turning heads, the amazing machine also delivers with smoking performance.

Apple may have been kicked out of the corporate boardroom, but there is evidence that it is winning the hearts of a large, and relatively untapped, home audience. Statistics show that more than 40 percent of people buying a new iMac are either new to computing all together, or are switching from Wintel. These are significant numbers, considering two years ago Apple Computer was left for dead prompting PC heads like Michael Dell to encourage the company to sell off and return money to shareholders.

The new blue G3s and iMacs illustrate vividly how a company like Apple can tap into a new market of consumers in an industry that was previously described as lacking significant growth potential. In some ways, Apple has created an entirely new market of computer buyers. They are people less concerned with the operating system more concerned with the overall "look and feel" of the computer experience.

As I've said before, now is the time for Apple to recreate the user experience, but until it does that, thank goodness it has at least found a way to bring the Mac back into significance. If you're a Mac outcast at your workplace, consider yourself lucky.