The PasteBoard

It was tough.

OS 9 may have been reasonable and the software I used did the job for me, but I had the feeling that my days with the platform were numbered and I would eventually have to bite the bullet and get on the Windows train.

I wouldn't have minded too much, though. Lots of software to choose from and cheaper hardware.

However, things changed and the rest is history and we all know where we are now.

However, one thing that is sort of freaking me out is that in a quiet  but startling way, people that I know are switching. Not in droves at first but now people are coming out of the woodwork as Mac users.

I get the feeling they want to tell me that they thought I had a point all along. I never shoved my computing preference down anyone's throats. I let them choose and gave as balanced an opinion as I could. Most continued down the Windows path.

Until recently.

I think over the last two years I have seen a sea change. Yes, it all started when friends who had never ever been Apple users suddenly started to be. Even me old mate Stevie Robinson. Firmly in the Microsoft camp as a user both for work and at home. No problems. We had our preferences. But suddenly he was an Apple user. An iPod user.

Others followed down this path. Friends, we Apple users like me even though it was just the iPod.

But things changed again. Trudy got an eMac. The Goodyears got an iMac last year and got a deal from Apple that included an iPod. Sweeeeeeeet.

My best mate, Fergus, got a MacBook Pro. Out of the woodwork this past week Brian comes and tells me he got one too and Bobby did as well. I am positive others will follow.

Even a mate of mine down South is getting an iMac for his Parish office. Andy has been there all along and is getting more stuff. Friends from work won't even think about getting a PC. They use it in work, they like it and they get it for the house. Alison switched from a Windows box in work and got a Mac and if I were to take it from her I would get one of her infamous female glares and I would beat a hasty retreat.

What is happening?

One reason I have had over the last year that is making people sit up and take notice. It is what I call...

Death By PowerPoint.

DBPP has been in business for at least five or six years. You now the score.

Oh, Holy Crap, another presentation with that damned PowerPoint template and 47 points per slide. I saw this YouTube video this week and it sums it up...

So what made some of these people switch? For quite a few of them DBPP was the reason. They wanted something better. More dynamic and yet simple all at the same time.

The answer?

Apple Keynote.

The guys in question are loving it.

Go to the newly opened Apple Store in Victoria Square and give it a burn. Come back and tell me if you think I am talking out of my you-know-where.