Today's episode is taken from a comment I left on another site (I'd link, but I forget where it was) in response to a discussion about Macs and Mac users.

I am a self-confessed Mac evangelist, although I haven't really been using Mac very long. I thought everything before OSX was pretty weak. My main reason for switching was that I spent too much time trying to keep my shoddy PCs working, especially running new programs - games mostly. As a married man you don't have much time to play games, so spending 3 hours trying to get Black & White to run - unsuccessfully - was just too annoying.

It was after I switched ('added', actually) that I started doing Mac-ish things like making videos and organizing digital photos and stuff. I was amazed how fun it is, especially creating lasting movies that you'll keep forever. Since I never knew I could do it until I tried, I was impressed and wanted to tell others about it. It's not that their computers sucked - it's that they couldn't do the cool things I could do so easily. Sure, talented PC users can edit movies and such, but for non-power users it is often quite difficult - prohibitively difficult.

So, I started to evangelize. But, it's not simply Mac - I evangelize about any product that I think really makes an improvement to my life. My VW Cabrio is one - it is great for transporting stuff from Home Depot (wood and stuff). Since most people would never think that a convertible could be a good city SUV, I tell them when appropriate.

Same, or moreso, with Tivo. I tell everyone to get Tivo. If they don't have a TV, I tell them to get a TV and a Tivo. Why? Tivo, even more than my Macs, has a life-changing positive effect that most people can't imagine until they try it - so I encourage them to try it.

Is it wrong to evangelize? Well, if you are rude about it, of course. I dislike those religious folks that knock on my door and try to argue me into loving Jesus or whatever. No thanks. But it can be generous, too. I spend a LOT of time doing product research for new things (cameras, wireless gear, telephones, etc), so I think it is somewhat kind to share my findings with people who don't have time or inclination for such things.

So, I don't feel guilty at all about product-evangelizing, and I try not to be overbearing. On the internet it is so easy to be rude, but most of my recommendations are done in person so I can personalize my sermon or cut it short as necessary. Sure, sometimes I go on too long, but that's alcohol for you.

Anyway, it must be some sort of good Karma - after picking up the new G4 iBook the other day at the Apple Store, we entered the contest and won - a brand spanking new iMac! The mac gods have smiled upon us.

Amen.