Apple Vs Lenovo/Microsoft laptop - Can You go back after going Mac?

blog 2014
Written By Andrew Ford

How much do you love your computer?

As Founder and Personal Brand Consultant  at Social Star which specialises in crafting peoples online brands, my computer IS my business. I am pretty much always on my computer. It's where I wrote my book, blogs, look at pictures of my kids and work with my clients.  Even when asleep it is next to me whilst I dream of writing biographies and building websites - sad but true! Those of you who are digital professionals will understand...

So when Lenovo contacted me to be part of their ambassador program for a new notebook I thought to myself;

 "How could I possibly give up my beloved Apple Macbook Air? "

What would the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro be like and could I return to Windows after missing the whole Windows 8 thingy. 

 

Let's back up a bit. How did I happen to get this new and free Lenovo notebook shipped to my door? Well after deciding to post my full blogs on LinkedIn instead of my personal website, I must have attracted some attention from the folks at Lenovo. Phew, lucky for me as I teach my clients the benefits of attraction marketing so I'm grateful to show it working! 

But it wasn't just because of my steely good looks that Lenovo contacted me, as much as my mum insists that's the case. It's more likely because I once worked for IBM, who made these laptops, before they sold off the personal computing division to Lenovo in 2005. Plus I worked at Hewlett Packard for 8 years so have an affiliation with Windows computers, which might be the real reason I got in Lenovo's good books. 

Basically I was an IBM and Windows advocate who thought of Apple products as overrated. Then one day I arrived at a new job as Marketing Manager for a large IT company and they thought I must be 'cool' and love Apple. Thus on my first day my office looked like a an Apple catalogue had vomited it's white products all over my desk.  Macbook Air 14", Thunderbolt big screen, iPhone 5 and all the white cables and connectors you like. Awesome, except I didn't know how to use them. 

I gradually became familiar with the functionality and grew to love Apple products. I came over from the dark side and became one of those Apple people, writing books in coffee shops and espousing the benefits of no viruses, quite computing and long battery life - until the Lenovo challenge. 

The big question is can I go back to Windows and Lenovo after the last three years with Apple?

This was my thought today when my Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro arrived and it sat next to my trusty Apple Macbook Air. Then I had an idea, I thought of a challenge. I have read it takes 21 days to break a habit so I am going on a 21 day challenge to see if there is life after Mac and I can truly answer the question is Apple still better than the rest.

I plan to devise a multitude of tests to see which one really is the King of notebooks. You have seen Tough Mudder, well this is going to be tougherer...

You can follow my progress and recommend ways to challenge these two big brands to see who is really the best, at my blog www.andrewford.com.au, Twitter @sirford, or LinkedIn.

Wish me luck! 

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(the link is http://www.andrewford.com.au/book/)

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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