Apple Fanboy Anonymous

My Testimonial

Introduction

Hello, my name is JoJo, and I’m an Apple fanboy.

It started back when I was in college. I was peer pressured into Apple computers by the college I went to. Every computer in the building was a Mac, and so I cautiously took the plunge. I bought a MacBook Pro in 2011.

At first, it was incredibly intoxicating. I still remember opening the computer on the drive home from the store, seeing the backlit keyboard and forgetting I spent over $1,000. I loved it all: the ports, the ease of use, Finder, Dock, iWork (back before it was free). It felt great, and being able to work seamlessly between my laptop and school computers was wonderful. Sure, I couldn’t play any of the games my friends were playing, but I didn’t need friends. I had Apple. I even went as far as to purchase the Adobe master collection CS6 so I could start animating and working with audio.

Eventually, the high started wearing off. My tolerance had built up, it didn’t feel quite as “new” as I craved. I needed something else, so I hastily purchased an iPhone 4s. It certainly was the best device I ever had to constantly squint at since the screen was smaller than my hand. I just kept chasing the apple.

The First Recovery

Around 2016, the cracks started to form. I didn’t want to spend tons of money upgrading my computers, but couldn’t bear to let them go either. The iPhone went first. I was tired of squinting at the small screen, and I traded it for a Samsung phone. Around 2019, I decided I needed to learn how Windows works, so I purchased a Surface Pro 7 with tablet functionality. My MacBook Pro sat idle, collecting dust in the back shelves. By 2021, the MacBook Pro was gone.

Even though I moved back in with my ex-OS Windows, everything had changed. I felt like Rip Van Winkle, remembering my darling XP and coming back having to learn about Windows 10. it took a while to adjust, but eventually I was able to figure out its quirks. I got by, but not well.

The Relapse

But in 2023, I had to give up my Apple-free chip.

I found my self in the arms of my new Apple dealer, my loving girlfriend. When I needed to upgrade my android phone, she recommended to take the plunge back into iPhone so we could send message effects and FaceTime. And so I went to Verizon wireless, and ordered myself a teal iPhone 16. Then, my workplace gave me a 2020 iPad Pro, “gently" sat on. I replaced the screen and got it working like a charm!

My girlfriend then gave me a 2020 M1 MacBook Air that had an activation lock. I was able to get the lock off, and I was hooked again. Then she gave me a second Apple Watch. And then an iMac. Then I traded in the MacBook Air for a refurbished 2024 MacBook Air. And as recently as one month ago, I bought a pawn shop Mac mini at $475.

So now here I am. I’m certainly living the highlife, but once the tolerance wears off, I’m nervous for what will come next. How much more money will I spend, how many more peripherals will I need? How many more of those stupid dongles will I need to buy because every device only has USB-C ports? Will I ever be satisfied, or will I continue to chase the apple until it drains my bank account?