Bias in the world? Dare say!!!!

I’ve just read an interesting article by John Dvorak, a well known and respected computing columnist. He’s terribly concerned about bias in the tech media because he notices that all the people who sing the praises of Apple Computers (at the expense of Microsoft powered PC’s)–all these reporters are using Apple Computers themselves! Heaven forbid! Now, I’ll give Mr. Dvorak some credit. He’s made an interesting connection, but I don’t understand his conclusion. He is saying that the media industry’s use of Macs is biasing them to report on Apple’s products often and with much enthusiasm. Poor Microsoft powered PC’s are left out.

Um. I think I missed something here. Consider the possibility that Apple really does produce better computers that give users really-honest-to-goodness better tools to work with. Couldn’t that also be a reason why the media people use Macs and are enthused to tell others about them? Okay, I understand that reporters should strive to be fair and report all sides. But Macs really are more exciting to use. I resented his accusation that Mac users are all Windows-naive computer neophytes, too. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science and have been working on PC’s since I was 12. I watched (and continue to watch) the evolution of Microsoft’s operating systems and software and I can honestly say in my professional opinion that Macs have an intuitive beauty about them that Microsoft is sorely lacking thus far. Yes, if you know all the ins and outs of Windows and know what to avoid that causes bugs and crashes you can be quite productive and happy. I know people who would have a terribly time switching to Macs because quite a bit of the way you’d have to work is different. But that is an issue of familiarity, not raw functionality. What? Grandma wants to get her first computer? Buy a Mac.

Back to the article. The entertainment industry is following this logic too. They complain that movie and theater sales are dropping. They cry foul and claim that there are so many obstacles in the way to people seeing their movies and paying for them. Piracy is rampant in the streets, media give poor reviews, politicians are limiting art….ARGHG! But no one stops to ask a more pointed question: could it be that movie sales are declining because they are just boring same-old movies? I mean, 28 Days, Dawn of the Dead, Resident Evil: Apocalypse? It’s the same plot with different stars and a couple of minor details. Oh, but we spent so much on the graphics and special effects! Uh huh. Microsoft spends a lot, too.

Read the article here: pcmag.com