But wait, read on, I want to explain that somewhat.

You see the thing is, I’ve never been one for “early adopting” yet there was something about the ipad that simply made sense to me right from the release date. Even if others didn’t agree, I for one saw the potential that the device had.

There is absolutely denying that in the short few hours I’ve had it, I am in love, and it really is brilliant, although I wouldn’t go as far as to say “magical” although it is fair to say it’s revolutionary. It is, in the way that it’s one of the few things to enter the tablet domain that doesn’t make me want to throw it across the room the moment I lay eyes on it (windows tablet PC edition is a prime example of this).

No, what prompted the “what have I done!?!?” comment is the sheer cost of the device. An eye watering £699 for the top of the range 3G model! Ok ok that’s for the 64GB model, and yes I know the cheapest one is still a hefty £429 for just wif-fi, but given this thing is supposed to be directly competing with net books, it’s a fairly heavy price tag, even worse when you consider that the keyboard dock is essentially another £50 on top and an application like Pages (a fully functional word processor) is another £5.99* again, and it starts looking even more expensive than it actually is.

On the downside, the iPad is priced out of the market for most people, on the upside, it,s smaller and easier to use than most net books. Lest I point out to you that this entire post is being written on an iPad, and that the keyboard is near enough full size. No I did not purchase the iPad keyboard dock, although I intend to, but I wanted to see just how usable the on screen keyboard is. And it’s safe to say that while it still suffers from the iPhones “I need to learn how you type before you can actually type” syndrome it is incredibly usable.

Speaking as an IT professional, I simply have no need for a netbook. They tend to be bulky, slow, and have no capacity to run any of the programs I use. That Is why I have a laptop, and a company provided one at that. What I do have a need for is a device I can comfortably lie on the sofa with and browse the web, go on twitter and MSN and do the occasional blog post. Granted I could do that with my current laptop, and for a long time I did, however it was still far too large to comfortably have on my lap.

Ok so yes I admit it, I could still quite comfortably use the laptop, however the iPad does make things a whole lot easier. I will post my thoughts and reviews after I have had an opportunity to really sit and play with it but for now I can tell you that the whole experience is a completely pleasurable one, and web browsing alone is an absolute dream.

This thing could very easily replace my laptop for most of the things I do in the evening, and some things in work as well!

*I originally had put £10 as the price for pages, it is infact 5.99 as Andy pointed out

For example, something that would take maybe 5 steps on windows, takes about 2 on Mac, things are where they should be, and the problem is Windows has gotten us all used to using the computer in a very-straight-forward-process-that-cannot-deviaite-from-a-set-line-under-any-circumstances. Exactly like that. The best examples I can think of are joining a Wireless network. On Mac, You click the network, enter your encryption key and click join. In Windows, you usually have to enter a utility (unless your lucky enough to have one that pops up for you and gives you a network list) then you have to select the network, enter the key, then tell it what type of network it is, then click a box that says “reconnect automatically” and then click Save.

It’s not that counter intuitive, but it’s still a process we don’t necessarily need to go through. The extra steps are needed to cover a Windows ‘flaw’ so to speak. In Windows it needs you to specify what type of network it is, to apply security settings. In Mac, due to it’s Unix base, has a set, standard profile set up. For joining a network as standard, it’s great, no extra configuration needed, however there are advantages to the way Windows does it by the way it adds preconfigured ‘Network profiles’ to minimise the effort needed, but then going into why that’s actually a bad thing would require a separate article all on it’s own.

Another example is the Start Menu and the Dock. Think of the dock like that little quick launch area on your Windows machine, your commonly used applications are in it, for instance, here’s mine.

I have finder, (think Windows explorer), Mail, Safari, iChat, iCal, iTunes, Address Book, Spaces (more on this later), System Preferences, Tweetdeck, Skype, Adium (MSN Client), Pages (Mac equivalent of MS Word) and Writeroom (Word processor)

There are also three other things on the right which I will get to in a moment, the far right is of course the trash and works pretty much like the Recycle Bin on Windows so I’m not going to explain it to you (if however you do need help knowing what that is, I suggest you stop using a computer and seek guidance)

So, For me, just like quick launch, if I want to open my Word processor I open Writeroom or Pages by clicking it. Nothing else opens up or takes up the space, all you get is that little white dot underneath the application icon to let you know it’s open. And generally I don’t have to go anywhere else. Up until Windows 7 this was totally different to the way Windows worked. The icons would be there, but that’s all they would be, opening a new application would mean a new ‘tab’ would open on your taskbar which if there was any application activity would flash orange and blue at you. Windows seven now is more mac like by giving a glassier feel to it, but it still flashes. But, what If I want to open another application thats not in my quick launch or dock! Well on Mac, here’s all I tend to do if I want to open say ‘Numbers’ (the iWork equivalent to Excel)

All I tend to do these days is go to spotlight (the magnifying glass) and type “numbers” in, and low and behold numbers has popped up, there are of course easier ways to do this, I could open finder by clicking Finder, I click applications, and scroll to Numbers like so

Or if I really want to be daring I could take that applications folder and turn it into a Stack. (More on that here http://blog.woopid.com/?p=398)

Ok so let’s give the example in Windows to open Excel assuming it’s not an application I use a lot so, wouldn’t have it on my desktop, or in my quick launch icons.

I click start > all programs > Microsoft Office (assuming your application icons are in the Microsoft office folder) and then click Excel. Or if you’re like my last system, Start > All programs > Office applications > Microsoft Office > Excel

It’s a long process that seems normal to us, but, Mac just seems more intuitive. When the original adverts came out that said ‘Think different’ they really meant it.  But after a while you get a feeling that this is really how it should be. You can see on the screenshot above I have a quick link to my Downloads folder, yes you can do this in Windows, but it’s not quite as simple as Mac, you just look at the Places list, think “I want a link to the folder in there” so you drag the folder into the list. it’s simple, intuitive etc.

Oh and installing an application? Usually it’s just drag and drop, and I really mean that.

However I said some things seem alien to me. Let’s start with the first. These things.

On Windows they are on the right hand side of your Application Window. The Far right is an X, meaning “Close the program”(unless your on Windows 7). In the middle is “maximise the current view” and the one on the left of that again is the “hide this application to the taskbar”

On Mac however they are on the left hand side of your application window. The one on the far right in most native applications means, ‘Resize this window to fit the content as best you can” not however to expand the window. The middle on, is minimise the window to the dock. The one on the left we therefore assume is Close the program right? Er… No. I don’t actually know what the technical name for the button is but it’s more like a ‘hide me’ button, thats just infuriating. If i want to close my program I have to press Command + Q or actually go to the application menu and select exit. The button doesn’t close it. it just gets rid of all trace of it yet still leaves it open. This confuses me no end and it’s just utterly counter intuitive.

Other things include the lack of fullscreen web browsing, and decent voice dictation and sometimes getting around. It’s not a major thing but it does sometimes feel a little strange. However I was surprised by the lack of decent voice recognition.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that Mac OS has voice recognition – to a point. It’s more for accessibility than anything else and does work exceedingly well for that purpose, however Windows Vista and Windows 7 came with built in voice recognition, which was actually incredibly good. I always used to use it with a webcam, but almost every blog post up until about a year ago was voice dictated. I loved it, especially as it took fifteen minutes to train and was one of easiest pieces of software to use. I’ve never found anything that worked quite like it, why didn’t mac sort that one out for me?

I guess I really am starting to Think Different….

“…Zero usability testing went into this…”

This is something I never expected to see someone say about apple, ever.

Now, granted, I absolutely agree that the app store needed a refresh, it needed cleaning up, updating and generally needed to loose some weight, however, this is the wrong direction. The new image preview idea is nice, but hopelessly wrong. The description being shrunk so you have to click a “read more” button to view a standard description, is wrong. Heres the new app stire.

Yes, this is the new iTunes store. The Description now has to be ‘expanded’ to actually see what the developer intended.

The screenshots are now almost double the size, poorly formatted and now have scrollbars. I really would like to know what on earth went into Apples mind when they created this. Worse, take a look at what happens when you click the more button.

Finally more space for descriptions, but oh dear, Giant icon syndrome has taken hold, and well, the screenshots are gone.

It seems all apple really cared about here was the name of the product and the pictures of the app. This to be is really the wrong direction to be going in, especially as so many apps on the app store require disclaimers at the start of the description to ensure that people know that programs require backend support etc. This is just…. the wrong way to go Apple. Clean it up, please!

The last few days have been rather complicated for me. Working on the phones in my current job, and also dealing with the customer service teams at Apple. Over the past 24 hours I must have spent nearly 12 of them on the phone constantly. Though the question must be asked, How often do you find yourself on the receiving / giving end of bad customer service?

There’s an old saying, “Don’t bring your problems into work”. Easier said than done in most cases, but in my experience I seemed to get someone who was having a very bad day. Mainly my calls to Apple. My newly purchased computer developed a fault on the trackpad. Ok, so It’s new, and I accept that every now and then an (admittedly) minor thing happens.

Of course I call them and ask about a repair or replacement, and was told I could go to the Apple store to arrange this. This is the moment when it all went wrong here. Sure the guy was nice enough but he didn’t really check things through. Suffice to say that because I ordered online, I couldn’t replace it in store. Which meant that I had driven to and fro various places and made hours of phone calls.

Until of course I got through to the guy that actually took responsibility, admitted something had gone wrong and sorted the problem.

Two huge contrasts there for a problem that took almost a week to sort. When all that really had to happen was the first person could have gotten their facts straight.

It got me wondering at just how often I’ve done something similar. I worked for two years in a call center for a major bank and currently work on an IT service desk for an even larger more powerful entity. How often have I or you, been on the phone to a customer as part of our jobs and said something, all very nicely and then put the phone down and thought.. “oh, I should have said that”, which lead the customer on a very long escapade?

Obviously I try to do the very best I can in my job, but thinking hard about it, I’ve definitely done it. It’s amazing how eight words in this case could have saved me a lot of time, effort and worry. (those words being “It can’t be replaced at the Apple store”)

Of course it’s equally true on the flip side. How amazing that one person in twenty minutes could so easily sort everything out by simply being an outright star at his job. Again, how often have you picked up the phone and been on the giving or receiving end of a call where you could simply have taken ownership and gone the extra mile to sort something out for someone once and for all.

Again, I’m ashamed to admit that I might not have done that all the time I’ve been on both ends of the call, and certainly some people I’ve spoken to simply don’t want to know.

How many of us believe that we truly put our all into a job and do the best that we can possibly do, and then on looking back we suddenly realize that we could have done so many things differently.

Amazingly my call was to a multi billion pound company that is renowned for excellent customer service. I had the best, and the worst of it all in one day. Of course, there are millions of other customers, I am truly nothing to them. But my decision to buy was based partly on the customer service aspect, and whilst I’m satisfied with my resolution, I can’t help but be left with a slightly sour taste. I’ve literally seen the best and the worst of a company all in one day. So for me, the reputation has been damaged, but not irreparably, owing to one person alone.

Again, it’s amazing how little we do, or don’t do that can lead to such a drastic change in perceptions. For me, wanting to set up a small business based on what I do on this website, something like that could loose me thousands of pounds a year, but it could also make me thousands.

How often do you really think about what you’re doing? Honestly and truthfully can you say every waking moment of every day be it with friends, family or the customers or colleagues you deal with that you know precisely what you were doing, and gave exactly the right information, and cared?

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

And you know what?

I’m In LOVE!! Oh My LORD!

I Swore I wouldn’t do this post, I really did swear, because it sounds like I’m selling, but jesus, WHY DIDNT ANYONE TELL ME! Seriously.

After almost fifteen years of using Windows I can honestly say that OS X Leopard is a revelation in comparison to Windows. Yes I’m gloating, yes I’m happy, and yes I am totally in love.

I mean think of it this way. It’s just so much simpler. So much better than windows. it works it’s simple, but incredibly powerful in comparison. I actually didn’t like it.. for all of thirty seconds. I’m so happy with it, so thank you to everyone who emailed me on here and on twitter to give me some buying advice.

I’m not going to go on and on, but let’s just say that despite Apples extortionate cost in comparison to PC’s I can really see why people have these devices. I can really understand why people love them so much. And yes, after 15 years of using a Windows machine I honestly think this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Well, at the moment anyway… any helpful hints and comments, let me know

You know despite my artistic feelings and (lack of) talents, I’ve always run on Windows or Linux. I’ve only twice touched a Mac before. One when I was writing an email to someone, and another time in an airport lounge, writing an email to someone.

So it should come as no surprise that I’ve been a little nervous about getting a Mac, but that’s what I’ve done. Today I just spent a small fortune ordering my very own, and very first Mac Book Pro.

You might ask why, or what reasoning I had to order one, given that;
I am Microsoft Certified
I have never actually ‘USED’ Mac OS
I run Linux and love it
I’ve always been on Windows

Well, theres a few answers but the most obvious one is that they are gorgeous! The MacBook is a thing of beauty. There are very few ‘PC’ devices that look as good as a Mac.

Aside from that I work in IT, and Macs (Especially after the announcment at WWDC about Exchange support) are becoming ever more prevalent in the workplace. Plus you can run Windows on a Mac, and I really want to learn a bit about OSX so I can at least support users on it should I ever need to.

I’ve experienced almost every OS out there, from Windows to Linux, Unix, Sun, SGI etc the list goes on. I’ve never tried Mac, and finally Macs appear to be tools, rather than computers that are for idiots.

The big reason though? The iPhone. The iPhone has really changed the way I think about Mac and Apple in general, from the way the hardware is built to how the system is running  but most of all, customer service.

I’ve had a few dealings with Apple customer service, and cannot fault how Apple dealt with it. In fact I’ve never had better customer service.

So let’s see this goes. Either I’ve just made a huge mistake, and spent too much money on a ‘toy’ or I’ve just made the best decision of my life…

Thoughts?