PIONEERS Well, think about the age of mainstream computer users...the first group to use Windows, (which unfortunately is very common) are solidly in their 50’s now. These people were the first mainstream computer users....their everyday personal and work lives were completely uprooted by in influx of computer technology. This group of people struggled to learn the new computer technologies of mainframes, DOS, Windows, and to a lesser extent, the Mac OS. The use of computers as a tool to replace our previous “paper based” work systems was an all new concept of accomplishing tasks, especially in areas such as Banking, Accounting and Engineering. For the most part, most of these people did learn to use the technology .... but not easily. You will very often hear people of this generation talk about how proud they are to have learned to use computers, or go to great extremes to set up a “computer area” in their house....even setting aside a “computer room” for it’s use...or take extensive classes to “learn Windows”. These people, for the most part, learned on MS Windows, and had no exposure to anything else. Even corporate IT people are often “Windows Only” people, not because they cannot learn the systems that power the internet and mainframes (Unix) and publishing (Mac) but because they are of the age where this is what they learned to use, it was a very difficult transition, and they just can’t imagine learning something else. A lot of the people in this group use computers to do their taxes, email, and other “serious computer” uses. They also accept the difficulty and unreliability of Windows computers as “something you have to live with” because that is all they have known. DELL NO, DUDE Look at almost ALL of Dell’s commercials. An over 40 adult, completely perplexed by the “PC buying experience” listens to, and actually follows the advice of, kids who SEEMS to be dumb as a rock. Think about it...would you let a young kid like “Steven” give you advice on a new car, or home mortgage, a 401K program or a washer and dryer.? NOPE. Dell’s advertising plays on the fears of the over 40 group....computers are scary and hard to use and need lots “research” that only a young stupid kid can provide! There really IS a generation gap when it comes to computer technology, but only because MY PEOPLE, the over 40’s, were the first to be exposed to it. The next generation was born into it! THE NEXT GENERATION Contrast this with the under 25 age group. My kids, for instance, have never known a day in their lives without a computer system of some kind. This age group has had ATM’s, video games, cell phones, VCR’s, cable and satellite television. NONE of these things existed for the previous generation (including me!). This group embraces technology as a part of their lives, just as the older generations embraced television, indoor plumbing and air conditioning. To write a report, they do research on the internet, and compose and print it on a computer using a word processor. Want to keep track of your friends? Instant messaging! Want music on the go? Portable MP3 player!! This group will not hesitate to rip music into MP3s, play movies on DVD or play games against other players on-line with their computers. The technology they use is just as much a part of their daily lives as the plumbing system that brings them water, and they do not think about WHAT it is, but instead think about WHAT IT WILL DO FOR THEM. This is an important concept to grasp. Often, I hear parents say they want their children to “use the same computer at school that they use at work”. The kids could care less. They accept that there are all kinds of technology to do a job, and will use it without hesitation. This group will use a video game on their PS2 until they beat it, and then never go back to it. To the older generation, this is almost unthinkable. The older group would see a video game as something they spent $60 and ought to last quite a while. The young game player sees no value in it after they have beaten the game. The fundamental difference is that the older generation “perceives” technology....the younger generation does not even know it exists...they just use it. As far as operating systems go, you can throw em on Windows or Mac OS or Linux and they will absolutely wring everything out of it they can. This is the source of what is bringing about so much change in the computer industry. THE PAIR O’ DIME CHANGE Microsoft, in it’s very comfy position as a monopoly, has recently decided that it can abuse it’s customers. For instance....it gave MS Office away for years, and then, after Office became a standard, they jacked up the price. A LOT. Windows XP has very stringent licensing requirements that not only prevent you from copying it, but keep you from upgrading your computer unless you call Microsoft, and when you register it online it has been reported that it sends information about your system to Microsoft. Microsoft Media Player is reported to keep track of what movies you watch on your computer and what music you play, and SENDS THAT INFORMATION TO MICROSOFT so they can send it to music publishing companies and video companies. The Microsoft .NET system will take over the internet, keeping ALL of your personal information, and collecting fees for all the transactions on the internet. The fact that this company now feels it can abuse and gouge it’s customers is finally being noticed. IBM and Dell are pushing LINUX for their servers, and the new Apple iMac is selling like hotcakes (it’s the largest selling computer ever carried at Amazon.com). People are getting fed up with Microsoft as BIG BROTHER and are slowly starting to consider alternatives. Most of younger generation have no real love of Microsoft, and have no problem switching platforms. The older generation might say “what about all my old files!!??” while the younger generation might say “who cares?”. The change is starting to happen. THE MACINTOSH, LINUX AND OS X ADVANTAGE Apple’s approach as the only alternatives is brilliant. They are utilizing the best features the MAC has always had, usefulness and ease of use, to push the “digital hub” concept. Think about it......Microsoft is pushing new licensing schemes and ways to secretly gather information from you, while Apple is providing you with a computer that makes everything more useful. Digital music, photos, videos, the internet, and personal organizer are what is driving sales of younger purchasers, while older purchasers still fear buying something that their neighbor does not have. Younger purchasers have shown over and over again a willingness to “absorb” new technology seamlessly. The OS X operating system, based on BSD UNIX is still in it’s infancy, but has proven to be rugged, reliable, easy to use, and beautiful to look at. Where an older computer user might balk at using a system that is “not like what they have at work”, younger users just ask “WHAT CAN IT DO FOR ME?” and “ IS THIS COMPANY RIPPING ME OFF AND INVADING MY PRIVACY?”. With the decline of the Y2K scare, users are more and more looking at VALUE in systems, not just low prices, and companies like Gateway are suffering for it. Apple, however, has continued to innovate, introducing the radical new iMac complete with flat screen and OS X. They have bundled software that these purchasers actually use, like iTunes, iPhoto, iMove, Appleworks, Internet Explorer, games and others, and the result is that 40% of new Mac buyers have never bought a Mac before. And what about LINUX, a close cousin of OS X? Linux has gained impressive market shares against Windows 2000, NT and IIs in recent years, and with robust support from very large vendors like IBM and Compaq, they continue to make inroads. MOST internet servers run Linux. As a desktop operating system, they have along way to go, but they ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL GET THERE. The Linux community is fiercely dedicated to overcoming the great Microsoft juggernaut. The face of personal computing is changing, and the MAC is poised to take advantage of it. The time is here for a big shift in computer use. Don’t be surprised to see Apple taking a much larger piece of the pie in the coming years, and the influence of Microsoft declining. Skeptical? So were the people who thought no one would buy Japanese cars, or buy anything online, or use cell phones! The next computer revolution has begun.