I'm not going to talk about how "intuitive" Macs are, though they are alarmingly easy to use. I'm also not going to go on and on about how "they just work," even though that pretty much sums up their efficiency. I won't even carry on about all the things I think they do better than a Windows based machine. For the sake of all the Mac Haters that might happen to stumble onto this, I'll spare you all the Apple propaganda that has so hardened your hearts against even considering that Apple computers are worth paying for. In fact, I'm not trying to convince anyone to convert to Macintosh. I just want to tell you a story.
Today I woke up and went through the usual Saturday routine, eating some cereal, playing with my daughter, checking email and Facebook etc. After lunch I noticed that my battery was getting low. I plugged my charging cable into the wall and then into my MacBook. Nothing happened. Normally, the little light on the cord flashes green and then turns to red to indicate that it's charging. I unplugged it and plugged it back in, still nothing. I tried checking a different outlet thinking maybe that one had given out, still nothing. It was already after noon and my battery was almost dead. I normally use the my laptop to teach Sunday School from, so at this point I was in a mild state of panic. Then I remembered that since I moved to Tulsa, Ok, there is a real live Apple store in the mall.
I quickly looked up the number and called. I briefly explained the problem and the guy told me to log onto to the website and make an appointment at the alleged Genius Bar, which I did, for two o'clock that very afternoon. I had just enough time to play with my daughter in the snow, and then I loaded up my MacBook and power cord and headed off to the mall. On my way out the door I happened to grab my iPod that had also recently been giving me some trouble. I got to the mall right on time and told the guy at the front of the store that I had made an appointment. He told me to wait at the back of the store for someone at the Genius Bar to call my name. I walked through the store and began lusting after everything I saw. Luckily, about the time I got to the back, a young bearded fellow, with seemingly heavy glasses on called my name.
I walked over and took out my laptop. I told him the problem. He pulled my computer over and plugged in a test power cable, which lit up to green and then flashed to red and began charging my battery. He said that it must be the cable and asked if he could see my cable. I took it out. He plugged it in, and it too lit up green and flashed to red as it began to charge my computer. My eyes widened with embarrassment and I explained that it hadn't worked all day. He fumbled through a door and took and a small pink iPod labelled "BATTERY TESTER" and plugged it into my USB. Some sort of diagnostics screen appeared and began process barring through some sort of test. When it was finished everything showed up green.
"Well, it's showing that everything's okay," explained the alleged genius, "Although, it does say that you've been through a lot of charging cycles." I told him that that was probably true as if he needed my confirmation of what the computer just told him.
"I'll tell you what, I'll just go ahead and replace the battery and the cord, and that should take care of it." My eyes widened again, this time in total surprise as he continued, "Give me just a second to make up this ticket." He typed away at his MacBook Pro for a few seconds and then explained that he'd be right back as he walked through that mysterious back door. Minutes later he came back with a brand new power cord and battery and began typing away at his computer some more. He didn't even ask me anymore questions. He completely just took my word for it. He hadn't even seen the charger malfunction. After about a minute he apologized for taking so long filling out all the paper work. I literally laughed out loud and told him that there is no way I was going to complain about what just happened. I made a little bit of small talk and then mentioned my iPod that had been giving me some trouble. He pointed out the guy that I could talk to after we were finished. He finished his paper work, switched out the battery, and then handed me my new power cord. I couldn't believe what was happening. He reminded me to see the iPod guy (apparently the geniuses are task specific) and thanked me for coming in, as if I had done him a favor. Genius indeed.
I walked over to the iPod guy and explained what was going on. When I try to turn on my iPod, it never fully turns on and won't seem to reset in anyway. He asked to see it and also walked through the mysterious back door. Two or three minutes later he walked back out and handed me a brand new iPod Touch and asked me to sign a paper saying that I understand that they won't do anything with the data on my old one. Again, I was completely astonished when he shook my hand and thanked me as if I had done him a real solid by coming in and getting free merchandise.
I had just enough time to make a trip around the food court for some free samples, and I got back in my car 45 minutes after finding a parking spot. I had a brand new MacBook battery, power cord, and iPod Touch, and I hadn't paid a single dime. In fact, I had been thanked for my endeavor.
If you're already a Mac, probably none of this is surprising to you. If you're not a Mac, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, nor do I mean to start a whose better war in the comments section. But, I do secretly hope that you remember this story the next time something gives out on your computer or you start to tell someone that Macs are just too expensive.
It's true that Mac snobs are rivaled only by Lost Fanatics in their blind loyalty. But, while I can't speak for the Lost Mob, I really do have a lot to be excited about. I just went into a store and got hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise for FREE, no questions asked. So, whether you're a Mac or a PC, take this story as a brief explanation of, and just one more reason why I'm a Mac, for life.
