Ok, so let me 'splain....
I USED to think I was quite good with computers. I've played with them for a while, my first pc was about the same size as my kitchen table, back in the 80's. I've had Dell. Gateway. Fujitsu. Micron.
I was the go-to person in my family for computer issues. I could fix just about anything.
Then, I got a Mac. And I discovered I didn't know dink about computers...all I knew was how to FIX Windows. All those hours spent fixing stuff, making things run, adding software, fixing software add on issues, plugging in things like cameras, printers, making them run, making them talk to each other........I will never, ever, have to do that again. Because when you plug something into a Mac......it runs. It talks to everything else on the system and ........it works.
Plug in the camera, pics show up on your screen. Click the printer icon, the thing prints. Effortlessly. Drag a pic into your mail box. Mail it. Don't go hunting around for it....just DRAG it right to the e mail. Drop it, and the e mail program types around it. Drive somewhere, open the thing up, it offers you connection options. Last night I pulled the cable modem off my mother's machine, plugged it into mine, and away I went, surfing. No hunting, no pecking, no incompatibility, no figuring out how to make the connection work.....it just DID.
If I worked for Apple, I'd keep a HERD of rentals on hand, loaners. For people to try. Two weeks later, I can almost promise you, people would be back in the store check books in hand.
They are idiot proof, reliable, and safe. In the four years I have been running a Mac, I have never, EVER, had it lose a single thing. I have never seen the Black Screen of Death. I have never had to spend a single second trying to figure out why something wouldn't work....because it ALWAYS does.
Trust me....if I hadn't had my friend who worked for Apple hand me a Mac and say, "Just try it." I would never, ever, have understood the differences, and I for DANGED sure wouldn't have shelled out what I considered to be a higher price for what appeared to be comparable machines. When you get right down to it.....they are not competitive.
Macs are usable, easy, intuitive workhorses. PCs are a pain in the bottom which ultimately cost twice as much in viruses and virus prevention, lost time, lost data, and lost sanity.
You couldn't pay me to go back.
Ok, tout over. I'm glad you figured out your problem and work around. If you are ever in Virginia you are welcome to come play with my Mac for a little while. It's a little treat I offer on a random basis to sufferers of pc-itis. ;-D I do not own any interest in anything Apple, other than my own machines and accessories.....no stock, no nothing. : )
