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How It All Began: From Windows PCs to MacBook

How It All Began: From Windows PCs to MacBook


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Hello everyone, I’m Joe, and today I’d like to take you on a little journey through time – my journey through the world of computers. It all started in my childhood bedroom with Windows PCs, all the way to my current companion, the MacBook Air M3, which I use for everything today, except for what I can handle with my smartphone.

Table of Contents

Beginnings: Windows, Tools, and Early Discoveries

In my childhood, everything started with Windows PCs. I explored the internet, tested new tools, and created websites. My focus was on software, or as I like to say, OSI layers 5 and above, rather than hardware. Things like modems and switches – they just worked, and that was enough for me. Hardware was more of a means to an end; as long as everything ran smoothly, I was happy. Back then, hardly anyone thought about security solutions. I still remember how, as a teenager, I used tools like “Cain & Abel” to see every computer in my city that was online at the time – including access to their shared files. Firewall and endpoint protection? For most people, those were foreign concepts. That time showed me just how vulnerable many systems were and how easy it was to gain access, which I found absolutely fascinating. Of course, computers were also a source of fun for me. Racing games like Need for Speed or strategy games like SimCity, Age of Empires, or Empire Earth kept me entertained for hours. There was also some Counter-Strike, although I must admit that my skills never quite matched those of my friends. But that didn’t take away from the fun – it was all about spending time together and communicating over TeamSpeak. Most public TeamSpeak servers were too far away, which often led to high latency. So, I decided to set up my own TeamSpeak server and make it available online. It quickly became well-known and widely used in the area – my first step toward building a small digital infrastructure. My love for hardware was always limited. Sure, I was excited when I installed my first GeForce graphics card, but I can’t even remember the exact model. When the fan noise became too loud, I bought a Zalman water cooling system (the Zalman Reserator 1 Radiator). That was a real highlight at the time, but it was also the peak of my enthusiasm for hardware. I kept focusing on the software side of things – luckily, the hardware usually just worked, except for a hard drive that eventually failed due to old age.

From the Bedroom to the Office

Naturally, when it came to choosing a career, I went for IT and started training in system technology. During that time, I also said goodbye to my big workstation and switched to a laptop. Why? Because I saw that many business people used laptops with docking stations. I was impressed by the mobility and flexibility they offered. My first laptop was a loyal companion, both in the office and on the road. It was perfect for backing up photos from my Canon EOS 7D – the 16GB flash disk in the camera filled up quickly, and I had to constantly transfer the photos to my laptop. More storage for the camera was too expensive, and I couldn’t afford it. Instead, I used external drives with my laptop, which worked great. Despite the switch, I never felt the need to return to a large workstation. The laptop’s portability allowed me to manage my work and hobbies flexibly. At home, I had a docking station with a large monitor, giving me the best of both worlds. From Windows User to macOS Fan Like many, I used to scoff at Apple – Windows was simply the dominant operating system. But in 2007, everything changed. Windows Vista turned my previously fast computer into a sluggish machine. Even buying a new, expensive computer didn’t make things better. Frustrated, I decided to try something new and bought my first MacBook. Some colleagues already raved about it, but their constant promotion and fanboy attitude were so extreme that it initially put me off. They constantly talked about the so-called revolutionary features, claiming they were unparalleled by other systems. I found this constant chatter about the superiority of macOS exaggerated and almost evangelical. I didn’t want to be convinced that it was the best just because they believed it so passionately. Their persistent attitude of portraying Apple as the only right choice kept me from even considering it for a long time. Switching to macOS was surprisingly easy. Most of what I needed was intuitively accessible, and I could get right back to work. The new user interface was unfamiliar at first, but it didn’t take long for me to get used to it and appreciate the benefits. macOS offered me an unexpected ease and smooth user experience that I quickly came to love. Back then, I was already mostly working in the browser, using Lightroom for my photos, and was happy with a terminal and a simple code editor. My first MacBook Pro, an aluminum model from 2008, was a unibody dream that served me well for about five years. Even when the HDD started to age, I replaced it with an SSD, breathing new life into the device. Back then, you could still do that yourself. When you don’t have much money, like during my training, it was great to be able to order a cheap Samsung SSD online instead of paying Apple’s high prices. Nowadays, that’s no longer possible because the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage are all built into a single chip. This means you can’t swap or upgrade individual components like you used to. However, this doesn’t bother me much, as the base model is sufficient for my work. Even if it weren’t, money is less of an issue for me now, although storage prices are still outrageous. The MacBook Pro accompanied me for years and always provided enough power for my needs. The only thing that really bothered me was the fans, which made a lot of noise. Especially in the summer, the devices got extremely hot, and the Intel processors often pushed the fans to their limits, leading to constant noise. This intrusive sound left a lasting impression on me – almost a small trauma, since I had to work for years next to a roaring machine. Sometimes, it got so bad that I had to wear headphones just to concentrate. Despite this problem, the MacBook Pro held up well and remained my loyal companion for a long time, reliably handling all my work.

The MacBook Air: A Fresh Start

At the end of 2020, things took a turn: Apple introduced the MacBook Air with the M1 processor. The M1 processor is the first processor developed by Apple for MacBooks, based on ARM architecture instead of the x86 architecture used by previous Intel processors. This change in architecture brought significant improvements in performance and efficiency. While Intel processors relied on high clock speeds and more cores to deliver performance, the M1 made efficient use of resources, tailored specifically to the requirements of macOS. This means that tasks were processed faster, while the system used less power. Another advantage of the M1 is that it doesn’t need a fan, as heat generation is significantly lower compared to the Intel predecessors. This makes the MacBook Air M1 not only more powerful but also completely silent, which makes for a much more pleasant working environment. No more fans, more power, and a battery life of over 5 hours during intensive use – a dream. I chose the base model and was thrilled. Finally, I could work in peace without the constant hum of the fans in the background. Although the M1 model was still performing very well, I switched to the new MacBook Air M3 in March 2024. Honestly, I hardly notice a difference in performance compared to the M1, but the battery lasts even longer, which was reason enough for me to upgrade. However, I don’t always work directly on the laptop. At home and in the office, I have an external monitor, the Apple Studio Display, which provides me with more screen space and better posture at my desk. I also use an external keyboard, also from Apple, and a trackpad. Yes, a trackpad – I haven’t used a mouse in over 10 years, which probably started with my switch to a laptop. Both are from Apple. Yes, as you’ll get to know me better, you’ll see that I truly appreciate the benefits of a well-functioning ecosystem. I used to have a Samsung monitor because it was affordable, but I often had to connect it three or four times before the image was finally properly transmitted over USB-C. This was extremely frustrating, which is why I eventually bought the Apple Studio Display, even though the price initially held me back. Now, here I am, writing this blog post on my MacBook Air M3, enjoying the quiet of the early morning, and waiting for the sunrise with a cup of Gyokuro green tea, before the day begins and my MacBook will accompany me.

Final Thoughts

My MacBook Air M3 is the current pinnacle of my journey through the world of computers. It is fast, quiet, and perfectly tailored to my needs. It stands for all the developments that have shaped me as an IT enthusiast. Will it be my last laptop? Probably not. But for now, it’s exactly what I need – a loyal companion that supports me every day.

Yours, Joe

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