Snacking with Adel

(First published 0n 09/09/2009 12:11 AM; http://abs-cbnnews.com)

In our country, buying a computer system is a weird concept—it means buying hardware. Period.

Yes, I can imagine you agreeing and nodding your head. So why is that weird again? It’s weird because that’s just half the purchase. A computer system is hardware and software. One doesn’t work without the other. And the last time I checked, most software isn’t free.  It isn’t?

The conflict is rooted in the old-fashioned belief that if it isn’t tangible, if it isn’t a material thing, it’s hard to ascribe any financial value to it. It’s the whole crux of the concept of intellectual property. Pay for software? Really pay for it, not get pirated copies in the basement of Makati Cinema Square for P90 each? Why? It’s not like they’re processors, or RAM, or hard disks, or flat-screen monitors or gaming video cards or anything real like that. It’s just …software! Pakopya na lang!

People in most third-world countries have this deep-set idea that software is an afterthought, an accessory for the computer, and consequently should come “free” with the hardware. (Sure, open source is nice, but face it, the good stuff is in the commercial apps.) With branded computers it’s factored into the cost. But that makes the whole package expensive so we just assemble our own and get the software from MCS, or borrow installers from the office geek.

Fact is, hardware and software are often separate commercial enterprises, and hence separate purchases, with software often costing more. And to a lot of people the idea of “one copy, one install” is patently ridiculous and impossible to swallow. What? Whaddaya mean one per computer? I bought one already! Ok na yan for the whole company!

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(First published 0n 8/06/2009 12:27 AM; http://abs-cbnnews.com)

A large part of this column is about user/consumer experiences and your stories about how things go down in your adventures in free enterprise. I hope to get first-person accounts as to how your after-sales experiences turned out, if you tried to return something or have it fixed or replaced (in most instances, merchants will no soon return your money after they get it then they would part with their first born.)

I figured, where best to start than a story of my own?

FULL DISCLOSURE. I am an Apple nut, a Mac evangelist and long-time fan and apologist for the company, not because I own stock, but because I am a part of that rarest of consumer breeds, the Thoroughly Satisfied Customer. I began my Applehood with the Apple II in the early 80s, and worked my way up the ladder to a Macbook Air today. My fandom extends even to my extracurricular activities, being a longtime moderator of the Philippine Macintosh Users Group, and have been a member of the Board of Directors and chairman of the organization for two years straight. Yes, I drank the Kool-Aid. Wherever I go I tend to be known as the Mac Guy, the Walking Wiki and Mac Hardware and Software Troubleshooter Extraordinare. Everyone in the office comes to me for advice in the office. Everyone. Even ABS-CBN CEO and Chairman Gabby Lopez asks me stuff. I kid you not.

BACKGROUND. I currently own a year-and-a-half old Macbook Air; that’s the impossibly thin, incredibly lightweight laptop that never fails to turn heads at Starbucks. It’s not cheap, it cost me an entire term’s teaching fees and more to pay for the darned thing, and despite it being underpowered compared to the latest models, I love it to death. Which of course means I take care of it.

THE SYSTEM. Before I go on with my adventure of going toe-to-toe with Apple Inc. Here’s how laptop warranties work with them. All portable units have a one-year international warranty, which is a good thing, because parts and services are notoriously expensive for Apple. One of the advantages of being a Mac user is something you can avail of called AppleCare, which is an extended comprehensive two-year warranty, as long as you purchase the insurance plan and activate it within the first year. So when something goes wrong, just bring the Mac to the Service Center.

MY PROBLEM. No big deal really. It was just a loose, wibbly-wobbly hinge. When you open up the lid the LCD screen lifts up a little off-kilter. Must’ve come loose somehow. Otherwise, everything worked fine. I was just afraid it might worsen, so I brought it in.

REPAIR 1.Yes, the warranty covers it, and yes, it can be fixed, said the repair center. No sweat. Took a week, which wasn’t too bad because I requested for, and got, a service unit so I wouldn’t have too much separation anxiety and could continue to work—I’m as dependent on the Air as much as I am with air in my lungs. (Props to PowerMac Center for acceding to my request for a temporary unit.)

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Hey look. Some guy put a Mac Mini inside an old Apple Disk II case. Why the hell not?

Original pics at this Flickr link.