Firstly, an admission: I am a new convert to Macs. I actually learnt to use a computer while at Uni doing my undergrad years and I did it on a Mac. A very old one that had been found for me in some University's equipment dump. It worked though and I never had a problem with it. Once I got a job I had to start working on PCs and I kind of forgot about my first exposure to computers. The Mac become a stranger, something I was scared to use because I felt I didn't know how to use it any more. Then Macs got sexy and I felt myself being inexplicably attracted to the Powerbook. Hell, when I found out I was getting a laptop for work one of my main criteria was: "is it sexy?" (Laptops have a way of making you think of aesthetics before practicalities). Anyway, I got a PC for work but the lure of the Mac remained. I ended up with one of the new iBook G4s. And I am in love. Computing becomes life, not just something you do to achieve other things.
Anyway, the whole point of all this is to explain how pissed off I am with Telstra. I went to my parent's place for Christmas. For 2+ weeks. Anyone who knows me would realise that this is a long time for me to be away from my wireless broadband. I thought it would all be fine, my parents have wireless broadband. I would open my computer, it would find a network and I'd be on my way. Well, no, not exactly.
I opened my computer and it didn't find a network. Apparently you have to install software to make the modem work with Telstra wireless broadband. Ok, I installed that. Still didn't work. I used my father's machine and noticed Telstra installed a toolbar in the browser that allowed you to track your usage, among other things. This was all fine and dandy but gave me a shivery feeling, like there was some tie between the machine and the network. That the machine was owned by the network. This is not the way it's supposed to be! I thought. Wireless is supposed to give you autonomy, it's about networks, not about proprietry software! Call me an idealist...
I finally tracked down why my iBook wouldn't work with Telstra broadband. Because Macs aren't supported. (At least not with the configuration they use in the country). You have to install the software to use the broadband and the software is PC exclusive. I ranted and raved at my mother and father, asking how could they do this, what planet are they living on, etc etc. (Bigpong, not my parents).
Then the other day I was walking down King St in Newtown and I noticed some 'funky' graffiti on the footpath. It was advertising Bigpong Music. You know, you go online and buy music and download for a buck, just like the iTunes music store. First I scoffed at Telstra's attempt to get funky with some guerilla marketing. Then when I was bored I decided to check it out as I was looking to download a few of the Killers tracks and was willing to pay for them. No luck. Bigpong Music doesn't support Macs. Considering the KILLER MUSIC APP is the iPod (ok, it's not an app but you know what I mean) I find this unbelievable. Bigpong only supports WMA. Pffft.
What makes me laugh the hardest is that by trying to "get cool and down with the kids, like" by advertising using hand-scrawled graffiti in Newtown they have opened themselves up to ridicule. I would put money on the Mac population here being quite a proportion higher than the general population. Telstra obviously don't realise that Macs are cool. Dude.
Peace.
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