Umberto Eco on Macatholicity
The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counter-reformist and has been influenced by the ratio studiorum of the Jesuits. It is cheerful, friendly, conciliatory; it tells the faithful how they must proceed step by step to reach -- if not the kingdom of Heaven -- the moment in which their document is printed. It is catechistic: The essence of revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons. Everyone has a right to salvation.
Of course, I've known this all along. But it's true. Being a Mac user is precisely like being a Christian. It's better in every way from being in the darkness of PC-ism, but impossible to experience from the outside. Once you make the leap of faith into a Mac, you'll wonder why you didn't do it much earlier, but alas it's a leap that most people don't make until they've reached the rock-bottom of endless system crashes, frustrating third party software/hardware, etc., etc.
I've actually subtly skewed Eco's (hilarious) point, but oh well. Read it all here. Came to me via my brother Hardy.
Of course, I've known this all along. But it's true. Being a Mac user is precisely like being a Christian. It's better in every way from being in the darkness of PC-ism, but impossible to experience from the outside. Once you make the leap of faith into a Mac, you'll wonder why you didn't do it much earlier, but alas it's a leap that most people don't make until they've reached the rock-bottom of endless system crashes, frustrating third party software/hardware, etc., etc.
I've actually subtly skewed Eco's (hilarious) point, but oh well. Read it all here. Came to me via my brother Hardy.
posted by timothy at 12:31 PM
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