For those of you that missed them the first time round and can’t be bothered to go through the Vaults, or for those of you that are interested in patterns, here are all the interviews in one post.
Daniel Greg
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My MacBook that I am using to this very day – I got it I think a week after they upgraded the iBooks so it is a Core Duo 1.83GHz, pretty much base model and I upgraded to 1.25 gigs of RAM. A credit to the Mac is how this handles pretty much anything I throw at it!
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
A new iMac, unless I get a huge financial influx, in which case I’ll get a Mac Pro but im fairly sure its going to be one of the new flashy iMacs.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
Being a developer, Im going to be boring here and say xCode and Interface Builder. They are absolutely top class developing environments and to get them for free is a big bonus, I couldn’t live without them.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I like to keep myself busy. I am a SCUBA diver and underwater photographer (my mostly unused flickr: ); I have been playing guitar for 5 years and play in a band, for whom I also write songs; I play golf off a handicap of 21 but I dont take it seriously enough to really improve; I game a fair bit, mainly Counterstrike source; I am a big Southampton FC fan, so I go down to St Marys, more than I should do, to catch the game; I am also a keen actor and singer. I am usually in one show or another, I am currently Javert in a production of “Les Miserables” and then I’m set to play guitar in “We Will Rock You”, the musical; As I am not making any money out of it (yet) I think my software development counts as a hobby; I also do a few software reviews for appsformacs; and of course like anyone my age (18) just hanging out with mates, going up the pub etc.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
I’m afraid Im not much use on the all-time part :p, but when I was 6 my dad bought me and my brother the Playstation. Much to his dismay, I fell in love with video gaming and have been fairly hooked ever since.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Well at the moment Im a student, but Im looking to launch my company Crimson Sky Software, in the coming weeks, its just a small shareware company but hopefully that will help me pay for my iMac. In the far distant future I will probably pursue software engineering as a career.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Busy, committed but good fun (I hope!)
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
CrimsonSkySoftware is in the process of being designed but there is a temporary site and blog up, if you want to follow the process of launching I will keep the blog updated and everything will soon be moved over to the new design, but please check it out.
I also twitter a bunch: www.twitter.com/dtm3dd, so if your ever curious as to why im still at my macbook then Im sure you will find out there.
Darren Rolfe
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
iMac G3 333Mhz Grape. (Still have it, but hard drive dead!)
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Probably a Mac Book Pro.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
iPod – I use it every day.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I have a toddler who keeps me very busy – but of course I wouldn’t want it any other way. In between time with the family I like to bodyboard, cook, read, listen to podcasts, and walks on the beach. Recently I have also dabbled in reviewing applications for various podcasts and or websites. I really enjoy doing these and hope to more (hence I now class this as a hobby)!
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
ZX Spectrum 48k. I remember it well – my first attempts at computer programming. Who would of thought that making your name scroll across the screen would be so much fun! I then discovered computer games and soon after r etired from programming. My ingenius name scrolling program was the first and last bit of programming I ever did!
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Freelance Creative Artworker. Working in the London/Sussex area. No job too small. Will work for RAM!
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Eye for detail. And it drives my wife crazy.
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
I have been working in and around Apple Macintosh computers since 1989. First Mac I ever used as a Studio Junior was an SE with Radius Black and White display. I am very proud of the fact that I have never been tempted to the Dark Side!
I have also just started my own blog MacWingNut so if you get a moment please head on over.
Jonathan Buckland
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My first product was a 4th generation iPod which has now been upgraded to a fantastic 80GB iPod Photo.
Even more exciting is that I am a recent switcher to the Mac OS X universe after spending too many years under Windows. I purchased my new Intel MacBook about 8 months ago and have never looked back.
When I got my MacBook box home I was like a kid opening a box of chocolates for the first time. I carefully opened each packet and was dizzy with excitement.
I remember opening a Dell laptop box, with hardly a thought.
It’s not just the fact that the MacBook looks great and works incredibly well, it’s the enthusiastic community around the Apple and how they help each other. People like Chris Marshall, help to make the community what it is today.
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
I am planning to get a new iMac for my web development business. On the geek side of my life I would love to buy an AppleTV and iPhone.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
I am a QuickSilver addict and hardly use the Dock. It’s such an amazing customizable application which keeps my Dock and Desktop clean.
I use Adium and iChat quite a lot to talk to friends and colleagues. The latest purchase has been iLife and iWork ’08 which I am immensely impressed with. I also use Colloquy for IRC when I need to chat on rubyonrails and Shrook as my RSS reader.
I also create tutorial screen cast videos using iShowU and ProfCast.
On the fun side I play World of Warcraft, but lately I seem to have less time for that.
Most of my other applications are for my development business, building solutions in Ruby on Rails for customers. I use TextMate, CSSEdit and Coda. I also develop applications in Cocoa using XCode tools.
Oh and I have Twitterific to send tweets to my friends.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I spend most of my waking life either doing geeky stuff or having fun with my kids. I have also wanted to start my own Podcast promoting the fun of developing software.
I am also having lots of fun with my new Canon HV10 Camcorder which was obviously needed to video the kids on holiday.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
This has to be my iPod. I use it to listen to all my Podcasts, music and videos on the move. I do miss my Sinclair Spectrum though.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
I am a software development consultant and spend my work days developing web and desktop solutions for clients. I have also started a web desgin/development business recently which is a very exciting venture for me.
You can find out more about what I do at jonathanbuckland.com or my blog funcoder.com.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Geeky
Approachable
Loyal
(I promise I did ask)
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
I am looking forward to the future and hoping to take a trip to MacWorld soon.
Maciek Sokulski
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My first apple product was a 3rd Gen 20Gb iPod. Had it for numerous years, before the actual switch. I don’t think it had any influence on my actual purchase of my first mac though
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
I believe the next apple product that I will get is either the new rumored iPod or the iPhone. It most likely be the ipod since there are no definite answers as to who will be carrying the iPhone in Canada.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
I spend a while thinking about this question. I don’t have an all time favorite. I like it all. I like the overall experience that one gets with apple products. computers that actually work. Software that is pleasing to the eye, as well as function.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
Photography was my hobby from the time I remember. I always loved taking photos. Even now with progression of better and cheaper video cameras, I always prefer photos to video.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
All time favorite tech gadget, has not been invented yet. There were some that ranked pretty high on the scale, but always had a flaw. This gadget would be a some sort of a robust PDA.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Work work work. I work for a construction company as a IT Manager. I’m the only one with a mac, and was successful in suggesting macs to a couple of employees.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Geek, nerd, computer guy.
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
There is not much else. My life is not very exciting from the outside perspective of others. Me, I would not change it for the world.
Blake Brannon
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
An iMac G4 1.25Ghz model
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
I want a new laptop but haven’t worked out what and when yet!
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
iPhoto. haven’t seen anything else that comes close. iPhoto 08 is a great improvement
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I do research on 802.11 throughput performance. Most things Apple interest me
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
Blackberry
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Research assistantship with Georgia Tech and my wife
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Computer addict, blakeopedia, dry humor
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Nope
Glenn Wolsey
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
The first was an iPod, although that let off a chain reaction, I’ve slowly worked my way up the ranks 😉
1. iPod 3G
2. iMac G5
3. iPod shuffle
4. iMac Intel
5. MacBook
6. Airport Extreme
7. iPod nano 2G
8. iPod 60GB 5G
9. Mac Pro
10. 30″ Apple Cinema Display
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Apple related, probably another Mac notebook or another Apple Cinema Display. I think camera gear sits ahead of Apple products at this stage in time
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
The iPod. This excellent device got me involved in the whole Apple Cult, immediately forcing me to purchase a Mac. If it wasn’t for the iPod, none of this would have happened.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I love photography, and am heavily involved in shooting different things for different people. I love to head out with the camera and get stuck into the creative art of making images
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
It would have to be the iPod, it really reinvented the way I listened to music.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Currently a student. Looking to stay involved in media down the track to pay the bills, possibly a career in photography
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Obsessive. Humorous. Venturesome
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Nope.
Matthew Hollingsworth
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
The first Apple product I actually bought was an eMac G3 used on eBay about 3 years ago. However, I have been admiring and using Macs ever since 1985 when my friend got the original Mac and invited me over to play with it. We enjoyed drawing circles in MacPaint and filling them with various shaded cross-hatch patterns after school and every once in a while using MacWrite to do something school-related in the standard helvetica font.
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
I hope the next Apple product I buy is an iPhone. I don’t have the money for one at the moment, but after my initial skepticism-turned-excitement-turned-doubt-turned-even-more-excitement, I really do want one. I’m saving for the 8G, and currently have only $600 more to go to get on
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
If I stick only to the thing that has given me the most enjoyment, usefulness or satisfaction on my Mac, I’d have to say that Aperture is my favorite application. I use it as often as I pick up a camera – which is not every day but it should be – and I constantly benefit from its editing and organizational abilities
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I’d like to see more about video – video cameras, video apps, Final Cut, Final Cut Express, comparison of video uploading / sharing / streaming / publishing services, etc.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
So far it’s the iPod. However, I hope it will soon be the iPhone (see #2).
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
I use online banking and electronic transfers wherever I can. If you’re wondering how the money gets into my bank account, I eagerly await a paycheck fortnightly (see, I can speak British) from a large telecommunication and networking infrastructure vendor. I am currently working in R&D for said company, doing various things involving budget, strategy and operations
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
“you look like that guy on Cash Cab”, “Matt who?”, “intelligent”
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
My current ambition is to become a full-time writer and photographer. I’m inching ever-so-slowly towards that goal every day, but am sometimes discouraged by my lack of progress. I’m not giving up, though.
Duncan Smith
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
20Gb 3rd Gen iPod closely followed by a 17″ Powerbook.
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Would really like to upgrade to a Mac Book Pro but funds are tight so I’m looking at upgrading the RAM on my powerbook from 1Gb to 2Gb. All I’ve read suggests this would be a good move – only really notice the go slow when I do some video encoding or have a lot of apps open, However, I’ve not tried a Mac Book pro yet and can imagine once I do the Powerbook will seem a lot slower.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
Hardware – my powerbook – it goes everywhere with me and is used every day. Couldn’t be without it. Application – currently coda which I am using for all my web design projects. Its great and has some nice features but I have yet to really get to grips with uploading. Seemingly sites created from scratch using coda understand the file hierachy and upload to the correct folder automatically however, sites I imported (from transmit) when I first installed Coda struggle with this. They seem to upload to the root directory. Not sure if this me or a known issue and have yet to research it properly.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
Outdoor activities – sea and white water kayaking, sailing, climbing and mountaineering, mountain biking. I have just relocated to the coast on the edge of the New Forest so I can introduce my daughter to the joys of paddling and sailing
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
An apple PDA so I can take one out and about in my sea kayak or in my rucsac. Got quite excited by the iPod touch until I realised you couldn’t add appointments or to do tasks. As I have commented on the blog I am quite chilled about the phone aspect needing the PDA features more however now I know O2 (my carrier) have got the iPhone I will probably plump for one
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Full time ICT teacher in a secondary school, part time web designer for pocket money and freelance Outdoor instructor in the holidays.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
A gear freak (I love my outdoor kit). An apple fanboy (I think people I work with are getting sick of my ranting about stock school PC’s needing to be replaced with Macs). Not very organised (hence my recent purchase of Getting things done by Dave Allen and installing iGTD).
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Not really, but would love to hear from folks who utilise their macs to support their Outdoor Adventures and how!! Also love to hear from any freelance web designers who have made the break from a ‘steady’ job and how they found this. Its a pipe dream at the moment as I have to have a secure income from a mortgage point of view but I keep practicsing and building my skills so maybe one day!
Paul Stamatiou
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My first Apple product was a Macintosh Centris 650 that my sisters and I used when we were much younger. While we had a DOS box before it, I remember learning how to type on the Mac and playing lots of Mario Go Fish. Although, that was bought by my parents so I’ll have to say that the first Apple product I purchased myself was a 2nd Generation Apple iPod 10GB. It was the first iPod to have a touch wheel instead of the wheel that actually moved on the 1st Gen, which I actually thought was cooler.
2. On a similar them, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Leopard! I will be waiting in line at the Apple Store this Friday to get a copy.. and hopefully a free Apple Store t-shirt for being one of the first in line.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
My MacBook Pro, by far. I’ve gone through a lot of Macs (G4 Mac Mini, Core Duo Mac Mini, Core Duo MacBook, 24-inch iMac Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Duo MacBook (the first MacBook died and Apple replaced it)) and have now settled on what I think is the perfect Mac. It has a sturdy frame and doesn’t feel flimsy like the plastic MacBook. The MacBook Pro has enough power to be my main computer and portable enough to come with me to campus fairly often. When I’m home, I just hook it up to my 30-inch Dell display and I’m good to go.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
Technology in general is obviously my largest hobby. What most people don’t know is how deep my connection to technology goes. I taught myself how to solder when I was 8 years old or so, and read books about electronics (particularly guides by Forrest Mims and the magazine Nuts & Volts). By the time I was a pre-teen, I was printing schematics off of the Internet, etching copper circuit boards and making miscellaneous gizmos. I did science fairs with from-scratch robots powered by BASIC Stamps and all of that. I went into college under a Computer Engineering major but it was around that time I became fascinated with the web and turned my interests more into software/media development.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
I don’t think I have an all time favorite gadget, but my Nikon DSLR camera isn’t far off. If I had an iPhone though, that would probably be it.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
When I graduate I’ll have some hefty student loans to pay – likely somewhere around $80k. I plan on moving to Silicon Valley and starting a company or working for a great web company. Hopefully I’ll make enough to pay for the crazy rent and then some.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Motivated, ambitious and hilarious – or at least that’s what I’d want them to say.
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Wayne LeFevre
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My first Apple product was an iPod nano. I had used a old mp3 player from iRiver before, with a whopping 256Meg of memory, then, a friend of my daughters showed me her iPod mini. I thought that was the coolest thing around, so for Christmas 2005 I asked for, and received, an iPod Nano. I never thought that I would need anything more than a 4 Gig player, after all I was upgrading from 256 Megs. Now I really, really want an 80 Gig!
After that it was all halo effect. I got a Mac mini. Loved it, booted the PC and never looked back. Now I’m typing away on a 24″ iMac alongside a 24″ Dell LCD. Nirvana.
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
My next Apple purchase will be a new, post Sept. 5th, iPod Video for my daughters 16th birthday. Gave her the choice, a party, or an iPod and a Lake Champlain Cruise. She chose the latter. I think I got off the cheaper way. I, too, however would still like an iPod video. Major purchases, though, would be to make sure each kid has their own MacBook. Kit has the Mac mini, so that would be 2 MacBooks to buy.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
Way, way too open of a question. I have so many. Without my iMac, I couldn’t have favorite apps, so I’d have to say this beautiful iMac. By far the nicest computer I’ve ever owned. Before, I always built my own PC’s. The last PC I actually bought was an IBM PS/2 Model 25. (The one that was supposed to take the place of the Mac since it was all in one?) But application? One I use most often is probably iTunes and QTPro, but the one I like the most would have to be Aperture. But seriously, I could go on and on!
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
Photography and reading and watching movies and Dr. Who. I love photography, and would have never gotten this far into it had it not been for this site and 4Frames & Friends. I’ve always have been a big reader. Right now I’m reading The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell. Incredibly interesting, but not very engaging
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
My DSL Modem. No, hear me out. Boring. Yes. But where would we all be without it? (Be it DSL, Cable or Dial–Up?) Don’t have any mobiles or the like, so ya, my little modem
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
I’ve been an aircraft mechanic on the big jets for many, many years. I’ve been on disability lately, though, after a very scary, debilitating disease. When the Mayo Clinic could not help, I applied for and got relief from the man. Otherwise, my wife is a Speech/Language Pathologist in our local school district. Luckily, we don’t even own a credit card and own our own house, so that gives me time to play on the Mac!
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Packed full of useless information. Dedicated. Tired. 🙂
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
I’m usually late, but at least try to be interesting and know what I’m talking about. (I also think they are a lot of idiots in this world, present company excluded, of course. 🙂 )
Tom Hancocks
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
Well the first Apple product that I, myself bought was an 20GB iPod 4G. I loved that iPod, for the first time I could go out listening to my music! I remember it being one of the first things I bought with my own wages from my summer job.
It wasn’t the first Apple product I had owned or used. We had had a number of Apple computers. The first one I ever used was a Macintosh Quadra, which was also the computer I begun learning to program on. We then had a G3 iMac DV SE Graphite followed by an iMac G4 before I finally got my own 12� iBook G4 just after my iPod.
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Well having just bought a new aluminum iMac, I hope the buying of a new Apple computer will be a long way off. That said, some of the rumors going around about a new iPhone like iPod are sure tempting. Maybe one of those iPods or an iPhone are on the horizon for me.
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
Now that is a difficult one. I love pretty much everything Apple has done. I think if I had to put my finger on one thing it would be either the original Macintosh or the original “Bondi Bue� iMac. Both were just simply beautiful computers, and showed just how much Apple is willing to break away from tried and tested designs and ideas.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
Asides from computers? Well I enjoy skiing, but the lack of ski slopes (dry or snow) means I don’t get to do of much of that as I would like. Mountain biking, reading going out with mates for a drink, game of pool and generally having a laugh are all fun as well and help keep my mind occupied.
Unfortunately I seem to have less and less time to do some of these things, but I guess thats life!
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
iPod. Without a doubt it is the iPod. Its the only thing that keeps me sane on long trips and journeys, in mind numbing lectures and boring days out. Its truly a lifesaver.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Well I don’t have any bills yet! Or at least I don’t think I do… My plans are first of all to get back in to University with my Mathematics A Level, and progress to do my Software Engineering or Computer Science degree. Not totally sure which one I will do yet, as I have two ideas on where I want to end up.
One is doing Research and Development in the field of AI and robotics. The whole area has fascinated me for some time. Also having spent a year in Sheffield University, and seeing some of the subject areas and research they are doing has also taken my interest. I recall reading a while ago in the New Scientist magazine about a type of computer processor based on light Photonics, which uses light photons to carry information rather than electricity. This kind of processor would truly be ground breaking when it reaches the consumer market, as a processor of 10Ghz plus would be fairly standard. I doubt this will happen any time in the next few years though.
The other is to go in to software engineering and development. Not quite as exciting as the former, but still would be a career I would enjoy and like.
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Laid back, helpful and insane.
The first two are pretty self explanatory, so I will only explain the last. I have a habit, while with friends of randomly doing funny or stupid things. A few my favorites over the years were jumping in to a swimming pool, wading through, getting out the other side and sitting in my life guards seat as though that was the norm. This was much to the amusement of others. Another favorite of mine, is one I don’t actually remember doing, but remember feeling. Instead of knocking on a door to get back in after going out for the night, I banged my head repeatedly on the door. Perhaps not the smartest of things I have ever done, but still.
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Not that I can think of.
Andie Smith
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
a G4 powerbook when i started art school
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
a new apple keyboard!
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
idisk!
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
photography is by business and hobby.
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
my wacom tablet…man i am in love with it…oh and my full frame dSLR!
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
Photography and design
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
creative, funny, different
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
nothing that i can think of!
Andrew Rudkin
1. As this blog covers a lot of Mac related products what was your first Apple product that you bought?
My first Mac was a G3 iMac which I bought as a basic home web browsing machine back in 2004, since then I have only needed the one upgrade to a G5 20″ iMac back in the summer of 2005 when I went freelance and started working from home. I have been used Apple machines since 1994 when I started my first design course and am very proud to say that my only ever experiences with the windows world is when I have help family out with issues on their PC’s!
2. On a similar theme, but moving forward what will be the next Apple product that you buy?
Over the last 13 years I have developed a real love affair with all things Apple and like most Mac fans I have to hide my wallet whenever new products are launched! From a practical point of view I can see me buying a new iMac before the end of my financial year. I have been holding off on moving to Intel because I was waiting for the Adobe CS suite (the bread and butter of my working life) to settle down on the new platform. I really love the spec on the Mac Pro, but for a print based graphic designer, I wouldn’t get close to pushing one of those beasts to the limit… a maxed out iMac will do me fine thanks… and I am sure my accountant would agree!
And maybe, just maybe I will splash out on an iPhone when they reach the UK!
3. Do you have an all time favourite Apple product or Mac application?
I sure do! I love my Apple Newton. I bought it on eBay about 12 months ago and although it’s totally useless for anything I do, it’s a great bit of kit to mess about with (and very handy for weightlifting!). Considering the technology is now classed as ‘archaic’, the touch screen recognition interface is still right up there for accuracy.
4. The blog also covers other subjects, so do you have any specific interests or hobbies that keep you busy?
I am kind of a borderline workaholic as I am in the lucky position of actually liking my job. Most of my time is spent either designing for cash or messing about on stuff for friends, family or occasionally for myself. When I do get away from the screen I like to play golf to a reasonably bad standard, go running at least 3 times a week, watch movies or watch the mighty Leicester City donate 3 points to whoever is visiting the Walkers Stadium that week!
5. What would be your all time favourite technology gadget?
I’d like to say my Newton again, but it’s rubbish at doing anything other than recognising shapes, so I guess that rules it out! Erm, I guess it would have to be a toss up between the Apple iPhone with all it’s amazing built in functionality or my extra large electronic, talking Homer Simpson bottle opener, which has come to my aid one more than one occasion.
6. How do you pay the bills, or if you are studying what are your future plans to pay the bills?
I am a freelance graphic designer. I used to proud of the fact that I had nothing to do with web design, but as the years have gone by it’s becoming more of a necessity for anyone in the industry. At the minute I have the luxury of having a talented web developer at my disposal who can interpret my designs and make then ‘all clicky’ and ‘look nice of the web’ for me, but I have just started to learn the dark arts of coding and CSS in the hope that I can keep myself in a job over the next 20 years!
7. What three words or phrases would your friends use to describe you?
Sarcastic, fun and loyal
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Not really, although I guess if anyone did want to send me money, sweets, an iMac, iPhone or lager then I wouldn’t be offended.
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