Recently I’ve found myself considering the switch to a Mac. I am a PC person through and through. Though when I think about what I use my computer for – writing, blogging, pictures, music – and what I’d like to use it for – design – it doesn’t make sense to not be on a Mac.
The trouble with PCs is that they are not intuitive and lack an ease of usability for those of us who are not computer geeks. I need platforms that let me create without knowing how to code. I’m not interested in code; I am interested in expressing myself.
There’s something frightening about switching platforms. I’m feeling as much anxiety about it as I did about moving to New York. I know it’s the right thing to do, it’s just that making the leap into the unknown is tough to conceptualize.
I also learned that something called Mac World happens in January and it is possible that the price of a Mac may drop shortly thereafter, or be significantly upgraded at the same price.
Published by Christa Avampato
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
Recently I’ve found myself considering the switch to a Mac. I am a PC person through and through. Though when I think about what I use my computer for – writing, blogging, pictures, music – and what I’d like to use it for – design – it doesn’t make sense to not be on a Mac.
You may want to try these websites for info regarding the Switch to Mac:http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/http://macmentor.org/switch/http://switchtoamac.com/http://www.itchyhands.com/2005/10/04/how-to-switch-to-machttp://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To%20The%20MacNews: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118953892743724082.html?mod=googlenews_wsjhttp://www.onlamp.com/pub/wlg/8448Tips: http://www.askbigpapa.com/articles/376/1/How-to-switch-to-Mac-Move-everything-from-your-old-PC-to-a-new-Mac-using-your-iPod/Page1.htmlOnce you have a Mac: learn about it here: http://www.itsabouttimeproducts.com/switch_to_mac/Better yet, get David Pogue’s book: Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual
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Hi Swiss! Thanks so much for all of your great hints and sharing your knowledge about Macs – I really appreciate it.
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You’re welcome. I have two Macs since 4 years and am glad to be of assistance. You’ll discover the Mac user community is very helpful. Check out the forums at http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspaor at Macworld: http://www.macworld.com/forums/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB1Just remember that people without questions or Mac problems usually don’t post in these forums. So the negative comments need to be put into perspective. Feel free to contact me at swissfondue at gmail.com for any questions or advice.
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I work on both platforms and in the end the hype about macs being for artists, pcs for techies is way overblown. The software that comes with a mac is pretty amateurish so what you end buying to use in real life (photoshop illustrator fireworks flash dreameaver reason ) is available on a pc, and typically, because its a bigger market, new releases are available sooner. Macs look cool. No question. But they have quirks you won’t like… Lack of a touch pad, one button, if you actually reboot takes insanely long to fully start up, desktop becomes a litter ground, drive space gets eaten very quickly, memory goes down like chocolate (not uncommon to see firefox using 200 megs of ram and 1 gig of virtual memory, no memory card readers like most of laptops have, too few USB ports. Did I mention no games? Support when you do have a problem is iffy at best. Search for help about a mac on google vs a pc…the difference is staggering.I have an intel MacBook pro (core 2 duo) with 2 gigs of ram. Its no more geared to being an artists computer than the pc laptop my wife uses or I use in addition to my mac. Oddly enough, the brunt of my work on my mac is programming, go figure.What IS nice with macs is you do rarely turn them off or reboot… I reboot my of each night. Mac laptops are way more cool looking than of laptops. The operating system generally does allow you to juggle more open applications than a of. But the truth is, they do crash about the same amount, and force a reboot. Our entire office (85 broads) is pretty much mac based, and in general they about as stable as a pc. My home pc boots up in 15 seconds from power off. If I turn off my mac and wait for it to let me begin I’m looking at two to the minutes… But as I said… The need to turn off a mac for whatever reason, is lessAnyway… I’d think about it. The famous commercials of the two guys, mac and pc are great… But terribly biased which is understandable of course 🙂
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please forgive my previous posts typos and referring to pc’s in some places as ‘of’. Typing such a long comment with an iPhone is no easy feat!!!
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