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Chapter 1

    Chapter one talks about the different generation of Macintosh and PC. How Macintosh and PC's operation system develop from the beginning of 1980 to the beginning of 1990. And also give us some general ideas why some people prefer to use PC and some people prefer to use Mac.

    At the beginning of this chapter, the author talks about how powerful computer is. She says that computer is not only a simple tool for us to to some editing or typing works but also help us to communicate with other people. It is also like a musical instrument and a picture creator. She mentions that in the early day of the personal computer culture, a satisfying understanding of the central processing until (CPU) of home computers was turned into an ideal for how to understand society. Computer support different styles and cultures because they can be approached in different ways. At the beginning, she talks about a lot of Mac stuffs. She says, "The Mac suggested a radically different way of understanding. Unlike the personal computers that had come before, the 'Mac' encouraged users to stay at a surface level of visual representation and gave no hint of inner mechanic,s. The Macintosh interface-its screen, really simulated a real desk. The simulated desktop that the Mac presented came to be far more than a user friendly gimmick. At the same period of time around 1980. IBM PC was only using MS-DOS operation system. No icons in the windows and it was not as user friendly as Mac. But when Microsoft Windows on the computer market in 1985. This situation changed quickly. MS Windows 1.0 was like the Mac operation system with icons interface and it was based on the MS-DOS.  Million of MS-DOS users could install MS Windows into their personal computers.

    People began to like PC because it is so easy to upgrade and can befixed by oneself. For instance, one can easy to add a CD-ROM, Hard Drive, Memory or Graphic Card into his or her computer. Especially for some people who like to fix their computers at home, PC is really a good choice for them. They can find many computer parts easily. Of course, Macintosh also has its supporters. Some artists and advertising companies still like to use Mac because of its powerful graphic hardware and stabilization.  

Questions & Answers

1. Do you think visual elements is more important than the actual capability of the computer? Can it be balance?
2. How do you oppose computers in different ways?
3. What does the author mean by 2 aestheltics?
4. In your opinion is the new IMac just as good, or better than Ms windows? And why?
5. Do you think that Pc will overtake Mac (meaning will they stop making Mac in the future?
6. Do you think that in the future there will be more types of computers or do you think Mac& PC's will be combined into one type? I wonder this because Win95/98 is closer to Mac type software with Menus & some setups.
7. Do you feel that the Macintosh has been treated unfairly since it is responsible for the introduction of window?
8. What are the differences between between a Mac and PC? Are there certain advantages for using either for certain things? School? Business?
9. Why do you prefer the PC over Macintosh?
10. What changes came with the use of the mouse and icons/desktop?
11. How do you distinguish the two Aesthetics?
12. Which computer do you prefer& why?

Do u think visual elements is more important than the actual capability of the computer? can it be balance?

Ans: It is hard to say if it can be balance. Personally, I think that visual element is part of the capability of the computer. Visual element cannot be developed so quick without any computer. On the other hand, if computer doesn't have any visual element, it is just like a calculator.

Ans: I always think that computer is a good product for everyone. I don't oppose computer at all. Of course, if someone is too addicted to a computer, it won't be a good thing. For example, some people prefer to play cyber sex or something like that. Is it a good thing for a human being only communicate with virtual world but not a real word?

Two aesthetics mean two different types of computers-"Mac and PC". Nowadays, there are only two common types of computer for common users.

Ans: Because i haven't tried to use IMac, I have no idea if IMac is as good asMS-Windows or even better than windows. Personally, i still prefer to use PC. For some people, IMac seems pretty easy to setup and install. You just need to plug the power cable, then, you can turn your Mac on. No need to waste your time to figure out how to plug the power cable, keyboard, mouse, printer or scanner, etc. PC always makes the new users confuse how to plug those stuffs in their PCs. Nowadays, the new generation of PCs have had a port called USB. You just plug everything into the USB ports, then the computer would recognize everything. Right now, you can see some computer products like monitor, scanner, printer and speaker have supported USB already.

Ans: In a short period of time, I believe that PC will not overtake Mac but it is hard to say in the future. Right now, only some artistics and advertising companies are still using Macs. PC has occupied the major computer markets. Besides, PC is more realiable than before and the hardwares are also powerful than before.

Ans: I really cannot predict the future but I believe one day, computer will be as common as T.V. , Casette player, CD player and VCR. We just go to buy one and plug in the power cable. That's it! We can ask the computer to do everything. In that moment, we won't call it PC or Mac.

Ans: It doesn't have absolute fair or unfair in our world. PC's marketing strategy is better than Mac. That's why PC won the major computer market.

Ans: I think the difference between MAc and PC is the operation system. In the past, Mac was very expensive because it used many advance hardwares. That's why Mac was so popular within the artists and advertising companyies commhnity. Nowadays, wherever, you can see PCs but not Mac. Even though you go to some computer shops, they only put Macs in the corner area.

Ans: The first computer my father bought for me was PC. My second computer was PC too. The third computer I bought for myself was PC too. I did try to use Mac but I don't like to use it because no software. Most of the software for Mac are graphic programs and all of them are very expensive. In contrast, PC has many software to support and most of them are pretty cheap. Besides, PC is easy to upgrade. I used to upgrade my PC by myself.

What changes came with the use of the mouse and icons/desktop?

Ans: My second PC was a 286 without windows. It only had MS-DOS. When I turned on my computer, the blinking cursor was the only thing what I saw on the screen. I really had no idea how to use it because I didn't know how to use "dir" or "cd" those commands. I guess in that generation,many new computer users had that kind of problems. When the first time I used Windows 1.0, I was so amazed because what i need to do was just put my hand on a mouse and click ..click...click...

Ans: If you are a new computer user, perhaps you don't know how to distinguish what is Mac and what is PC. Actually, the big difference between them is the operation system. Only PCs use MS-Windows.

Ans: I like to use PC because PC is easy to upgrade. PC's price is very reasonable.Those software for the PC are affordable. I guess those reasons is good enough to support me to continue to use PC.