On Being A Mac User...

I finally applied for college. This is my application essay.

I enjoy being a Mac user. I have been hooked since the first time I experienced the ease of use the Mac OS X operating system provides. I can really appreciate the thought that goes into the elegant design of each Apple product I have owned or would like to own. Their forward thinking approach to new product design and functionality has seen Apple set standards time and time again, from the introduction of the mouse to the click wheel interface of the iPod. By focusing on the consumer’s needs for innovative products with controls that are easy to learn, Apple is able to sell more than just a piece of technology, they offer a user experience second to none.

The Mac OS X operating system is a cleanly designed and easy to use platform built to redefine the personal computing experience. The single window approach to file organization keeps your files close at hand while your desktop free stays free of clutter. The immediately accessible Dock acts like a “shelf” on which to store your favorite and frequently used applications and files. The Dashboard feature allows single-click access to simple, yet always necessary applications like a calculator, calendar, clocks, weather and a unit converter. These user-centric features show a close attention to detail that is just as present in the casing that houses each unit as the operating system itself.

The overall physical design of modern Macs has always been very appealing to me. Apple has been using a myriad of innovative materials such as aluminum, titanium, lucite and other transparent plastics for over ten years, and was actually the first company to offer a consumer computer in its own plastic housing. The unique materials Apple uses allow for increased durability (a feature not standard with other computer manufacturers) in an eye-catching product. This thoughtful approach to case and component design allows Apple to push the limits of current technology into laughably compact devices, creating new form factors and expanding their market by appealing to a broad range of consumers.

Since current CEO and Apple founder Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1996, Apple has made some bold moves that have impacted various markets. For example, the first line of the colorful new iMac saw the introduction of Intel created USB technology and the dismissal of the still popular floppy drive. The iPod, at first thought to be a high-end “nerd-niche” item has brought about the wide acceptance of MP3 as a profitable means to distribute audio content and is now a staple for music lovers and casual listeners everywhere. A more recent decision that has come under scrutiny is the lack of internal disc drive in the new Macbook Air, a laptop that connects wirelessly to nearby CD or DVD drives installed on other computers. As further proven with last year’s iPhone (the all-in-one portable device that has seen record sales) Apple’s decisions to fuse or lose various technologies is very influential.

As an artist who uses technology to create, and a consumer looking to stay ahead of the latest tech trends, I am happy to be doing what I do on a Mac. I can easily navigate the software needed to compose music, manage files and share them with the world. My lightweight and slim MacBook is tough enough to go anywhere I go, and looks great when it gets there. I am proud to be a part of what makes a true market leader’s vision work. Thanks to Apple’s innovative use of unique materials, a logical approach to interface design and functionality that continues to push current limits of technology, I am proud to be a Mac user.